Illyria
| Character | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Illyria |
| Occupation: | god |
| Relationships: | Winifred Burkle (shell) |
| Fandom: | Angel |
| Other: | Wikipedia |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
This article or section needs expansion. |
Illyria is a recurring character in Angel series 5 and the Buffyverse comics, played by Amy Acker.
Canon
Illyria is a god, one of the Old Ones, who is resurrected from death-cum-hibernation by Knox to take over the body of Winifred Burkle, which she[1] uses as a shell. She is able to access Fred's memories and can imitate her. The Angel team strips her of most of her powers, which threaten the world, and she subsequently fights on Angel's side in the S5 finale, 'Not Fade Away'.
Fannish Opinion
...in the end Fred is taken over by a goddess from another dimension. An early iteration of the themes from Dollhouse? Co-opting of the body by a different mind, with a certain amount of co-existence with the original soul that inhabited that body? The containment of Illyria also plays into some familiar Whedon themes as well; she’s too dangerous to be allowed loose, but too valuable to kill. She’s a bright mind trapped in a grim place. It’s something that I ponder a lot because Joss makes me ponder it. He keeps coming back to these themes in different narratives and, I admit it, I like it. It makes me think about what it means to be human, and it makes me think about identity, sometimes in interesting ways. (s.e. smith)[2]
Fandom
The Illyria arc was popular with many fans. Though some fans regretted the loss of Fred, they tended to vent at Joss Whedon for killing off yet another female character, rather than dislike the new character.
For a character who only appears in a handful of episodes immediately before the show was axed, Illyria has attracted a reasonable amount of creative activity. Fanfiction for her is set during Angel S5, post-'Not Fade Away' and during the comics, as well as in crossovers. An Illyria Ficathon was organised circa 2004 by ms_dollsome. Her costume made her popular in cosplay, and she is a fairly popular character in fanvids & fanart. Art ranges from angsty depictions of her missing her home world or in contrast with Fred to depictions of her as a kick-ass warrior, majoring on her costume & weapons.
Illyria is shipped most commonly with Wesley Wyndam-Pryce, who was just starting a relationship with Fred when she died and acts as a mentor to Illyria, and Spike, whom Illyria canonically refers to as my pet. Other partners include Charles Gunn and many others.
Example Fanworks
| Examples Wanted: Editors are encouraged to add more examples or a wider variety of examples. |
Fanfiction
- Lost in the Supermarket by Lint. A widely recommended early story; Illyria & Wesley (2004)
- Generals & if wishes were god kings by Denny. Spike/Illyria (2004)
- Illyria and the Magic Potion by spikeNdru. Illyria, Spike & Harmony; humour (2004)
- The Girl in the High Castle by Mosca. AU of S5 where it isn't Fred that becomes the shell (2005)
- How Tantor and Tarzan Became Friends by nwhepcat. "In the wake of the destruction of Wolfram & Hart, Xander runs into a diminished supernatural being with an enormous sense of entitlement -- and it all seems familiar somehow." Long fix-it of sorts; Xander/Illyria, Xander/Fred, NC-17. (2009)
- Compelled - The Buffy/Angelverse Reshaped by Hotpoint. "The God-King of the Primordium decides to replay the game from an earlier level and shows the universe what an Old One with a grudge is capable of..." Illyria travels back in time - AU Buffy S7 and Angel S4-5. (Six stories 2007–9)
Fan poetry
Fanart
- Illyria by MikeRobinsArt, a prolific portrayer of Illyria. Half-length portrait in colour pencils (2004)
- 'My world is gone' by MikeRobinsArt. Chalk pastels (2004)
- ILLYRIA by DevineSilence. Digital art three-quarter portrait (2004)
- Illyria - The Ancient by Ashtoreth. Pencil portrait (2005)
- Nobody Knows Illyria by MaximoPark. Digital art full-length portrait from behind (2006)
- Illyria by Petarsaur. Digital art of Illyria using her time/space distortion trick (2008)
- Illyria by Evogal. Coloured pencil portrait (2008)
- Fred and Illyria by Scotty309. Fred & Illyria joint portrait in colour pencils (2009)
- Ilyria/Fred by SaraRichard. Art nouveau inspired portrait of Fred vs Illyria; acrylic (2012)
- Angel and Illyria by Phoenix-84. Angel & Illyria, comic style (2012)
Fanvids
- Suicide Note by charmax. Wesley & Illyra (2004)
- Violence by fahrbotdrusilla. Illyria character study (2005)
- Big Fish by yhlee. Wesley & Illyria (2005)
- And – Kiss Me by obsessive24. Wesley & Illyria (2005)
Meta
- Queen Elizabeth meets The Terminator by Paratti. Idol Reflections essay (2004)
- Wesley/Illyria: No Happily Ever After by Laufeyette. Wesley/Illyria in The Shipper's Manifesto (2004)
- On Writing Illyria by Yasashii Tsubasa (2005 or earlier)
Fansites & Communities
- Chronicles of a Fallen Godking (offline) (archived link)
- Illyria's World (offline) (archived link)
- Lost in Blue (offline)
- Not a Smurf fansite with fanfiction, character profile, writing tips (offline)
- Of Pets and Harlots. Spike/Illyria fansite (offline) (archived link)
- To Never Die. Fanfiction site (offline) (archived link)
- Trapped. General fansite (offline) (archived link)
- Vahla ha'Nesh. Fansite with graphics, fanfiction, graphics, character profile
Livejournal
- _illyria
- filthyharlot
- spillyria Spike/Illyria
References
- ^ The original Illyria is referred to as a 'god-king' with neuter pronouns, but Illyria embodied in Fred is usually referred to by female pronouns; see the discussion by paratti in Queen Elizabeth meets The Terminator
- ^ Disability on Angel: Winifred Burkle and the Hot Mess (accessed 9 September 2015)