but i don't think it was a particularly romantic way until season 6
but i do think she has a really good friendship with him in s5

Depends on how you use the word 'love' like friendship love or boyfriend love... I think friendship love started in season 5, but then boyfriend love started in the 7th season after she got over herself a little.

I think Buffy was good friends with him. Because she believes that he could help her to stop Glory. But season 6 and 7 was confusing to understand . She was using Spike in Season 6 and she was raped by him . But season 7 was romantic to me because when Buffy found out that Spike was back with a Soul she was shocked and believes in him .Also Buffy had fallen in love him through season7

I think she TRUELY loved him in season 7! Season 5, was the start of the friendship.

season 7 was when she new she could trust him truly and allowed herself to start having real feelings for him .

she just didn't know it :)

Love as in i trust you with my life, then yes season seven. S5 was friendship.

she more or less used him in season six but she did actually LOVE him in season 7

But she didn't realize it until season 7. But I believe she loved him in 5x18.

I think she started having tiny feelings for him, especially when he protected Dawn & she from Glory, considering him an ally & beginning to accept/understand Spike's love for her. Those feelings grew even stronger in S6, then grew to undeniable love (unintentionally admitting she was in love with Spike to Willow in epi, *First Date*). She accepted her feelings by *Touched*, & admitted them with perfect clarity, cuz she was gonna lose Spike & did truly love him (& IMO, during Buffy S8 comics, she still subconsciously does love him).

I think in S5 she realized how much of a man he was becoming, that he could be better. I don't think she necessary loved him, but I think she felt for him. Cared about him. It was obvious she wasn't ready to lose him even in S5. I think that in S6 she really did fall in love with him, but she just couldn't admit it to herself. I think also that her reason's of not wanting to accept it had a lot to do with him not having a soul, and judgement from her friends.

it was shown more in season 7

I think she had feelings for him in s5 she way ott/protested too much about spike feelings for her and him saying there something between them etc and she didn't have to kiss him for what he did for her and dawn. I think season 6 she did but was ashamed to admit it but season 7 he came to trust him and accept it at the last moment with spike which kind of sad since spike died