Some brief thoughts on Cordelia, the Powers that Be, and Angel

[butterfly]

"They owed me one." That's the line that sticks with me the most.

"With his dying breath." There's another one - that's what they owed her. It was, in a real sense, their fault she was in this mess in the first place, and they owe her this chance to use her dying breath.

When this week has cycled into next, I may make an icon of this episode's Cordy - "with her dying breath, she gave hope".

I have never loved Cordelia Chase for herself - it was only ever in connection with others that I loved her. Xander, Doyle, Connor. This episode made me care about Cordy qua Cordy. I have often appreciated what she did bring to the series, but I never missed her. I still don't, but I was glad to see her Wednesday. I liked her - what she did, how she acted, what she said. I felt her love for Angel, her friendship for Connor, and the truth of her spirit.

She reminded me of Darla's spirit in Inside Out, because that was our (the audience's) hint that more than just Jasmine cared about the world. Angel never saw that, never knew. Cordy did. She knew that the Powers did what they could to give Connor a choice - this must be part of why she would continue to trust them - because she has seen that there is more than what Jasmine was. That not all of the love and warmth comes with conformality and invisible chains.

They owed her one, and when Angel finally gave up - not just in action, but in word (words are very important, as S4 told us), they had their chance. Angel renounced Wolfram and Hart - out loud, where the Powers could hear him - so they answered. "I quit." he said.

"This is why you were fighting," they answer. "Doyle gave his life for this. Cordelia has given her life for this. Just as we owed her, so do you. They have paid blood for this. Will you let their sacrifices mean nothing?"

Angel: "Bring him back.”
Oracle: "To what end? To nullify his noble death? To leave his atonement unfulfilled?"

In the end, it all comes down to cause and effect.

Angel: “If it means he lives.”
Man: “He doesn’t so that you may.”
Woman: “You do so that others will.”
Angel: “He’s my friend.”
Woman: “If that is so, then so shall it ever be.”
Man: “But it is of no consequence.”

Cause and effect - magic always has consequences, but so do ordinary choices. Everything has consequences, everything has complications. You save the world, you end up running an evil law firm - because you made the choice, you made the call. This is the world that Angel has built, that his words have created.

Brave new world, yes?

Comments

the Powers, etc.

[revdorothyl.livejournal.com]

Thanks for your beautiful take on the Powers and the power of words in this episode (and in the series as a whole). I'd almost forgotten about Darla's appearance in that episode, and what it implied about the Powers not all being indifferent or inimical to human love and choices. (I'm also reminded of the snowfall ending the episode "Amends" -- the one time in BtVS when it seemed clear that some Power was finally lending a hand, when Angel was pushed beyond his limits and Buffy didn't have time or words enough to save him on her own, without some taste of divine grace and hope.) I REALLY like your idea that Angel opened a window of opportunity for the Powers by affirming out loud his intention to make a new choice. Now that you mention it, I guess I've never been a big fan of Cordy all by herself, but I've savored the way she added to the mix and brought out the best (and sometimes the worst) in the people around her, especially Angel (she often seemed like the perfect foil and antidote to his tendency toward excessive, broody soul-searching, and her own growth toward champion-hood seemed a tribute to his effect on her, in turn). But Cordy got to go out as HERSELF, on her own heroic terms in this episode, and it was great to finally, fully glimpse what was wonderful about her, so that we can honestly mourn her passing. Thanks for bringing so much more of this into focus.

Re: the Powers, etc.

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

I'm glad that you liked it.

I'd almost forgotten about Darla's appearance in that episode, and what it implied about the Powers not all being indifferent or inimical to human love and choices.

The big huge difference between Darla's words and Jasmine's was the element of choice. Jasmine forced people to love each other - she made them one in a way that negated who they were. And that's the work of a selfish love. The only right choice was hers.

Whereas with Darla (and with Cordy on Wednesday), they set up choices. These are your options and this is what they mean. And then the listener can choose to believe and choose to follow. It's about choice.