From the outset of learning that Angel is a vampire in Season 1, we find out that he's different, he's special -- he's a Vampire With A Soul. I don't think that there's any dispute that this was first and foremost to make it clear that he wasn't secretly a bad guy and that the audience should embrace him.
In later seasons, while the Buffyverse expanded, it became clear that Joss didn't like characters morally pigeon-holed as a 1 or a 0 based on having a soul. See Season 4, 5, and 6 Spike, Angel Season 5 Harmony, Warren Meers, Knox, Lindsey and Lilah, Willow, Wesley, Anya, etc.
Yet Angel is usually still held out as a "1" or a "0" by fans, depending on whether he had a soul.
Do you think that if Joss had it to do over again, he'd have just fought through the audience's possible hesitance and established Angel as just a vampire with a conscience? Just fonder of humanity and having made a decision to reject evil impulses?
What kind of effect do you think that mythological change would have had throughout the series?
In later seasons, while the Buffyverse expanded, it became clear that Joss didn't like characters morally pigeon-holed as a 1 or a 0 based on having a soul. See Season 4, 5, and 6 Spike, Angel Season 5 Harmony, Warren Meers, Knox, Lindsey and Lilah, Willow, Wesley, Anya, etc.
Yet Angel is usually still held out as a "1" or a "0" by fans, depending on whether he had a soul.
Do you think that if Joss had it to do over again, he'd have just fought through the audience's possible hesitance and established Angel as just a vampire with a conscience? Just fonder of humanity and having made a decision to reject evil impulses?
What kind of effect do you think that mythological change would have had throughout the series?
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