Vaguely related to the comics.

[elisi]

From a recent interview:

"The hardest [to write] was always Angel. How to make a decent, handsome, stalwart hero interesting -- tough."
Joss

I'm beginning to think that this comment was not meant ironically. Which would explain a lot...

Comments

[kikimay]

LOL.
I think that Angel became interesting when he started to be the existentialist guy. And, maybe, Joss is a hopeless romantic, who actually loved Buffy/Angel's relationship to death, so he maked this guy more interesting for his girl. (?) I don't know!
In the latest interview with Katie Lucas, Joss said that he was more interested in Spike. For him, Angel was like Lestat (the classic vampire/byronic hero, I think) and Spike was more complex. I believe that it's really difficult when a character you don't actually like is the audience's favourite. He worked a lot to make Angel more like *his* characters and, maybe, now he sees him good.

[elisi]

It's also man!pain affliction... Much like the Tenth Doctor became very unlikeable, utterly swallowed up by his own pain, but still everyone loved him 'just because'. His pain supposedly excuses the way he's a jerk to everyone around him. (I rewatched some of S3 and OMG Ten was such a bastard towards Martha. It's *breathtaking*.)

For him, Angel was like Lestat (the classic vampire/byronic hero, I think)
Which is where the problem lies, because Angel isn't. As you say, he was far more interesting when he was the existentialist guy.

[kikimay]

Which is where the problem lies, because Angel isn't. As you say, he was far more interesting when he was the existentialist guy.
But I became gradually that guy.
In the first seasons of Buffy he was so self-absorbed! Man-pain affliction, truly!

[elisi]

No one has ever suffered like he has suffered! POOR POOR ANGEL!

[kikimay]

I'm gonna write a post about that! XDD

[elisi]

Ooooh, sounds good. :D

(Like I said the other day in a response to Mark - Ten and Jack and Angel could have an angst-off. Like the Four Yorkshiremen. *g*)

[liliaeth]

Oh god, i remember when I was a teenager and thinking that his line about what it felt like to have done the things he'd done and to care, was oh so deep. And then I grew up and realized just how utterly self-centered that lines really is.

[elisi]

And then I grew up and realized just how utterly self-centered that lines really is.
Well, it's tragic, of course. But it shouldn't stop there. When Angel is at his best, all that guilt is what motivates him to act and help others. When he gets absorbed in himself everything just spirals out of control. All of which reminds me of this fabulous quote by Matt Smith:

"That's what interests me about The Doctor because, actually, look at the blood on the man's hands... Which is why I think he has to make silly jokes and wear a fez. Because if he didn't, he'd hang himself."

[kikimay]

I wrote something and, of course, I forgot 80% of what was about to saying. I'm better in open discussion then in meta.
Ooohh, Matt Smith! I love him, he made me fall in love with the Doctor!

[elisi]

I wrote something and, of course, I forgot 80% of what was about to sayin
Ah yes, that's quite normal! :)

And Matt Smith is just amazing! <3 <3 <3