Angel
Yes folks, I have this need to be bashed, so I figured that there wasn’t a better time in the world to talk about this week’s subject: Angel. Angel is a conflicting source of turmoil within me. I say conflicting for a simple reason. There are times when I want to stake him and then a few times I feel proud of him. I do not think it is DB’s acting that influences me, but however, that it is the character of Angel that bothers me.
Unlike so many, I did not start watching Angel because of Angel. The reasons why I continued to watch were simple: Charisma Carpenter, Alexis Denisof and Amy Acker. I started out liking Angel, but then I grew really tired of the brood fest real quick among other things. Let’s hit a few of those things: His self-absorbed ‘me’ nature. It is all about me! I think I hit real disgusted when he found out about the prophecy and they all kept score of how many people Angel saved. Best examples of self-absorbed lie in many cases, but here are a few. Billy: Cousin tells that dark hair lady was by and said some melodramatic guy would be by. First words out of his mouth were about the melodramatic and then changed to the realization that Cordelia was after Billy. Or how about more recently when Spike attacked Cordelia and Angel was like ‘Did you just call me a tit?’ The list can go on and on. Which, it will.
Another example of this is when changes happen in his friend’s lives. The coupling of Gunn and Fred and then later, Wes and Fred, Angel was the last to know simply because he did not pay attention. He was too focused on his problems and his life. He didn’t notice the DRASTIC change of Cordelia’s beautiful long hair to that hideous dark bob. I mean, please, how could you miss it? Not to mention the season 4 memory wipe of Connor from everyone’s minds, hey which I think of it now, that would have included Willow. Oh and if we are discussing memory wipes, how about that season 1 Buffy mind wipe of the entire day. Not as big of a deal as Connor’s but it still was looking out for what he wanted at the cost of his friends’ memories. Needless to say he didn’t ask them.
Which leads me to another gripe, I got upset at him making so many decisions for others. He screws over his friends, yet time and time again, he is making decisions for them or at least trying too. If they don’t agree with it, then he just does it anyways. Ummm, okay. Yea, that is the type friend I want to have. What surprised me was in ‘Power Play’ he actually let people vote on whether they wanted in or not. I was picking my jaw from the floor that night. Shocked as hell.
Another point, the amulet. Think back to the episode ‘Home’. Lilah gives Angel the envelope with the amulet in it. Angel tosses it back on the table and says that Buffy can take care of herself? What the hell? Did anyone else want to grab him and beat the crap out of him? I know I did. If it had been Spike, he would have taken the envelope and ran all the way to Sunnydale. However, Angel declines it, and then only takes it after making the deal and then making a pit stop at Connor’s new home. Between Connor’s house and Sunnydale, he spruces up in time to play the brooding hero once more who gets jealous because his grandchild slept with his ex. Oh give me a break, when you turned down the amulet the first time, which cut off any right you had at bitching.
Angel is not mature. It is seen so many times over the years. He skipped town on Buffy because he was not mature enough to deal with it like an adult. He comes across as the moody, drama ridden, adolescent teen that loves all the angst because it gives him a reason to be depressed and pissed off. It keeps people from getting close. That way, they cannot see what kind of person he really is.
It didn’t stop Cordelia though. While as a higher being, she witnessed everything about his past. All the rights and all the wrongs… everything that made him the vampire he is today, including life as the bastard, Liam. Yes, Liam was a bastard. He was a womanizing abuser that later was magnified as Angelus. Liam is still within Angel as William is still within Spike. Cordelia was able to see his past and his present, she was able to love him unconditionally and accept him for who he was. In the end, it was her that got him back on track. He couldn’t do it without her; needless to say, he sucked at doing it without her. In the end, she was with him. Being able to tell him that she knew he could do it was very eloquent in the end. She was his rock, his tie to the world, in a way no one else could be or ever be.
Let’s not get me started on how he knowingly contributed to Wesley’s death. I think Illyria needs to kill him next.
Ok, good things. I loved him with Darla. Darla and Angel were a strong love story that had fire and chemistry. I have reviewed this before, but I would rather have Darla and Angel or Cordelia and Angel pairings. They just make sense to me. Ok, changing subjects away from shipper discussions. I will say this: the only person to have a baby on the shows was a vampire without a soul. Know what that meant? Darla rocks.
Let’s see, I was talking about good things. Oh yes, how he saved Cordelia from W&H’s vision assault that hospitalized her. His caring and worrying about Cordelia always touched me. He was willing to sacrifice the world to save Fred. His love for Connor was beautiful. Him turning his back on his friends, yea, I hated that too… but it sprang to mind. His constant banter fests with Spike were nice as well, as was them working together. His stalking Buffy, both in Sunnydale and in Rome, yea I know, again, just came to mind. Illyria throwing him out of W&H that was nice. Rescuing Fred. Oh, his going through the trails for Darla and being a Champion for the pregnant woman.
He did have his moments and a damn good television show.
DaddyCatALSO: Spot on, Myth; normally in TVLand, unless the main char. is specifically depicted as a bumbler, they’re the show’s defintion of virtue. But in Jossland Buffy’s a bitch and Angel’s a self-obsessed bore. Tru e quality.
- Err Fogey Liam was at elast 26 maybe 28 so physically he is mature.
(30.07.2004, 10:05)
Myth: The last character I watched ATS for was Angel. I started to like ATS S7 and look what happens!!! I always found Angel self absorbed and pompous. He did have some good moments. Nice musings Aeryn…and sooooo brave of you!!
(30.07.2004, 07:57)
fanofangel: I watched because I found his character so interesting. Yes, he was self involved, immature and sometimes just plain stupid. I liked that it made him more human than demon, I thought that’s what Whedon was doing. Hell, I think he did ok considering what his life must have been like. But I do agree on paying attention to things around him, clueless, like most men. Always loved Darla with Angelus, but not Angel, I consider them 2 diff people,er,demon……….
(29.07.2004, 21:37)
slayerprincess1978: You can say that again! The only reason I watched was for Cordy, then the rest of the AI Team. Angel does have a tendency to make it all about him. Hello you got other people to worry about too. Now I am a shipper but i think Darla and Angel ROCK together. I seriously loved Lorne though other than Cordy he made the show actually watchable
(29.07.2004, 19:28)
Voltage: Totally agree. You rock, as always. I too have a love/hate relationship with Angel. I loved him with Darla (though, sometimes I couldn’t stand Darla) and I hated the way it was all about him. Me me me me me. Other people have redemptions, too, Angel. *rolls eyes* I watched the show because Angel was interesting at times, but Cordy, Lorne, Wes and Fred ALWAYS were the best. Anyways, You ROCK (as you well know :D) Oh, and a boo hiss for Angel. ;)
(29.07.2004, 18:51)
Aeryn: Tanko for your comment Fogey! We are on the same page.
(29.07.2004, 18:38)
Fogey: Amen Sister! Cordy was my reason, later Fred & Wes. “Angel is not mature.” No he is still the age Liam was when Angelous was sired. Oh! you meant emotionally & mentally. Angel has grown but still has much of Liams immaturity. Melodramatic guy is stuck in the brood fest & its all about me stage, a member of the cookie dough set. Typical action show hero, thats why Wes, Cordy, Fred & Lorne shine in comparison. They had more complexity & depth of character. DARLA ROCKS!! @ 500 char. limit LOL
(29.07.2004, 17:17)