In some cases, I'd agree with both your criticism. But in the case of this particular story, I don't.
Because it made sense from a character standpoint.
And it's time to at least partially pay off the whole thing for the readers.
Lemme explain:
I've just gone through 100 pages (yes, 100 pages have posted — the story itself is roughtly 155 to 175 pages — to give you an idea just how short this really is) with people demanding to know what's going on. I've had people insisting that somehow Xander was "forced" into this role, and not even willing to consider that maybe there are reasons that Xander would actually do it of his own free will. I've had people insisting that they want to know the full story now. I've had people insisting that the story does not make any sense at all.
This has been the majority, by the way.
Hell, I still have people insisting (after all that information up there in this very post) that somehow Xander was "forced" into this without any regard to his feelings at all. Seriously.
The fact is: At some point you have to pay it off, not just for the reader, but also for Alex. Keep in mind, Alex just went into open rebellion against Spike over this very issue. Prior to this point, Alex hasn't stood up to Spike once, not even when he was convinced that Spike was about to kill him.
It simply wouldn't be believable (at all) if Alex was kept completely in the dark. Because temporary cowing by Spike's threat or not, sooner or later Alex is going to rebel again. Since Xander has to be in L.A. at any cost, there's no good reason why Spike has to make it hard for himself. Tell "Alex" something resembling the truth to get him to go along and make life easier.
The fact is, Spike has to tell Alex something resembling the truth (and if you're assuming that Spike has the whole truth, boy are you guys very wrong), especially since Giles is sending help. That help is going to know the same basic story and someone, somewhere is going to slip. If Alex knows nothing, that slip is going to raise Alex's antennae. If Alex at least knows "something" it'll blow by Alex completely.
In short, by telling Alex, "Hey, here's the truth...here's why you got trapped in this..." Spike's basically covered everyone's tracks and has fed Alex just enough information that he won't start digging in his heels again.
So, in short, in some stories I'd agree with your FB, but I argue (very ardently in this case) in this particular instance and for this particular story it's misplaced.
no subject
Because it made sense from a character standpoint.
And it's time to at least partially pay off the whole thing for the readers.
Lemme explain:
I've just gone through 100 pages (yes, 100 pages have posted — the story itself is roughtly 155 to 175 pages — to give you an idea just how short this really is) with people demanding to know what's going on. I've had people insisting that somehow Xander was "forced" into this role, and not even willing to consider that maybe there are reasons that Xander would actually do it of his own free will. I've had people insisting that they want to know the full story now. I've had people insisting that the story does not make any sense at all.
This has been the majority, by the way.
Hell, I still have people insisting (after all that information up there in this very post) that somehow Xander was "forced" into this without any regard to his feelings at all. Seriously.
The fact is: At some point you have to pay it off, not just for the reader, but also for Alex. Keep in mind, Alex just went into open rebellion against Spike over this very issue. Prior to this point, Alex hasn't stood up to Spike once, not even when he was convinced that Spike was about to kill him.
It simply wouldn't be believable (at all) if Alex was kept completely in the dark. Because temporary cowing by Spike's threat or not, sooner or later Alex is going to rebel again. Since Xander has to be in L.A. at any cost, there's no good reason why Spike has to make it hard for himself. Tell "Alex" something resembling the truth to get him to go along and make life easier.
The fact is, Spike has to tell Alex something resembling the truth (and if you're assuming that Spike has the whole truth, boy are you guys very wrong), especially since Giles is sending help. That help is going to know the same basic story and someone, somewhere is going to slip. If Alex knows nothing, that slip is going to raise Alex's antennae. If Alex at least knows "something" it'll blow by Alex completely.
In short, by telling Alex, "Hey, here's the truth...here's why you got trapped in this..." Spike's basically covered everyone's tracks and has fed Alex just enough information that he won't start digging in his heels again.
So, in short, in some stories I'd agree with your FB, but I argue (very ardently in this case) in this particular instance and for this particular story it's misplaced.