i am mostly indifferent, occasionally amused, often endeared, but also often annoyed by Angel.
He’s often paternalistic in that good sense; he does look out for people, needs to feel that he’s done right by people at the end of the day, and is open-minded towards society’s rejects (it’s actually perfect his BFFs by the end of ATS S1 are Wesley and Cordy, the two characters who were also often antagonistic pals to the BTVS crew).
He’s paternalistic is the ugh sense too; although everyone no matter what you ship or who you like experiences heartbreak at their break up in The Prom, it comes from a place of paternalistic “I’m doing this for your own good” that while seeming well-intended (and ultimately i think the right choice for everyone), illustrates that this is not really a relationship of equals? I don’t think Angel sees/saw Buffy as his equal ever; someone he did admire in a lot of ways, and often respected but not on his level and ultimatley something to be protected, a cause, a statement, not partner.
It’s an interesting, but much less tolerable dissonance. I don’t hate him really, but am often frustrated by the going-over-your-headness. He is (often inadverently) funny as fuck sometimes tho
Cheloneuniverse 