If Angel Had Stayed

[white avenger]

Imagine the whole "second front" lameness hadn't worked, and Angel had insisted on staying in Sunnydale. What do you think that the reaction would have been when Buffy brought yet ANOTHER vampire, especially another one who the First Evil had played mind games with, home with her? How do you think that the Potentials, or even the Scoobies, would have handled it? Granted, the whole "coming back home with our tails in a sling" issue would have distracted, if not actually softened the reaction somewhat, but, still, once the bandages and Scotch had been applied, how eager would the troops have been to have another blood sucking fiend living under the same roof with them?

 

[Black Eye Guy]

I think they'd have been glad for it, Xander probably would have had the biggest issue , but out of his continued jealously of Angel, not for any good reasons.

I think the potentials wont have cared but would have found it hilarious that she had another vampire boyfriend. Angel has a much stronger case of being a hero, the potentials would have also been around when Spike was being triggered, with a soul, so that would have made made Spike worse to them.

Giles would have been fine with it, I dont think it would have mattered to Wood, Willow is still friendly with Angel and Faith would have been happy about it.

There's no reason to be worried about Angel like there is with Spike, The First may have played mind games with him, but it was at a very different time and it was to kill himself, not kill other people like it had with Spike.

 

[Kean]

I'm really not sure who would have been more put out, Spike or Andrew. 😉

The Potentials would have had a field day with it. There would be swooning, whispers, giggling. I imagine the world of questions and crazy rumours starting. I can just see Angel sitting on the couch being grilled by the girls and looking absolutely terrified. There'd be dissent too, particularly from Kennedy and possibly Rhona. "Another vamp? She realises were supposed to kill them, right?" That kind of thing.

I imagine Giles would be well, very Giles about it. Stern but accepting, especially once he saw the files Angel brought. At this stage, I think Xander would take Angel over Spike so I don't imagine him having too big an issue with it. Willow would ask about everyone in L.A. and generally be good about. Faith would finally feel like she has a friend there. Wood would be very suspicious.

As for The First, Angel defied their attempt at controlling him already; they wanted him to lose his soul and kill Buffy, he refused and tried to kill himself instead. Plus, I'd imagine Angel would be calling his team in on the whole thing. He looks and acts like a leader, like someone in control. Pretty much everyone would have responded favourably to that sort of presence after all the unrest in the Scooby ranks.

 

[Robb Stark]

I think it would have been fine. If anything, it would have improved the situation in Sunnydale.

Here's some truth that isn't often acknowledged. Angel is a leader, and a damn good one. When you give it some thought, he's actually a better one than Buffy is. By this point in his own show he's got just as much world-saving experience as Buffy and the Scoobies. On top of that, he works really, really well with both Buffy and Faith. I think there would have been some initial tension with Spike, but as we saw in AtS S5, when they get on the same page they're a very effective (and funny) team.

Like [MENTION=7585]Kean[/MENTION] said, I imagine the rest of Angel's crew would have come in with him (and the fact that Buffy nixed that is just so brutal), and they were/are a FAR more well-oiled unit than the Scoobies were at that point in time.

I think the rest of the Scoobies would have been fine with it. Giles had already shown that when he has to, he can work with Angel. Xander would have had issues with it, but that's nothing new, and I think after Buffy and Willow spoke to him he would have been fine. Anya would have made inappropriate comments, but again, nothing new. Andrew would have gossiped with the Potentials. Faith would have been totally sold on Angel arriving, and probably would have been able to sway Wood to seeing her side of it (I think he would have been initially distrustful). I could see Kennedy pulling her same crap until Faith or Fred put her in her place about it.

Actually, it would have been really neat to see, had it happened. We got awesome Angel/Spike interactions the next season, but having Angel and his crew mix with the Scoobies would have been something I'd really have liked to see (plus, it would have made logical, tactical sense...which I guess means it was thrown out without consideration at all...)

 

[Joan the Vampire Slayer]

It's a moot point; Angel and Spike would have killed each other under the same roof for that long...not to mention driving Buffy nuts.

Seriously, though?

Well, I think the Potentials would have gone along with it, since most of them sucked up to Buffy - because they were partially scared of her, probobly - and maybe even become friends with Angel.

 

[Blaze]

Everyone was always pretty friendly with Angel, or at least accepting. I don't think there would have been much of a problem with anyone . If anything, watching Angel and Spike be jealous pricks and duke it out would have been pretty funny, but we already know they are a good team aside from their differences. Everyone else, well people have already mentioned why they'd be fine with it. Also, at that point, I'm pretty sure they could have brought any ally into the house no matter demon or human and people would have been happy with it, as long as they would be helpful during the fight.

 

[Buffyverse Fan]

Xander would have had issues with it, but that's nothing new, and I think after Buffy and Willow spoke to him he would have been fine.

I completely agree! Don't know if even Xander would've taken issue with Angel joining considering the last mention of Angel I recall Xander making was, "You know, it's his trigger. Angel's an okay guy if he's mopey and sad and brooding, but if you give him even one second of pure, real pleasure... Only in the big ol "kill your friends" kind of way."

To me, that assessment by Xander doesn't make it sound like he'd turn down Angel's help in a fight. Also, wasn't he pretty happy Angel turned up to help during Thanksgiving in BS4?

 

[Zeppelin92]

I really wish we could have seen the Scoobies team up with Angel & Co. just ONE time on screen. The interaction between the toughened up Wesley and Giles would have been something interesting considering all the grief Giles had given Wesley in S3. Fred and Willow would have gotten along great and Gunn could have taught Xander a few things about being human and kicking ass. Plus Angel and Spike banter is always the funniest.

 

[slayer6]

I think they'd have been glad for it, Xander probably would have had the biggest issue , but out of his continued jealously of Angel, not for any good reasons.

I think the potentials wont have cared but would have found it hilarious that she had another vampire boyfriend. Angel has a much stronger case of being a hero, the potentials would have also been around when Spike was being triggered, with a soul, so that would have made made Spike worse to them.

Giles would have been fine with it, I dont think it would have mattered to Wood, Willow is still friendly with Angel and Faith would have been happy about it.

There's no reason to be worried about Angel like there is with Spike, The First may have played mind games with him, but it was at a very different time and it was to kill himself, not kill other people like it had with Spike.

I agree but I would also like to point out that Spike is no more vulnerable than anyone else of being controlled by the first at that point. Spike had already defeated his trigger by making amends with himself about what happened between his mother and himself then he beat up Wood which I thoroughly enjoyed because Wood bugged me

---------- Post added at 08:16 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:13 PM ----------

It's a moot point; Angel and Spike would have killed each other under the same roof for that long...not to mention driving Buffy nuts.

Seriously, though?

Well, I think the Potentials would have gone along with it, since most of them sucked up to Buffy - because they were partially scared of her, probobly - and maybe even become friends with Angel.

Have you watched Angel s5? They squabble but work well together when need be.

 

[Black Eye Guy]

I agree but I would also like to point out that Spike is no more vulnerable than anyone else of being controlled by the first at that point. Spike had already defeated his trigger by making amends with himself about what happened between his mother and himself then he beat up Wood which I thoroughly enjoyed because Wood bugged me

Oh I know he isn't, but I think if you were looking at it from the potentials perspective, I think it'd be easier to accept Angel, who's had a soul for a few years, who fights good on his own mission and who brought them something to help in the battle vs Spike who's not had a soul very long, hasn't been the best fighter (having spent a large chunk of time chained to a chair - from their perspective) and who murdered a bunch of people a few months ago while being controlled by the monster who's trying to kill you.

 

[white avenger]

Oh I know he isn't, but I think if you were looking at it from the potentials perspective, I think it'd be easier to accept Angel, who's had a soul for a few years, who fights good on his own mission and who brought them something to help in the battle vs Spike who's not had a soul very long, hasn't been the best fighter (having spent a large chunk of time chained to a chair - from their perspective) and who murdered a bunch of people a few months ago while being controlled by the monster who's trying to kill you.

Unless, of course, Faith or Willow happen to mention what they had been doing just a few weeks earlier in LA. If the Potentials had trouble accepting Spike as good because of what he did under the First Evil's influence, I seriously doubt that they would be any more receptive to the concept of Angelus and Angel being two different people.

 

[Black Eye Guy]

Unless, of course, Faith or Willow happen to mention what they had been doing just a few weeks earlier in LA. If the Potentials had trouble accepting Spike as good because of what he did under the First Evil's influence, I seriously doubt that they would be any more receptive to the concept of Angelus and Angel being two different people.

Well I doubt they would have told them, similarly I dont think they would have have been told everything about Spike, but the difference is they were there when the Spike stuff happened.

If they did, I think accepting Angel/Angelus as two different people would be easier then Spike who's the anomaly and isn't really any different soul/no soul. Angelus/Angel is a lot easier to explain then whatever is up with Spike - which is something we all know from experience, lol

 

[slayer6]

Oh I know he isn't, but I think if you were looking at it from the potentials perspective, I think it'd be easier to accept Angel, who's had a soul for a few years, who fights good on his own mission and who brought them something to help in the battle vs Spike who's not had a soul very long, hasn't been the best fighter (having spent a large chunk of time chained to a chair - from their perspective) and who murdered a bunch of people a few months ago while being controlled by the monster who's trying to kill you.

true I definitely see that

 

[SlayerPrincess]

Lol everything else aside. Poor Buffy, two of her...kind of ex's or possibly futures under one roof smh