Angel 5x16 - Shells

[butterfly]

"If any part of that was Buffy, I wouldn't let [Willow get rid of it]" - Spike, After Life

That's Wes right now. He was doomed the second that Illyria told him that it had fragments of Fred inside.

So many shells in this episode - most obviously Illyria in Fred, but the others are almost as obvious. They're all shells of who they used to be. They've emptied themselves out for the cause and for their choices.

Wesley is so psycho, which I do love about him. Fred was an ideal to him -- he says it, "[someone] who represents even part of what you think makes the world worth fighting for." (Smile Time) That's what Fred has been to him from the start. But he wasn't blind about her faults and her humanity. I do think that he saw her as both a symbol and a person. He didn't fight battles for her that she could fight herself (Supersymmetry). He knew how tough she was and trusted her to be able to take care of herself in dangerous situations (Lineage). He fights by her side, not in her place.

But she was also an obsession to him. She was more than a person (as Illyria was more than anything to Knox - the Knox/Illyria 'relationship' feels strongly paralleled to Wes/Fred, and then Wes shoots Knox and takes his place as Illyria's guide) to him. It's creepy and fucked up and fascinating - all things that I've liked about Wes/Fred. She brings out this obsessive side to him that I really enjoy (actually, it reminds me a lot of Clark and Lex).

Illyria has parts of Fred, and I don't think that Wesley could ever countenance the destruction of any part of Fred. He would have chosen her over the thousands, I think. When it comes to Fred, Wesley isn't reasonable.

And I will love forever the first person to write Wes/Illyria (I do agree with redredshoes that it's probably healthier than Wes/Fred).

*cheers _green_ for already writing a W/I drabble*

Comments

[livinglaurel.livejournal.com]

the Knox/Illyria 'relationship' feels strongly paralleled to Wes/Fred, and then Wes shoots Knox and takes his place as Illyria's guide

Ting! Oh yeah, that's exactly right. And I love your use of the Spike quote. -- We already have at least one lovely Illyria bit, _green_'s drabble (http://www.livejournal.com/users/_green_/306796.html) (I didn't see you comment there so I thought you might not have seen it).

moi

[oyceter]

Don't know if you've seen it, but _green_ already has!

Written Wes/Illyria, that is.

[viciouswishes.livejournal.com]

Love the comparison of S6 Spike to Wesley. Sorry for the fly-by comment, but I'm way too tired for anything coherent.

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

We already have at least one lovely Illyria bit, _green_'s drabble (I didn't see you comment there so I thought you might not have seen it).

I hadn't until it was pointed out. Thank you!

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

Love the comparison of S6 Spike to Wesley.

The level of obsession fits. Much as I adore Wes, boy is seriously fucked up.

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

Thank you! You and redredshoes pointed this out at about the same time, so I extend giddy thanks to the both of you.

[soundingsea.livejournal.com]

"If any part of that was Buffy, I wouldn't let [Willow get rid of it]" - Spike, After Life

That's Wes right now.


Absolutely. Wonderful catch.

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

And I kinda love that Wes is so easily compared to an obsessed, soulless killer. Because, well, pretty much, yeah. Totally.