Why did Angel try to smother Wesley?

[bespangeled]

Okay - Angel is pissed (vast understatement) that Wesley stole his son, and Connor ended up in a hell dimension. Got that part.

But why smother him? Why not break his neck? One punch in the fact would drive his bone into his brain? Smothering is slower, and far more easily stopped.

Was he so upset he didn't think? Was he making a point and didn't want Wes to die? Was it the first step in a plan to make Wesley's life hell? He couldn't have really wanted Wesley dead because Angel could so easily kill a defenseless man unable to even scream. Angel turned a party of lawyers into snack food - he has no compunctions about killing humans if he's angry enough.

(And, yeah, Denisoff had to live but I want to go Watsonian and not Doylist)

 

[thetopher]

Maybe Angle wanted Wesley to know that he was dying, and that Angel was the one that was killing him.
He seemed to want to let Wesley know how angry he was at him, calmly explaining that he understood why Wesley did what he did, and that he wasn't Angelus. Only then did he attack.

One punch or a quick neck snap seem really quick to me, maybe too quick in Angel's estimation.

But if you want to make somebody suffer, smothering them is a fair alternative. It takes a couple of minutes that feel like an eternity, but its something that Angel may have been able to achieve right there at the hospital.- I genuinely think that Angel desperately wanted to kill Wes here.

Though I'm really just guessing, never been suffocated or suffocated anybody with a pillow, thankfully. But it makes sense to me- an in-'verse reason if you like. 🙂

Or hell, maybe Angel's just out of practice at the whole killing humans thing and was a little rusty. 😛

 

[Kana]

I think it's important to note that it wasn't simply about ending Wes' life, it was about Angel taking his frustrations out on him. He wanted his son back, but when he realized he couldn't find a way in, then he had to abandon that idea and the idea of making Holtz pay. He then wanted to kill Sahjhan, but he couldn't even manage the task of beating him in a fight. So the only person left to blame was himself and Wes.

I don't think his attempt on Wes' life was calculated decision. He may have not even made the decision before reaching the hospital, but there was nowhere else to focus his rage.

I think he wanted Wes to pay as it was said above me, a quick snap of the neck wouldn't have sufficed. I also don't think he couldn't done something so calculated and cold as that. I definitely see it as Angel venting his anger at the only person left to blame.

 

[bespangeled]

I think it's important to note that it wasn't simply about ending Wes' life, it was about Angel taking his frustrations out on him. He wanted his son back, but when he realized he couldn't find a way in, then he had to abandon that idea and the idea of making Holtz pay. He then wanted to kill Sahjhan, but he couldn't even manage the task of beating him in a fight. So the only person left to blame was himself and Wes.

I don't think his attempt on Wes' life was calculated decision. He may have not even made the decision before reaching the hospital, but there was nowhere else to focus his rage.

I think he wanted Wes to pay as it was said above me, a quick snap of the neck wouldn't have sufficed. I also don't think he couldn't done something so calculated and cold as that. I definitely see it as Angel venting his anger at the only person left to blame.

I was going to say that the attack seemed more a calculated decision in that Angel(us) - if he wanted someone dead - was quick to make them dead. Then I remembered that he also like to torture. And I'm not judging, I'm talking about instinct.

So, if he wanted to make Wesley miserable, where is the follow up?

---------- Post added at 02:13 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:09 PM ----------

Maybe Angle wanted Wesley to know that he was dying, and that Angel was the one that was killing him.
He seemed to want to let Wesley know how angry he was at him, calmly explaining that he understood why Wesley did what he did, and that he wasn't Angelus. Only then did he attack.

One punch or a quick neck snap seem really quick to me, maybe too quick in Angel's estimation.

But if you want to make somebody suffer, smothering them is a fair alternative. It takes a couple of minutes that feel like an eternity, but its something that Angel may have been able to achieve right there at the hospital.- I genuinely think that Angel desperately wanted to kill Wes here.

Though I'm really just guessing, never been suffocated or suffocated anybody with a pillow, thankfully. But it makes sense to me- an in-'verse reason if you like. 🙂

Or hell, maybe Angel's just out of practice at the whole killing humans thing and was a little rusty. 😛

Out of practice 😀

Overall, that seems out of practice actually. One pillow - pulled off - dragged away screaming and.....nada. I find it hard to believe that 30 seconds of holding a pillow over Wesley's face would be enough if he really wanted to make him suffer.

 

[Xin Rong]

I always thought that Angel didn't snap Wesley's neck and tried to smother him because he wanted to be stopped. I think he wanted Wesley to know how angry he is, and how strong his sense of betrayal is, so he attempts to smother him, knowing that someone wiil stop him. The point being that Weley now knows that Angel was willing to kill him for what he'd done, without Angel actually having to kill him.

 

[Kana]

I always thought that Angel didn't snap Wesley's neck and tried to smother him because he wanted to be stopped. I think he wanted Wesley to know how angry he is, and how strong his sense of betrayal is, so he attempts to smother him, knowing that someone wiil stop him. The point being that Weley now knows that Angel was willing to kill him for what he'd done, without Angel actually having to kill him.

I must admit, I was very close to saying this. Angel's killed scores of demons in his resolve but in this scene he is subdued by a few humans.

Angel admitted that his head was clouded with rage over what happened, so no, I don't think it was a cold calculated decision.

 

[white avenger]

The simplest answer is that breaking Wes' neck or crushing his skull would be quick and relatively merciful. Even death by strangulation, if done properly, cuts off the blood supply to the brain, causing unconsciousness long before death. Suffocation takes five or more very painful minutes to result in death. Angel wanted Wes to suffer before he died, to struggle against Angel's superior strength, to know the fear and helplessness of inevitable, impending death.

A better question would be, how could a couple of human orderlies drag an enraged, superhumanly strong, vampire away from Wes if Angel really wanted to kill him?

 

[brinkster130]

If Angel had truly wanted Wes dead, he would be dead....even if it was by smothering him. He wanted Wes to feel pain and to be aware of what he was doing; a snap of the neck would have been too easy, quick and final. Plus, killing Wes would have let him off the hook for taking away his son, Angel didn't want to let him off easily; he wanted him to know how much he hated him for that horrible decision. And, I don't think he premeditated the smothering....I think he just did what felt right in the moment.

 

[Ethan Reigns]

Perhaps Angel understood what D'Hoffryn knew when he told Anya:

"Haven't I taught you anything, Anya? Never go for the kill when you can go for the pain."

in Selfless 7ABB05, just before he restored the frat boys and killed Halfrek. Perhaps he realized he would need Wesley's help locating his son, so killing him would be a bad move.

 

[Joan the Vampire Slayer]

Because some part of him wanted to torture Wesley, to see him suffer.

I think we all know what part of Angel that is.

 

[Blaze]

Having read everyone's answer. I think it's a bit of everything. Angel wanted Wes to know what was happening, therefore he couldn't just snap his neck. Angel was also enraged, and when you feel that way you usually want to beat the living crap out of the person, not simply kill them mercifully (or as merciful death can be in this case). Part of him probably wanted someone to stop him also.

I think this means that the only answer is that Angel did this because he was emotional, all of his feelings were overpowering him and clashing with each other, therefore his actions weren't the most logical.

 

[bespangeled]

If Angel had truly wanted Wes dead, he would be dead....even if it was by smothering him. He wanted Wes to feel pain and to be aware of what he was doing; a snap of the neck would have been too easy, quick and final. Plus, killing Wes would have let him off the hook for taking away his son, Angel didn't want to let him off easily; he wanted him to know how much he hated him for that horrible decision. And, I don't think he premeditated the smothering....I think he just did what felt right in the moment.

I think there was some premeditation since he walked into the room and started assuring Wesley that he wasn't Angelus and he knew what really happened. Given that, I'd say he knew what he was going to do at least in the room and maybe before.

Angel never came after Wesley after that. I find it hard to believe that he wanted to hurt him, so he put a pillow over his face, allowed himself to be pulled off by his humans, and then never did anything more. In fact, he forgave Wesley - not when he was rescued but once he needed him for information about Cordy.

 

[brinkster130]

I think there was some premeditation since he walked into the room and started assuring Wesley that he wasn't Angelus and he knew what really happened. Given that, I'd say he knew what he was going to do at least in the room and maybe before.

Angel never came after Wesley after that. I find it hard to believe that he wanted to hurt him, so he put a pillow over his face, allowed himself to be pulled off by his humans, and then never did anything more. In fact, he forgave Wesley - not when he was rescued but once he needed him for information about Cordy.

There could have been some premeditation....but I don't know how much. I personally didn't get the impression there was much; just that he was going to confront him. I took the reassurance that he was Angel and not Angelus as him making it clear to Wes that these were his feelings and actions....nothing that could be explained away.

I agree with the second part, which is why I said if Angel wanted him dead he would be dead; I was just explaining why I believe Angel didn't kill him. More than anything I believe Angel wanted Wes to feel some pain, be afraid and to know that he screwed up so bad that as far as Angel was concern their friendship was dead. Time heals wounds, I'm not surprised Angel forgave Wes; look at what Angel himself has been forgiven for.