Sunday, February 27, 2011

*sigh* Another Christ Figure... I Like Him Though

In the Angel episode "Hero" Doyle dies. Sad moment of my life. For one he becomes the cliche "christ" figure that ends up sacrificing himself to save many lives, regardless of the fact that they are half-demons, whom he saves. Admirable, I know, however I noticed that he did so more out of guilt than for wholehearted selflessness. Doyle, as flashbacked in the episode, has had a previous experience with the "Scourge", where they killed entire clans of his demon race. This puts Doyle in a bit of a shock as he looks around the room as if he should be fearing for his life.

I do admire however the symbolism that is presented with Doyle's death. Because he is half demon one could argue that in his death he was saving the humanity of all that would die before him. Doyle transforms into his demon form when he jumps into the "Beacon of Light" and deactivates it however in doing so it kills him. As he dies he transforms back into a human as his demon side withers away before the light and though it kills him, Doyle does so with a human smile. This death symbolizes the cleansing of Doyle's past inaction and purification to redeem himself as he dies in his human form, thus saving the rest of the half demons.

Even though the death of Doyle causes me a bit saddened it happened in a way that is fitting of any person who is trying to make right things that they may not have been able to in the past, granted I'm not saying everyone should die to save the masses just to right a wrong but that it is "never too late" to change the way your life is led.

3 comments:

Ryan said...

Although it was a but disheartening for me to see Doyle die, (he's the only character that I really enjoy) the way that he went about it just ruined his character for me. I just don't know how many more snippy one liners and over played cliches I can take. It was alright in Buffy because it was the first, but now it's just down right annoying.

Heidi said...

A Christ figure? I kind of see your point, but doesn't the episode establish that he needs to atone for his past actions/inactions? What makes Christ's sacrifice so moving and powerful is that he was innocent.

Unknown said...

I kind of think the Nouveau Christ Figure is someone very much like Angel or Doyle. It is very trendy, for lack of a better word, to be this reluctant hero with a tainted past.

In that way I see where Phil is coming from, and the sacrifice part begs for at list a little bit of comparison.