Your Welcome, Buffy or Cordelia?

Who would you want in Your Welcome?

  • Buffy Summers

    Votes: 13 28.3%
  • Cordelia Chase

    Votes: 33 71.7%

  • Total voters
    46
This is Cordelia's goodbye episode and it's the least she deserved.

I've really been hoping that she would pop up again in the comics series, especially since they've brought Fred back from the dead, but, apparently, Cordy is going to be among that very, very slight number of characters who actually stay dead in the Buffyverse. Pity.
 
I've really been hoping that she would pop up again in the comics series, especially since they've brought Fred back from the dead, but, apparently, Cordy is going to be among that very, very slight number of characters who actually stay dead in the Buffyverse. Pity.

I wish they'd left Fred for dead and bought Cordy back. Both deaths were moving, but bringing Fred back has cheapened everything that happened between her and Wesley. I don't think she's mentioned Wesley once in the comics.

It would also have been difficult to bring Cordy back in Angel & Faith. I cannot imagine the two women getting along at all. Faith was in S9 to watch over Angel, it doesn't leave much for Cordy to do. You could say Faith took Cordy's place, watching over Angel.
 
FaithLehane16
FaithLehane16
Faith would have took over Buffy's place not Cordy.
Selfishly, I would've liked to see Buffy - particularly if the episode follows the similar premise of getting Angel back on track. Then again, given the manner in which Angel and Spike act and talk about Buffy during season 5, I don't know if I trust that the episode would have played out in the most respectful manner and I've no doubt parts of that episode would really annoy me.

But ultimately, it feels right that it was Cordelia; both Cordy and Charisma deserved a better conclusion than season 4. Even through bad writing and characterisation in season 3, I love Cordelia and "You're Welcome" was a good send-off; I would've been very disappointed if season 4 was our last memory of Cordy. With that being said, I wish we had been given at least a little more focus on Cordelia's relationships with the others (Wesley, Gunn, Lorne, Fred, ... even Harmony) given that she's been there since the beginning. Now that I'm thinking about it, I think having Cordelia for more than one episode in season 5 would've been optimal.
 
I think the episode was done perfectly with Cordelia. If Buffy was in it, it couldn't have been about getting Angel back on track. There would have had to be Buffy, Angel, and Spike drama, not to mention the fact that Lindsey never met Buffy. Also Buffy had plenty of heroic exits. Cordy deserved one after being ruined.
 
Cordelia. Buffy really has nothing to do with the Angel show. Cordy was a vital part and been there since the beginning. Plus it's the only episode she was in, in season 5 and it was The Cordy we all knew and loved again. So no, I wouldn't want to change that.
 
Cordelia for sure 🙂 Nothing against Buffy, but I am really glad that they have bring her back even if it's was just for one time. But Cordelia had deserves it she was a member of the team from the start of the series.
 
I think it would have been difficult to fit Buffy in without her taking over the show completely.

You would have the awkward reunion with Spike and Angel.

And Buffy would never have sent Angel on a suicide mission without staying behind to help him. Buffy, the new slayers and Super-Willow would have made minced meat out of the Senior Partners' demon army.

And we needed to heal the trauma of Cordelia's treatment in the two prior seasons.
 
Cordelia needed this episodes so that her character had closure. I would have preferred to see Buffy in the Girl in question. Your welcome belonged to Cordelia and it made more sense for me that it was her that help Angel get back on track because they were closer at this time in the verse. Cordelia helped Angel for 5 years so their relationship made more sense for this episode (and that's coming from a non Cangel so that says a lot!)
 
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I feel it was incredibly disrespectful of Joss to ask Sarah first, especially in light of the way he treated Charisma during the course of Season 4.

As much as I always love Buffy/Angel reunions, if Buffy had been in the 100th episode, for me personally, it would have felt like fan-pandering and I would have hated that, because I always felt that Buffy and Angel's post-BtVS Se3 reunions were very organic and came about due to natural circumstances. They were never over-blown or overly long and they served to show the continued underlying connection between the two. But they are both so far removed from one another by AtS Se5 (especially in light of Andrew's double-cross with Dana) that to put her into the 100th episode would have felt forced and out of place.

As others have pointed out, Buffy never really had a place on AtS, she didn't really belong in his world. Cordelia did. Cordelia has been with Angel since the start of his post-Buffy journey and she deserved closure and to say a proper goodbye. Bringing her back for You're Welcome was perfect and helped to set up AtS' final arc. Cordy coming back was organic and natural, she seamlessly fitted back into the narrative and was the catalyst for Angel finding his path (much like she was in the Pilot episode). Bringing Cordelia back for the 100th was absolutely the right call, I just wish she hadn't been Joss' second choice.
 
To be fair, being second choice to SMG is a pretty slight slight as slights go.
 
I pretty much am on the same page as everyone else. Cordelia's return was crucial for the character and the story. The 100th episode shouldn't have been in anyway about Buffy. Though I do wish we didn't have someone else playing Buffy in "The Girl in Question." To me I'd rather not have Buffy on screen if it's not SMG. Thankfully that was retconned in the comics to say Buffy had several fakes around the world to help keep her location secret.
 
FaithLehane16
FaithLehane16
You are not on the same page as me.
lia and "You're Welcome" was a good send-off; I would've been very disappointed if season 4 was our last memory of Cordy. With that being said, I wish we had been given at least a little more focus on Cordelia's relationships with the others (Wesley, Gunn, Lorne, Fred, ... even Harmony) given that she's been there since the beginning. Now that I'm thinking about it, I think having Cordelia for more than one episode in season 5 would've been optimal.

I agree with this. It seriously pissed me off that Cordelia didn’t spend more time with Gunn and Wesley. It was all about “getting her man back on track “ instead of the other relationships she had for four years. She and Wesley go back to BtvS season 3, and she , Gunn and Wes seriously bonded when they had their own detective agency in season 2. That’s my biggest problem with Cangel, Cordelia’s entire life and purpose becomes to service Angels path. This woman was violated, used as an incubator and discarded to DIE, and There’s barely a reaction from the others when she finally DOES die in Your Welcome. Then Angel is busy being petty with Spike chasing BUFFY all over Rome. Really?

Anyway, I digress. I voted for Buffy originally but after giving it it more thought I agree that it was an episode that could only have worked with Cordelia. She deserved a respectful good bye after the utter abuse of her character. I just wish they remembered that Cordelia DID indeed have other relationships besides Angel.
 
Jam
Jam
Agreed!
Anyway, I digress. I voted for Buffy originally but after giving it it more thought I agree that it was an episode that could only have worked with Cordelia. She deserved a respectful good bye after the utter abuse of her character. I just wish they remembered that Cordelia DID indeed have other relationships besides Angel.

Well I agree with this except the Cordelia that cared about anyone else but Angel disappeared in Season 3 didn't she? The prime example of this to me is her utter abandonment of Wesley in Season 3. Wesley, who I always thought was a much closer friend to her than Angel, given that as you say they had a potential romance in BTVS s3, they grew to be friends/co-workers in s1 and were always together when Angel was away doing his solo missions, and then in S2 when Angel alienated her, fired her and distanced himself from her in Season 2. But instead she forgives Angel at the drop of a hat and after that it seems to be all she cares about. She really can't be bothered with Gunn either but I guess he is off dealing with his own drama. So unfortunately, by the time we reach YW, I'm not all that surprised that all she does is services Angel's needs. Cordelia deserved her own story, her own interesting and compelling love interest, her own personal demons, her own growth (like we saw with Wesley).

I will say that I'm not surprised by the number of people who voted Cordelia v. Buffy, but I do find it interesting that the majority of opinions are that "Cordelia deserved a proper send off." Putting aside the question of Cordelia's proper send off (lets say for a second she gets her send off as well in another episode) - do you all still think she was the best person to set Angel back on his path?

I realized I never answered this question completely. I do believe that Buffy would have been the best choice to set Angel back on his path. Buffy was the person who inspired Angel to find his path and mission to begin with. She first inspired him to get out of the gutters and make something of himself and then after he came back from hell she again instilled in him the idea that despite how hard life gets, that you have to keep fighting, even if fighting is all that you do. Those are lessons he carried with him throughout his time in LA, to be reminded of those things again would have been a great way to remind Angel of where he came from.

Also, Buffy is the only other person out there who knows the enormous responsibility that it means to a warrior for the powers, and she is the only other person who understands what it means to lead an army into battle the way that Angel is about to do. She just had her battle, she could impart her lessons, her ideas regarding strategy and provide support and motivation for him. Angel respects Buffy, they worked along side each other for years so I know he would welcome her input.

Finally, the show started with the story about how Angel had to leave Buffy but showed how much he still loved her. In EoD/Chosen & Season 5, Angel's feelings for Buffy are highlighted and it is evident he still loves her. It would have been nice for the male lead to have a moment on his own show with the love of his long life. The same as Buffy had with him on her show.
 
Yes, I do believe that Cordelia was the best person - who was been able to put Angel back in the track.

We shouldn't forget that Cordelia spent as much time with Angel as Buffy did. When not even more time. I don't want to turn it into a battle against Cordelia vs Buffy 🙂

Angel will always love both woman in his life. That's a fact. But I think Cordelia deserved this episode.
 
Angel will always love both woman in his life. That's a fact. But I think Cordelia deserved this episode.

First, I feel very much like this is an opinion, but I understand what you mean - I just disagree with it and so it is inherently an opinion. Second, I guess my question is less from Cordelia's perspective and more from Angel's. I'm less concerned with her. I keep hearing from posters about how Cordelia deserved this. Well my question is - what did Angel deserve? What did he want? What would have had the most impact on his story arc as a whole? After all, this is his show right?
 
I do not want to sound outrageous but I think I know what Angel wants and I do not say it because I ship it.

So, yes I think Angel wanted Cordelia. Someone just needed to read his body language and his behavier. To know that. And even Angel mentioned it.
 
Well I agree with this except the Cordelia that cared about anyone else but Angel disappeared in Season 3 didn't she? The prime example of this to me is her utter abandonment of Wesley in Season 3. Wesley, who I always thought was a much closer friend to her than Angel, given that as you say they had a potential romance in BTVS s3, they grew to be friends/co-workers in s1 and were always together when Angel was away doing his solo missions, and then in S2 when Angel alienated her, fired her and distanced himself from her in Season 2. But instead she forgives Angel at the drop of a hat and after that it seems to be all she cares about. She really can't be bothered with Gunn either but I guess he is off dealing with his own drama. So unfortunately, by the time we reach YW, I'm not all that surprised that all she does is services Angel's needs. Cordelia deserved her own story, her own interesting and compelling love interest, her own personal demons, her own growth (like we saw with Wesley).

I will say that I'm not surprised by the number of people who voted Cordelia v. Buffy, but I do find it interesting that the majority of opinions are that "Cordelia deserved a proper send off." Putting aside the question of Cordelia's proper send off (lets say for a second she gets her send off as well in another episode) - do you all still think she was the best person to set Angel back on his path?

I realized I never answered this question completely. I do believe that Buffy would have been the best choice to set Angel back on his path. Buffy was the person who inspired Angel to find his path and mission to begin with. She first inspired him to get out of the gutters and make something of himself and then after he came back from hell she again instilled in him the idea that despite how hard life gets, that you have to keep fighting, even if fighting is all that you do. Those are lessons he carried with him throughout his time in LA, to be reminded of those things again would have been a great way to remind Angel of where he came from.

Also, Buffy is the only other person out there who knows the enormous responsibility that it means to a warrior for the powers, and she is the only other person who understands what it means to lead an army into battle the way that Angel is about to do. She just had her battle, she could impart her lessons, her ideas regarding strategy and provide support and motivation for him. Angel respects Buffy, they worked along side each other for years so I know he would welcome her input.

Finally, the show started with the story about how Angel had to leave Buffy but showed how much he still loved her. In EoD/Chosen & Season 5, Angel's feelings for Buffy are highlighted and it is evident he still loves her. It would have been nice for the male lead to have a moment on his own show with the love of his long life. The same as Buffy had with him on her show.

As usual we seem to agree! 🙂

I do think that Buffy is the right person to set him back on his path, for all the reasons mentioned above. However, at that specific point in season 5 I’m not so sure. Like you said, Buffy is the ONLY other person who has a destiny and mission of her own, she’s truly his equal in that sense. The Angel in season 5 is very different than the Angel she saw last. She hasn’t gone through what he went through with him in regards to Connor, and she has her own full plate of things that are truly important to the world and I don’t see her joining his pity party. I think she would be angry and distrustful about his involvement in Wolfram and Hart, and I think while she would empathize and see his side of things, she hasn’t personally experienced all this trauma that he dealt with . Her trauma is very different ...I don’t know if I’m explaining what I mean right lol. I think that at that point in time, Cordelia was a major contributor to what he has gone through emotionally ( ick even if I don’t like! ) and closure needed to be had, especially in regards to what happened with Connor. She really was the only one who could have understood what had happened, having lived it. My issue isn’t with Cordelia being there, my issue was HOW she was utilized. And you are 100% correct that season 3 was the downward spiral of her character. I have never forgiven her for her treatment of Wesley and her saintly housewife worship of Angel. Gross.

I would have loved to see SMG appear, because as you said, it’s only fitting that the
First and truest love of his life made an appearance, like he did for her show. But in this specific episode, Cordelia was the right choice. As others have mentioned, she was a huge part of the series, and she could share things, like Doyle and Connor that Buffy honestly wasn’t involved in. The girl in question would have been the perfect episode for her to show up.

Whether we agree with her Cordys arc, or the “Cangel”, the truth remains that Cordelia was an integral part of AtS since the beginning and That episode only worked with Cordelia IMO 🙂
 
Well my question is - what did Angel deserve? What did he want? What would have had the most impact on his story arc as a whole? After all, this is his show right?

That’s an interesting question because in season 5 I have no idea what Angel really wants. He misses Cordelia but has done nothing really to even wake her up. He’s dating Nina and yet having Buffy followed. Also, Bangel is very up in the air as well, cause as far as we know, Damage made it clear that Buffy no longer trusted him. Angel sings Cordelia praises in YW and says he’s lost without her, then a few episodes later he’s chasing Buffy in Europe and almost cries that she’s dating the Immortal. He’s all over the place.
 
Mrs Gordo
Mrs Gordo
Interesting points, I do agree that for the show, itself, Cordy was the right choice to come back.
Without doubt Cordelia, she deserved to be one last time in ATS after S4, many fans don't love the way she was treated in S4 plus she is part of ATS, she has been there since the beginning besides Angel & co. You're Welcome has great moments between her & Wesley and ... but I would want Buffy in The Girl In Question if she was there in this episode it would have been great.
 
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