Angel: From Charmer To Chief

By Dannyblue

According to Heroes and Heroines: Sixteen Master Archetypes by Tami D. Cowden, Caro La-Fever, Sue Viders, there are thirty-two character archetypes: 8 hero, 8 heroine, 8 villain, and 8 villainess. If you can figure out which archetype fits a character best, you can better understand, and write about, that character.

With some characters, figuring out which one archetype represents them best is pretty easy. But, when the characters are more complex (and have been developed over a long period of time) their archetype is harder to pin down. In fact, one archetype can fit them as well as the next. And you wont find a better example of this than Angel.

First, look at who he was before he became a vampire. The human Liam was a CHARMER. He was a gigolo. The lasses in his Irish village found him irresistible; everyone knew he was the type who wouldn't call the next day, but that didn’t keep them out of his bed. He seemed to like having fun, and was probably fun to be around. But he wasn’t responsible or dependable, and he didn’t commit to women easily…or, you know, at all.

After meeting Darla in an alley late one night, Liam became Angelus. And Angelus is a SADIST, a savage predator who enjoyed cruelty for its own sake. To Angelus, tormenting his victims was a game, one he had fun playing. But he wasn’t just good at the violence and torture. He liked doling out the psychological brutality too. He could hurt you with words or by ripping your throat out. Either one was fun for him.

After being cursed with a soul, Angel became a LOST BOY. For decades he wondered aimlessly, tortured by all the guilt for past acts that his new soul made him feel. Even after arriving in Sunnydale, he remained a LOST BOY. Sensitive, tortured, vulnerable and secretive, he spent most of his free time alone, brooding. You should also note that LOST BOYS are often creative. When he’s lonely, upset, angry, or frustrated, Angel will often reach for the sketch pad.

After moving to Las Angeles, Angel slowly transformed from a LOST BOY into a WARRIOR. He became a Champion for the Powers That Be, a relentless fighter for the helpless. Angel became a protector; he couldn’t see someone in trouble and not try to save them in some way, couldn’t see someone doing wrong without trying to punish them. And, if that meant not always playing by the rules…

Of course, Angel had some set backs. In season two of Angel, he went through a beige period, and became the OUTCAST. An OUTCAST is a lonely outsider. They want to belong, but they push those they care about away. OUTCASTS are tortured, letting their troubles consume their lives and eat them up inside, and Angel’s entire focus at this time was on Darla and Wolfram & Hart. Like the WARRIOR, OUTCASTS want to punish the guilty. But, while the WARRIOR is looking for justice, the OUTCAST is all about revenge.

Finally, Angel became the CHIEF. He was the leader, the one everyone turned to when their were tough decisions to be made…even when Wesley was the official boss of Angel Investigations. Of course, being a CHIEF has its drawbacks. Angel didn’t listen when friends gave him advice, even when it was good advice. CHIEF’S often think their way is the only way. Still, he became the head of a family that just kept growing and growing. (First Cordy and Doyle, then Wes, Gunn, Fred, Lorne, and Connor…and Spike.)

As you can see, Angel is a complex character. He went a long way from the irresponsible CHARMER, to the CHIEF who feels responsible for everyone and everything. That’s what makes writing about him so much fun.