"Most of them are worse than this, I'd say." Extra points for not quite faint praise. :) I think the Spike-n-Dawn void from the last season is one many of us are anxious to fill.

I think the formula you mention might be a character move. Spike is a self-lacerator... every night he saves you, you know? And Dawn is prickly and defensive. The abjectness might go a ways toward defusing that.

PS: The icon is creepy-fab.