Angel's Powers

[Lexie]

Has anyone else noticed that once Angel got his own series he suddenly became a lot more powerful? And even more so as the seasons went on? He was good in Buffy, of course, but as soon as he moved to Angel his powers seemed to shoot up. Why is that? I know vampires are suppossed to get more powerful as they get older, but it is only single year differences. Any thoughts?

[Allan]

I think part of it is that it's his own series. Though, a lot of it isn't sheer strength, but he thought outside the box a lot.

Also, he managed to take Buffy on as Angelus, which was pretty tough.

[Bre]

I think if you wanted to think more outside the reason it was his show, Buffy probably distracted him in Sunnydale a bit so his powers were probably weaker so when he moved to LA he could concentrate more without Buffy around.

[Beck]

Angel was strong in season 3 of BtVS, and Angelus was very strong, it was season 1 Angel that was very weak and scared of the Master - even in the finale. It makes sense Angelus is more aggressive, which would perhaps make him seem stronger, and it does make sense Angel gained more strength after being in hell after Becoming, plus the training he then did with Buffy.

[Allan]

I never thought of his hundred or so years in hell..

In regard to Btvs season 1 Angel, though, I thought he wasn't "weak" per se, but Buffy just brought out the confidence to make him a hero.

[Kana]

Yeah I agree with most of what's been said here. Angel had to become a convincing lead whereas on Buffy he was more an object of female gaze.

Inside the show we could legitimize that Angel grew in confidence over the years. In Season 1 he'd only just come off the streets after a century of brooding.

Angel's bravery increased as he become more of a hero, although his attitude towards the Master is understandable seen as he's the only one who knows him first hand. I agree he wasn't that weak. Don't forget he was cryptic guy in Season 1 and wasn't around that much. He took on several vampires at once in Season 2 though.

[Glenn]

Plus i think he was still pretty scared of himself in season one of Buffy. Scared of what he is capable of doing.

[Kana]

Yeah that actually is consistent with what the faux swami (who was pretty accurate in what he said for the most part) said in Guise Will Be Guise that he's fighting himself.

[jeanvic]

All good points. I think the explanation comes in and outside the show. Outside the show, I believe that Angel was made to be weak so Buffy could save him. One thing though, he was never taken through battle if anyone ever noticed. He was always captured in Buffy through some dirty tactic. It was like Spike in In the Dark. Angel was captured by Spike but not because he was weak. It was made quite clear in the episode that Angel is better than Spike, it was just dirty tactics.

I think Angel's power comes from his mind. I'll explain why. When Angel is focused on something and he is confident of himself and his abilities and what he is fighting for he is probably the most formidable warrior going. In Apocalypse Nowish when he was pretty much 100%, he dominated the Beast, a feat that not even Faith could pull off. Then look one year later he is fighting a much weaker opponent than the beast, Spike, and because he is lacking that psychological confidence and drive he is beaten even though it has been made clear that Angel is superior to Spike in prior episodes and episodes after.

So I think it comes from his mind within the show but outside the show it comes from his situation, such as being Buffy's puppy.