I FALL TO PIECES: The Eyes Have It

[Queen E]

Discuss! (if you want)

[Lola m]

Really, really, really insightful stuff in this review, Erin. One of my faves so far.

The two threads of power and vision - you did a particularly skillful job in laying them out, including a link back to the issues in BtVS. Both are strong themes in the Jossverse. Power: who has it, who doesn’t and how that bothers them. Visions and eyes; who sees what and who is blind to what they should see.

Loved your first paragraph of the Nerve section of the review – an excellent “summary”, as it were, of the episode and its major theme. The comparison of Xander and the doctor’s methods of dealing with life’s disappointments was interesting. I had also noticed some of the obvious parallels between Meltzer and Angel, but a couple of them hadn’t even dawned on me, like being “outside the law” or the ability to physically do things other humans are not able to do.

I’ve always loved Doyle’s explanation of why Angel should charge clients. It so true – similar in a way to the way in which a therapist relates to patients. And in this episode it’s a nice subtle reminder that Doyle isn’t just there for comic relief. He really is a guide for Angel, to help show him his path. I’ve always thought that this “other purpose” of Doyle’s is the main reason that Cordy got the visions. Because that was such a natural role for her as well.

You were much more perceptive (ha ha) than I in seeing (ha ha) all the threads related to vision in this episode. Cordelia talking about Doyle’s looks; his actual vision and then relating that to a future “vision related vision”; the police officer mistakenly trusting his purely visual clues rather than his initial, and accurate, suspicions. And we are deliberately misled by visuals, too. The dark scary parking lot where the person who startles Melissa is actually Angel, the guy who will help her. And when does the scary guy make his first appearance to us? In the broad daylight, in full view of all the people walking by, and still able to successfully threaten and scare. Makes me look forward to identifying other instances of this theme in eps yet to come – such as the eye on the back of Cordy’s head.

Neato keano review Erin! Yay you! (And this really isn't minion-y sucking up. I really thought this review was a particularly good one. OK, I'll just stop being geeky and slink away now. )

Lola

[Queen E]

Lola said:

Really, really, really insightful stuff in this review, Erin. One of my faves so far.

The two threads of power and vision - you did a particularly skillful job in laying them out, including a link back to the issues in BtVS. Both are strong themes in the Jossverse. Power: who has it, who doesn’t and how that bothers them. Visions and eyes; who sees what and who is blind to what they should see.

Loved your first paragraph of the Nerve section of the review – an excellent “summary”, as it were, of the episode and its major theme. The comparison of Xander and the doctor’s methods of dealing with life’s disappointments was interesting. I had also noticed some of the obvious parallels between Meltzer and Angel, but a couple of them hadn’t even dawned on me, like being “outside the law” or the ability to physically do things other humans are not able to do.

I’ve always loved Doyle’s explanation of why Angel should charge clients. It so true – similar in a way to the way in which a therapist relates to patients. And in this episode it’s a nice subtle reminder that Doyle isn’t just there for comic relief. He really is a guide for Angel, to help show him his path. I’ve always thought that this “other purpose” of Doyle’s is the main reason that Cordy got the visions. Because that was such a natural role for her as well.

You were much more perceptive (ha ha) than I in seeing (ha ha) all the threads related to vision in this episode. Cordelia talking about Doyle’s looks; his actual vision and then relating that to a future “vision related vision”; the police officer mistakenly trusting his purely visual clues rather than his initial, and accurate, suspicions. And we are deliberately misled by visuals, too. The dark scary parking lot where the person who startles Melissa is actually Angel, the guy who will help her. And when does the scary guy make his first appearance to us? In the broad daylight, in full view of all the people walking by, and still able to successfully threaten and scare. Makes me look forward to identifying other instances of this theme in eps yet to come – such as the eye on the back of Cordy’s head.

Neato keano review Erin! Yay you! (And this really isn't minion-y sucking up. I really thought this review was a particularly good one. OK, I'll just stop being geeky and slink away now. )

Lola

Thank you so much!

This was a bit of a crazy-making review, because the eyes were everywhere. I'm not sure I even listed (or noticed) all of them. It was hard to focus (heh).

Excellent observation on the actual stalker (Meltzer) and the supposed one (Angel) completing inverting viewer expectation in their night vs day approaches. Meltzer is very scary, because beneath all the creepiness, you can really sense that at some point he could have been a good man, concerned, caring, maybe slightly condescending, but there are worse qualities. I suppose it's not really important what made him a menace, but I wonder a bit. Can loneliness wreak that much havoc on a person?

Ah, Doyle, the poster boy for "more than meets the eye." It's so sad; his character was killed off too soon, and there is no hope at all for him returning.

And again thanks, that didn't come off miniony at all, so please don't slink away!

[Nickim]

eg-S'olemn said:

I suppose it's not really important what made him a menace, but I wonder a bit. Can loneliness wreak that much havoc on a person?

In a word, Yes. Doctors know that babies need to be touched physically to thrive and grow. Children who grow up without hugs tend to be less able to express love openly as adults. My father was a good example of this. I know he loved me, but he never told me he loved me, but I'm sure his parents never told him he was loved either.

I'm really enjoying these reviews Erin.

[beccaelizabeth]

seeing and not-seeing is definitely key
stuff they see is often misleading
stuff they dont see kills them

that was the basic theory I had when I sat down to try and write about blindness on BtVS and got swamped by data- blindness, not seeing, leads to badness, being blindsided, every time.

good review

[Nan-S'cubie Mascot]

Excellent insight and discussion, Erin. I'm reading through your analyses now and finding them all very enjoyable but this one is particularly fine! (Pardon, please, my fondness for "In the Dark," in whatever detail the analyst goes into it. It's just so *Spike!*)

[Linda]

Hi Erin!

Excellent, wonderful, insightful analysis! There's so much that I missed in these early episodes! Thank you for illuminating the Power & Vision themes. I was tempted to quote everything in your analysis and then say "Neat!" and "I never noticed that!" In the interest of space, I will just say that I had a couple of particularly "squee!" moments: when you mentioned Melissa asserting power over the "Penji" mistake and the Author's divided vision. (Why yes, analyses are occasions for "squee!"s. Your point is?)

I apologize for being so late with this post. RL has been soooo busy that even my funnelcakes were intimidated. But one of my Christmas presents to myself was to read your analysis and watch "I Fall to Pieces" afterwards. Of course, I was forced to re-watch "In the Dark" first -- 'cause I needed to refresh my memory of Spike slo mo what had just gone on before.

And then, because of your analysis, I had to watch the episode over and over. In particular, this paragraph sparked the obsessiveness:

The other major parallel in this episode is between Meltzer’s and Angel. Angel, posing as bereaved husband Brian Jensen, speaks with feeling about obsessive, consuming love: “Do you know what it’s like to be so much a part of someone that you don’t know where they end and you begin?” and asks Meltzer if he’d “die” for his love. Cordelia makes numerous references in this episode to Angelus’ propensity for stalking (“what a fun date you must have been back in your bad vamp days”). Both Angel and Dr Meltzer are called in on the “special cases” that no one else can handle; if Melissa’s situation had merely been a police matter, as Cordelia suggested, the Powers that Be would not have likely bothered with a vision. Angel also can do things and go places that those bound by law cannot. In the same manner, Dr Meltzer has the vision to operate successfully on cases that other physicians are afraid to or cannot legally attempt; often times outside of the law.

You *forced* me to re-re-watch the "Brian Jensen" scene. Angel spoke *very* convincingly about obsessive love. He knew all too well about how Meltzer felt. But the thing that struck me is that it wasn't the distant Angelus past he was chanelling, but the very recent Angel/Buffy past. Thanks to my foresight in re-watching "In the Dark" just before this episode mmm Spike oops! did I type that out loud? ;D, I realized that Angel had only recently learned that Buffy slept with someone. Else. Not him. Of all the torture he endured in that episode, I think this piece of information was the one thing that still *hurt.*

Well, I started to look at Meltzer as a mirror of Angel's internal struggle. Now I believe that everything Meltzer was doing to Melissa was what Angel would like to be doing to Buffy. Dark stuff, indeed. 'Cause Angelus is still with him. His description of Meltzer's state of mind to Cordy was disturbingly spot-on. Could it be that the "fantasy" girl Angel referred to is a chaste, pining Buffy? Who, according to Spike, didn't seem to be either of those things in reality? If that is the case, then the feelings of uselessnesss, rage and inadequacy that he ascribed to Meltzer could also apply to him.

So how does he defeat his dark side? By detaching it, boxing it off and burying it. Psychic surgery. In the hopes that the Angelus side of him would eventually die if it was cut off and not given any expression. ("That's the theory, anyway.")

So: Is this where the split begins? Is this where Angel decides that Angelus is separate from his identity? Like Meltzer, Angel is capable of many life-saving acts. But, also like Meltzer, he harbors dark, dangerous impulses. Is this the moment in his life where he decides to completely dissociate his darkness in order to keep being able to play the hero? (I *am* seriously asking. I can't bring to mind any specific instances in BtVS where Angel doesn't claim full responsibility for his soulless acts. And yet, in AtS, there seems to be a sharp line drawn between Angel and Angelus -- to the extreme point in Season 4 where they don't share the same memories.)

Upon re-re-re-watching, one of the things that I also noticed: there were lots of brain/mind references along with the vision references. (There were *way* more brain knick-knacks in Meltzer's office than eye knick-knacks and the conversation with the Author was very much about the power of the mind.) I think this means that Angel is depending on his mind/intellect/self-control to keep Angelus from re-surfacing. However, like Spring, I believe that the key to Angel's intended spiritual journey is the re-integration of his Inner Angelus. (Have I mentioned pthbhthththtbhthth!! to the WB lately?)

"I Fall to Pieces", indeed.

Thank you³, Erin, for your wunnerful analysis. (Says me 12 hours later than I had intended.)

Linda, admittedly obsessive

P.S. But *not* a stalker!

P.P.S. That anyone can prove in court anyway.

P.P.P.S. And only 14 Angelphiles behind! Yay me!

[Queen E]

Linda said:

Hi Erin!

Excellent, wonderful, insightful analysis! There's so much that I missed in these early episodes! Thank you for illuminating the Power & Vision themes. I was tempted to quote everything in your analysis and then say "Neat!" and "I never noticed that!" In the interest of space, I will just say that I had a couple of particularly "squee!" moments: when you mentioned Melissa asserting power over the "Penji" mistake and the Author's divided vision. (Why yes, analyses are occasions for "squee!"s. Your point is?)

I'm "squeeing" the fact that I made you squee! And I'm so sorry that I just now noticed this post; bad Erin! And I haunt "Slayage: The Online Journal of Buffy Studies" constantly because there's little I love more than an analysis of Buffy, Angel, or Firefly (as well you know!).

I apologize for being so late with this post. RL has been soooo busy that even my funnelcakes were intimidated. But one of my Christmas presents to myself was to read your analysis and watch "I Fall to Pieces" afterwards. Of course, I was forced to re-watch "In the Dark" first -- 'cause I needed to refresh my memory of Spike slo mo what had just gone on before.

Big hug for your funnel cakes, and so sorry I put you through all that Spike watch-age.

You *forced* me to re-re-watch the "Brian Jensen" scene. Angel spoke *very* convincingly about obsessive love. He knew all too well about how Meltzer felt. But the thing that struck me is that it wasn't the distant Angelus past he was chanelling, but the very recent Angel/Buffy past. Thanks to my foresight in re-watching "In the Dark" just before this episode mmm Spike oops! did I type that out loud? ;D, I realized that Angel had only recently learned that Buffy slept with someone. Else. Not him. Of all the torture he endured in that episode, I think this piece of information was the one thing that still *hurt.*

I absolutely agree; Spike may not be good with the "preshow" but he speared Angel more effectively with that news than all of Marcus' hot rods. (That sounded really dirty.) You're right, too, that he spoke so feelingly about obsessive love that it had to come from Angel; Angelus really isn't capable of that kind of emotion.

Well, I started to look at Meltzer as a mirror of Angel's internal struggle. Now I believe that everything Meltzer was doing to Melissa was what Angel would like to be doing to Buffy. Dark stuff, indeed. 'Cause Angelus is still with him. His description of Meltzer's state of mind to Cordy was disturbingly spot-on. Could it be that the "fantasy" girl Angel referred to is a chaste, pining Buffy? Who, according to Spike, didn't seem to be either of those things in reality? If that is the case, then the feelings of uselessnesss, rage and inadequacy that he ascribed to Meltzer could also apply to him.

And in fact he does do those things to Buffy in Pangs. He watches her from the shadows, stalks her, if you will. No wonder both Willow and Xander ask him if he's evil again!

Case in point:

GILES: Where are you going?

ANGEL: To watch her.

GILES: It's not fair. You know that's what she'd say. You can see her, but she can't see you?

ANGEL: Believe me, I'm not getting the good half of this deal. To be on the outside looking in at what I can't... Well, I'd forgotten how bad it feels.

So how does he defeat his dark side? By detaching it, boxing it off and burying it. Psychic surgery. In the hopes that the Angelus side of him would eventually die if it was cut off and not given any expression. ("That's the theory, anyway.")

So: Is this where the split begins? Is this where Angel decides that Angelus is separate from his identity? Like Meltzer, Angel is capable of many life-saving acts. But, also like Meltzer, he harbors dark, dangerous impulses. Is this the moment in his life where he decides to completely dissociate his darkness in order to keep being able to play the hero? (I *am* seriously asking. I can't bring to mind any specific instances in BtVS where Angel doesn't claim full responsibility for his soulless acts. And yet, in AtS, there seems to be a sharp line drawn between Angel and Angelus -- to the extreme point in Season 4 where they don't share the same memories.)

Beautifully brilliant observation! He does do exactly that. I'm rewatching Season 4 on TNT. I think not only Angel does it, but the Fang Gang does it too. How can they continue to work with and befriend the person who said the things he did to them, who did the things he did? They compartmentalize Angelus, even Faith, who should know better. They all should know better, and do. Witness how Wes tries to tap into Faith's dark side in "Release," to get her to do what needs to be done. Or Buffy tapping into Spike's dark side in, of course, "Get It Done." Spike goes a longer way to integration throughout the course of both shows than Angel does. I think Angel thinks that denying Angelus in himself is the way to "get it done," when actually it saps energy that would be better directed elsewhere. He only really taps into it in Season 2 (and shoves everyone else away), and in Season 3, when Connor is kidnapped...but that's a subject for another analysis. *grin*

Upon re-re-re-watching, one of the things that I also noticed: there were lots of brain/mind references along with the vision references. (There were *way* more brain knick-knacks in Meltzer's office than eye knick-knacks and the conversation with the Author was very much about the power of the mind.) I think this means that Angel is depending on his mind/intellect/self-control to keep Angelus from re-surfacing. However, like Spring, I believe that the key to Angel's intended spiritual journey is the re-integration of his Inner Angelus. (Have I mentioned pthbhthththtbhthth!! to the WB lately?)

"I Fall to Pieces", indeed.

Also an excellent observation; and when Season 6 appears, I think that's exactly what we'll see. He made strides towards that throughout Season 5, not the least of which was developing a relationship with Nina.

Thank you³, Erin, for your wunnerful analysis. (Says me 12 hours later than I had intended.)

Linda, admittedly obsessive

P.S. But *not* a stalker!

P.P.S. That anyone can prove in court anyway.

P.P.P.S. And only 14 Angelphiles behind! Yay me!

Thank you for your awesome thoughts! As to your obsessiveness, well, this pot will not be casting aspersions on your kettle. And you're not a stalker. And I'm sticking to that story, even if they question us separately.

Can't wait to hear more of your thoughts on these! Boo, funnelcakes, son of funnelcakes, and the thing that ate the funnelcakes!

[Linda]

eg~Inchoate said:

I'm "squeeing" the fact that I made you squee! And I'm so sorry that I just now noticed this post; bad Erin! And I haunt "Slayage: The Online Journal of Buffy Studies" constantly because there's little I love more than an analysis of Buffy, Angel, or Firefly (as well you know!).



Big hug for your funnel cakes, and so sorry I put you through all that Spike watch-age.



I absolutely agree; Spike may not be good with the "preshow" but he speared Angel more effectively with that news than all of Marcus' hot rods. (That sounded really dirty.) You're right, too, that he spoke so feelingly about obsessive love that it had to come from Angel; Angelus really isn't capable of that kind of emotion.



And in fact he does do those things to Buffy in Pangs. He watches her from the shadows, stalks her, if you will. No wonder both Willow and Xander ask him if he's evil again!

Case in point:





Beautifully brilliant observation! He does do exactly that. I'm rewatching Season 4 on TNT. I think not only Angel does it, but the Fang Gang does it too. How can they continue to work with and befriend the person who said the things he did to them, who did the things he did? They compartmentalize Angelus, even Faith, who should know better. They all should know better, and do. Witness how Wes tries to tap into Faith's dark side in "Release," to get her to do what needs to be done. Or Buffy tapping into Spike's dark side in, of course, "Get It Done." Spike goes a longer way to integration throughout the course of both shows than Angel does. I think Angel thinks that denying Angelus in himself is the way to "get it done," when actually it saps energy that would be better directed elsewhere. He only really taps into it in Season 2 (and shoves everyone else away), and in Season 3, when Connor is kidnapped...but that's a subject for another analysis. *grin*



Also an excellent observation; and when Season 6 appears, I think that's exactly what we'll see. He made strides towards that throughout Season 5, not the least of which was developing a relationship with Nina.



Thank you for your awesome thoughts! As to your obsessiveness, well, this pot will not be casting aspersions on your kettle. And you're not a stalker. And I'm sticking to that story, even if they question us separately.

Can't wait to hear more of your thoughts on these! Boo, funnelcakes, son of funnelcakes, and the thing that ate the funnelcakes!

Aww. Thanks for the nice words! And that bit of Wednesday. (Hee!)

And the Aha! moment about Angel's behavior in Pangs.

And for the reassurance about your testimony in any future criminal investigatoin. ;D

I can't wait to read your take on Angel's dark side and integration, especially in the later part of the series, with all the souled baggage he'll be packing too.

Linda, and thanks for the Erinland promise of Season Six. Tell Joss to hurry it up, please!

P.S. Oops! That wasn't very minion-y. I mean: I'm sure Joss will bow before your illuminous whims should you ever condescend to speak with him...

[Queen E]

Linda said:

Aww. Thanks for the nice words! And that bit of Wednesday. (Hee!)

And the Aha! moment about Angel's behavior in Pangs.

And for the reassurance about your testimony in any future criminal investigatoin. ;D

I can't wait to read your take on Angel's dark side and integration, especially in the later part of the series, with all the souled baggage he'll be packing too.

Linda, and thanks for the Erinland promise of Season Six. Tell Joss to hurry it up, please!

P.S. Oops! That wasn't very minion-y. I mean: I'm sure Joss will bow before your illuminous whims should you ever condescend to speak with him...

Hee! There was no really not dirty way to write that sentence, but, then again, I didn't try!

I've got your back, testimony wise.

I can't wait to get to those episodes either! I'm almost done with Season 1 (I'm working on "War Zone" as we speak), and all of these are getting me very excited about future seasons. It's amazing how much they hint at the future in these episodes.

And I will so make him make Season 6. It might be a smidge delayed, but I will bend him to my will. Mwah ha ha! Delightful minioning, by the way. I'm very impressed!