moscow_watcher (
moscow_watcher) wrote2007-11-25 07:20 pm
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Angel: AtF issue 1 summary and analysis
Angel: AtF issue 1 summary and analysis
Summary:
"It all started with a girl."
Season 6 starts with Angel saving a girl. In Hell. Or, rather, in Los-Angeles that has been sent to Hell. On the first panels Angel seems to be "back to the beginning" - he is a lonely hero who helps the helpless. But the more we find out the creepier it becomes.
The girl is a former lawyer who has now turned into a looter (people adapt quickly). Angel and his friend the dragon patrol the city and try to save the remaining people. Angel gives the girl the car and the address of safe place. But he prefers to stay anonimous. Because he blames himself for LA's current chaos. "I tood a stand. Wolfram and Hart has sent an army. There were losses on both sides. And then Wolfram and Hart sent Los-Angeles to Hell".
LA has been divided into zones where different demon lords rule. The majority of humans are their slaves. Sun and moon are on the sky day and night. The sun doesn't hurt vampires. The moon influences werewolves in a weird way. The remains of human resistance, including Nina and Gwen, have a headquarters in a hotel in Santa-Monica. Their leader is Connor.
Ghost!Wesley inherited Lylah's position of Senior Partners's representative on this plane. He tries to play the peacemaker between Angel and the demon lord whose minions Angel has killed. In one of the funniest and the creepiest twists Wesley assures the demon lord that Angel will be punished: he will be grounded and Wesley will "take away his TV privileges".
Obviously, SP still have plans for Angel. The plans may have something to do with a mysterious orb. There is a drawing of the orb at the wall of Angel's office. And on the next panel we see the identical orb embedded in the chest of a blue slimy demon who proclaims himself the lord of Westwood. A group of creatures who look like humans attack the demon and get the orb. "Yay team Gunn!" their leader proclaims. So, Gunn is fighting the forces of darkness again? Not exactly: the last panels reveals that he's a vampire and he feeds on the girl-slave from demon's harem.
Analysis:
Pre-cyberpank dystopian traditions usually depicted two versions of Hell. The first, mostly represented by European authors (Kafka, Orwell, "Brazilia" 's Terry Gilliam) explored bureaucratic dictatorships thwarthing an individual through paperwork and red tape. The second, very popular in Hollywood (Escape From New York, Escape From Los Angeles as well as countless B-movies), plunged poor humanity into chaos, anarchy and barbarism.
The originality of Angel: After the Fall lies in choosing the third way. Or, rather, paradoxically combining the first two. There is chaos, anarchy and barbarism in Hell - but bureaucracy still has the last word in every wrangle. And - it's very realistic. (Believe me. I lived in Soviet Union the first 30 years of my life)
Another radical change in season 6 is the total absence of humans in the regular cast. Angel, Spike and now Gunn are vampires. Wesley is a ghost. Illyria is a God. Nina is a werewolf. Gwen and Connor have superpowers. The battle for humanity is waged by non-humans. Humans are just extras in the war of superhuman beings.
Or so it seems. Judging by occasional leaks by actors and writers, Angel: AtF is Joss Whedon's "plan A" for season 6. And Joss has always been blatantly, glaringly antropocentric. Either the team Whedon/Lynch have some unexpected aces in their proverbial sleeves or... or Joss' worldview has changed.
And here I approach a theme that may be even more volatile than Spuffy/Bangel wars so I beg you not to throw stones at me.
The set-up - how would you behave in Hell? - is a sore point for modern America. Because in current political situation liberalism doesn't work. Liberalism is unable to defend the world against terrorism. When it's kill or be killed, you kill. You can't be kind in the world where cruelty is strength. You can't allow the luxury to be noble in the world where the noblesse is regarded as weakness and will kill you and your friends.
Do you remember the scene in "You're Welcome":
ANGEL What's a code 7, Eve?
EVE I don't know. (Cordelia glares at her) Seriously.
CORDELIA OK, this is getting us nowhere. Angel, torture her.
[...]
ANGEL I can't just... torture her.
FRED He's right, Cordy. If we sink to their level—
This is Cordelia, Angel' moral compass. A woman whose body and mind had been raped by demons and gods who used her "for the greater good" and killed her. Unlike Angel, she knows she's already dead and this is her last chance to do something worthy. Unlike Angel, she doesn't have any illusions anymore.
Obviously, a year later Angel also doesn't have any illusions. "Cavemen win. Of course the cavemen win," said Fred in AHITW before she died, thus destroying Angel's argumentation in favor of the astronauts. To win you have to be a caveman. To sink to their level. And Angel can. He can be ruthless, cunning, dangerous. He can unleash his inner Angelus.
Now, I know that Joss has always been a diehard liberal. But, judging by the dilemmas his characters face in Serenity and AtS season 5, lately he is ready to explore the opposite viewpoint and, probably, accept some ideas. So, one of the most compelling aspects of Angel: AtF is exploration of the hard choices Western society faces today. Genre gives the chance avoid the trap of political correctness, inevitable in case of realistic stories (as happensin the current batch of political movies - Rendition, Lions for Lambs etc. about torturing the prisoners and sending people to death). Genre stories can tell unpleasant truths more openly. Hopefully Joss Whedon and Brian Lynch won't miss the chance.
Brian Lynch seems to be Joss' perfect accomplice in this risky and dangerous adventure. His Spike comics revealed subversive mentality, gallows humor and ability to think out-of-the-box. His current issue of Angel has great narrative twists and sharp dialogs. Here are small tasty bits and and pieces I loved the most:
-- Urru's art. Bleak grungy visuals evoke the mood of "Escape from New York", "Mad Max Beyond the Thunderdome" and other post-apocalyptic classics.
-- Angel + Dracon = Drangel Forever! (Seriously. Great idea. Two mythical creatures patrolling a desolate ruined city... awww!)
-- Parasite that heals Angel. "If it was used to heal, mutate, murder..." The idea of using a murder weapon as a healing tool may be foreshadowing of future means of saving the day.
-- The fact that there are both humans and demons in Connor's team is very interesting, especially given the inventiveness in their depiction (the guy with a tentacle growing from his gut is creepy).
-- The first demons we see have wings. Wings + tail = sinister and paradoxically funny.
-- The "ART" piece of "Wolfram and Hart" logo is priceless.
Some spoilery speculations.

This panel of Spike Shadow Puppets was spoilery, after all: Spoiler!Wesley's skin color suggested that he'll be back in undead state. So I suppose the rest of puppet stuff could be spoilery too. Illyria may split into Illyria and Fred; still don't know what to think about two Gunns.
The barrier Angel mentions is confusing. If they're in a different dimension, why do SP need a barrier? Maybe LA is still on Earth?
I wonder what triggered Angel's decision to start the war at this particular moment. Judging by Connor's mention of hundreds of cars with dragon claws in their backyard, Angel continued to help humans at least several months without starting a war. Why now? Was is the decrease of the supplies? Parasite's poison? Wesley taking away his TV privileges?
It would be neat if the girl Angel saves on the first panel possesses some knowledge or artefact crucial for breaking the barrier. This way "It all started with a girl" would sound deliciously ambivalent in hindsight.
To sum it up:
Issue #1 looks and sounds very promising and may establish a new tradition: to make season 6 the most compelling and controversial season of any Joss-related show.
Summary:
"It all started with a girl."
Season 6 starts with Angel saving a girl. In Hell. Or, rather, in Los-Angeles that has been sent to Hell. On the first panels Angel seems to be "back to the beginning" - he is a lonely hero who helps the helpless. But the more we find out the creepier it becomes.
The girl is a former lawyer who has now turned into a looter (people adapt quickly). Angel and his friend the dragon patrol the city and try to save the remaining people. Angel gives the girl the car and the address of safe place. But he prefers to stay anonimous. Because he blames himself for LA's current chaos. "I tood a stand. Wolfram and Hart has sent an army. There were losses on both sides. And then Wolfram and Hart sent Los-Angeles to Hell".
LA has been divided into zones where different demon lords rule. The majority of humans are their slaves. Sun and moon are on the sky day and night. The sun doesn't hurt vampires. The moon influences werewolves in a weird way. The remains of human resistance, including Nina and Gwen, have a headquarters in a hotel in Santa-Monica. Their leader is Connor.
Ghost!Wesley inherited Lylah's position of Senior Partners's representative on this plane. He tries to play the peacemaker between Angel and the demon lord whose minions Angel has killed. In one of the funniest and the creepiest twists Wesley assures the demon lord that Angel will be punished: he will be grounded and Wesley will "take away his TV privileges".
Obviously, SP still have plans for Angel. The plans may have something to do with a mysterious orb. There is a drawing of the orb at the wall of Angel's office. And on the next panel we see the identical orb embedded in the chest of a blue slimy demon who proclaims himself the lord of Westwood. A group of creatures who look like humans attack the demon and get the orb. "Yay team Gunn!" their leader proclaims. So, Gunn is fighting the forces of darkness again? Not exactly: the last panels reveals that he's a vampire and he feeds on the girl-slave from demon's harem.
Analysis:
Pre-cyberpank dystopian traditions usually depicted two versions of Hell. The first, mostly represented by European authors (Kafka, Orwell, "Brazilia" 's Terry Gilliam) explored bureaucratic dictatorships thwarthing an individual through paperwork and red tape. The second, very popular in Hollywood (Escape From New York, Escape From Los Angeles as well as countless B-movies), plunged poor humanity into chaos, anarchy and barbarism.
The originality of Angel: After the Fall lies in choosing the third way. Or, rather, paradoxically combining the first two. There is chaos, anarchy and barbarism in Hell - but bureaucracy still has the last word in every wrangle. And - it's very realistic. (Believe me. I lived in Soviet Union the first 30 years of my life)
Another radical change in season 6 is the total absence of humans in the regular cast. Angel, Spike and now Gunn are vampires. Wesley is a ghost. Illyria is a God. Nina is a werewolf. Gwen and Connor have superpowers. The battle for humanity is waged by non-humans. Humans are just extras in the war of superhuman beings.
Or so it seems. Judging by occasional leaks by actors and writers, Angel: AtF is Joss Whedon's "plan A" for season 6. And Joss has always been blatantly, glaringly antropocentric. Either the team Whedon/Lynch have some unexpected aces in their proverbial sleeves or... or Joss' worldview has changed.
And here I approach a theme that may be even more volatile than Spuffy/Bangel wars so I beg you not to throw stones at me.
The set-up - how would you behave in Hell? - is a sore point for modern America. Because in current political situation liberalism doesn't work. Liberalism is unable to defend the world against terrorism. When it's kill or be killed, you kill. You can't be kind in the world where cruelty is strength. You can't allow the luxury to be noble in the world where the noblesse is regarded as weakness and will kill you and your friends.
Do you remember the scene in "You're Welcome":
ANGEL What's a code 7, Eve?
EVE I don't know. (Cordelia glares at her) Seriously.
CORDELIA OK, this is getting us nowhere. Angel, torture her.
[...]
ANGEL I can't just... torture her.
FRED He's right, Cordy. If we sink to their level—
This is Cordelia, Angel' moral compass. A woman whose body and mind had been raped by demons and gods who used her "for the greater good" and killed her. Unlike Angel, she knows she's already dead and this is her last chance to do something worthy. Unlike Angel, she doesn't have any illusions anymore.
Obviously, a year later Angel also doesn't have any illusions. "Cavemen win. Of course the cavemen win," said Fred in AHITW before she died, thus destroying Angel's argumentation in favor of the astronauts. To win you have to be a caveman. To sink to their level. And Angel can. He can be ruthless, cunning, dangerous. He can unleash his inner Angelus.
Now, I know that Joss has always been a diehard liberal. But, judging by the dilemmas his characters face in Serenity and AtS season 5, lately he is ready to explore the opposite viewpoint and, probably, accept some ideas. So, one of the most compelling aspects of Angel: AtF is exploration of the hard choices Western society faces today. Genre gives the chance avoid the trap of political correctness, inevitable in case of realistic stories (as happensin the current batch of political movies - Rendition, Lions for Lambs etc. about torturing the prisoners and sending people to death). Genre stories can tell unpleasant truths more openly. Hopefully Joss Whedon and Brian Lynch won't miss the chance.
Brian Lynch seems to be Joss' perfect accomplice in this risky and dangerous adventure. His Spike comics revealed subversive mentality, gallows humor and ability to think out-of-the-box. His current issue of Angel has great narrative twists and sharp dialogs. Here are small tasty bits and and pieces I loved the most:
-- Urru's art. Bleak grungy visuals evoke the mood of "Escape from New York", "Mad Max Beyond the Thunderdome" and other post-apocalyptic classics.
-- Angel + Dracon = Drangel Forever! (Seriously. Great idea. Two mythical creatures patrolling a desolate ruined city... awww!)
-- Parasite that heals Angel. "If it was used to heal, mutate, murder..." The idea of using a murder weapon as a healing tool may be foreshadowing of future means of saving the day.
-- The fact that there are both humans and demons in Connor's team is very interesting, especially given the inventiveness in their depiction (the guy with a tentacle growing from his gut is creepy).
-- The first demons we see have wings. Wings + tail = sinister and paradoxically funny.
-- The "ART" piece of "Wolfram and Hart" logo is priceless.
Some spoilery speculations.

This panel of Spike Shadow Puppets was spoilery, after all: Spoiler!Wesley's skin color suggested that he'll be back in undead state. So I suppose the rest of puppet stuff could be spoilery too. Illyria may split into Illyria and Fred; still don't know what to think about two Gunns.
The barrier Angel mentions is confusing. If they're in a different dimension, why do SP need a barrier? Maybe LA is still on Earth?
I wonder what triggered Angel's decision to start the war at this particular moment. Judging by Connor's mention of hundreds of cars with dragon claws in their backyard, Angel continued to help humans at least several months without starting a war. Why now? Was is the decrease of the supplies? Parasite's poison? Wesley taking away his TV privileges?
It would be neat if the girl Angel saves on the first panel possesses some knowledge or artefact crucial for breaking the barrier. This way "It all started with a girl" would sound deliciously ambivalent in hindsight.
To sum it up:
Issue #1 looks and sounds very promising and may establish a new tradition: to make season 6 the most compelling and controversial season of any Joss-related show.
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Ok sorry gotta go now, my friend has arrived. So much to talk about in future issues
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Well put! I didn't recognize it before, but you're absolutely right. And it is very realistic - perhaps moreso than either tradition on its own.
The set-up - how would you behave in Hell? - is a sore point for modern America.
Indeed it is, and I am looking forward to seeing how Whedon and Lynch tackle these kinds of important and relevant questions.
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Хотя, описания почитать можно.
С нетерпением жду Buffy 8.09. :)
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I sincerely hope you will analyze future episodes of A:ATF, as well. This was thought-provoking and deeper than much of what I've read thus far on the issue.
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Thank you so much for saying this. It's what I've felt ever since BtVS Season 7, that something very intrinsic about the overall attitude of the universe had been altered. For better or worse, it does seem a reflection of the post-9/11 American mindset (S7 Buffy's ticking timebomb-esque nation-under-siege plotline and desperate-times-require-desperate-measures attitude had a lot more in common with the likes of 24 than I would have previously expected from someone of Joss's political leanings). I've never been able to see the end of AtS as a fabulous example of Angel at his most heroic - the carnage he was set to unleash in the name of good was not a simple case of Good vs. Evil, but far more complex and gray, if not outright black, if you judge by results instead of intentions. Perhaps we're lucky that it's been a few years - if the first issue is any indication, we might be in for some good nuance on this topic which, as you say, is an extremely sensitive subject.
The originality of Angel: After the Fall lies in choosing the third way. Or, rather, paradoxically combining the first two. There is chaos, anarchy and barbarism in Hell - but bureaucracy still has the last word in every wrangle.
Great observation! Although I am finding a little similarity here to some post-apocalypse stories, where a vestige of civilization is struggling to survive or build anew in a barren, hostile environment - the wrinkle here seems to be that Wolfram & Hart's beauracracy is the vestige of civilization, because once-normal humanity seems well on the road to becoming part of the chaos (the "warriors" in the arena). Which, now that I think about it, makes Connor's multi-species gang sort of symbolic of that fusion.
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The themes of "kill or be killed" are certainly very strong in both S6 and S8. Our heros are still struggling with what it means to be on the side of right--which is an even more interesting question now that the scope of their fights has broadened for both Buffy and Angel.
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I’m not sure what you mean by this both in the sense of whether it’s ‘political correctness’ rather than straightforwardly divergent opinions on the efficacy of torture that drives the message of these movies or why genre is more suited to putting the conservative view. Does 24 count as genre (because that series is openly pro-torture)?
The set-up - how would you behave in Hell? - is a sore point for modern America. Because in current political situation liberalism doesn't work. Liberalism is unable to defend the world against terrorism. When it's kill or be killed, you kill. You can't be kind in the world where cruelty is strength. You can't allow the luxury to be noble in the world where the noblesse is regarded as weakness and will kill you and your friends….
…To win you have to be a caveman. To sink to their level. And Angel can. He can be ruthless, cunning, dangerous. He can unleash his inner Angelus.
Angel unleashed his vampire self in the fight with Hamilton and look where it got him and the rest of LA. When it's kill or be killed, you kill and everybody dies. If anything the current direction of the story looks like a condemnation of pro-active aggressive policies against evil (and terrorism) being as they are directly analogous to Angel’s plan to take out the Black Thorn.
It would be neat if the girl Angel saves on the first panel possesses some knowledge or artefact crucial for breaking the barrier. This way "It all started with a girl" would sound deliciously ambivalent in hindsight.
It was all too ambivalent for many people as it was given all the confusion about which girl. I can’t help thinking it would have been neater and more subversive to begin with “It all started with a boy.” It was Connor that got Angel into the whole W& H deal in the first place not any girl.
Angel + Dragon = Drangel Forever!
I could take the dragon better if its introduction had been less detailed. The only way I can see Angel and the dragon figuring out they were on the same side two minutes into a fight involves much signaling of eyes. Sometimes less is more.
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Also my original reading of NFA was that it was a very anti-liberal message, even a neocon message. But later I saw they were careful enough to muddle it up and balance it sufficiently, to avoid tying it into one of the political sides. Still I think the sentiment during NFA was more anti-liberal than liberal. But now the situation is different as USA and the world are dealing with the results of hard-core approach to the war on terror - which are not pretty. I think Angel-6 will be more ambiguous and more hesitant to take a side. Already it seems to deal with the fall-out of a war or a revolution which often ends in chaos, barbarism and the rule of the strongest and the most devoid of morals.
The observation that our Champions for humanity are now devoid of humanity is a very astute one. Where would that lead? Would they try to get in touch with their humanity again in the series? Maybe Angel, Spike and Gunn all shanshue in the end? Also demons and humans forming an alliance was often a topic on AtS, where demons stood in for various cultures and not for innter demons. Here we also have Betta George which is a clearly benevolent demon too. Woudl be interesting where they will go with it.
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