Doyle or Wesley?

[hellmouth]

Even though he has a relatively short run in the series, there seems to be a lot of love for Doyle. So my question is, if the series were starting over and you had your way, do you prefer Doyle to live and be a long running member of the cast or do you want Wesley? Keep in mind, having Doyle live would have some serious ripple effects in the series so be prepared to discuss what changes would be made in your rewrite of the show...

-bryan

[ringpops]

I have to admit I haven't held nearly as much love for the Angel series because I found it hard to connect with and really love the characters.

However...

I WEPT LIKE A BABY when Doyle died. He was so likeable, and added SO much of that warmth that I felt was missing from Angel compared to BtVS.

xoxox

[bdegrande]

I think I may wind up in the minority here, but I prefer Doyle.  I think he is charming, he had me at the "our rats are low" commercial.  I prefer Wesley as the goofball on Buffy or the "rogue demon hunter" early on on Angel to the competent, dark, brooding Wesley of later seasons.

[buffyfan21]

As much as I loved Doyle, I am glad overall that Wesley came on board as he became one of my fave characters in the verse. That said, I wish Doyle could have stuck around a bit longer. Though you couldn't ask for a better ep for his character than "Hero." Oh my gosh..such a great and ep. Definitely one of my fave from S1 if not from the series as a whole. I cry every time I watch even though I know what's coming.. Seriously, you couldn't ask for a better send-off for his character, just beautiful and truly touching. It would have been great to see where he and Cordy's relationship could have ended up, though, that just kills me (damn you Joss. lol). The part at the end of "Hero" where Cordy and Angel are watching that video of Doyle..so sad! And I love that they reference this again in S5. It's so nice to see a beloved character remembered so many years later. It goes to show that even though Doyle was only around for a few eps of S1, his character really did making a lasting impact on the overall mythology of the show. I love Wesley and think we got some great character development from him over the seasons..but it's wonderful to know that Doyle is not forgotten and that he has his rightful place in the fandom as well.

[beth]

No debate for me.  Wesley.  I think he's one of the most interesting and complicated characters in BtVS and AtS.  I would not have wanted to miss seeing who he is at the start, who he becomes, and who he is at the end.

[bewitched]

I really loved both of them but I have to choose Wesley.  He's one of my favorite character in both series.

[TheLastofGilead]

I got to go with Wesley. I love his character arc, my favorite in the buffy-verse. It's still crazy to see him as the bumbling comedy relief in Season 3 of Buffy to how dark and conflicted he becomes in the last few seasons of Angel.

[FaithLehane]

Wesley but only because he had been around awhile....and basically took Doyles place.
I Cried like a Baby when both Men died.
Wesley's death after 6yrs was the same as Doyles death after only 10Eps.......They were both Great characters and Played Brilliantly.....By Glenn & Alexis.
At their Deaths......I felt the same Emotion....I wasn't more Upset for one.....they were both shocking and completey Devastating.

[ali_enchanted]

*******Big Spoiler Alert****************
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Wesley.

It's hard tho because you don't know where Doyle's character would have ended up.

Wesley's transition from 'strait and narrow/black and white' to 'conflicted/areas of grey'  across the series, was flawless. He never loses who he is (you only need to see how he reverts in s5 when his father returns) but grows and learns more about himself than any other character. It's a slow, natural progression that you don't even notice at the time, it's only wen you go back that you see how far he's come. It's really hard to pull that off as often when a character progresses on a show, it feels awkward, or is the result of some major event. With Wes, it just happens.

I admit I cried when Doyle died, it was sad and horrible, and left me upset (especially when Cordy and Angle were watching the commercial at the end). When Wesley died however, I felt sick. I should have known it was coming but I fooled myself into thinking it would all be OK. I sobbed and sobbed, When Allyria showed him Fred, it only made it worse. It wasn't even seeing Fred again, tho that was sad, it was Allyria showing some emotion, learning that she had feelings for Wes, and trying to make his last moments better. Joss really knows how to rip my heart out and once again, he did a wonderful job of that.

[Toddler]

Put me in the Book Man camp.

Seeing Westley change so much... from meek & mild Watcher, to rouge demon hunter, to an all around bad-ass is one of my favorite things about the Angel series. Joss & Co. writes it off so believably. You never really question his abilities to evolve and change as the story progresses along.

[smartgirl63]

I love them both. I sobbed and sobbed when both men died. But Wesley is my favorite character in Angel. So I guess I could never take him out of the series. Doyle was so loyal and wonderful. I missed him during the series. But no one could replace Wesley.