She shone in Season 5.

[Nikita]

I think that Fred really started off well and up until about Dad in season 3, she was really really great, and then she faded into the background, Cordelia, Angel, Lilah and Wesley got ahead of her and she really just became Gunn's girlfriend. The next time she shone was Deep Down, but over Season 4, even when she took the lead in the end of Season 4, She felt like a bit part that they were trying to make a lead. Don't get me wrong, I loved Fred in Season 4 and 3, but she didn't seem important.

Then we get to Season 5 and Fred IMMEDIATELY shifts to the front of the pack, best character in the season. Whether it was Amy's huge improvement in her acting, but she just improved tenfold. I think the writers felt like, her being the main female in the cast also had to fill Cordy's shoes. Had Cordy been in season 5, I reckon Fred would've sat in the background still but she was amazing in season 5. I felt like she was really the main character apart from Angel. The real heroine in this season. Up until You're Welcome, I thought that no one would come in and really take Fred's role and give her a run for her money, and of course Cordelia did that. But as soon as Cordy left, Fred got right back up there and cemented herself in the season.

We then hit Hole In The World and Amy delivers a FANTASTIC episode. We see her as a dying Fred and it's amazing to see her deliver something that I didn't think she could do. She gave a 3 dimensional performance. (not to say that she didn't before) but Fred at this point was the main character.

Enter Illyria. Amy had to change her acting completely to play Illyria. (This is the third change for Amy in the season. She had to change first to the science leader chick and act like a leader and a 2IC to Angel, and then she had to play dying Fred and then she had to play Illyria) We saw her change back to Fred during this time but most of the time it was Illyria and she shone.

In finishing, Season 5 I think was an overall boring season, not the greatest, but there were 2 things that improved it. These were Wesley and Fred/Amy Acker/Illyria. I'm proud to say that Amy Acker became a favourite actor of mine this season.

Do you guys agree with this? (This was somewhat of a character analysis of mine)

 

[VisionGirl]

I do agree. I'm watching season 5 right now & the first thing I notice is how beautiful she looks. Then I realize that she's really in her element as the head of the R&D division. Of course Hole in the World is so excellent. She comes a long way from the crazy chick in Pylea (who bugged the crap out of me!).

 

[Nikita]

I do agree. I'm watching season 5 right now & the first thing I notice is how beautiful she looks. Then I realize that she's really in her element as the head of the R&D division. Of course Hole in the World is so excellent. She comes a long way from the crazy chick in Pylea (who bugged the crap out of me!).

I agree, and that was the persona she took on for early season 3, but I thought she shone in the early part of season 3 as I mentioned, I just think she faded.

Also, she looked fricken' gorgeous as Illyria and as Fred in season 5!

 

[Lilah]

I loved Fred through her whole entire run, but I do agree with your comments. I liked reading them. There were moments where she was better etc, but I was a fan from the beginning to the end of Winifred Burkle/Illyria/Amy Acker.

 

[VisionGirl]

Just watched A Hole in the World, and wow Amy Acker was so awesome.

 

[Nikita]

I loved Fred through her whole entire run, but I do agree with your comments. I liked reading them. There were moments where she was better etc, but I was a fan from the beginning to the end of Winifred Burkle/Illyria/Amy Acker.

Oh, I'm not saying that she wasn't amazing through out, just saying that she started at the foreground and then faded until season 4, which was unfortunate. (she seemed sort of non-existent in the Faith/Angelus arc.

 

[Chosen Enemy]

After getting over the crazy phase, I think she was a little boring as a character. I love Fred a lot, in every season, as Fred AND as Illyria. It's like they didn't know exactly what to do with her, now that she's not as crazy, and the only thing that stood out in her character was the fact that she was very smart. She helped them with by that. Then they let her fight also, she became less boring to me. But still, even though she was cute as hell, she didn't have anything special, nothing that really stands out. So I think they didn't really know what to do with her besides do the research and aim a crossbow at bad guys.

In season 5, they gave her character a promotion. They gave her a more serious job, and she became a little more interesting. Not the most brilliant character yet, but still better. Then they wanted to develop her even more, because it wasn't enough, she's still a bit boring. Again, cute and smart, but that doesn't open many doors to being very interesting.

Turning her into Illyria was a great move of the writers. I loved Fred and sorry she died, but Illyria was absolutly the right way to go and make her more interesting. The old thing didn't work anymore, there was nowhere to take it to. She became cool, unique (her being a king and all), much more interesting, and even prettier. Even her "outfit" was a nice change.

So that's what I think they did there, that's how I read it.

 

[Nikita]

After getting over the crazy phase, I think she was a little boring as a character. I love Fred a lot, in every season, as Fred AND as Illyria. It's like they didn't know exactly what to do with her, now that she's not as crazy, and the only thing that stood out in her character was the fact that she was very smart. She helped them with by that. Then they let her fight also, she became less boring to me. But still, even though she was cute as hell, she didn't have anything special, nothing that really stands out. So I think they didn't really know what to do with her besides do the research and aim a crossbow at bad guys.

In season 5, they gave her character a promotion. They gave her a more serious job, and she became a little more interesting. Not the most brilliant character yet, but still better. Then they wanted to develop her even more, because it wasn't enough, she's still a bit boring. Again, cute and smart, but that doesn't open many doors to being very interesting.

Turning her into Illyria was a great move of the writers. I loved Fred and sorry she died, but Illyria was absolutly the right way to go and make her more interesting. The old thing didn't work anymore, there was nowhere to take it to. She became cool, unique (her being a king and all), much more interesting, and even prettier. Even her "outfit" was a nice change.

So that's what I think they did there, that's how I read it.

I can only imagine that the outfit must've been rather uncomfortable for Amy. It's very unfortunate that she'd have to walk around in something like that for a TV show >.<

 

[Ms.Trick]

I was sad because Fred really annoyed me in season 3. Became quite okay in season 4. A bit better in season 5. And then, near the end of season 5, I actually started liking her. I was pissed at the fact she has all those 'protect me' vibes. Guh. It's only in the 5th season I realized she was actually completly able to defend herself, to fight (and pretty well by the way), and I loved when she said to Wesley something like "I don't need to be protected all the time!". I think it's started after her break up with Gunn, that's from that moment she lost her protect me vibes (I think she also said to Gunn that she didn't need him to be overprotective).

So, I really started liking her and she died the most horrible way.

I had problems with the character but I always thought Amy Acker's acting was brilliant. A hole in the world was the episode which screamed "I can act real good". I wasn't seeing Amy playing a girl dying. No, I was seeing Fred dying. (And her scenes with Alexis were muchos greatos).

 

[Sommers Summers]

I can only imagine that the outfit must've been rather uncomfortable for Amy. It's very unfortunate that she'd have to walk around in something like that for a TV show >.<

And the hair color. I almost snorted the craft beer I was drinking out of my nose.

But, yeah, Fred was the best, the standout of the Angel series. Her becoming Illyria was a shock at first, but right up to the end of the TV series, wasn't too bad - the comics totally warped it.