The Many Faces Of Angelus

[Wishing Oceans]

OK, so something I'm sure most of us have noticed is how WHENEVER we see Angelus in different time periods he is drastically different:

In the very beginning (think 1700's- 1900) he was actually a relatively nice guy. Sure, he killed humans, but he's a vampire, that's what they do. He maimed, he tortured, he drove people mad, but he also had a good, agreeable personality about him while doing it. He was fairly romantic, possessive, and pretty loyal. He was the top guy and he knew it, but he still took care of the rest of his family, being nice to everyone, even Spike (most of the time, but that's just a guy thing 😀 )

Then Buffy S2. He was completely detached and had this "holier than thou" attitude. He seemed just evil, with no real personality. He was mean to Spike and seemed completely cold, very unlike his previous warm personality.

Then, Angel S4. IMO, he doesn't seem evil at all. He just seems like he lost his inhibitions and became more honest and less broody, it really did. That's the only difference I saw. He never actually killed or tortured humans and he got rid of evil.

See? MAJOR differences. At first glance, he would seem as though it's just bad continuity acting. But luckily, you've got ME to read overly far into things. 😀

Like, it's my hypothesis that the people around him dictate his personality. Like, in his beginning years as a vampire, he had Darla. Darla brought out both the man and the beast in him, and I do believe that they loved each other. Some people may say soulless creatures can't love. IMO, that's ridiculous. 😀 If you can hate, you can love. When you lose your soul, it's like losing your moral compass, your inhibitions. Sure, it makes most vamps pretty unfaithful, but it does not make do with emotions. 😀 So he was pretty "human" back then.

Then, in Angel S2, Darla is dead. By him. He's evil, so he doesn't mourn her (besides, it had already been over a year), but he does become much more, as I've aforementioned, detached and cold. He no longer loved anything or anyone, and without Darla to keep his emotions running high, he just didn't have the same spark. But, with Dru and Spike at his side, he was still pretty evil.

In Angel S4 he had nothing. He had once again inadvertently caused the death of his lover, and Spike and Dru were gone. Without his evil family, he had no one to go to to inspire him to be evil again. He still had the loss of inhibitions and morals, but that's about it. With only good people around him, it severely injured his evilness, IMO.

And there you have it. The many faces of Angel. 😀

Thoughts?

 

[Kana]

I have been neglecting my beloved Angel(us) lately but that's only because I'm so in love with the whole soul, no soul discussions.

OK, so something I'm sure most of us have noticed is how WHENEVER we see Angelus in different time periods he is drastically different:

Before we get started, I've always said: Angel(us) is not as static as everyone thinks. With that in mind, let's look at him more closely.

In the very beginning (think 1700's- 1900) he was actually a relatively nice guy. Sure, he killed humans, but he's a vampire, that's what they do. He maimed, he tortured, he drove people mad, but he also had a good, agreeable personality about him while doing it.

I would never go as far as to say Angelus was a 'nice guy'. He was charming and funny but I believe this has always been the case. As long as he's been a soulless vampire he's always been a sadist.

He was fairly romantic, possessive, and pretty loyal. He was the top guy and he knew it, but he still took care of the rest of his family, being nice to everyone, even Spike (most of the time, but that's just a guy thing 😀 )

Well actually, he was kind of a jerk to Spike. We see in flashbacks, the reason why Spike is so jealous of Angel especially when he around Dru. They had a mentor/protege relationship but there was always that rivarly and tension there. He psychologically tortured Dru and turned her into a vampire because "killing was too merciful". Having to live with her insanity was Dru's 'eternal torment. After she became a masochist, he tortured her by refraining from torturing her. He also gave up Darla without a second thought to save himself. He did have affection for his vampiric family as most vampires do. They can form attachments with others and this certainly wasn't unique to say Spike. And yes Angelus had feelings for Darla and enjoyed her company. Vampires are social creatures and Angelus is more than simply evil. His sadism was also art to him, it meant something. Also aesthetics also pleased and moved him. For someone who the Judge claimed had no humanity, well, he was human enough to cry at the ballet.

Then Buffy S2. He was completely detached and had this "holier than thou" attitude. He seemed just evil, with no real personality. He was mean to Spike and seemed completely cold, very unlike his previous warm personality.

Well, Angelus did say he liked Spike watching his back like old times. As I've said, it's a pattern with Angelus and Spike: they are affectionate with one another but Angelus is still a sadist. He still enjoys torturing whomever responds to it the most. That was true in the 1800s and the late 1990s. His using of Dru to get a rise out of Spike is something he'd done before, however he still seemed captivated by her gift. He never minded having Spike around, but also enjoyed hurting him. He could also be overcompensating for Angel's good deeds as well. Angelus has often been something of a 'purist'.

Then, Angel S4. IMO, he doesn't seem evil at all. He just seems like he lost his inhibitions and became more honest and less broody, it really did. That's the only difference I saw. He never actually killed or tortured humans and he got rid of evil.

He was a lot less subtle in Season 4 apart from in the cage. To stay inside of the show for our justification, as you say, it maybe because of who Angel was at the time. Angel isn't static so Angelus wouldn't be either.

See? MAJOR differences. At first glance, he would seem as though it's just bad continuity acting. But luckily, you've got ME to read overly far into things. 😀

Right there with you...

Like, it's my hypothesis that the people around him dictate his personality. Like, in his beginning years as a vampire, he had Darla. Darla brought out both the man and the beast in him, and I do believe that they loved each other.

As I've said, Angel isn't static so why should Angelus be? I'm not sure about the man and beast dichotomy though, although it's true that Darla is the one of the only women Angelus indulged (he didn't even do that with Buffy.) Did Angelus and Darla love each other? Darla once talked of love in regards to Angelus but then she agreed with Angel when he said she's never loved anything. Angel has often stated he couldn't love without a soul. Is that a rationalization or the truth? Seeing as love is subjective, we do to a certain degree have to go with what our characters say. He certainly enjoyed being around her and felt attachment to her but clearly love is something else entirely for Angel.

Some people may say soulless creatures can't love. IMO, that's ridiculous. 😀 If you can hate, you can love.

Well love is a complicated matter that many have a different perspective on. There is no doubt in my mind that vampire clearly feel emotions and Angelus is able to do so as well. Some vampires clearly seem capable of love.

When you lose your soul, it's like losing your moral compass, your inhibitions. Sure, it makes most vamps pretty unfaithful, but it does not make do with emotions. 😀 So he was pretty "human" back then.

Well Darla was 'special' to him. If Darla survived somehow and saw modern Angelus they may well pick up where they left off. I agree with you Angelus has many facets but many seem to think he's just one note.

Then, in Angel S2, Darla is dead. By him. He's evil, so he doesn't mourn her (besides, it had already been over a year), but he does become much more, as I've aforementioned, detached and cold.

Do you mean Btvs Season 2? Yes I agree Angelus focus is very different. However we've seen Angelus with his victims before though, in the past: don't let the bad Irish accent fool you. He was still callous and sadistic with his victims.

He no longer loved anything or anyone, and without Darla to keep his emotions running high, he just didn't have the same spark. But, with Dru and Spike at his side, he was still pretty evil.

Well if your romantically involved with someone then it will bring out a different side in you. I'd argue, though, dispite his change in behaviour (no one is static remember) his treatment of Dru and Spike was similar.

In Angel S4 he had nothing. He had once again inadvertently caused the death of his lover, and Spike and Dru were gone. Without his evil family, he had no one to go to to inspire him to be evil again. He still had the loss of inhibitions and morals, but that's about it. With only good people around him, it severely injured his evilness, IMO.

I think in Season 4, Angelus was more desperate than anything else. In an controlled environment like the cage, he thrives but he's never been one for chaos, which is why he didn't like Spike causing it back in the day. He still attempted it though with Faith. Medthodically attempting to undo in her what Angel worked so hard to help her build.