JAMES MARSTERS TALKS BUFFY, SPIKE, SLAYERS & STAR TREK DREAMS ON THE GEEKTOWN BEHIND THE SCENES PODCAST
To celebrate the arrival of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel on ITVX in the UK (available now!), this week’s episode of the Geektown Behind The Scenes podcast features a very special guest – the one and only James Marsters!
James is best known for playing the iconic bleach-blonde vampire Spike in both Buffy and Angel. A character who began life as a villain-of-the-week in season two, Spike quickly became one of the Buffyverse’s most beloved and complex figures. With his sharp wit, punk rock aesthetic, and deeply emotional journey from villain to anti-hero to reluctant champion, Spike was anything but typical.
In this in-depth interview, James reflects on the legacy of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, what made it so emotionally resonant, and how the series remains relevant more than two decades after it first aired. For him, the reason it endures is simple: Buffy tapped into something universal and timeless – the emotional struggles of simply being human, wrapped in world of vampires and monsters.
James offers an honest look into what it was like to join Buffy, explaining that when he first heard the name, he wasn’t exactly sold. Having only seen the original movie, he was initially reluctant… until he caught just 15 minutes of the TV series and immediately called his agent to say, “Get me on that show.” But the motivation wasn’t Hollywood glamour: it was fatherhood. At the time, he’d just become a new dad and was in desperate need of health insurance, telling his agent, “I don’t care what the role is – I’ll be the new Alf if it pays.”
A Character That Wasn’t Meant to Last
Spike wasn’t originally built to survive the long haul. Designed as a temporary villain to be killed off within five to ten episodes, his continued presence became a creative challenge for the writers each season.
James reveals that the team never quite knew what to do with him year to year, often telling him at the start of each season, “We have nothing for you.” Yet, through a combination of strong writing and character improvisation, Spike’s patchwork appearances formed a surprisingly rich and unconventional arc, one that evolved organically, and ultimately gave him a redemptive sacrifice in the series finale of Buffy… followed by a resurrection for Angel.
Dark Turns and Personal Cast
While fans love Spike’s development, the emotional depth took its toll on James personally. When the character was given a soul and had to face the guilt of his past, James found himself diving into deeply uncomfortable territory, dredging up personal guilt and emotional trauma to fuel his performance. The experience eventually led him into a period of depression, and he credits Buffy showrunner Marti Noxon with helping him find a therapist who got him through it.
Once More, With Fear
Of course, Buffy wasn’t all pain and torment. The musical episode, “Once More, With Feeling” remains one of the most beloved moments in the show’s history. Although at the time, the cast wasn’t convinced… James admits they were terrified, assuming the episode would be the one that sank the series entirely. Listening to Joss Whedon’s original demo tapes didn’t exactly inspire confidence either. But with the writing and performances, it turned into a triumph. One that not only pushed the story forward but showcased a new level of creative ambition for genre television.
Reuniting for Slayers
In recent years, James returned to the role of Spike in Slayers: A Buffyverse Story, an Audible Original audio drama created by Amber Benson and Christopher Golden. Featuring a huge returning cast – including Charisma Carpenter, Juliet Landau, Anthony Stewart Head, and more – the show places Spike at the centre of a new generation of Slayers.
James describes the experience as seamless and joyful, crediting the high quality of the writing and the thrill of seeing familiar faces step back into their roles. He especially highlights how Slayers allowed characters like Juliet Landau’s Drusilla and Cordelia Chase (as a Slayer!) to evolve in exciting ways.
The Buffy Reboot – and a Bit of Mystery
With news of a Buffy reboot in development – led by Oscar-winning director Chloé Zhao and the showrunners behind Poker Face – we had to ask: will Spike return?.. James plays it coy but confirms there’s something going on. While he stops short of confirming any involvement, his enthusiasm for the project and the people behind it is clear.
The Final Frontier
After working across Buffy, Angel, Torchwood, Smallville, Runaways, and even voicing The Dresden Files, there’s still one fan-favourite James hasn’t officially joined: Star Trek. And it’s not for lack of trying.
he reveals that he was originally considered for the role of Picard’s clone in Star Trek: Nemesis – a role that eventually went to Tom Hard – but nerves got the better of him during the audition. He’s still hopeful he’ll one day make it into the Trek universe, joking that he’s not dead yet, and there’s still time.
The full box sets of both Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel are available to stream right now on ITVX in the UK
Listen to the full episode now below to hear James talk about:
- Why Buffy still matters today
- The emotional impact of playing Spike
- Behind the scenes of the musical episode
- Reuniting for Slayers
- His thoughts on the upcoming reboot
- …and his lifelong dream of joining Star Trek
Original article at GeekTown
This article has been reproduced for archive purposes, all rights remain
