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Post by partcynic on Dec 3, 2013 17:18:09 GMT -5
No worries! I know you said a while ago you had a new job, and real life has to take precedence over discussing 13-year-old TV. That said, it's great to hear from you again. I just like how Dru and Darla never softened. I can't see Dru ever allowing herself to become a domesticated lapdog like Spike (even pre-soul) - no moping, no whining, just straight up evil. Watching her go on that killing spree with Darla later in the season is way more fun than any such scenario should be. I think this season managed to do a fantastic job of giving the main plot lots of time, while also making sure the individual characters shine. It's the one year that "Angel" was really able to strike the balance. That's exactly it, though I have no doubts about saying this ep would be in my top 10 of the show.
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Post by partcynic on Dec 3, 2013 17:21:10 GMT -5
2x08 "The Shroud of Rahmon"
Another below-average S2 standalone. Nothing in "The Shroud of Rahmon" is bad, but its insistence on centring both Kate and a bizarre, handbags-at-dawn conflict between Angel and Gunn drags it down.
Likes
- The structure is a first for "Angel". Having the ending before the beginning created some intrigue, and that was enough for me to forgive its cop drama overtones.
- The heist story is fine. There's a good mix of personalities in the crew (liked Angel as the Vegas vamp, and the blunt murderousness of the big demon - especially when he ripped the annoying security guard's head off), and their scheme is entertaining in small doses.
- Cordelia and Wesley. I always mention these two together, but since they're basically one character, I feel it's justified. Their dialogue was entertaining (lots of witty lines for Cordy), and their research/break-in scenes served as islands of refuge from the Gunn/Angel bickering.
- The ep's quite fun once everyone's been warped by the shroud. Nothing great, but I liked the frantic dusting, yellow eyes, Cordy stealing and checking out the size of her teeth, etc.
Dislikes
- Cordelia's hair! Whoever cut and styled that did Charisma a disservice - she looks like she's sporting a cheap wig, and it's a constant distraction whenever she's on screen.
- Gunn. I don't know why, but while the writers seem to have no problems developing the other mains, they can't for Gunn - I'd guess it's because they were making his parts up as they went along. Like in "First Impressions", his basic actions made some sense (subbing for his cousin; tension between he and Angel after learning more about Angel's past), but the duo's constant sniping accomplished nothing, as well as being no fun to watch. I've said it before, and I'll say it again - character development requires taking a character and developing them, not just having them throw a few hissy fits and suddenly stopping. There are a wealth of complex and interesting stories that could be told with Gunn - so why are we getting this schoolyard stuff?
- Kate. She's neither interesting nor sympathetic, and her non-stop grieving/vendetta over her deeply unlikeable father's death is tired. I'm looking forward to her exit, though I will commend this ep slightly for initiating her reconciliation with Angel.
- The closing hint at Angel's newfound bloodlust, which never really came to anything. Cheap.
Summary
A watchable ep that's nonetheless towards the bottom of S2. It doesn't suck, but its good qualities are matched by problems, and it has the broader misfortune of being an unwelcome diversion from the show's deepest and most interesting arc.
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Post by cyclica on Feb 16, 2014 16:25:12 GMT -5
Like a zombie I return Another below-average S2 standalone. Nothing in "The Shroud of Rahmon" is bad, but its insistence on centring both Kate and a bizarre, handbags-at-dawn conflict between Angel and Gunn drags it down. That made me lol. - The structure is a first for "Angel". Having the ending before the beginning created some intrigue, and that was enough for me to forgive its cop drama overtones. While I didn't have a major problem with having an ending first in this ep, in general I find it a cheap tv trick. If your story has a weak ending, simply play it first, that way when it comes again you'll be so happy to see it again you won't notice how flat it is! - The heist story is fine. There's a good mix of personalities in the crew (liked Angel as the Vegas vamp, and the blunt murderousness of the big demon - especially when he ripped the annoying security guard's head off), and their scheme is entertaining in small doses. That's definately the highlight of the episode for me, seeing angel, gunn and the 2 demons play off each other and trying to accomplish the heist. - Cordelia and Wesley. I always mention these two together, but since they're basically one character, I feel it's justified. That's an interesting way to put it. Care to elaborate? - The ep's quite fun once everyone's been warped by the shroud. Nothing great, but I liked the frantic dusting, yellow eyes, Cordy stealing and checking out the size of her teeth, etc. Meh, I found the effects of the shroud to be a bit wishy-washy. Just what exactly did it do to cordelia anyway? - Cordelia's hair! Whoever cut and styled that did Charisma a disservice - she looks like she's sporting a cheap wig, and it's a constant distraction whenever she's on screen. Agreed. I wanna hit her hair with a hammer till it dies. - Gunn. I don't know why, but while the writers seem to have no problems developing the other mains, they can't for Gunn - I'd guess it's because they were making his parts up as they went along. Like in "First Impressions", his basic actions made some sense (subbing for his cousin; tension between he and Angel after learning more about Angel's past), but the duo's constant sniping accomplished nothing, as well as being no fun to watch. I've said it before, and I'll say it again - character development requires taking a character and developing them, not just having them throw a few hissy fits and suddenly stopping. There are a wealth of complex and interesting stories that could be told with Gunn - so why are we getting this schoolyard stuff? I didn't have a big problem with gunn. I'm just happy he was eased into the gang and didn't have an instant personallity change, like so often on tv shows when a new character is added. - Kate. She's neither interesting nor sympathetic, and her non-stop grieving/vendetta over her deeply unlikeable father's death is tired. I'm looking forward to her exit, though I will commend this ep slightly for initiating her reconciliation with Angel. Agreed. - The closing hint at Angel's newfound bloodlust, which never really came to anything. Cheap. I had forgotten all about that! I can only assume he curbed his bloodlust before the next episode started. Btw... can you beleive next may it'll be ten years since angel was cancelled? Ten years!
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Post by partcynic on Feb 18, 2014 17:09:49 GMT -5
Welcome back! The board has been veeery quiet in your absence. I hope you're doing well. Cordelia is skilled with people while lacking in the academic department, while Wes has the booksmarts but not the social aptitude. It's like they're two sides of the same coin - their personalities 'complete' each other. Got her stoned, I think. Not quite sure what that has to do with the paranoia theme, but it doesn't bother me much. Besides, "Are You Now Or Have You Ever Been" handled that concept with far more skill. Lol! It's like a rodent's perched there. Strangely enough, I think that while he didn't have a massive change, a weird personality shift still occurred. There are multiple moments in this season where his behaviour just doesn't make sense considering what we know about his past (or what we saw in S1). But I'll save that discussion for the episodes in which it happens. I know - it's scary! In a couple of years, it'll be two decades since "Buffy" S1 was filmed! Nothing like that to remind you you're getting older.
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Post by partcynic on Feb 18, 2014 17:19:29 GMT -5
2x09 "The Trial"Back to the arc, and we get another impressive Darla-centric episode. "The Trial" doesn't have quite the same impact as "Darla", but it's incredibly engrossing; rising steadily in quality as it progresses and imbuing a standard plot with some powerful emotion. Likes- The early scene with Angel lurking in the basement... doing laundry. Cordy and Wes are funny, and I like how Angel's spiel about being over Darla is quickly revealed to be a huge lie. We also get to see how his one-track mind is causing the team to fragment - he no longer cares if Cordy and Wes are involved. - The twist with Darla's health is a good, believable one, and fine impetus for the episode's more emotional material. - Darla trying to hit on/get sired by the loser vampire. It's humorous, shows her desperation, and reminds us just how much cooler the core four vamps are than the run-of-the-mills. - Very good material for Lindsey - he's a dark and complex character who continues to have layers. It's also good that even though his actions during the ep are horrendous, they have an internal logic when you consider his obsession with Darla, his desire to lash out at Angel, and his willingness to risk his life in service of getting what he wants (inviting Angel into his apartment). - Caritas. Julie Benz isn't a great singer, but she (Darla) has the right kind of vibe for a torch song. In addition, I'm always happy to see Lorne (nice plot tie-up for "Guise Will Be Guise", too). - The trials. Love the bit at the swimming pool ("I'll save you, or you're about to see something funny"), and the 'Host' is nicely ambiguous. I've mixed thoughts on the specific challenges, but enjoyed watching Angel (and vicariously, Darla) go through them. - Darla's development is realistic and believable, as the experience of seeing Angel in the trials, and feeling what he feels (his genuine compassion and desire to save her) leads to a shift in her perspective. - Motel scene. It's fascinating to see Angel so desperate that he's willing to sire Darla, and I thought it was a redemptive moment for her to reject it and finally accept the death that should have come so long ago. His promise to be stay with her was very touching, as was the newfound understanding between them. - There are few moments more awesome than Lindsey arriving to 'help' Darla in his own warped way. Enter Drusilla, and you know some stunning episodes are coming. Dislikes- A touch slow at the start, though any pacing issues quickly vanish. - Gunn and Angel are a-okay with each other. Makes their griping in "The Shroud of Rahmon" seem even stupider. - Just how many portals to mystics are there in LA, and why are so many seen once, then never heard from again? Arch under the post office, abandoned swimming pool, burger bar mascot... I kind of wish the Oracles had been left alive, so we'd get more consistency with this. - The first trial is too easy. The second and third are at a good level and seem specifically designed for Angel - the opening one should have been too. Even factoring in the unique method of defeating the demon, I would have liked something more creative than a standard battle. SummaryAn affecting and compelling episode with good character development and a jaw-dropping ending. "Angel" S2 keeps on producing those winners!
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Post by cyclica on Apr 28, 2014 14:11:16 GMT -5
The Trial is one of my favourite s2 arc episodes. It's just as relevent as 'darla' or 'dear boy' to the overall arc, but it can also be enjoyed on it's own far easier than the other two. I found the host of the trials very likeable too. His matter-of-fact final words that there was nothing he could do, worked so much better than if he had said them dramatically. - There are few moments more awesome than Lindsey arriving to 'help' Darla in his own warped way. Enter Drusilla, and you know some stunning episodes are coming. That was a big surprise for me. Not just to have an established character at the last moment, but because I had thought of drucilla as a very 'buffy character', and hadn't thought she would translate well to angel. I'm glad I was wrong. - Just how many portals to mystics are there in LA, and why are so many seen once, then never heard from again? Arch under the post office, abandoned swimming pool, burger bar mascot... I kind of wish the Oracles had been left alive, so we'd get more consistency with this. Not to mention those in sunnydale, like the one giles visited in 'the zeppo', or the beljoxas eye (or whatever its called). There are so many all-knowing beings who are always ready to help heroes out, it's almost ridiculous. Why do we even still have villains when heroes have it so easy?
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Post by partcynic on Apr 29, 2014 12:06:23 GMT -5
Hi cyclica - great to have you back! I'm also glad to hear your positive opinions on the Darla arc and its episodes - taken together, they're my very favourite "Angel" material, and I remember that you used to like them less than you do now. Definitely! I understand the writers wanting an 'oracle' type being to provide them with outs for stories, but one should be enough to suffice.
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Post by partcynic on May 2, 2014 15:47:55 GMT -5
2x10 "Reunion"
The ending of "The Trial" gave whatever followed it plenty to work with, and I'm pleased to say that "Reunion" more than capitalises on its promising lead-in. With one of the tightest scripts in all of "Angel", the episode treats almost every character to great dialogue, with its most stellar parts being reserved for Dru and Darla - though the others aren't far behind.
Likes
- Angel at the start. With his chance at getting redemption for Darla gone, he clings to the idea of 'saving' her by killing her before she can rise. Love the gang all coming together to research even as they're concerned about the case (and Angel's overinvolvement in it), and Gunn's line about the bizarre vamp family tree is amusing.
- Drusilla! She's one of the Buffyverse's great figures, and shines every time she's featured. I liked her perspective on Darla's siring being akin to a birth, and her dialogue before and during the greenhouse fight is great. Loved her deadpan "she's dead" response to Lindsey asking if Darla could hear her, as well as her complaint about lagging during her fight with Angel.
- Holland and Angel at Wolfram and Hart. A great standoff with well-written dialogue.
- Excellent pacing and action throughout.
- Darla and Drusilla back together. Drusilla's concern for Darla is touching (worrying about her welfare after she leapt from the top of that building; her tears at the thought of her dead and alone), and I like how the initial fight between the two then becomes understanding. The subsequent mini-rampage is fun to watch (brilliant to see unrepentant villains doing what they do best, and the bit with Dru's phone is so funny) - my only qualm was that we didn't get more of it.
- Kate not being unpleasant. She was believably frosty towards Angel, but acknowledged that he was the only one capable of dealing with Dru/Darla. Letting him go (only for his actions to result in multiple deaths) is also good set-up for her eventual firing.
- Every moment in the wine cellar is superb. Darla and especially Drusilla are scary and funny (loved Dru telling Lilah that it was very thoughtful of her to moisturise, and her comments about 'people huddled together in fear applying to the past and present). Lindsey's level head wins him further points as the other lawyers realise they're in real trouble, and Angel's arrival produces one of the show's classic scenes. Turning Holland's disregard for human life against him, Angel(us?) even has the vamps wondering exactly what's going on, and it's easy to understand why he snapped. And since the lawyers all had it coming, it's no big horror, either - just satisfying, albeit in a twisted way.
- Another classic scene with Angel sacking the gang. Simply and effectively done, and a blessing in disguise, as this progression will permit some excellent development for Cordelia and Wesley.
Dislikes
- Lindsey has moved home remarkably quickly. He invites Angel into his apartment during "The Trial", but manages to get a new home, move all his property and locate/transport Drusilla to LA in the space of twenty-four hours. I hope he has a well-paid PA.
- Holland's wife survived being bitten by Darla and/or Dru? Why wouldn't they have killed her? I know it's a necessary evil so that Angel can score an invite (and since it leads to the basement scene, I'm fine with that), but an odd happening all the same.
Summary
A dark, funny, action-packed and character-developing masterwork, and the second of S2's crowning glories.
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Post by cyclica on Jun 8, 2014 14:49:26 GMT -5
Reading these reviews is making me want to go watch angel all over again. But I know I won't be happy with just one episode, I'd want to watch the whole series, so I must resist until I have the time to do that. This was a good episode, and again I agree with your thoughts on it. The real highlight is of course drucilla. I love how easily this buffy character fits right in to the show, and never stands out in the way that oz or Andrew did. Gunn's line about the bizarre vamp family tree is amusing. And a good way to provide a recap for the audience, and let us know that gunn knows what's going on. - Darla and Drusilla back together. Drusilla's concern for Darla is touching (worrying about her welfare after she leapt from the top of that building; her tears at the thought of her dead and alone), and I like how the initial fight between the two then becomes understanding. The subsequent mini-rampage is fun to watch (brilliant to see unrepentant villains doing what they do best, and the bit with Dru's phone is so funny) - my only qualm was that we didn't get more of it. Up until this point, we've almost always only seen drucilla in scenes with spike, or that involve him (not counting seeing human 'good' drucilla get turned). We've not had much of a sense of the foresome together, and how they'd play off each other. And while we never really did get to see much of the four of them together at once, it's awesome seeing darla and drucilla together, and what kind of friendship/relationship they have. (Shame we never got to see darla and spike play off each other much). It's good to know drucilla can hold up as a character when spike isn't around - Kate not being unpleasant. She was believably frosty towards Angel, but acknowledged that he was the only one capable of dealing with Dru/Darla. Letting him go (only for his actions to result in multiple deaths) is also good set-up for her eventual firing. I mostly forgot kate existed. To me she is a season 1 character who 'stuck around' into season 2, and didn't do much to grab my attention in between finding out angel was a vampire, and getting fired. - Holland's wife survived being bitten by Darla and/or Dru? Why wouldn't they have killed her? I know it's a necessary evil so that Angel can score an invite (and since it leads to the basement scene, I'm fine with that), but an odd happening all the same. No snacking before the big meal.
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Post by partcynic on Jun 10, 2014 14:08:51 GMT -5
^ As always, great to hear from you! I hope you'll get that chance to rewatch "Angel" once things become less busy. I don't have any extra comments to add (I'm in complete agreement re: Drusilla and Kate), so I'll get right on to posting the next review! *** 2x11 "Redefinition"A great follow-up to "Reunion" that does a number of things very well. It isn't flawless (primarily because of its awkward material for Angel), but features well-written material for every other character. Likes- Lindsey being stunned at having survived, and then being disappointed when it turns out he's not the only one. His character is nicely nuanced (the lack of care as to whether he lives or dies; his intelligence and competitiveness with Lilah in the great hidden mic scene), and Christian Kane can be counted on for a good performance. Stephanie Romanov/Lilah is also great - I like that the characters have the smarts to realise they're unlikely to live much longer, and their mutual promotion makes sense for Wolfram and Hart, as well as setting the scene for some solid future material. - Darla and Drusilla's gleeful, unrepentant evil is so much fun to watch. Their adventures here weren't as interesting as those in the last ep, but that's not too shocking (can't be massacring every time). As always, Dru is the star (ripping off the demon's ears; mooing at Lindsey; "ooh, flogging... ooh, churches"; the fire prophecy that actually applies to she and Darla), but Darla also has her moments, especially when interacting with Lindsey (hilarious 'love you' fakeout). - Wesley, Cordelia and Gunn's responses to being fired and attempts to figure out what to do next. This is a pivotal moment in each of their development, and it's executed in a satisfying way. There's lots of humour in their initial meet-up at Caritas, with the drunken bickering and its segue into a rendition of "We Are The Champions". Cordy's subsequent vision - and the group's mobilisation to save the girl, realising that they are capable of continuing the mission on their own - is a nice reminder that they still have an important role to play (both in the show's universe, and in the show itself!) - Angel torching Darla and Dru. I love that now, even they're confused as to who he really is. It even makes me willing to overlook Angel's sudden smoking habit (which was only there to look cool and give him a subtler way to set them alight). Dislikes- Angel's lack of actual dialogue during the episode was stylistically cool, but his segments were notably weaker than the ones that focused on other characters. None of his over-dramatic narration says or means anything, and I don't see how a couple of days of intensive exercise and killing a few random vamps are going to benefit him. It's not like he's been lazing about for the last four/five years. - Gunn. This is an issue for the season and not just this episode, but his character still doesn't make sense. I really liked his initial reaction to getting fired, as it seemed to show the writers remembering that he was a leader with his own commitments, but that coolness went away when he appeared at Caritas. Why would he be lost without Angel? Gunn was directing his own gang and fighting the good fight long before Angel entered his life! This is just a silly contrivance to keep a regular-listed actor/character in every episode, when the nature of the character makes him more appropriate for regular guest appearances. - Darla's response to hearing Angel's name should have been toned down. It's fine for her to have issues and want to 'restablish' herself without him, but the gasping and shouting every time he was mentioned were over-the-top. The season has been generally good with subtlety, and more wouldn't have hurt. - Wesley, Cordy and Gunn sober up remarkably quickly once Cordy has her vision. Adrenaline, perhaps? - Convenient fire hydrant outside the garage. Not a big down, though, as I wouldn't want the show/Buffyverse to lose Darla or Dru (shame this serves as Dru's exit from the arc, though). SummaryThese are getting hard to write - there's only so many ways I can say 'this is an excellent S2 episode'! It remains that there's no denying "Redefinition"'s quality, and it's a big step forward for writer Mere Smith after her middling debut with "Untouched".
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Post by cyclica on Jul 21, 2014 16:49:23 GMT -5
This is another arc ep that I rarely watch on it's own, though it is more memorable on it's own than most arc eps. Like you, I find the darla/dru and the wes/cordy/gunn elements more interesting than angel's own story. - Lindsey being stunned at having survived, and then being disappointed when it turns out he's not the only one. I wsa disappointed too at first viewing. At first I thought ALL the lawyers would be killed, which would have been a massive change. They they showed us linsey and lilah were still alive, meaning the massive change was nothing more than killing off a bunch of extras we've never seen before. Well at least they killed holland. ... In a way it feels a bit cheap to me that they had the vamps kill a bunch of extras to make the scene seem more important, when just having the three lawyers in the room and hacing the vamps kill holland was all that was really needed. Not that I consider it a 'bad' scene, it's just that killing the lawyer nobodies doesn't have much impact on me. - Darla and Drusilla's gleeful, unrepentant evil is so much fun to watch. I wish we could have seen more. You don't even need a reason, just flashback to the two of them a hundred years ago. Imagine how much fun a bad episode could be if you just insert a random darla/dru scene! - Angel torching Darla and Dru. I love that now, even they're confused as to who he really is. It even makes me willing to overlook Angel's sudden smoking habit (which was only there to look cool and give him a subtler way to set them alight). It's a good thing vampires with a soul also come with the ability to breathe, otherwise that smoking scene would be a bit silly. Oh wait, he could also smoke as angelus... how does that work again? - Angel's lack of actual dialogue during the episode was stylistically cool, but his segments were notably weaker than the ones that focused on other characters. None of his over-dramatic narration says or means anything, and I don't see how a couple of days of intensive exercise and killing a few random vamps are going to benefit him. It's not like he's been lazing about for the last four/five years. I didn't notice on first viewing, but apparently angel never speaks in this entire episode, all his lines are narration. - Gunn. This is an issue for the season and not just this episode, but his character still doesn't make sense. I really liked his initial reaction to getting fired, as it seemed to show the writers remembering that he was a leader with his own commitments, but that coolness went away when he appeared at Caritas. Why would he be lost without Angel? Gunn was directing his own gang and fighting the good fight long before Angel entered his life! This is just a silly contrivance to keep a regular-listed actor/character in every episode, when the nature of the character makes him more appropriate for regular guest appearances. True. But still, I'm glad he stuck around. Perhaps they should have included a scene where he can see his old gang, doing just fine without him, or perhaps realise that he does more good working with wes and cordy that he would anywhere else, so it makes sense to stick around with them. - Convenient fire hydrant outside the garage. Not a big down, though, as I wouldn't want the show/Buffyverse to lose Darla or Dru (shame this serves as Dru's exit from the arc, though). No more dru. I was really hoping she would stick around.
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Post by partcynic on Jul 23, 2014 9:02:36 GMT -5
That's a fair critique, and that hadn't occurred to me prior to you mentioning it. That said, the crux of the scene is Angel's being complicit in the deaths rather than the deaths themselves, and the contrast between that and the usual histrionics we get whenever the prospect of killing an evil human shows up (one of the big problems with "Supersymmetry").
Fantastic idea! Darla and Drusilla: The Massacre(s) should be the next big Buffyverse thing - their scenes could indeed improve the poorest episodes. I'm now imagining the two of them locked in a room with Andrew, Dawn and Kennedy...
It's always been very silly, hasn't it? They should have just said that while vampires don't need to breathe to live, they can and do mimic breathing to try and evade detection from humans/Slayers when in their midst.
Yep. It would have been cooler if they'd had him narrate something that was actually worth saying, though.
Yes - we definitely needed that, since his role in his group is a major part of Gunn's character (and the focal point of his existence in "War Zone"). I'll add that know I complain about Gunn quite a bit (and there's plenty more to come), but it's not because I think his presence is bad. I really liked how he came across in "War Zone", and like J. August Richard's acting - it's just seems that they upgraded him to regular status without coming up with a clear character arc - and this will only get worse as time goes on.
She really should have. As much as I liked seeing her in "Crush", that ep shouldn't have served as her departure from the story. She was a major player (and constant highlight) in this "Angel" arc, and she should have been afforded proper closure. Saying 'oh, she just left' is really unsatisfying - I often wonder what happened to change whatever the original S2 ending was and bring in Pylea instead.
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Post by partcynic on Jul 23, 2014 9:06:43 GMT -5
2x12 "Blood Money"
This is possibly the darkest Angel has ever gotten as a character - while Angelus killed for food or for fun, the current Angel is a knot of anger, bitterness and resentment who's so consumed with vengeance that he no longer cares about who's harmed in its pursuit. It's far from a happy story, but it's a very good one, with superb progression for a once-forgotten, minor figure and moments of light relief from the other main characters.
Likes
- Angel. He's a terrible person at this stage, but it's so easy to understand why this has happened (kind of sad the writers had to have him spell it out in the next ep). Wolfram and Hart went in too deep when they brought back Darla, and the searing pain of having her shot at redemption (and thus his, in a vicarious way - if she could be forgiven and make peace, it was a sign he could too) so cruelly taken from her has made him snap, and all he has left now is hate, twisting his mission from helping the innocent to punishing the evil. Here, he's so hellbent on messing with the lawyers (and this is all just mindgames - he didn't even have the evidence he claimed to possess) that he almost screws over a good person working for a noble cause, and his presence ends up corrupting rather than helping.
- Anne. It was wonderful to continue the story of Chanterelle/Lily, and her development was satisfying and made sense. She took the way out Buffy presented her with and grew into a strong, self-sufficient woman who remembered her roots, and used what she had to help others in that position. Loved the little mentions of her past (also good that she and Angel didn't remember each other from their very brief meeting in "Lie to Me"), and the little touch of darkness/pragmatism she showed at the end ("it'll wash").
- Lindsey and Lilah. Squirming, panicking and desperate - they're wonderfully slimy people, and embezzling money from a teen shelter was exactly the kind of scheme I'd expect them/Wolfram and Hart to foster. I also liked Lindsey's line about wiping tears with his plastic hand if Boone managed to kill Angel.
- Angel firing the others was actually a godsend, as they're really blossoming outside of his shadow. All three characters demonstrate their continued devotion to their cause, and their developing relationships are believable, funny and occasionally touching. I'd have been hard-pressed to think how a Wesley-Gunn friendship could be made workable, but this ep did it with smarts and plenty of humour.
- Everyone converging on Merl. A nice running thread that added some structure and provided some humour in an otherwise serious ep.
- Angel lying in wait for Lilah (how did he get into her car?) He's actually disturbing in his promise that the begging will come later, and I can feel Lilah's fear.
- The gala/fundraiser. The corporate fakery/smugness is perfectly observed (the way everyone behaves around Anne; Holland's brilliant video), and the actors/robbers provide some levity. The comment to one of the girls about her character being turned gay for ratings is pretty funny if you also watch "Buffy".
Dislikes
- Wesley and Gunn taking out a gigantic fire breathing demon is too much to believe. There were plenty of ways the writers could have shown them winning against a dangerous foe without Angel, and most of them wouldn't have required anything that far-fetched.
- Why is Anne so willing to trust Angel and help him execute his plan? She has no reason to believe his claims. And why doesn't she have her 'Rickie' tattoo? I doubt she'd have the cash to pay for an extensive removal treatment.
- Boone was a bland character. His main motivation being honour made him different, but his personality and story weren't interesting. In addition, the twist that he was in cahoots with Angel was one too many - if he'd already made contact with him and agreed to help in exchange for getting that battle, why would he need to go to Merl to find out what Angel was up to?
- I'm uncertain about the ending, with Angel giving Anne the money. Considering that he was willing to endanger her for a triviality, would he really care about making sure she got the cash? If, as he says, he "no longer cares", why would he make a token nice gesture? It's not like it was being used as a character development moment to undercut his prior statement.
Summary
A nicely nasty slice of bleakness that makes the most of all its characters. It isn't quite as gripping as the last two, but does an excellent job of creating a dark situation, progressing multiple character arcs and giving us a lovely blast from the past.
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Post by cyclica on Aug 17, 2014 14:51:02 GMT -5
- Anne. It was wonderful to continue the story of Chanterelle/Lily, and her development was satisfying and made sense. She took the way out Buffy presented her with and grew into a strong, self-sufficient woman who remembered her roots, and used what she had to help others in that position. Loved the little mentions of her past (also good that she and Angel didn't remember each other from their very brief meeting in "Lie to Me"), and the little touch of darkness/pragmatism she showed at the end ("it'll wash"). I loved seeing anne again. Even though she only appeared in 5 buffyverse episodes, her character goes through many changes, and it's fascinating to see the impact both buffy and angel have on her life. ...Though I do think her storyline here was a little unengaging. If they had introduced a new character here instead of bringing back anne, it would have been much less enjoyable to watch. - Lindsey and Lilah. Squirming, panicking and desperate - they're wonderfully slimy people They were another highlight for me (though admittedly I didn't care for them much on my first viewing). I like how even though we are basically following Lindsey's story in this arc, Lilah is always kept at the forefront. This way, her later promotion (both in her job and in her importance to the show) wouldn't be so jarring. I loved seeing Holland's cameo too. - Wesley and Gunn taking out a gigantic fire breathing demon is too much to believe. It's hard to believe such a large creature/threat can even exist without being discovered by the public. Still, I wish we could have seen more of the battle. I realise the scene existed mostly for a joke, but I still feel like we've been denied a cool scene. - Boone was a bland character. His main motivation being honour made him different, but his personality and story weren't interesting. In addition, the twist that he was in cahoots with Angel was one too many - if he'd already made contact with him and agreed to help in exchange for getting that battle, why would he need to go to Merl to find out what Angel was up to? Yeah, the twist at the end was pretty cheap. Boone comes across as a 'stak trek demon' anyway - just a human who looks superficially different, with nothing demonic (/alien) about him. I have a hard time fitting boone in with Angel's history as we know it. Why wait until now to settle a score with angel? He spent years as a homeless bum, an easy target. - I'm uncertain about the ending, with Angel giving Anne the money. Considering that he was willing to endanger her for a triviality, would he really care about making sure she got the cash? If, as he says, he "no longer cares", why would he make a token nice gesture? It's not like it was being used as a character development moment to undercut his prior statement. I didn't like the ending either. Why bother making angel 'dark', if in the very next episode you have him do the exact same thing 'old' angel would have done?
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Post by partcynic on Aug 18, 2014 15:40:48 GMT -5
When you put it that way, it's very true. Without the specific character and familiarity of Anne, this wouldn't have worked as well as it did.
Yep! Holland's video is one of my favourite parts of the episode, and one of the top minor moments of the season.
A great point there, which I hadn't even considered. Makes the Boone concept/story look even more sloppy.
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