Buffy was too young, too inexperienced and simply not ready.
I agree completely . . . Which is why I think Angel left.
Angel was a spoiled, selfish, frat boy that aways got what he wanted. Redemption was forced on him... and even then, he sulked and whined about it until someone took his hand and led him towards the light.
I have trouble seeing Angel that way. Liam may have been spoiled and selfish, but I don't think he got what he wanted--from his father or his life before he was turned. Angelus, I think we can all say, was spoiled and selfish and got what he wanted. Ensouled Angel I think cannot be called spoiled, nor did he get what he wanted. I wouldn't call him selfish, either--I'd call him weak. He tried to help--we're shown him trying to connect or make things better for people at least once, and I do believe it must've happened more than once--failed miserably, and gave up, only to try again after moping about it. That's not selfishness so much as inability to cope.
I'd also say redemption wasn't forced on him. The curse was forced on him, the soul was forced on him, but the soul /= redemption. I can't help but think that many people would choose to go the Ann Rice direction in his position: go nuts and eat people anyway, or eat people all the time but be all angsty and self-hating about it. I think Angel's guilt for things he might've, if he'd've been less of a person, not even blamed on himself, and his attempts to help people (even if they were pitiful and far between) signified a far deeper person underneath.
Lastly, the "taking him by the hand" was Whistler saying, "hey look at this Slayer being Called." That's really all Whistler did . . . maybe he convince Angel he had a destiny, which I think makes Angel feel a lot better about himself . . . but I would argue that though Whistler pointed the way, Angel got there by himself.
and will always be what the other considers as their true soul mate
Not sure I agree there, either. I'm not sure Buffy or Angel think in terms of "soul mate." If they did, I would find their willingness to go on to other people and love and find happiness elsewhere almost . . . deceptive.
but ready to recapture the magic of youth at the end of the road
I can't really see that, either. I don't think they'd ever have what they had when they were young, because they're not the same people. I think that if they ever got together again they'd have to start over again with getting to know each other and learning each other all over again. Once that's done, I think that the passion and love and overwhelmingness of it could be just as intense as it once was, but that doesn't make it the same.
I think Spike works better. I never thought I'd say that, but it was a fanfiction that eventually had me look at it that way.
I can understand that. Although I'm not a B/S shipper, I've seen some really great arguments for B/S, and I understand and appreciate the ship.
Nice essay.
Thanks. I think we disagree on a lot of points, but that's in no way a bad thing, you know? It's interesting hearing what other people think.
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I agree completely . . . Which is why I think Angel left.
Angel was a spoiled, selfish, frat boy that aways got what he wanted. Redemption was forced on him... and even then, he sulked and whined about it until someone took his hand and led him towards the light.
I have trouble seeing Angel that way. Liam may have been spoiled and selfish, but I don't think he got what he wanted--from his father or his life before he was turned. Angelus, I think we can all say, was spoiled and selfish and got what he wanted. Ensouled Angel I think cannot be called spoiled, nor did he get what he wanted. I wouldn't call him selfish, either--I'd call him weak. He tried to help--we're shown him trying to connect or make things better for people at least once, and I do believe it must've happened more than once--failed miserably, and gave up, only to try again after moping about it. That's not selfishness so much as inability to cope.
I'd also say redemption wasn't forced on him. The curse was forced on him, the soul was forced on him, but the soul /= redemption. I can't help but think that many people would choose to go the Ann Rice direction in his position: go nuts and eat people anyway, or eat people all the time but be all angsty and self-hating about it. I think Angel's guilt for things he might've, if he'd've been less of a person, not even blamed on himself, and his attempts to help people (even if they were pitiful and far between) signified a far deeper person underneath.
Lastly, the "taking him by the hand" was Whistler saying, "hey look at this Slayer being Called." That's really all Whistler did . . . maybe he convince Angel he had a destiny, which I think makes Angel feel a lot better about himself . . . but I would argue that though Whistler pointed the way, Angel got there by himself.
and will always be what the other considers as their true soul mate
Not sure I agree there, either. I'm not sure Buffy or Angel think in terms of "soul mate." If they did, I would find their willingness to go on to other people and love and find happiness elsewhere almost . . . deceptive.
but ready to recapture the magic of youth at the end of the road
I can't really see that, either. I don't think they'd ever have what they had when they were young, because they're not the same people. I think that if they ever got together again they'd have to start over again with getting to know each other and learning each other all over again. Once that's done, I think that the passion and love and overwhelmingness of it could be just as intense as it once was, but that doesn't make it the same.
I think Spike works better. I never thought I'd say that, but it was a fanfiction that eventually had me look at it that way.
I can understand that. Although I'm not a B/S shipper, I've seen some really great arguments for B/S, and I understand and appreciate the ship.
Nice essay.
Thanks. I think we disagree on a lot of points, but that's in no way a bad thing, you know? It's interesting hearing what other people think.