Why was Doyle killed so quickly?

[PJ]

I'm re watching Angel S1, and i forgot how much i think Doyle was a terrific character. Anyways, i wanted to see if anyone knows this, why did Doyle die so quickly in the show? I mean i first watched Angel a few years after in went off the air, but i always thought they killed his character because Glenn died ( ). But now i know that he had died in 2002 which was 3 years after Doyle died on the show. So what was the reasons behind why Joss killed Doyle so quick?

[wenxina]

Larger arc and significance for Cordy?
That would be my guess, but perhaps some people are more privy to the inner workings of the show runners.

[jellymoff]

I believe ( I could be wrong, as I can't remember my source) that Joss had planned to kill Doyle from the beginning. I had also heard somewhere that his drug issues may have sped up his (TV) death a bit.

[PJ]

aww. well that's a shame...i just wish he could have been on the show longer because i thought he was a really interesting character, and funny too.

[Hellbound Hyperion]

Jul 6, 2010 17:27:49 GMT -5 jellymoff said:

I believe ( I could be wrong, as I can't remember my source) that Joss had planned to kill Doyle from the beginning. I had also heard somewhere that his drug issues may have sped up his (TV) death a bit.

Adding to this, I thought it was his intention to make Doyle a villain at some point later on - kinda vengeful, maybe?

We may never know the truth for sure.

[TC]

^ Doyle was supposed to take evil Cordy's place in season four.

[Paul]

Jul 6, 2010 19:41:36 GMT -5 TC said:

^ Doyle was supposed to take evil Cordy's place in season four.

I heard that rumour ages ago and always thought it would have been amazing. I remember back in After the Fall #5, when IDW teased that an old character would be returning, I was really hoping it would be Doyle. Then, when it turned out be nothing but Illyria-as-Fred, I was like "Really? That's what you've been hyping up? We saw her do that in S5." Ah well, at least Cordy came back.

[VampSlayer]

I heard that he was planned to die in S1, but because of drug issues with Glenn, they killed him off earlier then planned. -Shrugs- It's a shame, really. It was a great character too.

[whedonitesunited]

I have heard the same thing that VampSlayer has heard. I'm starting Angel from the beginning right now and Doyle's story made me really sad. He was an amazing character.

[Scarygothgirl]

I loved Doyle, I wish he hadn't died so quickly. I started watching Angel and wasn't hopeful 'cos I'm not a big fan of Angel as a character, but the Doyle made me enjoy it, and then he died so soon! But I suppose Whedon is known for emotionally killing off favourite characters (in a good way!)

[Astray]

^ Same here. I'm slowly making my way through Angel Season 1 and Doyle and Cordelia are like the only reasons I'm watching. Wish he wasn't killed off so fast, I think his character was very likable...didn't hurt that he was really cute either.

[Scarygothgirl]

Oh so very cute lol

[afterthebattle]

To me Doyle just seemed to be the only way Cordelia could get her precognitive powers. I always felt that that was the only purpose he served. Plus Joss had to remind us that everyone can die, even our favorite characters.

[Neil]

Yeah, Doyle was great. I wished they wanted to keep him longer.

You can read a lot about him in the wikipedia article.

Jul 6, 2010 20:09:20 GMT -5 Paul said:

Jul 6, 2010 19:41:36 GMT -5 TC said:

^ Doyle was supposed to take evil Cordy's place in season four.

I heard that rumour ages ago and always thought it would have been amazing. I remember back in After the Fall #5, when IDW teased that an old character would be returning, I was really hoping it would be Doyle. Then, when it turned out be nothing but Illyria-as-Fred, I was like "Really? That's what you've been hyping up? We saw her do that in S5." Ah well, at least Cordy came back.

I was thinking exactly the same. I know the writers are a little hesistant to write character whose actors are dead ( I read these things when Andy Hallet died) but I would have liked a little visit and a "happy ending" or final closure to this character.

Angel and Cordelia are still shown to grieve over his death in "You´re Welcome", so I would have liked a final goodbye or just to keep the character for the whole HelLA-scenario. The comic book would have allowed that.

[Randi Giles]

Plus Joss is kind of sick. I think he always wanted to let us get somewhat attached to a character and then kill them off quickly.

[jellymoff]

I think part of what made Doyle's death so impactful was that it was so final. Obviously, Glenn Quinn's death made it so much more tragic. So may times our favorite characters get brought back some way, so we never really have to miss them. Comics are the biggest offender of this. Superman, Bruce Wayne, Hal Jordan, Steve Rogers, the list goes on and on.....

[Billie Erin]

I imagine they never anticipated his popularity, he was probably originally intended as a dramatic device to ensure that Cordy and Wesley could smooth easily into their intended roles in the series. I don't think he was ever intended as a standalone sort of character, which is a shame really cos he's so awesome.

[Randi Giles]

Was Doyle popular? I liked him while he was on the show and I even got teary eyed when he died. I don't necessarily miss his character though like I do Cordelia or Wesley after their death. IF ever they were to bring him back I would just think what's the point?

[Miss. Rogueh]

I heard that they killed Doyle because Glenn had drug problems that were affecting(this word reminds me oh HIMYM lol) his performance. Rather then re-cast the part that everyone had grown to love, kill him...

[PJ]

^^i heard that too now that i think about it. It's sad because he would have made a really great character. Well, at least he was recognized in "You're Welcome" again.