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Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Angel - First Time Viewer

To add to this, I'm also going to say that it's entirely possible, if you think back on the events of season 2, that you might be able to put the pieces together yourself.

I was thinking Angel has a soul, so in a since is kinda human. Did they do it in bed before Drusilla turned Darla into a vamp again. I think they might have.
 
Just know that everything will be explained, and that it's not what you think it is.
 
Well, this thread got me to finally dig out my DVDs out of their corrugated coffin in my utility closet. I laughed a little as I unfolded my season 2 set and unfolded and unfolded and damn that things is like four feet long lol, been a while since I've watched more than a single movie on physical media.

I was really surprised how well those 15 year old SD discs hold up on a 55" 4K HDTV. I believe Season 2 aired in standard format but was protected for widescreen which is what is presented on DVD. I have to say the screen seemed really well used and there were many times where the extra image was really filled up. There was one time where I noticed a boom microphone but just the one that I noticed. There was a lot of camera panning that may have been a relic of the smaller screen as you don't see that as much these days and it stood out at first until I got used to it. It seemed like the color was more natural as well, not so color corrected which was nice.

Anyway, went through the last three episodes of the Pylea arc which was fun. What struck me is how complete this adventure felt, you really got a sense of place and a full story which is hard to come by on TV at times. Like I think the episodes were more like a fully realized movie than just a three or four episode "arc" and there was a full beginning to end story.

By the way, they had a Xena: Warrior Princess reference in this episode. I've never watched that series, but from what little I had seen, I was getting a Xena vibe watching the sets and production quality of this episode.
What struck me was "Army of Darkness" whether by intent or not. You had the humorous fish out of water things, making the bratty outsider queen/king, the car going through the portal, losing the magic book, leading an uprising against villainous forces before exiting back to earth through another portal.
 
Count me amongst those who were inspired to do their own re-watch by this thread. I'm currently in season 3, Lover's Walk. Willow and Xander are about to get caught kissing by Cordelia and Oz.

Aaaaand there it is. Awkward...
 
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That Vision Thing

Cordy's visions are getting progressively worse, and then to Lilah and some guy with a visible brain, they are causing her physical harm. This was a pretty intense episode, and one that I'm starting to finally see the relationship between Angel and Cordy progress. I'm actually starting to think it's rather sweet, probably even moreso than Angel and Buffy, which of course was unrequited. I also loved how this episode got Fred out of her room and she had some pretty good scenes, like comparing Cordy to Lassie. She has a wonder of a child which is kinda adorable. The episode ends with Darla going to a guy who could help her identify who or what is inside her. There wasn't a lot, but there was her "daddy". I'm guess it doesn't mean Angel, but who knows. We also meet a guy named Skip, and I actually thought his introduction was funny. Good episode.
 
The Old Gang of Mine

Eh, this one was ok. It served to pretty much write Gunn's old life off the show, and it did it in a way to show racism is evil and all that. The old gang takes control of Caritas because they hate demons and the final 20 minutes of the episode is basically the standoff at the bar. I was glad Wes put Gunn in his place at the end though, and Angel's final talk with him was good too. The thing is I don't care about Gunn's old Gang, and even in Season 2 during the Thin Blood Line episode I didn't care for them. I did like that Fred was able to go out, but this was a set back. I've been reading some comments about everyone loving Fred and Amy Acker's portrayal of her (Even though my response is, who is Amy Acker but that's beside the point) and I hope she really does become part of the team. I understand we need to get past the PTSD portion of her storyline, but I see her potential and I hope it's realized.

Carpe Noctum

Why did Angel copy what Buffy did with the body swapping episode? This one was about a guy using an ancient spell to swap into Angels body and hijinks ensue. Another episode that was just ok but didn’t really excite me. I did like Fred in this episode though and angel knows Buffy is alive. Fred Asks “Buffy?” and maybe there is jealousy there.
 
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Fredless

Nice thing about watching a few episodes a night is something you ask for gets resolved rather quickly. In this case, we finally have the arrival of Fred, and I think this is my favorite episode of the season so far. We meet Fred's parents, and boy I'm glad they were really good loving parents and not demons playing jokes. It was actually refreshing to see that in a series like this, where anyone new can walk in and could be a demon. In any case, Fred finally breaks out of her shell, saves the day and they all paint the walls to signify new beginnings. It was a really sweet episode and it was one I'm glad happened early in the season. Fred needed to progress forward and did so beautifully. I do think the insects looked kinda corny though, but hey, this might have been early CGI (Or bad animatronics).
 
Heck of a time to start watching Angel, 20 years after it's original release. I'm afraid to even click the links because of the whole spoiler thing, but I did see the cover with Boreanez. It's amazing he's actually had a career past angel, with Bones and I guess now Seal Team. When I started watching Buffy and Angel first appeared, my thought was, "Hey, that's the guy from Bones". Little did I know at the time. :lol:
 
Billy

That's how you tell a woman abuse story in the confines of the fantasy genre. I was wondering if this episode would have worked in this era of the MeToo and stuff like that, and I think it would have, and it's a very important episode to tell. It's about a demon bringing out the worst in men and how vile and disgusting it can be for everyone involved. I loved how this was a follow up to "That Vision Thing" too, where we get more on Billy and what a disgusting person he was. The scenes with Wesley and Fred were scary, and I think the reason why it impacted me (As a guy) was the ending. Wesley questioning what kind of a man he is, but showing exactly the kind of man he is. He's a man that looks deep in himself, has a conscience and cries because the things he did is not the type of person he is now. I actually teared up a little at the end because of that, and it's why I say I think this kind of episode would absolutely work in this era of MeToo and the damage, physically and mentally, any kind of abuse (especially for woman, which is absolutely scary) can do. I also liked that it was Lilah who killed Billy.

That's two episodes in a row I really liked. It started a little slow for me, but things are starting to pick up.
 
I liked Angel’s analysis of himself “Even with Angelus, he didn’t hate anyone, it was about pain.”

I liked that too. It goes back to Season 2 of Buffy with his Mental torture of Buffy. One thing I love about Angel is really getting deep inside Angel's psyche either through flashbacks or basically all of Season 2.
 
Offspring

I liked this episode, but it kinda set up so many mis-directions to this new storyline. Darla arrives, is very pregnant and Wesley thinks that this child was foretold in an prophecy to bring about the distruction of mankind. Then it ends with Holtz (I had to look his name up by the way) back in present day, which could lead to many interesting things down the line. I'm really happy Darla is back and I loved watching her having to struggle with the pregnancy and even wanting to die to get out of it. The reason why I say mis-direction though is this is the start of the arc and (I haven't read anything coming up), I don't think it's Angel's baby. An interesting twist would be if it was Lindsey's baby and that's how you bring that character back. Like I said, this is the beginning of this arc and it was an excellent beginning but there are so many directions they can go.

Quickening

Ok, now this season is getting good. Angel sees Holtz and Darla is going into labor. Holtz killed the entire W & H team? They had guns and he didn't. What did he do, not to mention he's a little over 200 years out of time. I'm also really fascinated by his character in the past, as a man who just lost all his family and is out on a quest for vengeance. The Vampire cult kind of made this episode bordering on crazy, but I kinda get the sense that this season will become pretty crazy moving forward. Right now it's actually kinda fun.
 
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Buffy. I was late to the series. An ex of mine, my brother, were into it in the original run. I didn't start to appreciate it until the 6th season. I also watched all of "Angel," in this timeframe, and all of "Dawson's Creek," as Pacey and Joey lived happily ever after; that is a different thread. Luckily, I digress.

A reluctant superhero. A girl who just wants a normal life, thrust into a world of demons and vampires; a tragic character. She kisses a boy, he turns out to be a Vampire. She sleeps with him, he turns evil. She gets him back, soul curse and all, and has kill him. She gets a sister, and she turns out to be the key to saving the universe; her memories of Dawn, false. She dies and goes to heaven, for saving Dawn's life (and the universe). She is torn from heaven by her friends. She sleeps with a vampire, searching for Angel, that boy she kissed. He saves her life from suicide, and a hell dimension (dancing until she burns). But, he tries to rape her. He demands a soul after failing to show his love, and is driven crazy for it. Being ripped from heaven may destroy the Slayer line, and so she turns mentor to the new generation, all of them turning on her for her dark mirror, Faith. She defeats the first, moves to Europe, and whatever happens in the comics, but hopefully, she gets that life she always wanted.

Superman just wants to be Clark Kent. That's an interesting twist for a genre thirsting for originality. At times, especially in the first season, the formula of thinly-veiled demon-of-the-week allegories about adolescence, and its pitfalls, were dated. But, as the show became less contained for larger arcs and epic tales, it still worked as allegory, but was must-see television that has aged well. Its humor, now formulaic, has influenced mine.

Seasons 2 and 6 are my favorites. Angel had the touch of melancholy, almost sweet sorrow. A satisfying villain. Season 6 tells tales in humor, and drama, about what living on the Hellmouth did to this generation of Sunnydale High students. Willow and the Trio both suffer from same disease; too much exposure to the dark arts (even Xander and dancing demon). And, the fact humanity redeems them, not more powerful magic, is perfect.

I love this show.
 
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"What do you think has been going on the two years? The fights; the weird occurrences?! How many times have you washed blood out of my clothes, and you still haven't figured it out?!

"Well, it stops, now!!"

"No, it doesn't stop! It never stops! Do you think I chose to be like this? Do you have any idea how lonely it is, how dangerous?! I'd love to be upstairs, watching television, gossiping about boys, or God, even studying! But I have to save the world...again!"

My favorite scene. The show in a nutshell.
 
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