<![CDATA[Ryan's Angel Reviews / Comments]]> en-USFri, 03 Feb 2012 12:56:17 -0800 <![CDATA[COMMENT | 5x09 - Harm's Way]]> Fri, 03 Feb 2012 12:56:17 -0800
Anyway, I'd like to say that the review definitely made me reconsider my opinion of the episode. I -remember- how entertained I was by it and if you'd asked me what I thought of it 10 minutes ago I'd have said "great fun!" After reading your reasoning for the low score and actually comparing it to other secondary-character-centric episodes, though, I find myself agreeing with you. It's a lot of wasted potential.

It's still funny though. There are episodes on "Buffy" and "Angel that I dislike and this will never be one of them even if I can see those very fundamental flaws.

Ultimately I think this is an episode that sets it sights very low, but does manage to hit reasonably close to the bullseye. It's just that "Angel" is supposed to be better than that. Smarter than that. Deeper, I daresay.

Excellent review!

p.s. Agreed on "Life of the Party."

Reply | Other Comments (13)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 5x03 - Unleashed]]> Fri, 03 Feb 2012 10:26:09 -0800
As for my overall judgement of Nina: I get the impression you haven't seen the rest of the season yet, right? Or not recently? My opinion is based on her role in the season as a whole, not just in this episode. It's a retrospective review after all. I agree that in this episode she's rather bland. I like her better later on.

Regarding adding another female character: My point was mostly that season 4 was even -more- over-crowded, so in that sense adding Gwen as a recurring character made less sense than adding Nina here.

That said, there may be a handful of recurring female characters in season 5 but none of them -do- anything. Harmony is great comic relief and does have a fun episode to herself, but doesn't have much depth. Eve doesn't hold a candle to Lilah and even Fred is mostly a bit-player. This season Gunn gets an arc, Spike gets an arc, Wesley gets an arc, Angel gets an arc. Fred gets to be a love interest and die so Wesley can have an arc. it's an imbalance that's quite noticeable to me because Whedon makes a big deal about his feminism. It's the same thing as the damsel thing you notice. Whedon designed "Buffy" specifically to counter such stereotypes. In "Angel" the writers just use the stereotypes without criticism. I'm disappointed that they do so.

That said, I agree that bringing back Kate would've been much cooler. She indeed was a far better character. So was Darla, but bringing her back -again- would've strained credulity even on this show.

Oh, and one final point: it's true that this episode is filler, but it should be noted that the writers did not know at the time that there wasn't going to be a season 6. That doesn't change the worth of the episode but it does explain why they included it.

Reply | Other Comments (14)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 4x12 - Calvary]]> Fri, 03 Feb 2012 09:57:28 -0800
Pity you weren't right.

I also have to admit that I never even noticed that Fred changed her clothes and hair... oh well. Good point on it being weird continuity wise.

Anyway, glad you like Mike's site (note that 90% of the Angel reviews aren't mine.) Lots of food-for-thought here.

Reply | Other Comments (8)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 3x22 - Tomorrow]]> Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:00:58 -0800 It does seem out of the blue, but I don't believe the PTB had anything to with Cordelia's ascension. This was all orchestrated by "Jasmine", so she could use Cordelia's now half-demon body, to give birth to herself in S4. Jasmine, is not a PTB. The only time, that I can think of, the PTB makes any sort of appearance, besides the visions, is in BTVS "Amends" and in ATS "inside out", where Darla appears to Connor.
This is a sad episode for me, because this is the last time we see Cordelia, as herself, until a brief, but powerful, appearance in Season 5. We never see Cordelia in season 4, except in "Spin the Bottle".

Reply | Other Comments (16)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 3x06 - Billy]]> Mon, 30 Jan 2012 04:06:49 -0800
Reply | Other Comments (11)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 5x03 - Unleashed]]> Thu, 26 Jan 2012 20:25:57 -0800
I also wonder about your comment regarding another woman being needed in the season, with Fred all alone. I don't see Fred as the only woman around. There's Harmony, filling the pre-part-demon-Cordelia-type role. And there's Eve, filling the Lilah-type role. And though Charisma Carpenter is (almost entirely) absent from the screen, Cordelia is actually still very present in our thoughts this season. So...just how many more recurring characters do we need?

If they really wanted to pull in a love/sex interest for Angel, and an emotional tie for the audience, bringing either Darla or Kate back would have accomplished that. Those are characters we already care about. And who don't require an entire semi-useless episode just to introduce them!

Overall, this episode seemed to me like 90% set-up-for-season-5-plots, and 10% past exposition (for Buffy fans that hadn't been watching Angel, and Angel fans who didn't really know Spike too well). I would have liked it to be at least 60% new and interesting stuff about our whole gang. With this being the last season, and there being so much ground to cover, devoting an entire episode to a character we've never met before, and mostly don't care a fig for, seems a waste.

Reply | Other Comments (14)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 4x10 - Awakening]]> Wed, 25 Jan 2012 21:31:17 -0800
BTW, did he say "BuffY" at the crucial moment? I hate that if he did and I don't understand why.

Reply | Other Comments (4)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 4x06 - Spin The Bottle]]> Wed, 25 Jan 2012 20:02:46 -0800
I must say my favorite moment was the Cordy scream and Angel's "that IS inhuman".

Reply | Other Comments (23)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 2x15 - Reprise]]> Wed, 25 Jan 2012 04:41:38 -0800
+ Angel appearing to ‘lose’ his soul. Knowing what comes next in 2x16: [“2x16”] makes this all the more interesting.
This is of course the ep. "Epiphany" [2x16]

Reply | Other Comments (13)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 4x14 - Release]]> Mon, 23 Jan 2012 10:13:46 -0800
Thankfully, ME didn't follow their own cruel history there, and Lorne made it out alive.

Unfortunately, the plot didn't.

Mike, your account of what happened with Faith in the shower is so much more than I realized was going on. I just thought it was her frustrations finally coming to a head. Nuff said. But you really found a far more compelling way to read the meaning in the scene. Would that you were writing this season of Angel.

I really can't stress enough how confused I am about Angelus. There's no way that the writers, show runners, heck even the actors, don't understand the character better than this! A huge mistake like "Angelus is always there inside you" can almost be fanwanked away: Cordelia/Beastmaster doesn't necessarily know what the deal is, and Angelus has more important things to do than set the voice in his head straight. (Although, the way these episodes are being written, no, he really doesn't.)

But the rest of his behavior...?? Drinking in a cheap demon bar. Wha?!?! Angelus HATES other idiot vampires! Is he EVER going to kill anyone?! Is he ever gonna shut up?!?!

The writing on the Fred and Gunn moments of the past five or six episodes have been confusing for me, too. I thought that the Cordelia/Gru breakup was handled very well. Cordelia had no idea what message she was sending Gru. But we got to repeatedly see him get disappointed when she repeatedly chose Angel over him. When he decides to leave, it makes sense, seems right, and still stings with emotion. We really feel like Cordy is hurt, even if she is actually in love with Angel instead of Gru.

Fred and Gunn started down that path in the post-Professor-killing episode. Awkwardness around one another, a lack of connecting. But then Gunn just got pissy and aggressively unemotive. (And most of his angry/upset comments have been about them not having sex...which makes him just seem like a real macho ass.) Then the weird unnecessary Wesley kiss (what would have prompted him to do that? He's always wanted to protect Fred more than anything) and then...well, I don't understand Fred's behavior at all. Are we supposed to think that she doesn't want to be with Gunn? Did I miss some conversation where she actually said that she minds that he killed the prof? We got the one line before it all happened with "Charles could never do that, and that's why I love him." But...is that really all we're gonna get to convince us that his actions cause her to stop loving him? Because, really, it seemed at the time of the killing that she was actually more upset with him for stealing her thunder.

As for this episode being the real end of their relationship, I didn't grok that at all! Xander and Anya with the one-last-time in the basement; that I got. This one just seemed like Fred trying to sort of awkwardly seduce Gunn, and Gunn wimping out and closing off his emotions. Neither of them seemed to be acting true to character. So...where in that was the obvious end?

Anyhow, I think it's safe to say that I just really don't like this episode. I finally stopped even paying attention during the umpteenth impotent Angelus fight scene at the end. Who cares anymore? If the writers and staff don't care about these characters, why should I?

Reply | Other Comments (7)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 4x13 - Salvage]]> Sun, 22 Jan 2012 23:55:32 -0800
Reply | Other Comments (31)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 4x13 - Salvage]]> Sun, 22 Jan 2012 23:54:26 -0800
I only watched this season sporadically when it was on. I didn't see every episode, so I don't really remember everything that happened.

But reading what everyone's writing here, it would seem that this IS really Angelus. And not Angel pretending to be Angelus in order to flush out the Beast's master.

WHICH IS RIDICULOUS!

The writing stinks of sixth-sense-style hints. Angelus doesn't kill Lilah, but poses with her dead body and waits to be "discovered". Angelus doesn't kill A SINGLE HUMAN BEING in all of his wandering the streets, but loudly proclaims that he's trying to find someone to eat. Angelus kills a vampire in the club, stabs a demons hand, and manhandles bad guys right and left. Then, inexplicably, while the Beast is just about to kill the one person who can probably take Angelus out, Angelus kills the Beast. So, he is kind and good to humans, and kills demons and vampires? Um, that's Angel's prerogative, my friends.

There's absolutely no way in the world that this is actually Angelus. If it is, then these writers seriously need to actually watch Buffy the Vampire Slayer and learn how to write these characters!

On a completely separate note, the Wesley scenes were just amazing in this episode. I've been watching Angel pretty much just for him since Season 2.

Reply | Other Comments (31)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 4x12 - Calvary]]> Sun, 22 Jan 2012 22:44:16 -0800
My biggest grumble about this one... Angelus doesn't seem at all like the Angelus we know. I assumed the entire episode that Angel was faking it, though I couldn't figure out why that would be. But he wasn't nearly as twistedly sarcastic and evil as he usually is. Just kind of mildly annoying and mean. And WAAAY too cooperative and helpful with the info! Just for the chance at boinking Cordelia he's willing to talk? That makes no sense at all. Why would he ever think she would go through with it? And why would he care? The real Angelus would assume he could get out of the cage, and have his way with her WITHOUT the agreement.

My second biggest grumble about this one... why does Fred suddenly change her hairstyle and clothing about 2/3 of the way through the episode? Everyone else appears to be wearing the same stuff. Except maybe Gunn and Connor-- but they went out to hunt some skeleton head. The big change in her looks had me further assuming that this was another dream sequence or something. It was just too abrupt.

Anyhow, so rotten writing there. But the reveal at the end was pretty darn cool. I remembered enough from my on-again-off-again watching while the series was on to know it was coming eventually. But it was still pretty powerful.

Reply | Other Comments (8)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 1x08 - I Will Remember You]]> Sat, 21 Jan 2012 19:11:39 -0800 When Buffy says it's not enough time, you can hear Angel say very quietly:
Sarah Shh, please. Please…please, please.
One of the best Angel eps.

Also the song I'll Remember You from Sophie Zelmani, it's lyrics recall very much the story of this ep.
You can hear the song in BVS S1 episode "Angel" when Buffy kisses him for the first time.

ANGEL:
Buffy…(looks at the clock) the minute is almost up.
BUFFY:
(crying) No! Oh God. It's not enough time.
ANGEL:
(crying) Shh, please. Please…please, please.
BUFFY:
No. I'll never forget. I'll never forget. I'll never forget. I'll never forget.

Reply | Other Comments (61)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 3x13 - Waiting in the Wings]]> Fri, 20 Jan 2012 11:25:03 -0800
Reply | Other Comments (13)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 1x19 - Sanctuary]]> Thu, 19 Jan 2012 07:37:26 -0800
Reply | Other Comments (24)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 3x12 - Provider]]> Tue, 17 Jan 2012 19:52:30 -0800
Reply | Other Comments (22)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 3x11 - Birthday]]> Mon, 16 Jan 2012 13:01:18 -0800
I don't like the Powers-That-Be. I'm gonna take a stand and say their inclusion in the show is not good.

Reply | Other Comments (9)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 3x08 - Quickening]]> Sat, 14 Jan 2012 16:36:54 -0800
Reply | Other Comments (5)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 3x08 - Quickening]]> Sat, 14 Jan 2012 16:26:10 -0800
Reply | Other Comments (5)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 2x20 - Over the Rainbow]]> Wed, 11 Jan 2012 12:54:18 -0800
Reply | Other Comments (6)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 1x14 - I've Got You Under My Skin]]> Tue, 10 Jan 2012 20:45:51 -0800
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?sourceid=navclient-ff&ie=UTF-8&q=cache%3Ahttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.smartpopbooks.com%2F1025

The ethros demon (however its spelt) said that what was truly scary, even scarier than Angel himself is that the boy possessed nothing. No soul, no demon...just nothing. Thats not only completely different to either Angel, Spike or Angelus, its really unsettling in a way that vampires in this mythology aren't.

Reply | Other Comments (10)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 3x13 - Waiting in the Wings]]> Thu, 05 Jan 2012 22:28:02 -0800
Reply | Other Comments (13)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 3x13 - Waiting in the Wings]]> Thu, 05 Jan 2012 22:22:26 -0800
Reply | Other Comments (13)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 3x13 - Waiting in the Wings]]> Thu, 05 Jan 2012 22:20:21 -0800
Reply | Other Comments (13)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 2x11 - Redefinition]]> Wed, 04 Jan 2012 20:53:06 -0800
Reply | Other Comments (7)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 2x10 - Reunion]]> Wed, 04 Jan 2012 20:09:00 -0800
Reply | Other Comments (12)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 2x08 - The Shroud of Rahmon]]> Sun, 01 Jan 2012 20:57:39 -0800
Reply | Other Comments (6)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 3x22 - Tomorrow]]> Sat, 31 Dec 2011 14:18:26 -0800
I agree that the Cordelia ascension was really poorly thought out. It amazes me how the show can be so hit and miss sometimes. At least they could have offered up something lame like "you'll do more for Angel up there then down here". Something to entire her other than random greater good.

Awesome visual of Connor/Justine as the box sinks.

Reply | Other Comments (16)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 3x20 - A New World]]> Sat, 31 Dec 2011 14:01:20 -0800
I didn't mind the CGI fighting but the green screen work with the bus really took me out of the story.

I also loved the cutting off the ear scene and Mistress Meerna.

I'm slightly disturbed by the constant throwing around of Connor by Angel. It's such a very physical relationship. Now I think it's on purpose and I think it was the only option Angel had but it really stresses the relationship I think.

Perhaps another moment of foreshadowing:
- Your actions mean more than your words to Connor. Angel said all the right words but it was him taking a bullet for Connor and offering himself up as hostage that really threw Connor for a loop in my opinion.

Little moment I loved:
- After escaping, as Angel is offering to Connor to come back to the hotel, there is a fleeting look on Connor's face like he just picked up on something - something he didn't share with Angel. It wasn't until later that I realized that he smelled or sensed Holtz. I think this is confirmed in two ways:
1) In retrospect, the way Connor approaches Holtz seems like how he would always have approach Holtz at the end of their hide and seek "game" as described in S4. Connor almost acted proud to have found him. Like "ta da!" (as done by a terse raised-in-a-hell-dimension-teen)
2) Holtz made it clear in Benediction that he followed Connor and Connor didn't expect Holtz to come through. He said he intended on going back to Quor'toth after he killed Angel. So it was not a pre-arranged meeting at the end of A New World.

Reply | Other Comments (3)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 2x17 - Disharmony]]> Mon, 26 Dec 2011 12:36:23 -0800
Reply | Other Comments (7)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 2x15 - Reprise]]> Sun, 25 Dec 2011 20:26:09 -0800 I hate Joss Whedon and Tim Minear. After watching BtVS and AtS it's gotten me to thinking after all these years. Such evil, evil men.

Reply | Other Comments (13)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 4x18 - Shiny Happy People]]> Sat, 24 Dec 2011 21:18:40 -0800
- QUOTE -
We do see a slightly troubled Connor telling Jasmine that he doesn't deserve to be so happy, but as far as I can tell there are no hints that he's got any doubts about Jasmine herself. For example, during the scene where Fred sees Jasmine's 'real' face, she's seeing what Connor's apparently been seeing the entire time. Connor is watching Fred's odd behaviour, and I feel that surely there should be some tiny flicker of understanding in his face - something which you'd miss on a first viewing, perhaps, but which you might spot on a re-watch. But there's nothing. This all makes me think that the writers still hadn't quite decided where the Connor part of the story was going to go, even while writing this, the 18th episode of the season.


Realistically, I think you are probably right that they were not quite sure the impact Jasmine was having on Connor and his actions don't give anything away in this episode. If they were planning on this the whole time, it would be nice to know if they told Vincent Kartheiser this or just had him play it one way and then changed it latter

But this bothered me a lot so I spent time on this and "Magic Bullet" to look for clues. Perhaps it's a fanwank but I can see a few tiny "tells" that offer a potential alternative to "they made it up as they went along".

First, I think there is evidence that Connor definitely felt something from Jasmine. He clearly could access the link with her ("the happiest people in the world") and showed signs of bliss when no one was looking. But he was always aware that this was an effect she was producing. And it didn't make his personal pain go away. In this case I think he was playing along hoping he would eventually "feel the complete bliss". I think his blood prevented him from being fooled by the glamor but he sensed the bliss -- it just wasn't all encompassing like the others.

Second, there were a few small tells in SHP. I did note upon a fourth re-watch that he asked what was wrong with that man (Sam Witwer). He also was looking down when the others were staring at her a few times. He nodded and could potentially be interpreted as slightly relieved when Jasmine said they would try to recover vice kill Fred. I got the impression he was constantly watching Jasmine to see what her reach was. He is the one who asks "why" on more than one occasion.

Third. I think he didn't realize Fred saw Jasmine's real face when she first reacted. Like Angel he acted like she was just yammering-Fred.

Fourth, when all of Team Angel is on-board with Jasmine's plan Connor DOES feel like he's part of something. He's still isolated by his blood but he's not fighting. I think he is just "going with the flow" (as he said in Peace Out) because he so desperately wants to be happy.

Finally, in SHP Jasmine's control is just starting and Connor sees it growing. I don't believe it's until Sacrifice that he realizes he is never going to get to the level of bliss that the others achieve,

Having said all this, if I had to go back and watch it 4 times and work so hard to see these "tells" then they are too subtle to definitively be planned. So I can see both sides of the argument regarding what is considered the major logic fail of SHP.

Reply | Other Comments (16)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 4x08 - Habeas Corpses]]> Sat, 24 Dec 2011 16:32:13 -0800
Motivation:
- The back and forth appears to be to keep Connor off-balance. If she had rewarded his "happy puppy" look with affirmation then he would have been more confident in their relationship. By withdrawing her affection she makes him crave her approval even more.
- The "what the hell did I do?" morning-after look was clearly for the viewing audience and makes no sense in-character IMO. If we were already in the know, she would have been privately smiling smugly because she got what she was after and then gone on to reject Connor so as to confuse him. So, I'm a little disappointed they had her pull that look because it's OOC for evil Cordy. There is no one there to see her make that face. A better "look" might have been one of a deep sigh, close her eyes and then press on with the speech. This would be more consistent with a evil being trying to abuse her future minion to ensure his future devotion and perhaps showing a smidgen of regret. The same applies to the "Oh God!" when Angel tells her to get out. You could argue that Angel might here her words but really it's an OOC moment for evil Cordy if no one witnessed it.
- Winding Connor up that he was connected to the Beast: clearly done but for what purpose? Just simple tearing down of Connor's psyche or to isolate him from the group? Do you think she knew he was going to W&H or was that a happy coincidence. I'm not sure.

I think Connor is deeply worried he himself is an evil creature. I think the events in this episode support that.

Prior to this episode:
1) Holtz called him the bastard son of two demons but he didn't know what he was
2) Angel expressed disgust that he would take vengeance in the way he did. (And Angel's opinion does matter to Connor IMO).
3) Evil Beast Jack-In-The-Boxes at his birthplace (as arranged by Evil Cordy). And the Beast DOES look like the devil as Holtz would describe him to Stephen.
4) Evil Beast does not kill him or Cordelia although he kills just about everything else he runs into.

In this episode:
1) Evil Beast shows up where he is at. Like he is following him when I suspect taking out W&H was always on Cordy's list.
2) Evil Beast calls him "Connor", so he knows his name. As Wang Che told Jack Burton, "That's not good."


On a completely different note:
- I think the Zombification of the Employees was a W&H failsafe and I find that deliciously sinister. Of course "zombies" are slow and dim-witted so it wasn't a very good fail-safe but it was still interesting IMO.


So, presuming Cordy wants Connor to think he's connected to the Beast. I'm thinking she's trying to get him confused about "right" and "wrong". It's pretty hard to define yourself as "evil". Later when she says those concepts don't apply to her and Connor I think she has attempted to lay the groundwork with this "you are connected to the Beast" red herring.

Reply | Other Comments (14)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 2x09 - The Trial]]> Sat, 24 Dec 2011 09:26:19 -0800 DARLA: Maybe this is my second chance.
ANGEL: To die?
DARLA: Yes. To die - the way I was supposed to die in the first place.
May I just say: Wow!

Reply | Other Comments (5)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 1x19 - Sanctuary]]> Fri, 23 Dec 2011 10:21:48 -0800
Reply | Other Comments (24)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 1x12 - Expecting]]> Sat, 17 Dec 2011 16:58:11 -0800
Reply | Other Comments (15)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 1x11 - Somnambulist]]> Sat, 17 Dec 2011 13:31:17 -0800
Reply | Other Comments (14)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 1x16 - The Ring]]> Fri, 16 Dec 2011 22:07:25 -0800
Reply | Other Comments (7)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 2x17 - Disharmony]]> Mon, 12 Dec 2011 23:31:44 -0800
The vampirism/queerness metaphor was wonderfully written and acted, and I love how Cordelia accepted and defended Harmony after she was outed by Willow. (Also, the double-entendre lingerie scene was so cute.)

Yes, Harmony was dumb, shallow and annoying, but she craved acceptance and community so much that she started to show some real potential to be good. It was disappointing that Angel immediately excluded her--as Angelus, he had a lot of experience training fledgling vampires to be evil, so it would have been cool to see the soulful Angel training/mentoring an impressionable baby vamp to be a part of Team Good.

The final scene where Angel bought Cordelia all the clothes was the most disturbing to me. I do love seeing Angel emote anything other than angst, but the smily happy dance was SO strange (given recent events) that I had a hard time with it.

Reply | Other Comments (7)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 1x12 - Expecting]]> Sat, 10 Dec 2011 23:49:07 -0800 Rob, although I'm far less enthused overall about the characters on Angel (in relation to Buffy), I can assure you that the show does, in fact, get a whole lot better. Even towards the end of the first season you'll begin to notice an improvement and the second season is generally very well done. I think you can make a more complete judgment on the show after you get through Season 2.

Reply | Other Comments (15)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 1x12 - Expecting]]> Sat, 10 Dec 2011 22:23:00 -0800
Is the writing worse? Or is it just that I don't care for these characters at all? I'm hoping I can at least make it to Fred.

Reply | Other Comments (15)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 4x08 - Habeas Corpses]]> Fri, 09 Dec 2011 19:28:34 -0800 Buffy discussion, but while most of what you've said, x factor, is generally true, I think saying that I "love Dawn" is very much your personal interpretation of my feelings towards the character rather than a reflection of what I've actually said.

I like (not love) Dawn, most of the time, yes, because I appreciate the purpose she serves in the overall narrative of the show, and how she serves as another important metaphorical piece of who Buffy is at that point in time. Dawn's existence makes Buffy a richer character, and since Buffy is the character that I'm most captivated by, I can't not appreciate what Dawn brings to the table.

As a character in of herself, she has her moments, but I'd say she's one of the Buffy characters I have the least love for. This is mostly because I think she was a little underdeveloped by the writers in places. There aren't any central characters on Buffy I don't like at least a little though -- it's a part of why the show is so special to me.

Reply | Other Comments (14)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 4x08 - Habeas Corpses]]> Fri, 09 Dec 2011 18:25:04 -0800
I do agree however that I did not enjoy Cordy's change into Saint Cordy after Birthday, particularly throughout the whole Connor storyline in season 3. Maybe the writers felt they had to turn her into a champion to make her a better partner for Angel. But they were wrong. Cordy/Angel sold itself.

Reply | Other Comments (14)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 4x10 - Awakening]]> Fri, 09 Dec 2011 09:18:41 -0800
I sort of want to say that I like the idea better than the execution, but it's hard for me to imagine an alternative way of executing that idea. But, then again, I'm no TV writer.

Reply | Other Comments (4)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 4x10 - Awakening]]> Thu, 08 Dec 2011 13:25:55 -0800
Reply | Other Comments (4)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 4x10 - Awakening]]> Thu, 08 Dec 2011 03:58:11 -0800
Reply | Other Comments (4)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 4x04 - Slouching Towards Bethlehem]]> Tue, 06 Dec 2011 23:24:44 -0800
I did like the fight in the loft and "Tell the boys it's 4th and 10". SR and AD rock Season 4.

Unfortunately I think Kartheiser is right about the burnout. There are moments of brilliance which demonstrate what the show could be but there are other moments of pure laziness in the writing/directing/production that are like the fly in the Chardonnay.

Still, I love S4 with all it's flaws because it does have an overall cohesive arc with substantive topics.

Reply | Other Comments (26)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 4x01 - Deep Down]]> Tue, 06 Dec 2011 23:02:07 -0800
I found Angel's toss of Connor around all season kindof disturbing but absolutely accurate. We DO turn into our parents in some instances. Angel was raise in 17-something Ireland. Corporal punishment as required for out-of-line kids. On the one hand he can be very evolved but he slides backwards when it comes to Connor. All the Father/Son issues are RIGHT THERE. Also the whole beat-the-crap-out-of-vampires business. He beats the crap out of Spike for fun in S5. It's like vampire-protocol. But Connor ISN'T a vampire. He may have strength but this is his father tossing him about like trash. And to throw him out onto the street? I realize Connor survived a hell dimension but Angel shows he's not paying attention to the big picture when it comes to his son IMO.

Connor is a seriously damaged person. He's messed up in the head. Connor's willingness to dispense justice was a frightening example of the life he lead. The world (as Angel pointed out in Benediction) doesn't work that way. And Connor absolutely deserved a consequence for his twisted solution. Killing Angel out of revenge would (IMO) fit what Angel would expect. Torturing Angel with starvation/hallucinations/potential brain damage was all kinds of wrong. But, just tossing him out into the dog-eat-dog streets of LA? I don't buy that as a solid redemption approach. Exactly what is Connor to learn from the thieves/homeless/junkies/whores/crazies? Is Connor to learn that if he wants to be part of a family he has to be obedient to Angel? I thought tossing him around kindof proved that. Plus he DID sit when told to sit. I don't know.

I DO know that at the end of the season when Lilah says being raised by Angel is what made Connor postal, I had to kind of agree that Angel really DID screw up the Father/Son relationship. Deep Down shows the second misstep (the first being the lie in Benediction) of many IMO.

Reply | Other Comments (19)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 3x21 - Benediction]]> Tue, 06 Dec 2011 22:30:15 -0800
The pain, the innocence, the anger...all wrapped up together in confusion. An epic episode IMO.

Reply | Other Comments (14)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 3x19 - The Price]]> Tue, 06 Dec 2011 06:16:50 -0800
Reply | Other Comments (8)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 4x21 - Peace Out]]> Sat, 03 Dec 2011 15:37:20 -0800
And I also feel the need to defend Connor. I feel like people tend to hate teenage characters for no real reason and don't really stop to consider the things they are actually going through. I think that Connor was a fantastic character and I really like his story.

Just one more thing I would like to add. I feel like Connor was almost Angel's redemption in a way. In the very first episode, Doyle told Angel that he needed to connect with people. That was the constant struggle of the show, really. Angel's attempts to find his redemption through connecting with humanity and eventually becoming human himself. I think this episode really shows how Angel accomplished that through his son. As he says to the demon, he fights for Connor. He fights because he loves Connor unselfishly, and through Connor he also loves humanity unconditionally.

Reply | Other Comments (7)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 4x21 - Peace Out]]> Sat, 03 Dec 2011 02:39:34 -0800 Thanks, Ben, and again, wonderful review.

Reply | Other Comments (7)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 4x21 - Peace Out]]> Fri, 02 Dec 2011 13:41:06 -0800
Oh, yes, the spider-demons. I in no way love them but I think that's more of a fault of "Sacrifice" (which, IMO, is rushed beyond belief) and that the story progression here makes more sense and works better, for me, at least. To be honest, I agree that it is anticlimactic. I too thought, "Well, that's all they have to do?" And that's where a lot of the 10 points I deducted went (although Jasmine's kiss and the absence of other characters also did it). The reason I'm somewhat okay with it is because I see the defeat of Jasmine to be after she is exposed to the world. I think the true climax of the story is Jasmine and Angel's fight on the streets of LA, which I think is not anticlimactic in the least. But I agree with you on the spider-demons, don't love 'em. I also had a feeling that most people would rate the episode lower than me because I actually am a fan of the Jasmine arc. Of course, it's not without its problems but I think the risks it takes and the concepts that come out of it outweigh some of the problems I have with it. But like I said to Brachen Man, I completely understand that being someone that was never a fan of the story in the first place, it would be hard to love the conclusion.

Thank you so much on your comments about the Connor section! Believe it or not, he's one of my favorites in season 4 and one of the most consistent characters here (with Angel, Lilah, and Wesley beating him out) and the main reason I chose this episode was to stand up for the kid a bit. I'm heartbroken for him every single time I watch.

I definitely agree with everything you said about Jasmine. And doesn't that always make for the most interesting bad guys? That's why I love the Angel baddies more. It's never one-sided. Holtz, Jasmine, Darla, even Wolfram & Hart. If you actually round a character out more, they are bound to become more sympathetic even if they are the bad guy, so I think the fact that almost all of my sympathy lies with Jasmine in the final act shows how great of a job they did in creating a three-dimensional human character. In her mind, she's really the angel that's come to save them.

I am not signed up for any other reviews yet, but I want to! I just need to find another episode that I feel like I have something to say about and then hopefully I can crank out another review. Thanks again for your comments!

Reply | Other Comments (7)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 4x21 - Peace Out]]> Fri, 02 Dec 2011 03:28:50 -0800
Really great episode, I agree with your score and your review really does an amazing job in summarizing the main points.

Reply | Other Comments (7)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 4x21 - Peace Out]]> Fri, 02 Dec 2011 01:52:31 -0800
I must say I wouldn't give this anything close to a 90, personally, but I think I have trouble distinguishing between what I don't like about this particular episode and what I don't like about the Jasmine arc/Season 4 as a whole. I agree that this manages to wrap up the story very well, it's just that I'm not sure how I feel about the story to begin with.

I think the 'spider demons', or whatever they're actually called, really bring this episode down in my opinion - and not just because of the CGI. I already said it in my review of "Shiny Happy People", but I think they're introduced far too late and the whole thing just seems a little too convenient. The Keeper having his mouth sewn shut is extremely creepy and works pretty well, but I guess I just don't like the fact that to defeat Jasmine, Angel has to go to another world and beat up a big demon. It feels a bit like a last-minute writing effort, like someone said 'great, we've got this awesome goddess and we've got everyone hypnotised and it's really spooky - now how are we going to get out of this one?'

Having said all that, I agree that the final scene with Jasmine is absolutely brilliant. I do find myself actually feeling sorry for her here, which is pretty incredible. It reminds me of a quote I heard a long time ago which I can't remember word-for-word, but I believe it was someone like Jeremy Irons who was asked how he managed to get into character while playing a bad guy. And he said something like 'it's easy, it's no different from playing a good guy, because no matter which side they're on a character will always think they're completely in the right'. I'm sure it was much more eloquent than that, but this scene made me think of it because even though we know Jasmine's ultimately the 'baddie', we also see that she completely believed in what she was trying to do, and is genuinely heartbroken that someone ruined it for her.

Lastly, I just wanted to congratulate you on writing such a great character study of Connor. I'm not really a Connor fan and although I often feel sorry for him, I've never really stopped and thought about his development in much detail. You really took a good look at his life and the way it's moulded his character, and it's a great read. Well done!

Will we be seeing more reviews from you soon? I hope so!

Reply | Other Comments (7)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 5x09 - Harm's Way]]> Fri, 02 Dec 2011 01:37:00 -0800
Reply | Other Comments (13)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 4x21 - Peace Out]]> Thu, 01 Dec 2011 19:16:49 -0800
Reply | Other Comments (7)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 4x21 - Peace Out]]> Thu, 01 Dec 2011 17:29:43 -0800
Reply | Other Comments (7)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 5x09 - Harm's Way]]> Thu, 01 Dec 2011 14:36:08 -0800 Alex, I'll just say that you'll find a very similar outlook to your review here. Although... I don't recall finding very much in "Life of the Party" to be funny. Take that as you will.

Reply | Other Comments (13)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 5x09 - Harm's Way]]> Tue, 29 Nov 2011 08:04:18 -0800
I would also like to share that since reviewing this episode, I have started saying 'oh, crap-ola!' every time something goes wrong. It's a great word. Thanks, Harmony!

Reply | Other Comments (13)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 5x09 - Harm's Way]]> Mon, 28 Nov 2011 18:57:29 -0800
Reply | Other Comments (13)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 4x13 - Salvage]]> Mon, 28 Nov 2011 08:05:34 -0800
Reply | Other Comments (31)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 4x15 - Orpheus]]> Mon, 28 Nov 2011 04:42:23 -0800
It was great to see Faith, though. There have been too many weak women in Angel lately. Cprdelia was just a tool (literally AND figuratively) Fred apparently just takes messages, Lila died. Nice to see a strong woman for a change.

Reply | Other Comments (14)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 5x09 - Harm's Way]]> Mon, 28 Nov 2011 01:15:14 -0800
I don't think I expressed myself very well when I talked about Harmony being a substitute for Cordy. I think she's a great character in her own right, but she doesn't get enough character development to be one of the main players and she spends a lot of her time just being comic relief. That doesn't mean I don't like her, though. The reason I think of her as kind of a Cordy substitute is because I remembered Joss saying that they originally wanted Charisma for Angel because they needed that big, bright smile (I'm paraphrasing here) to offset Angel's dark moodiness. With Cordy gone, I think they needed someone else to fill that role and that may have been one of the reasons they brought Mercedes in.

I do think that if there had been another season, Harmony would have become more of a character in her own right and not been so much of a comedy character. Just look at how much Wesley changed and grew - I think something similar might have happened for Harmony. But sadly we'll never know.

Reply | Other Comments (13)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 5x09 - Harm's Way]]> Sat, 26 Nov 2011 11:37:31 -0800
It had never occurred to me that Harmony is sort of a replacement for Cordy. I had thought of it more this: Joss Whedeon, creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, realizes that he's about to kill off his last female character on said show's spinoff. Must create another female character. Hey, Harmony's funny, and funny is just what the viewers need after season 4. Quick, call Mercedes!

You're right that if Harmony is the new Cordy, she's a pretty poor substitute. But I really do love Harmony in her own right. More than you, I suspect, as I actually feel a lot of sympathy for her earlier in the episode as well, when she's working hard and getting no recognition for it.

Reply | Other Comments (13)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 4x14 - Release]]> Sat, 26 Nov 2011 11:16:35 -0800
Reply | Other Comments (7)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 5x13 - Why We Fight]]> Sat, 26 Nov 2011 00:44:02 -0800
I skipped this episode when I rewatched Angel recently, so I believe it's actually the only episode in the Buffyverse that I've only seen once. Your review makes me look forward to rewatching it when I have the chance. :)

Reply | Other Comments (7)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 1x21 - Blind Date]]> Wed, 23 Nov 2011 01:52:50 -0800
Reply | Other Comments (12)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 5x09 - Harm's Way]]> Thu, 17 Nov 2011 12:27:28 -0800
Reply | Other Comments (13)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 5x09 - Harm's Way]]> Thu, 17 Nov 2011 07:51:30 -0800
Reply | Other Comments (13)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 5x09 - Harm's Way]]> Thu, 17 Nov 2011 01:41:34 -0800
Brachen, I did really want to give it a higher score at first. I kept revising the score downwards as I was writing, because the more I thought about it the more I decided that there was a lot of wasted potential here. What really swung it for me in the end was reading the descriptions of the 'grading scale', where the explanations for every 'C' grade mentioned either a good plot or some good character development. Since this episode has neither of those, I ended up knocking off a few more points.

However, it should be said that I still consider 59 a pretty respectable score for a 'comedy' episode centred around a fairly minor character - that's an achievement in itself. Mike, I believe you're going to be reviewing 'Life of the Party' at some point? I'd be interested in seeing how that compares, score-wise, because I do actually consider Lorne to be a pretty minor character in this season and that's also mostly a comedy episode.

Reply | Other Comments (13)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 5x09 - Harm's Way]]> Wed, 16 Nov 2011 19:23:30 -0800
Reply | Other Comments (13)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 5x09 - Harm's Way]]> Wed, 16 Nov 2011 16:41:01 -0800
I never understood the logic of doing a Harmony-Centric episode at all in this season. They could've given the spotlight to one of the other characters that was sadly deprived of an arc, like Fred or Gunn.

Reply | Other Comments (13)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 5x09 - Harm's Way]]> Wed, 16 Nov 2011 15:20:20 -0800
Reply | Other Comments (13)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 4x14 - Release]]> Mon, 14 Nov 2011 14:12:38 -0800
I'd probably rate the episode a little bit higher if only because I think the last five to ten minutes are exceptional. I honestly think that the huge fight scene at the end is one of Angel's best and it's just so exciting and one of the only times in season 4 where I think Angelus is an actual threat (the only other times being some parts of "Soulless" and the end of "Calvary"). I actually think Angelus' taunting here works really well because Faith may have changed, but she still has that darkness in her and I don't know if she's really made that final step to fight for good yet. Her screaming "NO!" at Angelus' question, "Do you still want to die?" is a really powerful moment, in my opinion, and Eliza Dushku acts the hell out of it. I love that moment almost as much as the shower scene and think that's a real turning point for her. Of course, the rest of the fight is incredibly tense and exciting, and the cliffhanger literally made me gasp the first time I saw it. So, I'd probably give it a few more points (maybe an 80) because even though the Angelus and Jasdelia stuff is not good at all, the Wesley and Faith stuff is really some of the best of the series.

Reply | Other Comments (7)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 4x14 - Release]]> Mon, 14 Nov 2011 11:29:01 -0800
Iguana: Totally agree with your comparison to the Ezros demon and the contrast between Wesley/Faith and Angelus in terms of the use of continuity.

Alex: Angelus' lack of finesse shown here is sad. It's just such a waste.

On the up side, I think I'll finally have a better episode to review next time in "Home." :)

Reply | Other Comments (7)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 4x14 - Release]]> Mon, 14 Nov 2011 08:01:24 -0800 And what a nice surprise it is to read another Angel review! Great way to start the week.

Reply | Other Comments (7)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 4x14 - Release]]> Mon, 14 Nov 2011 02:28:47 -0800
I agree with absolutely everything you've said here - except maybe for the part about Gunn and Fred being uninteresting, but that's not important. In fact I think the good/bad point of this episode pretty much encapsulate good/bad of the entire season for me. Wesley and Faith: both amazing. Angelus and Cordelia: utter bollocks (great choice of word, by the way).

The Angelus of AtS really is just a cartoon villain. There's no finesse or intelligence to him whatsoever. He seems so far removed from the Angelus who carefully orchestrated Jenny's death in 'Passion' and knew exactly how to torment Buffy throughout the second half of BtVS Season 2. It's so disappointing. The best bad guys of the Buffyverse, or indeed of any story, will always have some charisma, some intelligence, perhaps even some shades of grey in their characters. This Angelus has none of these. My favourite Buffyverse villain will always be The Mayor, for those reasons - he's actually interesting to watch and not just 'a monster' like the Master, for example. But I digress.

And I could talk at length about Evil Cordy, but it just feels like a waste of breath to be honest, as I imagine we all feel pretty much the same way about her. Lorne pretty much sums it up for me when he says 'Cordy just mua-ha-ha-ed at us'. Yeah, exactly.

By the way, that screencap of Faith in the shower is excellent. Really harrowing to look at.

Reply | Other Comments (7)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 4x14 - Release]]> Mon, 14 Nov 2011 01:55:00 -0800
Faith and Wesley are amazing. This must be -the- most messed up relationship on either show. (I think they beat out even Illyria and Wesley because here the screwed-upness is more of a two-way street.) It's both the watcher-slayer relationship at its very best (Have we ever seen a slayer and her Watcher more in sync than in this episode?)and the greatest deconstruction thereof because we know what these two are to each other and what they have done to each other.

It's one of those times where the Whedonverse demonstrates that continuity done well adds so very much to a story. Taken as a snap shot these two wouldn't be too far out of place in a dark buddy-cop movie. What elevates their interaction beyond that is that we've seen both their histories play out over the years and know just why they relate the way they do.

And at the same time this contrast makes all the more clear why Angel's arc fails. I hadn't realised it until I read this review but I think you're right: he feels like a generic vampire with a taunt-book.

Even the Ezros demon in "I've got you under my skin" did the psychological mind-games so much better. And that -was- a complete stranger. The biggest disappointment of the season.

Reply | Other Comments (7)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 5x13 - Why We Fight]]> Sat, 12 Nov 2011 02:42:05 -0800 And Spike says that he won´t get experimented by the government which is something that happens on season four of Buffy. Gotta love the continuity.

Reply | Other Comments (7)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 5x13 - Why We Fight]]> Fri, 11 Nov 2011 14:18:46 -0800
I do have a one quibble though:

- QUOTE -
One of Season 4's main failings was that it was basically a 22 part story.

I have to disagree with this. Season 4's main failing was that it was a 22 part story that didn't add up and, Wesley aside, had very little long-term character relevance. Season 4 felt more interested in telling a huge story with an epic scope rather than paying attention to the characters. And while they occasionally achieved that epic feel they were going for, when you look back on it all it really doesn't connect together very well. I think that's why Season 4 struggled so much -- it was a case of failed execution rather than method, for me at least. The long plot-arc method can definitely work as long as the characters stay the central focus.

Reply | Other Comments (7)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 5x13 - Why We Fight]]> Fri, 11 Nov 2011 12:25:43 -0800
Nathan, I agree that season 5's standalone nature was a tool by the writers to draw in new viewers. It worked out pretty well, in my opinion. (Not counting the cancellation of course.)

Reply | Other Comments (7)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 5x13 - Why We Fight]]> Fri, 11 Nov 2011 08:39:18 -0800
Reply | Other Comments (7)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 5x13 - Why We Fight]]> Fri, 11 Nov 2011 01:50:56 -0800
This is one of those episodes that I always forget about, but then I'm pleasantly surprised whenever it comes around on my Season 5 rewatches. It doesn't have any lasting impact on me, but it's interesting and thought-provoking, and a nice change of pace from the rest of the season. Sam Lawson is a great character and I think he's brilliantly acted by Eyal Podell. As a human, he's very likeable, and as a vampire he manages to have that cold, dead look in his eyes while still somehow seeming a little 'different' from the other vamps we've seen before.

I never really thought about how Angel should have staked Lawson. I guess you're right, but I can also see why Angel wanted to give him a fighting chance. It wasn't the guy's choice to become a vampire, and I suppose sending him out shortly before sunrise was a gamble to try and satisfy Angel's guilt - that way he could tell himself that Lawson probably burnt up in the sun, but also give him a chance to make it on his own. I also wonder whether 'sires' end up with any kind of paternal instincts towards their vampire 'children' which might make it harder to stake them.

Another observation - I'm reviewing 'Harm's Way', and while watching that it struck me that Harmony, as far as we know, never had her 'sire' take her under his wing and teach her how to be a vamp. The same can be said for Lawson. Angel had Darla, and Spike had Drusilla, but Lawson's just sent off as a baby vamp to make his own way. I think that makes a huge difference to the way a vampire develops.

I agree with you about the comedy being a bit misplaced sometimes, and about the two 'other' vampires on the submarine being complete wastes of space. It would have been so much cooler if the captured vamps had been Spike, Drusilla and Darla, I reckon.

Just one small correction - in your quotes section, you have Spike saying 'I'm wondering why all the virgins look like gerbils'. I'm pretty sure he actually says Goebbels!

I hope you're going to be doing some more reviews for the ACP. I'd love to read more from you.

Reply | Other Comments (7)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 5x13 - Why We Fight]]> Thu, 10 Nov 2011 21:47:07 -0800
The Good:
-Mention of the pre-Initiative setup.
-Free virgin blood party. It sounds legitimate.
-Spike onboard. There just for comedic effect.
-Lawson as a vampire.
-Angel making Spike scram for shore.
The Bad:
-Far too many TV, video game and movie plots regarding nazis.
-The two vampires are useless. The Prince of Lies is kind of based on Nosterafu.

Lawson: "Funny what goes through a man's mind when his life's hanging in the balance. Boys talked about that a lot back on the boat. Always figured it'd be the special moments you freeze in time. Your mom singing you to sleep at night. Sneaking into the movies with your best friend. The way your girl's hair shimmers in the sun. But the truth is...the only thing that really goes through your head is..'wow, this really sucks'. And then you're gone."

Spike: "Bloody brilliant. Turn the poor sod to save the ship then make him dash for dry land before Mr. Sunshine scorches him a new one...you're still a dick."
Angel: "Yeah, I am."
Spike: "...Bollocks."

Good review Brachen Man.

Reply | Other Comments (7)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 4x19 - The Magic Bullet]]> Tue, 08 Nov 2011 00:08:01 -0800
I agree that Connor's behavior around Jasmine doesn't work. Connor did what he did because the writers wanted Angel to take the helm of Wolfram and Hart. Angel, to give his son a "normal" life (he should know better after Buffy), joins up with the biggest villain ever, and lets his friends follow him without knowing why. And they did. First they were dazzled by Jasmine, and then knowing what had just happened, they still got in the limo.

Season 5 was excellent, even though it took the entire season to find a way out of Season 4. Spike's presence helped a lot. And still one of the finest shows ever on television.

Reply | Other Comments (12)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 1x08 - I Will Remember You]]> Mon, 07 Nov 2011 02:11:13 -0800
I don't think Angel is 'enforcing his will' on Buffy, exactly, but he does have to make a very difficult decision here, and he doesn't have time to consult her about it. And, Angel being Angel, he can't do the thing which would actually make him happy - he just ends up sacrificing his happiness for the 'greater good' once again. I don't think his intentions are completely noble - I think there's a part of him which misses being the 'Dark Avenger' and can't imagine a world where he isn't a champion any more. But I think he genuinely feels that he doesn't have a choice, and Buffy being unable to remember their encounter is an unavoidable side-effect of that. Now, if he'd gone actually to the oracles and said 'I want you to erase Buffy's memories, please' then I might be more inclined to agree with you on the whole 'mind rape' thing. But that's not what happens.

As for the episode itself, I find it very moving but it's not one of my favourites. It's obvious from the beginning of the episode that Angel isn't going to stay human and a part of me wishes they'd never gone down this route at all, because it just opens up a HUGE can of worms which this episode isn't quite equipped to deal with. The same with the whole 'gem of Amara' thing. Angel smashing the ring made very little sense to me, but of course it was going to have to get smashed at some point otherwise the show wouldn't have been what it was.

Reply | Other Comments (61)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 3x03 - That Old Gang of Mine]]> Mon, 07 Nov 2011 01:45:20 -0800
I always see it as Wesley simply being disappointed that Gunn would keep secrets from them. That's all. If Gunn had told the rest of AI what was happening sooner, then perhaps they could have prevented the situation going as far as it did with the siege at Caritas. I think Wesley completely has the right to tell Gunn that he can't continue to work with them if he does something like that again.

So where's the 'race' part of all that?

Reply | Other Comments (17)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 1x08 - I Will Remember You]]> Sat, 05 Nov 2011 00:52:20 -0700
Reply | Other Comments (61)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 4x13 - Salvage]]> Sat, 05 Nov 2011 00:44:57 -0700
Reply | Other Comments (31)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 3x03 - That Old Gang of Mine]]> Fri, 04 Nov 2011 12:03:07 -0700

Hey Wveth! Have you considered the fact that Wes had no right to fire Charles, since the latter was one of the partners of the new Angel Investigations since mid-to-late Season 2?

Reply | Other Comments (17)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 3x03 - That Old Gang of Mine]]> Fri, 04 Nov 2011 12:00:54 -0700

At this point in the series, Charles Gunn WAS NOT an employee of Angel Investigations. He was one of three partners - which included Wes and Cordelia. Remember? All Wes had to do was tell Charles that he and Cordelia would cut him out of the partnership if he had repeated his mistakes of this episode.

The only times when Wes was "the boss" when they were actually investigating a case. Other than that, he HAD NO RIGHT to threaten Charles with job termination. He had every right to demand that Charles end his partnership with the firm. Wes was the "boss" my ass.

Reply | Other Comments (17)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 4x19 - The Magic Bullet]]> Wed, 02 Nov 2011 19:19:02 -0700
Reply | Other Comments (12)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 4x06 - Spin The Bottle]]> Mon, 31 Oct 2011 02:30:43 -0700
It does feel very sloppy, especially because there's no reason why they could have made them all revert to their 15 or 16 year old selves with the same hilarious results.

Reply | Other Comments (23)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 4x06 - Spin The Bottle]]> Fri, 28 Oct 2011 15:05:11 -0700
You'd think she'd remember him, considering she kept trying to steal him away from Buffy.

Other than that, I loved this episode. 17 year old Weasley is the funniest thing since Randy Giles.

Reply | Other Comments (23)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 4x07 - Apocalypse, Nowish]]> Thu, 27 Oct 2011 09:15:26 -0700
As for Wesley and Lilah: Stephanie Romanov said in an interview somewhere she saw it as Lilah trying to scope out the competition, see what she was up against, try and figure out just how deep Wes's feelings for/obsession with the Texas Twig ran. This made a lot of sense to me. As you point out she finds out it goes much deeper than she had anticipated and Wesley indeed is at his cruellest to her here. The first time I saw this scene I laughed at her razor-sharp mockery of Fred and the weight of Wesley's actions just after didn't quite fully register. It gets more and more uncomfortable to watch every time after, though.

However, I'll argue that their relationship was reasonably healthy and getting better, particularly by the standard of how screwed up they both were, up until "Slouching Towards Bethlehem" where Lilah (Without realising it?) took the games they played a step too far and Wesley started to pull away hard. Funnily enough their relationship again gets much better after they break up, turning from cold and sniping to bitter-sweet and nostalgic. Particularly after her death. You got to love the Whedonverse.

I will not deign to discuss "the scene" in any way whatsoever. Same for plot-consistency or lack thereof. After all, I didn't sign up to do this episode for a reason. (Yep!) I will however state that the John Woo fight scene is very cool indeed.

Reply | Other Comments (5)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 4x07 - Apocalypse, Nowish]]> Thu, 27 Oct 2011 05:09:47 -0700 That final fight scene always gets me a thrill when I watch it. I find it exhilarating, brutal and really well-done. Something this episodes does right and most of the season is a sense of doom and gloom.

Reply | Other Comments (5)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 4x07 - Apocalypse, Nowish]]> Thu, 27 Oct 2011 01:38:37 -0700
Reply | Other Comments (5)]]> <![CDATA[COMMENT | 4x07 - Apocalypse, Nowish]]> Thu, 27 Oct 2011 01:37:35 -0700
I also think that Angel and Cordy being 'in love' was badly done. I could well believe that they might be attracted to each other, but the word 'love' should never have come into it. It would have been better left as a fledgling relationship which might have been, but with the two never getting a chance to properly explore their feelings enough to know whether it was love or not. Although I do love their kiss in 'Your Welcome', which wouldn't have had the same impact if their relationship had been left as 'we kind of fancy each other'.

Reply | Other Comments (5)]]>