If Jasmine provided perfect happiness, how come Angel didn't turn?

NeddaSai

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Just something I was thinking about, Jasmine provided everyone with contentment and happiness, how come Angel didnt turn into Angelus because of it?

I thought maybe it's because it's fake happiness but he still turned into Angelus temporarily in Season 1 when he was drugged.

Thoughts?
 
November
November
Nice question!
If I were to immediately write a fanfic exploring that then I'd have Angel feeling Angelus (the demon) reacting negatively which kept his happiness from being complete as he had to constantly protect her from the demon of himself (it should also be noted that his happiness with Buffy was a shock to him, so the guilt and terror of that would hamper any future perfect happiness), and that the demonic reaction he had to constantly suppress gave him just enough hint of guilt or fear to deprive him of PERFECT happiness. Jasmine already told him that his death was not wanted, so how could he destroy himself with defying Jasmine? So he lived...even so, in the show he did mention his fear of becoming Angelus to Jasmine.

I actually have a harder time with that drug that "temporarily" turned him into Angelus on ecstasy.
 
NeddaSai
NeddaSai
God, I hated the drug thing as well. Never made sense..
"Jasmine provided everyone with contentment and happiness, how come Angel didnt turn into Angelus"
Because Angel is at his happiest when he is miserable and because he was miserable and not happy Angelus did not emerge.
 
Did Angel ever actually become exposed to Jasmine's instant happiness aura? It's been awhile since I watched anything in that Season, but I seem to remember him not ever buying it or being around long enough for Jasmine to zap him. Or maybe it was just something as simple as that he was too aggitated and upset at the time to succumb.

Nah, the bottom line is, Angel just can't feel true happiness because he knows that, eventually, it's gonna turn out badly. Happiness is something that he consciousy avoids for fear that Angelus would come back. That knowledge, alone, would put a damper on any warm and fuzzy feelings that e was apt to feel.
 
That was the season Angel had a dream he had sex with his granddaughter while she was possessing Cordelia & pregnant with his granddaughter after having recently taken his son's virginity.

AtS was supposed to make sense?
 
NeddaSai
NeddaSai
Touchè
Did Angel ever actually become exposed to Jasmine's instant happiness aura?

The second he saw her, he was affected by it and had to be brought out of it by her blood like everyone else..

Nah, the bottom line is, Angel just can't feel true happiness because he knows that, eventually, it's gonna turn out badly.

But from everything we've been told Jasmine's influnce overrode any other feeling the person had. They all seriously wanted to kill Fred. If her influence is that great, I can't see how Angel can resist feeling happy but not resist killing his friend..
 
In IWRY Angel continued to think if he had unearned happiness things would turn out badly (that's his fear even without the clause being there) but I have no doubt he experienced it that day and if the clause had turned out to still be there it would've led to Angelus in a human body.

So I don't buy that Angel's awareness that things will go badly if he's truly happy prevents him from being truly happy. Especially when he never showed worry in s3 when he was given his own miracle baby to raise. He looked downright giddy.
 
They attempt to address this question in Shiny happy people ::

15 EXT. GARDEN AT HOTEL / ANGEL INVESTIGATIONS - NIGHT
The woman walks outside to find Angel leaning against a railing, staring at the ground.


WOMAN
That fragrance... It's lovely. What is it?

ANGEL
Must be the jasmine.

WOMAN
Oh, night blooming. So beautiful, so lonely...like you.

ANGEL
(looks up at her, then away) I shamed you.

WOMAN
No.

ANGEL
I did. I almost killed that man. I think I would have if—

WOMAN
Angel, you were only trying to protect me. There can be no shame in that.

ANGEL
I don't want to fail you again.

WOMAN
Then don't.

ANGEL
It's not that simple.

WOMAN
Why isn't it?

ANGEL
'Cause...what I'm feeling.

WOMAN
You must let go of your anger towards that poor soul.

ANGEL
No, not anger...happiness. (woman smiles) I'm so happy that you're here.

WOMAN
And that's a problem?


ANGEL
For me, yes. (looks away) If I get too happy, if I allow myself to feel what I'm feeling, (nearly in tears) Angelus might—


WOMAN
I know. But soon none of that will matter. Evil will be banished by the deeds we will do, Angel. Even the evil that's inside of you. That too will be gone, and all that will be left is the beauty.

ANGEL
Eradicate all evil.

WOMAN
Yes.

ANGEL
Is that even possible? We've been fighting for so long. (shakes his head)

WOMAN
I know. I've seen it all. It's why I've come back. (tilts Angel's head up) You are my general. I have faith in you.

ANGEL
You... have faith in me?

WOMAN
(looks up to the patio where the others have gathered) I have faith in all my warriors, each and every one of you. You are all up to the task.

I think he doesn’t turn evil because her “ pure bliss” is a form of mind control and domination. She’s a rogue higher power, it’s possible her ability to manipulate and control others is able override the curse because it’s not legitimate happiness. Once Her blood gets in his system and her spell is broken , his happiness is shattered, because it was only an illusion.
 
contentment and happiness
His time with Buffy was a total physiological experience. Jasmine is like a shade of contentment over those who see her. Connor was happy but not under her contentment spell.
 
After the fiasco with turning into Angelus after his night with Buffy, it may be the case that he can never truly relax enough ever again for the happiness clause to kick in. Darla didn't do it for him, so it wasn't just sex. Jasmine may have elicited cooperation between people but this was not happiness - it was a spell.
 
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