I abhor Whistler from the very depths of my soul. But then I roll my eyes at the Powers as a concept (which is part of my gripe with Angel, both the character and the series).

Yes! I was going to make a separate reply below, but I'll say it here. I only voted Nay on a few things, but Whistler is the huge, huge Nay. I hate him. Hate, hate, hate him. If they could have figured out a way to do Becoming without him, I would be so happy. Also, I would have liked the idea better of Angel the souled vampire hanging around the Hellmouth and deciding to help the Slayer in S1, rather than Angel the souled vampire pulled out of a filthy alley and shown fifteen-year-old Buffy and going on with her in mind. (Not to mention the fact that every "modern" flashback we saw on AtS is a huge clash with Angel's 100-years-of-filth past in Becoming.)

I didn't hate the Powers at first, but I came to loathe them. I don't mind individual prophecies used on the show, but the whole "Angel has a destiny" thing just starts to grate on my nerves after a while. Not to mention that I get annoyed with the Powers just playing chess with everyone, and all the characters just pleased that they're on the side of the PTB. Also, I believe I've mentioned this somewhere before, but I think AtS could have been done completely without the Powers. Doyle could just get visions. Maybe he doesn't know where they come from. Maybe he's just a decent guy who tries to help the people in trouble that he sees. Maybe he convinces Angel likewise. I think that's being MORE of a hero--doing things because you can help, because it's right, not because some omniscient beings want you to.

(Also, while Whistler was clearly working for Someone, I'm so thankful that the phrase The Powers That Be was never uttered on BtVS. It's also one of my pet peeves when a strictly BtVS fanfic has characters talking about the PTB.)