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AIBU?

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Original poster

to think Angel was a bit of a skeaze?

255 replies

herculepoirot2 · 03/09/2019 15:20

Am frittering away my afternoon re-watching Buffy, which I used to love. And as I’m watching, I’m realising that I am seeing a man who is 250 years old climbing in the window of a 16 year old girl in the middle of the night, and I’m thinking that’s pretty grim. She has teddy bears on her bed.

OP posts:
Lweji · 03/09/2019 16:19

ultimately Spike is the "better" man
Yes. Much more interesting. And, dare I say, better actor? (Disclaimer: I still love David Boreanaz and have followed him to Angel, then Bones)

In any case, Buffy isn't just a 16 year old. She's a Slayer, and therefore as old as, well, slayers.

SarahTancredi · 03/09/2019 16:19

I was more a spike and giles girl myself.

I'm sure with angel you' d have to hang around for a conversation afterwards

Fuck that.

leghairdontcare · 03/09/2019 16:21

@Tableclothing I'm an ardent feminist but if i have to chose between destroying patriarchy and 1997 era David Boreanaz then it's going to be a close call.

exLtEveDallas · 03/09/2019 16:21

According to the Buffyverse he was supposed to be sired at age 26. So that's the human age he'll stay. Still a little creepy, but not quite as bad.

phoenixrosehere · 03/09/2019 16:22

@TheStakeIsNotThePower

Everything you said. I rooted for Bangel in the beginning and then when Spike came in and stuck around I completely switched. I remember questioning the whole Bangel thing and thought wtf, they’re not star-crosses lovers. There is no way they could ever be happy and even when angel had the chance, he gave it up because he couldn’t handle being a human and having to be protected which was a poor excuse considering the Scooby gang was all human (for the most part).

NeverSayFreelance · 03/09/2019 16:22

Oooh Buffy chat!

He was really weird and creepy at the start and had zero personality - but I loved him in Angel and thought him and Cordelia were perfect for each other.

NeverSayFreelance · 03/09/2019 16:24

Was never attracted to Angel or Spike though - I was and am a Giles girl through and through Grin love me some Tony Head.

TheZeppo · 03/09/2019 16:24

Giles with a guitar 😍

The Angel thing airways creeped me out. He first say her sat on the school steps with a lollipop! She was 15 and there’s a definite implication of love at first sight. Add the fact she’s still at school, has a stuffed pig, acts like your typical teenager and you’ve got yourself a really queasy ‘romance’.

But, sorry- Spike is completely self-absorbed. He can’t really love.

Two things that riled: 1) Glory could have just started snapping necks until Buffy caved. The big long dramatic gaps in time would never have happened. And 2) Joyce dies of a brain issue less than a year after some monks mucked with her brain and NO ONE (not even woe-is-me Dawn) even thinks about that connection!

MyFartWillGoOn · 03/09/2019 16:24

Love this thread! Had DB posters all over my wall when I was a teenager and followed him into Angel

I definitely think he was funnier in Angel until they bloody introduced Connor! And then fixed it after ratings crash by writing him out. But poor Cordy, she came good in the end and never got to have a happy ending. The episode with the kiss goodbye still makes me cry

Who was angel better with-buffy or cordy?

I can still watch both Buffy and Angel in my 30s and appreciate them!

Fav Buffy episode: Graduation or Once More With Feeling (sorry, cliche)
Fav Angel episode: There's a hole in the world. Love Fred!!

Original poster
herculepoirot2 · 03/09/2019 16:25

I love Once More With Feeling!

OP posts:
Jocasta2018 · 03/09/2019 16:25

I guess it was quite sleazy.... Just showed hints of the obsessive side of Angelus that we didn't see until season 2.

But when it came to stalking - Edward in Twilight - far worse! At least Buffy could kick the living crap out of Angel when necessary whereas Bella was a wuss...

Pinkywoo · 03/09/2019 16:26

Angel was much sexier when he was bad (and wearing leather trousers), he was far too mopey the rest of the time, Spike on the other hand I'd let bite me any day!

Juells · 03/09/2019 16:26

What age was Angel when he turned into a vampire?

From the flashbacks it seemed like he was very young when he was 'turned'. 17 or 18? Then he wouldn't have matured at all in the years when he was rampaging and blood-letting. So really he was only 'Angel' for a few years in all before meeting Buffy.

Giles was a bit wimpy and middle-aged.

NeverSayFreelance · 03/09/2019 16:27

Giles singing 😍

Giles singing Behind Blue Eyes 😍😍

Giles singing Standing 😍🤯☠️

TheZeppo · 03/09/2019 16:29

Giles was initially middle aged and wimpey.

But then he killed Ben! And lost the tweed! And played guitar 😍and stopped Dark Willow

SarahAndQuack · 03/09/2019 16:29

Of course it was sleazy.

I love the way the later seasons (and Angel as a show) take the piss out of the earlier bits. Especially Spike.

IMO it's why it works. As a sixteen-year-old you'd be all 'ooh, amazing, this dark, handsome stranger has shown up, swoon gasp. That's the point.

Giles (who is the responsible adult/father figure at this point) never implies he is remotely comfortable with it. Just as you'd hope your dad would be if you started dating someone aged 26.

In the service of which point, I quote Giles, on the subject of Wesley badly failing to go and talk to Cordelia at prom night.

'For goodness' sake, man. She's eighteen, and you have the emotional maturity of a blueberry scone.'

Grin
SarahAndQuack · 03/09/2019 16:30

And, btw, wasn't Wesley absolutely amazing in Angel? That was one heck of a transformation.

LondonGal76 · 03/09/2019 16:30

Another vote for Spike (as long as I block out the attempted rape...)

Tableclothing: I found when I rewatched Buffy it wasn't quite the feminist utopia it had appeared to be when I was 16. Felt quite sad about it.

Funnily enough, Joss Whedon's ex wife has claimed he's not quite the feminist he professes to be

aintnutinchanged · 03/09/2019 16:30

@PicsInRed what's up with Ross you seem pretty mad with him 😂 and the holiday armadillllo?

TheZeppo · 03/09/2019 16:31

He’s a rogue demon hunter now 😉

TinklyLittleLaugh · 03/09/2019 16:32

I never got Angel at all. I was always team Spike. And have a definite soft spot for Riley, which I know is totally uncool. He’s very very pretty though.

Juells · 03/09/2019 16:36

I was so sad when the actor who played Doyle died :( I never warmed to Wesley, found him just irritating.

SarahAndQuack · 03/09/2019 16:37

Grin YY, the 'rogue' demon hunter bit was very funny.

But then he also was an absolute badass later on.

I think Joss Whedon is an extremely dubious 'feminist' and there's masses wrong with his work, but I still really love the way that both series get to be really funny about these things.

Original poster
herculepoirot2 · 03/09/2019 16:39

Wesley is a handsome chap.

OP posts:
HumphreyCobblers · 03/09/2019 16:39

Have just watched the whole of Buffy with DD. She loved it, but I agree that it is not the feminist utopia I originally thought it to be.

The subtext of the Buffy/Angel trauma is that the girl was OK until she had sex! A bit depressing. And the sucking a lollipop thing was seriously questionable eurghhh.

I wish they hadn't made Spike try to rape Buffy, the scriptwriters really didn't know where to go with that in later series.

I also have a massive problem with Xander on a rewatch, that boy is truly horrible at times!

Just started Angel with DD now. I may pick holes in it all but I truly truly love it. We listen to Once More With Feeling soundtrack on the way to school.