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revdorothyl at 11:20am on 02/10/2003 under angel episode commentary
revdorothyl at 11:20am on 02/10/2003 under angel episode commentary[This post contains some spoilers.]
The following comment from Miss Murchison on last night's "Angel" season 5 premiere got me thinking further, as she suggested that the new episode DID represent a paradigm shift, at least in that on-screen corner of the Buffyverse (or Joss-verse):
"The paradigm is completely different from the old Buffy growing up themes or the down-and-outs on Angel fighting against the big bad guys."
I hadn't really thought about the difference in world-view in those terms, yet, but I couldn't help but notice the shift last night. Now, it seems that the questions for this year's heroes are all about trying to figure out what evils you can compromise on and which ones you have to oppose, and at what cost, and trying to figure out if ANY compromise is already too far down the road to hell (that which is paved with good intentions), etc.. ( Read more... )
If we're really entering into a Jungian transformational journey, here, is Spike to be cast in the role of "psychopomp"? (As I dimly recall from my work on Jung, "psychopomp" means the "Soul Guide", the spirit or intuitive type who leads the way in the descent and rebirth narratives -- it doesn't imply that he's a psychotic egotist or has a crazy pompadour hair-do, or whatever else it may sound like.) Is he to be the intuitive commentator, the one who observes what's happening to the others and forces them to face the truth about themselves? Is he to in some way personify the journey they're all on? That would seem to be character for him (at least the inconveniently observant and perceptive part).
As a person nearing the midpoint of my own life, I'll be VERY interested to see how this develops.
The following comment from Miss Murchison on last night's "Angel" season 5 premiere got me thinking further, as she suggested that the new episode DID represent a paradigm shift, at least in that on-screen corner of the Buffyverse (or Joss-verse):
"The paradigm is completely different from the old Buffy growing up themes or the down-and-outs on Angel fighting against the big bad guys."
I hadn't really thought about the difference in world-view in those terms, yet, but I couldn't help but notice the shift last night. Now, it seems that the questions for this year's heroes are all about trying to figure out what evils you can compromise on and which ones you have to oppose, and at what cost, and trying to figure out if ANY compromise is already too far down the road to hell (that which is paved with good intentions), etc.. ( Read more... )
If we're really entering into a Jungian transformational journey, here, is Spike to be cast in the role of "psychopomp"? (As I dimly recall from my work on Jung, "psychopomp" means the "Soul Guide", the spirit or intuitive type who leads the way in the descent and rebirth narratives -- it doesn't imply that he's a psychotic egotist or has a crazy pompadour hair-do, or whatever else it may sound like.) Is he to be the intuitive commentator, the one who observes what's happening to the others and forces them to face the truth about themselves? Is he to in some way personify the journey they're all on? That would seem to be character for him (at least the inconveniently observant and perceptive part).
As a person nearing the midpoint of my own life, I'll be VERY interested to see how this develops.
hopeful
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