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The episode in which I fell in love with each of these AtS characters
1. Angel: “City of” because he’s so cool with the coat in the alley, and tries so hard to help even though he doesn’t always succeed in this mission. He also pushes that guy out of the window and gets in the wrong car! I also fell in love with Angel again in “Judgment” because it was the episode when I really got his character: he’s this guy from another time, long ago, trying to be a heroic knight in modern day Los Angeles.
2. Cordelia: “Birthday.” This kind of makes no sense because I don’t like what happens to her character after this episode, and I really enjoyed her in the first couple of seasons (some bad acting aside). But I think “Birthday” made good!Cordelia work for me in a way it was never very successful at other times.
3. Doyle: “City of” when he flirts with Angel.
4. Wesley: I love the bumbly!Wes in “Parting Gifts” but it was tormented!Wes in “Loyalty” and “Sleep Tight” that won my heart.
5. Gunn: In “Blind Date” when he does his distraction-rant in Wolfram and Hart.
6. Fred: “Through the Looking Glass” when she shows Angel her cave and holds up her blood-covered hand to get beast!Angel off Wes & Gunn.
7. Connor: Oddly I think it was “Inside Out” because it effectively – and creepily – demonstrated just how fucked up and conflicted he is. I also love the new integrated Connor in “Origin” and “Not Fade Away.”
8. Lorne: “Over the Rainbow” when he doesn’t want to go home but finally does. His constant flirting with Angel in season 2 is awesome!
9. Faith: When she sobs in Angel’s arms in “Five by Five.”
10. Darla: “Lullaby” and the previous episodes as she becomes increasingly affected by Connor’s soul.
11. Drusilla: In “Reunion” because she’s so scary evil and crazy. And also because I identify with her in this exchange (um, not the part about the moon):
Dru: I saw you coming, my lovely. The moon showed me. It told me to come into the twentieth century.
Angel: It's the Twenty-first century, Dru.
Dru: Hmm, I'm still lagging.
12. Lindsey: In “Blind Date” because, like many a character on AtS he’s tormented about whether to do the right thing, and ultimately demonstrates that he’s okay with not being good.
13. Lilah: I loved her seducing Wes at the end of season 3, but I fell in love with her when she tells Linwood she went just under his head, and kills him. Gotta love the bad girl!
14. Harmony: In “Conviction” when Angel discovers she’s his secretary, she’s so damn funny and very reminiscent of the old-school Cordelia I used to love.
15. Spike: I was already really in love with Spike, but I did love his scenes with Fred (“Just Rewards” and “Hellbound”) and his fantastic chemistry and fights with Angel (“Destiny” and “A Hole in the World”).
I’m interested in what made you fall in love with the characters. Tell me about it!! Let’s share the love for AtS!!!
- Music:Steve Earle's Goodbye
- Mood:
calm
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2. Cordelia: "Room w/a View". I had loved her on BTVS already, but this first Cordy episode on ATS reinforced with a vengeance. From her storming into Angel's apartment to her rediscovering her inner bitch to her starting her relationship with Phantom Dennis at the end - love it.
3. Doyle: I always liked him, but never was overwhelmed with love. My favourite Doyle scene is probably his "okay, maybe I'm a little attracted" re: Angel to Cordelia in the stalker episode.
4. Wesley: Now I'm one of the few people who felt intensely sorry for him and liked him by the time the third season of BTVS ended, so I enjoyed seeing him again in Parting Gifts, and the final scene, when he's just so glad once Angel invites him for breakfeast, made me love him. Five by Five was what cemented it, but it started there.
5. Gunn: Ahem. Never got to the love stage, but I think Players is probably where I'm overwhelmed with Gunn sympathy.
6. Fred: “Supersymmetry", all the way. It has cheerful bouncy Fred, crazy Fred, tough Fred and vengeance thirsty Fred. Loved her there.
7. Connor: Ahem. I wrote an entire essay (http://selenak.livejournal.com/192055.html) about why I love the boy, so it's tough to be brief, but: basically it started with A New World with me. Which makes me a liar about Dawn being the only one, I know, but I had totally blocked that out. Inside Out is fantastic but my failsafe pre-Mindwipe Connor ep is Peace Out.
8. Lorne: Liked him more than loved him, but I agree re: the constant flirting, and I love Lorne as melancholy narrator in Spin the Bottle.
9. Faith: Yep, Five by Five.
10. Darla: When she said No matter how good a boy you are, God doesn't want you! But I still do in Dear Boy I knew I was hooked on her and her relationship with Angel. Darla was when I came to love her. She and Connor are my favourite characters of the show.
11. Drusilla: Reunion it is, but if I have to pick one scene, then it's her street scene with Darla, where she and Darla go from Darla beating the hell out of her and yelling "why?" to Dru crying to the two of them embracing and then, after Darla kills the annoying trucker, Dru touching her nose and declaring "you're all new again!".
12. Lindsey: I always found Lindsey interesting. I never liked him very much. Instead, I loved...
13. Lilah: I think I knew when she outmanoeuvred Lee in Five by Five.
14. Harmony: Disharmony already. Her scene with Cordelia, talking about high school.
15. Spike: Destiny for the Spike/Angel (slash intentional) of it. For the funny side, The Girl in Question.
If we're going for Angel breaking my heart - "Home". The mall scene with Connor. I have the heretic view that this is the best acting DB ever did on either show, including his famous first stint as Angelus. God, that's an excellent scene! As if that isn't heart-breaking enough, that moment at the end of the episode where Angel's watching Connor have the moment Angel dreamed of in "Deep Down" but without him ... that just makes me want to bring Angel home, feed him pie and welcome him into my family (in between sobs).
I also felt bad for Wesley in season 3 of BtVS, he was just in way over his head.
I'm so excited about reading your Connor essay!!
Spike: Destiny for the Spike/Angel (slash intentional) of it. For the funny side, The Girl in Question. The Spike/Angel slash is so intense in season 5! *loves* I'm also a fan of The Girl in Question (I know there's many fans who hated it) because I love to see them be silly and petty just for a short time.
No, I agree. That and his scene with Wes, in Foriving. I watched with my mouth open and thought, "anyone who says this man can't act is a fuckwit."
1. Angel -- Took a while. OK, took a very long while. But the first time I was struck with Angel-love was in the Pylea arc -- the moment when he's checking himself out in the mirror and keeps asking as his hair always looks like that. Dork!Angel is so lovable in that arc -- now the only time I've ever found him hot is in "Are you now or have you ever been" (snark -- hotter when he doesn't talk much /snark)
2. Cordelia -- I'd seen her stuff on BtVS first and was fairly neutral to her; it's the season 2 eps where C/W/G are on their own that won me over, and particularly one line, explaining how Gunn "Sat at the feet of the master and learned well how to plan dumbly!"
3. Doyle -- "our rats are low". Never was a big Doyle fan, honestly, but I do love him trying to make that video.
4. Wesley -- the first ep I ever saw was "Home"; I had no idea what was going on, but was absolutely transfixed by the guy in the red shirt with the grappling hook and the dead girlfriend. I've never looked back.
5. Gunn -- from "First Impressions" on; I love the way he comes onto the team and instantly changes the (already lovely) dynamic for the better.
6. Fred -- the drunk scene in "Life of the Party". Amy Acker wins at drunk scenes.
7. Hmm, cough, umm. I liked him in "Origin," but it was fanfic, (with a nod to the first commenter on this thread :)) that did it for me. Of old-school Connor, I particularly like his scenes with Sunny in S3, though I can't remember which ep that's in.
8. Lorne -- never one of my faves, honestly, but hearing him sing a whole verse of "Something's Comin'" in the end of "Home," was the number 2 factor (after Wesley's red shirt) that determined me to watch more of the show. Not because I love his singing but because I love "West Side Story"
9. Faith -- I already loved Faith from "Who are you?" on Buffy, but her first AtS scene I remember was "Step back from the glass" so -- pretty much first sight.
10. Darla -- there's something about that moment where she meets Angel in the hotel and steps into the sunshine; I knew I was going to love that relationship. So, pretty much from the first. Also have to mention when she's trying to get the idiot "virgin" vamp to turn her in "Ther Trial.
11. Dru -- the shopping spree with Darla, when she doesn't understand what the cell phone is.
12. Lindsey -- um, his DEATH was fun. I could watch that a few more times.
13. Lilah -- well, I cheat by starting in 'Home' -- so that look that she exchanges with Wesley when she walks in.
14. Harmony -- loved her from BtVS. The first moment on Angel would be = "Blondie bear!" at the end of 5X01 (loved Disharmony too but didn't see until later).
15. Spike -- already loved him from BtVS. Hmm, maybe him calling Wes "Percy " and talking about sex with robots in "Lineage."
the moment when he's checking himself out in the mirror and keeps asking as his hair always looks like that. Dork!Angel is so lovable in that arc -- now the only time I've ever found him hot is in "Are you now or have you ever been" (snark -- hotter when he doesn't talk much /snark)
I love dork!Angel because it nicely balances brooding and tormented Angel (which he frequently is), and that Pylea moment is excellent! I tend to be neutral of Angel/DB's hotness but I understand the attraction!
and particularly one line, explaining how Gunn "Sat at the feet of the master and learned well how to plan dumbly!" I'd forgotten about that - that's such a funny line!! *g*
I had no idea what was going on, but was absolutely transfixed by the guy in the red shirt with the grappling hook and the dead girlfriend. I've never looked back. Interestingly, Wesley was the character who hooked me on AtS as well. I'd watched a couple of previous episodes but "Loyalty" converted me to the show, and it was totally the Wes content that did it!
Hmm, cough, umm. I liked him in "Origin," but it was fanfic, (with a nod to the first commenter on this thread :)) that did it for me. I'd never considered that episode as fanfic before, but it's an interesting argument. I think after so much bad stuff in seasons 3 and 4 that I was just happy to see that Angel's decision - basically - worked out for the best. And seeing a well-adjusted Connor was kind of a nice change.
Lindsey -- um, his DEATH was fun. I could watch that a few more times.
hee - I'm sensing you're not a big Lindsey fan! With him I frequently just get distracted by his hotness!
Err, I think she meant she got convinced to love Connor by a fanfic of mine, Ouroborous, after liking him in Origin. (At least, so she has told me at the time; thanks,
It is a Sandman crossover, set post-NFA.
You might also like a purely AtS story I wrote about Connor and Darla, The Haunted, Hunted Kind (http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1380356/1/).
Ouroborous: I am sadly unfamiliar with "Sandman" but that did not impede my enjoyment or understanding of the story.
I was fascinated by Connor struggling with his two sets of memories and his guilt for the horrible things he did. I really liked when Connor made the parallels between himself and Angel:
But if he was Angel then, Mercy must not be allowed to become Connor.
The fic is achingly beautiful and brought tears to my eyes at the end. A lovely examination of vengeance and guilt, and a beautiful character study.
The Haunted, Hunted Kind: This is an interesting concept that you execute beautifully. The Connor and Darla interactions are marvelous! One of the reasons I love "Inside Out" is because of their scene together, so this was enjoyable to read. Sort of like missing scenes from canon.
I love Darla's shifting reflections on and statements about death in the fic:
She could not remember, could not remember a single thing, and this was what frightened her most. Nothing.
"I do it particularly well. I do it so it feels like hell. I do it so it feels real."
"There is no pain," she said, and was barely aware she had started to cry again.
I LOVED this:
"It's a horrible world," the boy said, staring at city beneath them. The neon lights which had never failed to charm her with their electronic magic seemed dim tonight, as if the smog was trying its best to drown them out. "It could be beautiful, but it's horrible. Why do you want to see it again?"
I feel like the "It could be beautiful, but it's horrible" line could also describe Connor and Darla.
I'm friending you so I can check out more of your fic, and your fandom thoughts!! *g*
It's always tricky to write a crossover; one has to keep the balance between too much and too little info (i.e. fans who know both sources really don't need to be told everything again, fans who only know one of them, otoh, should not feel lost), and thus I'm thrilled that it worked for you.
I feel like the "It could be beautiful, but it's horrible" line could also describe Connor and Darla.
True.
I've written a couple more ficlets than are archived at my ffn account, because I haven't gotten around to post the beta'd versions yet, but you should be able to find them via the "angel" or "buffy" tags.
And yes, true. Although, now that I think of it, I read that story when I went out looking for post-NFA Connor stories, so I was already intrigued by his situation. Which probably means "Not Fade Away" was the first episode where I loved him (the way he cuts through all of Angel's angst and says "I know you're my father," which of course had been hotly debated on the Internets!)
Oh yes, I remember. I of course was of the party that he did know post-Origin.*g* And it's a great twist of expectations because you either expect Angel to ask, after much hemming and hawing, or wonder how long it would take Connor to confess, but no, he just says it.
Connor in "Not Fade Away" is pretty damn cool especially because he cuts through Angel's angst!
Sense away -- and this is where the subjectivity comes in because I don't find Christian Kane the slightest bit attractive. I think he looks like a hamster. On the other hand, with Riley? I get distracted by the hot. Which is funny b/c I'm pretty sure I read that CK & Marc Blucas tried out for each others roles. I wonder if the fandom verdict on them would be reversed if they'd been cast opposite?
I wonder if the fandom verdict on them would be reversed if they'd been cast opposite? Interesting, especially since the guy to date Buffy post-Angel was bound to be disliked by a huge part of fandom. I have a harder time seeing Marc Blucas as Lindsey because he always seems to nice, and not evil.
I hadn't noticed the staging thing about Lilah and Lindsey! That makes me think of James Marsters on Smallville and how Tom Welling just towers over him! I don't think they try very hard on Smallville to hide the height gap.
"I capture the castle" is a wonderful movie for lots of reasons, but I do particularly enjoy Blucas' performance. Haven't seen "Sunshine State" -- what's his role.
"Sunshine State" is one of those quiet, quirky and good films. I believe that Blucus' role is pretty small (I saw it a few years ago so my memory is fuzzy). I think he's sleeping with Edie Falco's character (older woman, younger man dynamic!). The movie centres around Falco and Angela Bassett's characters.
*hugs*
I love Lindsey's first appearance was because I watched it in a weird order and so knew what he meant when he first appeared, but I loved how the show introduced these seeminly 'bit' characters that really mattered in the scheme of the show.
I loved Darla and Lilah from the get-go and also I love Connor, sometimes I love the idea of Connor more than the execution, but I still love him too, to itty bitty pieces and wish there'd been more of him in Season 5.
I also fell in love with Angel again in “Judgment” because it was the episode when I really got his character: he’s this guy from another time, long ago, trying to be a heroic knight in modern day Los Angeles.
Oh absolutely! From the moment he smashes through that window in the gym we should all be like "Wow, here's the guy!" I think, as well, Gunn's first appearance in Warzone was something reallly, really special.
I love Wes in all his incarnations. :)
And I love Faith much more in AtS than I did in BtVS...but now I'm stopping :)
OK I definitely might have a go at this one ;)
sometimes I love the idea of Connor more than the execution Me too. My love for him has increased after reading some really great fanfic about him!
OK I definitely might have a go at this one ;) Yay! It's really fun and totally cheered me up when I did it!
Doyle: "City Of..." I loved him from the moment he sneezed. ;)
Cordelia: "Rm v/a Vu" was a big selling point, but it was "To Shanshu In LA" which really got to me.
Wesley: I LOATHED him on Buffy, and was not happy when they brought him onto Angel, but after Faith tortured him in "Five By Five," he became a lot more appealing in my eyes, and by the end of season 2, I'd adjusted very well to him. By the time his throat was slit (can't remember the ep), I loved him. :D
Connor: I never liked the little shit. I liked his "You stop by for coffee and the world isn't ending? Please." line in "Not Fade Away," but even so, I don't like him.
Lorne: "Over The Rainbow." Because it was just an episode with good Lorne. :D
Faith: "Five By Five." Hell, I loved her from Buffy already, but completely-out-of-control-suicidal Faith and then later on redemption-Faith was brilliant.
Drusilla: It took some time to adjust to her being Spike-less, but it was more of a gradual thing. I can't remember which episode I suddenly decided she was okay to have around without Spike at her side. ^^
Darla: "Lullaby." I didn't really have much of an opinion on her, until this episode. I really loved her in this ep! :D Plus, y'know, with the heartwrenching death and all.
Gunn: He's gone from super-cool to minor annoyance (I didn't much like him in season 4 and season 5), but I also loved his distraction-speech in "Blind Date."
Fred: I loved her from the moment she set foot on the show, right up until the ver end. Same goes for Illyria. I don't care that Illyria basically killed Fred, because Illyria is the toughest, coolest chick to be introduced in the Jossverse since Faith!
Lindsey: "Blind Date." Because it's very easy to stereotype Lindsey as evil, period, but I think this ep showed him more as human than any other. Trying to do the right thing, giving in to the wrong thing, etc, etc.
Lilah: When she started sleeping with Wesley (can't remember exact episode), because their relationship was so beautiful and dysfunctional and brilliant.
Harmony: "Harm's Way." The fifth season was her best. She was everything from brilliant to funny to serious as Angel's secretary, and the Harmony ep featured her in a wonderful manner! :D Plus - vamping out to brush her fangs? Too cute!
Spike: Well, I already loved him from Buffy, but I felt in a lot of the 5th season episodes in Angel, he was being used for nothing (randomly he and Gunn and Lorne would do nothing but walk into a room, give some line that had nothing to do with the plot, and then leave again), but "Damage" really sold me on him all over again. It had just about every flavor of Spike you could want; cocky, funny, angry, fighting, and at the end serious. Plus, I loved the fact that it actually could have been Spike who tortured Dana, because - well, vampire after all.
Wee, this was fun! :D I friended you, because I need some Jossverse flavors on my f-list, hope that was okay. ^^
I had a similar experience with Wes' character as you did. I now feel much more sympathetic towards him on BtVS, but I hated him originally. I just giggle now at pomposity! It was the episodes when Wes is struggling with the prophecy and gets his throat slit that converted me to AtS. I have a lot of love for Wes, especially dark and tormented Wes.
Connor: I never liked the little shit. I liked his "You stop by for coffee and the world isn't ending? Please." line in "Not Fade Away," but even so, I don't like him.
I wasn't a big Connor fan initially so I understand where you're coming from, but I really like conflicted and tormented characters so he did win me over (in "Inside Out"). I've also read some amazing fanfic and essays that increased my appreciation for his character. Also, I think VK is an excellent actor.
Illyria is the toughest, coolest chick to be introduced in the Jossverse since Faith!
I was devastated by Fred's death so I thought I would hate Illyria, but Amy Acker did such a phenomenal job as Illyria that I ended up loving her. It makes me sad that there wasn't a season 6 because there was so much interesting Illyria stuff that could have been explored, as well as the Angel/Spike dynamic!!
I friended you back. *g* Jossverse flavour on the f-list is definitely a good thing! The funny thing is that when I joined LJ, I thought it would be a good place to meet other Veronica Mars (VM) fans. I met a few cool VM fans, but mostly it's been the Jossverse people that are awesome here!