Did anyone else do a little dance of joy when they heard that Joss Whedon is returning to TV with his new series Dollhouse? Television is just better when it offers a weekly dose of Whedon.
Of course, the great thing about a Whedon show is it never really goes away. Firefly, of course, was made into a major motion picture, and Buffy was reborn as an excellent comic book. Today, Angel joins the ranks of Whedon Series That Will Not Die when its own comic book is released by IDW Publishing. Apparently, it’s damn hard to kill a vampire.
Now, I’m going to buy it. I know that. Like the Buffy comic, it’s written and supervised by Whedon, and I am Whedon’s bitch. It’s just that I’m not immediately thrilled with the idea of a season 6. Unlike Buffy, which floundered about for its final two seasons, making the comic book a welcome return to form, Angel ended, I thought, exactly as it ought to (spoilers ahead for the series finale, so look away now if you still plan to watch them on DVD).
I know some people weren’t crazy about the ending, as they felt it should have provided more resolution for the titular character, but I thought it was spot-on. After several lifetimes spent trying to atone for various blood-sucking misdeeds, it was clear he’d never truly be at peace. The most he could hope for was to go out swinging. And, standing in that narrow alley, flanked by those who had made the same choice as an immense Army of Evil marched upon them, he got that chance. Between Buffy and Angel, he’d had seven seasons of trying to be the white knight and consistently falling short of that goal (perhaps it was all the black leather he wore instead of armor). But he got to end the series literally swinging his sword while declaring, “Personally? I kind of want to slay the dragon.” I don’t think we need to look too far for the symbolism there. He probably won’t live through the fight, but he’s going to be a hero in his final battle. It was a dark and dirty ending, and god knows I love dark and dirty.
But now we learn it wasn’t his final battle. I don’t know that it changes the perfection of that final scene, but it certainly doesn’t add to it, either. This better be a damn good comic book, is all I’m saying.
What do you think? Will you follow Angel to a sixth season, or should the series have ended with that bit of dragon-slaying?
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November 21st, 2007 at 9:55 am
I’ll be buying it I think. I’m not as desperate as I was when Buffy came out, but I’m interested to see where it goes. It’s been a while since I watched Angel (though I am toying with getting the whole series boxset), but I did enjoy it. I think I was a bit annoyed with the last episode, because it wasn’t supposed to end that way, if I’m remembering right. Fox(?) cancelled it. That ending should just have been the cliffhanger to hold us over to the next season, but we didn’t get that season, so I’m very happy to see what Joss had planned for Tall Dark and Forehead. As long as he’s kick ass and not mopey. And if Spike is about, even better.