Month-long TV Meme - Day #30 - Saddest character death.
It's the final day of the TV Meme. I had great fun doing this, actually, more than I thought I would. It was a test at times and hard to pick one from so many, but I got there. I was chuffed that I did use a variety of different shows - twenty in all - as it would have been easy to use the same one over and over again.
When nicis_anatomy started to post this meme last month, I promised her that I would do it in June. So I am keeping my promise. From seeing Nici's posts last month, I know several of my answers will be the same as hers.
Day 01 - A show that should have never been cancelled.
Day 02 - A show that you wish more people were watching.
Day 03 - Your favourite new show (aired this TV season).
Day 04 - Your favourite show ever.
Day 05 - A show you hate.
Day 06 - Favourite episode of your favourite TV show.
Day 07 - Least favourite episode of your favourite TV show.
Day 08 - A show everyone should watch.
Day 09 - Best scene ever.
Day 10 - A show you thought you wouldn't like but ended up loving.
Day 11 - A show that disappointed you.
Day 12 - An episode you’ve watched more than five times.
Day 13 - Favourite childhood show.
Day 14 - Favourite male character.
Day 15 - Favourite female character.
Day 16 - Your guilty pleasure show.
Day 17 - Favourite mini series.
Day 18 - Favourite title sequence.
Day 19 - Best TV show cast.
Day 20 - Favourite kiss.
Day 21 - Favourite ship.
Day 22 - Favourite series finale.
Day 23 - Most annoying character.
Day 24 - Best quote.
Day 25 - A show you plan on watching (old or new).
Day 26 - OMG WTF? season finale.
Day 27 - Best pilot episode.
Day 28 - First TV show obsession.
Day 29 - Current TV show obsession.
Day 30 - Saddest character death.
Day 30 - Saddest character death.
Again there was more than one candidate for this, and it did take some thinking about.
In the end I decided to go with a character from a show I hadn't used. Wesley Wyndam-Pryce from Angel: The Series. And I went with Wes, not just because of not having used Angel but because after much thought it really was right up there amongst the saddest deaths.
Wes first made his appearance in Buffy and I have to say at first I really didn't care for him - but you weren't meant to. He was pompous, scared and compared to his fellow Watcher Giles . . . Words can't describe it. But he came through in the end for the team and grew.
So when he appeared in Angel even more changed and grown, I was delighted to see him. He was great for the show and whilst I didn't agree with the story-line that made him in effect 'betray' Angel, it added to the tension and hardened Wes in ways nothing else could. And had that not happened, I'm not sure he'd have done some of the things he did later on - essential things.
I loved how he loved Fred and stood by to see her choose Gunn, only to realise it was Wes she wanted to be with and they had a short time before she changed and became Illyria and Wes had to watch the girl he loved change forever. But he didn't give up, he worked with her to try to give her some humanity and he won; he gave her some. And just as you thought he'd finally, maybe get the girl, he dies with her by his side, changed into Fred, as she learnt how to do; he dies knowing she loves him. And his death gives Illyria so much.
It led to a really poignant line at the end of the final episode of Angel when Illyria returns to Angel's side to find Gunn dying, Lorne gone and now only Angel, Spike and herself. She says to them: "Wesley's dead. I'm feeling grief for him. I can't seem to control it. I wish to do more violence." She gets her final wish: she did get 'to do more violence'.
Very poignant and powerful. To love. To lose. To get. To lose. To get. To die.
The final exchange during Wes's death scene:
Illyria: [Wesley has been fatally stabbed] You'll be dead within moments.
Wes: I know.
Illyria: Would you like me to lie to you now?
Wes: Yes. Thank you, yes.
[Illyria morphs into Fred]
Wes: Hello there.
Illyria: [as Fred] Oh Wesley. My Wesley.
Wes: Fred, I've missed you.
Illyria: It's gonna be okay. It won't hurt much longer and then you'll be where I am.
[Begins crying]
Illyria: We'll be together.
Wes: I-I love you.
Illyria: I love you. My love. Oh, my love.
WWP on Wiki
WWP on Buffy Wiki
When nicis_anatomy started to post this meme last month, I promised her that I would do it in June. So I am keeping my promise. From seeing Nici's posts last month, I know several of my answers will be the same as hers.
Day 01 - A show that should have never been cancelled.
Day 02 - A show that you wish more people were watching.
Day 03 - Your favourite new show (aired this TV season).
Day 04 - Your favourite show ever.
Day 05 - A show you hate.
Day 06 - Favourite episode of your favourite TV show.
Day 07 - Least favourite episode of your favourite TV show.
Day 08 - A show everyone should watch.
Day 09 - Best scene ever.
Day 10 - A show you thought you wouldn't like but ended up loving.
Day 11 - A show that disappointed you.
Day 12 - An episode you’ve watched more than five times.
Day 13 - Favourite childhood show.
Day 14 - Favourite male character.
Day 15 - Favourite female character.
Day 16 - Your guilty pleasure show.
Day 17 - Favourite mini series.
Day 18 - Favourite title sequence.
Day 19 - Best TV show cast.
Day 20 - Favourite kiss.
Day 21 - Favourite ship.
Day 22 - Favourite series finale.
Day 23 - Most annoying character.
Day 24 - Best quote.
Day 25 - A show you plan on watching (old or new).
Day 26 - OMG WTF? season finale.
Day 27 - Best pilot episode.
Day 28 - First TV show obsession.
Day 29 - Current TV show obsession.
Day 30 - Saddest character death.
Day 30 - Saddest character death.
Again there was more than one candidate for this, and it did take some thinking about.
In the end I decided to go with a character from a show I hadn't used. Wesley Wyndam-Pryce from Angel: The Series. And I went with Wes, not just because of not having used Angel but because after much thought it really was right up there amongst the saddest deaths.
Wes first made his appearance in Buffy and I have to say at first I really didn't care for him - but you weren't meant to. He was pompous, scared and compared to his fellow Watcher Giles . . . Words can't describe it. But he came through in the end for the team and grew.
So when he appeared in Angel even more changed and grown, I was delighted to see him. He was great for the show and whilst I didn't agree with the story-line that made him in effect 'betray' Angel, it added to the tension and hardened Wes in ways nothing else could. And had that not happened, I'm not sure he'd have done some of the things he did later on - essential things.
I loved how he loved Fred and stood by to see her choose Gunn, only to realise it was Wes she wanted to be with and they had a short time before she changed and became Illyria and Wes had to watch the girl he loved change forever. But he didn't give up, he worked with her to try to give her some humanity and he won; he gave her some. And just as you thought he'd finally, maybe get the girl, he dies with her by his side, changed into Fred, as she learnt how to do; he dies knowing she loves him. And his death gives Illyria so much.
It led to a really poignant line at the end of the final episode of Angel when Illyria returns to Angel's side to find Gunn dying, Lorne gone and now only Angel, Spike and herself. She says to them: "Wesley's dead. I'm feeling grief for him. I can't seem to control it. I wish to do more violence." She gets her final wish: she did get 'to do more violence'.
Very poignant and powerful. To love. To lose. To get. To lose. To get. To die.
The final exchange during Wes's death scene:
Illyria: [Wesley has been fatally stabbed] You'll be dead within moments.
Wes: I know.
Illyria: Would you like me to lie to you now?
Wes: Yes. Thank you, yes.
[Illyria morphs into Fred]
Wes: Hello there.
Illyria: [as Fred] Oh Wesley. My Wesley.
Wes: Fred, I've missed you.
Illyria: It's gonna be okay. It won't hurt much longer and then you'll be where I am.
[Begins crying]
Illyria: We'll be together.
Wes: I-I love you.
Illyria: I love you. My love. Oh, my love.
WWP on Wiki
WWP on Buffy Wiki