Angel: The Series Finale
by Summer Brooks
The wrap-up conceived for the series was perfectly done, given the amount of time they had to devise a real ending. Thanking the WB execs for giving them enough advance notice about cancellation to end it right is probably the only concession we fans can give them.
The final season was about power and how to use that power to "fight the good fight," from our heroes being given control of Wolfram & Hart's LA office to use as they see fit, to them realizing that even with all that power at hand they are still unable to even begin to save everyone, to the final realization that the gift of that power was only to serve in distracting them from doing anything to fight the Apocalypse that had already begun.
The last two episodes spelled that out plainly, as we find out that Cordelia's final vision was a gift to show Angel who the real enemy was; that Illyria's observation "to win a war, serve no master but your ambition" was a catalyst to refocus him on the big target; and finally to understand that no matter what champions do, evil cannot be defeated forever. But this time, they would have one chance to break it's influence on Earth for a time, knowing ahead of time that the fight would cost all of them their lives... and they still choose to fight.
Next fall, as I listlessly flip through the channels in search of something decent to watch, I will miss Joss Whedon's writing dearly, and the depth and darkness he always managed to sneak up on us with in his stories. But at least we'll always have the DVDs.
Be sure to check out City Of Angel for detailed episode summaries and reviews, as well as season reviews.
May 26, 2004
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