(Gratuitous photo of David Boreanaz because he's incredibly attractive. So, there.)Until today, I had never seen an episode of Angel; the Angel that I knew was solely Buffy-based. While we pointed out some differences between Angel and Buffy in class today (more adult situations and so on), I have been thinking a bit more about how Angel, as a show, works with Buffy, particularly since the character of Angel was deemed worthy of his own spin off.
Angel's place within Buffy the Vampire Slayer is indelible. He's Buffy's first big love and proof that vampires can maintain some humanity (although there was that pesky curse). Still, Angel goes through major changes on the show, always in between the worlds of the ultimate good-guy or regressing into his soul-less vampire ways. Then, he simultaneously leaves Buffy/Buffy -- the relationship and the show.
The show Angel, however, allows the character to be presented more fully; he's on a mission to make things right with himself and his past. Doyle, the sidekick character, introduces the theme of atonement by saying "Well, we've all got something to atone for" when he acknowledges Angel's checkered past and motivations for wanting to help Tina. Aside from the theme of atonement in the context of the episode, I think that Angel as a whole atones for Angel's departure from Buffy's life (and her show). Somehow, Angel getting his own show makes it feel a little bit better that he's no longer on Buffy as the brooding on-again off-again love of her life. I think Whedon takes Angel's best qualities and is attempting to develop them with Angel to help loyal Buffy fans (and especially Team Angel fans) tune in to the new show. It's all Angel, all the time!
5 comments:
I would venture to say that Angel is, from what I've seen of him in Buffy, at his best in his own show. Except for his stint as a villain, he tended to get on my nerves in Buffy. However, now that he's a butt kicking protagonist he seems more natural and at home.
As the show goes on, Angel starts to slide away from Buffy. I remember watching the show every week when it was one and never really compared the two shows. I think it is hard with the pilot, because it is setting the rules of the show, and going from one to the other may be jarring. It's been a while, but from what I remember, the story lines in Angel are actually more complex and than Buffy.
I'm with Adam. I've watched both shows since the beginning, and I've never really compared them. As Angel's show got underway, I considered them completely different. Buffy moved on with her human life and Angel moved on with his vampire life. Both shows branched out, but Angel always seemed to have more complexity and depth to everything. Angel goes through a complete transformation in Los Angeles, and eventually seems to break away from his Buffy stereotypes.
Sorry, I forgot to add this to my comment. Awesome post, Hannah! And thanks for the very nice visual ;)
Jonathan: All I can say is: yes, agreed! :)
Adam: I can see myself getting into this show and being able to separate it from Buffy. I think it says something about Whedon that I'm already trusting him to make it just different enough but allowing the connections still work, even if they become less and less obvious/necessary.
Ashley: Thanks so much, and yeah--the visuals certainly don't hurt, right? :)
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