Pretty Crystals

[SlayerFest]

I'm doing a re-watch of Angel and I'm watching "Fredless" right now. When she's in the sewers with Angel she says that line about the crystals being pretty when she notices them on the wall. She's also admiring them at the end of the episode, right before she leaves. She goes back to the hotel because she realizes that more of those demons are going to hatch or something...I can't remember the details. Point is, that was totally unintentional (I'm assuming) foreshadowing. She becomes an official member of AI when she comes back to the hotel because they realize how much of an assest she is, and she realizes that she belongs there.

It's interesting...and really depressing that her interest in "pretty crystals" (well, demonology I guess you could say) is what ends up killing her. She's staring at the crystals on the coffin in A Hole in the World and..yeah. It's almost as if she was meant to die the way that she did, which is upsetting.

Maybe I'm just reading way too much into this haha. I just wanted to see what you guys thought.

 

[Robb Stark]

I'd never really thought about that before (the enduring image I have from "Fredless" is just the total grossness of that head with the worms or whatever crawling out of it). I remember that Fred was the one who solved the problem and the mystery of her parents and all that, but I'd never really connected it to "Hole in the World" before.

I don't think it was done intentionally. For starters I just don't think they planned that far ahead. From what I've read it was pretty up in the air every season as to whether or not Angel would even be renewed by the studio and continue, so I'm pretty sure it's just a (cool) coincidence.

 

[SlayerFest]

I'd never really thought about that before (the enduring image I have from "Fredless" is just the total grossness of that head with the worms or whatever crawling out of it). I remember that Fred was the one who solved the problem and the mystery of her parents and all that, but I'd never really connected it to "Hole in the World" before.

I don't think it was done intentionally. For starters I just don't think they planned that far ahead. From what I've read it was pretty up in the air every season as to whether or not Angel would even be renewed by the studio and continue, so I'm pretty sure it's just a (cool) coincidence.

Yeah I agree, I mean maybe Joss thought of the crystal thing for "A Hole in the World" because he remembered that she was fascinated by them in "Fredless", but it was probably just an accident. And oh.my.god. yes. I was eating when Fred threw that axe at the demon's head and these huge cockroaches crawled out of it. I said, "Oh my God" out loud and then a fly flew by my ear, buzzing loudly. It was terrifying.

 

[caitaintdead]

I never actually made that connection before and I'm in the middle of a rewatch of AtS at the moment so I will make an effort to keep an eye out for it.

Whether or not it was a coincidence is beside the point, it's still a fantastic connection.

The thing that caused Fred to stay with the gang was what caused her death. Not just her almost inane curiosity to understand how things work and why but her decidedly 'girly' love for 'pretty' things like crystals.

People have spoken a lot about Joss punishing Fred for being curious. I wonder if an extension of this could also be that Fred is being punished for being too feminine?

 

[Jodast]

I had never noticed it before. Great spot! I can only assume that it was deliberate on the part of the writers. Calling back to earlier events, but with a slight twist is an old story-telling technique that has been around as long as stories themselves. I am sure there's a correct literary term for it, but I can't remember it right now.

I don't know that Fred was being punished for being too feminine. A case can be made that curiousity killed that cat, but it also created the cat too (yay for metaphor mangling!), so it isn't all bad. Also it makes for a well-rounded character with a subtle quirk which serves a purpose but isn't a massive plot hammer.

 

[caitaintdead]

I don't know that Fred was being punished for being too feminine. A case can be made that curiousity killed that cat, but it also created the cat too (yay for metaphor mangling!), so it isn't all bad. Also it makes for a well-rounded character with a subtle quirk which serves a purpose but isn't a massive plot hammer.

Even as I was typing my last comment I had the feeling I was going way over the top (me? NEVER! hehe)

 

[SlayerFest]

A case can be made that curiousity killed that cat, but it also created the cat too (yay for metaphor mangling!).

Ooh I like that.

People have spoken a lot about Joss punishing Fred for being curious. I wonder if an extension of this could also be that Fred is being punished for being too feminine?

I never really saw Fred as being that feminine, she was very childlike and curious but I've just never really thought of her as being all that feminine. I mean she was of course but I never thought of her as *too* feminine. Also, the part about Joss punishing her for being too curious sounds vaguely familiar but ugh, why? 🙁 Curiosity is a good thing. Haha although my mom has always told me that I ask too many questions...and I totally would have taken a closer look at the crystals on that coffin because they were pretty cool. Heh...