Angel 1-29-03 (Spoilers)

[John Crichton]

Spoilers about this episode







I was thinking about the point which Angel loses his soul. He defeats, the beast, his friends made up (Gunn and Wes), and Cordy professes her love. None of that was good enough. The second he "enters" Cordy, BAM, his sould is removed. Now is it sex that removes the curse, or happiness and if it is happiness, is Joss saying men are only truely happy during sex?

I think the curse is broken by a moment of pure/true happiness. Intercourse and the following orgasmic response with someone he loves and cares for could be viewed as one way to achieve this state. If you recall, he also reverted back to Angelus for a bit when he was slipped some mind-altering drugs a few seasons back. I'm not sure if that qualifies as true happiness because it didn't break the curse, just went around it and brought out Angelus for a bit.

But sex is one sure-fire way to hit that moment of happiness in both body and mind. That may be what Joss means.

Edit: Also recall that he did not revert after sex with Darla. He didn't love her so it wasn't true or pure happiness, just lust.

 

[Cor Azer]

Mayhaps I'm dreaming...

I don't have a tape of the episode anymore, but I did watch it on tape, and my brother pointed something out to me. At the moment Angel begins to lose his soul in his dream, it sounds like he says "Buffy" just before rolling over onto his back (or thereabouts).

Did we imagine that, or did anybody else notice it?

Gig

 

[Kid Charlemagne]

Re: Mayhaps I'm dreaming...

I don't have a tape of the episode anymore, but I did watch it on tape, and my brother pointed something out to me. At the moment Angel begins to lose his soul in his dream, it sounds like he says "Buffy" just before rolling over onto his back (or thereabouts).

Did we imagine that, or did anybody else notice it?

I noticed it. BTW, I agree with John Crichton, that sex is not the only way, but probably the easiest way to hit that "moment of true happiness" - remember it's only a moment that's required.

 

[ToddSchumacher]

You heard correctly...he did, indeed, say Buffy.


Interesting no?

 

[John Crichton]

I must have missed it, darn. I just deleted it off my TiVo, too. Grrr. Is it clear or could it have been "Cordy?" I'm just asking cuz if mumbled the 2 could sound similar...

 

[Welverin]

I think the curse is broken by a moment of pure/true happiness.

Unless I'm grossly misremebeting it, that was explicitly stated. When it comes to the last episode I say it worked out that way because in his dream with everything working out ideally combined with how the original curse was broken it makes sense he would imagine sex to be the trigger.

 

[John Crichton]

Unless I'm grossly misremebeting it, that was explicitly stated. When it comes to the last episode I say it worked out that way because in his dream with everything working out ideally combined with how the original curse was broken it makes sense he would imagine sex to be the trigger.

I couldn't remember the exact phrasing of the curse either so I threw an "I think" in there just to make sure.

I was thinking the same thing about Angel's first time breaking the curse. It just makes sense for it to play out that way in his head.

 

[Staffan]

I was pretty sure from the start of the episode that the spell *did* work and that the Chinese mystic was in league with the Beast, and that it was all a plot to bring forth Angelus. Then the mystic killed himself so he couldn't be forced to return the soul, and Angelus played at being Angel to trick the Angelettes into trusting him.

Glad that the twist wasn't what I thought it would be