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Post by Queen E on Nov 29, 2006 13:23:04 GMT -5
This is the episode in which we see Wes put the “rogue” in rogue demon hunter. He is calm, quick on his feet, and ruthless in pursuit of his goal. All of this outside of the view of Angel. Perhaps because Angel is such a paragon of skill and agility, Wes feels all elbows in his presence. Yet he has the ability to set free these “demons” of bad self-image and get the job done when needed. At this point, it is only when the watcher isn’t being watched when the true Wes comes out, . . ..Poor Wes. So capable and smart but such a bundle of insecurities and baggage from his past. Not unlike many people. I haven't read the other comments, but this last statement really struck me. Great review, Erin! I know I'm late to these discussions (like, waaaaaaaaaaaaay late) but I've never seen every episode of Angel and am just now watching many of them in the mornings. Thought I would check the reviews out and I'm glad I am. #bighug# Oh, I'm so glad you're getting a chance to watch Angel and comment here! I like Onj thoughts! (And it's never too late!) And thanks for enjoying that. Maybe I'm projecting, but even aside from all the rest of Wes' insecurities, I think it would be hard not to feel at physical odds with someone like Angel. It's like dancing in front of a professional dancer...knowing me, if I tried that, I'd accidentally dance into a wall or something. It seems human nature to screw up in front of the people you want to impress...the opposite sex, your boss, etc. And this may seem like the "duh" statement of the month, but I'm getting the sense that the Watcher's Academy focuses overly much on the mind and not enough on the socialization. Then again, I suppose that would be true of any school...
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Post by Queen E on Nov 29, 2006 13:27:41 GMT -5
ITA It's a sad thing that some people seem to enjoy, or at least are fascinated by, someone else's pain. And, Lola does rock. Erin--I really enjoyed how you pointed out the moral dilema of letting the demons go. It's like letting a killer out of prison on a legal technicality. He's still dangerous, but we can't keep him locked up. Angel could have killed the demons he knew were dangerous. I think him not doing so, shows that he knew he couldn't "save the world," that he could only try to save individuals. Something he lost focus of when he was at W&H. There's the ultimate greater good of preserving the structure and integrity of the law and society's goals at stake and I think that putting a stop to slavery and abuse is in line with achieving those ends. Just as, in the case of setting the criminal free on a "technicality", the individual in question poses a threat, but there is the greater threat of not abiding by our own laws, put in place to protect the innocent as well as the guilty that is present. What is the old adage? Better to let a the guilty free in order to prevent one innocent man from being wrongly punished? Something like that. While this can be taken too far on both sides of the argument, the balance and the furtherance of the higher purpose need to be observed. Whee! Backed up by the law! Seriously, though, eetah to everything you've said here. It reminds me of Mal's "If I kill you, you'll be facing me, and you'll be armed." Angel would rather be facing his opponent on a level playing field. And there is a point to be made, too, about the commidification of labor, of spectacle. The audience can "justify" itself by saying that the slaves are not human, but they are sentient beings, nonetheless, and in that is still ethically problematic...especially since consent has not been given in any form.
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