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Post by Dalton on Sept 17, 2003 21:17:28 GMT -5
This thread contains the ScoopMe Reviews for the Fourth Season of Angel.
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Post by Dalton on Sept 17, 2003 21:22:28 GMT -5
Deep Down: Resurfacing "The past is a source of knowledge, and the future is a source of hope. Love of the past implies faith in the future." ‑‑Stephen Ambrose
Let’s face it. When we last saw the Fang Gang, not only were they in a serious mess, the show was as well. Instead of going out with a bang, Angel exited for the summer with more of a strangled whimper. Compared to the brouhaha caused by evil Willow, Connor’s wicked plan merely served to represent the fans’ sinking appreciation of the less than stellar wrap‑up.
However, as Wesley put it, everything changes. And it is Wesley, the anchor that kept viewers interested near the end of last season, who returned to (both literally and metaphorically) pull Angel out of the depths. Here is a man who appeared to be sinking as well ‑ sinking into the depths of despair and disappointment. Abandoned by friends and tempted by enemies, it would be easy to write him off as the bitter, revengeful type. Yet he keeps us guessing. With each turn his actions reflect a different side of a man who used to be known for his sniveling ineptitude. Now we see a man who is hard and strong, yet calm and mysterious. He seems to be a man who has given up, yet inside there still remains a glimmer of something more.
Hope.
Hope for forgiveness. Hope that things may yet return to normal. Hope that he may be accepted again. Though his words declare differently, his actions speak volumes. He risked his own life to rescue Angel. Some may see it as merely a debt repaid, but something in his replies to Justine and in his eyes reveal a longing to be a friend to Angel once again. Without this longing, this hope, Wesley may abandon succumb completely to the wiles of the dark side.
Without hope for a better tomorrow, why struggle through the hardships of today? It is hope that keeps all of us going. It’s true for Wesley, and it’s true for the rest of the members of the Bat Pack.
Connor
Connor has been a very bad boy. Not only did he leave his dad at the bottom of the ocean, but he also used his dad’s closest friends as surrogate parents. Was it a ploy to keep tabs on the progress of their search or merely a desperate move made by someone with nowhere else to go?
In either case he’s out on his own ‑ for now. Now he’s got time to reflect on what he has become and what he plans to do in the future. Angel’s speech forced Connor to take a look at how his hate transformed him into someone with few redeeming qualities. He is no champion; he’s merely a fighter. Angel should know what that’s like; he’s been there. With time, training and a little TLC, there’s hope that Connor may become a useful and beneficial member of the team.
Fred and Gunn
Spending a summer alone together has really improved the believability of these two as a couple. Fred is less whimpering. Gunn is less moronic. Merely lowering the level of lovey‑dovey baby talk gives their relationship more credibility than ever before. They fight, they argue, they kiss, they watch each other’s backs – all just like real couples do.
With Connor to "raise" and without Angel or Wesley to bark orders, Fred and Gunn were forced to once again think about something besides each other. Responsibility and adversity can either cement a relationship or tear it apart. The fact that they survived the summer and came out looking better than ever gives hope that this may be one relationship that can go the distance.
Cordelia
When we last saw Cordelia, she had transcended past the status of a mere half‑human, half‑demon as well as transcended right past being a good character. Where there once was a spunky, firey girl stood a boring, holier‑than‑thou pseudo‑Buffy with no better purpose than to magically fix all problems with her glowing goodness. Oh yeah, and to provide Angel with something to lust after.
Now, with one little line, Cordelia inspires hope that she may return to the fold as the über‑honest straight shooter that she once was. She’s more than just a romantic foil for Angel. She's Cordelia, Queen C, and she deserves so much better. Unfortunately, Cordelia’s hair will never be the gorgeous, flowing river of shiny goodness that it once was. We have no other option than to accept that fact. However, we can still hope that she stays away from the bottle and lets it grow into something a little more complimentary to her face.
Angel
Angel is one vampire with serious priority issues. He is supposed to be on a mission for "The Powers That Screw You" to protect the innocent and help the helpless. He sometimes forgets that, especially when Darla or Connor are involved. Connor is still very much involved. When faced with him again, Angel could have easily succumbed to the desire to force Connor to see how he was wrong by keeping him trapped in the hotel until he came around. Instead, he thought about his purpose as a champion. He gave Connor the opportunity to choose right for himself instead of shoving it down his throat.
Angel understands that despite all the disappointments life brings, it doesn’t excuse him (or anyone else) from doing what is right and what is good. All of Angel’s dreams of family, of love, and of fatherhood have turned into something horrible. It doesn’t matter; it’s all in the past. It doesn’t even matter what he or Connor have done, it only matters how the live each day and work for the future. Connor now has the opportunity to come to this conclusion himself.
Forgiveness is the order of the day. Forgiveness is something Angel is still working on. The questions is, will Angel apply this to Wesley as well? Keep your fingers crossed.
Hope for a Good Season
While it is nice to wish that everything would return to how it was and that everyone would get along, there wouldn’t be any excitement if there weren’t a hint of danger on the horizon. Along with the all hope spread around, there also came a sense of foreboding.
Justine, possibly pulling a Cassandra, was constantly shouting out messages that none of us wanted to hear. She predicted that the gang would not take Wesley back and, for the moment, it appears she was correct. She also predicted that Angel would turn on them all ‑ a prediction that has a bit more substance to it than just the hollow shout of a bitter doomsayer. Angel is a vampire, and a particularly hard‑headed one at that. He’s made mistakes in the past and done some betraying, so it’s not that much of a stretch to say it may happen again. Even a bigger baddie than Justine is guaranteed to stir up some trouble. Lilah has gone to the head of the class and proven she’s got what it takes to be evil with the best of them. Just when you think she might pull a Lindsey and show a softer‑side, she goes and chops someone’s head off. She accused Linwood of being too passive, which pretty much guaranties she’s ready to take an active approach to stirring up trouble in Angel’s life. Count on Lilah to come up with some very devilish schemes.
And then there’s Wesley. While hope remains he will reenter the fold, there is no denying he’s playing with fire. Sleeping with Lilah and abusing Justine (not that she didn’t deserve it) both imply that he’s on a slippery slope. The hurtful words spurted out by his ungrateful "friends" could have only served to grease his descent. Will he remain passive, return as an ally or perhaps become one of Angel’s greatest foes?
All in all, the possibilities are endless. These possibilities, along with the opportunity to further discuss the show with such a wonderful crew, have me anticipating a highly enjoyable season. Now if only Lorne was added to the opening credits, things would really be sweet.
Thanks for stopping by and hopping on board for another fantastic season of one of the best shows on television. Remember: Alias is cool, but VCRs are cooler and Tivo is the coolest! Please take a moment to rate the article and then head on over to the discussion board to dish about the first episode and your hopes for the new season.
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Post by Dalton on Sept 17, 2003 21:25:55 GMT -5
Ground State: Lots to Lose
Mary Renault once said in her novel The Praise Singer, "It is bitter to lose a friend to evil, before one loses him to death." That’s understandable, but how does it feel to lose a friend to good?
Tonight, on a very special episode of Birds of Prey, oops, I mean Angel, our hero in black discovers he’s lost not one, but two of his old friends to "good." Whether it’s hair, keys, bets or elections, losing is almost never a positive thing. Out of all the things you can lose, the loss of a friend or loved one is the hardest to take. Yes, even more than the loss of money.
Cordelia is lost. She may not be lost in the sense that she does not know where she is, but she is lost to Angel. The upside is that she’s not dead and she’s not evil, she’s just lost to "good." Seeing a higher purpose to her newfound abilities, she chose to leave the earth, become a higher being and do good by standing around and letting weird glowing cloud‑things swirl around her.
With this new knowledge, Angel can call off his frantic search for his much‑professed, yet not quite believable, love. He discovered that she’s gone doing good for others in another dimension, but does that make the fact she’s gone any easier to handle?
Yes, it does. Angel can take comfort in the fact she’s still fighting on his side to make the world a better place. He can be happy that being trapped at the bottom of the ocean did not keep him from rescuing her from some horrible fate. He can also lose some of that guilt that may have lingered after the lusty kiss with the walking power strip. Cordelia’s gone, but Angel, Fred, Gunn and Lorne will only miss her, not mourn her.
Wesley, on the other hand, is a different situation. He is another friend who has also been lost ‑ but to good?
Wesley assembled a new evil‑fighting force so fast that even Holtz would be impressed. Last week, there was hope for reconciliation. This week, it looks like Wesley gave up that hope long ago. He’s moved on past his old friends, but not past the mission. He’s still fighting the good fight ‑ even more so than those over at Angel Investigations, where every almost every mission is personal.
However, Wesley needs to enroll in Spike’s Seminar of Slayer Survival. In this seminar, there’s a special segment on the importance of friends and family. Fighting the good fight is not enough. There has to be something worth fighting for; something to keep you grounded. Otherwise, you end up dead.
With Lilah whispering evil nothings into his ear, Wesley’s fate might turn out even worse.
Wesley’s lost, but the old gang barely bats an eye unless he has something they need. Angel has forgiven him, but is he really all that upset that he’s gone? Is the old friendship, the old camaraderie worth enough to Angel and the others to forget the past and rebuild the relationships? Obviously, the answer is no. Self‑righteous indignation takes precedent over sympathy and concern when it comes to Wesley. Instead of railing against it, Wesley has quietly moved on begun his own career as a crime fighter.
Much like Cordelia, Wesley still fights on the right side, but he is lost. Not to death and not to evil, but if things do not change, how long will it be before he descends into one or the other?
While losing him to evil may be bitter, there is still hope for redemption. Death, most of the time, is final. Frighteningly final, as Fred demonstrated. The thought of losing the person closest to her, even if it only lasted a second, was enough to bring her to a breaking point. If Gunn were to die, she would have not only lost her lover, but also her strength, resolve and inspiration. Her outburst made no sense yet complete sense at the same time. Cordelia is lost, Wesley is lost, but Gunn would have been gone. Losing something is so much worse when there is no hope of finding it again.
Speaking of losing, let’s hope that’s what the writers decide to do with Gwen. Too harsh, you say? What purpose can she possibly serve other than to keep Angel and Cordelia apart? Case in point: Angel gave her a big, wet kiss. Unless your physical heart is the literal source of passion, there’s no reason why Angel would start smooching with her when his started up. While I’m all for keeping Angel and Cordelia apart, isn’t it a bit too Dawson’s Creek to have to use a misunderstanding with another woman to accomplish this? It would be refreshing if they did it the grown‑up way and realized that, "Hey, maybe we really aren’t right for each other."
Okay, maybe there’s a slight chance that Gwen is supposed to do more than just to keep Cordelia and Angel apart. Maybe, just maybe, she’s supposed to be a cool, new character. If so, What kind of character is she supposed to be? The sexy vixen? Lilah ran circles around her with just two scenes. The fragile/hardened child? Fred blows her completely out of the water. The sassy girl? Bring Cordelia back home. The bad‑girl who really wants to do good? Give me some Faith instead, please.
Anyone who’s read comic books for an extended period of time will recognize Gwen as the obligatory "electric" character. This person has the ability to do just about anything thanks to their mastery over electricity. Much like Cordelia’s power of glow, lightning powers act as an out for pretty much any situation. This overused plot device isn’t limited to comic books and it isn’t surprising to see it turn up here. Not surprising, but kind of disappointing.
Random Final Comments
Mere Smith penned a very solid episode with plenty of drama, action and humor. As obnoxious as Electra was, even she couldn’t ruin it. Lilah definitely wins the quote of the night contest. "I’m still evil. I don’t run errands unless they are evil errands." We need to start a "champion" counter. You think they’ll go an episode this season without mentioning the word? One ending with Cordelia’s comments from the glowverse was great. Two endings, not so cute. Fred with the index cards was the perfect touch for the presentation scene. How does Alyson feel about Alexis’ steam scenes? Yikes! Angel got a haircut. Let’s hope his shaggy dog of a son follows suit. Thanks for stopping by again this week. Hop on the boards and let everyone know how you felt about Conduit Girl, Wesley’s reaction to Angel’s forgiveness, the similarities/differences between Buffy and Cordelia and everything else!
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Post by Dalton on Sept 17, 2003 21:27:31 GMT -5
The House Always Wins: Lessons
"I can only wait for the final amnesia, the one that can erase an entire life." ‑Luis Buñuel
Welcome back to all of you! I’m happy to have you back for week of Angel pontification. Tonight’s Angel musings were written under the influence of a very effective pain medication, so read at your own risk. For those of you who were wondering, the answer is yes, it was prescribed. Just like Winona’s.
Angel and the crew go to Vegas. Sounds exciting, right? Not so much. The writing was passable, the scenes played out for too long and most of the actors looked like they could have used some better direction. Sure, Fred did dress up like a Lornette, but where were the thrills and chills beyond that? The entire premise seemed to serve two major functions. One: to get Lorne back to L.A. Two: to get Cordelia out of the alternate dimension.
What IS she doing back on earth, anyway? Most likely, as is common with higher‑beings, she was forbidden to interfere in the lives of mere mortals (it just so happens that Wonder Woman had a similar problem after she was promoted to Goddess of Truth, but that’s another story). When Cordelia broke this rule by helping Angel, she was banished from the realm of boring glow‑lights and returned to L.A. with no memory. Those other higher‑beings can’t have her going around spilling the beans about the goings‑on of other dimensions, now can they?
Cordelia’s apparent amnesia is really an opportunity for the writers to get out of the corner they’d written themselves into. The Cordelia of last season, both as Angel’s paramour and a goodie‑two‑shoes didn’t have a lot of fans. So now it’s Goodbye Saint Cordelia and hello blank slate. The question is, will she return to her former glory as Queen C or become a completely new incarnation? One thing is for certain, viewers dreading a romance between Cordelia and Angel can breathe a sigh of relief. For now, at least.
Okay, Cordelia is back. Major function served. Is there anything else that we can take away from this little trip to L.A, you say? I’m so glad that you asked! There are actual several very important lessons that stand out, ripe for gleaning. So get out your pencils and notebooks because the honors Angel class is now in session! Yes, this information will be on the test.
Lesson #1: Gambling is bad
Not only can you lose all of your money, but you can lose your future as well. You don’t need to go to a casino run by amateur magicians to get addicted or to lose enough money to make your future seem pretty bleak.
The next time you hear the call of the dice or the siren of the cards, just remember that the house always wins. Not sometimes. Not once in a while. Always. Also remember, in the real world, smashing the chips won’t get you anything but kicked out or possibly arrested.
Lesson # 2: Talking about a non‑existent pet is the international signal for "Help, I’m being held against my will."
Now we know the code to use when we are taken prisoner. Just try and pick a pet name other than Fluffy, which apparently can have many different interpretations.
This lesson is brought to you by the letter L! Lorne is back in L.A. and it couldn’t have come at a better time. A favorite member of the cast since his first appearance, Lorne is a level‑head as well as terrific comic relief. He knows how to cut through the crap and keep Angel and the rest of the crew honest. Who better than to help the emotionally evasive Angel deal with the return of a memory‑free bobble‑head?
Lesson #3: Angel is still a major player in the apocalypse. There was talk that the prophecies concerning a vampire with a soul may now refer to Spike. Possible? Yes. However, Angel is guaranteed a big part, prophecies or not. When it comes to the apocalypse, even bad guys with no handy‑dandy scrolls can determine that Angel’s a key player.
Lesson #4: Wes is a super freak
What network was tonight’s episode on? That’s right, the WB. Then why did it seem like I was watching Skinemax when Wesley starting talking dirty to Lilah on the phone? To put it professionally, that was just icky. Who would have guessed that Wes would be so kinky?
And who would have guessed he’d be such a big meanie of a boss? It makes you wonder if he really is in it to help the helpless or if he’s suddenly all about the Benjamins. With the members of Angel Investigations busy dealing with all of their internal problems, there’s probably a lot of cash to be made handling all the weird and unusual cases so prominent in the big city.
"Evil companions corrupt good morals" ‑ 1 Corinthians 15:33. Perhaps boinking Lilah has finally begun to take its toll on Wesley’s behavior and beliefs. At first, Wesley’s cold actions used to stem from bittern resentment. Now they appear to have taken on a malice all their own. How much longer can he straddle the fence before he’s actually working for the wrong side?
Lesson #5: Two members of the Blue Man Group are demons.
Does this really come as a surprise to anyone?
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Now, my excellent pupils, we see that even a mediocre Angel adventure is full of useful information that can enrich our lives. Sounds to me like a pretty good reason to keep the channel where it is after Charmed instead of flipping on over to that other show with the CIA chick and her wigs. Plus, you never know when there might be a pop quiz.
Rate the article then join the study group at the boards to further increase your Angel awareness!
Josh Buckman
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Post by Dalton on Sept 17, 2003 21:29:56 GMT -5
Slouching Towards Bethlehem: Memories
"Memory depends very much on the perspicuity, regularity, and order of our thoughts. Many complain of the want of memory, when the defect is in the judgment; and others, by grasping at all, retain nothing." ‑‑Thomas Fuller
Your favorite birthday party. Your grandmother’s cooking. Your first crush. Your high school horror stories. Your family vacations. Your graduation. Your recent car accident.
Are these memories merely reminders of days gone by or essential pieces of your personality? Would you be the same person if you could not remember the events of your past?
Instinct immediately tells us, "Of course not!" We know that our past shapes our personalities, our behaviors, our reactions and our thought processes. Without the knowledge of previous experience, we would not know how to face the situations when presented with them again.
Yet when Cordelia returns with no memory, she’s not completely clueless. She knows to run when faced with danger. She knows to fear demons. She knows how to fight. She even knows that dishonesty really ticks her off. How can she know these things without her memory? Perhaps the fact that we do not recall the specific event that taught us a valuable lesson does not mean we do not remember the lesson at all. There are some things learned that become instinct, and these are things that we apply without conscious thought.
For instance, we may not remember the time we learned to how ride a bike or add two plus two, but that does not mean that we cannot still perform those functions. We may not remember all the robberies we hear on the news, but we don’t forget to lock our doors. How many countless childhood memories have we forgotten? Yet those experiences directly influence the type of adults we are today.
Therefore, even without her memories, Cordelia can still be like Cordelia. The whole is more than the sum total of its parts. However, there’s something instinctively depressing about the loss of at least twenty‑two years worth of memories. Can she ever really know who she was and what she accomplished, or will her past now only belong in the memories of those close to her?
Others describe Cordelia as a cheerleader, a princess, a warrior and a brave girl who likes shoes and doughnuts. Yet she’s so much more! She’s a former Scooby‑gang member, an ex‑girlfriend of Xander’s, a wannabe actress, Doyle’s vision‑bearing successor, Phantom Dennis’ roommate and even more. She’s shared in so much with so many; does she not deserve the right to remember these accomplishments and hold them close to her heart?
The sadness and horror that naturally comes to us at the thought of losing our memories is not the same kind of sadness that a person who has already lost her memory would feel. You would not miss the parents that raised you. How can you miss something that you don’t remember? Where there once was fondness, there would be nothing. Where there once was malice, there would be nothing. The emotions that linked Cordelia to her past are simply no more. All that’s left is a lonely void in her heart. That is where her sadness is born.
Despite the loneliness she experiences and the hurt those close to her feel from not being remember, the loss of a memory is not 100 percent a bad thing. As Wesley points out, a blank slate doesn’t sound too bad. Cordelia no longer has to feel ashamed of being a self‑involved teenager. She no longer has to suffer through the sad memories of Doyle’s death. Any mistakes, any regrets, they are all gone as well. It’s a new day for Cordelia. Her former obligations no longer directly dictate her future. It’s up to her to decide where to go from here.
As for Wesley, he’s still a man cursed with a remembrance of his past actions. His memories have driven him into the arms of the enemy. Is his relationship with Lilah a desperate search for solace or is it his twisted hope of redemption? Either way, it’s never that simple.
At first, it appeared Wesley was using Lilah to relieve frustrations. Then the proclamation of how he didn’t care about what Angel thought about their "relationship" indicated a deeper sense of compassion. However, by "accidentally" referring to their frequent couplings as a relationship, he may really just been trying to win Lilah’s trust. She appeared to fall for it hook, line and sinker.
What’s this? Does Lilah really have a heart? She quickly nips that notion in the bud by setting Wesley up and feeding him information she knew he’d pass on to Angel. Evil again! But wait! Then she confesses she would have never played Wesley like that if she thought he could ever really trust her. She also didn’t kill Lorne because of Wesley’s friendship with him. Could it be she actually longs for a real love from Wesley? It is possible that even evil lawyers need affection?
Wesley’s relationship with Lilah has gone from simple desire to something deliciously complex. Both Wesley and Lilah intended to use the other, each thinking he/she is stronger than the other. Now, their arrangement has emotions involved. There’s no denying that emotions are fire, uncontrollable and dangerous. To use a worn‑out cliché, you can’t play with fire without getting burned.
While love may not conquer all, and certainly the beginnings of love is even less powerful, it can still change people. The question is, how much? When the horror that approaches finally arrives, which side will Wesley Windham‑Price choose? Perhaps equally intriguing is the following question: which side will Lilah Morgan be on?
And there is definitely a horror approaching.
In his poem "The Second Coming," William Butler Yeats presents a vision of an ominous sphinx‑like monster with "a gaze blank and pitiless as the sun." The poet writes: And what rough beast, its hour come round at last, slouches toward Bethlehem to be born? His image of the slow, inexorable approach of something evil that will inevitably overwhelm what is good is a mixture of the language used in the book of Revelation and his own vision of the end of the world.
How’s that for a chilling bit of foreshadowing? Lorne’s description of Cordelia’s reading is no coincidence. Much like "from beneath you, it devours," the "slouching" let’s us know something big and nasty is on it way. Without delving too deep into poetic analysis, we can assume that whatever is on the way is grand and apocalyptic. We’re talking end of the world scale here.
What this big bad is and what it means for the gang remains to be seen. Angel Investigations may not be all put back together again, but at least all of the players are back on the board. It’s time for the ball to start rolling and the evil to come a‑knocking.
Josh Buckman
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Post by Dalton on Sept 17, 2003 21:31:39 GMT -5
Supersymmetry: The Physics of Fred "I would do anything for love, but I won’t do that." ‑Meatloaf
As a certain Willow Rosenberg once said, "Love makes you do the wacky."
It’s true. Normal, logical behavior seems to fall by the wayside when the mysterious entity called loved sets up shop in a person’s heart. People deny their families, forsake their friends, change their habits, move to new locations and even give up their money, all in the name of love.
Yet all the poets in the world in a grand collaboration could not explain why love elicits such behavior. Those who haven’t experienced love’s overpowering influence can only shake their heads in disbelief at the foolishness of others. Those who have been under love’s thrall know that there’s no explanation; that’s just the way it is.
However, as powerful has love’s influence may be, it is not a self‑absolving excuse. Actions committed in the name of love may appear sentimental or even noble, but they are not without their consequences. A person who tosses away good judgement or morals in the name of love still does so of his or her own free will. Therefore, the actions are understood (and even sympathized with), but not excused.
Gunn’s desire to take revenge upon the man who hurt the woman he loves combined with his need to protect this woman from committing the biggest mistake of her life pushed him into killing a man. Not a vampire. Not a demon. Not even a Wolfram & Hart lawyer. A man.
With all of the demon killing and vengeance taking that the Fang Gang participates in, it is easy to forget that committing murder is a very big deal. Their mission is to help and protect the innocent, not to act as the law. There’s a reason for the legal process and a purpose for our laws. No matter how many times you save the world, you still must follow these laws or you become no better than those that you fight against. It may sound cliché, but it is true.
Gunn understood this. He even tried to explain it to Fred. However, in the end, love and desperation clouded his thinking. When Fred acted as the judge and the jury, Gunn became the executioner. That’s an act he will have to life with for the rest of his life. There’s always a price for vengeance, and you can bet that Gunn is going to pay it in full.
And he knows it.
Even so, Gunn chose to commit the act of murder himself in an attempt to spare Fred from having to suffer consequences that are sure to follow. However, the role she played in the death of a potentially innocent man (sexy assistant‑girl pretending to be nerdy with the glasses, I’m looking at you) cannot be ignored.
They are both going to pay. Perhaps the police won’t catch them. Perhaps their friends won’t find out. It doesn’t matter. They’re still going to pay.
Contrary to what most ballads on the radio tell you, love doesn’t always last forever. However, Fred and Gunn can never take back what they have done. How will this murderous duo feel about this act if their love falls apart? Will the feelings of guilt poison their relationship or does the couple that kills together, stay together?
It doesn’t matter. They’re still going pay.
The Physics of Fred (or How Fred and Gunn Went from a Sweet Couple to the Deadly Duo)
Many physicists have developed theories of supersymmetry, particularly in the context of Grand Unified Theories, which attempt to unify the strong, weak, and electromagnetic interactions to help explain why particles have the masses they have. The supersymmetric theory postulates that every particle we observe has a massive "shadow" particle partner. For example, for every quark there may be a so‑called "squark" tagging along, and every photon may have a "photino."
I will now use a similar theory to explain Fred’s seemingly erratic behavior. Call it the supersymmetry of Winifred. Once a shy, reserved, book‑wormy type girl, Winifred developed a "shadow" partner to her personality while trapped in the dimension of Pylea. Like the shadow partners of particles, "Fredino" remained unseen.
The balance between Winifred and Fredino remained relatively consistent after her return to our dimension. However, when Fred was reminded of the horrors she experienced in Pylea by the tentacle demon, the memories upset delicate balance between Winifred and Fredino. Fredino began to exert more influence than unusual on Fred’s personality.
This influence came to a peak when Fred learned of her former professor’s supposed treachery. Now Fredino, nearly completely in control of Fred, filled her with the need for chaos and destruction. It seemed this once noble girl was now determined to inflict pain and suffering. The relationship between the humble Winifred and the bloodthirsty Fredino was only shocked back into balance upon witnessing Gunn’s startling and horrific act of love.
That, my friends, is why physics is evil.
Physics May Be Evil, But What About Wesley?
Fred is ready to cause some pain and torture. Naturally, she turns to Wesley. Wait a minute, what do you mean, naturally? Wesley steals a child in an attempt to save his life and suddenly he’s the expert of all things vengeful? Or perhaps it is the fact that he is sleeping with a Wolfram & Hart lawyer that gives him the aura of evil. Wait a minute, does Fred even know about that? Sure Wesley is eager to help Fred, but not for the reasons she supposes.
Wesley was once the outcast of the group for a supposed betrayal. Gunn, Fred, Angel and possibly Cordelia all looked down their noses at his oh‑so‑terrible behavior. Yet now, with the exception or Cordelia, they’ve all committed even more terrible acts of their own. Wesley never murdered anyone. Wesley never fed a group of lawyers to two hungry vampires. Wesley never sunk his dad to the bottom of the ocean (as far as we know).
Does this mean it’s time to forgive and forget Wesley’s supposed treachery? If not, I think we’ll need to place a call to the hypocrite hotline.
If Wesley is finally forgiven and accepted back into the fold, what will happen to his relationship with Lilah? While Lilah may claim she’s only using Wesley, but it seems the lady may protest too much. First Wesley warrants a helmet, then a stalking. Even if she really doesn’t truly love Wesley, she cannot deny the jealousy that’s brewing in her barely human heart. Wesley better be very careful. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, and Lilah probably has that on good authority.
And speaking of love (or lust, as the case may be), how about a big, fat incestuous Ewww! for the Connor and Cordelia kiss? Connor’s a teenager with some crazy hormones. Cordelia is an amnesiac who used to change his diapers not even a year ago. Thank goodness she realized the weirdness of the situation.
So she heads back to the hotel and back to Angel. After making him promise to stop the lies, she asks the question that has been burning in the minds of viewers around the world: when can Wesley come back?
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Post by Dalton on Sept 17, 2003 21:33:06 GMT -5
Spin the Bottle: The Memory Game Too bad Willow wasn’t around to warn Cordelia about the dangers of a memory spell.
Willow did a spell to help Buffy forget about her time in a Heaven‑like dimension. And now Cordy, with help from Lorne, is part of a spell to help herself remember her time in a Heaven‑like dimension and get back all her memories pre‑Heaven, as well. Was this a carefully constructed parallel between the two shows, or have Willow and Cordy just never learned a lesson from what happened when Mickey messed with magic in Fantasia?
An Angel episode, not only written by, but also directed by, Joss Whedon, the creator of the entire Buffyverse, has got to be worth watching (over and over again, so much that your VCR eventually eats your videotape and you have to wait for the Angel DVD to come out). "Spin the Bottle" is no exception.
From the moment Lorne begins narrating, to the moment Cordy runs off (yet again), we are taken on a wild, trippy ride that’s as meaningful as it is entertaining.
So much is going on as Gunn is watching Fred and Wesley talk right before they do the spell. Gunn realizes that Fred went to Wes for help in killing Seidel. It isn’t just residual anger over Wesley’s kidnapping Connor that causes Gunn to lash out at Mr. Wyndam‑Pryce; it’s actual jealousy, and justifiably so. Gunn and Fred have always been contemporaries on an evil‑fighting level. There was never a reason for Gunn to feel jealous of Fred. On an academic, mental level, however, it’s another story entirely.
Starting in last week’s episode, we saw Gunn start to realize that he was only a small part of his girlfriend’s world (the demon ass‑kicking part). Gunn now sees that there’s a whole part of Fred’s life he can never be a part of. Super‑string theory and quantum mechanics are as foreign to Gunn as buying from the clearance table would be to a sixteen‑year‑old Cordy. And while Gunn realized he might not match Fred at an academic level, this only bothered him slightly – until he realized that there was a man who could match her on every level, someone who would jump at the chance to be the one who got to share a bed with Fred every night. And that man is Wesley.
In some part of Gunn’s mind, he probably thought that he was the only one for Fred because he was the one willing to kill for her. Then Gunn realizes that Wesley was willing to kill for Fred, also, and from the very beginning. Fred went to Wesley for help in doing what Gunn wouldn’t – help her get eye‑for‑an‑eye justice.
It should also be mentioned that Gunn, like the rest of the Fang Gang, can’t seem to understand Wesley’s Lone Ranger attitude. "What happened to you?" Gunn asks, as if he’s hoping for the answer to some great mystery. Wesley’s answer is simple, though, something that’s so obvious, but that the rest of the group can’t seem to comprehend, even though the answer is staring them right in the face, just as obvious as the scar on Wesley’s neck. "I had my throat cut, and all my friends abandoned me," Wesley says. There’s the answer for his turn to the dark side. But, for some reason, Wesley’s friends can’t seem to grasp this concept, or if they do grasp it, they aren’t willing to accept it as a viable excuse for Wesley’s actions.
Of course, any further confrontations between the group are quickly cut short when the mass amnesia kicks in, and what an entertaining amnesia it is. Cordy hasn’t been so wonderfully wicked since season one of BtVS, when she mocked Willow for finding "the softer side of Sears." And it’s interesting to know that, while 21‑year‑old Cordy considers the Fang Gang among her nearest and dearest, sixteen‑year‑old Cordy would have treated them with contempt for being so much below her social level. Wow, Cordy’s come a long way (but, then, it has been seven years).
And who knew shy little Fred, who once hid in her room for three months because she was afraid to face people, was actually a little stoner in her day? And quite the conspiracy theorist, to boot.
But the funniest had to be Angel, or should I say "Liam." The idea of a time traveler thinking all inventions (cars, radios) are demons has been used before in numerous movies, but Joss Whedon crafted Liam’s dialogue so that Liam retained much of the repugnant, whoring, drunkard attitude we’ve seen him so entertainingly display in flashbacks.
The amnesia scenes play out with the same farcical comic timing as in the movie "Clue" (with Christopher Lloyd and Madeline Kahn). Like in "Clue", the Fang Gang is trapped in a big house (well, not exactly trapped) with a group of strangers, and has to split up and search for a killer. And so hijinks ensue.
After the dust had settled, and the memory‑restoring powder was imbibed, Cordy got her memory back, but there was no passionate embrace with Angel, declarations of undying love, or Angel saying, "Buffy who?" And whether Cordy ran off because she was horrified from her vision, or scared knowing that Angel loved her back, or just freaked because she realized that it wasn’t the government that gave her bad hair, but her own hair stylist, is yet to be determined. But if the Cordy/Angel thing doesn’t work out, it’s obvious that Connor is waiting in the wings, willing to take over where his daddy left off.
Who will be the winner in the Angel/Cordy/Connor triangle, and in the Wes/Fred/Gunn triangle? And will Lilah and Wes continue with the dirty sex, or will he now devote his attention to capturing the heart of the former stoner, Fred Burkle? And what exactly was in Cordy’s vision? And was the government really behind Cordy’s blonde hair? I suppose only time will tell.
Tune in next week. Same Fang Gang time. Same Fang Gang channel.
Things to Note Yet another mention of the word "Champion" this week. Sheesh. We get it. They’re champions. Let’s move on. Wesley’s got himself some spankin’ new weapons. Wonder how long it will be before he starts spankin’ Lilah again? Best line of the episode: "May you orally please the gods." Oh, that wacky Fred.
Editor's Note: Thanks to Chimene Mata for stepping over from our Movies column to help out on Angel tonight. Josh was called away from his television and VCR this week, but will return to us next week.
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Post by Dalton on Sept 17, 2003 21:34:40 GMT -5
Apocalypse, Nowish: Rain of Fire
"Envy the country that has heroes. Pity the country that needs them." ‑ Denton Van Zan
Imagine you are living in Los Angeles. You get out of bed, put on your clothes and go to work like any other day. Everything seems normal.
Except on the way home from work, you turn on the radio and hear reports of rats infesting homes in staggering numbers. You look to your left and see hordes of sparrows committing suicide by crashing into buildings. Then, just as you pull into your apartment complex, fire starts to fall from the sky like rain.
Immediately you think of Sodom and Gomorrah and fear that God is finally going to destroy the pit of immorality that is L.A. with fire and brimstone. As nothing catches fire, this idea is dismissed, but you still can’t ignore the signs. Doom is coming, and it’s coming fast. You know that even the most skeptical would have a hard time quelling the fear that comes with the knowledge that the end may be near.
What do you do? Do you drop to your knees and pray for your soul? Do you flee town in the hopes that you can outrun the destruction? Do you become hysterical with fear?
Do you desperately regret any grievances you may have recently caused your loved ones?
Do you wrap your arms around yourself and wish that the one you loved was there to comfort you?
Do you do something you know you should not because you believe there will be no time for consequences?
Or, maybe, just maybe, you stand ready to fight.
Proving The Term "Champion" is More Than An Overused Phrase
It was long overdue, but the gang finally got a chance to fight some evil! Didn’t it feel good?
The boys working together to figure out how to stop the apocalypse proved that they still knew how to pull a Scooby. There was a surge of electricity when Angel asked Wesley if he was in. When they found the demon, they fought their hearts out, knowing the odds of success were slim.
They were an inspiring sight. Angel with his swords and his resilience. Gunn with his determination and chutzpah. Wesley with his shotgun (yeah, baby!) and his rescue. Even Lorne was there, doing what he could to help. They were each needed, even if they didn’t win.
This is what they were put here on Earth to do ‑ to help the helpless and fight the good fight. Together. As a team. The Dawson’s Creeky love‑angst can be interesting and somewhat compelling, but the show suffers when it’s allowed to swallow the plot developments whole. As Angel implied, none of that will matter if the Earth is destroyed.
So it’s time. It’s time for the gang to move on. Forget past wrongs. Forget current heartaches. Forget the endless personal problems. It’s time to start saving the world. This is the stuff that makes this show great.
There’s a big, ugly bad guy with destruction written all over his face. If they can’t get over their hang‑ups long enough to stop him, who will?
Happy Birthday to You
There’s no doubt about it, the apocalypse‑bringing Legend reject is somehow linked to Angel’s angst‑ridden son. Check out the clues:
In Cordelia’s dream, Connor is the one who suddenly turns into the big evil. While the morphing may have just been a cool way to scare her, it is hard to dismiss so easily when looking at the big picture. The big evil clawed its way up from the bowels of the Earth and just happened to reach the surface at the exact spot where Connor was born. This is suspicious on its own, but also consider how . . . Connor was "born" almost exactly one year ago. His birth was televised on November 19, 2001. If time in the Angel universe runs somewhat parallel to our own, it is possible that the two events occurred at the same moment in two different years. And that’s all just from this episode! Connor’s role in defeating this creature is going to be an important one. That is, if he isn’t too busy with a certain former higher being.
Speaking of which . . .
How Do You Solve A Problem Like Cordelia?
While the boys are out trying to save the world, where are Miss Chase and her 18‑year‑old suitor? They’re back at the love nest having an unproductive round of "it’s all my fault." Here’s an idea: why not postpone the pity party long enough to give Angel a ring and let him now that something seriously powerful has just sprung forth from the exact spot where Connor was born?
Sad to say, this isn’t even the stupidest thing she did this episode. No, not even close.
Faced with the possible end of the world, does Cordelia choose to be a "champion" by standing and fighting alongside her companions? Nope. Instead, she just accepts the impending doom. That resignation, combined with sympathy for Connor and the hard life he’s had, somehow convinces Cordelia that she needs to spend quite possibly the last few hours on Earth giving Connor "something real" ‑ a free romp in the sack.
That is just so noble of her. I mean, you haven’t lived until you’ve had sex, right? It’s just SO obvious that the only thing that will redeem all of the pain and suffering Connor’s experienced is pity sex from his dad’s pseudo‑girlfriend. That makes perfect sense. Pardon the heavy sarcasm.
Something real? Bah! She just told Connor’s father that she loves him and always will, but then turns right around, sleeps with his son and calls it "real." Real what? It’s not real love and it’s not even really sexy. Really twisted, yes, and guaranteed to do more harm than good. If that boy survives the coming apocalypse, he’s going to need more therapy than you can shake an Ally McBeal at.
And if Cordelia becomes pregnant with Connor’s baby, we might just have to switch to General Hospital to find a show with fewer outlandish relationship problems.
Seriously, Cordelia’s gone off the deep‑end, as a character and as a rational human being. Let’s hope that she’s got some hidden excuse for her behavior that will explain this brainwashed way she’s been acting.
Fang Gang Bites
Lorne was excellent as the new receptionist. He did an excellent job and had some of the best lines of the night. However, the blue‑ribbon goes to Lilah for: "One day, if I pray hard enough and eat all my vegetables, I just might have hips."
The Texas Twig and Gunn look like they’ve hit a rocky patch that they might not be able to plow through. The question is, does this mean the end for one or the other? Wesley saved Gunn’s life again, filling me with hope for reconciliation between the former bosom buddies. Fred, love ya babe, but if I have to choose between the two of you, it’s gonna be Gunn all the way.
Who would you choose? Do you find the relationship dilemmas more intriguing than the battle of good vs. evil? Or do you wish that the Cordelia/Angel/Connor triangle could be wiped from your mind with a forgetting spell? Voice your opinion on the boards!
A special thanks to Chimene for covering for me last week. Your rock my face off!
It looks like Angel is going to be off the air until the New Year. I’m crossing my fingers in hopes that it will return with more of the fantastic action and teamwork we got a dose of tonight! Until then, join us here on the boards for great discussion and get your Angel fix!
Josh Buckman
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Post by Dalton on Sept 17, 2003 21:36:12 GMT -5
Habeas Corpses: Led Into Temptation; Evil Delivers
"Men are not prisoners of fate, but only prisoners of their own minds." ‑ Franklin D. Roosevelt
Welcome back, loyal Angel fans! After surviving a ridiculously long hiatus and the move to Wednesday night you have proven yourselves to be true members of the Fang Gang.
Of course, this might just be the worst time to join up with this motley crew of demon fighters. When we last saw the troops, they had just faced their toughest foe yet and were defeated. Now the big bad is doing everything but making a public service announcement to let everyone know he plans on nothing but death and destruction.
Sounds bad, doesn’t it? It gets worse.
Habeas corpus: Latin for "you have the body." A writ of habeas corpus is a mandate ordering that an inmate be brought before the court so it can be determined if that person has been imprisoned lawfully. A habeas corpus petition is a petition filed with a court by a person who objects to his own or another's detention or imprisonment.
Feeling responsible for the demon and its attacks, Connor steps inside the den of iniquity that is Wolfram & Hart in an attempt to find some answers. When he discovers he is trapped, he sets out to kill the unknown beast instead of looking for a way of escape. Why would he be so arrogantly foolish? It’s because Connor sees this beast and his connection to it as the motive behind Cordelia’s rejection. In his mind, destroying the beast = getting Cordelia back.
Fortunately for Connor, Angel objects to his somewhat self‑imposed imprisonment and files a rescue attempt with the court. This immediate action as well as the thankful hug upon their reunion clearly shows that Angel places the blame for the Connor/Cordelia tryst squarely on Cordelia’s tanned shoulders. Somewhat rightfully so, considering she is the one who affirmed her love for Angel before boinking his son and crossing her fingers that the world would end overnight. Unfortunately for her, it didn’t end. Now she’s got to deal with the hurt she’s caused Angel AND the possible emotional damage she’s inflicted upon a young man with whom she is not in love.
Yes, it does take two to tango, but it really is Our Lady of the Bleeding Hearts’ fault. Connor wasn’t looking for quick sex (teenage hormones aside); he thinks he loves her and wants something real. Something real is what Cordelia promised, but now she can’t deliver.
However, as justified as Angel’s hurt feelings may be, let me go on record to say that it is Cordelia’s fault because of her actions – not because it is solely the woman’s duty to be the one who resists those temptations. Clearly, it is not always the woman’s fault.
Take Wesley, for example.
Wesley’s decision to join the right side by ditching Lilah is a bit like people who believe that when the world starts to end, they’ll have to time to repent of all their sins and then go to heaven. Wesley may not have heard any trumpets sound, but he did see the rain of fire and decided it’s probably better not to take any chances by flirting with evil. Unfortunately, he’s danced with the devil for a bit too long and is still colored a very dark gray. Would a white knight really leave a woman bleeding profusely from her stomach to fend for herself in the sewers? I love Wesley, but he needs to wake up and smell the aftershave. It wasn’t Lilah that made him dark, nor the scruffiness, but his own inner conflict.
As for Lilah, her transformation from über‑evil ice queen to a woman with a broken heart was more 100 times more touching and believable that Cordelia’s trip from self‑absorbed valley girl to the all‑knowing, hyper‑empathic "champion." What does it say when the most sympathetic character on the show is a woman who is working to annihilate the entire world?
If Lilah does survive her wanderings in the sewers, she still may not get a chance to annihilate the world (and her ex‑boyfriend) if the new big bad beats her to the punch. This creature appears impervious to harm, destroys ancient evil children, and can make people trapped in enclosed buildings go all Resident Evil. How does one go about defeating such a demon?
Wesley makes an astute observation and points out that they need a force that is stronger and smarter than they are. That’s funny former‑Watcher man; I know just where to find one! There is a person we know of who’s stronger and smarter than Angel (she sent him to Hell) ‑ why not give her a ring? Sure, she’s on a different network, but whom would you call if you thought the world was going to end? Hmm, perhaps Angel already has:
*Ring, Ring*
Buffy: Hello?
Angel: Buffy! We really need your help in L.A., I think the world is going to end.
Buffy: Really? I’d love to help out, but we’re dealing with a big evil here, too.
Angel: Oh. That’s cool. Don’t worry about it.
Buffy: Sorry. Hey, maybe Willow and Cordelia should compare notes? See if these things are related?
Angel: Nah. I’m mad at Cordy for sleeping with my son. Talk to you later?
Buffy: Son? Cordy? What the skank?!!
Angel: *Click*
Buffy may be busy, but it’s clear the gang needs help. Gunn hates Wesley. Wesley loves Fred. Angel hates/loves Cordelia. Cordelia hates good hairdressers. They are so wrapped up in their personal and emotional problems that they don’t have a prayer of defeating a powerful baddie with a focused plan!
That may mean that it really is a good time for newbies to join the gang. So forget the prior warnings and go strap on your gear, pick up your official AI badge, and tune in on Wednesdays. They’re going to need all the help they can get. Got something to say about this episode? Have you come up with a cool nickname for the big bad? Maybe you’ve written a eulogy for Gavin? Or perhaps you just want to rant about Gunn’s miraculous escape from the horde of zombies? Whatever’s on your plate, feel free to dish about it on the boards below!
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Post by Dalton on Sept 17, 2003 21:37:18 GMT -5
Long Day's Journey: A Leap to Conclusions
Some say the world will end in fire, Some say in ice. From what I’ve tasted of desire I hold with those who favor fire.
But if it had to perish twice, I think I know enough of hate To know that for destruction ice Is also great And would suffice.
‑ "Fire and Ice" by Robert Frost. From Harper’s Magazine, December 1920
When evil beings plot their apocalypses, they usually involve bringing in a horde of demons from some other dimension to conquer the earth. If we’ve learned anything from the many attempts to destroy the world we’ve witnessed, it’s that the plan is usually to overrun the human population with these new demons and turn the world into a place where chaos and misery reign supreme.
It’s a pretty good guess that chaos and misery are the Beast’s main goals, as well, but this bad guy is going about things a little differently. Instead of using the demons and evil creatures from another dimension, he’s decided to use the ones that already live here on Earth. By blocking out the sun, the Beast has given the opportunity for creatures of the night to function 24 hours a day.
There’s no big bang. No giant portal. No swift disease. It’s a slower, more deliberate kind of apocalypse ‑ not one of those overnight successes. As the creatures of the night rise, the human population will have to fight to stay alive. Those lucky enough to escape death by demons would still have to manage with dwindling supplies. With no sun, most of the world’s plants would die. Death of the plants leads to the deaths of animals and natural food sources.
Why would anyone pick this kind of slow route to mass destruction instead of a big flashy explosion or something equally as dramatic? It’s simple, slow = more pain. The longer humans have the live, the longer they have to experience suffering and chaos.
So there you have it. At least the first stage of the Beast’s plan has been revealed: pain, suffering, death and destruction inflicted upon the world through the veiling of its sun.
After a long dry spell in the answers department, they’re now coming fast and furious. Q) Why did the Beast go to Wolfram & Hart? A) To kill a member of the Ra‑Tet. Q) Why was he collecting the totems? A) To block out the sun. Q) How did he get past Cordelia and Angel and into the panic room? A) By using Angelus.
Wait a minute. By using Angelus? According to Cordelia, Angelus knows the Beast from long ago. Now, he’s somehow tapping into the part of Angel that keeps Angelus locked up tight and setting him free to do his bidding – all without Angel being even the slightest bit aware. As soon as this seemingly impossible theory is suggested, the gang jumps on it faster than you can say, "the answer is among you." Do they have some trust issues or what? Without any further investigation, Wesley immediately declares that Angelus should be brought back. That’s a mighty big leap to take based on some random vision from Cordelia and the cryptic ranting of an evil little girl, don’t you think?
Cordelia, more than anyone, should know the danger that comes with bringing Angelus back. Not only did she witness his atrocities first hand back in Sunnydale, but she also supposedly experienced everything he’d ever done in his entire career as a super‑evil vampire. Even so, she’s quick to point the finger at her former love‑interest and blab about her vision without consideration for the consequences.
After becoming Angelus, how can Angel be controlled? How can he be restored? Most importantly, how can be trusted? Even if they need his help to stop the beast, who says he’s going to be hopping on that bandwagon?
The answers are coming fast, maybe a bit too fast. Should they be trusted? The idea of bringing Angelus back seems more like a problem than a solution. Is there anyone or anyone (or anything) who might want Angelus back for reasons other than stopping the end of the world? Is bringing back a creature who wreaked havoc on the world for centuries really the right thing to do?
Right or wrong, Angelus is on his way back. Lookout world.
Welcome to Angel Investigations, Spandexia . . .
. . . hope you survive the first day.
Anyone who has ever read comic books will notice how Gwen is one big walking, talking comic book cliché (as she nearly confessed herself). She’s a "good" thief. She’s got a posh pad with the latest in gadgets. She wears spandex. She shares a name with a guy from Mortal Kombat. Best of all, she has undefined super‑powers involving electricity – complete with a story of her "origin!" It is clear that the writers are embracing, rather than denying, the concept of Gwen as a borderline‑campy heroine with questionable motives.
This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Comic book characters are all the rage in Hollywood now, so a lampooning of their appeal seems appropriate on a show that has made a habit of turning popular mythology on it’s head (take vampires and lawyers, for instance). When Electro‑Girl first appeared on the scene, she looked like nothing more than a reject from Xavier’s Institute for Higher Learning, but that just might have been the point. Now, as long as she is given some development and a little TLC, she has the potential to grown out of the cliché and into a character of her own.
Getting Over It
It is so nice that the Connor/Cordelia/Angel triangle took a back seat to the rest of the story. That is one crazy, nasty mess that only constantly reminds us of how far Cordelia has fallen as a character, so who wants to dwell on it? While it is unfair for the perpetrator of the offense to demand that the offended party "get over it," it is undeniable that there are more pressing things to worry about.
As Lorne pointed out, it’s NOT all about Angel and it IS about saving the world. While it is true that you can’t make a personal problem go away by ignoring it, there is a time and a place for dealing and this is most certainly not it.
Speaking of getting over things, remind me to not ever do anything to get on Gunn’s bad side. That boy throws around more accusations than Cotton Mather at a Salem witch trial. Maybe he should internalize those insecurities about his relationship with Fred until they get a chance to work things out instead taking out his frustrations on those around him. Easier said than done, I know.
Until they get a chance for a good scream‑fest, followed by tearful hugs and a special appearance on Oprah, the entire gang is going to have to continue to put their feelings on hold and deal with the whole impending doom thing. Everyone is counting on them to pull it together and save the world.
We know they can do it. After all, they’re champions.
Got something to say about this episode? Which was your favorite line (there were a lot of great ones in this outing)? Tell us on the boards! Just remember, save the spoilers for the spoiler area and stick to dishing and speculation here on the episode board. Thanks!
Josh Buckman
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Post by Dalton on Sept 17, 2003 21:38:27 GMT -5
Awakening: A Bucket of Ice Water "What if nothing exists and we're all in somebody's dream? Or what's worse, what if only that fat guy in the third row exists?" ‑ Woody Allen, "Without Feathers"
I have a theory concerning this episode. When the writers took the old "it was all a dream" technique (used most often by soap operas and horror flicks) and turned it on its head, the viewers were forced into one of two camps: those who saw it coming and those who didn’t. Was it brilliant or obvious? Innovative or cliché? Which camp did you belong to?
As for me, they should have passed out bibs and spoons ‘cause I just ate it up.
Then, just as I was about to call out for seconds, things started to get a bit too sweet. Angel and Cordelia were looking like they were going to do the deed. No, no, that’s too much, I thought. I’m full, please end it now. We don’t need Angelus coming around and spoiling the feast.
Then BAM! The food poisoning kicks in. As it turns out, the events that I savored never really happened. And that meal I just enjoyed? Yeah, well, it’s all coming up now.
Yes, there were little clues that should have tipped us off that something was wrong. Wesley was being all weird with the apologizing and the not caring that his hand was just impaled. Cordelia actually had a useful vision. Connor’s attitude did a complete 180 in a matter of hours. The Beast conveniently showed up for no reason. Even the previews from last week showed Angelus giggling on the table.
However, I’m sure I wasn’t the only one who was so blinded by the way things were finally turning around for the Fang Gang that I was unable to let myself understand what was really going on.
You see, for the most part, all the stuff that made Angel happy enough to turn into Angelus is exactly what I’ve been hoping would happen this entire season. Gunn and Wesley made up. The father/son/higher‑being triangle was resolved. Connor pulled the pole out of his bum. Best of all, it looked like the team was finally ready to start working together again.
I should have known that getting what I wanted would never be that easy.
Oh sure, initially I was wary that at any moment the rug would be yanked out from under me. However, my suspicions rested in the idea that the shaman had actually completed the ritual and Angel was now Angelus pretending to be Angel. Once it become clear that was not the case, I settled into the idea that gang was actually getting somewhere on their quest to stop the Beast. How foolish of me!
I must admit, it was frustrating to have my dream of the team returning to their roots as helpers of the helpless dashed to pieces (not to mention the irritation of having to go through all of my meticulous notes concerning character development and mark FAKE next to them). However, I must also admit that was incredibly satisfying to experience a fantastic twist that left me gasping in disbelief. It was truly worth the sacrifice of the fantasy. Let’s hope that this marks a new era for the show in which riveting storytelling and classic suspense replaces the overabundance of soap opera angst.
He Ain’t Got No Soul
At last, the question concerning the parameters of Angel’s newly reinstated soul was answered once and for all. When Willow did her magic to give Angel his soul back, the perfect happiness clause came with it. Instead of simply snatching Angel’s soul away, the shaman worked within the confines of the curse to get Angel to give it up. This brings ups several interesting points to ponder.
First, the Shaman used Angel’s own thoughts and desires to create the moment of perfect happiness that would change Angel into Angelus. Notice how Angel’s dreams of happiness included Cordelia instead of Buffy? Is this because he’s truly over the Slayer or simply because thy're on different networks?
Second, it appears that at least in Angel’s mind, sex is the key to happiness. The first time he lost his soul, it was while he was basking in the afterglow. This time, it was smack dab in the middle of the act. Was it because there was a difference between the two situations (or the two women) or simply because time was running out in the episode?
Third, Angel, in effect, is trapped in the glowing little orb thing. The dichotomy between Angel and Angelus has always been pretty extreme. Angelus is smarter, more cunning and 100 times more evil than Angel is. When they speak about Angelus, they speak of him as if he was a completely separate person. So how come Spike doesn’t seem to suffer from the same split personality syndrome?
Suspicious Minds
Sweet, supportive Cordelia, could it be there is something behind all of her seemingly infinite amount of understanding? It certainly looked like that was a wedge she was driving when told Angel that the others just don’t get it when it comes to Angelus. Perhaps it was the same make and model she used when sleeping with his teenage son.
Notice how after insisting that Angelus not return, she oh‑so conveniently pointed out how smart and useful he could be to capturing the beast. Oh and hey, the beast might just control you anyway, so what’s the diff? It’s possible that she’s using a super‑power some women possess that allows them to make it seem they feel one way when they really want something else. When the power is in effect, it looks like the man is coming up with the ideas when the woman is really the one in control.
So, if she is evil, what are her real intentions? Does she have a big master plan? Come to think of it, Lorne near keeled over after reading Cordelia. Is it possible that he got a glimpse of some of the hidden evil she’s involved in?
Hmm. Something stinks here, and I don’t think it’s Fred’s bong.
However, isn’t the fact that Wesley is so gung‑ho about bringing Angelus back just a little suspicious? Maybe he’s just being the rash, impulsive Wesley. If that’s the case, he needs to remember that indulging in plans before consulting with the group is what got him in so much trouble last time.
Gunn continues to fire off accusations left and right. He’s willing to throw just about any of his teammates into the fire. First Wesley, then Connor and now Angel. Will he ever get around to pointing the finger at the potentially duplicitous human/demon hybrid?
The revelation of evil hiding in the group is sure to shake its already weak foundations. Will they be able to patch something together if they must endure something as violating as that? It is one of those questions that would not have been answered if the beast had truly been defeated (along with: Where did the Beast came from? and What’s the significance of his appearance?).
It’s also one of those questions that will keep us hanging on each week. So until next time, get out your crosses and eat your garlic – Angelus is back, baby.
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Post by Dalton on Sept 17, 2003 21:39:38 GMT -5
Soulless: The Ugly Truth
"First principles, Clarice. Read Marcus Aurelius. Of each particular thing ask: what is it in itself? What is its nature?" ‑ Hannibal Lecter
Angelus is back, and he’s as dangerous as ever.
This time, he doesn’t have weapons, spells or an Acathla. All he’s got is words.
Sometimes that’s enough.
Cordelia claims that Angelus lies with the truth. In reality, he has little need to lie. Unable to use his teeth, the truth is the sharpest weapon in his arsenal. Unadulterated and exposed, truth can cut deeper than any sword.
Imagine having your imperfections uncovered before you. Try to picture all of those secrets you keep locked up tight laid bare for everyone to examine and to judge. Insecurities, failings, secrets – they’re all there for your closest friends to pick through.
Remember all those times you hurt your parents with hateful words? What about that time you treated that unpopular kid like trash? Remember when you stabbed someone in the back at work? How about when you used that one person for sex? Did you know you’re boring? Did you know you’re unreliable? Are you aware that people don’t trust you? Did you know that I know your friends can barely stand you?
None of us are perfect. However, all of us hate to have that fact pointed out. We work so hard to be good and to be liked that it is incredibly degrading to hear someone admit that they are aware of all the areas that we are failing in. This goes double if that person isn’t telling us for our benefit, but to mock us. It’s kind of like walking buck naked through a crowd. Even if you possess great physical beauty, all it takes is one heckler pointing out the flaws to invoke feelings of shame, disgust and rage.
It’s hard enough to make it from day to day working to overcome our faults. It’s even harder when someone reminds us that we might never succeed.
The truth – right now it is Angelus’ only weapon. It’s a weapon he masterfully wields as both a delicate razor and brutal hammer as each of the flies enter his web, beginning with . . . Wesley Wyndam Price, the Wannabe
Wesley seems like he’d be an easy target. His failings and insecurities have driven him for most of his life. He has made many a rash decision trying to prove his worth, assert his authority or cover up a mistake.
He was never good enough for his father. He failed miserably as Faith’s watcher. Fred chose Gunn over him. He lost baby Connor to a madman. Last but not least, no matter now hard he tries to be a leader and a hero, his friends will never give him the respect and loyalty they give to Angel.
Wesley’s got a lot of faults, and if Angelus had tried to break him a few years ago, he’d have been a dead man. However, the Wesley of today has faced his demons and is working to overcome them. More than a new haircut and new clothes, Wesley’s got a new attitude. He still has a long way to go, but at least he’s on his way.
Because of this, Angelus does not have much success in getting Wesley to react in front of him, unlike . . .
Gunn and Fred, the Tragic Lovers
Othello destroyed Desdemona, the love of his life, because he believed her to be unfaithful. In reality, she loved only him. Othello’s mind was poisoned by the words of a deceitful and dangerous man. He let his insecurity, jealousy and possessiveness rule his actions instead of trusting the one he loved.
Angelus hit the nail on the head.
Gunn is a man who cannot accept the fact that Fred may truly love him. If he did, he would not be worried about anything Wesley may try to woo Fred away. Gunn is right to be wary of Wesley, but he’s wrong to continue to push Fred away with his suspicion. Jealousy, anger and guilt are chipping away at their fragile relationship much more than Wesley’s interference.
That’s why Angelus so easily had them both upset. He pointed out the truth that their relationship was failing, but left it to them to place the blame. We all know how good Gunn has been at that lately, kind of like . . .
Connor, the Mama’s Boy
To Connor, everything that has gone wrong in his life is Angelus/Angel’s fault. Angelus can act evil all the day long and it won’t bother him too much because part of him often thinks of Angel as evil anyway. Turning him against his own father is kind of a moot point.
Instead, Angelus kicks Connor where it counts by bringing up the other parental figures in his life. Angelus claimed that Darla and Holtz both killed themselves because they were disgusted with their "son." When those lies aren’t enough, Angelus pulls out the truth: Cordelia was like his mother and he slept with her. Not only that, but she doesn’t want him now.
It’s true, it’s gross and it’s enough to push Connor over the edge. He’s ready to take his "real" father on and finish him once and for all. Fortunately for him, he’s interrupted by the entrance of . . .
Cordelia, the Who Knows What These Days
Is she good? Is she evil? Is she human, demon or higher being? It’s so hard to tell. Apparently Angelus is just as confused by her new persona. He feigns confidence and superiority, but when his taunting concerning her sexual escapades fails to ruffle her feathers, he listens to her offer. Surprisingly enough, he even accepts it.
Angelus gives up the goods, but Cordelia goes back on their deal. Was she really prepared to sacrifice herself or was she using mind games to get what she wanted? Denied his prize, Angelus turns to threats and cheap scare tactics. Cordelia doesn’t even flinch. She’s won round one.
Cordelia’s shown she’s tough and in control, even when it comes to dealing with something as evil and calculating as Angelus. Is it her complete knowledge of all his past that gives her an advantage or is there something else going on with her that has yet to be revealed?
With all of Angelus’ accusations and dishing, that’s one of the few things (along with who stole the soul) that still needs revealing. A lot of what has bubbled below the surface within the gang was finally brought out into the open. How they deal with these truths will define their future not only as a group, but also as individuals.
That is, of course, assuming they survive vampire and demon infestation of L.A. and the coming apocalypse. Here’s hoping they forgive and forget before it’s too late.
Interesting Bites
Tonight’s episode was directed by none other than Sean Astin, better known as Samwise Gamgee in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Kudos to him and writers Sarah Fain and Elizabeth Craft for capturing the creepy tension needed to accentuate the danger of Angelus’ return.
Kudos also to David Boreanaz, who once again showed us that the scariest of evils wears a face that we know and speaks with a voice that we trust.
"I love you but you were so bad. You ate babies."
Tune in next week when . . . ah, I don’t want to give anything away. Until then, drop by the boards (they should work perfectly now) and tell the world how good it feels to have Angel be so bad.
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Post by Dalton on Sept 17, 2003 21:40:40 GMT -5
Calvary: Alas, Poor Lilah
"Whenever I'm caught between two evils, I take the one I've never tried." ‑ Mae West (1892 ‑ 1980)
Redemption: it’s one of the most common themes you will find on both Angel and Buffy. People who’ve done awful and terrible things quite frequently get a chance to turn their lives around and make up for their actions. Angel, Spike, Willow, Anya, Lindsey and Andrew are just a few of the former baddies who have traded their Legion of Doom memberships a chance to fight with the Superfriends.
Lilah Morgan, however, did not go down that road.
No matter how many times she faced the good guys and won, she didn’t give up. No matter how many times she was told how heartless and wrong she was, she didn’t let it phase her. She held strong to her belief that being selfish, serving evil and facilitating the end of the world was the way to go.
Like Warren and, to some extent, the Mayor, Lilah was complex and compelling scoundrel because of her humanity. She had doubts, fears, jealousies and passions, just like everyone else. Unlike demons and vampires, she actively made the choice to follow the way of wicked. Her villainy was tempered by her human emotions and shortcomings, but never counteracted. Each day she had to choose her path and her actions, and each day she chose to use all her of smarts, all of her cunning and all of her talents for evil.
Of course if she had switched to the side of the angels, that would have changed the way we feel about her completely. Lilah’s a great character because she’s bad, and darn good at it. Remember the time she was training that telekinetic girl to be an assassin? Or what about when she tortured Cordelia with physical manifestations of her visions? Perhaps the best was when she chopped off Linwood’s head with the push of a button. Ah, good times.
And now they’re over.
Who will replace our favorite jaded lawyer with the killer clothes and even deadlier agenda? Will we ever again hear the dry humor and wry observations that made her wit as lethal as her weapons?
If the episode had ended with Angelus biting Lilah’s neck, there would have at least been some hope that she might come back as a vampire. Imagine that ‑ someone as ruthless as Lilah in life transformed into a super‑powered demon in death. That is one vampire who would give Angelus, the current reigning king of the heebie‑jeebies, a run for his money.
Alas, it was not Angelus who slew our favorite fearsome female; it was the two‑timing trickster tramp. Lilah was murdered by the person she was semi‑consoling only a few moments before. What a way to go. This, I dare say, devastated many of us. What does it say about a viewer when he’d rather have seen Fred, Gunn or even Cordelia lying lifeless on the ground than a woman who continually works to destroy the world?
Yes, we understand that for all of her wicked ways, Lilah really did deserve to die. Karma had it out for her a long time ago. However, that doesn’t mean she won’t be missed.
So goodbye, Lilah. Though your evil is vanquished, your memory lives on.
As For That Other Evil Woman
The truth has finally been revealed! Cordelia is evil as we suspected. The signs were there: sleeping with Connor, constantly giving inspiring speeches, carefully orchestrating the return of Angelus. But did we ever suspect that she would be the one to murder Lilah in cold blood? It is a testament to the writers and the directors that they can continually take the expected and pack it with enough punch to make it seem like a complete surprise.
Dare we hope that the real Cordelia, with all of her sass and spunk, is somewhere else alive and well? Will she ever return? Where did this evil Cordelia come from? Does she work for the same boss as the Beast? Is her commander‑in‑chief The First Evil? Will she and the now unleashed Angelus have a different agenda all together? Inquiring minds want to know!
In order for this Cordelia to successfully complete her ruse, she had to deceive Lorne on several occasions. The first deception occurred when Lorne read Cordelia after her return. Lorne saw horror and destruction, but probably just dismissed them as being in Cordelia’s future and did not realize they specifically were specifically linked to her. The second was when he cast the memory spell. Is it possible that the real purpose of the spell was to give the imposter Cordelia all of the real Cordelia’s knowledge and memories? The third, and most recent, deception occurred when Lorne read Angelus and declared it was Angel. It appears that the goal of the spell was not to return Angel’s soul, but just to trick Lorne.
That is, of course, assuming Lorne is still a good guy.
Bat Gang Bites
Gunn and Fred finally broke up! Does this mean Wesley is going to make a move or will the fact he slept with Lilah really turn Fred off? Personally, I hope that she’s revolted at the sight of both Wesley and Gunn so they can all get back to a professional working relationship instead of bed hopping, but not before Wesley kicks some Cordelia bootay for murdering Lilah. The Beast was making an offering to its leader made of his own bone. Does this seem like something the followers of The First Evil would do or are we dealing with an entirely different entity? One thing we know for sure is that The First Evil’s major tactics include deception, misdirection and the use of powerful henchmen. Sound familiar? However, right now, it’s too early to tell if the two big baddies on each show are really one and the same.
David Boreanaz once again shines with his portrayal of Angelus. He’s creepy, compelling and believable all at once. His speech to Gunn was brilliant, as were his "compliments" to Wesley. The upside to having Angelus loose is watching with horrified fascination at how he will deal with the gang. The down side to is that he might kill before he’s reigned in, and this can only lead to more brooding and guilt once Angel’s soul is returned.
Lorne reminding Wesley he’s capable of smacking Lilah down was pure hilarity. It only saddens me further to think of how wonderful more interactions between those two could have been.
The demon head retrieved by Gunn and Connor looked surprising like the Crypt Keeper’s. I guess these hard economic times have forced him to take supporting roles.
Speaking of these times, the scenes of panic and confusion in the streets were especially chilling as we face the possibility of an attack on American soil. Let’s pray that we never have to experience anything close to what we’ve seen on the TV screen.
Finally, did you hear Lilah call Cordelia a saint? It sure makes you think that someone important in the Mutant Enemy universe is listening to their faithful followers. What better reason is there to share your thoughts on the boards below? Come on by and pass the three weeks until the new episode with fellow fans!
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Post by Dalton on Sept 17, 2003 21:41:40 GMT -5
Salvage: Small Victories "Where there is hatred, let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith." ‑ Saint Francis of Assisi
When last we saw Faith the Vampire Slayer, she had just succeeded in wreaking havoc in the lives of both the Scooby Gang and Team Angel. She used Buffy’s body for fun, smacked Cordelia around and tortured a helpless Wesley. She fought Angel in an attempt to goad him into destroying her and ending her self‑loathing and misery.
But Angel didn’t bite. Seeing through her mask of violence and anger, Angel recognized a plea for help. He stood up to those who were so infuriated by Faith’s actions that they were ready to put her down for good. Why would he risk his friendships with Wesley and Cordelia and his already faltering relationship with Buffy to help a woman who has worked on the side of evil on more than one occasion?
Because he, more than just about anyone, understands the need for redemption. Yes, you’ve heard it before and will probably hear it a lot more, but that’s because it is really what this show is all about.
Angel, through his kindness and perseverance, gave Faith her shot at redemption. Now it’s time for her to return the favor. She understands what is needed and proves she is prepared to take the necessary steps.
With the help of a figment of his imagination, Wesley begins to understand why Angel deserves another chance as well. Consciously or not, Wesley believed that even someone like Lilah could turn her life around. No matter how dark her past or how hopeless her future, Wesley still hoped that Lilah could be saved. Despite the vile actions she’d committed, even an evil lawyer like her deserved a chance to change.
If someone on the wrong side deserves that chance, why not someone who is usually on the right the side? It would be unfair and unjust to put Angelus down permanently and end all of Angel’s hard work for redemption. Wesley realizes that to get rid of Angelus would be giving up on Angel for all time. Maybe it’s his own need for forgiveness that helps him to understand, but he knows that more death is not the answer.
Lilah’s dead. Her chance for redemption has passed. Wesley may not have done all he could to save her, held back by the fear that she could never really love him, but it’s too late now.
Angel, in a manner of speaking, still lives. It’s not too late. For Wesley to give up and destroy him (after losing his soul in the first place) would once again be failing to do all he could. Even if it means facing the woman he failed as a Watcher ‑ the woman who once tortured him within an inch of his life – to ask for her help, he must do all he can. The world needs Angel back, it’s true. But Angel also deserves a chance to live and to die as the hero he is.
Just When You Thought Things Couldn’t Get Ickier . . .
Cordelia announces her pregnancy! There are at least three distinct possibilities here, and I’m not sure which gets a higher rating on the scale of grody. One, the Evil Cordelia is really pregnant with her teenage boy‑toy’s lovechild. Two, Evil Cordelia is pregnant with her Beast lover’s apocalyptic baby. Three, Cordelia is faking it just to get Connor back in the sack and strengthen his tether to her. Of course, these possibilities raise even more questions. First, does the Beast even have reproductive organs? Second, does Connor know how babies are made? I doubt they have Sex Ed in Hell dimensions, but maybe Holtz explained the facts of life to him.
One thing that whiney brat needed more than "the talk" was a spanking, so who didn’t love it when Faith finally gave him one? He may be The Destroyer, but he’s not The Smart Guy, so it’s about time he learned his place. If only that spell didn’t keep Lorne from smacking some sense into him . . .
I digress.
Evil Cordelia has a plan, and it’s one that didn’t involve Faith. Faith’s arrival has breathed a much‑needed breath of life into the Fang Gang by providing leadership and a clear goal. Clearly, EC has been doing her best to get rid of both of these by masterfully, and subtlety, promoting discord from within.
EC is a force to be reckoned with, and she’s got something nasty up her sleeve. It may have been she who hired the prison broad to ice Faith, or it may have been the First Evil trying to force the next slayer into her calling. Either way, you can bet that EC is planning another way to take care of the meddlesome slayer. The mystery of who or what EC is as delightfully tantalizing as Charisma Carpenter’s performance. After months of doing little more than delivering speeches on morality, she is finally given a chance to show off a bit. Let’s just say that David isn’t the only one who can do evil.
And now Buffy isn’t the only Slayer whose love for Angel has been betrayed by Angelus. While Angelus really did help with the destruction of the Beast like the gang hoped (wow, one of their plans kind of worked!), he still remains an extremely dangerous wildcard. How will they bring him in without destroying him in the process?
Faith has the confidence, the skills and the power to take Angelus down. She has a chance of defeating him in a one‑on‑one physical fight. But what will happen when Angelus tries to resurrect her self‑hatred and bring her close to the dark side once again? Will she prove she’s grown enough in her character and in her soul to resist the painful, soul‑wrenching ministrations that Angelus is so famous for?
I’m sure I’m not alone when I say I can’t wait to find out.
Onto the boards . . .
This episode was so chock‑full of plot, quips and general goodness that it couldn’t possibley fit into one article. Sound off on all of your thoughts on the boards below. Did you think the scene between Wesley and Lilah was heartbreaking or creepy? Is Faith the baddest Slayer ever? Are the Powers That Sit On Their Behind even involved in this story anymore? What happened to the real Cordelia? Let us know what you think.
Just remember that the episode board is for speculation only – save the spoilers (of any kind) for the spoiler board. Please respect the rights of others who wish to be surprised. Thanks!
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Post by Dalton on Sept 17, 2003 21:43:12 GMT -5
Release: You Can’t Take it Back Time, in it’s own merciless manner, marches steadily along a linear path. As we move from one day to the next, we can never return to yesterday. There’s no rewind button and no do‑overs. Once a day is gone, it’s gone for good. Tomorrow may very much resemble the Friday of last week, but it is in actuality a completely unique day. March 7, 2003 is gone forever, and no day in the future will ever be its exact twin.
The human character behaves in a very similar fashion. Although a person does not necessarily change on a regulated basis, once he has there is no going back. He may act similarly to how he used to, but he is not the same. A person’s character is created from the sum total of his life experience, and there is no way to remove past events and experiences from the equation.
It’s a tough lesson to learn. There are often times in our lives when we long for days gone by. However, there are other times when we are thankful that things are different. With time, we can expect change. With ourselves, we can initiate it. However, In both cases, we cannot reverse it.
This is why both Angelus’ and Wesley’s attempts to transform the current Faith into the old, self‑loathing Faith failed miserably. She’s not the same woman she was when she strapped Wesley to a chair and slowly tortured him. She not the same woman she was when she begged for death. Sure, they can incite feelings of rage or regret by invoking memories of her past behavior, but they are never going to transform her into the woman she was.
No, because she’s a changed woman. Even though she still carries some of the rage and confusion of her past, she is still a woman that has learned (and is still learning) her lesson. Just as each day is not always dramatically different than the one before it, each change in a person’s character is not always easily registered. There is a journey involved. It’s a journey Faith has been committed to ever since she turned herself in at the police station.
Along that journey, Faith has learned that there are lines that good, responsible people should not cross. These are lines that Wesley seems to be willing to push her past. He wants Faith to become as ruthless as Angelus, but at what cost? Is stopping Angelus worth not only the sacrifice of his own life, but the sacrifice of Faith’s redemption as well? Does he seek to push her onto yet another path, one that would lead her to drastic changes once again?
Fortunately for Faith, she seems unwilling to let others push her onto any path. She’s grown into a woman who has learned to trust her instincts and decisions. Hopefully she knows that if she stoops to Angelus’ level and becomes as uncaring, ruthless and cruel as he is, then she will be no better than he. It’s cliché, but true. She has the power to hurt and destroy as easily as Angelus, so why hazard traveling down that road? The Fang Gang should be using good to overcome evil, not more evil.
It could be that Wesley was testing Faith to see if she really did cling to the ideals that heroes believe in, but stabbing that woman went too far. Risking unleashing a deranged slayer on the world by pushing Faith to the edge is going too far. There are lines, people, lines! Big, fat lines that read: Cross This and Get Your Butt Kicked by Major Consequences!
Don’t believe me? Then just ask Fred and Gunn. Sure, the professor was pretty evil. He sent people into horrible demon dimensions where they were either tortured or killed. It seems like he’d be a good candidate for disposal by the righteous brigade, doesn’t it? He deserved to die.
Unfortunately, the fact that this guy was a human and under human laws pretty much meant that this was not their call to make. Now their relationship is falling apart, their guilty secret is eating away at their friendships, and their hands are forever stained with the blood of another. There is no going back to the way things used to be.
Yes, they may have helped people by getting rid of that evil man. Wesley may help save a whole bunch of people by only hurting a few. However, the price is taken out of their conscience. "What does it profit a man, if he shall gain (and in this case, save) the whole world but lose his own soul?"
The world is shrouded in gray, especially for those battling the forces of evil. That’s fine and understandable. The gang can stay in the gray, debate the ethics of their actions and keep fighting the bad guys, as long as they don’t cross over to the black. We need to believe in heroes ‑ heroes that help people, help each other and stand up for what is right. Because often there really is a right and a wrong, and it’s important that the true champions choose right whenever they can. Bat Gang Bites
It looks like Connor, despite the earlier assumption made when he was a baby, isn’t quite human. So, what is he? Part obnoxious teenager, part vampire? It would explain his superhuman abilities. However, there’s also a chance that Evil Cordelia is further manipulating Connor by making him believe he isn’t human. It could merely be another ruse to cement the bond between the two and help explain the rapid growth of "their" baby. At this point, it’s anyone’s guess. We can only hope that Evil Cordelia is one of those bad guys who fully explains all the intricate details of her plan when her true nature is revealed. We know now that her plan is to use the threat of Angel’s soul to convince Angelus to do her bidding. Angelus is fully aware of what transpires in Angel’s body, but he’s trapped; buried under all that goodness. If she really does have the ability to keep him forever buried under Angel’s soul, do you think she’d be kind enough to perform that little ritual for the gang after she’s been defeated? What if a slayer became a vampire? It was Buffy’s greatest fear – to become the very thing that she is destined to destroy. Now Faith stands on the brink of realizing that fear. If she retained her slayer abilities after the transformation, she might very well be the most powerful vampire the world has ever known. Yikes.
Looks like the gang really does need a break. They’ve lost their notes, they’re unknowingly harboring the big bad, Angelus is finally ready to start taking orders and their best hope for survival is getting the life sucked out of her neck.
Until then, rent Blade and Batman and try to figure out if Angelus was giving some kind of clue by quoting those two movies. Is it a random coincidence, a figment of my imagination or a revelation of Angelus’ cinematic preferences? And was Fred channeling Princess Leia for a minute there? You tell me.
See you next week!
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