This example of Hatch Blowing is going to sound familiar, if you read my previous one on Veronica Mars. As I said then, the transformation of Logan Echolls from unlikeable punk to likable suitor for Veronica was remarkable. Along those same lines, Angel had an amazing transformation to behold, with the depussification of Wesley Wyndam-Pryce. However, unlike Veronica Mars‘s Logan, the road to bad-ass “rogue demon hunter” Wesley took seasons to accomplish in full.
Wesley came onto the scene in the third season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer as a would-be replacement for the then-ousted Watcher, Giles. Book smart for sure, though completely lacking in fighting skills and backbone, he wasn’t exactly a likable character. In his attempt to force feed the rules of the Watchers’ Council down Buffy’s and Faith’s throats, he only succeeded in alienating himself further and destroying the one chance, then, at Faith finding redemption. Plus, he won the award for the most awkward kiss on television when he tried to plant one on Cordelia. Wow, was that uncomfortable.
Just as with Angel, Wesley left Sunnydale and made his next appearance on Angel, the series, as a self-titled “rogue demon hunter.” While taking on a more gruff appearance, likely due to his ousting from the Council, he still hadn’t shed the cowardly twerp persona from his Buffy days.
As the seasons progressed, Wesley made himself of more use to Angel Investigations, putting himself within the action in most episodes, whether he wanted to or not. Eventually, when Angel turned his back on the team, Wesley was forced to take things over, along with Cordelia and Gunn. He’s later put in charge of the team, even when Angel shakes things off and comes back. It’s during this time when we see Wesley take a less gradual turn to hardened leader, going so far as to protect one of his own by taking a bullet for him (Gunn). For anyone who watched Buffy’s Wesley, tuning in to Angel at this point would drop their jaw. THIS is wimpy Wesley?! Where are his glasses?!
Wesley’s turn doesn’t end there. Oh no. In Angel‘s third season, Wesley eventually becomes crazed in his pursuit to put an end to a prophecy that indicates Angel will kill his son, Connor, by stealing him and eventually getting his throat slashed … and lives through it! Let’s also not forget how much personal loss Mr. Wyndam-Price had to endure, losing Cordelia, Lilah and Fred, not to mention his brief relationship with Virginia (though she didn’t die). His relationship with Lilah was the biggest indication that this guy was now a full-fledged bad-ass, seeing as she was working for the other team!
Finally, at the end of season five — and the end of the series — Wesley meets his fate, having done battle with the warlock Cyvus Vail. How did this dweeb from Buffy find his way to die so honorably and after kicking so much ass in the process? While this isn’t one singled-out moment in the series that led me to love the series, certainly it was the mere observance of this drawn out transformation that blew the hatch for me.
Clacked by Keith McDuffee 
on Sep 04, 2009 @ 12:00 EST5EDT
I’m re-watching “Angel” on DVD for the first time since it aired, and am just arriving at the end of Season 1. It’s suprising how much ground has already been covered in Wes’s transformation. He appears just after Doyle’s departure, and he’s in light-colored suits and tripping over himself. He’s nothing but comic relief for 3 or 4 episodes, begging for a job and being utterly incompetent. Then his demeanor changes a bit. Still something of a screw-up, still wearing the light clothes, but he carries himself with some dignity. He proves himself a real friend to Cordelia, and volunteers to go on missions with Angel. By the end of the season, he’s a valued member of the team, and while he’s not in Angel’s league when it comes to fighting, he’s not ducking in the corner like a coward anymore. Plus he shows his strength in research and preparation. Angel, alone, dispatches a demon guard at Wolfram & Hart in the 2nd to last episode of Season 1, and we actually hear him say “Thank you, Wesley” out loud, to himself, for Wesley giving him the perfect way to kill the demon ahead of time. All this just in Season 1. And the glasses are still on :-)
I’ve always loved the arc of Wesley’s character in this series. Cordelia also changes, but by about halfway through, they take her character in a different direction (upward) and she’s disappointing after that. Angel doesn’t change much at all, although he starts to loosen up a bit by the end.
Agreed. Agreed. Agreed. Wesley’s arc really is my favorite part of the show. Scruffy morally gray Wesley is my favorite thing. In my opinion, he first starts to change after Faith tortures him in season 1, and he had to come to terms with that situation. Then, of course, all the kidnapping and slashed-throat fun.
On a slightly related note, I’m not much of a “shipper” but Wesley-Fred is the one pairing I would have sacrificed to the gods to bring about. Their relationship had the perfect blend of sweet, twisted, and tragic.
Character development is an amazing tool in which Joss Whedon is a master. Sure Wes maybe a brilliant example but there are also Willow and Spike in Buffy, Cordy and somewhat (in a very very different way) Fred in Angel. I’m not even counting the namesake characters (just think about Buffy in the feature film). Some others that come to mind in recent series are Gaius Baltar and Paul Tigh (BSG), Rodney McKay and O’Neill + O’Neil (SG), Sawyer, Locke and Shannon (Lost). Although in Shannon’s case I think there was some inconsistency.
But in my opinion, the mother of all character developments is Doctor Who’s: 46 years and counting…