He was charged with Domestic violence stemming back to his 2017 case. I just saw a recent picture of him. He does not look good at all.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Angel - First Time Viewer
- Thread starter tomalak301
- Start date
He was charged with Domestic violence stemming back to his 2017 case. I just saw a recent picture of him. He does not look good at all.
Yeah. It's really sad. It was looking a few years ago that he might actually be getting his life back together. He looked great at the 20-year reunion, which wasn't too long before the domestic incident.
Becoming
I'm going to try to talk about this as if it was a single episode movie, and honestly, unlike Surprise/Innocence where Surprise was merely set up for the gut punch that came next, I thought Becoming complimented itself really well.
There was a lot of stuff that happened in this episode, but it was a finale so I'm not surprised. I really loved the flashbacks in part 1 showing Angelous's origin story where he even sees Buffy for the first time in 1996 in LA. Yeah we know the story, but to actually see it play out and to see how he was homeless and directionless in New York added gravity to the situation he was in and the suffering he had to endure. It also led him to the demon statue and Wristler that was so prominant in part 2. I also liked seeing Buffy learning that she was a Slayer (The actor who revealed that to her was so familiar I could have sworn he was in some Star Trek episodes but I couldn't think of what).
I was surprised to see Kendra back so soon, and her death was pretty tragic. At first I was thinking why bring her back to kill her, but the point of that scene wasn't really about Kendra but it was about using Buffy as bait, adding more torment that Angelus has already given her leading up to this point. It was a heck of a way to finish part 1.
Part two did not slow the pace down which I really appreciated. There are many times when two part episodes feel disjointed, yet this is a Buffy finale so keeping that momentum going was really nice. I'm glad Spike finally got to do something. Ever since WWL, he's basically been a side character, watching Angelus take Drusilla away from him, and it was awesome that he was finally standing at the end of a couple episodes ago and we could finally get the real Spike back. I'm also really glad Buffy finally told Joyce she was the slayer (Hey, @CorporalClegg, nice use of the emojis a few days ago). This was a dark episode, but one of the things I appreciate about this show is it's levity, so having Mom and Spike sit in awkward silence was hysterical. I'm a bit surprised on how Joyce took the news though, considering everything that has happened this season, especially during the School Hard episode and the one after Bad Egg.
It's interesting how this show can show torture but not really. When Angelous was torturing Giles we really don't see the grotesque nature of it, but I still thought it was impactful because everything in the back half of the season has been more mental. From going after Buffy's friends, to hallucinations, I still found those scenes really jarring and, like I said, impactful.
I'm not sure about the direction they are taking Willow in. For one, I've been questioning her role as teacher, considering she's a Junior in High School and this is California where Teacher Unions run rampant. Yeah I know Jenny asked her to do it, but for some reason I'm having a bit of a hard time with it. I don't want to bring up the MS word yet (And if you go to the Discovery Forum, you know what I'm talking about) and I know she's pretty smart but I'm just wondering if the writers have given Willow too much. Also now she's dealing in the Dark arts, so that will be an interesting storyline to watch in season 3.
The final battle between Buffy and Angel was really satisfying. Watching Buffy finally accepting Angel is truly gone leading to the sword fight was really awesome, even though I'm curious now what happens next. Where did Angel go, and how does he get his own show. Looking forward to season 3 to finding that out.
Overall, I really enjoyed Becoming. It's was more plot focused to wrap up the season, but it did exactly what it needed to do, finish the story and set the stage for Season 3. Watching Buffy having to leave was sad, (And I love Sarah McLachlan so having her song played over the ending was really emotional) and I wonder what her relationship with Joyce will be like moving forward. If I had one issue with this episode, it was I thought Snyder knowing about the Hellmouth would have led to something, yet they have still kept that kind of secretive. I expected Buffy to reveal who she was to Snyder, yet that didn't happen. I have to think though he might already know, considering what he said to the Mayor, but considering we've gotten a few hints about that through the season, I thought we would have gotten something a little more there.
Season 1 was enjoyable in terms of meeting the characters and getting introduced to the world. Season 2 rose that bar in a great way, while fleshing out these characters and making me interested in what Season 3 will bring. I would say my top 5 favorite episodes this season:
Surprise/Innocence
Halloween
Becoming
School Hard
Passion
I'm going to try to talk about this as if it was a single episode movie, and honestly, unlike Surprise/Innocence where Surprise was merely set up for the gut punch that came next, I thought Becoming complimented itself really well.
There was a lot of stuff that happened in this episode, but it was a finale so I'm not surprised. I really loved the flashbacks in part 1 showing Angelous's origin story where he even sees Buffy for the first time in 1996 in LA. Yeah we know the story, but to actually see it play out and to see how he was homeless and directionless in New York added gravity to the situation he was in and the suffering he had to endure. It also led him to the demon statue and Wristler that was so prominant in part 2. I also liked seeing Buffy learning that she was a Slayer (The actor who revealed that to her was so familiar I could have sworn he was in some Star Trek episodes but I couldn't think of what).
I was surprised to see Kendra back so soon, and her death was pretty tragic. At first I was thinking why bring her back to kill her, but the point of that scene wasn't really about Kendra but it was about using Buffy as bait, adding more torment that Angelus has already given her leading up to this point. It was a heck of a way to finish part 1.
Part two did not slow the pace down which I really appreciated. There are many times when two part episodes feel disjointed, yet this is a Buffy finale so keeping that momentum going was really nice. I'm glad Spike finally got to do something. Ever since WWL, he's basically been a side character, watching Angelus take Drusilla away from him, and it was awesome that he was finally standing at the end of a couple episodes ago and we could finally get the real Spike back. I'm also really glad Buffy finally told Joyce she was the slayer (Hey, @CorporalClegg, nice use of the emojis a few days ago). This was a dark episode, but one of the things I appreciate about this show is it's levity, so having Mom and Spike sit in awkward silence was hysterical. I'm a bit surprised on how Joyce took the news though, considering everything that has happened this season, especially during the School Hard episode and the one after Bad Egg.
It's interesting how this show can show torture but not really. When Angelous was torturing Giles we really don't see the grotesque nature of it, but I still thought it was impactful because everything in the back half of the season has been more mental. From going after Buffy's friends, to hallucinations, I still found those scenes really jarring and, like I said, impactful.
I'm not sure about the direction they are taking Willow in. For one, I've been questioning her role as teacher, considering she's a Junior in High School and this is California where Teacher Unions run rampant. Yeah I know Jenny asked her to do it, but for some reason I'm having a bit of a hard time with it. I don't want to bring up the MS word yet (And if you go to the Discovery Forum, you know what I'm talking about) and I know she's pretty smart but I'm just wondering if the writers have given Willow too much. Also now she's dealing in the Dark arts, so that will be an interesting storyline to watch in season 3.
The final battle between Buffy and Angel was really satisfying. Watching Buffy finally accepting Angel is truly gone leading to the sword fight was really awesome, even though I'm curious now what happens next. Where did Angel go, and how does he get his own show. Looking forward to season 3 to finding that out.
Overall, I really enjoyed Becoming. It's was more plot focused to wrap up the season, but it did exactly what it needed to do, finish the story and set the stage for Season 3. Watching Buffy having to leave was sad, (And I love Sarah McLachlan so having her song played over the ending was really emotional) and I wonder what her relationship with Joyce will be like moving forward. If I had one issue with this episode, it was I thought Snyder knowing about the Hellmouth would have led to something, yet they have still kept that kind of secretive. I expected Buffy to reveal who she was to Snyder, yet that didn't happen. I have to think though he might already know, considering what he said to the Mayor, but considering we've gotten a few hints about that through the season, I thought we would have gotten something a little more there.
Season 1 was enjoyable in terms of meeting the characters and getting introduced to the world. Season 2 rose that bar in a great way, while fleshing out these characters and making me interested in what Season 3 will bring. I would say my top 5 favorite episodes this season:
Surprise/Innocence
Halloween
Becoming
School Hard
Passion
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That's something I actually appreciated. On this show, Joyce and Giles are imperfect, flawed human beings just like the kids are. Something huge was thrown at her that was too much for her to fully process and handle and she did the wrong thing. At the very end of that scene you can see that Joyce knows she fucked up and it kills her. While most (but not all) teen shows at the time had Ozzie & Harriet as the parents, it was refreshing to see the adults be real people too.
Something you'll notice right off the bat in Season 3 is the increased budget. It's still a low-budget superhero fantasy on a minor network, but it's no longer shot on shitty low-quality 16mm film stock. Most low-budget horror movies aren't even filmed in 16mm. What the hell WB? Fuckin' up those Blu-ray chances.
I can understand that. It's just that everything she's witnessed this season I would have thought would be more conditioning that she might figure out something. I even go back to the flashback during the argument between Joyce and her father about how to deal with Buffy and she was still oblivious to it all. I did like the end scene though and you're right that this was a nice character moment for her, but I would have thought she might have known something was up with her daughter, and be more ready for that reveal.
Alright. Time for season 3. Cue the George Michael!
Ok. Other than his Voyager role he was great in the others. Knew he looked familiar.
Anne
Hey @OCD Geek, I noticed the production quality improvements in the title sequence. They got more money this season.
This was a solid opening to Season 3. The make up on the alien guy was pretty cool, and they didn't drag out Buffy being away for too long, even though I wonder if it could have been given another episode. The reason she left was because she had to Kill Angel, but she came back realizing what her role is but she still killed Angel, or at least transported him through the vortex. I'm hoping we get a nice heart to heart between Buffy and Joyce soon about the whole Slaying business. I was surprised Joyce blamed Giles and that was only one scene.
I loved the fight sequence, which is featured quite a bit in the title sequence this season. Buffy holding the sickle was really cool.
I do hope we see Lily again. She was a cool character and I hope good things happen for her.
Hey @OCD Geek, I noticed the production quality improvements in the title sequence. They got more money this season.
This was a solid opening to Season 3. The make up on the alien guy was pretty cool, and they didn't drag out Buffy being away for too long, even though I wonder if it could have been given another episode. The reason she left was because she had to Kill Angel, but she came back realizing what her role is but she still killed Angel, or at least transported him through the vortex. I'm hoping we get a nice heart to heart between Buffy and Joyce soon about the whole Slaying business. I was surprised Joyce blamed Giles and that was only one scene.
I loved the fight sequence, which is featured quite a bit in the title sequence this season. Buffy holding the sickle was really cool.
I do hope we see Lily again. She was a cool character and I hope good things happen for her.
Anne has my favorite cut in the whole show. There's this long single shot purposefully moving through the busy halls. Everyone is engaged with their senior year. Moving on. Growing up. Then it hard cuts to Buffy alone in her apartment. She's doing adult things - living alone and working a job - but there she sits opening a can of Spaghettios - something most associated with children, often the first thing they ever learn to 'cook.'
I dunno. I always found the "Hey look kids, the proletariat is revolving!" aspect to be a little too heavy-handed.
She becomes a bit of a recurring character in Angel.
I thought that scene was her reasserting herself though. I loved the scene where she was smiling and said, "I'm Buffy", but it was the scene where the camera pans up to her where it felt like Buffy really was back.
Watch for him in the movie "Office Space." That is my favorite Richard Riehle character.
Jason
Certainly, it is. But more literally, that whole sequence sees Buffy leading a group of slaves - oppressed workers - against their masters. And in that bit you're talking about, she's holding a hammer in one hand and a sickle in the other. Like as in communism. It's really nothing more than Joss being cheeky, but I still always find myself rolling my eyes at it.
That scene is great. It's also the first appearance of Buffy's trauma dungarees. Get used to them.
Annnnd this is the first time I ever thought of it that way
Buffy is pretty much a perfect example of urban fantasy.
Holy crap, Batai was Richard Riehle! I've seen him in tons of stuff over the years, but in everything else he was either bald or almost bald and always had the moustache, so I never recognized him as Batai.
And Angel's an even perfect ...er example. It's still my favorite live-action superhero series too, despite Marvel and DC both making some classics in recent years. As much as I love Buffy (particularly Seasons 3 & 5), Angel is the DS9 to Buffy's Next Gen. It's just so freaking ambitious once that myth arc kicks in.
If that's the case, maybe Buffy is the perfect Suburban Fantasy.
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