Gem of Amara Question

[siredbyspike]

So has anybody ever wondered what they could have done with both Buffy and ATS if Angel had not destroyed the gem of amara? I understand his reasoning in smashing it, so that it wouldn't end up in the wrong hands. But i have to wonder if it would have helped him more or hurt his cause.

I loved his speech about people needing someone at night to watch over them, and that they had enough help during the day already. And i guess it probably would have been pretty cheesy to see him running around in the daylight. It just kind of bugs me that a "get out of jail free card" was written in just for a couple of episodes and they didn't explore it more. Spike did spend all that time and effort digging around for it, i just felt like they could have done a bit more with it. . .

Just to end up having to address this issue again in Season 5 with the "necro-tempered" glass in Wolfram & Heart.

What do you all think about this? I'm very curious to hear different opinions.

[gumgnome]

The point you make is pretty fair - it is a "get out of jail card" thrust invitingly in the faces of the viewers. But then that's almost exactly what it is for Angel himself. He is looking for redemption and forgiveness at this point and he realises that the gem would give him only the illusion of that redemption - that is why he ultimately destroys it.

The necro-tempered glass is a pretty pathetic attempt to allow sunlight shots in Angel, making it easier to film. But that almost negates the years of sunlight shots on Angel and Spike on both shows over the years. Hell, the offices in Season 1 of Angel were just ridiculous considering that he's meant to combust in sunlight. He spends so much time in direct rays that season it becomes farcical whenever he does change position to avoid sunlight.

[Hellbound Hyperion]

Wolfram & Hart had vamps working for them long before Angel; I'm fairly certain necro-tempered glass would have been standard fare when constructing the building.

As for the Gem, I think Angel was right in destroying it. Apart from the whole "get-out-of-jail-free" card you mention it being, there's also the fact that he'd be wearing it all the time, which would lead to trouble if he got into a tussle in broad daylight and someone just yanked the thing right off him. It just wouldn't have worked. Besides, Angel has always been the guy in the shadows; it's where he does his best.

[snizapman6294]

i think if Angel still had the Gem, he would have absolutely no need for the Shanshu... but i think it's a good thing he destroyed it... if he had it while angelus was back in season 4, i think everyone would've died... like instantly.