Rewatching Season Five: Life of the Party (spoilers up to AtS 5x16 -- Shells)

[butterfly]

Salutations on the day of celebrating St. Patrick and the culture and peoples of Ireland. I'm part Irish, on my dad's side. This is almost completely hidden by the half-Swedish that he is.

In regards with gay rights, I am so thrilled by my state (Oregon! Yay!) right now. Reading the recent headlines... it's nice.

I've been really pleased by the response to my rambles about Season Five Angel. Some fascinating discussion happening in my very own journal. Love that stuff. Please keep doing that, don't worry if you go off whatever topic I'm going on about -- wouldn't be here if I didn't find the concept of collaborative journaling a draw.

One of the things that I'm enjoying about these rewatches is seeing how many interesting issues that Angel brings up. Such a layered show, like all of Joss' creations have been. And also, vampires are exceedingly handy metaphors -- they can be twisted to mean so many things. As Joss says, BYO subtext. Also, I'm wondering if maybe the message of the season might be 'screw the corporations and screw this entire system because it's totally corrupted and hopeless' because right now, it's looking that way.

Lorne's storyline in Life of the Party is our foreshadowing of Gunn's throughout the season-to-date. LotP is a funhouse mirror compared to A Hole in the World/Shells, but there are many matching elements -- the unwitting betrayal caused by slipping too far into the clutches of W&H, a violent double, and then, at the end, comfort at the bedside. That Lorne gets Angel, while Gunn gets Harmony (shadow of Spike) speaks volumes about how much worse things get by the sixteenth episode.

This episode is also a big step forward in the reworking of the Fred/Wesley relationship. Quite deliberately, the end of the episode echoes Waiting in the Wings (and considering the eventual ends of both the Angel/Cordy and Wes/Fred relationships, that episode bears a close looking at now, considering that the 'happy ending' is that the girl gets to die, to fade away from the eyes of an obsessive lover). In addition, consider the F/W elements of the episode -- they start out not seeing eye-to-eye, work together to find an advantageous solution while having a very good time together, and then Wesley is left alone at the end. In a way, it's a microcosm of their entire relationship.

Life of the Party subtly underlines the Gunn and Spike arcs -- Gunn in claiming Angel's chair is doing a very dangerous thing, for being like Angel is always fraught with angst and pain (Wesley underwent his own 'becoming Angel' arc S2-4 and it didn't go so well for him). And Gunn's lack of care about Lorne's operation is a hint that his moral boundaries are already slipping (though he was always more 'at risk' -- just as he would sell his future for a truck, he could sell his honesty for a false law degree). Spike's presence here is to show that he still has quite a long way to go -- loving Buffy didn't teach him sympathy for Harmony and saving the world won't make him understand Angel.

Once again, the external villain of the episode is an echo of Angelus (Demon royalty -- shades of the bar in Salvage; "We're all blood-drinkers here,"; treating the ones that give blood as lesser -- again, this is all much more literal than Angelus), but the true villain of the episode (Lorne-Not-Lorne, as Angelus is Angel-Not-Angel) is also an explicit part of Angel -- Lorne, who has been Angel's voice of reason and truth for quite some time. Lorne, Angel's voice of truth, has repressed his sleep -- his subconscious -- so firmly that it is literally coming out to kill. Repressed truth kills here, just as Angel's lie is a major causal agent for Fred's death in A Hole in the World.

Also, consider the things that Lorne instructs the others to do and how they mirror what W&H itself (or its agents) has done -- Gunn being a 'big cat', marking his territory; Wesley and Fred 'losing all reason' in a false state of inebriation; Angel making nice with a representative of evil (and literally sleeping with the enemy, which calls back to what W&H incited him to do back in S2); and Spike being the 'life of party', which echoes what Lindsey was attempting to do.

We open with Lorne in his element at W&H (again, echoes of the start of both of Gunn's falls -- striding into the courtroom in Conviction and into Angel's office in Smile Time -- being in your element at an evil place of business is not the best sign). He first runs into Harmony (soulless, working under Angel -- in many ways, a constant toothless reminder of Angelus, of what Angelus' current state is), who wears pink and the slightest hint of red (necklace -- the red is an accessory, just as she has shown that blood isn't her primary concern).

Angel enters, wet and miserable -- his first contact is with Wesley, who immediately goes to him to check up on things. Angel is covered in blood, but it isn't red, isn't human. The blood that covers him is the blood of demons -- blood that burns, like the demon in him that is forever burning him. Wesley is wearing a dark blue, which is both good (gets him out of the brown, which I'm not personally fond of) and not so good (in Angel, blue tends to go hand in hand with despair -- see Reprise, blue sheets, as opposed to the red in Surprise). Wesley and Fred's collaboration failed to work, and so Angel had to wade in and fight it out face to face. Later, we see the implication that it was probably Knox's fault (I'd say it was, given what Fred says in Why We Fight and that he can fix it, which implies it was a problem from his end), which would fit with what happens later when Wes and Fred form a romantic collaboration.

Lorne is trying so hard to make a difference with his part of Wolfram and Hart -- like Gunn, that desire is his downfall. He's trying to navigate between what the firm wants and what Angel wants, ignoring what he wants.

"Wolfram and Hart wants to be up your alley." Considering what alleys mean to this show and to Angel in particular, this is an interesting statement. Alleys are the connection between life and death. Whenever someone is born in an alley, someone also dies (Angelus is born in an alley as Liam dies, Connor is born in an alley as Darla dies -- Darla is the killer in both cases, and in both cases, the person that lives is a part of the person who dies). Alleys are a connection between this world and the otherworld -- Angelus and Angel duke it out and reunite in an alley. Alleys are death and birth and violence.

The scene with Lorne and the mirror is again a literalization of the metaphor -- this is also Lorne's first descent into violence this season (unless I missed something in Conviction or Just Rewards) and it's telling that that violence is against himself, against the truth that he's trying to hide, that he sees whenever he looks in the mirror. Just as Angel sees the truth of Connor's absence every time he looks out into this mirror world that he's created.

The scene with Eve is fraught with Darla/Lindsey-ness, now that that connection's been made. Just as Lindsey had Darla invade Angel's dreams in S2, Eve invades Angel's penthouse, while he's showering. While the topic is about what she's done wrong, Angel can stay defiant and in control, but when she moves something that he did wrong, he immediately loses his composure. Eve, like Lindsey, is pleased to get a reaction out of Angel and she seems smugly sure that she knows him. Which is something that seems both very Lindsey and Darla-by-way-of-Lindsey. She's Lindsey's shadow of Darla.

The Wes/Fred/Knox scenes are, in many ways, false set-up (both Fred and Wes are in blue, though vastly differing shades, both Fred and Knox are in lab coats -- the outer appearance of Fred tells us that she's connected with Knox, but underneath, the connection with Wes is growing). They mirror Wes/Fred/Gunn but because the situation is fundamentally different, the play doesn't fall out the same way -- Knox can't provide Fred with what she wants and Wes puts himself directly in her line of sight in Lineage, causing a re-evaluation of the situation by Fred. In a sense, Knox is to Fred as Lilah was to Wes -- a mirror that differs mostly in the terms of ethical motivations. Because of that, Knox is also a great deal like Wes, as Fred is a lot like Lilah, where they differ not in form, but in direction, Knox is a Wes that, instead of being morally bound to the ethics he was taught as a Watcher, was instead bound by the ethics he learnt as an acolyte of Illyria. But both will go to any end to achieve their desired goal. Both see Fred as both part of that goal and representative of it.

Neither Wes nor Fred had planned to go to Lorne's party, and both end up going because Lorne magicks them into it. This echoes the way they relate to Wolfram and Hart -- they're the two who gained only toys from W&H, while Angel, Lorne, and Gunn all accept something more personal. In that sense, they are outside the party of Wolfram and Hart, and even when they go, they're wallflowers until they're forced otherwise (Spike, of course, is completely outside Wolfram and Hart -- right now, he's incorporeal and when he does get his body, he immediately gets out of the building).

Gunn is in red in this episode, which he looks amazing in. And it might be as simple as that -- they realized how hot he was in red and took advantage. But that he wears red in this episode, where his future is all but spelt out in his mirror to Lorne's fall, and it may mean many things -- red is blood, red is passion, red is heart -- all of which are misused this episode. Gunn is already connecting himself to the Senior Partners and their Conduit -- he interprets 'staking his claim' in a very big cat kind of way.

Spike is there just to annoy Angel and makes that very clear by leaving the moment that Lorne's meeting looks to be starting. He also extolls tradition, completely ignoring the fact that he totally ignores tradition as he pleases. Which is very Spike of him. In the meeting, Wes and Fred stay silent. Lorne pushes for the party, Gunn supports him (and is already starting to stake his claim by sitting on Angel's desk), while Eve pushes the firm's agenda.

To break things down by what they seem to represent most on the show -- Angel's heart (Fred) and mind (Wes) are there but not visibly supportive of the 'get along with demons' party idea, while grey-tinged mission (Gunn) and increasingly repressed truth (Lorne) are for it. The soul (Spike) is unwilling to even consider the idea and leaves the meeting, while the demon (Harmony) tells the uncomfortable truth about how the rest of the firm feels about Angel.

Fred gravitates to the food (a much more elegant way of the whole "Fred eats a lot" thing, than, as a purely hypothetical example, Wes telling Fred that he loves how much she eats) and Wes gravitates to her. At this point in time, it's very much Wes putting himself into Fred's orbit -- after Lineage, this twists about. He pulls away as a result of what he learns about himself in that episode, while she pulls closer because of it.

Instead of attending the party, Angel is watching hockey. Now, not being a sports fans, I can't say much about that, though I'm sure that it's weighted with meaning. The only meaning that comes to my mind is 'Canada', so that's that. Angel notices what's wrong with Lorne (just as he does with Gunn), but in neither case is he able to solve the problem. Angel wears orange this episode, red so altered by yellow that it's an entirely different color.

Echoing his presence at Wolfram and Hart, Spike is at the party for no reason that he can think of. Spike is draw to people, and he's rather be around people he hates than not be around people at all. But that doesn't stop him from being horribly rude to everyone.

I have nothing deep to say about drunk Fred and Wes, because they amuse me so much that I end up just watching. And laughing. They're deeply funny drunks. All hanging onto things and figuring things out even while sloshed. They're the two who put things together, even while totally drunk. Wesley and Fred are the two who actually end up fixing things. With Fred dead, this doesn't bode well. Their scene alone together -- yes, they're drunk and therefore all over everything, but their extreme comfort level with each other was a definite sign of where things where going. Knox is here, as he will remain, a Complicating Element.

Also, in their scenes, we see the true distinction between their places -- Wesley as Research and Fred as Practical Science, clearly illustrated by Wesley finding out the deal while Fred gets together the actuality of what they need. They form a duet, a one-two punch, set-up and delivery. Two pieces of the same puzzle, one angled more toward magic, the other more toward science, but each capable of moving in either world.

And this also shows the difference between Fred&Wes and the rest of the AI team this season -- Wesley and Fred are better at identifying the actual enemy, instead of just the symptoms. The rest think that it's the manifestation that needs to be shot, but Fred knows that you have to deal with the root of the problem.

Incidental note: I started writing this around four in the afternoon.

Comments

[tistur.livejournal.com]

Instead of attending the party, Angel is watching hockey.

Hockey, being an very violent game, reminds Angel of the street fighting he used to relish (and, indeed, was trying to do away from the 'Big Brother' Wolfram and Hart represents.) He's avoiding the party, or any sembulance of happiness, because he knows this isn't right. See arguement with Wesley about Nina in Smile Time.

[inyron.livejournal.com]

Hockey is also a rough game Angel feels he can participate in, because it's played indoors, and most of the games are at night.

And therefore, it was the sport he had hoped Connor would play (going out of his wy to buy a jersey, and a cute little hockey stick.) I had always associated that scene with him brooding about Connor.

Or, he chose the game for Connor because he had a pre-like for it because of the aforementioned night/indoors reason (and no, the extreme violence doesn't hurt either.)

Or, it's a shout-out, since I think DB is on the record as a huge Flyers fan. (Yay Philly!)

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

Hockey is also a rough game Angel feels he can participate in, because it's played indoors, and most of the games are at night.

And therefore, it was the sport he had hoped Connor would play (going out of his wy to buy a jersey, and a cute little hockey stick.) I had always associated that scene with him brooding about Connor.

Oh! That's beautiful. I'd forgotten all about that. So Angel was probably honest when he said he was brooding.

Or, he chose the game for Connor because he had a pre-like for it because of the aforementioned night/indoors reason (and no, the extreme violence doesn't hurt either.)

Or, it's a shout-out, since I think DB is on the record as a huge Flyers fan. (Yay Philly!)

Nothing wrong with shout-outs.

[tistur.livejournal.com]

And therefore, it was the sport he had hoped Connor would play (going out of his wy to buy a jersey, and a cute little hockey stick.) I had always associated that scene with him brooding about Connor.

Somehow that scene had flown out of out my head entirely. Of course!

I actually didn't realize Angel was watching hockey in that scene, because of tyhe on-again-off-again quality of my cable.

Not just violence

[dlgood.livejournal.com]

There's a bit more to Hockey than just the violence. Indeed, politics of Hockey fandom deals with that all the time. (Particularly in recent weeks because of the Todd Bertuzzi incident. - which you wouldn't need to know about.) There are two views of Hockey:

1. The "rough and tumble" war of willpower, endurance, strength, determination and toughness. A game of power.

2. The intricate contest of skill and artistry, athleticism, agility, and hand-eye-coordination. A game of finesse.

North American hockey is generally defense-oriented, low-scoring, and characterized by excessive violence and toughness.

European and Olympic hockey, on the other hand, has agressively outlawed fighting and is characterized by great skating, beautiful passing, better offense and higher scores.

Given what we know of him, I think the artistic aspect of the game is just as significant for Angel.

Re: Not just violence

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

There's a point of view struggle between the desire for power and desire for finesse in hockey? Well, that is highly appropriate to the character of Angel. The fighter versus the artist... yet it's the artist that is the more offensive, the higher scorer. Artist as Angelus, then? It's Angel who made his home in N.A., while Angelus stayed on the other side of the pond.

Brilliant little touch, when it can mean all that.

*cheers the AtS writers*

Thank you so much. It's great to know someone who actually knows about all this stuff.

Re: Not just violence

[dlgood.livejournal.com]

There's a lot to mine in Hockey if one wants to. You could do a google search on "Todd Bertuzzi" to get a sense, but there's always a war for the "soul of hockey". How much violence is too much, and whether the fighting is necessary to keep players from using the stick as a weapon instead of a tool.

The most skilled player in Hockey history was Wayne Gretzky. But he was such a finesse player that, throughout his career, his coaches usually assigned a "goon" as protection when he was on the ice. Tough guys like Dave Hunter would beat people up so Wayne could make the pretty passes unmolested. In the Olympics, they didn't send goons out with Gretzky.

But Gretzky was a rarity - generally, the best players like Mario Lemiuex, Gordie Howe, and Phil Esposito tended to blend both skill with physical toughness and strength.

To succeed, as artistic as a player might want to be - he may also have to rely upon violence instead of finesse. And these days, even the most effective "goon" must also have some skill or he will be too much of a liability to play.

It's a quest for balance, to be both the best aspects of the Astronaut AND Caveman - rather than some false dichotomy between one or the other.

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

Then, hockey can, in some ways, at least, represent the vampire in him?

[dlgood.livejournal.com]

Instead of attending the party, Angel is watching hockey. Now, not being a sports fans, I can't say much about that, though I'm sure that it's weighted with meaning. The only meaning that comes to my mind is 'Canada', so that's that.

The first Hockey reference, is in Season 3, when Gunn makes fun of Angel for getting Connor hockey equipment to play with. Calls it the "whitest sport on earth" - in contrast to Gunn seen holding a basketball.

Hockey, in LA, is pretty significant as a choice for Angel. The other team sports - baseball, football, and basketball - are outdoor sports, sports people play during the day if they can - only at night when they have to.

Ice Hockey, on the other hand, is a sport you play indoors and at night. Angel can share Hockey with Connor in a complete way the other sports don't offer. And it's both a game of artistry and violence which would appeal to Angel on many levels. Baseball and Basketball, while team sports and often artistic, are ultimately a games of individual confrontations (particularly baseball). And often rather distancing in terms of physical violence. Football, is a violent game, but one more about regimentation than finesse and art.

In a lot of ways, Hockey is soccer on ice. It’s a beautiful game of finesse, artistry, and skill. It’s also a game of violence, of endurance, of willpower and toughness. In traditional regions (Canada, Scandinavia, Russia) Hockey is a culturally dominant sport. That most anybody can or does play, if they can find a frozen pond, a crude stick, and some cheap skates.. As is soccer in most of the world – it just takes a ball and some open ground. But in the US, soccer is the suburban sport.

And that suburban aspect of Hockey in the US is something of a point. Hockey, in LA, is a game for the economically secure. A young Charles Gunn, would only have needed a ball and a rusty hoop. Whereas, to play hockey in LA, he would have needed expensive equipment, teammates, and an ice rink where he could have ice time to practice skating, before he even thought of playing.

So the hockey is an interesting thing in LoTP. In Philly, where Boreanaz is from, Hockey is a “tough”, rugged sport, with devoted and knowledgeable working class fans – and a team nicknamed the “broad street bullies”. (Colors alone indicate he’s watching Toronto vs. Philly) The LA Hockey team, on the other hand is associated with finesse players, slick media-savvy coaches, owners who got rich through pyramid schemes, and half-empty stands with passionless and disinterested fair-weather fans.

It’s the sort of thing where, if you want to look deep, you could make a lot out of it.

[avrelia.livejournal.com]

Thank you! This and previous comments are the best explanation of hockey and its politics I ever read - and since I am a Russian living in Canada, it means something. ;)

[dlgood.livejournal.com]

You're welcome.

Correction:

Gunn could play basketball with just a ball and a rusty hoop. Wheras ice hockey would have been inaccessible to him. (Also, a young Gunn would have only seen one or two black players in the entire league.)

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

That whole explanation was very impressive. Very cool. Thank you.

[avrelia.livejournal.com]

I am not sure about corruptive power of corporations as a theme this season, but, interestingly, one moment this February I had to tell myself, “Stop. What are the Good and the Evil, again?” Before it was more or less clear (from the characters POV): W&H, vampires, everybody who tries to end the world, or to change it to suit their whims are Evil. Angel fights evil and tries to be/do good. Same with his friends. Now – yes, W&H has definitely helped, but they are going the route defined by their own problems, insecurities, etc.
Yet as characters’ distinction between good and evil is slipping, ours as of viewers, too. Those arguments whether Knox is good or evil – according to previous disposition, he is. Now? He is no worse then Gunn, Wes, or Angel.

Also, there was a lot of mirrors this season – literal and metaphorical. This season mirrors the last one, The Shells mirrors The Hole In The World, the mirror in Fred’s room, Lorne with the mirror, smoke and mirrors, and everything mirrors Angel, who cannot see his reflection, of course.

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

everything mirrors Angel, who cannot see his reflection, of course.
And like Angel, the mirror of this season is also emptier by lack of Connor (and Cordy).

[viciouswishes.livejournal.com]

I love you and your clothing look-out. Gunn did look really hot in red that episode. I apologize for the incoherence,, my eyes are still dilated from my doctor's appointment and not really letting my brain pick things up.

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

He looks amazing in that shade of red. Mrow.