The Angel Chronicles: season 5 virtues.
So I'm all done with AtS! And season 5 was a great ride, but tbh I didn't think much of the finale. But, I'm gonna break down the season into loves and hates, a post for each, and we'll see what conclusions we draw! Also, this way I'll catch up with the post I meant to write before I got ill.
So here's what I loved.
Illyria
This character was perhaps one of the best written in the show. Writing, acting and direction worked like a perfectly oiled machine to create a brilliant character. I adore the way she spoke - how her speech was archaic and you got the feeling there was this gap in understanding and comprehension: you could tell from her language that she was from a different time and her mind worked in a completely different way to the other characters'. And the pitch of her voice was perfect. Amy Acker's acting was spectacular in this role - the way she moved, looked, made Illyria alien and yet unnervingly human all at once. The Girl In Question was an excellent episode to highlight the differences between Fred and Illyria. Amy's acting was stunning in this episode. And I loved the questions it raised about Fred - is she really gone or is a part of her living on in Illyria? Are we just our memories? I just get frustrated that we didn't get to see more of her character development - this is a character whose development would last for years and still be interesting.
Illyria/Wesley
This relationship was carried off perfectly. The tension between them, and yet the obvious attraction was tangible. I love how Illyria remembered Fred's love for Wesley and that made her experience the love herself, which obviously confused her. And of course Wesley, although he could distinguish between Illyria and Fred, was obviously attracted to Illyria because of who she was, not just because of what she looks like. And the end... omg. Wesley's death and Illyria's reaction was so perfect. How she grieved for him, and I'm sure those tears and her emotional reaction as Fred wasn't just for Wesley's benefit. I'm sure she was feeling all the said. And I totally cried in that death scene. Omg.
Wesley
I actually love him in this season. I love how his character has sort of worked itself out - he's still got that dark edge, but there's the old Wesley there too, the cute funny one that we loved.
Spike
Although there's not much character growth, and his return kinda undermined his sacrifice at the end of BtVS, I really enjoyed him in this season. I adored the relationship between him and Angel, and I liked that there was a sort of redemption for them. Plus, the sexual tension was just so fun! And I loved how he interacted with the other characters. So overall I loved Spike's return. Plus - "intimate? Angel and I were never intimate! Except that one time..." :D
Spike/Illyria/Fred
Oh, this ship! I'm convinced that Fred and Spike slept together at some point. And Illyria/Spike is brilliant. The way they banter is brilliant and I love how he can understand her better than the others can, thanks to his character growth in BtVS. He knows what it's like to be hated and isolated by the people he works with, to always feel that they're judging him even when he's tried to prove himself. He also knows what it's like to straddle good and evil and try to cope with going from one of the most powerful vampires to Buffy's sidekick. So he can relate to Illyria. Also this - "I should like Spike to be my pet" :D:D:D:D
Connor
Granted, he's only in a fraction of the season, but I adored how his character progressed. I loved that he got a happy ending, and yet had his memories restored. I love that this way he can have all the benefits of his previous life (knowledge of demons, ability to fight etc) and yet because of his fake life he's a more balanced person. And his redemption with Angel was perfect. When he came back to fight with Angel in Not Fade Away - perfect. I'm so completely in love with Connor it's insane. Plus I watched Spin The Bottle with sis yesterday and just from that episode she loves him too :D I do wish Connor had been more involved in S5 though, because, like with Illyria, there's so much story with him that wasn't explored. I would have loved to see how he coped with his double life, and how he progressed as a character. Oh well.
Adam Baldwin
Omg his acting!! The way he characterised Hamilton was perfect. I cannot gush enough about his acting :D Plus it was great to see him in this season.
Harmony
Here's a love/hate thing. You see, I adore Harmony. Harm's Way is one of my favourite episodes, mostly because I know what it's like to feel pressured and alone in the workplace. Plus I loved her development and how it challenged the whole soul/no soul dichotomy. Like Spike, she is practically identical with or without soul. But the hate will come later.
Wolfram and Hart
I actually loved the move to W/H. I loved the moral greyness, I loved seeing the characters as heads of departments. So yeah. Fun.
Cordelia
Her return was just so poignant and perfect, although I do have problems with it that I'll highlight in my other post. Even though Charisma didn't want Cordelia to be killed off, I do think that it was the only thing that was right under the circumstances. Because she wasn't going to be a part of season 5, the only logical thing for the character was for her to die - I can't see how Cordelia would be alive and not be part of AI. Plus I like that she finally found the peace she couldn't cope with at the end of season 3.
And now onto what I hated!
~Lili
PS: watched the season 2 finale with sis (because it's the best thing to watch when you're ill) and I couldn't stop crying about Fred! Sis got annoyed after a while :S
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So here's what I loved.
Illyria
This character was perhaps one of the best written in the show. Writing, acting and direction worked like a perfectly oiled machine to create a brilliant character. I adore the way she spoke - how her speech was archaic and you got the feeling there was this gap in understanding and comprehension: you could tell from her language that she was from a different time and her mind worked in a completely different way to the other characters'. And the pitch of her voice was perfect. Amy Acker's acting was spectacular in this role - the way she moved, looked, made Illyria alien and yet unnervingly human all at once. The Girl In Question was an excellent episode to highlight the differences between Fred and Illyria. Amy's acting was stunning in this episode. And I loved the questions it raised about Fred - is she really gone or is a part of her living on in Illyria? Are we just our memories? I just get frustrated that we didn't get to see more of her character development - this is a character whose development would last for years and still be interesting.
Illyria/Wesley
This relationship was carried off perfectly. The tension between them, and yet the obvious attraction was tangible. I love how Illyria remembered Fred's love for Wesley and that made her experience the love herself, which obviously confused her. And of course Wesley, although he could distinguish between Illyria and Fred, was obviously attracted to Illyria because of who she was, not just because of what she looks like. And the end... omg. Wesley's death and Illyria's reaction was so perfect. How she grieved for him, and I'm sure those tears and her emotional reaction as Fred wasn't just for Wesley's benefit. I'm sure she was feeling all the said. And I totally cried in that death scene. Omg.
Wesley
I actually love him in this season. I love how his character has sort of worked itself out - he's still got that dark edge, but there's the old Wesley there too, the cute funny one that we loved.
Spike
Although there's not much character growth, and his return kinda undermined his sacrifice at the end of BtVS, I really enjoyed him in this season. I adored the relationship between him and Angel, and I liked that there was a sort of redemption for them. Plus, the sexual tension was just so fun! And I loved how he interacted with the other characters. So overall I loved Spike's return. Plus - "intimate? Angel and I were never intimate! Except that one time..." :D
Spike/Illyria/Fred
Oh, this ship! I'm convinced that Fred and Spike slept together at some point. And Illyria/Spike is brilliant. The way they banter is brilliant and I love how he can understand her better than the others can, thanks to his character growth in BtVS. He knows what it's like to be hated and isolated by the people he works with, to always feel that they're judging him even when he's tried to prove himself. He also knows what it's like to straddle good and evil and try to cope with going from one of the most powerful vampires to Buffy's sidekick. So he can relate to Illyria. Also this - "I should like Spike to be my pet" :D:D:D:D
Connor
Granted, he's only in a fraction of the season, but I adored how his character progressed. I loved that he got a happy ending, and yet had his memories restored. I love that this way he can have all the benefits of his previous life (knowledge of demons, ability to fight etc) and yet because of his fake life he's a more balanced person. And his redemption with Angel was perfect. When he came back to fight with Angel in Not Fade Away - perfect. I'm so completely in love with Connor it's insane. Plus I watched Spin The Bottle with sis yesterday and just from that episode she loves him too :D I do wish Connor had been more involved in S5 though, because, like with Illyria, there's so much story with him that wasn't explored. I would have loved to see how he coped with his double life, and how he progressed as a character. Oh well.
Adam Baldwin
Omg his acting!! The way he characterised Hamilton was perfect. I cannot gush enough about his acting :D Plus it was great to see him in this season.
Harmony
Here's a love/hate thing. You see, I adore Harmony. Harm's Way is one of my favourite episodes, mostly because I know what it's like to feel pressured and alone in the workplace. Plus I loved her development and how it challenged the whole soul/no soul dichotomy. Like Spike, she is practically identical with or without soul. But the hate will come later.
Wolfram and Hart
I actually loved the move to W/H. I loved the moral greyness, I loved seeing the characters as heads of departments. So yeah. Fun.
Cordelia
Her return was just so poignant and perfect, although I do have problems with it that I'll highlight in my other post. Even though Charisma didn't want Cordelia to be killed off, I do think that it was the only thing that was right under the circumstances. Because she wasn't going to be a part of season 5, the only logical thing for the character was for her to die - I can't see how Cordelia would be alive and not be part of AI. Plus I like that she finally found the peace she couldn't cope with at the end of season 3.
And now onto what I hated!
~Lili
PS: watched the season 2 finale with sis (because it's the best thing to watch when you're ill) and I couldn't stop crying about Fred! Sis got annoyed after a while :S
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