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Post by cyclica on Nov 28, 2012 18:23:16 GMT -5
Still, even if that sedative couldn't kill Angel, it should have had him woozy for longer than ten seconds - maybe its lingering effect could have made Angel sloppier when fighting, creating more tension for the final confrontation? I like that idea! ... both the character and Charisma Carpenter deserved far better material than they eventually got. Even when the material was at it's worst though, it's still more watchable than anything else I've seen her appear in. |
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Post by partcynic on Nov 29, 2012 13:41:00 GMT -5
1x07 "The Bachelor Party"
A fun bit of fluff with some interesting backstory for Doyle. The dialogue has improved from "Sense and Sensitivity" (nothing great, but solid), though the plotting hasn't. The majority of this episode's fun and development occurs in the first half, leaving the titular bachelor party to be slow and repetitive.
Likes
- Beginning Doyle's exit arc, we have some nice new info on him. It's interesting to learn what he was like before getting the visions and adopting his wheeler-dealer persona, and revealing his past marriage to Harriet was a great way of doing it. Things did get a little overdone (his having been a grade-school teacher and soup kitchen volunteer - I know they wanted contrast, but that's too much), but I enjoyed all of those scenes, and Glenn Quinn made it all believable.
- Development for Cordelia. She continues to show layers, rejecting the rich but bland and cowardly stockbroker(?) and being more interested in the kind-hearted Doyle.
- Harry was a very likeable character. It's refreshing to see an ex (especially one featured in a one-off ep) be presented as sympathetic and three-dimensional - I certainly wouldn't have minded seeing her again.
- Nice continuation of the idea that not all demons are evil. It makes sense that purebred demons might be irredeemable, but integration/interbreeding with humans might have left some species more peaceful.
- Respectable humour here and there. I don't recall laughing at anything (maybe Cordy bashing demon-Doyle with that tray), but the jokes were mostly cute, and the brain eating plan was humorous while making a kind of sense.
Dislikes
- Richard is too dull. I imagine he was flatly drawn as to not make Doyle look bad in comparison, but it would be good for 'nice' not to be equated with blandness.
- More story is needed. The party is fun, but nowhere near enough happens for it to justify taking almost half of the episode. As a result, I end up doing some real clock-watching as it goes on.
- The demon women have no questions/suspicions regarding Cordelia and Harry stepping away from Harry's own hen party to suddenly rummage through the family's ancient customs?
- Doyle's closing vision was forced for the sake of the crossover. And why does it show Buffy fighting an anonymous vampire, when Hus was the actual threat?
Summary
What it loses in thin plotting, this ep gains in character insight and good natured comedy. I typically enjoy it more than I expect to, but I'm also glad that the next four or five offer more to sink my teeth into.
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Post by cyclica on Dec 3, 2012 17:47:40 GMT -5
I pretty much agree with everything you said on this one. Things did get a little overdone (his having been a grade-school teacher and soup kitchen volunteer - I know they wanted contrast, but that's too much) I have an especially hard time picturing doyle as a teacher. I got the impression when we first met doyle that he'd been a loner, living that lifestyle for a significant amount of time. His backstory almost feels too long, like there wouldn't have been enoough time for him to have had such a rich full life before he became the doyle we know. - The demon women have no questions/suspicions regarding Cordelia and Harry stepping away from Harry's own hen party to suddenly rummage through the family's ancient customs? Harry is a demon expert... she's going to marry a demon... yet she knows nothing about his people? |
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Post by partcynic on Dec 4, 2012 11:31:50 GMT -5
Cool.  Beginning with my next review, I'll be entering territory I haven't covered before - I think I got up to "The Bachelor Party" last time, and then lost my reviews and gave up. That won't happen now, though (everything is backed up!), so we might get discuss something new. That said, I think we won't diverge too much in opinion before S3 (I remember you saying that you now thought more of the Darla eps, which would have otherwise been our main area of pre-S3 contention). Yes! If Doyle were in his mid-thirties, it could fit, but it otherwise feels like too much is crammed in. |
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Post by partcynic on Dec 4, 2012 11:37:18 GMT -5
1x08 "I Will Remember You"
This is probably the most over-rated episode of the show. What it delivers is mostly good, but there's no escaping that it's basically filler. There's zero development in the Buffy/Angel relationship or in either individual character, so we're left with glorified fanfiction.
Likes
- Cordy and Doyle's parts are fun. I liked their early concern about Angel, and the 'suicide' bit was funny. I also appreciated Cordy's take on Buffy and Angel/Buffy - it was nice to hear someone point out that Ms Summers isn't actually God's gift to the universe.
- More humour would have been good, but I enjoyed the scraps that were there - tea and crackers; the oracles being under the post office, etc.
- The Oracles were a nicely smarmy duo. It's neat that while the Powers that Be don't appear to want humanity to suffer and die, they don't necessarily think highly of us, either. I also liked the sister's change in approach regarding Angel, and her acknowledgement that his willingness to sacrifice his own happiness for the greater good elevated him above a 'lower being'.
- Sarah Michelle Gellar and David Boreanaz work excellently together, and have lots of chemistry. The bed scene was romantic and felt real (lovely incidental music too), and the emotional climax was powerful. After suffering through "Buffy" S6/S7 a few months ago, it was a potent reminder of how great SMG can be, and DB has gotten steadily better at portraying deep emotions.
Dislikes
- As mentioned in my intro, this episode means nothing. Angel's willingness to give up what he most wanted would have had much more impact if he hadn't done a very similar thing only a few shows ago ("In the Dark").
- How does the Mohra Demon's blood work? If it can cure any vampire, that's a big problem. Was Angel okay only because he already had his soul restored? What would happen if the demon blood cured a regular vamp? Would they just be left as soulless humans?
- I understand that Angel is always going to be portrayed more sympathetically on his own show, but the staff went out of their way to make Buffy annoying. She was spoiled and bratty in almost all of the pre-bedroom scenes, and had some positively Dawn-esque lines ("Who do you think you are, coming to my town!?") It's weird that the show could make a one-shot character like Harriet so likeable, yet left the typically rich, three-dimensional Buffy unbearable.
- Angel should be smarter than to take the demon on solo, no matter how much he wants to 'make things work'. His line about not wanting to risk Buffy at the plant is just embarrassing - we all remember she's a Slayer, right?
Summary
Slushy shipper fanfic, but passably executed and incredibly well acted. Not the kind of thing I would want a lot of, but its status as a one-off makes me feel considerably better about it than I might have otherwise.
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Post by partcynic on Dec 12, 2012 15:27:51 GMT -5
1x09 "Hero"
A total classic, "Hero" likely ranks within the show's top ten. I know people complain about Doyle being killed off, but he gets the noblest, most meaningful departure in either "Buffy" or "Angel". If anything, this act probably did the character a favour - a quick run and powerful exit mean he'll always be excellent, with none of the opportunities for rot and poor writing that rendered so many other Buffyverse figures detestable shadows of their former selves.
Likes
- Angel telling Doyle about his day with Buffy. A simple but effective touch showing the bond between the two men (did Angel ever tell anyone else about it?)
- Touching structure with Cordelia's advert. It progresses from being an amusing slice of life at the beginning, to being deeply sad at the end. Love that it pops up again in later seasons.
- Doyle. He's superbly written and acted in every scene, and it's impossible not to be drawn into his story and emotions. The 'everyman hero' theme really works, and his concluding sacrifice is not only highly emotional, but a beautiful moment of the character going full circle (Doyle's refusal to help protect demons from the Scourge starting his journey, and his death rectifying that mistake closing it). Powerful backstory, too - it was just what I wanted after multiple episodes of build-up.
- Theme. Not all demons are evil - thank various deities for "Angel"'s greater sophistication in these matters. Excellent parallels with the Scourge/Nazis - I originally thought it was too obvious and heavy-handed, but given the subject matter, that's no problem.
- Cordelia is amusing and continues to show depth (slapping Doyle and then telling him being half-demon is nothing compared to being short or poor). Shame we couldn't have seen them as a couple - but in this case, I'm willing to accept Joss' predilection for nipping romances in the bud.
- Great acting across the board. The cast may not be masterful, but they know their parts, and perform them very well.
Dislikes
- The Scourge could have done with more members - there weren't enough of them to make the group feel that threatening. And were they what the Mohra demon was referring to (the 'approaching army of darkness')?
- If the Scourge is this dangerous and this dedicated, we should have heard from them again. Many of them survived, and they have the means to manufacture lethal technology - are we supposed to think that they just gave up after this quasi-failure?
- The light-bomb(?) could have done with being better armoured, to stop it from conceivably being damaged/destroyed in other ways.
Summary
I'm running out of superlatives here! A wonderfully written, acted and filmed offering that serves as a worthy requiem to both Doyle and Glenn Quinn.
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Post by cyclica on Dec 13, 2012 18:30:29 GMT -5
Sorry I've not posted much, I've been a bit busy.  This is probably the most over-rated episode of the show. Agreed. - The Oracles were a nicely smarmy duo. It's neat that while the Powers that Be don't appear to want humanity to suffer and die, they don't necessarily think highly of us, either. It's been a while since I watched but... are the oracles the powers? I didn't think they were. I just thought they were knowledgable beings who had insight into the ptb. - How does the Mohra Demon's blood work? If it can cure any vampire, that's a big problem. Was Angel okay only because he already had his soul restored? What would happen if the demon blood cured a regular vamp? Would they just be left as soulless humans? I'd like to know how these demons 'evolved' to have a vamp-to-human cure in their own blood. Not that any explanation is ever given to demon 'evolution' (I suppose we can assume they were created by satan?), but why would something that affects vampires be in the blood of this demon? - I understand that Angel is always going to be portrayed more sympathetically on his own show, but the staff went out of their way to make Buffy annoying. I find the reverse is true, too. I'm not a big fan of angel on btvs, or of buffy on ats. |
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Post by partcynic on Dec 15, 2012 13:46:17 GMT -5
No worries! This time of year is always a busy one. Just so I know, did you have any comments on my "Hero" review, or should I go on and post the next one?
They're not the powers, but I think it's safe to say that as their assigned representatives, the Oracles' opinions on humanity aren't too far off what the powers themselves think. If they really 'loved' people, they probably wouldn't want their PR acting so snidely towards them.
Yep. It's an obvious plot device with no real, believable support.
S3 shirtlessness aside, I never really had a problem with Angel in "Buffy", either as a regular, or in his guest star appearances. He wasn't always likeable, but he was never made as unpleasant and one-dimensional as Buffy's rendered in "I Will Remember You" and "Sanctuary".
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Post by cyclica on Dec 16, 2012 14:11:56 GMT -5
a quick run and powerful exit mean he'll always be excellent, with none of the opportunities for rot and poor writing that rendered so many other Buffyverse figures detestable shadows of their former selves. Wow, I agree many characters went downhill, but your wording comes across as especially harsh. ... I might apply it to willow though. - Touching structure with Cordelia's advert. It progresses from being an amusing slice of life at the beginning, to being deeply sad at the end. Love that it pops up again in later seasons. I absolutely love the advert cordy and doyle filmed, especially it's repeat at the end of the episode, where it takes on a new meaning. It's my favourite part of the episode, and it's one of the 'classic moments' from the show as a whole. - The Scourge could have done with more members - there weren't enough of them to make the group feel that threatening. And were they what the Mohra demon was referring to (the 'approaching army of darkness')? Agreed. Perhaps it's implied there were more members off-screen (certainly that's what I assumed on first watching). Though like you said, if that was the case, we should have heard from the group again. And I still have no real idea what was meant by the mohra demon's 'prophecy' of an army of darkness. The fact that the line was never spoked by the mohra onscreen, only by angel at the end, leads me to wonder if it was hastily added in at the last second, and the writers hadn't really planned out a storyline to go with it. And the forgot about it altogether. |
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Post by cyclica on Dec 16, 2012 14:24:17 GMT -5
Just so I know, did you have any comments on my "Hero" review, or should I go on and post the next one? I'm sorry I gave the impression I had nothing to add regarding your hero review, I was just feeling tired and wanted to get around to it later. They're not the powers, but I think it's safe to say that as their assigned representatives, the Oracles' opinions on humanity aren't too far off what the powers themselves think. If they really 'loved' people, they probably wouldn't want their PR acting so snidely towards them. I hadn't considered the relationship between the oracles and the PTB to be as close as one being the other's representitives, I assumed the PTB were one of many 'forces' out there (along with gods/hellgods), and the oracles were aware of them all, without really being associated with the PTB in particular. Though you could be right. I recall the oracles being left pretty vague. Maybe they did represent the PTB. I did get the impression they were a force for good. |
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Post by partcynic on Dec 17, 2012 15:12:40 GMT -5
Aw - I didn't think it was that harsh. I find that now I'm a little older, my patience for badness has decreased, and rewatching "Buffy" S6/S7 again over the summer really brought it out. Buffy, Willow, Xander, Giles and Spike were all thoroughly pathetic compared to what they once were. Chances are that I won't watch either season again - maybe the odd ep ("OMWF"; "Same Time, Same Place"; "Storyteller"), but never the years in their entireties. No worries. I just wanted to check before posting the next one. It's been a few months since I watched S1, so I may be wrong - but I'm pretty certain that Doyle states that the Oracles are representatives of the Powers when he takes Angel to them in "I Will Remember You". |
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Post by partcynic on Dec 17, 2012 15:15:42 GMT -5
1x10 "Parting Gifts"
Coming after the heavy, emotionally draining "Hero", a more comedic episode could have been a failure, but "Parting Gifts" is as good a follow-up as I could have hoped for. It does a fantastic job of showing the impact of Doyle's death on Angel and Cordy, but also manages to feature humour, a respectable plot and a superb introduction for Wesley.
Likes
- Perfect handling of Doyle's death. The other characters were clearly grieving and struggling in the aftermath, but there was no moping or whining. Instead, little touches conveyed the depth of their emotions, and Barney's talk with Cordy (about Doyle having very little, and choosing to give his most significant possession to her) was well written.
- Cordy is generally excellent - she correctly identifies and understands Angel's behaviour (in her own, tactless way), has a very funny audition ("GRASS STAINS!"), responds amusingly to both her visions and to Wesley's arrival (their second bad kiss; "What's a rogue demon?"), and has a good emotional bit when she frames the picture.
- Wesley is the best he's ever been. In only one episode, he's come far from the one-dimensional irritant he was on "Buffy", yet feels like the same character. Having him be sacked from the Council made sense; pushed him into new territory, and wins him respect for continuing to contribute to the fight against evil.
- The Barney plot is basic and easy to work out, but it worked as a frame for the humour and character development.
- Body part auction. Nicely ghoulish, more good stuff for Cordy (stalling by trying to push up the bid price), and another fun Wolfram and Hart sighting.
- The closing breakfast scene is funny and heartwarming. It's amazing how much Wesley feels like he belongs.
Dislikes
- Shouldn't Wes and Angel have been aware of the demon on the apartment ceiling far sooner than they actually were? Since the creature was gravely injured and dying, there should have been blood and sound long before we saw it.
- Wesley knows Angel is going to visit Koreatown, but how does he know where Angel is within the district? Good job he shows up just in time to hear the dying demon's explanation.
- Angel can instantly recognise amorphous sculptures from so-so line drawings?
Summary
Not at the level of "Hero" (how much is?), but a humorous, warm and emotional episode that deals beautifully with a tragedy's aftermath while introducing some major, interesting changes. One of the best from the first half of the season (with "City of..."; "Rm w/a Vu" and "Hero").
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Post by cyclica on Dec 24, 2012 9:27:05 GMT -5
I agree with everything you've said, and I can't think of much to say in response. - The closing breakfast scene is funny and heartwarming. This was the highlight of the episode for me. So much is conveyed without being spoken out loud. - Shouldn't Wes and Angel have been aware of the demon on the apartment ceiling far sooner than they actually were? Since the creature was gravely injured and dying, there should have been blood and sound long before we saw it. Not to mention the smell. - Angel can instantly recognise amorphous sculptures from so-so line drawings? That scene bothered me a little too. That blob could have been anything. |
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Post by partcynic on Dec 26, 2012 12:00:53 GMT -5
No worries! As long as I know these reviews aren't just disappearing into the ether, I'm happy. There might not be much possibility for extended discussion/massively varying opinions before S2, or possibly S3, as I know we're fairly close in opinion until then. |
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Post by partcynic on Dec 26, 2012 12:04:17 GMT -5
1x11 "Somnambulist"
This ep is about as good as any Kate-heavy show can be, though it goes without saying that she's its weakest component. The plot is questionable and hard to believe, but it's made up for by the uniquely dark atmosphere and the first/best Buffyverse conveyance of the idea that being a vampire might actually have downsides.
Likes
- I never thought that Angel was the killer, but the opening part of the story was presented as tensely and effectively as it could have been. I especially liked the segment with Kate profiling the murderer and the description fitting Angel, as well as Angel mistaking someone for Buffy (nice touch having the girl socialise with a dark-haired guy and redheaded woman).
- Penn was an interesting and memorable character, and had real personality. It's funny to think that Jeremy Renner is now a successful Hollywood star, while so many of the main "Buffy" and "Angel" casts have stiffed elsewhere.
- Cordy and Wes are great, and Wesley continues to fit the series. Their exchanges have amusing dialogue, and I liked seeing Cordy defend Angel, as well as her "No-one tried to gouge my eyes out, so I'm happy" and "Chaining the boss to a bed - I've gotta join a union" lines.
- A good ending with Cordy and Angel. The theme ties nicely into Angel's broader character arc (and indeed, the main concepts of S1), and their friendship is lovely to watch.
Dislikes
- Vampires having connections with those they've sired is a fascinating concept, but we really should have heard about it before (from "Buffy" S1, with the Master, Darla and Angel all in close proximity). It otherwise feels like something made up to facilitate the plot (which it is!)
- Kate's part left me cold. As a longtime viewer, it's not interesting to see yet another character discovering the supernatural, and since her response is predictable nastiness, we don't learn anything meaningful. Also, Kate is able to make all the connections with Angelus remarkably quickly. Remember when even Giles had to dig deep to learn about him? Who's writing these detailed biographies for the general populace?
- Kate goes unaccompanied into a building known to house a serial killer. Does the LAPD not have any procedures?
- How does Angel know where Kate lives? Since "Lonely Heart", they've only encountered each other with police-related business, and I can't see her giving him her address.
- Kate angling the 'stake' to kill Penn but not Angel was a neat touch, but when did she develop Slayer strength? Humans should not be able to drive a piece of wood through two vampires.
Summary
I would have preferred less cop drama and more "Angel", but this is as good a fusion of the two sides as the show ever did, with good material for the core trio outweighing the continuing issues with Kate.
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Beginning with my next review, I'll be entering territory I haven't covered before - I think I got up to "The Bachelor Party" last time, and then lost my reviews and gave up. That won't happen now, though (everything is backed up!), so we might get discuss something new. That said, I think we won't diverge too much in opinion before S3 (I remember you saying that you now thought more of the Darla eps, which would have otherwise been our main area of pre-S3 contention).