Angel - Season 1 impressions (episode 15)
Nov. 26th, 2005 08:15 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
thalia_seawoodThe Prodigal
For a summary click here.
This is the first Angel episodeselenak showed to me if I remember correctly.
It's one of the best season 1 episodes, IMO, next to Somnabulist.
(I've noticed that so far there is not a single flashback episode I haven't enjoyed.)
In the last episode the theme "fathers" was already begun by Seth and more importantly by some hints we get about Wesley's childhood.
Whereas I've Got You Under My Skin is a *very* mediocre episode, The Prodigal shines.
- The past: Angel and his father
* We learn that Angel was called Liam once and live from 1727 – 1753 in Galway, Ireland. (Is it coincidence his name is very similar to "William", i.e. Spike's original name?
* His relationship with his father is problematic to say the least. In an argument with his father, Angel claims that his father made him what he is. His father always named him a disappointment - and he just lived up to his expectations:
Dad: “It’s a son I wished for – a man – instead God gave me you! A terrible disappointment.”
Angel: “Disappointment? A more dutiful son you couldn’t have asked for. My whole life you’ve told me in word, in glance, what it is you required of me, and I’ve lived down to your every expectations, now haven’t I?”
Dad: “That’s madness!”
Angel: “No. The madness is that I couldn’t fail enough for you. But we’ll fix that now, won’t we?”
I have some sympathy for Angel - the approval of ones parents is definitely very important - nevertheless I'm not impressed by the way he pushes all the fault for the failed father-son felationship away from himself towards his father.
We don't see enough to know if Angel really did try to be a good son in the beginning. What we see about him isn't exactly impressive: He seduces women, drinks excessively and starts pub brawls. Does he have any occupation? At the time of his death, he's 26 years old. Definitely old enough to have had some job for at least 8 years.
To someone watching their relationship from the outside it's clear that Angel's father does love him. He's very close to tears in this scene.
Dad: “I was never in your way, boy.”
Angel opens the door and storms out.
Dad: “If you’ll go courting trouble, you’re sure to find it!”
However, he's unable to actually speak a kind word which, of course, brings Kate's father to mind. (I don't think so that fathers were supposed to be openly affectionate in the 18th century.)
When Angel dies his father grieves for him, maybe also for all the lost opportunities and the worthy heir he had imagined for himself once. The words on Angel's grave are "Beloved Son".
* Darla is immediately intrigued by Angel: He's handsome, but more importantly he enjoys fighting and is good at it. In addition, he has a certain callousness.
Cut to Darla watching Angel in a tavern fight.
Darla to maid: “Who is he?”
Maid: “Who, that one?”
Angel takes a drink from his mug of ale and goes back to fighting.
Darla: “Yes. - He’s magnificent.”
Maid: “Oh, yeah, God’s gift, alright.”
Darla: “Really? I’ve never known God to be so generous.”
Maid: “Oh, his lies sound pretty when the stars are out. - But he forgets every promise he’s made when the sun comes up again.”
Darla as Angel smiles at her: “That wouldn’t really be a problem for me actually.”
Angel starts walking towards Darla when someone brakes a bottle over his head.
* Immediately after turning into a vampire Angel becomes completely ruthless. He takes great joy in killing everyone in the village, apparently saving his own family for last. The most cruel act, IMO, is that he murders his sister. He loved her when he was Liam and she loved him. It seems he gets his name "Angel" from her.
Dad: “Be gone, unclean thing! A demon can not enter a home where it’s not welcome. He must be invited!”
Angel: “That’s true. - But I was invited.”
Angel looks to the doorway. His father turns and sees little Kathy slumped against the wall.
Dad: “Och!”
Angel: “She thought I returned to her – an angel.”
So being called "Angel" would at first be a proof to his utter ruthlessness and after his soul is returned to him be a constant reminder of his sister.
* Darla understands the complexities of love a great deal better than Angel:
Angel thinks he has defeated his father by killing him; now his father will finally have to admit that he was stronger than him after all.
Angel: “You told me I wasn’t a man. (Slowly stalks closer to his dad) You told me I was nothing. – and I believed you. You said I’d never amount to anything. (His dad stares at him with wide-open eyes) Well, you were wrong. (Angel morphs into vamp face) You see, father? - I have made something out of myself after all.”
Of course, he's quite wrong. His father will never be able to approve of him now. Angel's victory is perfectly empty.
Darla: “This contest is ended, is it?”
Angel has his feet up on the table playing with his father’s pipe. His family lies dead around him.
Angel: “Now I’ve won.”
Darla: “You’re sure?”
Angel puts his feet down and picks up a mug of ale: “Of course. I proved who had the power here.”
Darla: “You think?”
Angel: “What?”
Darla: “You’re victory over him took but moments.”
Angel looks over at the body of his father and gets up: “Yes?”
Darla: “But his defeat of you will last life times.”
Angel: “What are you talking about? He can’t defeat me now.”
Darla: “Nor can he ever approve of you – in this world or any other. - What we once were informs all that we have become. (Angel looks at his father’s body) The same love will infect our hearts – even if they no longer beat. (Angel looks at his mother’s and his sister’s body) Simple death won’t change that.”
Angel: “Love? - Is this the work of love?”
Darla steps closer and smiles up at him: “Darling boy. - So young. Still so very young.”
- The present time: Kate and her father
* Like Angel's father Kate's father cannot openly show his affection. His relationship to his daughter is never fully mended. We know that he did love her, but will Kate ever fully know this? She certainly will never get his open approval.
* Angel tries to protect Kate's father. It's easy to guess that he tries to atone for what he did to his own father in a way. His attempt to save Trevor Loxley fails, however. The irony is that he could kill his own father because he was invited into the house, but cannot save Kate's father since he's not invited in.
* I like in particular that Kate sends Angel aways when she grieves for her father. Very realistic.
* Most cutting remark:
Angel: “You okay? (Kate is trying not to cry) - Never trust an evil evil thing. - Kate, I know that what happened with your father..”
Kate spins to look at him: “My father was human (Gets up) and you don’t know anything about that.”
She walks past him without another word and he watches her go.
* The inscription on Loxley's gravestone mirrors the inscription on Angel's grave: "Beloved Father".
- To end this all on a lighter note: This scene made me laugh. Cordy is just so not squeamish here. :-)
Wesley on Phone: “I suppose one can hardly blame her for being skittish on the topic.”
Angel sitting in his car: “I guess so. I don’t know. Ever since she ran me through with a 2x4 things have been different.”
Wesley walking in the subway tunnel: “Well, she’ll come around. I think you’ll find that most people require some period of adjustment after being confronted with the dark forces, which surround us. Women in particular...”
Cordy crouched over the dead demon waving a hacksaw: “Found it!”
Wesley watches Cordy sawing into the demon: “Struggle with it.”
For a summary click here.
This is the first Angel episode
selenak showed to me if I remember correctly.It's one of the best season 1 episodes, IMO, next to Somnabulist.
(I've noticed that so far there is not a single flashback episode I haven't enjoyed.)
In the last episode the theme "fathers" was already begun by Seth and more importantly by some hints we get about Wesley's childhood.
Whereas I've Got You Under My Skin is a *very* mediocre episode, The Prodigal shines.
- The past: Angel and his father
* We learn that Angel was called Liam once and live from 1727 – 1753 in Galway, Ireland. (Is it coincidence his name is very similar to "William", i.e. Spike's original name?
* His relationship with his father is problematic to say the least. In an argument with his father, Angel claims that his father made him what he is. His father always named him a disappointment - and he just lived up to his expectations:
Dad: “It’s a son I wished for – a man – instead God gave me you! A terrible disappointment.”
Angel: “Disappointment? A more dutiful son you couldn’t have asked for. My whole life you’ve told me in word, in glance, what it is you required of me, and I’ve lived down to your every expectations, now haven’t I?”
Dad: “That’s madness!”
Angel: “No. The madness is that I couldn’t fail enough for you. But we’ll fix that now, won’t we?”
I have some sympathy for Angel - the approval of ones parents is definitely very important - nevertheless I'm not impressed by the way he pushes all the fault for the failed father-son felationship away from himself towards his father.
We don't see enough to know if Angel really did try to be a good son in the beginning. What we see about him isn't exactly impressive: He seduces women, drinks excessively and starts pub brawls. Does he have any occupation? At the time of his death, he's 26 years old. Definitely old enough to have had some job for at least 8 years.
To someone watching their relationship from the outside it's clear that Angel's father does love him. He's very close to tears in this scene.
Dad: “I was never in your way, boy.”
Angel opens the door and storms out.
Dad: “If you’ll go courting trouble, you’re sure to find it!”
However, he's unable to actually speak a kind word which, of course, brings Kate's father to mind. (I don't think so that fathers were supposed to be openly affectionate in the 18th century.)
When Angel dies his father grieves for him, maybe also for all the lost opportunities and the worthy heir he had imagined for himself once. The words on Angel's grave are "Beloved Son".
* Darla is immediately intrigued by Angel: He's handsome, but more importantly he enjoys fighting and is good at it. In addition, he has a certain callousness.
Cut to Darla watching Angel in a tavern fight.
Darla to maid: “Who is he?”
Maid: “Who, that one?”
Angel takes a drink from his mug of ale and goes back to fighting.
Darla: “Yes. - He’s magnificent.”
Maid: “Oh, yeah, God’s gift, alright.”
Darla: “Really? I’ve never known God to be so generous.”
Maid: “Oh, his lies sound pretty when the stars are out. - But he forgets every promise he’s made when the sun comes up again.”
Darla as Angel smiles at her: “That wouldn’t really be a problem for me actually.”
Angel starts walking towards Darla when someone brakes a bottle over his head.
* Immediately after turning into a vampire Angel becomes completely ruthless. He takes great joy in killing everyone in the village, apparently saving his own family for last. The most cruel act, IMO, is that he murders his sister. He loved her when he was Liam and she loved him. It seems he gets his name "Angel" from her.
Dad: “Be gone, unclean thing! A demon can not enter a home where it’s not welcome. He must be invited!”
Angel: “That’s true. - But I was invited.”
Angel looks to the doorway. His father turns and sees little Kathy slumped against the wall.
Dad: “Och!”
Angel: “She thought I returned to her – an angel.”
So being called "Angel" would at first be a proof to his utter ruthlessness and after his soul is returned to him be a constant reminder of his sister.
* Darla understands the complexities of love a great deal better than Angel:
Angel thinks he has defeated his father by killing him; now his father will finally have to admit that he was stronger than him after all.
Angel: “You told me I wasn’t a man. (Slowly stalks closer to his dad) You told me I was nothing. – and I believed you. You said I’d never amount to anything. (His dad stares at him with wide-open eyes) Well, you were wrong. (Angel morphs into vamp face) You see, father? - I have made something out of myself after all.”
Of course, he's quite wrong. His father will never be able to approve of him now. Angel's victory is perfectly empty.
Darla: “This contest is ended, is it?”
Angel has his feet up on the table playing with his father’s pipe. His family lies dead around him.
Angel: “Now I’ve won.”
Darla: “You’re sure?”
Angel puts his feet down and picks up a mug of ale: “Of course. I proved who had the power here.”
Darla: “You think?”
Angel: “What?”
Darla: “You’re victory over him took but moments.”
Angel looks over at the body of his father and gets up: “Yes?”
Darla: “But his defeat of you will last life times.”
Angel: “What are you talking about? He can’t defeat me now.”
Darla: “Nor can he ever approve of you – in this world or any other. - What we once were informs all that we have become. (Angel looks at his father’s body) The same love will infect our hearts – even if they no longer beat. (Angel looks at his mother’s and his sister’s body) Simple death won’t change that.”
Angel: “Love? - Is this the work of love?”
Darla steps closer and smiles up at him: “Darling boy. - So young. Still so very young.”
- The present time: Kate and her father
* Like Angel's father Kate's father cannot openly show his affection. His relationship to his daughter is never fully mended. We know that he did love her, but will Kate ever fully know this? She certainly will never get his open approval.
* Angel tries to protect Kate's father. It's easy to guess that he tries to atone for what he did to his own father in a way. His attempt to save Trevor Loxley fails, however. The irony is that he could kill his own father because he was invited into the house, but cannot save Kate's father since he's not invited in.
* I like in particular that Kate sends Angel aways when she grieves for her father. Very realistic.
* Most cutting remark:
Angel: “You okay? (Kate is trying not to cry) - Never trust an evil evil thing. - Kate, I know that what happened with your father..”
Kate spins to look at him: “My father was human (Gets up) and you don’t know anything about that.”
She walks past him without another word and he watches her go.
* The inscription on Loxley's gravestone mirrors the inscription on Angel's grave: "Beloved Father".
- To end this all on a lighter note: This scene made me laugh. Cordy is just so not squeamish here. :-)
Wesley on Phone: “I suppose one can hardly blame her for being skittish on the topic.”
Angel sitting in his car: “I guess so. I don’t know. Ever since she ran me through with a 2x4 things have been different.”
Wesley walking in the subway tunnel: “Well, she’ll come around. I think you’ll find that most people require some period of adjustment after being confronted with the dark forces, which surround us. Women in particular...”
Cordy crouched over the dead demon waving a hacksaw: “Found it!”
Wesley watches Cordy sawing into the demon: “Struggle with it.”
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no subject
Date: 2005-11-27 07:16 am (UTC)I have some sympathy for Angel - the approval of ones parents is definitely very important - nevertheless I'm not impressed by the way he pushes all the fault for the failed father-son felationship away from himself towards his father.
This, ah, aquires an additional irony later on in the series. Can't say more without spoiling. Let's just say that irony is truly a bitch towards Angel. Anyway, Liam's father and Liam - I'm sure both parties were at fault, and Liam did the simple thing by blaming only his old man. We get a glimpse of Liam at 17 in a later episode courtesy of some brief amnesia, and at this point he hasn't started with the drinking yet but is already very rebellious.
(You also get the sense that Liam thinks his father is a hypocrite - if you check out the Becoming flashback and Prodigal, he says something about his father drinking as well, or something like that.)
Something
The most cruel act, IMO, is that he murders his sister. He loved her when he was Liam and she loved him. It seems he gets his name "Angel" from her.
Yes. She's the one he takes leave of, not his mother (who is a shadowy figure we never hear talk - one reason, imo, why he imprints on Darla so strongly is that she really becomes not just his lover but his mother - there is no competition), and speaks tenderly towards.
Kathy, the beloved little sister who is the first victim: proto Drusilla and proto Cordelia? Discuss.
I like in particular that Kate sends Angel aways when she grieves for her father. Very realistic.
Yes. At the time, Kate was much condemmed for the hostility she shows towards Angel here and from this point onwards for quite a while, but grief, and these particular circumstances, don't make you nice and fair. They make you lash out.
no subject
Date: 2006-03-07 08:31 pm (UTC)I thought it extremely ironic that Kate's father was killed by vampires he invited in, with no knowledge they were vampires, yet he refused to invite Angel, who was trying to help him. Angel was put in the position of a racehorse, chomping at the bit, having to wait for Lockley to die before he could enter and kick some butt, knowing that he'd be to late to save Lockley by the time he could enter - and yet, Kate blamed Angel (understandably) who was doing his very best to save her father. that must have been really painful for Angel.
no subject
Date: 2006-03-07 08:57 pm (UTC)Yes, and the irony that he doesn't get invited in when he means well, while he was invited in when he meant evil and thus got the chance to kill his family.
no subject
Date: 2006-03-07 08:58 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-03-09 06:29 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-03-12 09:35 am (UTC)(I love the light and shadows in this icons, it looks a bit like an old painting.)