Angel

Angel could use a Spike in the ratings.

So when the Buffy The Vampire Slayer spinoff enters its fifth season tonight, it will do so with fresh blood — namely, James Marsters, who plays the peroxide-coifed Brit punk vampire Spike.

Unlike Angel’s titular character — a brooding vampire cursed with a soul who wants to redeem himself — Marsters’ Spike is sardonic, acid-tongued and hugely popular with fans. The only problem was, as viewers who saw the finale of Buffy last May know, Spike is dead. And not in an undead sort of way. But in a burned to a cinder with scattered ashes sort of way.

"I kind of know what’s going to happen," hedges star David Boreanaz. "I know what form (Spike) will take."

Ghost ? Vampire ? Human ? Name it and the possibility is currently being debated somewhere on the Internet.

FROM THE ASHES

Boreanaz won’t say how Spike returns, only that it will take several episodes — if not the whole season — to reveal all.

The idea of bringing Spike, as well as other former cast members of the now-defunct Buffy, over to Angel first came up in a conversation between Boreanaz and creator-executive producer Joss Whedon earlier this year.

At the time, the 32-year-old actor was filming a brief appearance on the Buffy denounment.

"We talked about bringing Sarah over, that it’d be nice to have her for two episodes and when that would happen, down the line. Then with James, he was brought up, that his Q numbers (how an actor scores with focus groups) are so good and he could strengthen the show."

Now five episodes into the season, Boreanaz says, "He’s working out pretty great. In the beginning, I was a bit skeptical how he would fit into a world like Angel’s — being in the city and coming from where he’s from. But there’s been an interesting banter between the characters ... they’re pretty much at each other’s throats."

Marsters’ arrival marks just one of several creative shake-ups this season. Out is Charisma Carpenter, who played Cordelia since the show’s premiere. In is Mercedes McNab as Harmony, Spike’s ex-vampire-girlfriend. Gone are the season-long story arcs that viewers have watched unfold in years past.

TWEAKS VS. EVOLUTION

With Angel and Co. now running the demonic law offices of Wolfram and Hart — rather than opposing them — episodes will be more self-contained and accessible. Boreanaz dismisses the notion that the fate of the Buffy franchise now rests on Angel’s shoulders.

"Joss’ characters are so deep and rich that you always have this evolution. Angel started out as a supporting character. You have all these characters to draw on ... Having Mercedes over, as far as a female antagonist, has been a treat."

Still, Angel is now the only series on the air from the prolific Whedon, who last year juggled Buffy, Angel and the short-lived Firefly (which he recently signed to turn into a feature film).

While early reports suggested Whedon would be more actively involved in Angel, Boreanaz says that hasn’t been the case.

"For me, it’s the same as it has been since the first season. He oversees the scripts, the cuts — that’s his department. That’s pretty much our involvement. I don’t really get involved with it."

That said, Boreanaz does have a suggestion on how the series should end.

"I think Angel should just become human and go walk outside into the sun and then get hit by a bus. That’d be funny, but I don’t think it’d go over too well."