Angel, Giles, And Wesley

[white avenger]

Maybe this has been asked and answered before, but why, if Angel went to so much trouble bringing Giles back from the dead, didn't we ever see him at least try to do the same thing for Wes? Granted, the two men died under different circumstances, but Wes' death is just as much Angel's responsibility as Giles', and, as I recall, Wes' soul was taken by the Senior Partners, so the "ripping him out of Heaven" thing wouldn't be an issue. Wes actually IS in Hell, or at least trapped in W&H's service, which is probably just as bad, if not worse, especially considering him helping Angel so much in the "After The Fall" arc (or was he doing that at their direction? I can't remember)

My point is, Wes is depicted as one of Angel's closest human friends, he most definitely died in Angel's service, and he just seems to have left that friend to his fate, without ever making any sort of effort to rescue him.

 

[thetopher]

Simply because Angel didn't have access. In S9, after the seed shattered, the pathways to all other dimensions (including demon dimensions) were entirely cut off. W&H barely had a presence in the world anymore and they, along with Wesley, were beyond Angel's reach.

But Giles's soul never passed on to anywhere, it was in the clutches of an earth-bound Eyghon, which Angel only found out by reading Giles detailed diaries. He therefore found a way to go about 'collecting' Giles essence, using a whole bunch of magical artefacts as aids.

Also Angel was in no way responsible for Wesley dying. Angel had a plan to go against the senior partners and asked for support. Wesley put up his hand- he made his own choice will full knowledge that he may die in attempting to thwart the oncoming W&H planned apocalypse.

 

[AnthonyCordova]

That sucks that Wes is in hell as we speak.

 

[white avenger]

Also Angel was in no way responsible for Wesley dying. Angel had a plan to go against the senior partners and asked for support. Wesley put up his hand- he made his own choice will full knowledge that he may die in attempting to thwart the oncoming W&H planned apocalypse.

As soon as Angel asked for support and Wes volunteered to offer a part of that support, Angel became directly responsible for everything that Wes, Gunn, Spike, and all the others did.It was Angel's plan, by Angel's own admission little more than a futile, almost certainly suicidal, gesture, thumbing their noses at the Senior Partners while being squashed like bugs. Angel knew full well the mental state that Wes was in before ever announcing his master plan. Even without that, Wes was a member of Angel's team, in the act of carrying out his part of a plan of Angel's devising. As team leader, Angel is directly responsible for the actions of his team members, and the results of those actions. Whether Wes volunteered or was drafted, knew all the details of the plan or just his own small part, he has effectively placed himself in harm's way in support of Angel's plan.

That makes Angel totally responsible for his death, and if Angel couldn't attempt to bring Wes back immediately, he's had plenty of time since the Twilight affair to be looking for a way to get the job done.

 

[thetopher]

As soon as Angel asked for support and Wes volunteered to offer a part of that support, Angel became directly responsible for everything that Wes, Gunn, Spike, and all the others did.It was Angel's plan, by Angel's own admission little more than a futile, almost certainly suicidal, gesture, thumbing their noses at the Senior Partners while being squashed like bugs.

Wesley is an adult with full awareness of the situation, as is everyone else. They are responsible for their own actions because they are no longer children. Saying that Wesley was in no fit mental state is a huge stretch- he's psychologically aware enough to make his own choices.

Angel gave them all a choice, if he hadn't and had them involved anyway then you might have a point. By saying their deaths are his fault/responsibility then you are denying them agency and making their deaths a hell of a lot less meaningful- because you're basically saying they are mindless drones.
As it is, is Buffy responsible for all those deaths at the battle of the Hellmouth? No, the First is.

 

[Silverspike]

"That makes Angel totally responsible for his death, and if Angel couldn't attempt to bring Wes back immediately, he's had plenty of time since the Twilight affair to be looking for a way to get the job done."

Oh I agree, but sadly you are trying to link the motivations of characters in the show to that of the comics, and imo that way madness lies as it just doesn't work.