Sooooo....
Yea. This is weird.
First of all. This episode is a perfect example of why I love being spoiler free. I had no idea what was coming at the end. Or the middle, or... any of it for that matter. And that made it purely touching. There's a twinge I get, when Joss and company pull stuff like this. The kind of string that's plucked in the back of my throat. It's... horrible in a way, but amazing and wonderful in a much bigger way. Its why I fell for this show. Why I practically worship Joss. And why I can never get enough.
Okay, okay, what I'm really here to ramble on about - Cordelia.
I loved Cordy on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I loved her in the first two years of Angel. I really, really liked her in season three of Angel... but in season four, mainly cuz she was kinda evil, I grew.. a sort of distaste.
Then, season five... And she wasn't there.
Til tonight.
Til Your're Welcome.
Til the hundredth episode.
For one, those of you have seen this episode
will understand what I mean - This was an amazingly focused tribute to Cordelia
and Charisma Carpenter.
Don't get me wrong, Lindsey rocked (doesn't he always). Eve got kicked out
(ooo, so fun). The humor was hilarious. The action was great. And the plot
was as entertaining as any.
But Cordy's story.... wow.
I didn't like the lack of closure with Cordy at the end of season four, but
I wasn't outraged either.
That stuff happens in this business. I dealt.
I sympathized with those who truely missed Cordelia. I missed her sometimes
too. Tonight, I remembered why, and how much the old, non-posessed, hysterically
funny Cordy, really was missed.
Both Charisma, and the writers (the one and only, David Fury) were just...
dead on. It was perfect, in my opinion. I'm not a Cordy/Angel shipper, but
I had no objections to any of their moments together. I thought it was all
written and acted beautifully. There was a... uncompletedness that always
comes with death. And a rememberance of what was... a *tribute*, that let
us realize what we were losing. What we had already lost.
That wasn't Cordelia. It was an echo.
I did not see that phone call coming. I expected... another excuse. One akin
to why Spike won't see Buffy or vice versa. Not... death. Not... that the
return we just witnessed, never was *really* real. I mean - yes, it was. That
was Cordy. Her spirit. Made.. corporeal by the mysticism and magic that conveniently
exists on Angel. And I was personally thrilled.
Well okay, hesitant... until after the first couple of seconds, then I was
sure it was cool. But it wasn't... truely her. It was a reminder of why we
loved her. Why we still do. And what an amazing character she will always
be. It was goodbye.
This episode, Angel's one hundredth
episode, was titled You're Welcome. Cordelia Chase's last words. Aptly.
She was a big part of this series. Even if you don't like that, you can't
deny it. And it's an amazing honor to her, and Charisma, to have a pinnacle
episode... practically named after her.
I wasn't expecting her death. For her to be really gone.. for good. More importantly,
I wasn't expecting to feel this bad about it. But here I am, with a tear or
two on my cheek (which is a rare rare occurence, I promise you).
Many of you know, that I'm a diehard vidder. I love it. Along with that obsession comes... an eye for many things some people don't notice, or can't exactly place, even if they feel its impact. A certain camera angle, or the editing of a voiceover or overlay. Tonight, when Cordelia said, in the totally Cordelia way, "Oh... and you're welcome." Those last words have an ever so slight echo. I've watch that four second scene about half a dozen times to make sure. That tiny little thing makes a world of difference. There's not deep reasoning for my mention of this.. just an appreciation for the detail and perfection that goes into this show.
I don't know why I really wrote this. Maybe just because I had to put something into words. But... Cordelia mesmorized me tonight. As soon as she gave "that look" after the gang-minus-Angel entered the elevator, I really appreciated how talented Charisma is and has grown to be. She was absolutely gorgeous, as funny as I can ever remember, and a joy to watch. And let's not forget, she really did get her man back on track.
I miss her.
I miss Cordelia.
David Fury did her justice.
Joss, for the countless time, has really hit a chord with me. The kind that
never stops reverberating.
And what can I say, but...
Thank you.