Why did Angel (The Buffy spin-off) have such an open ending to the series?

Answer 1

Oh my God I thought I was the only one with that question. I think because Joss Whedon was so selfish he didn't give a **** how he ended it and left the fans up in the air. Serenity failed miserably now he is working on a Wonder Woman movie to be released next Summer. If I were any of the actors I would have thrown the script right back at Joss and said there is no way I am going to end this series in such a crappy way, It was rated the worst series ending ever by TV guide. Also they still sell and make money on both Buffy and Angel merchandise. Joss got bored of Angel and wanted out even if it meant ruining the series and letting people down. Contrary to what other people are saying, the end of Angel was because Joss Whedon wanted to do other things. Since his series Fire Fly was cancelled, he had problems getting financing for the movie Serenity, not Angel. At one point Joss Whedon was writing for all three series, Buffy, Angel, and Fire Fly. On an interview I watched, Joss Whedon seemed manic and unfocused on his work with Angel. Julie Benz, who played Darla, said the show deserved at least two more years. I have all five DVD's and have seen interviews with both the cast and Joss Whedon. A good writer could fix all the mistakes Joss made in writing the final episode of Angel. He left way too many issues unsolved, and there was so much he did not get too as far as character developement. I highly doubt Angel will come back since the cast are all doing other things and since Joss himself has no intention of bringing it back.

Answer 2

WB cancelled the series late in the filming of Season 5.
http://www.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/TV/02/17/tv.angel.cancelled.ap/index.html

So Joss Whedon basically reconstructed the last 5 episodes from his expected story arc so that it could be a series end, but allow for a continuance if such was to be possible -either an unexpected renewal (he shopped the series around to other networks after WB cancelled it), or television movies (as had been planned right up until earlier this summer).

As a sidenote, the sudden cancellation and the need to construct an ending point was the reason you have this heretofore unknown "Circle of the Black Thorn" becoming so critical.

In an interview at the time, Whedon said, ""It isn't the end of all things. It's not a final grace note after a symphony they way 'Buffy' was," Whedon says. "We're definitely still in the thick of it. But it is and was meant to be the final statement about 'Angel.'"

and

""Did I make it so it could lead into an exciting sixth season? I did," he says. "But it's still a final statement if that's what it needs to be."

And about that hypothetical sixth season, though, Whedon has this to offer: "Next season would have been some serious chaos.""

http://tv.zap2it.com/tveditorial/tve_main/1,1002,271|88269|1|,00.html

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For the record, I thought the final episode of "Angel" was one of the best series-ending episodes I had ever seen - and certainly appropriate to the show.

Answer 3

They probably left it open just in case another episode or a reunion with Buffy will be made. I was a bit disappointed with it myself. We were left totally up in the air. A bad end to a brilliant series.

Answer 4

they were not sure if they wanted to end the program completely so they left an opening where they can make one off's or maybe another seris.

Answer 5

They (teh producers) weren't sure they'd be given the funding for another season.

Answer 6

It was incase another network decided to pick up the show.