On season 4 of Buffy...should I be watching Angel?

[JirinPanthosa]

If nothing else, I'd say watch Angel because while it starts out weaker than Buffy, in my estimation it becomes the better show. And a fairly unassuming character on Buffy (perhaps more than one) really comes into their own during their time on Angel.

If you're talking about who I think you are talking about, his arc is one of my favorites in the franchise.

JirinPanthosa, are you planning on reading the post series comics after you're done with the shows? Joss is/was very involved with the Buffy ones. He wrote some Season 8 issues himself, and I believe he is "executive producer" for the entire series. I think he might have had some input on the first few storylines in the Angel comics set after the show, but I'm not sure how involved he was after that.

I'm not that into comics, but if it really concludes the storyline I don't see why I wouldn't. So long as I can get them on a format I can bring with me on a plane.

 

[Sparkle Fabulosa]

Although I've never tried it, I can imagine switching between the two shows at appropriate times would certainly be enjoyable -- it also certainly isn't necessary in order to enjoy both shows, IMO. I originally binged Buffy and then Angel and had no confusion whatsoever.

Season 6 is my favorite season of Buffy, and season 5 is one of only two I hate (the other bad season being Season 2,, at least in my opinion). I'd definitely recommend watching all of Buffy.

Me too. The worst for me was 4. It was so messy.

Please don't skip 6 and 7!

Agree. Season 5 is my favorite followed by season 3, but 6 has some great stuff, like Willow's storyline and the musical, which I think is one of the most amazing hours of television I have ever seen.

Oh one more thing, when you finish, you will have to answer the question every Buffy fan is asked, regardless if you're male or female: Angel or Spike?

I'll jump out of turn here -- Spike, by a mile. Much more interesting relationship and another good reason to watch season 6.

Um yeah. You (the general population) can't just skip the season that has OMWF! It's so wrong. And yes, Spike always. I love Angel but Spike has so much more personality plus he's the most developed character in the Buffy/Angelverse.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

So far the only Buffy season I thought was weak was the first one. It didn't really come together until the finale.

I think I will try to watch them more or less alternatingly. Especially if there are episodes that show the same events from different perspectives. Yes, all the episodes have stood up on their own so far. But there are little things. Like, I kept expecting a new slayer to be introduced to replace Faith, but if I had been watching Angel I guess I wouldn't be expecting that. Plus I was wondering about Cordelia. Then there's that episode where Angel shows up and talks to everyone except Buffy, then the episode ends with Xander mentioning that Angel was around, and the next episode Buffy refers to meeting Angel in LA. It's annoying not to have the context there.

 

[Sparkle Fabulosa]

Yeah the show didn't really find it's groove until Prophecy Girl. Word of warning, before watching "I Will Remember You" (Angel episode) make sure to have a box of tissues nearby.

 

[RoJoHen]

So far the only Buffy season I thought was weak was the first one. It didn't really come together until the finale.

I think I will try to watch them more or less alternatingly. Especially if there are episodes that show the same events from different perspectives. Yes, all the episodes have stood up on their own so far. But there are little things. Like, I kept expecting a new slayer to be introduced to replace Faith, but if I had been watching Angel I guess I wouldn't be expecting that. Plus I was wondering about Cordelia. Then there's that episode where Angel shows up and talks to everyone except Buffy, then the episode ends with Xander mentioning that Angel was around, and the next episode Buffy refers to meeting Angel in LA. It's annoying not to have the context there.

There are certainly stretches of episodes you can watch without alternating back and forth, but there are other chunks of episodes where it's very beneficial to get the full context of the story.

Even little things have more of an impact.

For example (I don't remember specifically which episodes these happen), there's an episode of Angel where he calls Buffy, but he doesn't say anything and then hangs up. There's a simultaneous episode of Buffy where the phone rings, she answers it, but she gets no reply and the other person (Angel) hangs up on her.

That moment certainly isn't necessary to understand the story of either show, but you'd never be able to pick up on those little things if you don't watch them in order.

 

[Thestral]

I'm in the weird position (probably) of having seen almost all of Angel before any of Buffy, though I've seen all of both now. I've never tried to do an alternating rewatch, and for long stretches of episodes I don't think it would make a difference.

But for some, it certainly would. B4/5 and A1/2 in particular; after that it doesn't matter that much except for near the middle/end of B7/A4 (and Angel Season 4 was so bad anyway it might be enough to just watch those episodes).

As to good Buffy seasons, I say 5 is the best but 6 was very good too. 7 started out strong but turned awful about midway through until almost the end (B7/A4 was a rough year for the Buffyverse).

Angel/Spike? I still say Angel... in part because of some stuff further on towards the end of Buffy. Also though because I think the richest crossover character from Buffy to Angel wasn't who was being talked about earlier, but

Spoiler: spoiler

Cordelia. Well, up until Season 4, but at least she got "You're Welcome."

 

[CorporalClegg]

Season 4 of Angel is one of the worst attempts at TVing I've ever seen.

 

[FPAlpha]

Yeah that was not a crowning achievement but we got season 5 then which was way better with some shocking and cool moments.

 

[Ethros]

Angel Season 4 has some of my favourite moments of... I was gonna say the show but heck, all television

Angelus, Faith, The Beast, badass Wesley etc. Sure the plot arc doesn't really make sense if you examine it, but for me the 10 episode run from Spin The Bottle to Orpheus are all 5/5 episodes.




As for the question, personally I think it's a lot more fun to do it in airdate order. But, my new girlfriend is a big Buffy fan. She got into it a few years ago after been ill for a while and her sister bought her the whole DVD boxset (now even has the Season 8 & 9 comics, and just started s10)

... but she's never really seen Angel. I think she's only seen a couple of random ones. She wants to do, just hasn't got round to it yet. So I suppose she was able to watch all of Buffy easily enough without also watching Angel.

...I still think she missed out though

 

[Christopher]

Well, like I said, shared-universe shows are designed to work both ways, either individually or in combination. So you can certainly enjoy just one show by itself, if that's what you choose to do. But if you want to see the whole shared continuity, then you get the best effect if it's in the intended order.

 

[JD]

I still enjoyed it, but I do think Season 6 was the show's weakest since first. It did give us "Once More With Feeling" which was awesome, so that does help to counter some of the negative aspects of the Season. I did enjoy Season 7 though, but it still wasn't quite up to the best of the series, which for me was probably Seasons 3-5.
Angel Season 4 wasn't that great either, but I thought Season 5 was a return to form. Seasons 2, 3, and 5 were probably my favorites for Angel.
I tend to think of the comics along with the shows, and so far I'd say Season 8 of Buffy has been really good, it's pretty close to Season 3-5 quality.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

If I rewatch the shows again later I wouldn't bother switching back and forth, but I think it will have a bigger impact when you don't have knowledge of what else is going on and what comes next.

 

[Hound of UIster]

I think I remember watching AS4 with the forum when it aired. Good television despite the whole vampires thing.

 

[hyzmarca]

I feel like switching between shows while watching a marathon is a HUGE hassle and a waste of time. It's easier to finished Buffy first, then move on to Angel.

It's easier if you make a mix disc, or just rip them to hard drive which is what I do. Then you can set the order beforehand and set your player to autoplay.

 

[JD]

If you have Netflix streaming, they have both shows. It's pretty easy to switch back and forth there.

 

[Taylirious]

I only watched S5 of Angel and I am okay with that. My favorite seasons of BtVS in order: 5, 3, 2, 7, 1, 4 & 6.

 

[Ethros]

If you have Netflix streaming, they have both shows. It's pretty easy to switch back and forth there.

Depends where you are, Netflix UK has all of Buffy but doesn't have Angel for some reason

 

[JD]

I always forget Netflix has different stuff in different countries. I keep thinking it has the exact same stuff everywhere.

 

[Thestral]

Angel Season 4 has some of my favourite moments of... I was gonna say the show but heck, all television

Angelus, Faith, The Beast, badass Wesley etc. Sure the plot arc doesn't really make sense if you examine it, but for me the 10 episode run from Spin The Bottle to Orpheus are all 5/5 episodes.

It has its moments... all the Faith episodes, Orpheus especially, and Spin the Bottle, but otherwise...

For me its not even the plot making sense, but

Spoiler: Angel Season 4 Spoilers

the ugliness of it, what it does to Cordelia especially, and the skin-crawlingly horrible Cordy/Connor.... thing.

 

[RoJoHen]

Angel Season 4 is simultaneously one of my favorite and least favorite seasons of the show. I do think it's much better the second time around when you realize where it was going.