The Most Tragic Story?

[jeanvic]

Now, there are quite a few sob stories on Buffy and Angel. We have seen them over the years and cried our little hearts out over them, but what I would like to know, what is the most tragic story?

When I ask that, I don't just mean characters, but relationships and story arcs. e.g. Angel, W/F, B/A, Fred, C/A etc.

My personal opinion is that the most tragic story we saw was Angel's. I mean, he had 100 years of suffering for things he didn't even do, then he fell for Buffy and was sent to hell for 100 years by her. Then he returns and has to leave her. He gets a son, loses him. Falls in love with Cordelia, but loses her. Loses his chance for redemption and all of his friends at the end. So, all in all he's had a pretty crap life to date which is why I think he had the most tragic story.

So what do all of you think?

[Laura]

Very good point about Angel. If not Angel, I would say Wesley.

Wes was never accepted when he was with the Buffy group, and he had made the tragic mistake with Faith. Then, he went over to Angel where he grew into the group. He fell in love with Fred, but she fell for Gunn. Then he has to force himself to steal Angel's son, because he thinks he is doing what's right. Then, he is secluded from his group for awhile, and Angel even tries to kill him. He goes back to the group just to be hated by Gunn and he still is in love with Fred. He causes them to break up, but never gets with Fred until not long until she dies. Then, he must live with Illyria, who shares the face of Fred, whom she killed.

[Allan]

I think a lot of tragedy stems from Angel's history, rather than the stories themselves. Buffy's story in general is a lot more optimistic (aside from the whole "She's a Slayer, and Slayers die" thing). She's young, and has her life ahead of her. Angel, on the other hand has hundreds of years atoning to do, and he signed away his chance to become human.

While I think the individual tales are as tragic as each other, Angel's history makes them a bit more painful.

[jeanvic]

Like I say, I think Angel tops the list, but I would agree that he is followed closely by Wesley. May I add to that though. Wesley's tragic story before he enters the show, when he is grinded into a nub by his overbearing father.

Another person I would put right up there would be Cordelia. Let's admit it. Her life isn't all sunshine and roses. She goes from rich bitch to pauper champion, has to put up with the visions, gets bodyjacked, is forced to do evil things and watch from inside and then she dies without ever having a chance to have a life with Angel. All in all, pretty not great.

[Beck]

Overall to me it would have to be Angel. He had a crappy homelife, was turned to a vampire, and then cursed with the memory of everything he had done soulless, and proceeded to lose both women he loved and his son, and then lost his chance to shanshu. Its possible that one day in the future he could have been happy, but he'd still have the memories.

But lets face it, none of the jossverse characters have tragedy free lives.

[Kana]

I'd say Angel. He's even got a limit on his happiness. I don't see vampires as responsible for the unsoulled acts so I don't really think Angel deserves all that suffering. Someone give this guy a hug.

[Beck]

I agree he doesn't deserve that suffering, but he feels the remorse so he suffers. I think Spike puts it much better into perspective than Angel ever does, and tries to move on from it without brooding and feeling miserable all the time.

[Alissa]

I'd say Darla has the most tragic story. The woman's died four times, I mean come on.
Darla's original human life obviously sucked. She was a prostitute and she said no one had ever cared about her. Then the Master turned her into a vampire, and ok she kinda enjoyed that... all right so she totally enjoyed that, but then Angelus got a soul and ultimately Angel, the vampire she had made as her mate, staked her.
Next, Wolfram and Hart raises her from the dead. First off, being raised from the dead is an iffy thing, as was also seen in Buffy. Darla is brought back as human, which means she has a soul and can remember every thing she did with Angelus. Then she starts cracking up. Obviously raising a vampire from the dead isn't a great thing for their sanity. She's also dying from syphilis again. Angel was working to save Darla, and just as he had convinced her that she didn't need to become a vampire again, Drusilla comes in and sires her. Now, vampire mayhem with Darla still a bit edgy because she didn't want to become a vampire this time. Angel sets them on fire. Not fun. And then comes Connor. The whole sequence with Darla and Connor is just heartbreaking IMO. She says that she loves him, but that she won't be able to even remember loving him after he is born. She is worried she'll hurt him, she knows she has nothing to give him, and ultimately she stakes herself to save her child. That is tragedy, to me.

[shred]

Quite hard to pick. I think the thread should be who had the least tragic story.

Though I agree that Angel had the most tragic life but I think it wasn't all that bad. He was living the life of a demon so I wouldn't expect anything less tragic you know?

So with that said, I'll probably go with Wesley having the most tragic story. He lost the love of his life twice, which kind of sums up his life really.