The decision to re-introduce Angel as Buffy's nemesis-cum-love-interest has a pragmatic side, because only Angel can get away with this kind of behavior. Anybody else - Spike, Xander, Riley, Giles - would have been ruined completely. But Angel has always had bigger moral leeway than anybody in Jossverse; he's redeemable in practically any situation.
On BtVS Angel has always been depicted as an archetypal romantic hero, a strong and mysterious male who had been making decisions for Buffy's good, whether it was his departure in season 3 or rewriting Buffy's life in IWRY. And it worked, because Buffy's relationship with Angel has always been presented within classic romantic traditions. While on AtS Angel has his token protagonist privilege: he regularly put the world in danger and the audience was still supposed to be on his side and forgive him.
I just need to say a giant, "YES," to this. Because...yes. I hadn't thought of your first point--about anyone else being judged more harshly. But it's very true and a point that needed to be made.
Thanks for this thoughtful and insightful post--with hope for our fandom at the end. :D
I think our fandom will survive in any situation. Actually, it could be worse: Meltzer could bring Spike to watch Bangel sex. But, apparently, Joss decided to tell Spike's story himself. Although I don't know if I should be happy or miserable. Given Joss' bent for creative tortures, I expect a lot of angst.
Well, Meltzer was asked if the triangle would end and he said "do you want it to? time will tell."
I kind of take it to mean it won't if for no other reason to keep interest around for S9. It's pretty obvious they actually have no ideas for the characters *themselves* and are just content playing with ships and provocative images.
Of course he said lots of things that made absolutely no sense in regards to that arc, so who knows.
On BtVS Angel has always been depicted as an archetypal romantic hero, a strong and mysterious male who had been making decisions for Buffy's good, whether it was his departure in season 3 or rewriting Buffy's life in IWRY. And it worked, because Buffy's relationship with Angel has always been presented within classic romantic traditions. While on AtS Angel has his token protagonist privilege: he regularly put the world in danger and the audience was still supposed to be on his side and forgive him.
I just need to say a giant, "YES," to this. Because...yes. I hadn't thought of your first point--about anyone else being judged more harshly. But it's very true and a point that needed to be made.
Thanks for this thoughtful and insightful post--with hope for our fandom at the end. :D
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Well, Meltzer was asked if the triangle would end and he said "do you want it to? time will tell."
I kind of take it to mean it won't if for no other reason to keep interest around for S9. It's pretty obvious they actually have no ideas for the characters *themselves* and are just content playing with ships and provocative images.
Of course he said lots of things that made absolutely no sense in regards to that arc, so who knows.
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