James Marsters Reflects on Controversial Buffy Scene

James Marsters, known for his role as Spike in 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer', has revealed the profound emotional impact of filming a controversial scene from the season six episode 'Seeing Red'. The scene, which involves Spike attempting to sexually assault Buffy, caused Marsters significant distress, leading him to describe it as 'the darkest professional day of my life' and prompting him to seek therapy. He expressed his opposition to the scene, stating it was problematic for viewers and reflected a painful experience from one of the writers' pasts. Marsters further explained that the show's intention was to explore dark themes by flipping gender roles, believing Buffy’s strength would mitigate the impact of the assault. However, he felt uncomfortable with the portrayal of sexual violence and emphasized that he typically avoids such roles. Ultimately, he was contracted to perform the scene, which he found emotionally challenging and troubling.