Expert: H Louise - 6/30/2009

Question
Is it possible that even though Angel signed that paper that was meant to take away his chance at becomming human wasnt tooken in effect. Like maybe they didnt have time to make it effective because Angel and co started killing them off. Or the PTB would give him his chance anyways despite Wolfram and Harts deal?

Answer
Hi Jeremy,

Thanks  for your question and sorry for any delay.

It could be possible that the deal won't take effect, after all anything can happen in the world of Angel and Buffy, so never say never.
Here's a transcript of the moment Angel signs the contract -
ANGEL
This is the Shanshu Prophecy.
SEBASSIS
The original.
SENATOR
The vampire with a soul will play a pivotal role in the apocalypse.
VAIL
And as a reward, will become human.
SEBASSIS
A paranoid person might think you're trying to manipulate us in an attempt to fulfill this prophecy.
ANGEL
I have no desire to become human.
SEBASSIS
Oh, good. Then you won't mind signing that pesky future away. Through that document, the prophecy can be undone. Your signature there will remove any opportunity that you will ever earn your once-precious humanity. Will you sign it?
ANGEL
Of course.
(Izzy takes out a pen; Angel leans forward, begins to sign it)
IZZY
(grabs the pen from Angel, stabs him in the left hand with it)
It's gotta be signed in blood.

Its signed in blood and as they say will undo the prophecy. Another thing to note is that the contract was made by powerful beings so it will be binding.
However, in the previous episode 'Power Play', when Angel is explaining his plan to the others, he says that it is highly unlikely that they will survive as the whole wrath of the Senior Partners will be rained on them, so signing the deal would make no difference to Angel as he wasn't expecting to live (or contiuning existing) after his plan took effect. So the prophecy wouldn't be an issue to him. It is also repeated in the last episode 'Not Fade away' -
SPIKE
(walks up to Angel)
What do you think all this means for that Shanshu bugaboo? If we make it through this, does one of us get to be a real boy?
ANGEL
(crosses his arms)
Who you kidding? We're not gonna make it through.
SPIKE
Well, long as it's not you.

However Im an optimist and think that if the prophecy was still going to come true - it could even more so as he sacrificed the thing he wanted most for the side of good, so maybe he would still be rewarded with becoming human once the apocalypse was over.

It is hard to say what would definitely happen unless they bring out another series of it or a mini-series or movie or something. However the story does continue in some form in a comic book series called 'Angel: After the Fall' it is plotted by Joss Whedon himself, if not written by him and is in essence how season 6 would or could have been like. I haven't read them, but I can tell you that Angel is still in with a chance of the prophecy, while he helps the people of a hell on earth, LA, riding his dragon Cordelia!

Hope that helps, if you would like further information don't hesitate to ask. H Louise