What Was Lindsay Doing?

[BuffyThoughts]

I'm rewatching S5, as far as "Why We Fight," and I find I'm just not clear on what Lindsay's game is.

If he was full of evil ambition all the way through, why did he leave W&H?

Then he was looking for magical power, apparently, went to Nepal ... did he intend this all along?

What exactly was the point of calling himself Doyle, pretending to visions, and hooking up with Spike? Was he just mocking Angel? There doesn't seem to be enough reason for it.

Coming back to W&H, what did he hope to accomplish? If he'd killed Angel as it seems he wanted to do in "Welcome", what would he have done next? Did he have some plan to attack the senior partners, or make a deal with them?

I must be really missing something.

 

[brinkster130]

If he was full of evil ambition all the way through, why did he leave W&H?

Lindsay had a pretty rough couple years at W&H with his trying to have Angel killed, losing his hand, teaming up with Angel to save the group of children, falling for Darla, losing Darla to Angel and competing with Lilah for a promotion. I always figured he left because he got fed up and figured he could do better for himself away from the firm. (even if he had evil ambition)

Then he was looking for magical power, apparently, went to Nepal ... did he intend this all along?

I could be wrong, but my guess is yes. I think since he had worked for W&H so long Lindsay definitely had to have had access to information about magical powers.

What exactly was the point of calling himself Doyle, pretending to visions, and hooking up with Spike? Was he just mocking Angel? There doesn't seem to be enough reason for it.

Lindsay and Angel weren't exactly friends and I think they both had plenty of reason to dislike each other. I do think he was mocking Angel; he knew exactly how to push Angels buttons. Lindsay certainly put a lot of thought and effort into his return to LA. Finding the Amulet Spike wore, planting Eve at W&H, going by Doyle, making Spike corporeal etc. I think he was not only surprised to learn that Angel took over W&H but also angry about it. Lindsay worked hard for that company and it was handed over to Angel, an enemy....my guess is that brought back a lot of the hatred he had for Angel.

 

[BuffyThoughts]

It sounds like you're not sure what he was after, either? It sounds like a lot of his motivation was negative, to get back at Angel and perhaps at W&H. Was he trying to accomplish something specific and concrete for himself? I can't believe he wasn't, but what?

 

[brinkster130]

Yeah, I'm not entirely sure either. I definitely think he was trying to get back at both Angel and W&H, maybe an attempt to get revenge on them? I agree with you that there must have been something more that he was after, something concrete.

I know that there are a few pretty big Lindsay fans around here (Lyri comes to mind) that I'm sure would be able to answer this better. 🙂

 

[NY State of Mind]

I think he wanted revenge on Angel and W & H.....if he killed Angel obviously the senior partners would be pissed cause Angel was in thier grand schemes.

 

[Taake]

Was he trying to accomplish something specific and concrete for himself? I can't believe he wasn't, but what?

I think he was trying to get back on top of the food chain so to speak.
A lot of his motives seemed to stem from revenge but I think he mainly wanted it on Angel while somehow getting square with W&H at the same time as making himself indispensible to the senior partners (obviously he didn't want to die and I seriously doubt that he wanted to be trapped in a loop like hell where he continously had his heart dug out)

 

[BuffyThoughts]

Apparently he wanted to get into the Black Thorn, according to "Power Play."

 

[BuffyElevated]

Honestly, I'm not sure anyone knows what Lindsey was after, which is why I believe

Spoiler

Angel has him killed at the end of the season

. Lindsey switched sides so many times during the course of the show, that one could never be sure what his real motives were.