But I think what makes the ending so awful is that it is almost reminiscent of other episodes. It’s got the grand quest it has the ailing friend who needs to be rescued before time runs out. It has elements of Witch and Same Time, Same Place everything turned out fine. Just the knowledge that Spike and Angel had to sit there and let Fred die was like being bled out. However it taught me a valuable lesson. Never trust Whedon.
So even after years of watching Whedon’s shows. After knowing, just knowing, that anyone who lives in his bleak little world cannot possibly end up living a happy life, Hole in the World still lets you believe that at least for this episode everything may just return to the status quo. But the status is not quo, the world is a mess and Joss rules it. And as long as he rules it innocent people like Fred will suffer and die. Not quickly. Not painlessly. Not even with dignity. They will just die.
Forget it, Troper. It’s Whedonverse.
I got spoiled before A Hole in the World. I knew Fred would die. It didn't make it better. Watching an episode where your favorite character parishes slowly...well actually...It's one of my favorite episodes...Maybe that's why Joss rules the world. Because the world is a mess. Because we need to watch unhappy things. We find meaning in them.
Parishes? Fred goes to different Churches?
Sorry, couldn't resist.
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Hole in the world.
This is going to run over so look in the comments section for the end of this review. Spoilers for season five of Angel, season six of Buffy and The Big Damn Movie.
If you look up Joss Whedon on this very site, you will encounter the following quote: Some people have a gift of reaching right into your soul, and finding the hole and making it bigger. If you were to ask me why Whedon has such a reputation, all I would have to do is point to this episode. I think every whedonite would agree that this episode is one of the most truly heart-wrenching things ever to be shown on prime time Television.
This is the episode where Winifred Burkle dies.
Whedon is known for the random deaths of beloved characters. In fact between his three completed series and his webisodes, there are more dead main characters than I could count on both hands. That's right- MAIN characters. And while one or two of these characters have re-emerged in some form or another Whedon does tend to make sure the dead stay dead. So why is this episode in my opinion more painful than Seeing Red, Becoming: Part Two, or even The Body from Angel’s parent series? One word. Hope.
You’d think I would have learnt by now that Whedon likes to maim and mangle all forms of happiness. But there were a million excuses in my mind about why he wouldn’t do it this time. Firstly Cordelia had died two episodes before, so surely they wouldn't have another death so soon. Secondly after two and a half seasons of sexual tension Fred had finally got with Wes. That means a little bit of joy before Whedon rips their emotions to shreds. Doesn't it? Plus when Whedon kills someone it may be horrific, but it’s fast. Tara. Boom. Anya. Slice. Wash. Whatever onomatopoeia a harpoon makes. He likes to shock his audience. There is no way that that Joss was going to drag a death out for an entire episode – make her write, make her beg- without a last minute reprieve.