Angel ep by ep; rewatch and reviews

[saturn5]

REPRISE
　
The Good;
Hell of a shock when Darla makes the Angel/Darla shish kebab. Good scenes at WR&H and the Darla/Lindsey stuff is great.
The Bad;
How come Angel can sense Darla at the Hyperion but not when she's evesdropping on him and Denver?
Best line:
Lilah; "Stake the bitch!"
Jeez, how did they get away with that?
One of the WR&H employees pulls their child out of daycare as a sacrifice? Killing the mom and her family is horrible! Kate's suicide attempt also ain't nice.
Apocalypses: 5
Angel Cliches
Damsel in distress; 17
Inverting the Hollywood cliche;
In disguise; 8
DB get's his shirt off; at the end Darla rips it off
12
Cordy's tattoo;4
Cheap Angel;
6
Fang Gang in bondage:
Cordy: 5
Angel: 9
Wes: 3

Fang gang knocked out:
Cordy: 10
Angel: 12
Wes: 5
Doyle; 1
Gunn; 1
Lorne; 1
Kills:
Cordy: 5 vamps, 1½ demons
Angel; 22 vamps, 31 and 1/2 demons, 3 humans
Doyle; 1 vamp
Wes; 1 demon
Kate; 3 vamps
Faith; 16 vamps, 6 demons, 3 humans.
Gunn; 5 vamps+ 2 demons.
Fang Gang go evil:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 2

Alternate Fang Gang:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 6

Characters killed: Denver plus the family
35
Recurring characters killed; byebye Denver
5;
Total number of Angel Investigations: 3/1
4, Angel, Cordy, Wes and Gunn

Angel Investigations shot:
Angel: 10
Wes; 1
Packing heat;
Wes; 2
Doyle; 1
Angel; 1

Notches on Fang Gang bedpost: Angel and Darla and how!
Cordy: 2 ?+Wilson/Hacksaw Beast
Angel: 2; Buffy and Darla
Wes; 2; Virginia and the bleached blonde

Kinky dinky:
The Claimac demons apparently 'raped' the villages of man in addition to laying them waste. Speaking of which Angel 'taking what he wanted' from Darla at the end is about as close to rape as you'll ever see from a heroic character on TV. Their foreplay is him chucking her through a glass door!
Captain Subtext;
Know the face, different character; 2
Parking garages;
5,
Guantanamo Bay;
Buffy characters on Angel; 14
Wetherby, Collins and Smith. Angel, Cordy, Oz, Spike, Buffy, Wes, Faith, Darla, Dru, Master, Anne
Questions and observations;
Why no commentary on all these great eps? Why do people sacrifice goats? They're the nicest animals out but they always seem to be associated with evil. Must have been fun to have them on the set that day. David Fury of course is one of the sacrificers. First mention of Lilah's mum. Lorne doesn't like Lloyd Webber, not even 'Memory'? Wes and Virginia breaking up, awwwww! Cordy remarks she has no friends in LA, I guess she didn't keep up with the girls from 'Expecting' or 'She' (you'd think being knocked up against their will by a demonic entity and ending up in his breeding hot tub together would have bound them closer?). Darla with the glove rather reminds me of the old TV series Witchblade. Last appearance of Holland, not a nice guy but a great character. He's right of course, supernatural evil depends on human weakness. Poor Kate!
Marks out of 10; 9/10, truly great

 

[Mal]

REPRISE

This is probably my favorite episode. If not, it's certainly in the top three. Aside from the amazing Kate-suicide scene (the Mystery of which is made explicit in the next episode), and the Wes "Things are going to get better for us" scene, the highlight (for me) has always been:

HOLLAND: Congratulations. Great victory.

ANGEL: You're...

HOLLAND: Holland Manners.

ANGEL: ...not alive.

HOLLAND: Oh, no. I'm quite dead. Unfortunately my contract with Wolfram and Hart extends well beyond that. Hop on in. You certainly earned it.

(Angel slowly steps into elevator, looking at Holland, who laughs.)

HOLLAND: No. Not a ghost here. No, it's just me. Dead me. (Pulls the collar of his shirt aside to show Angel Darla's bite marks, then reaches for the elevator buttons) See? - Home office, wasn't it? I should mention the trip is one way. Well, if there are no objections, I suggest we get going. It is rather a long ride.

(Holland pushes the 'down' button. Doors close, elevator descends)

HOLLAND: Well, this is exciting, isn't it? Going straight to the source. So, what's the big plan, Angel? Destroy the Senior Partners, smash Wolfram and Hart once and for all?

ANGEL: Something like that.

HOLLAND: Hm-mm, now tell me just what do you imagine that would accomplish? In the end, I mean.

ANGEL: It'll be - the end.

HOLLAND: Well, the end of you, certainly. But I meant in the larger sense.

ANGEL: In the larger sense I really don't give a crap.

HOLLAND: Now I don't think that's true. Be honest. You got the tiniest bit of 'give a crap' left. Otherwise you wouldn't be going on this Kamikaze mission. Now let me see, there was something - in a sacred prophecy, some oblique reference to you. Something you're supposed to prevent. Now what was that?

ANGEL: The apocalypse.

HOLLAND: Yes, the apocalypse, of course. - Another one of those. Well, it's true. We do have one scheduled. And I imagine if you were to prevent it you would save a great many people. Well, you should do that then. Absolutely. I wasn't thinking. Of course all those people you save from that apocalypse would then have the next one to look forward to, but, hey, it's always something, isn't it?

ANGEL: You're not gonna win.

HOLLAND: Well - *no*. Of course we aren't. We have no intention of doing anything so prosaic as 'winning.'

ANGEL: Then why?

HOLLAND: Hmm? I'm sorry? Why what?

ANGEL: Why fight?

HOLLAND: That's really the question you should be asking yourself, isn't it? See, for us, there is no fight. Which is why winning doesn't enter into it. We - go on - no matter what. Our firm has always been here. In one form or another. The Inquisition. The Khmer Rouge. We were there when the very first cave man clubbed his neighbor. See, we're in the hearts and minds of every single living being. And *that* - friend - is what's making things so difficult for you. See, the world doesn't work in spite of evil, Angel. It works with us. It works because of us.

(The elevator stops. The doors open and Angel looks out to see the plaza in front of the Wolfram and Hart Office building in LA. They're back where they started.)

HOLLAND: Welcome to the home office.

ANGEL: This isn't...

HOLLAND: Well, you know it is. You know *that* better than anyone. Things you've seen. Things you've, well... done. You see, if there wasn't evil in every single one of them out there (Angel watches as some people in the plaza start yelling at each other) why, they wouldn't be people. They'd all be angels.

(The glove drops from Angel's hand to land on the floor of the elevator and Angel slowly shuffles out of it.)

HOLLAND: Have a nice day.

gets me every time.
of course, a good lawyer like holland manners has read Federalist # 51:

But what is government itself, but the greatest of all reflections on human nature? If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary. In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself.

and thus was stated the greatest argument in favor of separation of powers ever made.

 

[I am not Spock]

^That Angel/Holland speech right there pretty much sums up the philosophical concept of Angel to me. Great scene, btw. Angel's speech later on to Kate in 'Epiphany' is also a good one which reinforces the show's premise (If nothing we do matters, then all that matters is what we do).

 

[saturn5]

EPIPHANY
　
The Good;
All of it, just magnificent, especially love the Lindsey/Angel fight and the truck crashing through the window.
The Bad;
Anyone?
Best line:
Gunn; "So what, you had a epiphany? Just wake up and bang?"
Angel; "Sort of the other way around"
Jeez, how did they get away with that?
Even though it's just plastic you wince when Angel smashes Lindsey's hand
Apocalypses: 5
Angel Cliches
Damsel in distress; 18 Cordy this time around
Inverting the Hollywood cliche;
We all expect Angel to lose his soul but he doesn't only Buffy can do that to him
In disguise; 8
DB get's his shirt off; still off from last week so yes
12
Cordy's tattoo;4
Cheap Angel;
6
Fang Gang in bondage: Wes and Gunn at the house
Cordy: 5
Angel: 9
Wes: 4
Gunn; 1

Fang gang knocked out: Cordy post-impregnation
Cordy: 11
Angel: 12
Wes: 5
Doyle; 1
Gunn; 1
Lorne; 1
Kills: 1 demon for Angel and one for Wes
Cordy: 5 vamps, 1½ demons
Angel; 22 vamps, 32 and 1/2 demons, 3 humans
Doyle; 1 vamp
Wes; 2 demon
Kate; 3 vamps
Faith; 16 vamps, 6 demons, 3 humans.
Gunn; 5 vamps+ 2 demons.
Fang Gang go evil:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 2

Alternate Fang Gang:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 6

Characters killed:
35
Recurring characters killed;
5;
Total number of Angel Investigations:
4, Angel, Cordy, Wes and Gunn

Angel Investigations shot:
Angel: 10
Wes; 1
Packing heat; Wes for the third time with his shotgun
Wes; 3
Doyle; 1
Angel; 1

Notches on Fang Gang bedpost:
Cordy: 2 ?+Wilson/Hacksaw Beast
Angel: 2; Buffy and Darla
Wes; 2; Virginia and the bleached blonde

Kinky dinky:
Darla and Angel have sex three times. Darla considers herself very good in the sack as she's been doing it for 400years and used to be a professional. She asks Angel was she "Not good?" which is exactly what Buffy says in Innocence. Lorne suggests that Angel give Darla cab fare (I had a friend who always said that if a guy does that/cooks you breakfast afterwards it made you a prostitute. Strangely she is now an unmarried mother). On that topic Cordy impregnated by a demon against her will for the second time. And we always thought Xander was the demon magnet? Of course if you like that sort of thing; http://taboo.eroticillusions.com/free/ or http://galaxy-of-terror.com/
Captain Subtext;
Apparently the way to tell Angel and Angelus apart is that Angelus wears leather pants? Keith Topping suggests that at the end of the ep Lindsey is 'struggling with his sexuality' but I'm not so sure?
Know the face, different character; 2
Parking garages;
5,
Guantanamo Bay;
Buffy characters on Angel; 14
Wetherby, Collins and Smith. Angel, Cordy, Oz, Spike, Buffy, Wes, Faith, Darla, Dru, Master, Anne
What the fanficcers thought;
Goodbye to Kate who leaves LA, changes her identity and becomes a district attorney in New York before returning to Angel in season 6. http://www.fanfiction.net/s/3106733/1/Girls_Night_Out is an interesting PG slashfic take on her last night in the City of Angels. Also (inevitably?) plenty where to raise money for her new career she works as a stripper/hooker for some of the pimps she used to bust when she was a cop. Working out her 'daddy issues' as Anya might suggest? Is it just me or when did the word 'pimp' stop being an insult and become a compliment/lifestyle choice (and a verb)? And what does that say about modern society?
Questions and observations;
The PTB decide to save Kate, well you would, wouldn't you? How much do I love Lindsey as a lonely drunken teenage buck with a pink carnation, pick up truck, cowboy boots and sledgehammer? Angel uses the 70s term 'pad', well he was about back then, a groovy cat if there ever was one. Angel smashing Lindsey's hand is SUCH a powerful moment, even when you know it's plastic it still makes you wince. Angels observation that if it all means nothing then the smallest act of kindness means everything is just wonderful. Lovely ending too with Cordy being caught by Angel, the gang is back together.
Marks out of 10; 10/10

 

[Mal]

EPIPHANY

The Good:
All of it, just magnificent

The Bad:
Anyone?

hmm... how about:

Goodbye to Kate who leaves LA, changes her identity and becomes a district attorney in New York

but I did love the exchange:

Sounds like you had an epiphany.
That's what I keep telling people!
​

Kinky dinky:
I had a friend who always said that if a guy does that/cooks you breakfast afterwards it made you a prostitute. Strangely she is now an unmarried mother

I was raised to understand that if you weren't going to cook breakfast, the least you could do is pay for the cab. Later in life I realized that you paid for the cab so she would go away and you didn't have to endure breakfast. Even later in life I discovered that if you send her away in a cab, you'll never have the chance to be surprised with... breakfast! So on the whole cab/no cab controversy, I come down squarely on the side of: don't sleep with ugly girls.

What this has to do with Angel is anyone's guess. Angel only cooks for people he isn't sleeping with (like Wes and Cordy).

Marks out of 10; 10/10

On that, saturn5, we can at least agree.

 

[saturn5]

DISHARMONY
　
[FONT=Times New Roman]The Good;
Wes and co take delight in humiliating Angel and it is funny as hell. All the Harmony stuff is excellent.
The Bad;
Understandably a lightweight ep, Cordy pretty much in denial throughout, she needs a friend and wants to believe she can trust Harmony. Harmony says that there are over 100 vamps in the theatre but they seem to almost all flee at the sight of the 5 strong AI team?
Best line:
Gunn "I say nuh and uh"
Jeez, how did they get away with that?
The all you can eat vamp buffet
Apocalypses: 5
Angel Cliches
Damsel in distress; 18
Inverting the Hollywood cliche;
In disguise; 8
DB get's his shirt off; 12
Cordy's tattoo; yep, definitely as CC stands up.
5
Cheap Angel;
6
Fang Gang in bondage:
Cordy: 5
Angel: 9
Wes: 4
Gunn; 1

Fang gang knocked out:
Cordy: 10
Angel: 12
Wes: 5
Doyle; 1
Gunn; 1
Lorne; 1
Kills: 4 vamps for Angel, 2 for Gunn
Cordy: 5 vamps, 1½ demons
Angel; 26 vamps, 32 and 1/2 demons, 3 humans
Doyle; 1 vamp
Wes; 2 demon
Kate; 3 vamps
Faith; 16 vamps, 6 demons, 3 humans.
Gunn; 7 vamps+ 2 demons.
Fang Gang go evil:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 2

Alternate Fang Gang:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 6

Characters killed:
35
Recurring characters killed;
5;
Total number of Angel Investigations:
4, Angel, Cordy, Wes and Gunn

Angel Investigations shot:
Angel: 10
Wes; 1
Packing heat;
Wes; 2
Doyle; 1
Angel; 1

Notches on Fang Gang bedpost:
Cordy: 2 ?+Wilson/Hacksaw Beast
Angel: 1;Buffy
Wes; 2; Virginia and the bleached blonde

Kinky dinky:
Harmony is so cute in her babydoll nightie. Her ode to the joys of human blood seems to even tempt Angel. Gunn also seems beguiled by Harm and vice versa until he discovers she's a vampire
Captain Subtext;
Lesbian subtext between Cordy and Harmony and then more explicit lesbian text between Cordy and Willow, CC not aware of Will's relationship with Tara up until this point. The cult leader wants to turn Wes and Gunn and eat Cordy suggesting women aren't really his thing. Cordy praises Angel as having a 'gay man's taste in clothes'.
Know the face, different character; 2
Parking garages;
5,
Guantanamo Bay;
Buffy characters on Angel; add Willow and Harmony so 16
Wetherby, Collins and Smith. Angel, Cordy, Oz, Spike, Buffy, Wes, Faith, Darla, Dru, Master, Anne, Willow, Harmony
What the fanficcers thought;
http://buffy.adultfanfiction.net/story.php?no=15274 (18+ only)
Questions and observations;
Cordy's jacket makes her look like a Prussian Hussar or something. Interesting to see Wes and Angel silently vie for the leadership role. Now I know an awful lot of people hate this ep with a vengence but I think it's great, Harmony is such a breath of fresh air, a nice light ep after the intensity of the Darla arc. Love Wes' Xena moment, "Kill'em all!"
Marks out of 10; 8/10
[/FONT]

 

[DS9Continuing]

^That Angel/Holland speech right there pretty much sums up the philosophical concept of Angel to me. Great scene, btw. Angel's speech later on to Kate in 'Epiphany' is also a good one which reinforces the show's premise (If nothing we do matters, then all that matters is what we do).

Yep. It's a direct line from there to "Not Fade Away." Just because there's no chance of winning doesn't mean you don't fight. You fight because it's the right thing to do.

 

[saturn5]

DEAD END
[FONT=Times New Roman]The Good;
Well if you like gross horror concepts this one's for you! A very nice end to the Lindsey story arc (for now) and some good humour about corporations and how they work. Very clever scene where we see around Lindsey's apartment with all the little features showing his life with 1 hand.
The Bad;
When Lindsey shoots up the boardroom where the heck are WR+H's crack security team who always seem to turn up on every other occasion?
Best line:
Lindsey "Stop it evil hand!"
Jeez, how did they get away with that?
Eye stabbing anyone? Or living organ donors? Plus Angel garrotting the parole officer.
Apocalypses: 5
Angel Cliches
Damsel in distress; 18
Inverting the Hollywood cliche;
In disguise; 8
DB get's his shirt off; 12
Cordy's tattoo;
Her green top shows it to great advantage so 6
Cheap Angel;
6
Fang Gang in bondage:
Cordy: 5
Angel: 9
Wes: 4
Gunn; 1

Fang gang knocked out:
Cordy: 10
Angel: 12
Wes: 5
Doyle; 1
Gunn; 1
Kills:
Cordy: 5 vamps, 1½ demons
Angel; 26 vamps, 32 and 1/2 demons, 3 humans
Doyle; 1 vamp
Wes; 2 demon
Kate; 3 vamps
Faith; 16 vamps, 6 demons, 3 humans.
Gunn; 7 vamps+ 2 demons.
Fang Gang go evil:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 2

Alternate Fang Gang:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 6

Characters killed: Lindsey's donor
36
Recurring characters killed;
5;
Total number of Angel Investigations:
4, Angel, Cordy, Wes and Gunn

Angel Investigations shot: Angel by the parole officer.
Angel: 11
Wes; 1
Packing heat;
Wes; 3
Doyle; 1
Angel; 1

Notches on Fang Gang bedpost:
Cordy: 2 ?+Wilson/Hacksaw Beast
Angel: 1;Buffy
Wes; 2; Virginia and the bleached blonde

Kinky dinky:
Of course this being LA even the organ donors are insanely pretty. Lindsey pinches Lilah on the way out, well you would, wouldn't you? (I tried using the 'evil hand' excuse at a strip club once but it didn't work, the bouncers were a profoundly cynical lot who showed me the door, the street, the pavement, the ambulance and ultimately the hospital emergency room)
Captain Subtext;
Angel seems to yearn for the parole officers 'butterfat'? (Yuck!)
Know the face, different character; 2
Parking garages;
5,
Guantanamo Bay;
Buffy characters on Angel; 16
Wetherby, Collins and Smith. Angel, Cordy, Oz, Spike, Buffy, Wes, Faith, Darla, Dru, Master, Anne, Harmony, Willow
Questions and observations;
Once again Wes and Angel subtly compete for leadership. Love Wes delegating Angel to help Cordy. Lilah suffers a death of the thousand cuts, constantly humiliated by Lindsey, treated as a secretary by Lindsey's client. No offence to Christian Kane but I really don't think he's that good as a singer. Kate is sorely missed by AI who now have to pay an outside contractor. Poor Cordy, the visions really starting to take their toll. Interestingly Angel warns Lindsey to never come back and Lindsey warns Angel never to play WR&H's game. NEITHER listens to each other's advice.
Marks out of 10; 8/10 great stuff and the last we'll see off Lindsey for 3 whole seasons.
[/FONT]

 

[DS9Continuing]

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY　

I forgot to mention this at the time, but on recent rewatch I noticed something - the scientist guy's lab is the same set as Fred's lab from W&H in season 5.

 

[saturn5]

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY　

I forgot to mention this at the time, but on recent rewatch I noticed something - the scientist guy's lab is the same set as Fred's lab from W&H in season 5.

Consider that added to my reviews

BELONGING
　
[FONT=Times New Roman]The Good;
Very clever opening with the mirror in the resteraunt. The scene with Angel on the false beach is also great and all the stuff between Lorne (aka Krevlorneswath of the Deathwok clan) and his cousin "Again ,NOT a coward!"
The Bad;
Awful to see Cordy humiliated by the director, CC a veteran of loads of commercials in real life, I wonder if this was an experience she had? As Angel says, I thought demon violence was impossible in Caritas.
Best line:
Rondell "We been waiting on you for months, bro"
Jeez, how did they get away with that?
The poor guys whom the Drakken eats
Apocalypses: 5
Angel Cliches
Damsel in distress; the girl the Drakken takes as food 19
Inverting the Hollywood cliche;
In disguise; 8
DB get's his shirt off; 12
Cordy's tattoo; 6, they actually go to great lengths not to show it during the commercial shoot.
Cheap Angel; 7
Treats the gang to a fancy dinner but insists on getting his money's worth. Says he's not cheap just old.
Fang Gang in bondage:
Cordy: 5
Angel: 9
Wes: 4
Gunn; 1

Fang gang knocked out:
Cordy: 10
Angel: 12
Wes: 5
Doyle; 1
Gunn; 1
Lorne; 1
Kills: Wes kills the Haclaar, Angel kills the Drakken
Cordy: 5 vamps, 1½ demons
Angel; 26 vamps, 33 and 1/2 demons, 3 humans
Doyle; 1 vamp
Wes; 3 demons
Kate; 3 vamps
Faith; 16 vamps, 6 demons, 3 humans.
Gunn; 7 vamps+ 2 demons.
Fang Gang go evil:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 2

Alternate Fang Gang:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 6

Characters killed: 2 guys by the Drakken
37
Recurring characters killed; Gunn's friend George
6;
Total number of Angel Investigations:
4, Angel, Cordy, Wes and Gunn

Angel Investigations shot:
Angel: 11
Wes; 1
Packing heat; Gunn suggests using a flamethrower against the demon, we've seen a member of his gang use one in War Zone
Wes; 3
Doyle; 1
Angel; 1

Notches on Fang Gang bedpost:
Cordy: 2 ?+Wilson/Hacksaw Beast
Angel: 2; Buffy and Darla
Wes; 2; Virginia and the bleached blonde

Kinky dinky:
Angel remembers when you could get a tavern wench for a few bob (presumably when he was Liam the drunken whoring layabout rather than Angelus). Needless to say Cordy looks incredible in her seashell bikini as indeed does her gorgeous blonde co-star who seems quite smitten with Angel and very taken aback that he doesn't notice her considerable charms on display. When Angel relates the description of Cordy's bikini to Gunn and Wes they seem very interested (still think of CC sexually?). And check out Angel fondling his axe as he tells them. Apparently Haclaar beasts feed and mate at the same time.
Captain Subtext;
Cordy describes Fred as pretty. Lorne says he used to chat up the senoritas at the bar when the other Pylean men were out hunting once again painting him as bi.
Know the face, different character; 2
Parking garages;
5,
Guantanamo Bay;
Buffy characters on Angel; 16
Wetherby, Collins and Smith. Angel, Cordy, Oz, Spike, Buffy, Wes, Faith, Darla, Dru, Master, Anne, Willow and Harmony
Questions and observations;
Wes phones home, when we see his dad in 'Lineage' we understand this conversation better. Lorne performs an excellent version of Stevie Wonders 'Superstition', Andy Hallet's second best song on the show in my opinion. Fred for the first time. Love the way the librarian rationalises Lorne's appearance. He refers to Harry Potter, I don't know if it's deliberate but Wes the sorcerer has a little zigzag scar on his forehead throughout the ep.
Marks out of 10; 6/10 ok ep but not brilliant, promises much to come
[/FONT]

 

[saturn5]

OVER THE RAINBOW
　
[FONT=Times New Roman]The Good;
A fun romp veering unpredictably from the ridiculous to the sublime, not so much the series changing direction as looping the loop and throwing in a barrel roll for good measure. Must be so nice for DB to be able to work in the sun for once.

The Bad;
Even the most imaginative set dressing can't hide the cheapness of some of the production qualities. The bit where Lorne goes to see his psychic friend is also blatantly filler (although I love her name, Persia White, sounds like a film noir heroine?)

Best line: Another Xena reference (see also Disharmony and Halloween on Buffy)
Gunn; (on being told that Pylea is rife with xenophobia) "Why are they afraid of Xena? I think she's kinda fly"

Jeez, how did they get away with that?
A lot of the Pylea stuff especially the hellbeast discecting the guy. We thankfully never see the AI group as a freakishly hybridinized siamese twin, as Gunn observes, horrified "That was a risk!!!?"

Apocalypses: 5

Angel Cliches

Inverting the Hollywood cliche;
The guys take on the villagers and for once they lose.

In disguise; 8

DB get's his shirt off; 12

Cordy's tattoo; 6,

Cheap Angel; 7

Fang Gang in bondage: Cordyx2 but the rest of the guys as well
Cordy: 7
Angel: 10
Wes: 5
Gunn; 2
Lorne; 1

Fang gang knocked out:
Cordy: 10
Angel: 12
Wes: 5
Doyle; 1
Gunn; 1
Lorne; 1

Kills:
Cordy: 5 vamps, 1½ demons
Angel; 26 vamps, 33 and 1/2 demons, 3 humans
Doyle; 1 vamp
Wes; 3 demons
Kate; 3 vamps
Faith; 16 vamps, 6 demons, 3 humans.
Gunn; 7 vamps+ 2 demons.
Fang Gang go evil:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 2

Alternate Fang Gang:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 6

Characters killed:
37

Recurring characters killed;
6;

Total number of Angel Investigations:
4, Angel, Cordy, Wes and Gunn

Angel Investigations shot:
Angel: 11
Wes; 1

Packing heat;
Wes; 3
Doyle; 1
Angel; 1

Notches on Fang Gang bedpost:
Cordy: 2 ?+Wilson/Hacksaw Beast
Angel: 2; Buffy and Darla
Wes; 2; Virginia and the bleached blonde

Kinky dinky:
Cordy as a slave for the second time. If you enjoy seeing beautiful women enslaved, enchained and degraded this is the ep for you. Of course if you enjoy that you should be in deep, deep therapy rather than reading my reviews! Wes has handcuffs or at least knows someone who does (Mistress Spanksalot?). Once again, here's where they miss Kate who could have lent them some.

Captain Subtext;
Gunn likes Xena. Now this could either be classed as kinky dinky, he just likes hot dominant women in leather,(well who doesn't?) or it could have some deeper significance? Pylea strikes you as just the sort of place that Xena and Gabby would clean up.

Know the face, different character; 2

Parking garages;
5,

Guantanamo Bay;

Buffy characters on Angel; 16
Wetherby, Collins and Smith. Angel, Cordy, Oz, Spike, Buffy, Wes, Faith, Darla, Dru, Master, Anne, Willow and Harmony

Questions and observations;
Angel was in the Tower of London at some stage. First real appearance for Fred and Amy Acker does a great job of portraying her impending madness. Also Gavin Parks oozes his Gucci clad self into the show. The scene where Angel leaves the tape for Gunn is very reminiscent of Kurt Russell in The Thing. Angel delighted in the daylight, his joy is lovely to behold.
Marks out of 10; 6/10, not great in itself but again, promising much
[/FONT]

 

[Mal]

BELONGING

Wes phones home, when we see his dad in 'Lineage' we understand this conversation better.

this is one of my very favorite scenes in angel.

Yes, mum. Yes, well, put him on. - Right. You too.

Hello father. Happy Birthday. - How are you? - Good. - No! It's going quite well actually. - Yes. I have news. - I've been put in charge of our group. - Yes, as their leader.

No, it's a permanent position. Well as permanent as these things...

- (the smile on Wesley's face fades away into nothing) -

No, I certainly won't be fired. - Ah. Well, yes, I was that one time, yes. - Again... No, you're right. I see how... - Yes, I'd forgotten, thank you. - Yes. - Ah, just recently.

Uhm, it's going quite well so far. - - No, I think this time... - I hope it will be different. - No. No, you're right. I see how... - I just thought you'd be... I thought you'd want to know, that's all. - Right. Well - again, happy birthday. - Okay.
​

 

[saturn5]

It's kinda like when we see Lindsey go around his one-handed apartment, we see/hear very little but all we need to know is rigth there.

THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS
　
[FONT=Times New Roman]The Good;
Angel sees his hair in the mirror for the first time, you always wondered? (I guess Dru always fixed Spike's?) Lovely reveal of WR&H, very clever. Also like the double bluff of Cordy meeting the Groo. All the scenes with Lorne's family are hysterical.
The Bad;
Aside from that this seems to be a case of 6 characters rushing about in search of a plot?
Best line:
Lorne's mother; "No longer do the dance of joy Numfar"
Jeez, how did they get away with that?
Angel still enjoys telling the story of cutting Lindsey's arm off, still some bad feeling there obviously.
Apocalypses: 5
Angel Cliches
Inverting the Hollywood cliche;
Angel actually enjoys playing the hero, revelling in his (literal) moment in the sun.
In disguise; 8
DB get's his shirt off; 12
Cordy's tattoo; 6,
Cheap Angel; 7
Fang Gang in bondage: Wes, Gunn and Lorne again
Cordy: 5
Angel: 9
Wes: 6
Gunn; 3
Lorne; 2

Fang gang knocked out: Lorne again
Cordy: 10
Angel: 12
Wes: 5
Doyle; 1
Gunn; 1
Lorne; 2
Kills: Angel kills 2 demons
Cordy: 5 vamps, 1½ demons
Angel; 26 vamps, 35 and 1/2 demons, 3 humans
Doyle; 1 vamp
Wes; 3 demons
Kate; 3 vamps
Faith; 16 vamps, 6 demons, 3 humans.
Gunn; 7 vamps+ 2 demons.
Fang Gang go evil: almost Angel but not quite
Cordy: 2
Angel: 2

Alternate Fang Gang: demon Angel
Cordy: 2
Angel: 7

Characters killed:
37
Recurring characters killed;
6;
Total number of Angel Investigations:
4, Angel, Cordy, Wes and Gunn

Angel Investigations shot:
Angel: 11
Wes; 1
Packing heat;
Wes; 3
Doyle; 1
Angel; 1

Notches on Fang Gang bedpost:
Cordy: 2 ?+Wilson/Hacksaw Beast
Angel: 2; Buffy and Darla
Wes; 2; Virginia and the bleached blonde

Kinky dinky:
Cordy is expected to Com-shuk with the Groo, as Gunn observes "Sounds dirty to me". Obvious sexual attraction between Queen C and Groo, Lorne asks should he call the guards back with their cuffs? Cordy once again in a bikini despite saying she doesn't want to seem 'too easy' for the Groo. Cordy observes it's along time since she Com-shuked and remarks on her propensity to be impregnated by demons "Do I send out some sort of 'Com-Shuk me' vibe?" There's a great t-shirt slogan for you. Even the Groo of course is part-demon but can only mate with humans.
Captain Subtext;
Huge beauty and beast vibe between Angel and Fred, Fangel right from the start. Lorne also seems enamoured of Groo so more evidence for the bi vibe. Wes keeps a picture of Cordy in his wallet
Know the face, different character; 2
Parking garages;
5,
Guantanamo Bay;
Buffy characters on Angel; 15
Wetherby, Collins and Smith. Angel, Cordy, Oz, Spike, Buffy, Wes, Faith, Darla, Dru, Master, Anne, Willow and Harmony
Questions and observations;
Here's the Groo, yay! After being abused and pushed around for the last 3 eps Cordy is now a Queen as she always wanted to be. Some beautiful small details like Cordy's little finger gesture when she tells the constable who wants the 'Most high princess' to feast on AI's blood "You're most high if you think that's going to happen!". Also Cordy reaching out to embrace her friends who walk past her to the food, shades of Indianna Jones (except Angel who makes for the mirror). Wes' idea of a list of demands sent to the Princess sounds reminiscent of Magna Carta.
Marks out of 10; 7/10
[/FONT]

 

[Mal]

THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS
　

Cordy's tattoo; 6,

As I asked here,

 

[saturn5]

THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS
　

Cordy's tattoo; 6,

As I asked here,

I figure they either digitally airbrushed that out or just slapped on loads of makeup?

 

[saturn5]

THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE PLZTH GRB
　
[FONT=Times New Roman]The Good;
The basket scene alone makes this wonderful. All told it's pretty good stuff though, a revolution in three eps.
The Bad;
It seems rather contrite that the entire world of Pylea is ruled by this small band of priests and their tiny army.
Best line:
Wes; "Why do people keep putting me in charge of things?"
Gunn; (exasperated) "I have NO idea!". In many ways Gunn is the straight man of Angel Investigations, constantly staggered at the rest of the gangs grand notions.
Jeez, how did they get away with that?
Severed Lorne's head, Pylea has a 'mutilation chamber'? Everyone keeps spitting on poor Lorne. The Groo sets his own hand on fire to intimidate Angel before they fight. He feels pain but just overcomes it!
Apocalypses: 5
Angel Cliches
Inverting the Hollywood cliche; Lovely heart to heart between Wes and Angel over the fireside but we later learn that Wes doesn't necessarily believe it, he just needs Angel to.
In disguise; 8
DB get's his shirt off; 12
Cordy's tattoo; 6,
Cheap Angel; 7
Fang Gang in bondage: Angel by Groo
Cordy: 5
Angel: 10
Wes: 6
Gunn; 3
Lorne; 2

Fang gang knocked out: Angel after the fight in the cave
Cordy: 10
Angel: 13
Wes: 5
Doyle; 1
Gunn; 1
Lorne; 1
Kills: 3 demons for Angel, 3 for Wes, 2 for Gunn and 1 for Cordy
Cordy: 5 vamps, 2½ demons
Angel; 26 vamps, 38 and 1/2 demons, 3 humans
Doyle; 1 vamp
Wes; 6 demons
Kate; 3 vamps
Faith; 16 vamps, 6 demons, 3 humans.
Gunn; 7 vamps+ 4 demons.
Fang Gang go evil:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 2

Alternate Fang Gang:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 6

Characters killed:
37
Recurring characters killed;
6;
Total number of Angel Investigations:
4, Angel, Cordy, Wes and Gunn

Angel Investigations shot:
Angel: 11
Wes; 1
Packing heat;
Wes; 3
Doyle; 1
Angel; 1

Notches on Fang Gang bedpost:
Cordy: 2 ?+Wilson/Hacksaw Beast
Angel: 2; Buffy and Darla
Wes; 2; Virginia and the bleached blonde

Kinky dinky:
Cordy touches the Groo 'by accident' in the dark. She refers to Groo and her on their wedding night having a 'shared burden lifting' but denies that she has much experience. She doesn't like the idea of Com-shukking in front of the priests. The priests tell Groo that if Angel should win he will ravage and defile Cordy again and again until she has no more screaming in her.
Captain Subtext;
Do the Covenant represent the Taliban? Check out the slave-girls expression when Cordy orders her to strip naked. Also check out that Lorne's eyes flicker open to watch. Lorne observes that Groo works out when Cordy rubs him up against him. When Cordy tells Groo she loves him Angel is a little afronted that she doesn't say she loves him too. Gunn's speech at the end neatly sums up post American Civil War history.
Know the face, different character; 2
Parking garages;
5,
Guantanamo Bay;
Buffy characters on Angel; 16
Wetherby, Collins and Smith. Angel, Cordy, Oz, Spike, Buffy, Wes, Faith, Darla, Dru, Master, Anne, Willow and Harmony
Questions and observations;
To judge by his remarks when he and Wes are going to be executed Gunn is a Christian who believes when he dies he'll go to Jesus. CC can scream like a Classic Dr Who companion (as can Dawn, see Shadow). Angel doesn't snore. In demon form he rather resembles the Incredible Hulk. Lorne doesn't have 5 toes on each foot although we don't know how many he does have. Wes is faced with the General's classic dilemma of having to sacrifice some of his men for the greater good. How do they get Angel's car out of Caritas? Willow at the end is heartbreaking, how much can Alysson Hannigan emote with just her expression?
Marks out of 10; 8/10 good end to an enjoyable arc but you're keen to get back to LA.
[/FONT]

 

[Skellington]

The basket scene alone makes this wonderful. All told it's pretty good stuff though, a revolution in three eps.
The Bad;

It is a very good scene. I like the others' reactions to The Host's head talking, and the transition from the inside-the-basket POV to a moonlit night sky is a neat touch.

All told it's pretty good stuff though, a revolution in three eps.

This episode is very well executed in many ways, as are the preceding three. The storyline could very easily fallen completely flat and been something of an embarrassment, so I guess that everyone was out of their comfort zone. It has a fine mixture of humour, drama and wit; the Whedonverse doing Hercules/Xena. Highlights include the wisecracking severed-head Lorne and Amy Acker's wonderfully kooky and bashful turn as Fred.

In demon form he rather resembles the Incredible Hulk.

Green, tough-looking, strong, angry and inarticulate. The similarities between the two (or four?) characters doesn't stop there, though, as both Angel and Dr Banner have an abiding frear of what their alter egoes / alternate personalities might do. If the creature is a deliberate reference to the Hulk, it's seemingly a recurring motif in this show. Lilah says something like "Yeah, yeah, Hulk smash!" in one episode where Angel tries to put the heebie-jeebies up her, and then there's The Incredible Host in season 5's Life Of The Party.

Willow at the end is heartbreaking, how much can Alysson Hannigan emote with just her expression?

Oh...

...lots.

Eight out of ten as well for this episode, I reckon.

 

[saturn5]

HEARTHROB
The Good;
Great stuff, once again you feel the Buffy writers are making fun of the whole endless vamp love concept (Twilight/True Blood). Also Lorne's version of 'I left my heart in San Francisco' is WONDERFUL, one of the top three Lorne songs.
The Bad;
How many times can we see the same courtyard even if it is redressed?
Best line:
Angel (after fighting the demon monks) "Should have gone to Vegas"
Jeez, how did they get away with that?
Apocalypses: 5
Angel Cliches
Inverting the Hollywood cliche;
In disguise; 8
DB get's his shirt off; 12
Cordy's tattoo; yep, when she bends over to pick up the fire extinguisher during the fight in the hotel lobby
7,
Cheap Angel; 7
Fang Gang in bondage:
Cordy: 5
Angel: 10
Wes: 6
Gunn; 3
Lorne; 2

Fang gang knocked out:
Cordy: 10
Angel: 13
Wes: 5
Doyle; 1
Gunn; 1
Lorne; 1
Kills: 2 vamps for Angel and one each for Wes and Gunn. Amazingly this is the first vamp Wes ever kills in four years in the Buffyverse. We don't know how many vamps/demons AI killed in the summer but I'll give them one each
Cordy: 5 vamps, 3½ demons
Angel; 28 vamps, 38 and 1/2 demons, 3 humans
Doyle; 1 vamp
Wes; 7 demons+1 vamp
Kate; 3 vamps
Faith; 16 vamps, 6 demons, 3 humans.
Gunn; 8 vamps+ 5 demons.
Fang Gang go evil:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 2

Alternate Fang Gang:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 6

Characters killed: the dude Darla kills and a couple of people at the party
40
Recurring characters killed;
6;
Total number of Angel Investigations: Fred not part of the gang yet, still hiding in her room
4, Angel, Cordy, Wes and Gunn

Angel Investigations shot: only Angelus by Holtz and he doesn't count
Angel: 11
Wes; 1
Packing heat;
Wes; 3
Doyle; 1
Angel; 1

Notches on Fang Gang bedpost:
Cordy: 3(?) ?+Wilson/Hacksaw Beast+Phantom Dennis(?)
Angel: 2; Buffy and Darla
Wes; 2; Virginia and the bleached blonde

Kinky dinky:
Gunn refers to 'doin it with the demons' but doesn't mean what we think (except for Cordy who regularly seems to 'do it' with various supernatural entities). Speaking of which she's close enough to Phantom Dennis to strip naked in front of him and get some loufa action in the bathtub with him. Cordy thinks her new necklace brings out her breasts, Gunn certainly seems to think so to judge by his expression. Nice 'screwed Darla' gag. Darla says Angelus made her pay for leaving him in an extreme S&M style. Wes says Angel doesn't need a lapdance.
Captain Subtext;
Hugs all around when Angel comes back, the events of season 2 well and truly forgotten. James and Elizabeth (both regal names) are obviously a proto Spike and Dru (maybe Darla and Angelus needed another couple to make a four at bridge?).
Know the face, different character; 2
Parking garages;
5,
Guantanamo Bay;
Buffy characters on Angel; 16
Wetherby, Collins and Smith. Angel, Cordy, Oz, Spike, Buffy, Wes, Faith, Darla, Dru, Master, Anne, Willow and Harmony
Questions and observations;
Love to see more of AI in the summer without Angel, they obviously kept busy. Also would have liked to have seen how Gunn coped with a solo case whilst everyone else was at Buffy's funeral. Can't they buy Fred a whiteboard so that she doesn't have to write on the wall? Does Fred really have to invite Angel into the room she occupies in his hotel? Or is Angel just bluffing to reassure her and make her feel at home? Note Angel takes the time to put his coat on before going vamp hunting. James says that Angelus knows no poetry, well he liked Spike's. Or Angel did? Holst is referred to as the foremost vamp hunter, what about the Slayer of the age? Vamps don't really seem to have love as much as twisted obsession but not having souls they can't appreciate that. Cordy's right of course, the human thing for Angel to do is mourn Buffy but continue his life. Surely James can be killed by fire or decapitation? Nice to know that when the chips are down you can rob the handicapped guy of his crutches and it's all ok.
Marks out of 10; 8/10

 

[Mal]

THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE PLZTH GRB

Best line:
Wes; "Why do people keep putting me in charge of things?"
Gunn; (exasperated) "I have NO idea!".

best line
Gunn: shut up wesley.


not as good as Faith's shut-up-wesley, but seriously, you can never get enough shut-up-wesley

 

[DS9Continuing]

Great stuff, once again you feel the Buffy writers are making fun of the whole endless vamp love concept (Twilight/True Blood).

Please tell me you realize this was about a decade before that shit. Please.

Anyway, foreshadowing to be found in 3x01 "Heartthrob" :

In the flashback to ye olden days...

Holtz (to Angel): I don't have to kill you, you know. I could keep you alive for a long time.

Direct line to 3x22 "Tomorrow."