Great piece, but I disagree with the end point of this being a cautionary tale. The show covers a huge number of philosophical and religious concepts, particularly Dharmic ones (along with Taoism, Abrahamic religions, shamanism, existentialism, nihilism, Hellenistic models, and atheism). Spike is really not stuck on the past or trying to fight against the flow. It's a heroic tale of taking the tiny narrow opening allowed to single-handedly topple the syndicate. It had to happen then, and either inaction or the suggestion of both Julia and Faye to run away were both ignoble acts of self preservation in the face of evil. In the Bhagavad Gita, this is the main moral of how to live: a warrior and expert marksman is there to fight and fight without concern for the outcome, he is the only one person to confront the head of this army, and that forgetting oneself, one's pleasure, one's pain, and one's potential for success is what makes the outcome of the fight righteous. In Hinduism and other Dharmic religions, this is called renunciation and karma. The reward is called moksha. Moksha is the end of endless reincarnation and assumption into the universal soul. It is the ultimate goal of living, since even a good reincarnation involves suffering according to the Dharmic religions. It describes the tiger striped cat story, the idea of Spike's exhaustion with reincarnation, and the ending moments better than anything. Taoism is a show theme, but using it as the entire through line rather than one of the dozen plus philosophy and theology ideas covered in the show overshadows the actually happy and heroic ending. The point is that Spike was living free but for nothing. So he died for something and something that does tremendous good (remember how much syndicates like the Red Dragon corrupt society) that atones for his past as a member. Also in the Bhagavad Gita, the concept of Wu wei is strictly frowned upon by Krishna, as is avoidance and denying your training and preparation for your purpose is seen as a sin. Spike is someone who runs into danger head on, stepped up when needed, and sat beside about a dozen people as they gave him their final words, preparing him for something that he didn't understand till the very beginning of episode 26, the final crossroad of stay or go. We the viewers, Julia, Jet, Faye, everyone who loves Spike doesn't want to see him killed, but he is the only one to set us straight that he's not going to give his life away. That would be what running away would be...living without meaning. Spike is clearly intended as the hero even though we are saddened by his end. He isn't stepping out of flow and throwing his life away. He moves on in line with the flow even though he sees Julia die from the following him in the river. And Julia followed him because doing nothing isn't always an option. From there, he manages to heroically make the whole way to the top floor and calls his shot on the way back down. And Spike was fully able to come to terms with his past. In every episode in which Spike confronts Vicious, he does it head on, through the front door or to his face. When he reunites with Julia, his first action isn't to lose himself in her. It's to gather the rest of the people he cares about, hence going to Annie. And when she is already wounded, he realizes there is only a violent way out. He ignores Julia's desire to relive the past plan from years ago to run away and instead understands that his dream of a life of freedom with her is only dream. I don't think the point to take from the overall show is do nothing and simply go with the flow. The great existential philosopher Sartre said that man is condemned to be free, just as in Hinduism and Buddhism, humans are condemned to be reincarnated until they ascend through righteousness. Less than for claiming the reward money, Spike hunted bounties to have something to do. So he died doing something righteous and got the reward he really wanted, freedom from coming back.
Great take on the show. I hadn't considered many aspects you mentioned in your comment. That being said, I'm also not that well-versed with Hinduism & Buddhism yet so that's maybe one reason. I appreciate the insight & I specifically liked it when you mentioned: "The point is that Spike was living free but for nothing. So he died for something and something that does tremendous good" Definitely made me think. It's always incredibly hard to get all aspects & philosophies of a show right & then into a short I0 to I5 min video, so it helps to receive constructive comments like these. Thanks a lot & have a great day :)
I really liked this video, a few days ago I lost all my savings and I was really concerned about a lot of things, I always try to have things in control and have eyes on the things that matters to me, but I'm seeing how that has been giving me pain, so since years ago I've trying to do the best I can do when I can, just when I can, and really giving my best, and accept that sometimes we have to say "Well, that's it, let's move another way"
When I heard of Taoism for the first time I found it interesting. What I understood from it was to not try and in the not trying you'll find peace and strength to live on.
That is basically the practice of Wu Wei, yes. But the more I read into it, the more I got the feeling that it wasn't about not trying but rather, not forcing. You SHOULD try & see what works & what doesn't, but don't try and force your way through the current. It's here where you'll only end up drowning yourself..
