Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Angel - First Time Viewer

[Grendelsbayne]

Are you forgetting the Vulcans?

Long life doesn't mean slow development. Klingons live just as long as Vulcans, yet Alexander still grows up almost as fast as an Ocampan.

The House Always Wins

Boy did Angel take advantage of the Moulin Rouge craze at the time. I think this is the second episode I've heard Lady Marmalade and man Hallett sung that song really well. Also, I loved how this episode took place in Vegas and seeing what Vegas was back then verse what it is now (And I'm going back in a month and the Strip has gotten worse over the years). They even went to Fremont Street which was fun. As for the episode, I'm glad Lorne is still part of this show. He leaves for Vegas and I had a thought maybe that was it. I like Lorne, and this was a good episode for him. Also, this episode is a good message on Gambling addiction.

The Cordy storyline is still confusing me. I guess she was sent up in order to help Angel? Now she's back and doesn't know anyone? I look forward to the explanation on that one, and basically what has been happening to her.

Slouching Toward Bethlehem

I'm starting to get really impatient with this Cordelia storyline. It basically started with the finale and now she's back, she has amnesia and I still feel lost. Now I know it's early in the season, but how about giving a little something. The is told by Skip that she is done in this dimension, and the powers need her to be on a higher plane. Ok, that's fine, but jump ahead 3 months and what does she do? Other than complain, not really much of anything other than win a spin for Angel. So we have this confused person, freaking out over demons and the like, looks at pictures of herself, and she blames team Angel for lying while Connor admits he tried to kill her? Does the notion of not being overwhelmed mean anything to her? Team Angel did tell her the truth, and tried to let it down easy as to not further freak her out.

Now I admit the more I watch season 4 the more I will probably have a change in attitude on this storyline but a few days ago I was lauding what they were doing with Cordelia and now I just don't know. I hope this isn't on the way to a character assassination because the writers have really done a good job with Cordy on this series and I just hope the payoff is well worth waiting for.

I did like Wolfram and Harts role in this, and how they played Wesley. Again, Lilah continues to impress as kind of the (semi, not so obvious) big bad.

This Cordelia storyline is one of the most infamous in the franchise, honestly. Not particularly in a good way. But it's also the driving force of this entire season, so you will get your explanation. Just not right away.

 

[tomalak301]

Long life doesn't mean slow development. Klingons live just as long as Vulcans, yet Alexander still grows up almost as fast as an Ocampan.



This Cordelia storyline is one of the most infamous in the franchise, honestly. Not particularly in a good way. But it's also the driving force of this entire season, so you will get your explanation. Just not right away.

I'm sure I will. I'm just worried where it's going is more dropping the ball than sticking the landing. Considering what they've done with her up to now (Which has been great), I'm just a little worried, that's all.

 

[tomalak301]

Supersymmetry

So that's what Randy Oglesby looks like under all the alien make up. He's been in Trek a number of times, even playing one of my favorite characters in Enterprise with Degra but it was always under the alien make up. I was surprised I recognized another Trek guest alum on this series. As for the episode, good episode for Fred, and finding out why she was sent to Pylea in the first place. I did find her rage was kinda overkill though. I understand why she would be angry, but she has never shown anything in terms of absolute rage before. Also, why go to Wesley. Wesley said the same thing to her as Team angel did, that once you kill someone, you can't ever take it back. It was interesting to see Gunn the one to actually do it though. Talk about protecting someone. Also loved Angel taking on the demon.

What I didn't like was Cordelia and Connor. Just...No. I'm already not a fan of relationship drama and we might be seeing a love triangle between Cordy, Angel, and Angel's son? Please I hope that stops before it even starts. Cordelia going back to the hotel is a good start, but this season is still young.

I guess what really makes me sad about Cordy this season so far is I just compared her to one of my favorite sci fi heroines of all time the other day. What I've seen so far this season it making me rethink that comparison.

 

[tomalak301]

Spin the Bottle

This was basically Angel's version of Tabula Rasa, minus Michelle Branch. Lorne tries a memory spell to get Cordelia to remember who she was and it ends up reversing all their memories back to the high school era. Hijinks ensue and this actually felt like a Joss Whedon script. It was snippy dialouge, there were some fun moments with Wesley, and we got an ominous vision from Cordy about a monster lurking. Also, I guess the love triangle is back on with Cordy telling Angel, they were in love. I really don't want to see Cordy and Connor becoming an item this season.

 

[ialfan]

Spin the Bottle

This was basically Angel's version of Tabula Rasa, minus the Michelle Branch. Lorne tries a memory spell to get Cordelia to remember who she was and it ends up reversing all their memories back to the high school era. Hijinks ensue and this actually felt like a Joss Whedon script. It was snippy dialouge, there were some fun moments with Wesley, and we got an ominous vision from Cordy about a monster lurking. Also, I guess the love triangle is back on with Cordy telling Angel, they were in love. I really don't want to see Cordy and Connor becoming an item this season.

This was definitely a bit of a rehash but is still one of my favorite episodes from season 4 for rewatches. It's light and fun without being too connected to everything else.

For what it's worth you're arguably going into a low point for Cordy early this season but at the risk of approaching spoiler territory things are explained and her character growth isn't ruined.

 

[Grendelsbayne]

This was definitely a bit of a rehash but is still one of my favorite episodes from season 4 for rewatches. It's light and fun without being too connected to everything else.

For what it's worth you're arguably going into a low point for Cordy early this season but at the risk of approaching spoiler territory things are explained and her character growth isn't ruined.

I mean.. in a sense. We can't say too much for spoiler territories, but I (unfortunately) have to say that whether her character growth is ruined or not is debatable at best.

 

[Jayson1]

Spin the Bottle

This was basically Angel's version of Tabula Rasa, minus the Michelle Branch. Lorne tries a memory spell to get Cordelia to remember who she was and it ends up reversing all their memories back to the high school era. Hijinks ensue and this actually felt like a Joss Whedon script. It was snippy dialouge, there were some fun moments with Wesley, and we got an ominous vision from Cordy about a monster lurking. Also, I guess the love triangle is back on with Cordy telling Angel, they were in love. I really don't want to see Cordy and Connor becoming an item this season.

I believe Whedon did write the episode . Jason

 

[tomalak301]

I believe Whedon did write the episode . Jason

Wrote and directed, which was why I mentioned it.

 

[JD]

I saw Mad Men before seeing Angel and when I saw Vincent Cartheiser's name in the Angel credits, my jaw dropped. Obviously they did quite a bit with the make-up on Mad Men.

Regarding Gunn, initially I found him to be a rather annoying stereotype. I mentioned this to my daughter and she told me that Gunn gets better and I'd like him more late in the show's run, pretty much what you just said. She was right. Gunn gets A LOT better later on.

I really liked what they did with Gunn in the last season.

Ground State

Decent episode. The highlight was meeting Gwen, who harnesses and conducts electricity. I liked her personality and she was a good foil for Angel. I also liked the scene with Angel and Lilah (Who is becoming one of this series' stars, by the way) and Angel figuring out that she and Wesley have been "doing it". Cordy really doesn't like those higher planes of existence. I wish the series was a little more clear about what she is up there. I guess the powers wanted her to be up there, but in last episode she said she's bored and in this episode she wants to escape. It must not be very good to be glowing like she is.

Wait, they didn't introduce Gwen until Season 4? I thought she first popped up in the first or second season.
As for the whole amnesia Cordelia/Connor thing, that's pretty much my least favorite storyline in the entire series, possibly even the entire franchise.

 

[tomalak301]

Apocalypse Now-ish

That was a hell of an introduction to this season's big bad (The Beast). That guy is un-killable, and then the ending with it raining fire down. There's finally tension this season and it will be exciting to see what happens next.

There is also now a negative. Cordy tells Angel she can't be with him because of his action as Angelus so she goes to Connor? God I think I might be sick. Yeah I am being told that something happens down the line that salvages the character, but right now I do not like what the writers are doing for her. Also, Connor is becoming the guy I feared, the teenage boy who is being used in a love triangle. Yeah it's the end of the world, but it's such a cliche. What has Connor really done to make me like him? Not a lot, and now Cordy has cemented the relationship? There better be a big about face later on or else this will be character assassination.

Some highlights of this episode was the omens leading to the beasts arrival, Lilah with the Britney Spears look, and Gunn figuring out the puzzle. I especially liked seeing the team working together again, other than Fred.

 

[Turtletrekker]

Well, you've reached the "ewww" I mentioned earlier. However, with the introduction of the Beast, season 4 is about to really start to go places.

 

[JD]

Yeah, the Connor/Cordy scene is pretty much the low point of the series, it's so very very wrong.

 

[tomalak301]

Yeah, the Connor/Cordy scene is pretty much the low point of the series, it's so very very wrong.

I know I'm still on the front half of the season, but I think it's safe to say I don't like this season as much as 2 or 3 right now. Neither of those seasons had character assassination moments like the front half of season 4 so far. It's disconcerting.

 

[tomalak301]

Habeas Corpses

So long W & H. Man what a freaky episode this was. This beast is proving to be really really scary. Nothing can even slow him down, and he took out W & H like it was a normal days work. Still not a fan of the love drama, and I hate to say it but I feel like it will be a distraction moving forward. It shouldn't be because the beast should be front and center but here we are.

 

[JD]

The Beast was a pretty cool Big Bad.

 

[tomalak301]

Long Day's Journey

Ok, now things are getting interesting. I have to say this was the first episode I've seen today that I really liked. Gwen is back for this one, which was nice to see. Also liked we got basically the Beasts entire plan, which was to rip out the totems of 5 mystical beings to use to blot out the sun, causing 24/7 darkness and the Demons/Vamps to be out all day long. It's also good that the relationship drama was pushed to the side so I can focus on the arc at hand, and then we get the ending. I knew Angelus would make an impact on the show again, and now that looks to be true. Always glad to see Angelus, so this season is already taking a turn towards the positive.

On a sadder note, this episode was dedicated to Glenn Quinn. Man and it was only a couple weeks ago I had just started Angel.

Awakening

I'm not sure if that was a great twist or cliched twist. You think they finally killed the beast and then at the very last moment while Angel and Cordy are doing it, the episode resets and Angelus is here. That was an interesting way to give him his moment of pure happiness though, but then I go back to the cliche of the "It was all a dream" ending and basically I think I'm at the WTF stage right now. I'll give the writers credit for one thing. I was fooled, so I guess the number of times I fall for something like that, it works often.

I had a question regarding the whole blotting out the sun. This only impacts LA right? There must be some energy that blots the sun out of that specific city, because there is only one sun and Buffy is dealing with The First in Sunnydale. This era of the Buffy verse is not a good time to be in Southern California.

 

[theenglish]

Yeah, the Connor/Cordy scene is pretty much the low point of the series, it's so very very wrong.

It is, and it isn't. But the viewer needs to wait and see.

 

[SAndrews10]

I remember watching when it originally aired knowing something was up and there was a twist coming because everything was just too damn perfect and everything resolved with 2/3 of a season to go

 

[tomalak301]

Soulless

I love Angelus episodes a lot. The mind games and torture is always so fun and Boreanez plays that part so well. Angelus really does point out the audacity of Cordy sleeping with Connor. Almost makes up for the whole thing...almost. This might have been my favorite episode of the season so far, but that hasn't been too hard.

Calvary

Hey, the show pulled a twist again. I was ready to call Cordelia an idiot for even trusting Angel, and then the end happened and it was worth it. I'm not sure if it makes up for this seasons prior transgressions, but it keeps the show interesting heading into the second half. It also helps that Angelus is out so now we can get some meater action than watching him behind the cage all the time.

Also, is it just me, or is Team Angel too gullible this season. They seem soft, and I'm not sure if I like it or not.

Faith comes back in the next three episodes based on the hulu episode synopsis's. I honestly can't wait.

 

[Forbin]

This particular apocalypse was confusing at the time, because while it was raining fire in L.A., it wasn't in Sunnydale. I forgot how they excused only having a local apocalypse.