Charles Gunn (Angel)

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Charles Gunn is a character in the television series Angel, created by Joss Whedon and first introduced by writer Gary Campbell in the episode "War Zone". The character is portrayed by J. August Richards and named by Whedon after filmmaker James Gunn and actor Sean Gunn, both of whom had worked with Whedon. Gunn is initially presented as the leader of a street gang that defends its neighborhood from vampires.

Biography

Character history

Gunn grew up in the Badlands, an environment of poverty and violence, where he had to face many challenges. Gunn used his street smarts and fighting skills to protect his community from vampire attacks. As a teenager, Gunn became the leader of a group of street fighters who fought against

Angel Investigations

Gunn is introduced in the Season One episode "

J. August Richards later revealed in an interview that Gunn was intended to have become a vampire either in Angel season six or in the proposed Spike spin-off movie, had either project gone ahead: "I'd probably have him come back as a vampire and then kill himself." "That's always how I wanted it to end for my character".^[1]

After the Fall

In issue one of the Angel: After the Fall comic series (which is the continuation of the Angel series), Gunn and a group he has assumed leadership of storm a stadium and kill Kr'ph, one of the demon lords of L.A., who has taken up residence there. The group frees humans who were forced to fight each other by the demon. Gunn then makes a suggestive comment to the demon's female captives. At the end of the issue, Gunn is revealed to be a vampire, having been turned either during or after Team Angel's battle with the Senior Partners' army at the end of "Not Fade Away", who feeds on the women and turns the "rescued" men into vampires as part of "Team Gunn".

However, in the second issue, Gunn insists that he is still a good guy. He resents being a vampire, though he is prone to murderous impulses due to his lack of a soul. He reveals that he blames Angel for his condition, believing he had allowed him to be turned, and that he intends to save Los Angeles to prove that one does not need a soul to be a champion. As part of his plans, he kidnaps the psychic fish Betta George and imprisons him, forcing George to tap into his psychic ability to freeze Slayers in their tracks and contact people outside of Hell/Los Angeles.

In a later issue, he is seen making mystical plans; the intent is to have Angel come to the conclusion he sent Gunn to die, then Angel himself will die moments later. As part of his revenge against Angel, Gunn destroys the Wolfram & Hart building, Angel's headquarters in the war with the Demon Lords, which also forces Wesley back to the Senior Partners for a short time. Gunn later bears witness to Angel's defeat of the Lords, hanging back to ensure that not all of the people are slaughtered should Angel fail. Shortly after the team moves back into the Hyperion Hotel, Gunn confronts them and reveals his vampire nature.

Upon seeing what has become of Gunn, Angel tells him he is sorry. Gunn says he figured he would say that and tells him to table that for now. Gunn takes Angel around his base of operations and explains what happened to him. When Angel sees that Gunn thinks he is doing the right thing, she cautions him that the beast is in control, not him. Gunn attacks him, angered that Angel thinks that Gunn isn't himself. Gunn proceeds to remove all of the magic that had kept Angel alive and realizes that Angel is now actually a human. Gunn decides to let Angel lie there and die slowly, only to be confronted by Wesley's "ghost", who reveals to him that the visions he has been receiving are from the Senior Partners rather than the Powers That Be. Ignoring this revelation, Gunn continues to attack his former friends, with his team of Slayers apparently staking Spike—although Spike is later seen alive thanks to Illyria's timeslips—before he is kicked out of a window by Connor while trying to kill Angel again. Confronting Illyria, he tricks her into transforming into Fred so that he can shoot her, reverting her to her true form in the hope that he can convince her to use her powers to rewind time so that the Fall never occurs, only for Illyria to vow to unmake time itself. Realizing that the Senior Partners cannot allow him to die, Angel provokes Gunn into killing him, thus forcing the Senior Partners to reverse time to the original battle in the alleyway and giving Angel the opportunity to save Gunn before he is born. The group subsequently takes Gunn to the hospital, where he falls into a coma. In Aftermath #18 Gunn is shown driving a sports car. Gunn seems to be recovering from his wound well, but was stated not to be ready to rejoin the team yet. In Aftermath #23 Gunn is spotlighted. It is explained how he was cured so quickly from the attacks at the end of the series, and he and Illyria come to a mutual agreement and strike a friendship of sorts. In the end, Illyria and Gunn take off to find adventure, slay demons, and find a new direction in their lives.

Gunn eventually returns to

Gunn has displayed extensive knowledge of comic books and is considered to be a fan of pop culture.

• In the episode "
  Elektra
  , even quoting from the cover blurb, which reads "...One wins, one dies."
• When commenting on how fast
  Jay Garrick, Wally West, and Barry Allen
  . The reference elicits little response from his confused friends, so he merely says that it was "like she was movin' really fast".
• In the episode "
  First Impressions", Gunn mentions that he has not seen a movie since Denzel Washington's portrayal of Malcolm X
  , for which he believes Washington was deserving of an Oscar.

Following his mental upgrade, Gunn sheds his street look for the sleek, professional suits of a legal powerhouse. He also lets his hair grow slightly after having had it shaved in all previous seasons, which comes as a surprise to Cordelia in the episode "You're Welcome". In the final episodes, Gunn comes full circle, returning to his roots, taking back his street clothes, and reawakening his purpose as a soldier in the fight against evil.

Relationships

Romantic interests

• Veronica — Gunn had a romance with this girl prior to becoming a full-time member of
  First Impressions
  ", in which her non-fatal injury at the hands of a vampire brings back painful memories and feelings of guilt about Alonna.
• Winifred "Fred" Burkle — Gunn and Fred fall in love and continue a strong relationship throughout much of Seasons Three and Four, which was ruptured when Gunn murdered a human being in order to protect Fred's innocence. Nevertheless, he retains strong feelings of friendship for her and is devastated by her death, for which he is partially responsible. Unlike the other characters, who usually referred to Gunn by his surname, Fred always called him Charles and continued to do so following their breakup.
• Gwen Raiden flirts with Gunn in her first two appearances, and they have sex in the episode "Players
  ", when, with Gunn's assistance, Gwen gains the ability to touch people without harming them.

• Wesley Wyndam-Pryce — During Angel's temporary absence from the group in Season Two, Gunn and Wesley develop a brothers-in-arms bond. This friendship continues to develop but is strained by romantic rivalry over Fred (cf. "Waiting in the Wings"). The friendship between Gunn and Wesley deteriorates further after Wesley misguidedly attempts to kidnap Angel's son Connor and is accordingly fired from the agency. However, in Season Four, Wesley is gradually reintroduced to the AI team, and the pair are friends again by Season Five. The Beast's attack on Los Angeles requires Wes and AI to join forces, and Wes saves Gunn's life in their first confrontation with the creature. This friendship is again put under stress when the creation of Illyria (for which Gunn is indirectly responsible) causes Fred's death and Wesley stabs Gunn with a scalpel. The pair eventually reconcile.
• Barbie doll
  ", as he did in the beginning. Over the years, a solid friendship was formed.