Spike is probably the character who transforms the most on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Spike wasn't supposed to be a main character on the show. Originally, Spike was written as a cool, punk rock vampire that was going to come in and stir up some trouble, but would eventually be dusted by the slayer.
When creator Joss Whedon saw how well audiences responded to Spike, he decided to make the character a more permanent part of the series. Spike quickly became a fan favorite and the twists and turns of this character's storyline always kept audiences on their toes.
10 He Stops Trying To Kill The Slayer
As is the case for most of the villains who come to Sunnydale, Spike's main goal upon his arrival is to kill the slayer. He spends his first couple episodes telling anyone who will listen that he's killed two slayers before and intends to make Buffy his third. Spike's motivations change the longer he is in Sunnydale.
By the end of the second season, Spike doesn't want to kill Buffy, he wants to team up with her to stop Angel from sending the world to hell because he's jealous of his old friend and Angel's relationship with Drusilla, who Spike also loves.
9 He Becomes More Truthful
Spike has never had much of a filter when it comes to saying what's on his mind, but he starts to hone that impulse, so it becomes more of a valued skill and a sign that he cares. We get out first glimpse of that in season three, when Spike sees Angel's soul has been restored and he and Buffy are back together.
Spike calls them out and warns that they can never be together without putting everyone in danger. Spike says what everyone else is thinking and as he bonds with Buffy and her friends, he starts calling them out even more, which is a welcomed point of view most of the time.
8 He Loses His Bite
One of the most pivotal storylines for Spike is when he is captured by The Initiative in season four, and they place a chip in his head, making it impossible for Spike to hurt humans. Spike is upset at first, to say the least, and is desperately seeking a way to get the chip out of his head. Eventually, he accepts his fate and starts drinking animal blood from mugs to survive.
The show frequently uses Spike's chip as a metaphor for impotence and there are quite a few jokes made at his expense. Spike realizes that since Buffy isn't actually human once she is resurrected, he can hurt her, but he still chooses not to do so, showing how much he has changed with the chip in his head.
7 He Fights Evil
When Spike loses his ability to hurt humans, he decides to fight demons instead. Spike loves a good fight no matter what, and that's something that never changes, but who he's fighting is drastically different by the end of the series. Spike used to be the thing Buffy and her friends feared.
Now, Spike is the thing Buffy and her friends turn to when they need help or back-up with a new big-bad. Spike still has his vampire strength and he can channel that into doing good instead of trying to destroy good. The more Spike fights his evil cohorts, the better of a man he becomes.
6 He Gains Empathy
One thing vampires, demons, and forces of darkness lack is empathy. They are able to kill innocent people because they don't care about the person they are hurting and once it's done, they never think about it again, of if they do, it's with pride, not guilt or regret. Spike starts out that way. He'll destroy any living thing in his path and he'll enjoy telling his fellow demons about it.
By the end of the series, Spike wouldn't hurt a fly, unless that fly hurt someone he loves. Spike finds empathy for human beings, especially Buffy and his friends. Having these new feelings, makes Spike want to protect his friends as much as possible.
5 He Becomes A Babysitter
Once Spike is chipped, the Scooby gang starts to trust him more. It takes time, but Buffy seems to warm up to Spike the most and even trusts him enough to look after her little sister, Dawn. On quite a few occasions, Spike is put on Dawn duty and spends quality time with the teenager.
Spike even seems to enjoy his role as caregiver and engages with Dawn about the things going on in her life and even offers her advice when he can. Dawn and Spike develop a special bond and Spike will do anything to protect her, even putting himself in harm's way to try to save Dawn at the end of season five.
4 He Loses Confidence
When Spike turns up in Sunnydale he is confident, to a fault. He enjoys bragging and gloating and doesn't care how it makes anyone around him feel. After Spike has been chipped, he loses his sense of purpose and the more he hangs out with Buffy and her friends, the more useless he feels. He loses that confidence he once had and with it, he loses his sense of self. Spike doesn't like what he's become and it shows.
He becomes more of a recluse, lashes out at the people trying to help him, and breaks down a couple of times in later seasons. He finds his way out of this depression eventually, but it takes a lot of growth for him to do so.
3 He Falls For Buffy
Spike's most obvious, and biggest, change over the seven seasons is his feelings for Buffy. He goes from wanting to kill the slayer to be completely in love with her. The more time Spike spends with Buffy, the stronger his feelings grow. By season five, Spike is head over heels and Buffy is disgusted by his advances.
In season six, Buffy finally gives in to Spike and the two start seeing each other secretly because Buffy is ashamed of her feelings for Spike. These two lovers couldn't be any more different, but Spike doesn't care. He just wants Buffy and when he gets her, he's the happiest he's ever been.
2 He Gets A Soul
Spike's relationship with Buffy is full of ups and downs, mainly because Buffy is embarrassed by her feelings for Spike and is in denial about how much he's changed and how good he is now. To prove himself to Buffy, Spike goes to Africa in search of a demon shaman. Once there, Spike is put through a series of difficult mental and physical tests.
When Spike passes every test, he can ask the shaman for whatever he wants. Spike requests that the shaman restore his soul so he can be the man that Buffy wants and deserves. Spike goes to hell and back to be good enough for Buffy. Having a soul is torture for a vampire, but for Spike, being without Buffy is more torturous.
1 He Gains Self Awareness
Spike spends a lot of time in denial, especially when it comes to his relationship with Buffy. He tells himself that her feelings for him are strong and real, despite the fact that Buffy tells him otherwise, time and time again. Buffy sends Spike a lot of mixed signals and Spike clings to the ones that make him feel good. In the very last episode of the series, Spike sacrifices himself so that Buffy, her friends, and the Potential Slayers can escape a cave full of demons as it collapses.
Buffy finds Spike and tells him she loves him, he knows she's lying, and he tells her that, but he also reassures her that it's okay she doesn't really love him. That awareness, along with his sacrifice, is the perfect way for Spike to go.
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