Wesley and Lilah

[Tueuse de Vampires]

I just finished re-watching season 4, and while my all time favourite ship is Cangel, Weslah did always also hold a special place with me.

Rewatching, I could really feel it again. The way they start out as basically enemies, with all the sass between them and Lilah just trying to use Wesley and Wesley on his journey to darkness. But then you can tell there was more between them, and if things had been different they could have actually worked.

That's what fascinates me about this ship, they both didn't admit it and played it down sometimes, but I do think they really did care for each other a lot, and people around them noticed.

The degree to which they did have feelings for the other one became obvious with how jealous Lilah was of Wesley meeting Fred and dressing up as her, but also with Wesleys struggle with beheading her and him trying to burn her contract.

 

[Stake fodder]

I definitely felt they had real chemistry. I think Wesley could have been Lilah's way out of darkness, if she had been willing to take it.

 

[TheXandyman]

Lilah dressing like Fred was classic comedy. And Wesley telling her to leave the glasses on. Naughty Wes. Lol.

 

[Tome]

Yes, one of the unexpected couples in AtS that actually worked chemistry-wise. Too bad the actress didn't come back in season five. It would have been so much better than getting Eve. 😵

 

[Tueuse de Vampires]

I did actually wonder about Lilah not being back for season 5, does anyone know why that was?

Storyline wise, with her eternal contract, it would have fit the storyline perfectly to still have her around. And same as Lilah was showing them around W&H at the end of s4, why not have her be the liaison to the Senior Partners as someone Team Angel knew.

 

[AlphaFoxtrot]

Re; Lilah; We don't have an answer for that. My hypothesis is that one of the compromises made to keep Angel on for season five was to skew younger and sexier and Lilah's actress was pushing 30, and replacing her with an actress who was almost born in the 80s served that goal. This is consistent with Mercedes becoming a regular and Fred wearing a shorter dress. As well as Charisma not being resigned.

 

[NotASlayer]

Hollywood really can be lousy with its treatment of women. Mid to late 20s? Sure, you can play a teenager. 30? You are past it. Please go.

 

[AlphaFoxtrot]

Stephanie was a professional model in her early twenties, and she definitely still had it. If Charisma was playing a woman her age, and not pretending to be the same age as Eliza Dusku, or younger than Amy Acker, she looks great. I mean, I like the ballerina look too, but yes, both were more attractive than Joss's type in 2003.

But if your network wants your show to sell things to teenagers, and wants your actresses to model fashionable clothing that will be sold to teenagers, I can understand why younger actresses would be preferred by the network.