Why Was Doyle So Important?

[white avenger]

What was so significant about the character of Doyle or the circumstances of his death that he is still being mourned in the 5th Season of "Angel?" We've seen other characters, arguably much more important to their respective shows, come and go without any such treatment. What makes Doyle such an important character?

 

[Kean]

He was family to Angel and Cordy. He changed everything about their lives. He was the first true friend Angel ever had and for Cordy's part, she was falling for him.

He was their comrade and he fell in the war. His memory will always be important to those that loved him.

 

[Lyri]

Cordelia said it best herself:

'First soldier down.'

It was the first time Angel lost someone to this fight, the first time he had to watch someone give up their life to save someone else. It was the first time he realized that it wasn't going to be as easy as just fighting demons and billing clients.

 

[Robb Stark]

The first two posts nailed it. He was their friend. He was family.

I think if you analyze all of Angel's non-romantic relationships throughout BTVS and his own series, Doyle is probably the best friend he ever has (the only other one really in the conversation is Lorne). Angel's move to L.A. was him, Cordy and Doyle, and far too soon, Doyle was taken away from both of them.

 

[VisionGirl]

Additionally, he choose to sacrifice his life. It was a selfless act for others, and embodied what AI was to strive for. He was the first person other than Buffy to really believe in Angel.

 

[Blaze]

Doyle's death still breaks my heart, so it's easy for me to see why they would still mourn him a few years later.

Also, in s1, he was pretty much the heart of the team, he's the reason AI worked.

 

[Buffyverse Fan]

The first two posts nailed it. He was their friend. He was family.

I think if you analyze all of Angel's non-romantic relationships throughout BTVS and his own series, Doyle is probably the best friend he ever has (the only other one really in the conversation is Lorne). Angel's move to L.A. was him, Cordy and Doyle, and far too soon, Doyle was taken away from both of them.

This!

I don't know if it was the writing or the fact that Boreanaz & Quinn were best friends in real life, but that's made very evident!

In the pilot, Doyle was working through his exact job description, but after that he made it pretty clear that he would do anything for Angel.

A true Angelus appearance would've been extremely interesting because I suspect Doyle would've taken the same position as Faith that priority #1 is saving Angel, not killing Angelus.

Faith got away with that because she could put any of Angel's team in the ground, things would've been a lot different if Doyle had no recourse except appealing to the team's sympathies to re-ensoul rather than kill him...