Angel - Season 3 impressions (episode 6)

[thalia_seawood]

Billy

A summary can be found here.


- Definitely an interesting episode. It seems that during this year not only Buffy and her friends have to learn that actions have consequences, Angel and his team are confronted with the same truth.

- Another theme of this episode is women versus men. The Jossverse has always featured strong and interesting female characters (Buffy, Faith, Cordelia, Darla, etc.), so this episode fits right in. Billy brings out the worst in the men he touches so that they start abusing women. However by the end, all female characters prove to be incredibly strong and resilient. It may look as if the men are pulling all the shots, but it's really the women who decide the final outcome:

* Cordelia manages to track down Billy by herself. She even talks Lilah into assisting her. I believe that Cordelia would even have killed Billy if Angel hadn't - recklessly - interrupted.
* Fred traps Wesley and knocks out Gunn.
* Lilah steps in and kills Billy.
* Fred has enough inner strength to forgive Wesley in the final scene.


- Even in his first scene, Billy is a wonderfully creepy character. He's handsome and suave - yet the reactions of the other characters, how the scene is cut and the underlying music make it clear that there's something very wrong with him.

- Cordelia learns to fight:
I like the idea that Cordy is trained in martial arts. It makes sense seeing that she has often been in danger and sooner or later would want to learn how to defend herself. For me it also works that she learns quickly; like she says she used to be great as a cheerleader.

What I'm not keen on are the romantic undertones with Angel. Somehow a romance between them feels ... incestuous. And yeah, I don't mind incestuous overtones regarding Spike and Drusilla, but then they are vampires and follow different rules. Actually, Angel/Cordelia feels to me a lot like Xander/Willow. Both couples have a wonderful friendship or brother/sister vibe, but in my opinion absolutely no romantic vibes.

- Lilah has some great scenes in this episodes. I believe that we get her measure in this episode, particularly this quote tells us a lot about her.
"I'm not Lindsey McDonald. I don't switch sides whenever it gets tough."

My take on Lilah:
You may beat her in a fight, but that doesn't mean she will lose the war. She's a *very* persistent woman.
She will fight on the same team as the AI team from time to time, but ultimately will pursue her own interests. I cannot see her being redeemed in the classical sense or switching sides because all of a sudden her conscience kicks in. She has decided to work for Wolfram & Hart and she knows and accept what this means.

Oh, and I *really* liked her interaction with Cordelia.

Lilah shrugs: "So? You know me."
Cordy: "Please, I was you - with better shoes."
Lilah: "These are Boracchi."
Cordy: "Fall collection?"
Lilah: "Next spring."
Cordy: "He's widened the heel."
Lilah: "And rounded the toe."
Cordy: "That won't work with pink."
Lilah: "The pink is out this spring."

- Angel has a moment of supreme idiocy in this episode. I actually yelled at him in this scene:
Cordy takes a step closer, so the tip of the arrow is almost up against Billy's throat.
Cordy: "Wrong again."
Suddenly the crossbow is being pushed away and Angel steps between them, pushing Cordy away.
Angel: "I can't let you do it, Cordelia."
Billy: "You saved me again! I knew that you would."
Cordy: "Angel, you know what he is!"
Angel: "Yeah, I do. Which is why I'm gonna waste this piece of garbage myself."

IMO, Angel's biggest flaw is that he likes to see himself as a knight in shining armour, as the man who rescues damsels in distress. In this regard, he can be very overbearing as can also be seen when he makes decisions for others (e.g. ending the relationship with Buffy or turning back time without consulting Buffy). Well, Cordelia does not need to be rescued here, she has the situation well in hand. In fact, Angel's interruption could have ended in a disaster if he had not been immune against Billy's touch - which is something he could not have known beforehand. This means that his interruption posed an extreme risk to Cordelia. If I had been in her position, I would have punched him in the stomach afterwards.

- Wesley's character gets a sinister side in this episode. What's extremely eery is that the effect Billy's blood has on him doesn't alter his basic personality: Wesley still is very soft spoken, his diction doesn't change in any way. He doesn't start ranting and screaming, he pursues his goal to get Fred quietly yet relentlessly.

Now Fred ultimately states "It wasn't something in you, Wesley. It was something that was done to you.".
I believe that she's partly correct: Wesley isn't fully responsible for what he's doing.
However, the darkness Billy's poison reveals is something that has been part of Wesley's character beforehand. My take is that Billy does release issues that have already been there, but normally do not rule the person.

What happens to Wesley could be compared to being turned into a vampire, i.e. the super ego is switched off and the id gets free reign. This also explains why Angel could not be affected; he already has been changed in this way when his human self was merge with his demon self. However, in his case his reintroduced soul serves as super ego and cannot simply be removed by Billy's touch.

Taking this episode into account I have to revise my former evaluation slightly: I saw strong similarities between Wesley and William/Spike. While I still believe that early Wesley has things in common with William, Wesley would make a very different vampire. I believe he would still be meticulous, he would be a lot more like Angelus than Spike.

The final scene in this episode is touching: Fred forgives Wesley, but Wesley is not convinced by what she says. He has been forced to confront his inner darkness in an extreme way and is deeply ashamed about what he has discovered inside himself.
What makes this even more painful is that he was interested in Fred and wanted things to go well between them.

- There's a lot more I could write, but then I would not post this for another day... *g*


Here's a status overview regarding which episodes I've seen and/or commented on. If you are new to my LJ, please check this info so you don't post any big spoilers when you leave comments. Thanks!

Comments

[ladyaeryn.livejournal.com]

Was "Billy" the episode where Fred goes on about that kyerumption crap with Angel and Cordy? Grr. Wanted to smack her cute brainy head in that scene. And a definite agreed on the incestuous A/C vibes.

This is one of my few favorite episodes of season 3, for many of the reasons you mention. It's a great character episode all around, especially for Lilah and Wesley, both of whom have some fantastic moments. (I always do a little "Yeah!" when Billy is blown away at the end and it's revealed to be Lilah - who just walks away with barely a look to Angel and Cordelia. She's not on their side, won't ever be; this was about avenging her wrongs.) Wesley is extremely creepy in this episode, because you're right - it doesn't feel forced. And a quiet, calculating evil has always been more chilling to me than a loud, blustering one - it's what makes Angelus a more disturbing villain than, say, The Master.

I don't remember where, but a while back I saw some very interesting observations comparing the behavior of infected!Wes and infected!Gunn in this episode. Wesley never seemed to realize anything adverse was happening to him, whereas Gunn did realize he himself was being affected enough to have Fred knock him out. I remember it being speculated that this had something to do with that Wesley appears to have suffered some consistent psychological abuse from someone in the past, and it's harder for those who come from that kind of background to realize they themselves may be doing it.

[thalia-seawood.livejournal.com]

Was "Billy" the episode where Fred goes on about that kyerumption crap with Angel and Cordy? Grr.

No, that happens in the next episode Offspring. Like you I found it awful! - Why the heck couldn't the writers leave Angel & Cordelia alone or focus on the other relationships. Nearly any other pairing would have worked better if they really needed to introduce a romance. (Also we had Angel/Darla and these two had chemistry in spades.)

Wesley never seemed to realize anything adverse was happening to him, whereas Gunn did realize he himself was being affected enough to have Fred knock him out. I remember it being speculated that this had something to do with that Wesley appears to have suffered some consistent psychological abuse from someone in the past, and it's harder for those who come from that kind of background to realize they themselves may be doing it.

Oh, I love that interpretation. Works perfectly, IMO.

[ladyaeryn.livejournal.com]

One of the big things that irks me about the kyerumption commentary is it's a classic case of talking heads/telling instead of showing, which is especially irksome - not to mention heavy-handed/clunky storytelling - when it's done to sell a potential ship. (*cough*H/G*cough*) Anyway, suffice it to say I agree with you completely, but I won't comment further 'til you've caught up. Hee, I'm looking forward to when you're caught up enough to read my A/C rant. ;)

[likeadeuce.livejournal.com]

I'm not as anti-C/A as some people are -- (mostly it's that I'm more pro-Cordy/Wes) But I do think it really gets a hard sell that isn't necessary. The 'ship itself I don't object to (I like Cordy/Angel a helluva lot more than Buffy/Angel, in theory) so much as the way it gets hammered home ALL THE TIME by everybody (well, Wesley more or less abstains, thank God -- since we know he sekritly wants both of them for himself -- but everybody ELSE).

In season 3, I sometimes feel like the writers got a handbook on TV series romance, which said (a) the male and female lead MUST have serious sexual tension, and (b) [possible spoilers that I'll get to later]. I do think the 'ships that get set up in S3 pay off in later seasons, but most of what we actually get in this season is pretty clunky.

[selenak.livejournal.com]

so much as the way it gets hammered home ALL THE TIME by everybody (well, Wesley more or less abstains, thank God -- since we know he sekritly wants both of them for himself -- but everybody ELSE

Now while as you know the "Cordelia and Angel are ideal for each other" insistence in season 3 is one of my main season 3 issues, I cannot resist two reactions here:

1) Of course Wesley does.*g*

2) Otoh, we only have your word that he still wants Cordelia. I mean, think about it. What indication do we have from season 2 onwards that Wesley still notices Cordelia as a woman (as opposed to as a friend, that one moment when all the guys go "Cordy in a bikini" in late season 2 aside)? And as you yourself pointed out to me, he doesn't (spoiler) for her whereas he does go to incredible lengths to (spoiler) Angel between season 3 and 4.

[likeadeuce.livejournal.com]

2) Oh, you're completely right. I'm one of those bossy 'shippers who's busy telling them what they should want. I'm quite aware the canon doesn't back me up :)

[spikeylover.livejournal.com]

I'm thinking the Cordy/Angel push together thing had more to do with the split of the shows Buffy/Angel to the UPN/WB than anything. Yes, they were the male/female lead, but IMO, they had little chemistry together, no matter how hard the show runners wished or willed it.

[thalia-seawood.livejournal.com]

Yes, they were the male/female lead, but IMO, they had little chemistry together, no matter how hard the show runners wished or willed it.

Yeah, and the sad thing is that they had great friendship chemistry.

Having said that: Maybe I would appreciate Angel/Cordelia more if the writers didn't handle their romance so clumsily. When Angel & Cordelia meet for the first time during season 1 of Buffy, I remember that I thought they could be interesting together.

[likeadeuce.livejournal.com]

A short addendum to my earlier comment-and-run --

I do recognize the divide b/t my personal fanon and canon --

Such is the lot of the non-canon het 'shipper; 'cause fans of a slash pairing can always cry "subtext" while as a het shipper, you always run into "well, if they liked each other why didn't they get together?" Still, I think I can make a special plea for this 'ship, as even the pro-Cordy/Angel writers have to make the case of these two practically needing to be banged over the head before they realize they like each other. I'd just argue that C/W, who've at least actually shown some attraction to each other in the past, would be at least as good candidates for head-banging as C/A. Also, my Wes is a big slut who would do anybody in the right circumstances (except, for some reason, Giles).

[selenak.livejournal.com]

Giles because of some father figure incest squick? And now I'd love to ask you on your take on Wesley/Person-I-can't-name-for-spoilery-reasons.

Also, as you know I'm fervently anti C/A, so that argument doesn't wash as it equally work with C/Anyone-but-Angel. *g*

(Personally? Until you-know-what happened, I thought that once both shows were over, I could make my personal fanon of Cordelia reuniting with Xander as adults, as that had been my favourite relationship for them both. I love Anya, too, of course, so in that future fanon, she ended up with Giles.*g*)

[likeadeuce.livejournal.com]

re: Wes/Giles, I honestly have no idea. I just get zero sparkage off the two of them, though I've read futurefic that made it work.

as it equally work with C/Anyone-but-Angel.

infinite possible universes, suppersymmetry and all that? works for me, the multi-pairing whore. Though Wesley wins b/c he's prettier. And because I patterned on Much Ado and Pride & Prejudice, so squabbling means secret love.

[thalia-seawood.livejournal.com]

I thought that once both shows were over, I could make my personal fanon of Cordelia reuniting with Xander as adults, as that had been my favourite relationship for them both. I love Anya, too, of course, so in that future fanon, she ended up with Giles.*g*

I like that scenario. And to round it off you can pair of Angel, Spike and Buffy. :-)

[thalia-seawood.livejournal.com]

he doesn't (spoiler) for her whereas he does go to incredible lengths to (spoiler) Angel between season 3 and 4.

So Angel/Wesley can be considered subtextual canon? *smile*

[selenak.livejournal.com]

I'm just saying you'll love "Deep Down", the season 4 opener, for many, many reasons.*g*

[thalia-seawood.livejournal.com]

Yes, that's what really irks me regarding A/C, that the writers hit you over the head with it. (This attitude reminds me of the ultra-Lindsey friendly episode Dead End.)

Regarding H/G I recently read an interesting essay (http://community.livejournal.com/hp_essays/132755.html). Afterwards, I slightly reconsidered my opinion. I now think that Ginny is so perfect in HBP because we see the world - as always - through Harry's eyes. He's in love with her and so turns Ginny into the perfect girl and conveniently ignores her character flaws.

[ladyaeryn.livejournal.com]

Harry's POV is probably part of it, but we still get everyone and their brother falling all over themselves to tell us how wonderful she is. ;) Even Luna, with her own penchant for "speaking uncomfortable truths" about people. Ginny not getting suspended from Quidditch like anyone else would have for smashing into Smith or getting her beauty/skill repeatedly praised by random characters has nothing to do with Harry.

I see Harry ignoring her flaws as objectifying, not love - it's one thing to acknowledge flaws and decide they don't keep you from caring about a person, but we never see that from Harry. (Actually, he never once, in all his lusting, considers what Ginny even feels, even when he kisses her.) He wants Ginny to be flawless because he, understandably, wants an uncomplicated escape from his life - so he forgets the negative. Even the important things, like her possession by Voldemort. And she doesn't ever challenge this.

Anyway, this is an Angel discussion, so I'll end this tangent and agree A/C anvils = annoying. Keep your helmet at the ready... or just be prepared to step out of the way. ;)

[likeadeuce.livejournal.com]

Great ep to post on for Valentine's Day *g* (and great excuse for my Wes/Fred icon -- I'll have much more to say about their dynamic as time goes on but this is the first ep where they relate to each other in a significant way, although I do think there are some vibes b/t them during the bar scene in "This Old Gang of Mine").

I feel the urge to speak up a little in Wesley's defense here -- I think the comparison between the infection and being turned into a vampire is a good one, and this ep does give a hint of what kind of vampire he would be (you might remember a fic I wrote a while ago, in which Angel meditated that he would never have chosen to turn Spike, but might have given Wesley a go). Still, I've seen a lot of meta to the effect that Wes is some kind of closet misogynist, based on this episode (I know that's not exactly your argument). But I do think it's pretty clear that Billy would have affected any human male, and while some of the things that Wesley is saying early on -- accusing her of provoking him with her revealing clothing -- are probably reflecting his own somewhat frustrated attraction to her -- there's a lot (filthy menstrual blood imagery) that seems to come out of nowhere.

It's part of Wesley's misfortune here, I think, that he's so well-read and so articulate (minus his normal social inhibitions, anyway), not to mention so well-schooled in verbal/psychological manipulation and abuse that he's able to be so convincingly chilling as a monster who really doesn't have that much to do with who he is. And also, on a meta-level, Denisof really showed what he was capable of here and -- well, we can talk at a later date of what that might have led to. . .

The way this episode fits into the sequence is interesting, b/c the events are never explicitly mentioned again. I have a feeling it was controversial when it aired, and in fact, the US cable network that reruns the show refuses to air it. (They'll air endless police procedurals in which women show up every week as rape victims, but for some reason this ep gives them pause?) It's never mentioned again as a factor in Fred and Wesley's relationship, but there are later echoes, particularly of that final scene. And now I shut up about Fresley for the moment :).

Re: Lilah -- I'll just say you're very perceptive, and zip my lips. From this point on, I think Lilah shows up in just about every episode for a good long time. I did a count on this once and I think she has more eps than any recurring character in the Buffyverse, except maybe Tara & Joyce.



Now he does

[thalia-seawood.livejournal.com]

Great ep to post on for Valentine's Day *g*

LOL!
Well, I ignore Valentine's Day (it was imported to Germany only some years ago), but had I thought about it I would have made the post anyway to counteract all of Valentine's Day's fluffy cuteness.

It's part of Wesley's misfortune here, I think, that he's so well-read and so articulate (minus his normal social inhibitions, anyway), not to mention so well-schooled in verbal/psychological manipulation and abuse that he's able to be so convincingly chilling as a monster who really doesn't have that much to do with who he is.

Yes, I agree. I don't see Wesley as a closet mysogynist myself. If he became vampire and his id was released, I don't think he would be particularly vicious towards women. He would be a chillingly meticulous vampire though - both an expert in verbal and physical abuse. He would enjoy breaking his victims slowly and like Angelus try to create a work of twisted art. Due to his personal history, he might develop a hatred for fathers - maybe also for mothers depending on if his own mother simply ignored what his father did to him.

[selenak.livejournal.com]

Billy is a good episode, but here are my two problems with it:

1) Lilah kills Billy instead of Cordelia. This is the principle of letting one of the bad guys commit a murder so that the good guy doesn't have to, and usually this show is better than that. However, season 3 made Cordelia into what was nicknamed St. Cordy at the time, and having Lilah, not Cordelia, kill Billy was an ominious sign to that direction.

2) Inner misogyny in every man? I somehow doubt it. Now if Billy had released the violence, cruelty etc. in everyone, fine, but I find the idea that each and every man has a woman hater waiting to be released not too convincing.

This being said: Lilah, Cordy, Fred and Wesley all had fantastic scenes in this episode. Regarding the last one between Fred and Wesley: there is a lot going on there. When rewatching recently, I noticed that Fred is covered from neck to foot in clothes for that final scene, in marked contrast to her earlier appearance. So while her mind makes the difference between what Wesley said under the influence and Wesley normally, her instinct is to react to his words nonetheless.

Note that under-the-influence-Wes thrives on humiliating Fred verbally as well as hunting for her. Mirroring Wyndham-Pryce Senior?

There is a great scene between Fred and Wesley mirroring and contrasting this one in a season 5 episode named Lineage.

Wesley's inner darkness: all else I could say here would be spoilery.

Angel/Cordelia as incesteous: I always thought so, because I loved the brother-sister relationship they had for the first two seasons.

[lakrids404.livejournal.com]

Wesley's inner darkness: all else I could say here would be spoilery
And if you said anything, I would have to take away your bucket.

[selenak.livejournal.com]

*shrinks silently into the spoilery background*

[thalia-seawood.livejournal.com]

Regarding 1) I don't mind that Lilah kills Billy, but I do mind Cordelia doesn't kill him. (If that makes sense. :-)) It might have been interesting if they killed him in a joined venture. - Anyway, I don't see what the big problem would have been. After all, it is made clear that Billy is not fully human, but a demon. Morally, his death would have been much less problematic than Ben's.

Yes, I fully agree with the second problem you list.

When rewatching recently, I noticed that Fred is covered from neck to foot in clothes for that final scene, in marked contrast to her earlier appearance.
Cool observation! I didn't notice that.

[spikendru.livejournal.com]

Angel/Cordelia as incesteous: I always thought so, because I loved the brother-sister relationship they had for the first two seasons.

This is the same reason that I have a problem with Spike/Dawn - they had such a wonderful brother-sister relationship that I have a hard time working it into a romance, even when they are much older. Although, I have to say that with Angel/Cordelia, I saw a lot of possibilities in a romantic relationship between them that sort of was ruined for me by the Anvil of Doom heavy-handedness of the writers trying so hard to make people ship them. In actuality, I think they would have had a much better relationship than B/A, simply because they were friends first, and that doesn't necessarily preclude romantic relationships. Close friends of mine were very good friends for a number of years, then decided that that was the best basis for marriage they could think of, got married and have been happily married for a number of years. So, I could see a much more mature relationship for A/C, based on that friendship and on her refusal to sugar-coat her feelings and to let him have it ("I think it; I say it") when he deserves it. Unfortunately, the writers chose to go in a different direction, so we never did get to see if a workable relationship built on friendship and respect was possible for those two.

[thalia-seawood.livejournal.com]

I saw a lot of possibilities in a romantic relationship between them that sort of was ruined for me by the Anvil of Doom heavy-handedness of the writers trying so hard to make people ship them.

Yes, that perfectly describes my feelings. There are moments when I think they could work as a couple, but then someone rushes in and tells them how *wonderful* they are together.
It's a showcase of how *not* to write a pairing.