Angel: 10 Times Cordelia Was The True Hero Of The Show

In Sunnydale, she was cruel, shallow, and self-centered. By the end of Angel, she is a selfless champion, and just as much a hero as Angel.

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Angel was more than a successful spinoff of Buffy the Vampire Slayer — it was a genuinely good show. Although the monster-of-the-week format was still present, it dealt with darker, more adult themes than Buffy. The show focused on Angel living in Los Angeles, working to redeem himself by helping the hopeless. After running into Cordelia Chase at a Hollywood party, she joins him in his efforts and Angel Investigations is born.

It could be argued that Angel was just as much about Cordelia’s own path to redemption as it was Angel’s. Her character grows and changes beautifully throughout the course of the show. In Sunnydale, she was cruel, shallow, and self-centered. By the end of Angel, she is a selfless champion, and just as much a hero as Angel. Below are ten times Cordelia was the true hero of Angel.

10 She Was The Only Reason Angel Investigations Got Paid

Is it inappropriate to charge people for saving their life? Cordelia didn’t think so — and neither do we. Cordelia was the first one to suggest charging for his services in season one. Because of her, they were able to keep Angel Investigations operating, complete with electric, office plants, and really crappy coffee. Because Cordelia was making a paycheck, she was also able to spend more time helping Angel.

Of course, she was often guilty of tunnel vision, as seen in season two episode “Reprisal,” when she was lured into a dangerous situation with only the promise of paycheck convincing her to go. Eventually, Team Angel took their operation to the next level when they purchased The Hyperion Hotel. Who knows if any of what followed would have been possible without Cordy?

9 She’s Wasn’t A CryBuffy

Season one episode “Room w/a Vu” introduced one of Angel’s most underrated characters: Phantom Dennis, Cordelia’s invisible, ghostly roommate. Like most champions, Dennis’ origins were unpleasant.

After Cordelia moved into her new apartment, she was haunted by a malevolent spirit — the ghost of Dennis’ mother. Dennis’ mom was evil (she buried her son alive in a brick wall inside the apartment) and showed Cordelia no mercy. She tried to convince Cordelia that she was worthless, insignificant, and would be better off dead. Dennis’ mother almost won until Cordelia finally stood up and announced: “I’m no sniffling, whining little cryBuffy. I’m the nastiest girl in Sunnydale history. I take crap from no one.”

8 She Didn’t Give Up On Gunn

After Cordelia had a vision of Gunn in danger, she named herself his protector for the duration of “First Impressions” in season two. Their differences were highlighted throughout the episode; Cordelia’s impulsiveness, Gunn’s sense of duty he feels toward his old gang. Ultimately, they found common ground: fighting bad guys and being champions. At the end of the episode, Cordelia told Gunn that she wasn’t giving up on him and his reckless behavior. She was going to see to it that he didn’t destroy himself.

There’s no doubt that Gunn would have found a way to be okay without Cordelia’s intervention, but he may not have made the decision to become a part of Angel Investigations.

7 She Was Always Willing To Kill Angelus

Buffy technically killed Angelus when she had no choice in Buffy the Vampire Slayer — but she was the Slayer. It was her duty. Cordelia, on the other hand, was Angel’s closest friend in Angel.

Although she loved Angel, she never underestimated Angelus, having seen his handiwork firsthand in Sunnydale. On more than one occasion (like after his brief stint as Angelus in season one episode “Somnambulist”), she doesn’t hesitate to tell Angel that she would stake him in a heartbeat if necessary.

6 She Chose To Keep Her Visions

After collapsing on her birthday due to the physical toll of her visions, Cordelia is presented with an alternative version of her life. In the alternate version, all of her dreams came true: she’s a famous television celebrity, she’s beloved by all, and she’s living a monster-free life. In this alternate reality, it was Angel who received Doyle’s visions instead of Cordelia. The vision drove Angel mad and he lives life a feeble shell of his former self.

Rather than bestow this fate upon Angel, Cordelia chooses to continue her original life as a champion and keep the visions. In order to do so, she must become half-demon so her body can support handle the visions’ toll. She does it anyway.

5 She Abolished Slavery in Pylea

At the end of season two, Cordelia was transported to Lorne’s homeworld, Pylea. Because she is a human, she is enslaved by the world’s inhabitants, who call humans “cows”. It’s as a slave that she meets Fred, who eventually returns home with Team Angel and becomes an integral part of the team.

After everyone realized Cordelia could see the future, she was instead made the queen of Pylea. Although her reign was cut short due to her decision to return to Los Angeles, she left Pylea a better place by abolishing all slavery and leaving the noble Groosalugg in charge of the realm.

4 “Actually, I’m Feeling Superior Because I Have An Arrow Pointed At Your Jugular.”

Season three episode ‘Billy’ centered on Angel’s most misogynistic — and truly evil — villain. Billy was rescued from Hell by Angel on behalf of Wolfram & Hart, part of a trade for Cordelia’s wellbeing. Billy has the ability to curse men with an unsatiable murderous rage against women. Billy doesn’t discriminate; he infects both bad heroes and villains, including Lilah. Cordelia — who feels partly responsible for Billy’s escape from Hell — decides she has to do something. She attempts to rile Lilah to join her but is unsuccessful.

During their final showdown, Billy goads Cordelia. “So you can dress like a man? Talk like a man? Does that make you feel superior?” To which Cordelia responds: “Actually, I’m feeling superior because I have an arrow pointed at your jugular. And the irony of using a phallic-shaped weapon? Not lost on me.” In the end, Lilah fires the shot that takes Billy down, thanks in large part to Cordelia’s earlier visit.

3 Changed Her Life After “To Shanshu In L.A.”

“To Shanshu in L.A.” was the final episode of season one. Wolfram & Hart attack Cordelia, causing her to become overwhelmed by constant, agonizing visions. She ends up hospitalized. At the end of the episode, after Angel and Wesley successfully rescue her, she breaks down. She is distraught by the amount of pain and suffering the people of the world feel daily. She tells Angel that she wants to help them all.

This episode marks a pivotal moment in Cordelia’s life. Although she retains the best parts of her forward personality, she is humbled. From ‘To Shanshu in L.A.’ on, she is a more compassionate, determined person.

2 Accepted The Role Of Higher Being

By the end of season three, Cordelia realizes that she is in love with Angel and she is ready to tell him how she feels. Angel has come to the same realization. On the way to meet one another, time stops for Cordelia. She is greeted by the demon guide Skip, who informs her that she is ready to ascend as a Higher Being and leave Earth behind. Although she is pained to leave Angel behind, she accepts her new role, understanding how much more good she could do as a Higher Being.

Although fans of the show know that she was actually being played by Skip and Jasmine, it’s a full-circle moment for Cordelia.

1 She Got Angel Back On Track

In ‘You’re Welcome’, Cordelia finally “wakes up” from her magically induced coma. She is surprised to find that Angel and the rest of the team have moved their operation to Wolfram & Hart. “You made a deal with the devil,” she tells a disillusioned Angel.

By the end of the episode, Cordelia tells Angel that she can’t stay. She explained that The Powers That Be owed her one, and she used the opportunity to “get her guy back on track.” She and Angel finally have their kiss and she vanishes shortly after. Angel gets a phone call, informing him that Cordelia died without ever having awoken from her coma. Cordelia’s visit was successful. It renewed Angel’s fighting spirit and gave him the push he needed to become a champion once more.

Link Source : https://screenrant.com/angel-times-cordelia-true-hero/