The Allure of Angels of Darkness (A.K.A Fallen Angels and Nephilims)
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Angels are mythical creatures that are often perceived as “messengers of God” or guides who serve the Lord at his every command. In the Fantasy genre, angels are one of the most popular creatures in the entertainment industry, but the question is why are people so compelled to angels of darkness? Is the answer as simple as they’re as close to immortality as we can get, or is it that the nephilim and fallen angels are like most of us— outcasts who have lost what made them “special” and therefore more human than mythical? The possibilities may be endless!
Fallen angels V.S nephilims
Before I discuss why people are compelled by these dark beings, I should mention that there is a major difference between fallen angels and nephilims. A notable distinction between the two is that nephilim’s are half angel, half human because fallen angels have reproduced with humans, while fallen angels are full angels who have sinned and are punished by exile and having their wings severed.
Are angels of darkness that compelling?
Consider best-selling author Cassandra Clare’s The Mortal Instruments as an example of why darkness sells (for angels that is because I can go into thorough details about the power of darkness itself.) I remember a time when I stepped into a bookstore that people became berserkers over the novels, and it was because there was a twist to the obvious cliché. Instead of good, bright angels with halos over their heads, they were depicted as dark and dangerous creatures who were anything but “picture perfect” in God’s eyes. This approach to fiction isn't unique only to Clare's work– best-selling series such as Hush Hush, The Fallen, or Fallen have captured many hearts and fans through this approach. Film studios have recognized the allure of darkness when it comes to angels, thanks to the collaboration of book adaptations to the big screen.
Rooting for the underdog/outcast
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Popularity is just one factor as to why fallen angels or nephilim's sell in the entertainment industry. And the reason behind it is quite touching— like most of us, these types of angels don’t feel like they belong or are depicted as “evil” when they are simply misunderstood. For instance, the CW network created the TV show Lucifer centred around Lucifer Morningstar– the devil and fallen angel. However, instead of him being the walking cliché of the King of Hell and an antagonist, he was portrayed as an anti-hero who sought out greatness, even if the human world unknowingly tried to damn his name.
The following video below is a clip that allows viewers to capture how an outcast, specifically a fallen angel, can compel people and draw them into the world of fantasy.
Image by WeHeartIt
Source: Youtube
It’s not just Lucifer— many other wingless angels or nephilim’s sometimes outshine the protagonist by how the audience responds to the character and if they can relate to them. Think of Sebastian Verlac, Aaron Corbett or Siryen– all of them were tormented by their differences in society but became a walking— or should I say a flying symbol of the outcast/underdog trope.
Without a doubt, writers and casting directors understand that romance and connecting to the audience is the key to engaging storytelling. When it comes to dark angels, you can pretty much do anything you want since most of them are "evil and devilish". Angels are an exception, as I assume that when people hear the word, they immediately think of perfection, but in reality, this is quite the opposite in fantasy. In fact, the entertainment industry portrays these complex supernatural beings as erotic, confident, powerful, and often with core morals hidden behind layers that only those who are worthy can see, thus making fallen angels and their spawn more alluring than their light counterparts.
KYLIE MILNE— Hi, my name is Kylie, I’m a twenty-one-year-old Professional Writing student with a mild case of Cerebral Palsy and a caffeine addiction, so I decided to write a series about it. I love analyzing films, television shows, and literature. When I’m not passionately dreaming of the next creative idea in my head, I enjoy spending time with my friends and family.
