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Angel

Angel 5x22 Not Fade Away - Fanboyplanet.com Review

Monday 24 May 2004, by Webmaster

The finale is a good reflection of the season overall: There’s a lot of good stuff and a few disappointments, the whole thing feels too rushed, and the viewer is left wanting more.

The episode picks up right from last week’s hand raising session. Joining the team intending to prune the Black Thorn are a recovering Illyria and a pragmatic Lindsey. Each has a specific mission, though viewers only get to see bits and pieces.

Here one really wishes Joss Whedon could have backed off his “I don’t do two hour finales” stance. Many good scenes are cut way too short, and fans don’t even get to see Illyria carry out her mission (and very little of Spike’s). Though unintended (there are realities of budgets and schedules), it’s a cruel way to reward fans who have gone to great lengths to save the show.

Before heading off for what may be the last battle, Angel also encourages the team to take the day off to appreciate life. These scenes provide good balance and build-up to the inevitable action. Even VK as Connor manages to be more palatable than usual.

There are only two scenes in the episode that really miss the mark. One involves Angel’s decision regarding the Shanshu Prophecy. His action too easily dismisses what was the earliest foundation for the show.

The second one involves the final scene between Wes and Illyria. It seems inconsistent with Wes’ character development for him to choose “the illusion” even at that critical moment. Far better is the earlier scene between the two during the day off.

The climactic mission scenes are enjoyable, but as stated earlier, way too short. It is especially nice to see Angel use his wits as well as his fists. And his exchanges with Hamilton and Harmony are especially amusing.

As for the final scene? It’s open ended nature may not please a lot of viewers. But that is probably preferable to the writers trying to rush the ending any more than they were already forced to by “Your Friends At The WB.”

Season Five rocked. Season Six might have rocked, too. Or maybe not. Sadly, we’ll never know. But there is also something to be said for “quitting while you’re ahead.” Still, a few more episodes to give the writers more time to wrap-up the series would have been nice.

I’ll miss Angel both as a fan and as a reviewer. So thanks to Joss Whedon and company, and thanks to my readers.


6 Forum messages

  • > Angel 5x22 Not Fade Away - Fanboyplanet.com Review

    25 May 2004 05:04, by AngelusSax

    I thought of something concerning that Shanshu prophecy. At first, I was surprised Angel would so easily sign it away. Given the rushed ending they were pretty much forced into, though, I simply shrugged it off. But loopholes are fun: What if Angel didn’t sign it away at all? His human name was Liam, not Angel. So maybe he technically never signed anything away, even though he thought he did, as well as the entire Circle of Black Thorn? It gives fanfic writers something to think about, anyway. :)

    I did want to see longer fights with all the missions. But again, they were forced into this, and the whole "Don’t do 2-hour finales" stance didn’t help. Incidentally, does that stance apply to series finales only? Because The Buffy season 6 finale was 2 hours. Or was that the work of Marti Noxon?

  • > Angel 5x22 Not Fade Away - Fanboyplanet.com Review

    25 May 2004 07:03, by Anonymous

    I agree with most of the review. Though I have to strongly disagree with the author’s assessment of the final scene between Wes and Illyria. The man is dying within minutes and he forsook his wishes during his "last day on earth" beforehand. What exactly is there left to hold onto in those final few moments of your life? How is that inconsistent when Fred was his reason for living?

    The scene somewhat reminds me of the Buffy ep "Lie to Me," at least it’s ending when Buffy asks Giles to do just that about growing up as they’re leaving the graveyard after dusts vamp Ford. It also reminds me of what Wes himself tells Illyria at the end of Origin: "Try to push reality out of your head. Focus on the other memories, they were created for a reason." Illyria: "To hide from the truth?" Wes: "To endure it."

    There’s nothing left for him to live for and in Wes’s last moments on Earth, he and Illyria share the ultimate lie, that they’ll (Wes and Fred) be together forever in the hereafter. And I personally believe Illyria wants to engage him in this not only because she wishes to explore her humanity more, but because in that moment not only is she losing her only friend, but she’s losing the only person she loves. If she hasn’t already, she clearly has fallen for him on some level. I think it’s intentionally left unclear if it’s romantic (though you could make a strong case that it is), her tears for him are real. And to be honest, this may be the first person/entity she’s ever loved. What she does to Vail and admitting to the controllable grief she’s feeling in the alley in the last scene seem to be the clincher.

  • > Angel 5x22 Not Fade Away - Fanboyplanet.com Review

    25 May 2004 15:21, by Crow T. Robot

    I agree with some of the review. I too felt it was rushed because.. well... it was. However, I have to point out a couple things...

    1. I think the fact that Wes chose to have the illusion in the end was done on purpose and says A LOT about his character. Yes, he has grown up a lot and gotten a lot stronger and secure, BUT in the end when it really matters, he is obviously not as strong and logical as he likes to come across. It is pretty sad actually and reeks of an unfulfilled life. Poor Wes :(

    2. Signing away the Sanshu - There is a much easier explanation to this. They actually came right out and said it in the episode - Angel learned that true immortality comes from having children. As long as Connor is okay, W&H haven’t won.

    Just my two cents :)

  • Missed the mark, the wesley death?? I don’t think so.

    26 May 2004 00:35, by JM

    I agree with the rushed finale theory, but I knew it would be this way... However, my favorite scene was the Wesley/Iryllia/ Fred scenes... And as for Wesley accepting the lie, I thought it was brilliant. When you have your life to live, the lie will have repercussions much later on, but since he is about to die, why not accept the lie and die happy.

    This should have been a 2-hour finale, but this really shows how much the "wb friends" really appreciate the show.

  • > Angel 5x22 Not Fade Away - Fanboyplanet.com Review

    27 May 2004 02:45, by a fan

    I disagree with the author’s assessment of the Angel/Shanshu scene and the Wes/Illyria-Fred scene. 1. about the Angel and shanshu part, did the author fall asleep during Angel’s conversation with Lindsey? Angel clearly cares more about doing good and helping the world than he does himself, hence his reaction to Linsdey asking if he was okay with being cut down "You haven’t heard a word i’ve said...for like, years back" was his reply. So, while it was a dramatic scene when Angel signed away his chance at mortality, i feel it was consistent with his character 2. about the Wes/Illyria-Fred scene, this also does make a kind of sense. Wes always did what he felt was right, and while he has done a lot of good, it has always been at a high cost to himself. He desperately wanted to be with Fred again, but he couldn’t live with himself if he allowed himself to believe a lie. So if he knows he’s going to die, why not at least let himself believe he was happy, i’m pretty sure he’s earned it.

    jus my opinion...oh and by the way, it’s really annoying when reviewers use phrases like "the audience feels" or "the viewers believe". You don’t know people’s reaction to every scene. I can’t speak for everyone, but I read reviews to hear other people’s opinion and to hear what they think. not to hear them tell me what i think.

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  • > Angel 5x22 Not Fade Away - Fanboyplanet.com Review

    13 June 2004 00:13, by frozenpiper2a
    I’m not sure if anyone else noticed but the signature that Angel signed on the Shanshue Prophecy was not same one he usually signs and he told Connor that he has nice handwriting. The signature on the Prophecy is very messy. So did he really sign away the prophecy. Also I do believe he realized that he could live on because of Connor.