shapinglight

What with this and that, I've been having a hard time lately remembering why I love Angel as a character, so I rewatched Home, and...

...ended up bawling like a baby, as always. I'm not keen on season 4 of AtS. It has some great set-pieces and some terrific character interaction (Wes/Lilah, the return of Faith etc etc), but overall I think the plot sucks and the ickiness of ConCord casts a pall over the whole season. But I've always thought Home was a terrific season finale that sets up the change of pace/outlook in season 5 really well. Plus, it heralds the very dark turn that Angel's story was to take and the reasons for it. And it contains the one scene in the whole of AtS that always makes me cry. This is the exchange between Angel and Connor in the sports store, right before they fight, when Connor says how even his own mother couldn't love him, and Angel protests that Darla died for Connor because she loved him so much, and all the time looks on the point of tears himself. Dammit, DB knocks it out of the park with this one.

I just don't see how anyone, watching this, couldn't think that Connor was the most important thing in the world to Angel. He gave up everything for him. He even gave up Connor himself for him, if you see what I mean. It's all about Connor.

:gets all weepy again:

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From:

elisi

'Home' was the first episode of Angel that I ever watched.

I just don't see how anyone, watching this, couldn't think that Connor was the most important thing in the world to Angel. He gave up everything for him. He even gave up Connor himself for him, if you see what I mean. It's all about Connor.
Yes, exactly!

From:

shapinglight

'Home' was the first episode of Angel that I ever watched.

You started with a good one, then. I got quite upset seeing Fred again too. I so hate that Joss decided to erase her, even though I love Illyria.

From:

elisi

You started with a good one, then.
I did indeed. Then I went back and watched everything from the start (thanks to Sky One), and it was fascinating seeing everything come together. 'Home' sold me on Wes/Lilah completely btw.

And oh, Fred. I always liked her.

From:

shapinglight

And oh, Fred. I always liked her.

I didn't always like her, but AHitW made me so angry that I've been a Fred-defender ever since.

Even though I love Illyria.

From:

ex_peasant441

I got quite upset seeing Fred again too. I so hate that Joss decided to erase her, even though I love Illyria.

I suspect that if we had had a season 6 we would have had a lot of Fred turning up one way and another - possibly they would have found some way to bring her back while still keeping Ilyria, possibly flashbacks, or most likely Ilyria would have had more and more Freddish moments until it pretty much had multiple personalities.

Wes would have lived as well, of course.

From:

shapinglight

Wes would definitely have lived, but I don't think Fred would have been back as Fred. Illyria would have had lots of Fred-like moments, but she wouldn't have been Fred, just Illyria in a Fred-suit.

From:

cozzybob.livejournal.com

Yeah. This is why the whole Twangel thing bothers me so much--I love Angel as a character, absolutely adore him, and I can't help but think he's not being given justice. Connor was the single-most important thing in Angel's life, after he was born. It was always about Connor, from the very moment Darla's pregnant belly swung on screen.

*hugs*

From:

shapinglight

and I can't help but think he's not being given justice.

Well, the comics story's not over yet, but it does seem as if five years of character development on AtS have just been swept away. I'm going with the 'Angel's gone mad' option until further notice.

From:

menomegirl.livejournal.com

"Home" makes me cry too, every. single. time. and that's saying something, considering I dislike Angel about 80% of the time.

I just don't see how anyone, watching this, couldn't think that Connor was the most important thing in the world to Angel.

I agree.

From:

shapinglight

"Home" makes me cry too, every. single. time. and that's saying something, considering I dislike Angel about 80% of the time.

It's a great episode and that scene is just...I tear up at the mention of Darla and again when Angel protests that he loves Connor - has always loved him - and Connor says, "Not enough to hang on to me," because ironically the reason why Angel let Holtz take the baby was because he loved him so much.

Wah!

From:

menomegirl.livejournal.com

Connor saying that is part of what makes that scene so damn heart-breaking. Up until then, he'd never given any real indication that he'd realized the wrong that Holtz had done by taking him. But in that moment, you knew that he knew and it was the one thing that made the Jasmine arc bearable in the end.

From:

shapinglight

But in that moment, you knew that he knew and it was the one thing that made the Jasmine arc bearable in the end.

Poor kid! He was a hard character to like, but I felt so sorry for him in that episode.

From:

bubblegum-nails.livejournal.com

I think since the Twangel "revelation" a lot of people are rewatching Angel :) Just to remember that Angel has, you know, like, a personality, an identity, friends, a son..that usually just gets brushed aside once he's with Buffy and all you have is btvs s3 Angel, again. My very least favourite Angel..*grumbles*

"Home" is the only AtS episode I always cry! Starcrossed lovestories don't make me half as teary as family tragedies. I'm a crying, miserable mess, when I watch The Body, Home and the end scene of The Gift with Buffy and Dawn. I'm a family gal :)
That's why I'm so confused about SA's "Buffy is more important to Angel, than Connor"-comment.. I mean, srsly? o.o I'd call that a radical interpretation of the text.

From:

shapinglight

I think since the Twangel "revelation" a lot of people are rewatching Angel :) Just to remember that Angel has, you know, like, a personality, an identity, friends, a son..that usually just gets brushed aside once he's with Buffy and all you have is btvs s3 Angel, again. My very least favourite Angel..*grumbles*

With you all the way. BtVS season 3 Angel is my least favourite Angel too. There seems to be no point to him except to stand around and look mopey.

And I don't cry at love stories either. Didn't shed a tear over IWRY even the first time I saw it (and I didn't know there was anything else to be but a Bangel 'shipper then). But parts of The Body dealing with Dawn and Buffy and the final scene of Forever (again with Dawn and Buffy) get me every time, as does this scene. :whimper:

From:

rahirah

:sigh:

I don't know why Joss is most interested in the least interesting aspects of Angel. :/

From:

shapinglight

I don't know why Joss is most interested in the least interesting aspects of Angel. :/

It's a mystery to me too. I almost think it's because he's trying to re-live his glory days, which were during seasons 2&3 of BtVS. Tough on those of us who preferred the later seasons and Angel on his own show. :(

From:

shipperx.livejournal.com

He gave up everything for him. He even gave up Connor himself for him, if you see what I mean. It's all about Connor

Exactly! I don't know how anyone can cast "Home" as Angel dumping Connor and running off to see Buffy. His giving up Connor was a sacrifice on Angel's part, a sacrifice that he made in an effort to save Connor. Angel not only signed over his soul, he gave up the part of it that was Connor. It was a father's sacrifice, and it was profound.

From:

shapinglight

I don't know how anyone can cast "Home" as Angel dumping Connor and running off to see Buffy.

Agreed. My jaw hit the floor when I saw that one. Can only put it down to fanwanking in order to make everything in/about the comic right at the expense of the actual series.

It was a father's sacrifice, and it was profound.

I agree. It's just gutwrenching.