To Shanshu Or Not To Shanshu, That Is The Question

[white avenger]

Throughout most of the "Angel" series and on into "After The Fall," there has been this prophecy that promises the vampire with a soul the return of his humanity as the result of the major part he is to play in THE apocalypse, which we now assume is the final battle first mentioned in the "Fray" series.

Assuming that Angel does ultimately wind up being the winner, do you really want it to happen? Forget about Buffy (or a resurrected and restored to humanity Cordelia, or whoever you see him with), and white picket fences. That's a separate issue. We're talking about something that will in essence destroy Angel as we know him. No super powers, no immortality, no champion of the helpless, nothing but fully human ex-vampire. Just one of the guys. Is that what you REALLY want?

 

[Blondie Bear]

And if it was, why didn't he take it in IWRY?

I don't think Angel really, deep down, wants that. I do think he wants to know that he's atonned, and the Shanshu is the physical symbol of his redemption, but as far as actually being human? I think he'd be miserable.

 

[Perny]

The fans want it, but not THAT much. Of course we want the tormented hero to get what he wants, and be happy...But he's tormented, and that's why we watch him. Hero in pain: entertaining. So the fans might just want him to fail everytime. Cos let's face it, if he became human, he wouldn't be Angel

 

[mcwitty]

Well, when you put it like that.... I have to say Angel as a series would probably turn into some bad sitcom. I wouldn't have wanted that.
However, I think Angel would personally want to be human again. It would obviously be an adjustment for him to become human again but isn't that the light at the end of the tunnel for him? He was despairing before he followed Buffy to Sunnydale and she became that light. In LA, it was 'fighting the good fight' that arguably sustained him. Ultimately though, since moving to LA, I think becoming human is something he really wants because of how much he is missing out on in terms of being able to care for his son or having a normal relationship; he developed in this direction during the Angel series in my opinion. He would personally view it as worth the pain of 'adjusting' to being human again.
Furthermore, if Buffy is definately out of the equation, then he wouldn't feel emasculated by becoming human again or have to fear taking care of her as he would have done had he remained in Sunnydale.
The fact that he moved to LA and had all these new experiences makes me certain being human is something I would want for Angel as a character and it would also be something he could live with.

 

[Edmund Blackadder]

Angel has always been about fighting the underworld as it encroaches on the human world.

When this final battle comes, I have always assumed that its when the demon threat is gone from this dimension, so would Angel want to remain the ONLY demon and live separately from the rest of society?

Not at all.

Angel wants to retain the strength and such while its in the best interests of him to remain protector from the darkness but when that goes, as he clearly states in 'In the Dark' the human world has its own way of dealing with their world and he would really have no place in it what so ever.

I hate that people bring up 'I will remember you' because they don't actually listen to what Angel says and his reasons and just focus on the fact he turns down the chance to be human.

 

[Professor Walsh]

While I don't think "Angel After the Apocalyse" would necessarily be the bestest idea for a prime time tv-series, I'd read the 600-page novel. While I agree with Perny that "hero in pain" is an entertainment concept that has proven it's worth time and time again, there is interesting territory to explore also after the pain. I'd like to see that. So yeah "“ I'd like to see the scenario Edmund Blackadder sketches.

 

[BillyidolwannaB]

Imagine when Angel came back in Beauty and the Beasts, after he died/went to hell at end of season 2, the curse was cancelled out!