Word is out that “Angel” has been renewed. Not only that, but James Marsters will be joining the cast as Spike, while Cordy will be remaining in a sustained coma (i.e., Charisma Carpenter is not expected back.) Which is a shame, but hey…nutty idea…maybe she wants to spend time with her baby. Unfortunately it also means that, for the time being, we’re going to remain unclear on whether she was just a vessel turned evil by the already existing baby, or Cordy went evil while in that other place, or maybe she was never Cordy to begin with, or what.
Interesting notion of having two vampires with souls on “Angel,” presuming that’s still Spike’s status. It means that every single prediction about “the vampire with a soul” suddenly gets called into question since we’re not sure to whom it refers.
PAD
• 
I have an idea as how Spike would fit into Angel’s show — but only because I read some spoilers from a previous entry. If what is there is true, then it would satisfy the question at hand. I won’t repeat the spoilers for those who haven’t read it – and it may not even be true. If it is not true, then it would make the question that PAD posed more intriguing…
X
I find myself not at all upset over losing Cordy; the last season just really painted the character into a corner.
At the very least they can have some major fun with the fact that Spike does not have Angel’s inability to, um, experience moments of happiness. THAT should burn Angel’s ášš something fierce.
And Peter’s right; this reallythrows a wrench into all the predictions. Wonder if the Wolfram & Hart crew are going to suddenly second guess all their manipulations and schemes in light of the fact that they may heve been targeting the wrong vampire all along.
Wow, quite a relief, and that’s coming from someone who didn’t even LIKE “Angel” in the beginning. But this past season is amazing and I’m elated it’s returning. Having Spike along for the ride is kinda like an added plus. One question, though: did Charisma make her full salary for playing coma-girl all season? Because, no offense, but even I could have played THAT role…
I’m really wondering just what Carpenter’s status with Mutant Enemy is; first the four or so episode disappearance last season (covered by Cordy going off with Groo), a cliffhanger where she could’ve plausably been written out of the show, then numerous episodes this season where she barely appears. Followed by this.
Seem some info that claims it’s reported in Variety (which is a subscriber’s only site for details, so I can’t verify) that Smallville will be moving to Wednesday at 8 as Angel’s lead-in. Hope that does happen, as if they stay on Tuesdays that plus the absence of Buffy would clear up my current Tuesday logjam of 24, Gilmore Girls, Buffy, and Smallville.
I only started watching both Angel and Buffy a couple months ago after I kept reading the weekly reviews here. To my surprise I’ve enjoyed both shows and look forward to continuing with Angel in the new season.
WOO FRIGGIN’ HOO!
Great News!! Yes, Smallville, by all accounts will be moved to provide the lead-in for Angel which I’m thinking will result in a great many folks sticking around to watch the vamps.
Cordy’s not coming back!!! That sucks. Her character was getting a little stale but Joss could write her out of that if he wanted too. If Charisma wants to spend time with her kid all the better. Otherwise I would have to disagree. She keeps Angel grounded and provides him with a Human touch that no one else really seems to deliver in the same way.
Angel in for 5! Can we start hoping for 6 yet?!
Tobin
-tpl
The reports I’ve been reading say Charisma won’t be back as a regular. Doesn’t mean she won’t be back at all. I’m betting we see her around midway through the season in a “Special Guest Star” capacity, much like we currently see Giles on BUFFY.
I think it’s certainly too early to think about whether Angel gets a sixth season. Most shows I know of that retool late in their runs or that barely get renewed only run one more season. (Chicago Hope a prime example of the former, classic Star Trek the latter.)
But I am thrilled about the Angel news. I have lots of ideas about what Spike is going to be doing, and think we can look forward to a lot of good stuff.
There was also news that Joss will be writing and directing a few episodes of Angel (for the first time since early on) and that Tim Minear will serve with Jeffrey Bell as showrunners. This bodes well. I wonder who else will be contributing. There are still some good Buffy writers who haven’t found work yet, like the two Drews. And I am hopeful that Ben Edlund will be a regular writer as well.
IIRC, Joss did an episode of Angel this season: “Spin the Bottle.” Still, it’ll be good to see him do several in season 5 (now that he’s down to just having 1 show to produce!) Maybe he’ll even do another Angel comic mini?
The reports I’ve read have said that WB also have an option for an Angel season 6. Not that they’ll have to pick it up, but if they want to they’ll be able to do so without having to renegotiate out another season.
I’m glad to see that it will be following Smallville, which could be a good match if WB promos it well. Still, it’s up against West Wing & The Bachelor again, but hopefully if it can at least hold its own it’ll stick around for another season or two.
Hopefully they’ll bring back Cordelia at least enough to resolve her character and give her a propper send off.
Wonder what will come of another possible “Buffy” spin-off. “Angel” will probably end up as the “Deep Space Nine” of the ME-verse…
Tobin Lopes: Angel in for 5! Can we start hoping for 6 yet?!
Simon DelMonte: I think it’s certainly too early to think about whether Angel gets a sixth season. Most shows I know of that retool late in their runs or that barely get renewed only run one more season.
Well, according to the SciFi Wire report, Warner Bros. has the option for the 6th. Whether or not they’ll use that option probably depends a good deal on this season.
And, *sigh*. I thought Buffy suffered when they added Spike to the cast, and I doubt Angel will fare any better… But I guess hope springs eternal. :shrug:
So with Buffy gone will we now get a weekly Smallville review to replace the old Buffy reviews?
I hope so…
Jason
Yes, sir. Definitely good news.
And Smallville as a lead in is a good choice.
Bobby
Bobby Nash
Writer @ Large
For those who don’t have a Variety.com subscription– you can go on their site and get a FREE 14 day sub just by answering a few simple questions. Now would be a great time if you’re a TV fan– because you can not only read the full text of the “Angel” announcement but find out exactly what the networks are doing for all their shows next season. (All networks should finish announcing their full Fall schedules by no later than Wednesday of this week.)
For those too lazy to do that… 🙂
The “Angel” article states that Charisma will not be returning as a regular. It also states that the WB network already has an option to renew “Angel” for Season Six… if they choose to do so.
The article states that an “Angel” renewal really should not have been a surprise– as the ratings (especially late in the season) had been especially strong for a show that appears on the WB network.
The article seemed to strongly hint that the decision to wait on the renewal announcement was based less on creative concerns and more on matters of the money involved (big surprise) and whether the new (read “cheaper”) shows the WB had been developing for next season were better (still read “cheaper”) than “Angel”.
Of course, the article also brought up the protracted renewal battle that the WB waged with show producer 20th Century Fox over “Buffy” a few years ago– a negotiation that ultimately ended with “Buffy” making the move to the UPN network.
Given that angry process, it makes sense that the WB was very cautious when time came to approach 20th about the “Angel” renewal… and why the WB brass were extremely pleased to have the negotiations go smoothly and professionally.
The “Buffy” battle from a few years back may also explain why the WB waited until the last day to announce the “Angel” renewal… Nothing is set in stone until a Network announces it is (and even that could change any day between now and premiere week)…
… But waiting a while gave the WB a chance to gauge fan interest and look at all the ratings data… and had the extra benefit of making the Mutant Enemy contingent wait & squirm until the very end of the process before they got the *definitive* renewal word. (Although Joss had hinted a while back that he felt confident that “Angel” would be back on TV [somewhere].)
Beware the childish acts of a TV network once scorned. 🙂
And finally, “Angel” will be appearing after “Smallville” on Wednesdays next season. Which is great– because “Smallville” is one of the WB’s most popular shows and a seemingly perfect “lead in” for “Angel”.
On the flip side, “Angel” could be royally screwed if enough people don’t stay tuned for it after “Smallville”. The WB could then state, “We gave the show every chance… We renewed it, gave it our best young demographic lead-in… and it did not produce the viewership we expected… So, it’s canceled.”
Personally, I think “Smallville” will be the perfect boost “Angel” needs to surge again… and the viewership numbers will equal (if not surpass) the old numbers “Angel” used to get when it originally followed “Buffy” on the WB on Tuesday nights.
At least, I can pray that it wll. 🙂
With Cordy gone, does this mean that maybe Gunn (or even Spike!?)will be the new connection to the Powers That BE? If there is still a connection, that is. Could be interesting.
Interesting news that Carpenter is leaving, but the article makes no mention about the actor who plays Conner.
Does this mean he is returning? Hmm…
BT
Dave: You know that “The West Wing” has just lost the reason why it’s so good, right? Head writer guy Aaron Sorkin won’t be on the show next season, and he was showrunner in the prolific, write-virtually-every-episode JMS sense, not the hey-I-have-a-great-gimmick-idea Joss Whedon sense (not that i don’t love him for it).
With Cordy gone, does this mean that maybe Gunn (or even Spike!?)will be the new connection to the Powers That BE? If there is still a connection, that is. Could be interesting.
You know now that scene makes total sense with Gunn. Maybe now he will be the seerer since Cordial will be gone. Joss could have known months in advance that Chrasimia would be back so he set it up so that Gunn would be the one who has the power to see.
P.S. sorry for the misspellings.
Mathew: Yes, I know that Sorkin won’t be involved with West Wing next season. But while that may give a few people a reason not to tune in (it’ll certainly be on my short list of “if this isn’t good I’m dropping it”), I doubt that most television viewers are even aware of who a show’s creators are. Most viewers run on momentum, and if they leave West Wing–a show they’ve been with for four seasons–they’re probably not going to flock to another show that has also been around for four seasons. Remember, it is rare for any show to gain viewers from season to season (yes, we all could name at least a dozen or so, but that’s a very small percentage).
So, while I’ll hope for a ratings upswing for Angel, I don’t realistically see it happening. More likely it’ll be as insideman suggests: it’ll keep a stable number of viewers, but that will be a sizable drop-off from its Smallville lead-in. 🙁
I’ve got to think they’ll give Cordelia some kind of closure, rather than leave her in a coma for the entire season. (Maybe have her wake up and be appalled at all that’s happened. “You gave everyone the Memento treatment about Connor and you, like, own Wolfram and Hart and Spike works with you? Are you out of your freakin’ mind?!”)
check your tivo’s people i live in new york and my tivo lists no buffy for tommorow at 8 on channel 9 upn so i checked what the claim is airing its not buffy but i know that is on they promo it like nuts so i manually set it check out how irs listed in your area before its too late and your whining about how ya missed it
I think I saw a little more cordelia info than I wanted to (I haven’t even seen ANY of Angel season four yet)…
Still, I can’t help but find it amusing that Spike is replacing Cordelia as a regular AGAIN! History seems to indicate a pattern here… does anyone think that if Cordelia got her own spin-off now, she’d be yanked off that after three or four seasons to be replaced by Spike?
Glad that Angel has been renewed and even more glad that Spike’ll be around.
But, I did read in the paper today that those dirtbags at NBC are doing an Americanized version of the BBC show Coupling (and they’re calling it Coupling) for Thursday nights in the 9:30 slot. Coupling is the show Friends only wishes it could come close to. I can’t see the NBC version being much good at all…
Guess you gotta take the good with the bad….
I’ve got a question for BTWilders above:
Who’s Connor?
OK, how many people would like to see, say, James Brown or Isaac Hayes, guest star on Angel as a vampire?
‘Cause then it’d really mess up those “vampire with a soul” prophecies. 🙂
Hmmm….Angel has been an on again/off again thing for me ever since it began wandering in the thematic wilderness way, way, way back when it decided the apt followup to the Great Wine Cellar Massacre was a wacky Road Trip to Another Dimension two-parter, and then became victim to Madame Empusa’s Ever Expanding Cast Disease. I know there were off-camera reasons for the first (sue me: I don’t care–there were still better ways to move the story forward) and I’m in the distinct minority on the second (I liked the show best when it wasn’t running away from being a noir with a small, tight cast centered on three main players), but the show never really gelled for me after that– especially not after Angel made up for some really horrid behavior by buying Cordelia an expensive sweater. 🙂 (It’s also been a frustration that the show seems to make so little use of the Los Angeles setting, for the most part. That city should be a major, distinctive character in nearly every episode– but most of the ones I’ve seen might as well have been set in, say, Cleveland.)
At any rate–I checked in a bit over the last two years (enough to see that the Darla plot went on too long, Gunn was being alternately wasted or overused, Lorne shouldn’t have been made a major character, and Connor was really, really annoying), but then basically stopped checking in when they put it up against West Wing. No contest–and not enough interest to tape it and watch later.
Saw enough of this season due to WW reruns to see that things looked much, much better than I had remembered. (Though when ME shows are bad, it’s more evident when you’re watching week to week to week– just like comic books!) I still think the cast is about twice the size it should be, but if WW proves to have lost its fizz with Sorkin’s departure, I may have to come back to the Undead. (Tough call, though: the WW characters are going to write themselves for a good long while, and the actors are amazing even in mediocre episodes.)
Spike’s addition gives me no incentive to watch, either, since he’s a plot device I’ve been wanting to see dispatched since Season 4 of Buffy–and I still think he will die in that finale, which is no impediment to his being in Angel, of course, given the shows in question. 🙂
Interesting. I think the WB is banking on folks like me: we’ll be looking for some kind of Whedonesque fix and will have no where else left to go.
So I’ve got a question since I love both shows and people here seem to have at least some inside info. Is there (was there?) any plans to spin off Willow and\or Xander into anything. It seems like their positioning both of them for something but I don’t see it being resolved by the big finale. I’m glad Spike is moving to Angel although with Cordelia gone it’s going to be a real sausage fest over there. Could definately use another babe. I’m guessing Willow and Xander could show up as guest stars. Just seemed that Xander and Willow and maybe Spike with them would have been strong enough to have their own spinoff. Maybe throw Andrew in for laughs, Xander could be a tough guy now with his eyepatch, a roll he’s never really gotten a chance at. Oh well, wishful thinking and all that. At least Spike can give Angel a hard time next season.
The whole Buffy-Angel thing ran out of steam a long time ago, to the point where it’s disappointing that someone as intelligent as our host can still be so consumed by it. It’s not only that they’re yesterday’s news, or repetitive, or even kitch TV, it’s that they’ve been around at least three years too long. Every week you have to buy that anyone would still be raising a family in the horrific college town where Buffy does her thing. Everyone bemoans the continuing interest in unscripted TV, but is it any surprise, when the alternative is the upteenth fourth act Buffy ninja fight? Sarah Michelle Gellar, thank you for putting it to bed.
I’m very happy to hear about ANGEL’s renewal.
I’m even more happy to hear that Spike is joining the cast. Angel works best when he has somebody to cause friction within the team. Since he’s pretty much fought with everybody else, it’ll be good to get some fresh blood in there. Besides, despite what some have written, I don’t think Spike’s character has deadended.
In fact, I think there are a lot of stories to tell with him. The whole idea of him regaining his soul should of been explored more deeply anyway. I mean, Angel wandered around tortured, anti-social, and totally angst-ridden for what, 100 years after being “resouled.” Spike spent all of like 4 episodes and then reverted to being completely normal. Uh, huh?
Yeah, I’ll miss Cordy but, ironically, I did kind of see her departure coming. Now her character was one that hit a wall. She started as the only member of the gang who knew Angel well enough to tell him off. But the problem is when you reach seasons 3 or 4, the other characters should be friendly enough with him to also do so. So she really wasn’t necessary unless they planned on pulling the romance trigger which it doesn’t look like they ever planned on doing.
As for the “Babe-Factor,” I think they’ll add at least one regular female cast member in addition to Spike. Maybe Lighting Lass will become W&H’s chief electrician or something. I thought she and Angel had some “sparks” before so perhaps a Gunn-Angel-LL triangle can be formed. And I’m pretty sure Laila (Stephanie Romanov) will be joining the cast seeing as their members of W&H and she’s pointman within the organization.
And if all else fails, I think Fred will be getting a big promo blitz next year as one of the WB’s hotties. Did anybody check out her FHM spread? HOT HOT HOT. Besides, in the last ep, it was weird how she acted completely oblivious when Gunn flirted with that guide. Its almost like their relationship is either totally over or never existed. Which opens thins up for Angel. Or Spike. Heck, every guy on the show goes after Fred.
Best, Chris
To answer Clint’s question above, I don’t know about the rest of the cast, but Nicolas Brendon has already signed on to a sitcom next season. He’s playing the ex-boyfriend of one of the main characters.
Bobby
You know, more of the Buffy cast may be regulars on Angel next season. It could be a case of purposely not letting it leak so as to not ruin the suspense for the Buffy finale. If, for example, Willow and Xander were to move to Angel, you would know they weren’t going to die in Buffy.
Is there (was there?) any plans to spin off Willow and\or Xander into anything.
From what I understand, Joss’s original vision for the ending was that Xander and Buffy go off together… doubt it will happen now… but that’s supposedly the original vision.
Travis
Given the tenor of some of the comments here, I thought folks might appreciate this story in today’s Salon: Why Spike ruined “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”: “Like Fonzie before him, this too-cool thug in a leather jacket has diverted a good show from its original mission: To celebrate the uncool outcasts of the world.”
I’m a fan of Spike and Marsters, but the article makes some good points.
So if Spike is going to live in LA with Angel then Buffy will have both of her ex boyfriends, both of whom are vampires with souls, living in the same place. Is it just me or does this spell ultimate death fro Buffy? I mean, if she lived then why would Spike leave her? And if it was because she runs away or something I doubt Spike would just say “See ya” and go hang out with Angel.
Ðámņ I hate knowing this next season stuff.
but if WW proves to have lost its fizz with Sorkin’s departure, I may have to come back to the Undead. (Tough call, though: the WW characters are going to write themselves for a good long while, and the actors are amazing even in mediocre episodes.)
West Wing has already started to lose it’s fizz ’cause of Sorkin’s departure. Honestly, they haven’t done a really great episode since “The Women of Qatar,” and that was a while back. For a while during seasons 2 and 3, it was the best thing on TV, including Buffy, Angel, and, hëll, TNG. But it’s always been far more of a hit or miss show than anyone seems to realise.
The last great ethical dillema anyone on the cast has bumped up against was Bartlett’s decision to assasinate Sharif in the last season finale, and it’s been a very long time since anyone showed a real, genuine emotion deeper than a vauge sarcastic contempt for everything. And we’ve had more and more cheap plot levers to force character development. Remember the guy Josh and Sam bumped into in the bar in the season premier?
Well, that’s only getting worse. I was out of town (thank god) during the episode that was promoed as “A Sniper Attack on the West Wing! Guest Starring Matthew Perry!” I didn’t completely give up on the show right then, but last week’s episode pretty much sealed it.
I mean, the President’s daughter had to choose between going with the nice, respectable young black man and the evil French exchange student who wants her to do E. (And let’s face it, it’s been a season and a half since Charle has been anything but a nice, respectable young black man. Sure, black characters on one of Joss’ shows have the life expectancy of Kirk’s security escort, but at least they get something interesting to say before they buy it.)
So, the President’s daughter chooses the French guy, and is immediately punished by being kidnapped. To their credit, the final act was one of the better action shows I’ve seen – one of the best, really – but it was an action show. I watch 24 for that, and I expect better from West Wing.
As far as I’m concerned, West Wing is dead in the water, and I’m going back to a more realistic show about a simple vampire private detective / law firm senior partner and his posse.
**I’ve got a question for BTWilders above:
Who’s Connor?**
He’s Richie Cunningham’s older brother.
Or Ben Reilly. Take your pick.
While I’m happy that Angel will return, I’m saddened that Cordy won’t be. She was definatly my favorite thing about season 1. In fact I think season 1 is better than anything they’ve done in 2-4.
That DVD of season 1 gets lots of use.
Shansu. Spike’s gonna become human again, I just know it. And if he does, you just know that’s gonna burn Angels bisquits, considering he thought the prophecy was about him. But, it would make for an intersting Angel/Spike dynamic…
Also, I belive that ME will add Gwen Raiden to the the cast bringing the regulars up to seven – just like the Justice League – five guys & 2 gals.
Glad Angel’s coming back!!!
**Given the tenor of some of the comments here, I thought folks might appreciate this story in today’s Salon: Why Spike ruined “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”: “Like Fonzie before him, this too-cool thug in a leather jacket has diverted a good show from its original mission: To celebrate the uncool outcasts of the world.”
I’m a fan of Spike and Marsters, but the article makes some good points**
At first I thought it did, but upon giving it some consideration, I’m thinking not.
The misfit aspect still remains a part of the BtVS ethos. Saying they make fun of Andrew misses the point, the point being that more often than not, Xander has all the same frames of references that Andrew has, right down to being able to translate a Klingon love poem. He’s as big a geek as Andrew; he’s just not able to be open about it because he likes to pretend he’s progressed beyond that when he really hasn’t. There have been stories focusing on Willow, Buffy, Anya, all trying to find places for themselves and–more often than not–failing.
And yes, there’s something to be said about that there have been some very Buffy/Spike-centric storylines. So what? Rewatch seasons 2 and 3 and watch how incredibly Buffy/Angel-centric they were. The only thing they had then they don’t have now was Oz, which is kind of a shame. But it’s ridiculous to act as if Buffy’s relationship with a vampire-with-a-soul dominating relationship and plot arcs is anything new or somehow throws things out of whack.
PAD
PAD,
I see your points. However, you and I are longtime fans of the show and perhaps find some of the changes less obvious.
For instance, a coworker got the first season DVD (he’d only seen the last season) and was surprised by how the characters had change.
“Willow was a nerd?”
And I thought for a moment that, yeah, she was, and now there’s only moderate lip service to that. The Scoobies became cool because we thought they were cool, but remember, Buffy sacrificed hipness by hanging out with them and Giles. That’s what Cordelia represented (and has since been lost, I think).
As for Spike, he was a great villain. He’s not a great leading man — yes, Marsters is an amazing actor, but Spike wound up becoming a pale shadow of Angel (Buffy kinda digs him, but Xander doesn’t).
As the Dr. Smith of the fourth season, he was great (especially his betrayal of the Scoobies), but the past three seasons have horribly misused him. His love for Buffy made no contextual sense and turned him into “boyfriend” rather than an individual antagonist.
That said, I think Spike will be well-served on Angel, which is — at its core — a show about redemption. The redemption of the title character, of Cordelia, Doyle, Wesley, Faith, even Gunn and Lorne in their way.
PAD,
The difference between the Buffy/Angel-centric episodes of Seasons 2 and 3 and the Spuffy-centric epidsodes of Seasons 6 and 7 is that in the latter case, the metaphoric resonance of the relationship became the plot, rather than enhancing it metaphorically.
That is to say, the Angel/Buffy relationship of Season 2 and 3 was, in metaphoric terms, exploring the questions: “What if the person I give my heart to hurts me terribly?” and “How does one move on from such a loss of innocence?”. But the plots of Seasons 2 and 3 involved other issues that were equally compelling in their own right (as well as lots of counter-stories, foils, and supplots involving the other characters).
(Season 3 was also, metaphorically, asking the question “What kind of person do I want to grow to be, and what adults can I look to to help me become that person?”)
The Spuffy-centric episdoes of Seasons 6 and 7 have been, ostensibly, asking the questions “How low can one’s heart take one?” and “What’s the difference between love and obsession?”, but, sadly, those have also been the over-arcing plots of the seasons, too. That is, the show’s descended into little more than how the characters feel about each other as its ultimate storyline, and nowhere is that more true than with the Spuffy relationship.
In Seasons 2 and 3, great drama happened because characters and plot were written in dynamic tension with the emotional and pyschological metaphors of the show. In Seasons 6 and 7, the show became about little more than emotions, most of the time, which resulted in out-of-character developments, increasingly pointless plots, and a loss of the previous moral center of the concept: heroes do Good Things becuase they need to be done, regardless of the sacrifices called for, not because they’re feeling up to it.
By Season 6, how any given character felt about anything was the story in and of itself. Try to destroy the world? That’s okay– you’ve had a rough time. Cause innocents to burst into flame–well, you meant well, and we’ve been so down in the dumps lately. Tried to destroy the town with demon eggs? Well, I’m still conflicted in how I feel about you, so you get a pass. Tried to rape me? Well, I treated you pretty badly when I was depressed and horny, so we’re even.
Seasons 2 and 3 were greater than the sums of their parts, including their Angel-Buffy parts. Seasons 6 and 7 have too often been entirely about how the characters feel about the Spuffy part.
Marsters is the second-most talented actor on the show (Hannigan’s the most), and I understand why they wanted to keep him around, but the character’s been a problem since Season 4. The second he tried to have the chip removed, the old Buffy (seasons 1-3) would have dusted him. They’ve been writing circles around why she didn’t ever since, one way or the other.
I opined a little on the “why adding Spike was bad” thing on my weblog just yesterday, which I’ll repost here, ’cause it feels apropos.
~~~~~
See, I’m part of that half of the audience who thinks it’s a really bad idea that he’s around as a full-time character (the other half, of course, love that he’s there. Feh, whatever). See, ’cause here’s what it comes down to: Spike, as presented repeatedly in season 2, once each in seasons 3, 4 and Angel season 1, was a dámņëd cool character. He had that charming roguishness; he was a bad guy, but a likeable bad guy. And, because James Marsters acted him well, you were relatively assured a good adventure when he’d pop up.
Then came the departure of Seth Green, and the opening in the cast for a new regular member. And all of a sudden we saw Spike every single episode. So right there, you lose that “guarantees a good episode” effect his character had previously; no one can bat 1000 on a weekly basis. More than that, though, was the dilution of his character. He had been established thus far as a rogue, a loner; and no matter how hard you try, you can’t work a loner character into a story week after week and have them plausibly remain a loner (cf. Wolverine, Gambit, and about 50 other X-Men created during Chris Claremont’s run). So suddenly you’re getting back pedalling retcons to the character while simultaneously shoe-horning him in to unneeded “character growth”. (And the addition of a non-ensouled vampire to the cast shot to hëll a lot of the legitimacy of Buffy’s mission, in my opinion — How can you continue to do battle with these monsters while simultaneously fighting alongside one? It’s a question that was never sufficiently addressed.)
“Willow was a nerd?”
And I thought for a moment that, yeah, she was, and now there’s only moderate lip service to that. The Scoobies became cool because we thought they were cool, but remember, Buffy sacrificed hipness by hanging out with them and Giles. That’s what Cordelia represented (and has since been lost, I think).
The key here is to remember the difference between being popular and being cool. Popular is the value other people see in you; cool is the value you see in yourself. And since “Buffy” is (or was, anyway) a show about growing up, we’ve seen the characters grow out of their high-school sophomore personalities.
Since any fictional quartet can be mapped onto any other fictional quartet, let’s do a little analysis:
Willow needed to find courage. She started out being bullied by Cordelia in a “I-don’t-have-any-use-for-you-unless-I-need-your-academic-skills” way. What made her a nerd wasn’t her brains but her lack of self-confidence. One defining turning-point moment came in the second season when she told off Angel for being an idiot.
Xander needed to find a brain. Or more specifically to listen to the one he had, rather than being ruled by the twin drives of popularity and sex, which never led him anywhere good. He’s not a geek on the level of Andrew because he places a reasonable value on his hobbies, rather than letting them define his life. One turning-point moment for him came in the third season, when he realized that having slept with Faith didn’t give them any sort of “special connection.”
Cordelia needed to find a heart. That’s really all that needs to be said. One turning-point moment for her came when she told off Harmony in defense of Xander.
Buffy still seems to be looking for a home…
(And I doubt anyone will get this reference, but this lineup makes Buffy Reed Richards, Xander John Lennon, Cordelia Peter Tork, and Willow Rita Farr…)
There’s an entire separate analysis to be done about what happens to a show about growing up once the characters have reached a reasonable level of maturity, and the addition of less-mature characters (Dawn, Andrew) to take up the slack, but I’ll defer it for now. And I agree that Spike will fit in well thematically on “Angel.”
Maybe Spike and Angel will get together as lovers ala Willow and Tara. Joss loves to break new ground after all.
It was written:
**OK, how many people would like to see, say, James Brown or Isaac Hayes, guest star on Angel as a vampire?
‘Cause then it’d really mess up those “vampire with a soul” prophecies. :-)**
Not really. The prophesies speak of a “vampire with a soul”, a “vampire with soul”.
Although the idea of vampire James Brown singing “I Feel Good” (or perhaps “I Feed Good”) is just too beautiful . . .
Just another Spike thought: in the Los Vegas episode a demon was stealing “destinies” and Angel’s was one of them — this was the same time over on BtvS that Spike got his soul back. Maybe the Sin City Demon & the Wish Demon were in cahoots and Spike got a part of Angel’s destiny… not all mind you, ’cause Angel did get his “marker” back. Whadda ya think?
How nice to see that Angel’s getting a renewal! But a shame that Buffy’s not. I’ll really miss that cool show.
I’m kind of amused by the fact that people are talking about how great it is that Smallville is moving to lead in for Angel and the various other shows in that timeslot, and not a soul has mentioned Enterprise.
Granted, I’m often deafened by the sound of that show scraping bottom, but still…amusing nonetheless…
I’m kind of amused by the fact that people are talking about how great it is that Smallville is moving to lead in for Angel and the various other shows in that timeslot, and not a soul has mentioned Enterprise.
No kidding! I am now going to have to record one of them every Wednesday! I suppose there could be worse things though…
X
awww men…as much as im excited with the 5th season of angel… WHY oh WHY is ms. charisma not returning?!! i love her character and angel’s chemistry with her. i do hope she returns like…umm..midway of the season?^^