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Date Posted: 09:55:29 02/26/04 Thu
Author: Kuzibah
Author Host/IP: 12.175.117.195
Subject: Angel 5:15- "A Hole in the World" (*SPOILERS*)

In fanfic there is a fairly well-known character concept called the "Mary Sue." In a nutshell, Mary Sue is an original character who is wise, brave, strong, beautiful, forthright, and true, beloved by all, highly accomplished despite a traumatic past, and at the end of the story saves the day, usually dying a heroic death.

Now, I personally don't feel the need to unleash vitriol all over the author who writes a Mary Sue, because I think it's a phase all young writers go through when they first begin to write, creating an idealized character as a stand-in for themselves. If they're serious and continue writing it's something they'll grow out of. Well, usually.

I've complained earlier this season that Fred is a Mary Sue. She is universally adored by all the men around her (even Spike). First introduced as a mathematical genius, she quickly moved into expertise in language, computers, demon biology, human biology, ancient texts... in short, everything. Even men who've just met her comment on her beauty. She's an excellent judge of character, she stands up to the bad guys, and is a demon-killer extraordinaire.

And now, Fred has died a painful, tragic death, a sacrifice to save untold thousands from the misery of returning an "old one" to its rightful resting place.

In a lesser show (say, "Charmed"), this sort of character would be forgivable, maybe even par for the course, but this character was created by Joss Whedon, who spent seven seasons examining a flawed, well-rounded hero in Buffy. In fact, no other major character in the Buffy-verse is as perfect and accomplished as Fred. Willow is controlling. Xander sees things very 2-dimensionally. Giles can be set in his ways, plus he tends to drink under pressure. Not to mention he's killed people. Wesley can be single-minded to the point of betraying his friends. Cordy (pre-shaft-o'-light) was self-centered. Gunn is selfish. Spike, pre-soul, was an annoying prat, and post-soul is a self-righteous annoying prat. And Angel, much as I love him, is an asshole a lot of the time.

But more importantly, no character is so loved that no one calls them on their weaknesses. They bicker all the time. Because that's realistic. But Fred has somehow miraculously escaped any flaw in her character, and last night's episode was one long love letter to the wonderfulness of Fred. I mean, really, that bedside gathering of the cast bordered on self-parody. And what was with Spike's "not this girl, not this day"? He wasn't even that way with *Buffy.*

Even Knox, who was the agent of her murder, can't say enough nice things about her. He picked her because she was the only vessel worthy of his god? Give me a break.

Still and all, she's gone now. I'm willing to allow that the Mary Sue-ification of her this season was all a set-up for the awesome tragedy of her sacrifice, but it's clumsy. It's especially clumsy coming from the man who gave us so many wonderful but flawed heroes over the years.

Moving on.

Against this backdrop we had some really awesome stuff. I can't tell you how happy it made me that when the chips were down, Angel and Spike immediately put aside their differences to face the problem. I like that their long shared history came into play, and they're starting to recognize that they have a lot more common ground than either wishes to admit. I hope this is a trend. And again, the understated conversations, first on the plane, then on the bridge at the well, where they're both saying more than they think they are. I love this relationship. I think it's my favorite storyline at the moment. Oh, and the comment about Christmas-land was a shout-out to me.

Wesley's cold-blooded knee-capping of his unsympathetic flunky, and his later steadfast coping with Fred's imminent death were wonderful. Grief is a very difficult emotion to convey, because it's so raw and basic, but big props to Alexis for such a moving performance. I didn't cry because Fred was dying, but I was very upset that Wesley was so undone.

Gunn's realization that his selfishness was a factor in his friend's condition, and his subsequent murder of Knox were fantastic. His furtive looking around after the first blow was struck, before finishing the betrayer off was scary-wonderful.

And Lorne. Lorne! Getting in touch with his inner Death-wok! You go, girl.

I guess what I'm tring to say is while I had a problem with the basis of the show, the way it actually played out was masterful.

Which brings us to Eve. My irritation with Eve is no secret, but I now feel about her the way I felt about Andrew last season. Time is short. We have only seven episodes left to deal with characters I have deep feelings for and an emotional commitment to. We don't have time to dick around trying to generate character development in a new character no one really gives a shit about, played by an actress who would be outclassed in most senior high school plays. Get back to what's important here in the time you have left. Thank you.

And by the way, I vote astronauts.

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Replies:

[> A loud and heartfelt "Here here" about Fred. -- wwolfe, 11:19:27 02/26/04 Thu (161.149.63.110)

To me, she was created to give a purpose to Gunn, leaving us then with TWO characters with no purpose. This season, Gunn finally has one, but Fred remains pointless, aside from the reason you've described so well here.

I must add another reason for my antipathy to this character: the performance of Amy Acker. Simply on a basic level of expressing thoughts and emotions in an interesting, complex way, she fails badly. Beyond that, though, her characterization of Fred has always skeeved me out big time, because it seems very clear to me that she's playing Fred as a little girl. Grown women who behave like little girls always, always creep me out, both because that behavior is indeed creepy on the face of it, but also because I have no doubt that when that mask is dropped, there'll be something pretty nasty hidden behind it. (Although, in the case of Acker's performance, she has been unable to convey even this much ambiguity in her work.)

So - I'll simply repeat your reaction: "I didn't cry because Fred was dying, but I was very upset that Wesley was so undone." Thank you, Alexis. But, Wesley - you deserve much, much better.

Sadly, I fell asleep during "Smallville" and didn't wake up until 9:27. So I missed the first half of "Angel." In the section I saw, I really liked Gunn's demeanor as he killed Knox (and I REALLY liked the fact that Knox was killed - I apparently am in a tiny group of viewers who did not care for this actor's smug work, either here or in "Buffy"). I was amused by Spike's interaction with the Knight. I liked the image of all the coffins, or whatever they were, extending down into the Earth. (Although, what with these thingies and the armies of UberVamps from "Buffy," the inside of the Earth is starting to look like Fibber McGee's closet.)

And, my feelings about Fred and Amy Acker aside, the moment of Fred's death - her eyes turning to something that looked like blue ice and, especially, the look on her face after she died, were both effective. (Acker has found her niche: she can play dead.) I have no confidence in this actress's ability to be a scary villain, but this scene was well done.


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[> I liked it. -- Mo, 11:31:26 02/26/04 Thu (169.152.251.99)

I always liked Fred. She was plucky and resourceful, and while that never amounted to much, I was willing to let it slide so long as she stopped calling Gunn by his first name.

Evil Bill Murray (aka Knox) looked pretty alive in the preview of next week's episode, by the way.

I think what I like most about the events that transpired last night is how it's set the stage for each character to face the repercussions of their decision to align with Wolfram and Hart. And, the scenes between Spike and Angel, especially the one on the plane, were my favorite moments last night.


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[> Re: Angel 5:15- "A Hole in the World" (*SPOILERS*) -- Pouncer, 17:17:52 02/26/04 Thu (165.247.91.201)

Angel pulled me in. Joss Whedon has the power to make me care about characters that I otherwise ignore. I stopped watching the show soon after Fred joined the cast, and when I started watching again, she was on the periphery of my interest. I agree about her Mary Sue status, but I never cared enough to actively despise her. I also think that her determination to help Spike early in the season had its payoff last night. Self-interest guided his actions.

Last night, though, I was in tears when she asked Wesley to read to her. That he read her A Little Princess made me love him even more than I thought possible. A Little Princess, people! *adores* I liked the guardian knight guy, and his interaction with Spike and Angel. I liked that Knox was Evil, and that he revealed Gunn’s slow slide into the dark. I even liked DemonFred’s blue hair and wacko eyes. I’m very curious to see how this turns out next week.


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[> Re: Angel 5:15- "A Hole in the World" (*SPOILERS*) -- Maye, 23:26:07 02/26/04 Thu (66.188.117.197)

And again, we find that Joss has this thing with people in love.

One of them must die.

And this one seems cheaper than most, considering they only just got together.

I do agree with all the plusses pointed out above, particularly the whole Angel/Spike thing. (Except for "Not this girl, not this day". Honestly. What the hell was that?)

Even though I've never been particularly fond of Fred, COME ON JOSS can't we at least make Wesley happy?? The show is ending!!! Let ONE of your freaking characters be happy! I don't care which! PICK ONE!

Also, am I the only one who thinks Demon Fred looks a little like Kate Beckinsale?


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[> [> Look at it this way... -- OztheVampSlayer, 00:10:22 02/27/04 Fri (63.189.72.25)

at least Fred doesn't have daddy issues.


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[> [> I thought she looked like.. -- SpikedKitty, 01:11:33 02/27/04 Fri (64.12.96.103)

Christina Aguilera.. No idea why..


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[> Angel.... -- SpikedKitty, 01:30:45 02/27/04 Fri (64.12.96.103)

I actually liked Fred.. Especially this season.. And although she is loved by everyone apparently, I don't think there's a reason anyone would dislike her.. Especially Spike.. So I didn't even take her Mary Sue-ness into account..

I'm loving Spike and Angel's relationship.. The 40 minute argument about Cavemen vs. Astronauts (Cavemen would sooooo win), the "hold my hand" decapitation thing, the amount of serious conversations they have (even though I missed the airplane bit), without even noticing.. I love it all..

Wes shooting that guy in the kneecap was just wow.. And poor Wes.. He shouldn't be sad.. Ever..

I knew Gunn was the reason for that stupid sarcophagus.. And holy crap, Gunn just "killed" Knox..

I loved Lorne's reaction to when Fred started singing..

That knight guy cracked me up.. Or rather his interaction with Spike.. LOL..

And this is just a weird thing that I like: Whenever they manage to get the title of the eppy into the actual episode.. Like I said, weird..

I can't wait for next week's episode.. I am loving this season..


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[> I gotta say -- GG, 12:38:40 02/27/04 Fri (62.254.32.5)

you can tell a Joss Whedon ep a mile away...the directing, the dialogue, the whole just screams of his craftmanship.

Fred has never been a big favorite of mine, for most of the same reasons the Kuzibah put above. But Wes' grief was the deciding factor that made this ep for me. I hurt cuz he hurt (gag, shades of Buffy talking about Riley, gag), not cuz I really cared that Fred died.

All in all a great ep.


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