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
Not to bring everything back to whedon sucks, but how we should just take for granted that Angel should be paid but Buffy should do this for free is such a wasted point of discourse. It would have been so radical (and cute!) if Buffy set up shop in Sunnydale similar to Angel’s business (because it’s everyone knows she’s the slayer already! it’s not like she’s “blowing cover”; all the demons know her name and she literally got an award in high school. If they demons didn’t break into her house and kill them like yesterday, they’re not going to today)
Angel would probs hear and try some paternalistic concern that this business was making her “cold”, or at least try some cease and desist on her mimciking his business model. That’s bullshit too, because she developed this business model three seasons before his show.
Angel gets paid and we aren’t supposed to see it as any “less” becoming of his duty. Letting Buffy starve because it is “her duty as woman/slayer etc.” make me angrier than it should! Like why shouldn’t she be compensated just because it’s also her “duty”? It’s not like she wouldn’t do pro bono stuff like Angel does! She’s not the world’s housewife! She had a crack accountant (Anya) to help her run this thing! Wasted opp
Cheloneuniverse 