Illyria

[Allan]

What is everybody's opinion on Illyria? She hasn't been discussed much on here, and I don't believe there's been a thread dedicated to her (I went through Dead Threads).

Personally I loved her, and thought she was a great character. I was upset that Fred had to die to introduce her, but she's definitely a character with potential.

And she really showed just how well Amy Acker can act.

[Amber]

I liked her, a lot. She's a great character, and a great backstory of her was shown, and I'm sure there was a lot not shown. She's also fun to write. Her dialogue is so different from everyone else's, and that makes it interesting!

[Glenn]

I wish we had more of her. Most disagree because they really like Fred. I was never a fan of hers and yes i was sad that she died but Illyria was amazing and had quite the story to tell. It was really interesting how they managed to use this once evil force to battle evil. A bit like Angel and Spike themselves. We never really got to see the Old Ones, i think we were just told that they ruled the Earth and fought each other so it was great to meet one. And then to see how they coped in the modern world.

[Bre]

I loved her character. I do wish there was more Illyria, but I love Fred as well, so it's tough. But I guess I'd rather have Illyria because she can just pretend to be Fred.

I enjoy how strong she is and like Amber said, her dialog is much different than the rest of the characters, which makes her really unique.

[Allan]

I loved Fred. But I agree that Illyria was a wonderful character. Yes she can pretend to be Fred, but the great thing there is the emotional pull of that. You feel for everyone that knew Fred, and you feel for Illyria who just doesn't grasp the ramifications of the situation.

[Kana]

Laziness compells me to copy and paste what I wrote on BuffyWorld.

"Illyria epitomizes ironically the human condition by showing the archtype of the existential crisis. It understands little about the world yet its power is twofold. Dividing them into two catergories, perhaps, may characterise Illyria more sufficiently. If we look at its physical faculties it has some of the greatests powers one would want: strength and the ability to control time, both tools for ultimate control which it initially wants. It also has mental faculties which appear to be communicating with plants and an empathic ability. It connects but purely in the clinical sense of the word, at first it feels Wesley's pain but doesn't share it. It's almost as if it is forced to care and then embraces it and this is how it understands the world and connects to it. If all Illyria is, is simply what it is then its appearence and memories contribute to its identity. It doesn't understand the world and how people suffer loss and whether it has any meaning but that's actually life and Wesley can identify with that. So through Wes, it becomes human not just in appearance but in disposition, at least in part."

So yes I like her, even though I called her 'it' in that post.

[Deleted]

I missed Fred when Illyria came, but she was such a new and different type of character that I quickly found myself caught up in her story. I would have loved to have seen more of her and hopefully she would have continued on into a season 6 if one had ever been made. There's certainly so much that can be done with the character.

[Amber]

Yeah, there is, especially since she came in so late in the season that not a whole lot could be done with her. There's enough of a story behind her that she could probably carry on her own series.

[buffymanic]

She'd make a good comic book character but I doubt she would ever get picked up as a tv series

[Allan]

I don't believe she could carry her own TV series, because it's very difficult to relate to her as a character, since she's so "alien". She makes a wonderful supporting character, though.

[shred]

I agree, Allan. I don't think she can hold her own show as lead. It's her interaction with the other characters that would make her a great supporting character, in my opinion.

Illyria is a very interesting character and it's a shame that we didn't get to see and learn much about her. I'm glad that she didn't become this evil being who is hell bent on destroying the world/city. She was a lot more fun and interesting to watch as she tried to exist in the world than her destorying it.

[Allan]

Yeah, I agree. She's the ultimate fish out of water, and loved it when she realised that she'd have to adapt to the world, rather than rule it.

[shred]

Yeah, and because of that it's hard to see her holding her show.

If Spike were to have his own show, I think she would be a great supporting character for him. I love their interacting in season 5.

[Dani]

At 1st I wasn't really all that happy about them killing off Fred but after awhile Illyria sort of grew on me, the fact that she had Fred's feelings for Wesley made me like her even more even in final episode of Angel where she asks Wesley if he wants her to lie to him. she was an all around good character from then on.

[Beck]

I liked Illyria, and she looked cool I don't think she could hold her own show though.

[Bre]

Nah she'd be best as a sidekick. And like Tash said, she'd make an awesome comic book character. I would love to see more of her.

[Allan]

There is an Angel Spotlight: Illyria comic, which is a story all about her. It's not very good, though.