Why didn't Angel kill his family?

[bespangeled]

his family. I've been marathoning BTVS because bad back an marathons go well. So, I'm up to Lie To Me, and it occurs to me that Ange has not even attempted to harm an member of his family and Order. The Master would have been a difficult kill. But Darla (master's pet) show up for several episodes - even alone with Angel more than once - and he makes no effort to kill her until she is a direct threat to Buffy.

When Spike shows up - and given the vamp sense of smell I kinda understand why Sunnydale is Home Sweet Home - he takes over the masters mantle by frying the annoying one. He directly threatens Angel but Angel never retaliates. When Angel comes across Dru about to eat a child, he tries to talk her into leaving and taking Spike - but even though she's a child predator he does nothing to stop her.

Why doesn't Angel - the souled - filled with regret for his past, make no effort to protect the citizens of Sunnydale? As I recall, he doesn't even explain anything to Buffy except how he created Dru. And given how he feels about that, wouldn't staking Dru be the kindest thing he could do?

Let's not get into writers, story arcs, etc - the all purpose question stopper. Does Angel miss being Angelus? Does Angel feel tied to his family still? Does Angelus prevail in this area?

 

[KatPratt]

I do think that Angel has a strong emotional connection to the three of them. More than he would be willing to admit consciously. I don't think he misses being Angelus so much as he misses being able to care for the three of them without the burden of guilt, but not all that other stuff that comes with Angelus. We see in season 2 of Angel how far he was willing to go for Darla, a woman who would have gone back to being evil in a heart beat if she could have. He loved them in ways he can't even admit are real. I don't think he could ever kill Dru, not ever. The guilt for what he did to her is just too much but I also think he has some genuine affection he doesn't know what to do with. As for Spike that is really more complicated, their dynamic with each other is so different because they tend to be competitive in ways they aren't with Darla or Dru. Testosterone and pride tends to get in the way with theses two but I do think that they care for each other. I don't think I would say Angelus prevails, so much as Angel just has a very complicated family he chooses to ignore in favor of having to deal with them.

 

[laianna]

I think by calling them his family, you hit the nail on the head... He killed his human family and Darla, Spike and Dru are kinda all he has left. And like KatPratt said I think he does have an emotional connection and genuine affection for them.

Also, practically speaking, would Angel in Buffy s1 and s2 actually be able to take one or all of them on? We see in Becoming how weak he was when he first decided to help Buffy, whereas Darla is back to being the master's favorite and all that. And if he killed either Spike or Dru when he had a chance, the other would surely come after him. Especially after School Hard when they have an entire vamp army working for them.

I'm not even sure who would win in a fight between Angel and Dru or Angel and Spike.

 

[Anointed One]

If he killed them he would regret it. I'm trying not to say too much because I'm not sure if you've watched Angel the series yet. You should watch it if you want to know more about Angel's affection to Spike, Darla and Drusilla. Not much is explained on Buffy.

 

[bespangeled]

I do think that Angel has a strong emotional connection to the three of them. More than he would be willing to admit consciously. I don't think he misses being Angelus so much as he misses being able to care for the three of them without the burden of guilt, but not all that other stuff that comes with Angelus. We see in season 2 of Angel how far he was willing to go for Darla, a woman who would have gone back to being evil in a heart beat if she could have. He loved them in ways he can't even admit are real. I don't think he could ever kill Dru, not ever. The guilt for what he did to her is just too much but I also think he has some genuine affection he doesn't know what to do with. As for Spike that is really more complicated, their dynamic with each other is so different because they tend to be competitive in ways they aren't with Darla or Dru. Testosterone and pride tends to get in the way with theses two but I do think that they care for each other. I don't think I would say Angelus prevails, so much as Angel just has a very complicated family he chooses to ignore in favor of having to deal with them.

I never thought of this before but while i was reading this I realized that the OMWF song line applies to Angel and Spike -" I hope she fries. I'm free if that bitch dies. I better help her out." I would say souled for both of them, but after Angel returns from hell there was Lovers Walk when staking Spike would have been pitifully easy for Angel. I was thinking more of Just Rewards, though. 

I think by calling them his family, you hit the nail on the head... He killed his human family and Darla, Spike and Dru are kinda all he has left. And like KatPratt said I think he does have an emotional connection and genuine affection for them.

Also, practically speaking, would Angel in Buffy s1 and s2 actually be able to take one or all of them on? We see in Becoming how weak he was when he first decided to help Buffy, whereas Darla is back to being the master's favorite and all that. And if he killed either Spike or Dru when he had a chance, the other would surely come after him. Especially after School Hard when they have an entire vamp army working for them.

I'm not even sure who would win in a fight between Angel and Dru or Angel and Spike.

He did kill Darla in season 1, though it took a lot to get the job done both emotionally and physically. It was when Angel decided to warn Dru off when it would have been so easy to stake her that I found myself wondering why he didn't.

You are right about the other coming after him - and I suspect that unless soulboy was protecting someone he would have lost. Spike could have taken him in School Hard had he not been diverted by the smell of a nice ripe girl. Like you said, he did have an army. But I don't see that Spike held off so much as changed focus. In that time period I think Spike could have taken Angel - hell he actually did and Buffy had to rescue him.

Angel OTH just wants them gone from Sunnydale so he doesn't have to deal with them. Maybe so that they would be safer away from the slayer? Maybe so he could just forget that part of his life? 

If he killed them he would regret it. I'm trying not to say too much because I'm not sure if you've watched Angel the series yet. You should watch it if you want to know more about Angel's affection to Spike, Darla and Drusilla. Not much is explained on Buffy.

Thanks - I love that you care about spoilers. Don't worry - I am well versed in the show though I don't read the comics. And I ship Spangel, in part because the history and the dynamics of the fanged four are a huge part of what I love about the show. While BTVS and AtS are all we have, they are also just a decade in the life of those 4.

 

[KatPratt]

" I hope she fries. I'm free if that bitch dies. I better help her out." OMG, I never thought of this either but not only does it describe the fanged four as a whole but it nicely summarizes the Angel/Darla story line in ATS season 2, that is so awesome.

 

[Anointed One]

I never thought of this before but while i was reading this I realized that the OMWF song line applies to Angel and Spike -" I hope she fries. I'm free if that bitch dies. I better help her out." I would say souled for both of them, but after Angel returns from hell there was Lovers Walk when staking Spike would have been pitifully easy for Angel. I was thinking more of Just Rewards, though. 


He did kill Darla in season 1, though it took a lot to get the job done both emotionally and physically. It was when Angel decided to warn Dru off when it would have been so easy to stake her that I found myself wondering why he didn't.

You are right about the other coming after him - and I suspect that unless soulboy was protecting someone he would have lost. Spike could have taken him in School Hard had he not been diverted by the smell of a nice ripe girl. Like you said, he did have an army. But I don't see that Spike held off so much as changed focus. In that time period I think Spike could have taken Angel - hell he actually did and Buffy had to rescue him.

Angel OTH just wants them gone from Sunnydale so he doesn't have to deal with them. Maybe so that they would be safer away from the slayer? Maybe so he could just forget that part of his life? 


Thanks - I love that you care about spoilers. Don't worry - I am well versed in the show though I don't read the comics. And I ship Spangel, in part because the history and the dynamics of the fanged four are a huge part of what I love about the show. While BTVS and AtS are all we have, they are also just a decade in the life of those 4.

Cool. During the first season of Buffy, I don't think Angel knew his place in the world. When Buffy thought he bit Joyce, he didn't bother explaining himself until later. It was like he wanted her to come after him. He probably still missed being Angelus as we see in Angel season 2's flashbacks, he tried getting back with Darla and fed on criminals so she would think he was still evil.

Also when Wesley wanted to destroy the amulet that brought back Spike, Angel said he wanted to sleep on it despite how it was probably the right thing to do as Spike was helpless. It's like Spike and Angel are brothers who try to make each other's lives miserable. Angelus always made Spike angry and Spike always annoyed Angel. They fight over Drusilla and Buffy, argue over how many times they saved the world and about the way each other were ensouled.

So I guess to Angel it's hard to kill the ones you've spent over a century with, especially since he felt alone. They were very much a family.

 

[bespangeled]

Cool. During the first season of Buffy, I don't think Angel knew his place in the world. When Buffy thought he bit Joyce, he didn't bother explaining himself until later. It was like he wanted her to come after him. He probably still missed being Angelus as we see in Angel season 2's flashbacks, he tried getting back with Darla and fed on criminals so she would think he was still evil.

Also when Wesley wanted to destroy the amulet that brought back Spike, Angel said he wanted to sleep on it despite how it was probably the right thing to do as Spike was helpless. It's like Spike and Angel are brothers who try to make each other's lives miserable. Angelus always made Spike angry and Spike always annoyed Angel. They fight over Drusilla and Buffy, argue over how many times they saved the world and about the way each other were ensouled.

So I guess to Angel it's hard to kill the ones you've spent over a century with, especially since he felt alone. They were very much a family.

I agree. Early on, Angel had just left his rat eating days behind him. He wanted to help Buffy but I don't think that helping was ever something Liam/Angelus/Angel had ever really done - particularly not in a selfless way. It's not an inborn trait - it's a learned skill. He starts as cryptic guy - he knows the master and knows he has no chance of survival, so it had to be hard to even expect Buffy to survive. But once she stopped the Harvest, he was in. Trouble is, it wasn't a selfless being in - it was a falling in love and wanting you to love me back sort of in. I'd say that really started when he had to chose between Darla and Buffy. I do think that you're right that he wanted Buffy to come after him - he didn't believe he had any right to be alive - but when Darla attacked it became a moot point.

Then Dru and Spike show up. Two down and two to go - except he just wants them to go. Dru was his greatest work of art. He knows that dusting her wold send her to hell. Spike was the one who refused to stay beat down - who could take, dish it, and refuse to lose. I also think they were - if not lovers, no endearments or flowers - definitely sexual partners. Being a vampire is about pleasure - taking it. There's a lot of daylight hours, and staying with one partner as some people prefer to believe seems awfully dull. Besides which, dominating the beta male would definitely include sex. They fought together and had each others backs - and they also fought each other.

ANGELUS
Just don't get it now, do you?
(picks William up by the lapels, throwing him onto the couch)
(pushes the corpses off the couch and sits beside William)
Well, you're new... and a little dim. So let me explain to you how things are now. There's no belonging or deserving anymore. You can take what you want, have what you want... but nothing is yours.
(Drusilla walks out into the doorway)
Not even her.

The message I see here is not just about Dru - it's about everything. Whatever you have, I can always take, even Dru. That is why they can fight about anything, at any time, and still have each others back.

So complex relationships, and insecure Angel who prefers not to deal with the threat, the history, the past, and telling Buffy more about his days as Angelus. I like that.