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Where has this essay BEEN all my life???
There's a lot of talk about Angel at the moment. Dismissing the comics (they are filthy things, we shall speak of them no more) I've noticed something. Most people seem to think that Angel's final plan was foolish. That it was borne from a desire to go down in a blaze of glory, with no regards as to the aftermath. He gave up [on humanity]. He gave in [to his deathwish]. He sold out, completely [to his dark side]. He stopped caring [about his mission]. His plan was pointless and probably brought more harm than good.
And I've never seen it like this. The meticulousness which with Angel plans doesn't speak to me of someone in the throes of depression, someone who just wants out. Because we saw that already at the very start of 'You're Welcome':
ANGEL: There's nothing more to discuss. I'm resigning.
LORNE: Gee, it seems like a ripe topic for discussion to me.
WESLEY: What happened last night was tragic. It's a terrible setback, but—
ANGEL: Setback, Wes? It's status quo. Evil wins, 'cause instead of just wiping it out, we negotiate with it. Or worse...for it.
FRED: Angel, we're doing the best we can.
ANGEL: It's not that you guys aren't doing your jobs. It's that we shouldn't be doing these jobs in the first place... or I shouldn't.
Angel's final plan is something much, much, much different. And today I found an essay that's like gold dust! It shows how Angel becomes the general that Buffy could never be (and should never be. That's not her role). It puts the whole verse into perspective, and overall context. Also it is beautifully written - I don't know anyone else who can make meta so lyrical:
The Military Soundness of Angel's Final Plan by![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
fodian.
And as always, it comes back to 'Why We Fight':
LAWSON: We [the good guys] wouldn't do that. You don't win a war by doing whatever it takes. You win by doing what's right.
SPIKE: Yeah? Let me know how that works out for you, Popeye.
Spike, as per usual, sees the truth. So Angel plays the hand that he's given, and does whatever it takes. And Spike, remember, is the first to raise his hand.
(Disabling comments because I'm so tired of talking about this. Also it's the weekend and I won't have the time. But feel free to link.)
And I've never seen it like this. The meticulousness which with Angel plans doesn't speak to me of someone in the throes of depression, someone who just wants out. Because we saw that already at the very start of 'You're Welcome':
ANGEL: There's nothing more to discuss. I'm resigning.
LORNE: Gee, it seems like a ripe topic for discussion to me.
WESLEY: What happened last night was tragic. It's a terrible setback, but—
ANGEL: Setback, Wes? It's status quo. Evil wins, 'cause instead of just wiping it out, we negotiate with it. Or worse...for it.
FRED: Angel, we're doing the best we can.
ANGEL: It's not that you guys aren't doing your jobs. It's that we shouldn't be doing these jobs in the first place... or I shouldn't.
Angel's final plan is something much, much, much different. And today I found an essay that's like gold dust! It shows how Angel becomes the general that Buffy could never be (and should never be. That's not her role). It puts the whole verse into perspective, and overall context. Also it is beautifully written - I don't know anyone else who can make meta so lyrical:
The Military Soundness of Angel's Final Plan by
fodian. And as always, it comes back to 'Why We Fight':
LAWSON: We [the good guys] wouldn't do that. You don't win a war by doing whatever it takes. You win by doing what's right.
SPIKE: Yeah? Let me know how that works out for you, Popeye.
Spike, as per usual, sees the truth. So Angel plays the hand that he's given, and does whatever it takes. And Spike, remember, is the first to raise his hand.
(Disabling comments because I'm so tired of talking about this. Also it's the weekend and I won't have the time. But feel free to link.)