Angel 5x11 - Damage
Jan. 29th, 2004 12:41 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
butterflyFirst off - wow. I am hella impressed by how many incredibly deep and wonderful thoughts there are out there on Damage (and Delete, but I don't know a central archive for SV reviewage, so Damage is what I'm concentrating on). Most of them can be found linked by ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
mutant_allies. Check them out, because my own ideas are shamelessly influenced by other people's.
Anyway, as I have now rewatched the episode, I'm ready for somewhat deeper thoughts (last night was just pulling together some meta - names and words - they matter, but in a different way).
Here we go.
Ah, Dana. Let's start with Dana. Another of Joss' psycho brunettes. I'm impressed by the fact that he can have so many of them, and yet each is distinct in their craziness, their abilities, and the way they went insane. Dana was a bit of Faith, a dash of River, a drop of Dru, and then a huge splash of something new - Dana. I don't have enough words for how much the actor rocked. I was so horrified for/of her. She was an innocent and a monster. A Slayer, but a mirror of vampires. The Slayer is Other, of course, just as the vampire is. The difference is that the Slayer is no longer alone (all vampires are alone, even when they travel in packs). Honestly, I'm glad that Andrew took Dana away. She should be with other Slayers - if anyone can help, it's them, and if they can't help, they're the best equipped to keep the people safe from her. And she should stay out of Wolfram and Hart's hands, and sadly, that means Angel's now. He's part of the game, and Buffy isn't going to let one of her girls stay trapped in the game, not when she's broken her own board to pieces.
Many people mentioned that Andrew parallelled early Wesley, and some noted that he mimicked William pre-Bloody as well. I think he did a swimming job of being Wesley to Wes and William to Spike. Bravo, Andrew. The difference, of course, being that Andrew sees nothing wrong with being himself, while both Wesley and William fought to change into something new. They project shame and humilation onto Andrew's actions, but none exist, because Andrew accepts himself. And because of that, he has been accepted and he is used as best he can be, considered his unique talents. As Wes used Fred in Lineage, so Giles used Andrew - someone who won't put their defenses up.
Last episode, Spike got to be the hero, while Angel was the victim - this episode, the situation was reversed. And notice the difference in how they acted in the aftermath - Spike leaves the clean-up to someone else, while Angel tries takes care of it himself and gets kicked in the face. Very symbolic of how they (and the writers) have been treating their Evil Past. The end scene seems to be showing signs of a change in the wind, though.
So, while we're here, let's talk about Spike. My like for Spike has been on an upward trend ever since BtVS: Lessons. Yep, I like Souled Spike better than Unsouled (much). Liking him more per week, though, it's hard for me to admit it most days. I did hate him for a good long time - Lover's Walk to Grave, with varying amounts of hatred depending on what he'd done recently. But I said that I'd give the new Spike a chance, and when he came back with curly hair, my heart melted. Of course, the slicked-back platinum came back the next week, but I'd seen the curls and wouldn't forget them. We mostly saw Spike with his defenses down, in BtVS 7, and of course, the second that he shows up on AtS 5, those defenses click right back into place. But once the walls have been breached, all you can do is shore them up - you can't unbreak them. Slowly, they've been coming down again - primed mostly around Fred, but also around Angel, and he's shown signs around Gunn and Wes. Nothing to Lorne, yet, but Lorne is Angel's truthstone even more firmly than he was last year, so that follows.
In between Spike and Angel, let's talk about slash. I personally, don't have a problem with the amount of it this year, because, well, Spike always draws attention to these things. He's not very gay, but he draws the gayness to him like a lodestone, and then he must point it out. Spike always notices the potential gayness of any situation - that dates back at least as far as The Yoko Factor and almost certainly sooner, just that nothing in particular comes to mind. Angel, on the other hand, generally responds to other people's assessment of the gayness of the situation (which goes back as far Dopplegangland and Vamp Willow) - with them both in play, we get at least twice as much gay because their methods conflict and feed off of each other. And then there's Wesley's continuing... Wesleyness, wherein anyone who spends time with him looks gayer by association. And now there's Lindsey, who brings intense passion and hate to the table. He focuses, and like Darla, we question the intent of his focus. This is the gayest concentration of people on a ME show, like, ever.
I promised Angel next, didn't I? Ah, Angel, the 'most romantic hero on tv'. Hmm. Tall, dark, and broody. Gives you a ring, gives you roses, gives you a dead body or two. Love is in the air, indeed. The shadow of Angelus was very strong in this episode - Dana resembled Dru, who he created. The monster who created Dana, the human monster - ah, he was innocent once, too, I would guess. Last week, we saw the flaws of Angel's way of doing things - this week, Angel's side got to shine while we saw the flaws in Spike's methods. What will next week bring? How will Cordelia change things? We saw hints in the preview (is there no hug for Wes? How much does she remember?), but only that. Also, curly hair. I'm such a sucker for curly hair (which is why I don't think that Andrew's hair was Frodo-hair - not enough curl. It much more resembled William pre-Bloody's hair).
Gunn, Wes, Fred, and Lorne continue on their respective paths - more on that a little later, I think, after I've thought some more.
mutant_allies. Check them out, because my own ideas are shamelessly influenced by other people's. Anyway, as I have now rewatched the episode, I'm ready for somewhat deeper thoughts (last night was just pulling together some meta - names and words - they matter, but in a different way).
Here we go.
Ah, Dana. Let's start with Dana. Another of Joss' psycho brunettes. I'm impressed by the fact that he can have so many of them, and yet each is distinct in their craziness, their abilities, and the way they went insane. Dana was a bit of Faith, a dash of River, a drop of Dru, and then a huge splash of something new - Dana. I don't have enough words for how much the actor rocked. I was so horrified for/of her. She was an innocent and a monster. A Slayer, but a mirror of vampires. The Slayer is Other, of course, just as the vampire is. The difference is that the Slayer is no longer alone (all vampires are alone, even when they travel in packs). Honestly, I'm glad that Andrew took Dana away. She should be with other Slayers - if anyone can help, it's them, and if they can't help, they're the best equipped to keep the people safe from her. And she should stay out of Wolfram and Hart's hands, and sadly, that means Angel's now. He's part of the game, and Buffy isn't going to let one of her girls stay trapped in the game, not when she's broken her own board to pieces.
Many people mentioned that Andrew parallelled early Wesley, and some noted that he mimicked William pre-Bloody as well. I think he did a swimming job of being Wesley to Wes and William to Spike. Bravo, Andrew. The difference, of course, being that Andrew sees nothing wrong with being himself, while both Wesley and William fought to change into something new. They project shame and humilation onto Andrew's actions, but none exist, because Andrew accepts himself. And because of that, he has been accepted and he is used as best he can be, considered his unique talents. As Wes used Fred in Lineage, so Giles used Andrew - someone who won't put their defenses up.
Last episode, Spike got to be the hero, while Angel was the victim - this episode, the situation was reversed. And notice the difference in how they acted in the aftermath - Spike leaves the clean-up to someone else, while Angel tries takes care of it himself and gets kicked in the face. Very symbolic of how they (and the writers) have been treating their Evil Past. The end scene seems to be showing signs of a change in the wind, though.
So, while we're here, let's talk about Spike. My like for Spike has been on an upward trend ever since BtVS: Lessons. Yep, I like Souled Spike better than Unsouled (much). Liking him more per week, though, it's hard for me to admit it most days. I did hate him for a good long time - Lover's Walk to Grave, with varying amounts of hatred depending on what he'd done recently. But I said that I'd give the new Spike a chance, and when he came back with curly hair, my heart melted. Of course, the slicked-back platinum came back the next week, but I'd seen the curls and wouldn't forget them. We mostly saw Spike with his defenses down, in BtVS 7, and of course, the second that he shows up on AtS 5, those defenses click right back into place. But once the walls have been breached, all you can do is shore them up - you can't unbreak them. Slowly, they've been coming down again - primed mostly around Fred, but also around Angel, and he's shown signs around Gunn and Wes. Nothing to Lorne, yet, but Lorne is Angel's truthstone even more firmly than he was last year, so that follows.
In between Spike and Angel, let's talk about slash. I personally, don't have a problem with the amount of it this year, because, well, Spike always draws attention to these things. He's not very gay, but he draws the gayness to him like a lodestone, and then he must point it out. Spike always notices the potential gayness of any situation - that dates back at least as far as The Yoko Factor and almost certainly sooner, just that nothing in particular comes to mind. Angel, on the other hand, generally responds to other people's assessment of the gayness of the situation (which goes back as far Dopplegangland and Vamp Willow) - with them both in play, we get at least twice as much gay because their methods conflict and feed off of each other. And then there's Wesley's continuing... Wesleyness, wherein anyone who spends time with him looks gayer by association. And now there's Lindsey, who brings intense passion and hate to the table. He focuses, and like Darla, we question the intent of his focus. This is the gayest concentration of people on a ME show, like, ever.
I promised Angel next, didn't I? Ah, Angel, the 'most romantic hero on tv'. Hmm. Tall, dark, and broody. Gives you a ring, gives you roses, gives you a dead body or two. Love is in the air, indeed. The shadow of Angelus was very strong in this episode - Dana resembled Dru, who he created. The monster who created Dana, the human monster - ah, he was innocent once, too, I would guess. Last week, we saw the flaws of Angel's way of doing things - this week, Angel's side got to shine while we saw the flaws in Spike's methods. What will next week bring? How will Cordelia change things? We saw hints in the preview (is there no hug for Wes? How much does she remember?), but only that. Also, curly hair. I'm such a sucker for curly hair (which is why I don't think that Andrew's hair was Frodo-hair - not enough curl. It much more resembled William pre-Bloody's hair).
Gunn, Wes, Fred, and Lorne continue on their respective paths - more on that a little later, I think, after I've thought some more.
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Info
Date: 2004-01-29 08:55 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2004-01-29 08:55 pm (UTC)Let's not forget Joss's most recent psycho brunette prior to Dana - Connor. Who was a much human/demon as Dana is herself, literally.
Re:
Date: 2004-01-29 09:09 pm (UTC)But Connor deserves his own essay on the season as it stands thus far (there have been Connor echoes in every single episode and he is notable by his absence, which seeps into everything Angel does).
Re: Info
Date: 2004-01-29 09:10 pm (UTC)Re:
Date: 2004-01-29 09:22 pm (UTC)Absolutely.
And I look forward to the essay very much.
(no subject)
Date: 2004-01-29 10:35 pm (UTC)Andrew has done nothing toward his own redemption. He works with Buffy et al because they let him, and so the world is lucky. But he has never struck me as anything but a follower, and if he ever fell out of good graces with them, I can see him following another Warren (or any male who would give him the time of day) in a minute.
I don't trust that little freak as far as I could spit him.
Re:
Date: 2004-01-29 11:30 pm (UTC)I actually really like Andrew, in part because he strongly reminds me of my brother (the LotR references only strengthened that association). The literalness especially. Though he does have that tendency to imprint off of the strongest person that he spends time with whereas my brother, um... doesn't.
Hmm. I almost feel the urge to write an Andrew essay. Hmm.
Re:
Date: 2004-01-29 11:34 pm (UTC)To be honest, I'm uncertain as to the wisdom of trying to say anything about Connor before the end of the season. It's such a mirror so far - down to having the Angel dream episode be in exactly the same episode in rotation.
Re:
Date: 2004-01-30 12:22 am (UTC)One thing I really hate with LJ, is the trap that I tend to fall into where I think that *speedy* analysis is somehow more worthwhile than a much more meaningful one later on down the line. Gotta watch that.
Whenever you post, if you post, I'll read it with pleasure, I'm sure.
(no subject)
Date: 2004-01-30 01:12 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2004-01-30 02:59 am (UTC)Neat insight. I like that idea.
Re:
Date: 2004-01-30 09:24 pm (UTC)Because next week is Cordelia, and she was... very important in the development of Connor.
One thing I really hate with LJ, is the trap that I tend to fall into where I think that *speedy* analysis is somehow more worthwhile than a much more meaningful one later on down the line.
True, it's a tricky thing. Very tricky.
Anyway, thanks.
Re:
Date: 2004-01-30 09:25 pm (UTC)Re:
Date: 2004-01-30 09:26 pm (UTC)Thank you.
Having seen the ep finally, I can now read and comment
Date: 2004-02-01 09:56 pm (UTC)My opinion precisely. I was puzzled to discover, via
Many people mentioned that Andrew parallelled early Wesley, and some noted that he mimicked William pre-Bloody as well. I think he did a swimming job of being Wesley to Wes and William to Spike. Bravo, Andrew. The difference, of course, being that Andrew sees nothing wrong with being himself, while both Wesley and William fought to change into something new
Again, amen. And I like the further difference you drew in your reply to Kita - Andrew feels guilty for what he did, but not ashamed of what he is. Incidentally, I think he's deliberately playing up the geek part to convince Angel & Co. of his harmlessness and not to get them distrustful. (Let's not forget Andrew can play a role - as poor Jonathan found out twice.) Whereas he's completely sincere in his reaction to Spike, both when he sees him again and later when they're alone.
Re: Having seen the ep finally, I can now read and comment
Date: 2004-02-03 04:26 pm (UTC)Word. If Buffy died, there's still Xander and Willow and Giles and then the first rank people (including Andrew) - the ones in the Hellmouth with them. That's a lot of people who went through a lot to make this happen.
I think he's deliberately playing up the geek part to convince Angel & Co. of his harmlessness and not to get them distrustful. (Let's not forget Andrew can play a role - as poor Jonathan found out twice.) Whereas he's completely sincere in his reaction to Spike, both when he sees him again and later when they're alone.
Agreed. And I think, in part, that sending Andrew is a test. Because he's harmless and unknown - he can watch and not be noticed.