Character Development: Wesley

SpikedBuffy

SpikedBuffy

Love Isn't Brains
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When we first met Wesley in season three of Buffy, I'm sure we all had interesting opinions of him.

Using references to key episodes and arcs, discuss how Wesley's character developed from what we saw on Buffy to semi-powerful sorcerer we saw at the end of Angel.

For me, I think that the change really started in season two for Wesley. When Angel rejected his group, and they were forced to do their own thing, Wesley really took control of the situation. This is when I believe he started moving towards the man I loved in season four and five.
 
I believe that when Wes is put in a challenging situation, he florishes, i noticed too when he was with Lilah, he really got his ooompth.
However when Fred died he lost his reason for fighting.
He is dependant on positive emotions, and relationships to be his full potential.

So Wes being in charge or AI was good for his development as a character, at least you got to see more aspects of it.rather than the bumbling prissy watcher he once was.
 
the reason he was different in BTVS, i believe, is because of Giles. here was a man who'd been doing this for years before Wesley even met Buffy. he felt like he had to live up to this man who had proven himself many times, saving the world, saving the Slayer and so on. he didn't want to diapooint Giles, he wanted to prove that he was just as good he was. or better, concidering that Giles got fired for something Wesley probably wouldn't have even thought of doing at that time.
back is BTVS, Wesley thought that the Slayer was expendible. if one died, there'd be another, so he never would have told Buffy about the Crucimentum, or risked his life to save her.
the Wes at the end of Angel was completly different. the people in his life, Fred, Cordy, Angel, Gunn, Lorne, were the most important thing to him. he would, and did, risk everything he had for them.
he essentially gave up his life because Angel asked him to.
that to me shows the real growth of his character.
 
I'm just watching Angel season one (eps 5x5 and Sanctuary)

Do you think that the encounter with Faith torturing him had anything to do with his character change?
 
I think it may have done. If you remember in season 4, when Faith reappears in Buffy to try and Catch Angelus, Wesley says some pretty dramatic things to hr about the time she tortured him, although I believe he did this to provoke a reaction from her I also believe that there will be some deep seated pain related to Faith still in him- she was his biggest failure in his eyes. I think the deterioration of Faith made Wesley look into other ways he could contribute to making the world safer:hence his first appearance in Angel as a "rogue demon hunter". I think the way things unfolded with Faith and Wesley was essential in the characters development and changed him, making him a much stronger and likeable character.
 
Like all the Buffyverse characters, Wes starts out as basically no more than a cardboard cut-out, but then develops into something far more. BtVS Season 3's Wesley had spent his life among books, learning all he could about demon tongues, rituals, etc. He had little or no practical experience of actually fighting them though. Therefore, he was more than a little overwhelmed when, for the first time in his life it would seem, he found himself actually staring death in the face. Dig beneath the surface, however, and you discover a very different Wesley. As early as "Angel" Season 1 he was showing signs of inner depth. His understanding of the immense difficulties faced by Angel in maintaining control of his vampiric half, which he alludes to in the episode in which Angelus is briefly revived, shows not just how keen his mind is, but also his ability to see things more clearly than others. He does not delude himself in anything he does. We see this more clearly in later seasons, when a much darker Wes is willing to commit horrendous deeds - such as abducting and imprisoning Holtz's right-hand woman - in order to achieve his aims. He is a man who, when pushed to the limits, can and will sacrifice his principles to achieve results. He is not an idealist when it comes to the fight between good and evil and embraces the grey when circumstances demand. This pragmatism and inner toughness is partly a survival mechanism that he turns to after being brutally expelled from the group by Angel. He even uses Lilah just as Buffy uses Spike in BtVS Season 6. The Wes of Seasons 3 and 4 is certainly a lost soul and a far cry from early Wes. He has been pushed too far and just snapped. Nonetheless, Season 1 Wes also showed some of these same traits in milder forms (just think of how he shot a man in the hand with a mini-crossbow in the episode in which Angel is captured and forced to fight in a ring). So perhaps it is best to conclude that the Wes of later seasons was partly a product of the misfortunes that befell him and partly an outgrowth of traits that were already present in the character to begin with.
 
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Ms.Trick
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I like Wes with Lilah actually.. lol

What made difference was he all alone after the took Connor, feeling broody, evil and all. And his "relationship" with Lilah helped *a lot*. I really think she loved him lol
 
I think Wes started to develop when he had to take charge of AI he was no loner a second in command and i think that helped him grow as a person and realize that he could contribute and do some good.
 
Well his Jack Bauer moral code (many > few) was present even in Buffy. I thought it was great how they continued it. In the moment he just facilitated the role of 'opposed' in the 'saving Willow' argument and naturally we all thought he was a jerk but later on we see his view in a different light.

His dark descent didn't change alot (to me), he still believed the same things he just had a rougher edge and a darker approach to achieving them. Although this approach wasn't a new thing, there's tiny moments of it surfacing: When he shot the guy in the hand and mildly tortured him to give up Angels location, punching Faith, grabbing the knife with the intension of killing Faith, sacrificing the villagers in the castle assault, etc
 
Wesley <3

Wesley to me was always one of my favourite characters ever from Buffy & Angel. Also the most attractive ; )
I loved his character even from the very first episode he appeared in "Bad Girls" from Buffy season 3 which is one of my favourite episodes of Buffy. On Angel i felt that he really held the group together when Angel was battling his own demons. I also loved how he first appeared on the show as a rouge demon hunter. His relantionship with Fred was probually my favourite out of all of the Buffy/Angel ships. How in season 5 of Angel his relationship with Illyria develops is priceless. I felt he had a connection to everyother core member of the show. His character dying in "Not Fade Away" makes me cry everytime i watch it. He was truely a champion in my eyes, a very handsome one if i do say so myself. "Oh Wesley, My Wesley" - Fred/Illyria
 
Compare him to the annoying Giles Wanttobe he was in Bad Girls to the guy who died Illyira's arms in Not Fade Away... they're barley the same person...
 
Wesley may be a character that grew the most out of both shows. He started off as a pansy watcher not to be mean. Then he crossed over to Angel and was a "rogue demon hunter" but he was still the same Wesley. Over time with the people of AI he changed. He became more confident in himself. He had reason to change. His loyalty was tested. I think one of the things that was best about him was his dark period. He wasn't completely dark to me he was just struggling. He started a relationship with Lilah and by the end you could tell he cared. That showed a lot about Wesley to me. The fact that a man that almost saw black and white on Buffy could care for a woman like Lilah who is supposed to be the face of evil in a sense.

Another thing was his relationship with Angel. They had a bond out of all the guys I think they had a deep mutual respect. This helped to change Wesley and helped him grow. He saw things differently. I enjoyed that.

Overall his love for Fred and the friends played a big part. Wesley became a very useful part to the AI team. They needed him he needed them. I think this had a lot to do with how he changed over the years. By the end of the finale Wesley was one of my favorite character because he wasn't one note he actually evolved. Wesley became what he always wanted a rogue demon hunter 😉 couldn't resist had to add that.
 
D
dan k
explains Wesley's development perfectly
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TheVoid68
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I never saw Wesley's feelings for Fred as a sign of his development. If anything, I believe that his love for Fred regressed his personal growth.
 
I think a lot of what changed Wes was the "The father will kill the son" prophecy. He took that to heart and watching that, he got really distant. He didn't want to freak anyone out and he wanted to protect Connor with everything he had. It almost cost him his life and his friendship with the rest of them. After that, the character got really dark and mysterious.
 
I've only seen Angel Season 5, 1 and the first 7 episodes of 2, but to be honest I like dorky, incompetent Wesley the best. I just watched the episode in which he pretends to be Angel and wears his coat, and he was HILARIOUS! I don't think I've ever laughed so much during an Angel episode.
 
Tome
Tome
Guise will be guise is pretty funny, I agree! :D
I'm only a few episodes into season 4 and I've got to say that the love I had for Wes completely went down the drain. I understand that he took Connor for obviously and probably right reasons considering the fact that he was pretty much getting played, but I don't think he should have shut himself out of the group. He turned into a dbag. Idk if he comes back to normal and I'm trying not to look at previous posts so it won't get spoiled...but that's my opinion of Wes so far.
 
msfantastico87 said:
I'm only a few episodes into season 4 and I've got to say that the love I had for Wes completely went down the drain. I understand that he took Connor for obviously and probably right reasons considering the fact that he was pretty much getting played, but I don't think he should have shut himself out of the group. He turned into a dbag. Idk if he comes back to normal and I'm trying not to look at previous posts so it won't get spoiled...but that's my opinion of Wes so far.
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Actually... his friends didn't go back to see him in the first place. I blame ALL of them except Angel since his pain and anger is understandable. But Wes is right to be angry at them.
 
Zalos said:
Actually... his friends didn't go back to see him in the first place. I blame ALL of them except Angel since his pain and anger is understandable. But Wes is right to be angry at them.
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I partially agree with you here. But weren't the rest of them trying to convince Angel that Wesley had reason to take Connor? Wouldn't the blame be put entirely on Angel since he pretty much told the gang not to go to Wesley?(Im pretty fuzzy with the details since I only watched once and I was multitasking, so I apologize if i'm wrong). I mean, even Gunn went to Wesley for help with Fred, knowing that it would bother Angel. They've always wanted to include Wesley. Unfortunately the testosterone between Angel and Wesley, and the fact that they are both holding a massive grudge against eachother, not much could be done. That I understand. (I swear, men are such babies!)

I also don't think he should have started the affair with Lilah. Even after she plays him about the Cordelia being back thing?

I much preffer the geeky Wesley. The Wesley with the weird sweaters and the "rogue demon hunter' and the terrible dancing. I also preffer him working under Angel. Angel should have stayed boss(which I know wouldn't have happened) or at least they should have let Angel prove himself and let him take the throne again.
 
I just feel like Wes could have handled the situation better. Fred was right when she came to see him at the hospital and told him he should have told someone. If he had informed the others about the prophecy, they all could have come up with a solution... and in that case, I'm sure Angel would make the choice to save his son. That's proven by the fact he gave up Connor at the end of season 4 so he could have a normal life. Wesley had no reason to believe the others, including Angel, wouldn't have Connor's best interest at heart.
 
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msfantastico87
Thank you!!!!!!!! I agree 100 %
Taake
Taake
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