So I've been to a couple book events over the past few days, and at each one, "your favorite vampire," seems to always come up. While I don't write about vampires (though I do love to read and watch them), here's my two cents. Joss Whedon knew what he was doing when he extended Spike's character arc in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. James Marsters created a irreverent yet lovable and ultimately redeemable character. He reveled in being bad. He struggled with being good. And he fought for his soul, and his love, attaining one but not the other. Without Spike, there would be no Klaus (Originals) or Damon (Vampire Diaries) or probably even Eric (True Blood). They're great characters in their own right, and I do enjoy them, but Spike broke the mold. This is a character who failed, repeatedly, but never gave up and for this reason he reigns supreme in my heart.