r/ANGEL • u/Unhappy-Rope-709 • 5d ago
Content Warning S1E17 Eternity
Just saw this last night on a rewatch after 20 years, and as fun as the episode is, and as immense as Boreanaz is as Angelus, I can’t help feeling the premise was very silly.
A drug should not be enough to bring out Angelus’ true homicidal self because unlike Angelus, Angel in this episode still has a soul completely intact so the curse isn’t actually broken at all.
Even high, Angel should not logically become a homicidal maniac again. Now it’s clear the writers wanted to showcase Boreanaz as Angelus, but I think they could have been so much smarter. The drug could have brought up the tormenting, mocking side of Angelus where he threatens murder but holds back because he still has a soul. A sort of Angel/Angelus hybrid. This makes far more sense as we know the demon is still within him and a drug is known to greatly lower inhibitions. The fact that Angel with a soul and centuries of homicidal regret would still consciously resort to being that thing he despises just didn’t add up to me. Immensely fun though…
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u/Illustrious-Lemon412 5d ago
Unfortunately, that wasn't Angelus, who is simply a vampire without a soul. That was Angel, the doximall brought out his more aggressive side. Even though Angel has a soul, he is still a vampire, his instincts drive him to be an arrogant, aggressive predator. His soul is the only thing keeping him in check, yet it remains a struggle. In fact, in "Eternity," Wesley acknowledges this truth when he tells Angel, "You're walking a very fine line."
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u/JayoTree 4d ago
I've always liked this episode, i was surprised when seeing its reputation online is pretty low. Angel and the actress, i forget her name, had great chemistry, and her reason for wanting to be a vampire was very believable. Good characters, good story, i thought it was a great standalone.
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u/Salty-Enthusiasm-939 5d ago
I think they were going with the drug high giving him a moment of pure happiness hence losing the soul again
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u/Unhappy-Rope-709 5d ago
But he didn’t, because if he had done there’s no logical reason it would be undone, just as it wasn’t in S2 without some powerful magic.
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u/DaddyCatALSO 4d ago
Mos tlogical fanwank i've heard is he was feeling so good he stoipped consciously suppressing angelus and thta conscious suppression is part of keeping that instinct down
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u/Salty-Enthusiasm-939 5d ago
I don't think logic really applies here 🤣
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u/Unhappy-Rope-709 5d ago
Of course, I hear you, but obviously I’m speaking in terms of the lore and what takes you out of the story.
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u/Brodes87 5d ago
He still has his soul. He doesn't lose it. He's drugged with something that imitates bliss. It's like a party drug, so he loses his inhibitions and gives in to base impulses (which as a vampire is still to feed and kill. and torture because of the Angelus of it all). This is a series where Angel has a powerful photographic memory exactly one time, so keep in mind consistency isn't the goal here.
(This also feels like a question from someone who has never gotten drunk or taken drugs for fun.)
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u/Unhappy-Rope-709 4d ago
What a silly, ad hominem thing to say at the end. Why are some people like this online?
Of course I have, but lowered inhibitions does not bury every single sense of morality a person has. You should know this as a very experienced drug and alcohol consumer. I’d hate to see you on drugs and alcohol if that’s not the case. I explained that in the post above 😏
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u/Brodes87 4d ago
It's magic, kiddo. That's what it is, ultimately. So there you go. Magic isn't real. It can do whatever they want it to.
Also, because that's what the writers wanted. The wanted to write Angelus, but without it being damaging.
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u/DaddyCatALSO 4d ago
He was flyin' on an antidepressant and it made him lose at least verbal control.
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u/Unhappy-Rope-709 4d ago
Exactly - i would expect a complete loss of inhibitions and for the tormenting, mocking side of Angelus to come out where he toys with murder but actually laughingly says “I’m not going to kill you” or similar.
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u/YozoraBellossomHeart 2d ago
The premise is silly. I just try to ignore it because I like the episode a lot. But it's complete bollocks.
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u/Unhappy-Rope-709 1d ago
Yes, felt the exact same. They could have been quite clever about it, but it was still immense fun
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u/Creative-Use-7665 1d ago
Without inhibitions, Angel is Angelus....
Inhibitions and guilt, are what separate Angel from his evil self.
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