I didn't mind some growth in Cordelia, but I really feel she got ruined along the way. It stopped being growth, and started being personality-ectomy. I was on board with the change from the end of season 1 of Angel, through the beginning of season 2. On A:ts, Cordelia was featured too heavily to be just the snarker.

Although I did not think so at the time, in retrospect, giving the visions to Cordelia was probably the first thing I would change if I had the talent, money, production staff, and owned the rights to the show, and could somehow do a complete do-over. I think.

I know that if I were Queen of ME, I would undo the demonization of Cordelia. That burnt my ass beyond graftability. Cordelia was uber-human, and/or possibly ur-Human. Whatever...she was [some satisfyingly-gutteral-likely-Teutonic-prefix intended to exponetially emphasize her humanity]- human. CC.V2.St. Corduffy seems to me to be a direct result of the choice to lose her humanity.

Like Xander on Buffy, Cordelia served/could have served as the answer to the question "What are we fighting for?" Answer: Humans; average humans; fallible; the weak but brave, even/especially when feeling afraid humans. Demonizing Cordelia made ugly lumps in the narrative (for me) that never got smoothed over, until the 100th (of 110) episodes of the entire series.

And I think it bothered me most of all because I interpreted it as the first step in setting up an Angel/Cordelia 'ship. I was neutral (if doubtful) toward that. I know I would not have had a hard time accepting that these characters with a completely un-Normal life, who are so very physically beautiful, and so committed to their mutual cause, ended up getting together. What I would have needed to see was:

1) Some chemistry (s7) * "You're Welcome" convinced me this was possible *

2) the Buffy problem somehow addressed

First, I needed it addressed on the Angel side. There were enough times when Angel was put forth as only not being with Buffy because he couldn't be, that I needed to see the change happen. Now, Buffy's relationship with Riley could have served as his moving on point. Buffy's death could have served as his moving on point. In fact, I expected both to be just that, but it never seemed to happen. Buffy's attitude when she got back from heaven could have served as his moving on point. Learning of Buffy's affair with Spike could have served as his moving on point. I realize that to some extent, the WB's refusal to do cross-overs hampered the tying up of this storyline, but they mentioned Buffy from time to time.

I would still have needed to see it addressed from Cordelia's POV, as well. I completely understand the soul-loss clause of the curse isn't sex-based. What I would have had to see is something that indicated that Cordelia's ego could handle the knowledge that although a relationship with Buffy caused Angel such perfect happiness that he lost his soul, a relationship with her did not have the same effect. That would have required showing, not telling, and a whole big build.

Ah well. Still miss the show, horribly.

Minearverse is NAFDA, Cindy. No need for the whitefont.

Cordelia's growth to me was more about filling in the empty spaces of what she was on Buffy, seen in Helpless:

BUFFY: Cordelia, would you drive me home?

A quick break in Cordy's Cordiness, actually care and concern comes over her face

CORDELIA: Of course.

This was back when Buffy was my girl, and we never really saw Cordy be anything but a bitch.

And so, the scene on the roof, "I'll kill you dead" when Angel asks if she'd take down Angelus, was where I wanted to see Cordy go. Angel's sister, his ally, the only one with a life outside of demony boogeymen, not a potential Angel fuckhole.

Cordy was never Mother, never should have been. It was the destruction of the character. If they needed a mother figure, they needed another actor. Not our girl.

I like that scene in "Helpless."

If they needed a mother figure, they needed another actor. Not our girl.

Besides, I thought that was what Lorne was for.

My sense of Cordelia's potential was that she would be, you know, Cordelia, in the Shakespearean sense. The one who calls power on its nonsense. (Not the passive-aggressive stuff, nor yet the marrying the king of France.)

The person who can honestly say, "Tact is just not saying true things" is the person I want in charge of bitching out the hypocrites.

Hmmm. Should have been working, recently. Instead, watched four episodes of Wonderfalls in a row in our lounge. Other people in the lounge seemed to enjoy it. Kept requesting the new episodes.

Sigh. Miss that show.

Still love Jaye.

Besides, I thought that was what Lorne was for.

Victor wins the prize! I'm not sure what the prize is.

My sense of Cordelia's potential was that she would be, you know, Cordelia, in the Shakespearean sense. The one who calls power on its nonsense.

THIS! THIS THIS THIS!

Cordy the Way She Should Be would have made Cordy the Way She Turned Out cry and cry.

Our Cordy is pragmatic. She loves in a very honest way and cuts to the chase (no pun) with surgical precision. Cordy would have found the balance between a life and heroism (that Buffy never could), not sacrificing herself for others ALL the time and living in a state of constant martyrdom.

If the other characters were supposed to reflect Angel in some way, Cordy should have reflected Angel's wish for a normal life.

Cordy would have dated and redecorated and we'd see her making plans with friends and such, in between the battle.

2) the Buffy problem somehow addressed

This was my main problem when I hadn't watched for a bit and heard that blasted radio promo talk about "Cordelia, the love of Angel's life". Almost drove the car off the fricken road.

I like both Manuel and Wyoming.

I finally finished the book. It certainly is a product of its time, isn't it. I found the treatment of women, casual racism, and the lack of certain technological innovations (like cell phones, which are now so ubiquitous) hard to get past. Still the plot was interesting. I'm intrigued to see what Tim will do with it. So, Tim, if you can say and would like to, will you be modernizing the story from the book?