Why was Lindsey killed in the final episode?

[MSchett]

I was really confused with this one. Lorne says hes not part of the solution, but I thought he was really coming around to the good side. He even said he felt like he was part of the team. If you can give me some clarity please do.

[white avenger]

Lorne also said that he had heard him sing, so maybe he saw something to indicate that he had some sort of private agenda going. It always seemed like a crazy thing to do to me, especially at that particular moment.

[The Kinslayer]

Lorne also said that he had heard him sing, so maybe he saw something to indicate that he had some sort of private agenda going.
Yep, Lorne had heard him sing, he knew what he was talking about. But I´m not sure Lindsey had a private agenda right that moment. He himself might have thought that he´d turned himslef around. But to be honest. That doesn´t garantee that he won´t get back to being evil again. I trust Lorne in this, what ever his reason were. But boy did it shock me then it happened.

[Cangel]

This shocked me as well. And it's not too long ago I watched that episode for the first time.
Well on the one hand Lindsey might have been coming around, but on the other, please don't forget that he always had his 'good' phases. Like when they stole the prophecy thing from W&H in s1. Or Darla. As long as he himself wanted something, or even sometimes thought something was wrong, he used to turn to Angel for help. But then pretty soon he used to turn back to W&H. So yea, I think he just might have been too much of a risk because he basically just does what he feels like.

[teentitan]

The answer to the question was Lindsey's last words..."It wasn't supposed to be you".
I loved the twist to this one. Lindsey wanted to fight Angel to the death, call it his ying to Angels yang, it was his destiny. Frankly if Angel had of killed Lindsey it would have been an anti-climatic cliche series ending moment, IMO.
I loved the shock value of Lorne actually getting his hands dirty and killing someone evil and the look of shock on Lindsey's face that he was short-changed in what he felt was his destiny.

[white avenger]

Something that struck me about the whole scene was Lindsey's shock and amazement that Lorne would be the one to pull the trigger. "No, you don't kill me...Angel...Angel kills me..." He said it, not as much like someone who felt somehow insulted that a "lackey" would be doing it, but more like someone who somehow knew AS A FACT that Angel would be the one who would kill him. Like someone who had seen some sort of prophecy, perhaps. With the season ending there, the whole thing didn't seem that important, but since "Angel Rides Again" has happened, I'm beginning to wonder if ol' Lindsey might not have died, and he's lurking around LA right now, just waiting for his chance. It might make for an interesting plot twist.

[littlewilly]

Depending on exactly what Lorne see's, or how far into peoples futures he see's, its possible Lorne may have known about killing Lindsey years before, around s1 or s2 time. You could tell Lorne really didnt want to do it, but, if someone like Lorne thinks it had to be done, then id say there MUST have been a good reason. I mean, Lorne aint Spike or Gunn, he wouldnt have done that unless there was a really good reason.(or maybe he would)
But i was sad to see Lindsey go, even though he's a bad guy, and probably deserved what he got, he was too interesting a character to kill off, probably one of the all time best Angel characters. It would be great it he made a comeback in ATF.

Edit:

"No, you don't kill me...Angel...Angel kills me..." He said it, not as much like someone who felt somehow insulted that a "lackey" would be doing it, but more like someone who somehow knew AS A FACT that Angel would be the one who would kill him. Like someone who had seen some sort of prophecy, perhaps.

I just took it as arrogance from Lindsey, like he viewed himself to be Angels big Nemesis, he imagined a Lindsey v Angel Battle of the Titans, but in reality, Angel just saw him as a little pest that even Lorne could take care of.
Lets face it, why would Angel even bother wasting his energy on someone like Lindsey.

[Superstar]

If you noticed, Eve sang the same song as Lindsey.
Lyrics were written by Greenwalt, so they are original to the show and not pulled in due to applicability.
While the rest of the lyrics may have additional meaning the relevant verses are:

Eve sings part of this verse.
She's pretty as a picture
She is like a golden ring
Circles me with love and laughter
And I can't feel a thing

The sky's gonna open
People gonna pray and crawl
It's gonna rain down fire
It's gonna burn us all

Many agree this pertains to Season 4.
I believe it applies to Not Fade Away.
Simply due to the fact that Eve sings this song after Season 4, giving the impression it is still in the future.

The main point of all the verses is that with hope and beauty all around, it cannot be felt due to despair and despondency - both by Lindsey and Eve. They know or knew of the greater scheme of things in either interpretation.
Was Angel's plan truly a surprise to the Senior Partners?
Or part of something already planned?

Why was he shot? Any way you look at it, Lindsey knew things of great importance and did not divulge them purposely.
Eve's singing of this particular song confirmed for Lorne (and Angel) of knowing compliance with the other side, dooming Lindsey as unreformed and not part of the solution, but as part of the problem.

My guess is that after the events of Not Fade Away, Angel was supposed to realize he had been played the whole time, confront Lindsey and kill him. Lorne bypassed this on Angel's order because of the inadvertent lyrical tip-off.

[Lyri]

Christian Kane himself was as surprised by this turn as the rest of us were. "I was killed by a *blank* gay karaoke demon." He said that at a Con.

Part of me wornders if killing off Lindsey at Lorne's hands was a way for Joss to assure himself that Lindsey would play no part in any future Angel project. Lorne used a basic, human weapon in his hand gun, not some ancient sword, or other mystical weapon or magic. We've all seen that when a 'normal' human weapon is used, the character never returns. (Tara) To me, Lindsey's death sems utterly final. As sad as that might be for all of us. I loved Lindsey! *cry moar*

Edit:

Social Suicide agrees: never? Lilah was killed by some knife thingy or something, didn't stop her from coming back.

By Cordelia who was under the influence of Jasmine. Where did she get the knife? How can we be sure it was just a knife? As far as Cordelia/Jasmine are concerned, we can't asume anything is 'normal.' Of course we can't assume it isn't normal, but I'm sticking with my instict on this one.

[Atren]

If i recall right, Lilah was killed by weapon forged from Beast. Beside, she was not resurrected. Wolfram & Hart can use dead employes as well.

[LorneyTunes]

I loved Lindsay , he was the tiny texan with an evil hand , Angel had no right to kill him, does he think hes god ?? Angel had a personal vendetta against him. Just think how good it would have been to have Lindsay in After the fall?

[LadyLavinia]

Any way you look at it, Lindsey knew things of great importance and did not divulge them purposely. Eve's singing of this particular song confirmed for Lorne (and Angel) of knowing compliance with the other side, dooming Lindsey as unreformed and not part of the solution, but as part of the problem.


To kill someone because they might be a future threat or evil is one of the lamest excuses for murder I have ever come across. I lost all respect toward Lorne for carrying out Angel's order. And my opinion of Angel sunk below the abyss after that.

[littlewilly]

To kill someone because they might be a future threat or evil is one of the lamest excuses for murder I have ever come across. I lost all respect toward Lorne for carrying out Angel's order. And my opinion of Angel sunk below the abyss after that.

But what if Lorne Knew Lindsey was going to betray them, or even kill one of them? I wouldnt put it past him, therewas a time Lindsey tried to have Angel killed.

[LorneyTunes]

I think Lorne taking Angels orders wasn't good, but Lindsay in the future was gonna be a bad bad boy. so Lorne kinda had no choice , either let him go on to do his bad deeds or kill him and end it now.

I still think its kind of left Lindsay havin a death that meant nothing, no big fight , no battle just Lorne with a gun . It upsets me to think about it x

[Cangel]

Hey, I have finally found out why Lindsey was killed. The writers were out of interesting plot twists ;)

[white avenger]

To kill someone because they might be a future threat or evil is one of the lamest excuses for murder I have ever come across. I lost all respect toward Lorne for carrying out Angel's order. And my opinion of Angel sunk below the abyss after that.


Not only that, but killing Lindsey at that point was just plain stupid. At a time when Angel knows, not just believes, but KNOWS that the Senior Partners are gonna throw everything that they can lay their hands on at him for destroying the Circle Of The Black Thorn, he choses to murder 20% of his force just because of something that Lindsey might do in the future. That's not just lame, it's stupid and downright suicidal. If they survived the battle, Angel could have wasted Lindsey at his leisure.

[littlewilly]

Not only that, but killing Lindsey at that point was just plain stupid. At a time when Angel knows, not just believes, but KNOWS that the Senior Partners are gonna throw everything that they can lay their hands on at him for destroying the Circle Of The Black Thorn, he choses to murder 20% of his force just because of something that Lindsey might do in the future. That's not just lame, it's stupid and downright suicidal. If they survived the battle, Angel could have wasted Lindsey at his leisure.

But, Angel genuinely didnt think any of them would survive that last battle anyway, so he thought even if Lindsey was there, it wouldnt help them much anyway. Plus, Angel cant really be expected to team up with his totally untrustworthy enemy.

[angelchick182]

Lindsey was one of my favorite villains throughout the series, but I think this was a necessary end to his character. When he was reintroduced in S5, I was geniunely shocked(and excited to how it would play out)! For me, had the show continued, it would've lessened the impact his return had in S5, if he would've still been around. And despite Eve being "a child of the Senior Partners", I actually think she was more capable of redemption than he was. Lindsey only ever came down on the side of good when it benefitted him, not because it was the right thing to do, and he always ended up back on the side of evil. I think this is why Angel and/or Lorne may have thought this was a necessary step. They never thought for a minute that they'd walk away from the fight, but I think they needed to be certain that Lindsey wouldn't either.

As for Lindsey's final scene - I found it completely characteristic of Lindsey to be geniunely upset, not that he was dying, but that Angel wasn't the one that took him out. I also found it ironic, that after all the evil Lindsey has done in his life, he died during the fight against evil.

[Primal Slayer]

Why did they kill off Lindsey?

Cause then he would be the only original (besides Angel) charecter who has been around since the 1st episode. Basically all original charecters from the 1st season are DEAD. Except for Kate...aint she lucky

[MSchett]

Why did they kill off Lindsey?

Cause then he would be the only original (besides Angel) charecter who has been around since the 1st episode. Basically all original charecters from the 1st season are DEAD. Except for Kate...aint she lucky

Gunn was in S1 and he didnt die at the end of S5 =)

[Primal Slayer]

he basically did...with the whole vampire thing...

[LifeIsJustThis]

I was really confused with this one. Lorne says hes not part of the solution, but I thought he was really coming around to the good side. He even said he felt like he was part of the team. If you can give me some clarity please do.

I think Lorne just lost it, finally. It was implied that Angel asked him to kill Lidnsey, yes? I just finshed the show, and I'm sure I need to watch 5 again...to clarify some stuff.

I have really mixed feelings about the final episode. It disturbed me what Lorne did, of course...but more so, the final scene. What a cliff-hanger! Geez. I was beside myself, thinking Gunn died...And Wesley? I'm confused. It was obvious he died...Illyria said he was dead...and then he reappears in the comic?? Huh?

I was wondering what others honestly think about the final ep, or thoughts on the show ending in general. ..

[scobro]

Not only that, but killing Lindsey at that point was just plain stupid. At a time when Angel knows, not just believes, but KNOWS that the Senior Partners are gonna throw everything that they can lay their hands on at him for destroying the Circle Of The Black Thorn, he choses to murder 20% of his force just because of something that Lindsey might do in the future. That's not just lame, it's stupid and downright suicidal. If they survived the battle, Angel could have wasted Lindsey at his leisure.
I do not think it was a 'future' plan though; I think it was very much then. Lindsey was not so much about right or wrong but power, and he had proven time and again that he would do whatever it took to get it. He joined Angel with a promise that win or lose, he would be running Wolfram & Hart. With the Black Thorn gone, the firm had no 'inside man' ergo that would have been Lindsey.

The moment the Black Thorn was gone, Lindsey had to be gone as well. It was about removing the Senior Partners' connection to the world. Lindsay was a big part of that connection as, for a time at least, he was their chosen one.

Any battle that took place, Lindsay would not have been on their side. They (meaning team angel) were at that point powerless, and Lindsey followed the power.

Edit:


As for Lindsey's final scene - I found it completely characteristic of Lindsey to be geniunely upset, not that he was dying, but that Angel wasn't the one that took him out.
Lindsey always viewed himself as Angel's foil. It was insulting and humiliating that a lackey would finish him off. Lackeys don't kill the arch-enemy. If Angel would have killed him, Lindsey would have been 'important' but having the weakest one of the bunch do it, shows that Lindsy wasn't worth wasting real manpower over. It was an insult, pure and simple. Like when Angel tagged his truck with "cops suck" sign before he left town.

[LifeIsJustThis]

I was really confused with this one. Lorne says hes not part of the solution, but I thought he was really coming around to the good side. He even said he felt like he was part of the team. If you can give me some clarity please do.

I don't know. It really shocked me. I felt it was unnessesary...who knows.

[hannahfngrl26]

Ironically since Angel most likely put Lorne up to it Angel did in fact "kill" Lindsay. What I dont like about this was Lindsay was mortal. This is murder people, not just the slayage of a demon and I dont like it one bit.

[littlewilly]

Lindsey was kinda evil. He cant really complain about what happened can he? He put himself in that situation.