Angel ep by ep; CARPE NOCTEM
With my thanks to Boo who allowed me to adapt his/her review format used in the Buffy rewatch and Keith Topping's excellent fan books Slayer and Hollywood Vampire for inspiration; City of Angels The Good; Impressive opening scenes, funny yet moving. Love Angel choosing the wrong car and very suprising that he doesn't save the girl, at least not the guest star (they use the same time difference trick as they did in Helpless to convince you he will). Especially loved him killing Winters at the end, real vicious stick it in and break it off revenge, great stunt, great effect. Cordy realising that Winter's is a vamp and him initally denying it is also fun. The Bad; If Winters had all this security at his House how can Angel just walk into his office? Best line: Angel; Can you fly? Jeez, how did they get away with that? Winters killing the heroine is very brutal. Also the whole sugardaddy/casting couch scenario shows the stark reality behind the Hollywood glamour. Apocalypses: 4 Angel Cliches Damsel in distress; 1 Inverting the Hollywood cliche; Doyle rams the gates of the Winter's mansion but they seem suprisingly resilient. Also Angel fails to save the girl. In disguise; Angel does his rube in the big city act for the first time DB get's his shirt off; in order to allow Doyle and Cordy to remove the bullets. Yeah, right! Fang Gang in bondage: no but he knocks out and ties up the guard at the mansion Cordy: 5 Angel: 4 Wes: 1 Fang gang knocked out: no but Angel knocks out about 4 guys Cordy: 6 Angel: 6 Wes: 1 Kills: Cordy: none this ep. 3 vamps, пїЅ a demon from her time in Sunnydale Angel: kills 4 vamps in the opening episode which is remarkable as according to Boo's figures he only killed 3 in the whole 3 seasons of Buffy. So that gives Angel 7 vamps, 1 demon, 1 human. Fang Gang go evil: Cordy: 1 Angel: 1 Alternate Fang Gang: Cordy: 1 Angel: 3 Characters killed: 2; Tina and her missing friend Denise (offscreen) Total number of Angel Investigations: 3, Angel, Doyle and Cordy Angel Investigations shot: Angel: 4, pumped full of lead by Winter's bodyguards Notches on Fang Gang bedpost: Cordy: 1? Angel: 1;Buffy Kinky dinky: Tina appears to be Winter's kept woman. She describes him as 'liking pain' (his own or other peoples?). Cordy also considers him for a sugardaddy much the same as she'll consider doing later to David Nabbit. Tina offers herself to Angel as a reward for saving her but like the white knight he is he gently turns her down. Captain Subtext; Oliver at the party considers Angel a 'beautiful man' but only on a professional basis, he's currently in a long term relationship with a landscape gardener. 'Drunk' Angel also gives the appearance of hitting on the guy in the bar. Questions and observations; Doyle drinks Colt .45 beer, the equivalent of Tennants Extra in the UK, pretty much in keeping with the down at heel nature of his character. First appearance of Lindsey, he and Angel are the only characters who appear in both the first and last eps of the series. Angel goes all Punisher finding his way to Winters, not hesitating to beat and threaten his way to his goal. The series already appearing much darker and more adult than Buffy. Angel's narration is similar to Angelus' in Passion and Whistler's in Becoming. It's also reminiscent of the noir crime fiction set in LA, could easily be the The Black Dahalia or LA Confidential or Chinatown. When I first saw this I wasn't sure if Winters was a vamp or not, the vamp makeup is subtly different but will eventually fall back into resembling that on Buffy once more. Angel was in Montanna during the depression, maybe Spike's line about vampire cowboy wasn't too far off the mark? Angel tells Cordy there's no cure for vamparism but we'll actually find 3 in the first season alone. Cordy refers to Angel having never developed an investment portfolio but he must get money from somewhere, he seems very well to do. The money he and Darla stole from their victims or does he just have loads of bank accounts with 200 years of interest to collect, much like Highlander Angel shows some knowledge of explosives which he'll also use in Dad but according to the dialogue he's seen 14 wars and Vietnam in his time. Nice crossover when he phones Buffy in Sunnydale. Marks out of 10; 6/10 good beginning but not compared to the heights Angel will eventually soar to.
In the dark
The Good;
Spike mocking Angel is excellent, lovely to see Oz and a great rescue and final battle at the pier. Nice end coda too. The Cordy/Oz/Angel scenes are hysterical, as Willow observes both she and Buffy know the love of 2 taciturn men.
The Bad;
Very little, strong ep. Boy Spike is dumb but funnily so. Everyone at the pier seems to take the 2 guys jumping off the end on fire very calmly.
Best line:
Doyle (to Angel); Long time between sunsets huh?
Jeez, how did they get away with that?
Well, Angel get's tortured to nearly death for the majority of the episode. Spike also hints that Marcus has an interest in the kids beyond just eating them. Reputedly this is the ep that got the Angel season 1 dvd boxset an 18 rating in the UK. I don't disagree but what makes this worse than 'Hellbound' which only got a 15 rating?
Apocalypses: 4
Angel Cliches
Damsel in distress; yep, that makes 2
Inverting the Hollywood cliche; rather than play the unbreakable tough guy Angel admits that with a little more torture he'd have told Marcus everything. Cordy notes the Gem isn't in the freezer or toilet tank as it would be in the movies.
In disguise; no
DB get's his shirt off; no but we get some torso action, Marcus commenting he has 'little external damage'.
Fang Gang in bondage: yep, Angel for virtually the whole ep
Cordy: 5
Angel: 5
Wes: 1
Fang gang knocked out:
Cordy: 6
Angel: 6
Wes: 1
Kills:
Cordy: none this ep. 3 vamps, Ѕ a demon from her time in Sunnydale
Angel: Another vamp for Angel. So that gives Angel 8 vamps, 2 demons, 1 human.
Fang Gang go evil:
Cordy: 1
Angel: 1
Alternate Fang Gang:
Cordy: 1
Angel: 3
Characters killed: only Marcus
9;
Total number of Angel Investigations:
3, Angel, Doyle and Cordy
Angel Investigations shot: no
Angel: 4,
Notches on Fang Gang bedpost:
Cordy: 1?
Angel: 1;Buffy
Kinky dinky:
Spike refers to Buffy as 'slutty the vampire slayer' and teases Angel over Buffy's affair with Parker.
Captain Subtext;
Spike's speech on Angel is full of homophobia. He also asks if Angel and Marcus would like to be alone when running his hands over Angel's naked torso. Spike comments that Buffy is 'cute when she's hurting', you wonder did he always have a thing for her? Such a shame we never get to meet Doyle's wonderfully named friend 'Frankie Tripod'.
Buffy characters appearing in Angel; (unless someone can correct me no original Angel character ever appears on Buffy?)
4; Angel, Cordy, Oz, Spike
Questions and observations;
Why does Angel grab his neck when Marcus puts the chain around it? Surely he doesn't breathe? Marcus wears glasses which presumably like Dalton in Buffy are for sentimental reasons. Doyle has read Angela's Ashes and it reduces him to tears (the novel focuses on the shiftless father so it may appeal to Doyle who never knew his). Angel once again beats his way to what he wants, without Buffy's influence he tends to be a lot more brutal. It's a great performance from Kevin West who is a very familar face on TV (although I thought he was in Scrubs and Ally McBeal but he isn't, that's Robert Clendenin another actor with a similar look). Marcus wears a Bond style Nehru jacket. Angel knows Doyle's mother. This is Angel investigations first walk-in client and her problem for once is just a very human jerk ex-boyfriend rather than anything Supernatural. Ok so the ring makes vamps unkillable, even if you cut their heads' off?
Marks out of 10; 6/10
fall to pieces
The Good;
Great horror concept, you could almost imagine a feature film based upon it, some excellent emotional stuff too and as always Cordy brings the funny. My favourite scene is where Meltzer throws his teeth at Angel and then recoils in pain as Angel smashes them against the wall.
The Bad;
The severed limbs scenes don't really convince, when you see Thing in The Adams Family it's much better
Best line:
Cordy; "Here's this poor girl, she hooks up with a doctor. That's supposed to be a good thing!"
Jeez, how did they get away with that?
Virtually all of the Beast with Five Fingers stuff
Apocalypses: 4
Angel Cliches
Damsel in distress; yep, making 2. However, Doyle says there's 4 in total and 3 very much alive, Presumably the girl from City of Angels is the dead one and the girl from In the Dark is another making 2 more we don't see.
Inverting the Hollywood cliche;
In disguise; 1. Angel poses as a successful businessman but no disguise
DB get's his shirt off; not this ep so still 1
Fang Gang in bondage: no
Cordy: 5
Angel: 4
Wes: 1
Fang gang knocked out: all of them
Cordy: 7
Angel: 7
Wes: 1
Doyle; 1
Kills:
Cordy: none this ep. 3 vamps, Ѕ a demon from her time in Sunnydale
Angel: 1 human for Angel. So that gives Angel 8 vamps, 2 demons, 2 humans.
Fang Gang go evil:
Cordy: 1
Angel: 1
Alternate Fang Gang:
Cordy: 1
Angel: 3
Characters killed: the poor cop Kate sends to guard the building
10
Total number of Angel Investigations:
3, Angel, Doyle and Cordy
Angel Investigations shot: Angel with the tranquiliser gun (as with Dopplegangland in Buffy why not use that to knock vamps out then cut their heads off?)
Angel: 5,
Notches on Fang Gang bedpost:
Cordy: 1?
Angel: 1;Buffy
Kinky dinky:
What the heck do Meltzer's hands do under the sheets?
Captain Subtext;
Doyle admits that Angel holds a certain attraction to him
Know the face, different character; 1
Andy Umberger who plays Dr Meltzer is also D'Hoffryn on Buffy.
Parking garages; seemingly a staple of the series, one here and in COA
2
Questions and observations;
This is the 4th ep of the series and we're told that Cordy has been working for him for a month so this suggests the series is in real time, one ep per week. Angel drinks coffee now, presumably to keep him up for his cases as he told Joyce he didn't drink it in The Prom. Isn't it a bit unpatriotic for Doyle to drink Scotch, shouldn't he drink whiskey with an e? Cordy gives the Angel Investigations motto 'We help the hopeless'. Oddly here Cordy 'Scullys' Angel, suggesting a non-Supernatural solution. He's actually open to the suggestion but points out correctly that Doyle has a vision. Angel just appears to be able to walk into Kate's police station no problem at all. Meltzer actually shows a lot of compassion for Angel's story of his wife. I don't know if it's deliberate but Scrubs has a character called Dr Zeltzer who's also a major weirdo and even looks quite like Dr Meltzer.
It's noticeable that at this stage of Angel the Supernatural underworld is just that, it's not out in the open as it will be later, we're still dealing with the everyday clashing with the incredible.
Marks out of 5; 4/5 one of the classic eps of season 1
Rm w/a vu
The Good;
Everything, an emotional rollercoaster for Doyle and Cordy and the introduction of Phantom Dennis. Great performance from Beth Grant, a great actress you can also see in Speed, Six Foot Under, Donnie Darko etc
The Bad;
Bit of a reach that the ghost can do a perfect imitation of Angel's voice, is she the Terminator or something?
Best line:
Cordy (of Angel) "Do you have mousse? Of course you do!"
Jeez, how did they get away with that?
Doyle's hand getting jammed in the drawer, Cordy almost getting hanged, Maude Peirson walling her son up.
Apocalypses: 4
Angel Cliches
Damsel in distress; nope, 2.
Inverting the Hollywood cliche;
In disguise; 1.
DB get's his shirt off; wet, dripping and nearly naked 2
Cordy's tatto; our first glimpse
Fang Gang in bondage: Cordy almost hung, don't think thats counts
Cordy: 5
Angel: 4
Wes: 1
Fang gang knocked out: yep, Cordy
Cordy: 8
Angel: 7
Wes: 1
Doyle; 1
Kills:
Cordy: none this ep. 3 vamps, � a demon from her time in Sunnydale
Angel: 1 demon for Angel. So that gives Angel 8 vamps, 3 demons, 2 humans.
Fang Gang go evil:
Cordy: 1
Angel: 1
Alternate Fang Gang: possessed Cordy
Cordy: 2
Angel: 3
Characters killed: Dennis and a trio of the flat residents offscreen
14
Total number of Angel Investigations:
3, Angel, Doyle and Cordy
Angel Investigations shot: loads of gunplay but no
Angel: 5,
Notches on Fang Gang bedpost:
Cordy: 1?
Angel: 1;Buffy
Kinky dinky:
Maude calls Cordy a tramp and streetwalker, good thing they didn't go through with the storyline of Corrupt huh?
Captain Subtext;
Know the face, different character; 1
Parking garages;
2
Guantanamo bay;
Once again Angel doesn't hesitate to beat his way to the answers
Questions and observations;
Excellent ep with loads of good scenes and some real emotional impact, easily one of the best of season 1. I for one find it heartbreaking that Cordy has only five names in her LA phonebook and 3 are crossed out. Aura, her Sunnydale friend is the girl who finds the corpse in her locker in Welcome to the Hellmouth on Buffy.
Marks out of 5; 8/10
Sense and sensitivity
The Good;
Very funny to watch the Cops acting supersensitive but also affecting to see Kate's father and all his little putdowns of her and her emotive speech is a heartbreaker if there ever was one
The Bad;
Hard to put your finger on it but sometimes this ep feels almost too clever for it's own good
Best line:
Angel "My parents were great, tasted a lot like chicken" (and as we later learn he's not joking)
Jeez, how did they get away with that?
Nasty the way little Tony keeps calling Kate a bitch
Apocalypses: 4
Angel Cliches
Damsel in distress; yep 3.
Inverting the Hollywood cliche; supersensitive Cops rather than the macho LAPD we're used to seeing
In disguise; 2. yep, Herb Saunders from Baltimore again
DB get's his shirt off; 2
Cordy's tatto;2
We see it when she's breaking into the police station.
Fang Gang in bondage:
Cordy: 5
Angel: 4
Wes: 1
Fang gang knocked out:
Cordy: 8
Angel: 7
Wes: 1
Doyle; 1
Kills:
Cordy: none this ep. 3 vamps, Ѕ a demon from her time in Sunnydale
Angel: 1 demon for Angel. So that gives Angel 8 vamps, 4 demons, 2 humans. It looks like the thing that attacks Fred in Supersymmetry
Fang Gang go evil:
Cordy: 1
Angel: 1
Alternate Fang Gang: supersensitive Angel
Cordy: 2
Angel: 4
Characters killed: one cop shot although we don't know if he dies?
14
Total number of Angel Investigations:
3, Angel, Doyle and Cordy
Angel Investigations shot:
Angel: 5,
Packing heat; unlike the Sunnydale Scoobies Angel Investigations periodically resort to firearms, here Doyle with a shotgun
Doyle; 1
Notches on Fang Gang bedpost:
Cordy: 1?
Angel: 1;Buffy
Kinky dinky:
Kate wants to picture Angel in his underwear. Kate observes the crush of Doyle on Cordy. One of the Cops states that the stress of his job makes it impossible for him to make love to his wife. AI group hug.
Captain Subtext;
Kate's dad comments that its been so long since he's seen her with a guy he suspected she might be gay. Angel is once more referred to as a 'Nancy boy'. Angel calls CC 'precious'.
Know the face, different character; 1
Parking garages;
2
Guantanamo Bay; Kate's interrogation technique leaves a little something to be desired. Angel beats up another of WR&H's lackey. Trevor comments that in his day they didn't need sensitivity as anyone who read Elmore Leonard knows. Cordy's mum calls for her, one of the few references to her family in the series. Angel uses a mobile phone and night vision. Our first sight of WR&H's HQ and Lee. You've got to hand it to the sensitivity coach, he has a point about Kate and co. How lovely does Kate look in her dress? Rather similar to Dawn's in season 5?
Questions and observations;
Could have been great but just lacks that certain something? Nice to have Kate ask Angel for help and be the focus of the ep. First appearance of Lee. We're later told that WR&H 'own' the police but obviously not yet.
Marks out of 5; 4/10
The Bachelor Party
The Good; a lovely ep for Doyle adding a lot more depth to his character whilst providing some pretty gruesome comedy. Also like Doyle and Angel vetting CC's date, really gives them a sense of family.
The Bad; SUCH a shame we never see Harry again, that would have been terrific. Does she even know Doyle died?
Best line:
Cordy; "Doyle taught 3rd grade. The kind with children. Are you sure he wasn't just held back and that was his cover story?"
I also like Harry's aghast "Stripper! There was a stripper?"
Jeez, how did they get away with that?
Eating brains? Yuck! Would anyone really like Quails' tongues?
Apocalypses: 4
Angel Cliches
Damsel in distress; nope, 2.
Inverting the Hollywood cliche; friendly demons for the first time
In disguise; 2.
DB get's his shirt off; 2
Cordy's tatto;2
Cheap Angel; the first sign of Angel's notorious meaness as he refers to the resteraunt's suprisingly expensive windows
Fang Gang in bondage: Doyle in the box
Cordy: 5
Angel: 4
Wes: 1
Doyle; 1
Fang gang knocked out: Angel
Cordy: 8
Angel: 8
Wes: 1
Doyle; 1
Kills:
Cordy: none this ep. 3 vamps, Ѕ a demon from her time in Sunnydale
Angel: 2 vamps for Angel. So that gives Angel 10 vamps, 3 demons, 2 humans.
Doyle; 1 vamp
What happens to the female vamp at the nest? Does she just run away? Note Cordy actually bites the vamp who attacks her?
Fang Gang go evil:
Cordy: 1
Angel: 1
Alternate Fang Gang:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 4
Characters killed:
14
Total number of Angel Investigations:
3, Angel, Doyle and Cordy
Angel Investigations shot:
Angel: 5,
Packing Heat
Doyle; 1
Notches on Fang Gang bedpost: Cordy has a date with Mr Armani but he doesn't even get a kiss
Cordy: 1?
Angel: 1;Buffy
Kinky dinky:
The stripper. Is she human or demon? Either way she wears WAAAYYYY too much eyeshadow. Also Harry has bought herself a a nightie for her honeymoon small enough to fit into a matchbox. The girls meanwhile play pornographic pictionary. Doyle asks if Buffy likes men with an Irish accent (has she ever met one?). Apparently the demon women have legs that can bend multipile ways and this is an aid in the sack?
Captain Subtext;
Doyle and Angel's charm seems to be gradually working on CC.
Know the face, different character;
2 Carlos Jacott who plays Richard was Ken in the Buffy ep Anne.
Parking garages;
2
Guantanamo Bay;
Questions and observations;
A good episode, fun and fleshing out the characters. Cordy refers to Xander as a fixer-upper. Our first set of friendly demons but not THAT friendly. It seems very much that demons in the Buffyverse are slowly being won over to the ways of humanity (ESPN). Some great heroism from Doyle and a very nice double act from Cordy and Harry. Despite Doyle's relating Angel's lifestory to him in City of Angels it seems he's never actually seen Buffy.
Marks out of 10; 6/10, good ep
will remember you
The Good;
Love the Oracles to bits, they're just wonderful. Some great fight scenes and pretty much a Bangler's dream come true.
The Bad;
If the demon can regenerate and make itself stronger through salt why doesn't it just do that all the time?
Best line:
Female Oracle; "I love time, there's so much of it, yet so little"
Jeez, how did they get away with that?
Apocalypses: 4
Angel Cliches
Damsel in distress; nope, 2.
Inverting the Hollywood cliche;
In disguise; 2.
DB get's his shirt off; 3 not only that but SMG licks ice-cream from his chest. Really is a Banglers' dream.
Cordy's tatto;2
Cheap Angel; According to CC he's too tight to hire a cleaning lady
Fang Gang in bondage:
Cordy: 5
Angel: 4
Wes: 1
Fang gang knocked out:
Cordy: 8
Angel: 7
Wes: 1
Doyle; 1
Kills:
Cordy: none this ep. 3 vamps, Ѕ a demon from her time in Sunnydale
Angel: 1 demon for Angel. So that gives Angel 8 vamps, 4 demons, 2 humans.
Fang Gang go evil:
Cordy: 1
Angel: 1
Alternate Fang Gang: human Angel
Cordy: 2
Angel: 5
Characters killed: two plant workers but then the day resets so no one
14
Total number of Angel Investigations:
3, Angel, Doyle and Cordy
Angel Investigations shot:
Angel: 5,
Packing heat;
Doyle; 1
Notches on Fang Gang bedpost: Buffy and Angel for the second time and it goes a whole lot better than the first. Trouble is she'll never remember any of it.
Cordy: 1?
Angel: 1;Buffy
Kinky dinky:
Loads of Buffy/Angel action. Cordy comments that when they get 'all groiny' the world falls apart.
Captain Subtext;
Know the face, different character; 2
Parking garages;
2
Guantanamo Bay;
Buffy characters appearing in Angel; (unless someone can correct me no original Angel character ever appears on Buffy?)
5; Angel, Cordy, Oz, Spike, Buffy
Questions and observations;
Cordy's family used to have a cat as well as her pony. Buffy refers to her (and presumably Dawn?) visiting their dad in LA, the last positive reference to Hank Summers we'll ever have. The only time Doyle and Buffy meet. This eps gives us a useful way in which to make vamps human, much used in fanfic as is the reset day. Question is if a non-souled vamp was hit with Mohra demon blood would it be resouled?
Marks out of 10; 6/10, literally an ep that never happened?
Hero
The Good;
Actually I rated this ep pretty weak until the last 5 minutes when it then became spectacular. Cordy's advertisement idea and the one she films with Doyle are hilarious but ultimately incredibly poignant. Good scene too when the kid tells Doyle his Halloween story.
The Bad;
I didn't really dig the demons in peril storyline and I thought the Naiz allegory with The Scourge was a bit thick (nowadays they'd be the Taliban). Also they seem to accept Angel into their ranks a little too easily. Even their vehicles look Nazi-like and DB's hair looks very 1940s.
Best line:
Doyle; Is that it? Am I done?
Jeez, how did they get away with that?
Doyle's melting face
Apocalypses: 4
Angel Cliches (Cordy's ad is one big Angel cliche)
Damsel in distress; nope, 2.
Inverting the Hollywood cliche;
The sidekick sacrifices himself to save the day rather than the hero
In disguise; 3 as a Nazi/scourge
DB get's his shirt off; 3
Cordy's tatto;2
Cheap Angel; 2. Exactly what do all these people owe Angel money for?
Fang Gang in bondage:
Cordy: 5
Angel: 4
Wes: 1
Fang gang knocked out:
Cordy: 8
Angel: 7
Wes: 1
Doyle; 1
Kills:
Cordy: none this ep. 3 vamps, Ѕ a demon from her time in Sunnydale
Angel: 2 Scourge for Angel. So that gives Angel 8 vamps, 6 demons, 2 humans.
Doyle; 1 vamp
Fang Gang go evil:
Cordy: 1
Angel: 1
Alternate Fang Gang:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 5
Characters killed: the treacherous first mate so we won't count him
14
Recurring characters killed;
1; Goodbye Doyle
Total number of Angel Investigations:
2, Angel and Cordy
Angel Investigations shot:
Angel: 5,
Packing heat;
Doyle; 1
Notches on Fang Gang bedpost:
Cordy: 1?
Angel: 1;Buffy
Kinky dinky:
The wonderfully named Big Randy.
Captain Subtext;
Doyle imagines Angel in tights.
Know the face, different character; 2
Parking garages;
2
Guantanamo Bay;
Buffy characters appearing in Angel; (unless someone can correct me no original Angel character ever appears on Buffy?)
5; Angel, Cordy, Oz, Spike, Buffy
Questions and observations;
So goodbye Doyle, we hardly knew you. A good ending for the character but all the more sad by Glenn Quinn's death shortly afterwards. Cordy refers to 'one of the cheaper Baldwins' in her description of the advert. I always thought Adam Baldwin was one but according to IMDB no he's not. Angel on a motorbike, Cordy drives a truck, is there no end to her talents? Once again we see demons who are slowly being won over to humanity. The Scourge are trying to stop this but are unwittingly aping human's themselves.
Marks out of 10; 7/10, a weak ep rescued by it's awesome finale
Parting Gifts
The Good;
Wonderful reintroduction for Wes and a nice period of mourning for Doyle. Plus Cordy's audition and the Oracles again.
The Bad;
Once again, Alexis Denisoff's name is in the titles, ruining the suprise a little
Best line:
"Grass stains!" (all in the delivery). Also liked Wes "I bet you always wondered what became of your old pal Wesley?"
Angel; "Tell you the truth I never gave it much thought"
Jeez, how did they get away with that?
Barney's plans for Cordy are beyond horrible. But she teaches him not to mess with Queen C
Apocalypses: 4
Angel Cliches
Damsel in distress; nope, 2.
Inverting the Hollywood cliche;
In disguise; 3
DB get's his shirt off; 3
Cordy's tattoo; 3 yep she bares that beautiful midriff again
Cheap Angel; 2
Fang Gang in bondage:
Cordy: 5
Angel: 4
Wes: 1
Fang gang knocked out: yep, Cordy
Cordy: 9
Angel: 7
Wes: 1
Doyle; 1
Kills:
Cordy: none this ep. 3 vamps, Ѕ a demon from her time in Sunnydale
Angel: 1 demon for Angel. So that gives Angel 8 vamps, 4 demons, 2 humans.
Doyle; 1 vamp
Fang Gang go evil:
Cordy: 1
Angel: 1
Alternate Fang Gang:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 5
Characters killed:
14
Recurring characters killed;
1;
Total number of Angel Investigations:
2, Angel and Cordy
Angel Investigations shot:
Angel: 5,
Packing heat;
Doyle; 1
Notches on Fang Gang bedpost:
Cordy: 1?
Angel: 1;Buffy
Kinky dinky:
Wes in motorbiking leathers which are so tight they 'chafe'. He and Cordy share a second kiss, Cordy is sold as a slave for the first time.
Captain Subtext;
Know the face, different character; 2
Parking garages;
2
Guantanamo Bay;
Buffy characters appearing in Angel; (unless someone can correct me no original Angel character ever appears on Buffy?)
6; Angel, Cordy, Oz, Spike, Buffy, Wes
Questions and observations;
Another WR&H lackie but this one doesn't become a recurring character. Angel says that vamps don't sleep in coffins but Dracula does. Angel recognises talent when he sees it, Wes' translation skills alone make him invaluable.
Marks out of 10; 7/10
Somnambulist
The Good;
Very good ep, we geninely suspect that Angel might be going bad, Penn gives a real sense of menace and some lovely stuff with Kate
The Bad;
Penn's haircut but apart from that not much. Would the police really let Kate go in by herself?
Best line:
Penn; "You know you'll never get to it the exit before I..."
Cordy (opening blinds letting the daylight pour in) "...go up like a match?"
(nothing more satisfying than seeing arrogance shot down)
Jeez, how did they get away with that?
Penn kills his sister and presumably goes on to massacre his family as Angelus did
Apocalypses: 4
Angel Cliches
Damsel in distress; nope, 2.
Inverting the Hollywood cliche;
In disguise; 3
DB get's his shirt off; 3
Cordy's tattoo;3
Cheap Angel; 2
Fang Gang in bondage: Angel
Cordy: 5
Angel: 5
Wes: 1
Fang gang knocked out:
Cordy: 8
Angel: 7
Wes: 1
Doyle; 1
Kills:
Cordy: 3 vamps, � a demon from her time in Sunnydale
Angel: 8 vamps, 4 demons, 2 humans.
Doyle; 1 vamp
Kate; 1 vamp
Fang Gang go evil:
Cordy: 1
Angel: 1
Alternate Fang Gang:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 5
Characters killed: Penn's victims
20
Recurring characters killed;
1;
Total number of Angel Investigations:
2, Angel and Cordy
Angel Investigations shot:
Angel: 5,
Packing heat;
Doyle; 1
Notches on Fang Gang bedpost:
Cordy: 1?
Angel: 1;Buffy
Kinky dinky:
Cordy comments that she makes the coffee and gets to chain the boss to the bed. The everyday life of a Hollywood assistant.
Captain Subtext;
Angel(us) is obviously Penn's father figure. Angel(us) is also obsessed with his father
Know the face, different character; 2
Parking garages;
3, once again, Angel and Wes just seem to be able to drive into the police station.
Guantanamo Bay;
Buffy characters appearing in Angel; (unless someone can correct me no original Angel character ever appears on Buffy?)
6; Angel, Cordy, Oz, Spike, Buffy, Wes
Questions and observations;
Very nice reminder from Angel(us) past and the beginning of the real tension between Kate and Angel. Another hint that vamps share some link with those they sired. Love Kate's white sweater. Wes is now in the title sequence. Angel Investigations has a runaway case so they're obviously taking ordinary PI cases in addition to their Supernatural work. Does Angel figure out Penn's plan because he knows him? Or is he heading to the police station to speak to Kate over the school bus plan? Or do Wes and he just overhear what's going on at the station with their police scanner? Penn in some ways is reminiscent of Scorpio in Dirty Harry (who also hijacks a school bus).
Met Jeremy Renner at a convention and a fascinating guy, plays in a band, old friend of DB's from their acting school, went on to star in 28 Weeks Later (as a character called Doyle?), SWAT and Jesse James with Brad Pitt
Marks out of 10; 9/10 would be 10/10 if it had more arc.
Expecting
The Good;
Cordy hits the town with the girls but gets more than she bargained for. Great to see Phantom Dennis back and his scenes with Cordy are beyond lovely.
Love the reaction of the doctor and nurse during the ultrasound. Very good ep
The Bad;
How come Cordy is dressed after sex?
Best line:
Angel; You're not alone
Cordy; That's kind of the problem
Jeez, how did they get away with that?
Cordy and co in the goop, yuck
Apocalypses: 4
Angel Cliches
Damsel in distress; 8, a whole bevy of them
Inverting the Hollywood cliche;
In disguise; 3
DB get's his shirt off; 3
Cordy's tattoo;3
Cheap Angel; 2
Fang Gang in bondage:
Cordy: 5
Angel: 5
Wes: 1
Fang gang knocked out: Wes by Cordy
Cordy: 8
Angel: 7
Wes: 2
Doyle; 1
Kills:
Cordy: I'll give this one to Cordy. 3 vamps, 1Ѕ demons
Angel: half a demon so 8 vamps, 4 and 1/2 demons, 2 humans.
Doyle; 1 vamp
Wes; 1/2 a demon
Fang Gang go evil: yep, Cordy overwhelmed by her maternal instincts
Cordy: 2
Angel: 1
Alternate Fang Gang:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 5
Characters killed:
20
Recurring characters killed;
1;
Total number of Angel Investigations:
2, Angel and Cordy
Angel Investigations shot: yep, Angel
Angel: 6,
Packing heat; Wes with a pistol (presumably taken from the gun club?)
Wes; 1
Doyle; 1
Notches on Fang Gang bedpost: I thought it was Xander who had the thing for demons?
Cordy: 2 ?+Wilson/Hacksaw Beast
Angel: 1;Buffy
Kinky dinky:
How gorgeous are CCs friends, especially Sarina? Obviously this goes some VERY dark places, it smacks of GOT fetishism (beautiful women being raped and impregnated by demons/monsters/aliens who they then fall in love with), the ultrasound reminds me of the infamous maternity ward scene in Aliens vs Predator; Requiem (of course Joss wrote Alien Ressurection so he's no stranger to the concept). Considering that Joss is supposed to be this great pro-feminist he puts his heroines through a lot of nasty stuff, almost like he wants to have his cake and eat it. Wilson apparently nearly had phonesex with the resteraunt manager to get them in. Cordy drinks Angel's pig's blood, Angel states he never realised how disgusting it was until just then. At the end Cordy states she's learned sex is bad and men are evil. Angel agrees.
Captain Subtext;
The girls assume Wes and Angel are a couple. Angel says it adds mystery. Angel describes Cordy as family and she says she trusts him and Wes implicitly.
Know the face, different character; 2
Parking garages;
3,
Guantanamo Bay;
Buffy characters appearing in Angel; (unless someone can correct me no original Angel character ever appears on Buffy?)
6; Angel, Cordy, Oz, Spike, Buffy, Wes
Questions and observations;
Fun story, putting Angel Investigations together more and more. How wonderful that when Wes has to come up with a name for him and Cordy he decides on Mr and Mrs Penborne. Angel comments that their French client made him want to drink a lot. Alcohol or blood? CC refers to Angel giving her date the 3rd degree which he and Doyle also did in the Bachelor Party. Wes refers to David and Goliath, the Watchers Council occasionally make biblical references.
Marks out of 10; 7/10
SHE
The Good;
Angel and Wesley dancing at Cordy's party is possibly the funniest thing you've ever seen. A laudable if slightly heavy-handed rant against female circumsision. Also love the scene where Angel pretends to be an art guide and Angel and Phantom Dennis.
The Bad;
The scene where Wes tries to chat-up the girl at the party is cringeworthy, he's pretty much treated as the comic relief for this ep. The scene where the camera wheels around whilst Angel and Jiera talk, growing increasingly worked up carries on for so long and is so over the top it's almost parody.
Best line:
Mars; "The little sisters are chilling"
Also like Cordy's;
"I'm so glad you came. You know how parties are, you're always worried that no one is going to suck the energy out of the room like a giant black hole of boring despair but there you were in a cinch"
Jeez, how did they get away with that?
The whole 'unmaking' scene is just unwatchable. The contrast between it and the obvious affection between the 'unmade' girl and her captors when they send her back is incredibly creepy, especially her 'dead behind the eyes' expression and the way she refers to herself in third person.
Apocalypses: 4
Angel Cliches
Damsel in distress; 15, a whole bevy of them
Inverting the Hollywood cliche; Wes and CC snooping at the garden centre amazingly don't get caught.
In disguise; 3
DB get's his shirt off; yep, he feels the need for a shower
4
Cordy's tattoo;3
Cheap Angel; 2
Fang Gang in bondage:
Cordy: 5
Angel: 5
Wes: 1
Fang gang knocked out:
Cordy: 8
Angel: 7
Wes: 2
Doyle; 1
Kills:
Cordy: I'll give this one to Cordy. 3 vamps, 1Ѕ demons
Angel: half a demon so 8 vamps, 4 and 1/2 demons, 2 humans.
Doyle; 1 vamp
Wes; 1/2 a demon
Fang Gang go evil:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 1
Alternate Fang Gang:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 5
Characters killed: 5, the poor guys burned to death by the demonbabes
25
Recurring characters killed;
1;
Total number of Angel Investigations:
3, Angel and Cordy and Wes officially joins the firm for the first time
Angel Investigations shot:
Angel: 6,
Packing heat;
Wes; 1
Doyle; 1
Notches on Fang Gang bedpost:
Cordy: 2 ?+Wilson/Hacksaw Beast
Angel: 1;Buffy
Kinky dinky:
I'd say that Bai Ling is lovely but that seems quite redundant even with the ridges and violet eyes (she's also in Southland Tales with SMG). Cordy's friend Laura also sounds like a fun girl as is her friend 'Pants on' Diego. Naked hotties on ice who seems to have a strong effect on both Wes and Angel. Mars says his Shaman could never turn away 'Scantily clad women in distress'. Wes refers to the girls at the party as 'fillies'.
Captain Subtext;
Obviously this is an allegory against female circumsision (once watched a documentary on it and afterwards went and got drunk for the first time in my life to try to blank the memory). Although you wonder if the males' fear of the females is more to do with them burning people to death rather than just simple chauvanism? Note that the male demons don't hurt any humans, it's Jhira and co who killing and she's quite prepared to let Wes and Cordy die for her cause. Not to stereotype but Wes has a knowledge of flowers in addition to the occult.
Know the face, different character; 2
Parking garages;
3,
Guantanamo Bay;
Angel once again beats his way to the truth
Buffy characters on Angel;
6; Angel, Cordy, Oz, Spike, Buffy, Wes
Questions and observations;
Angel refers to his time in Hell again where he remarks he knew many of the people. AI use their mobile phones to good effect. It'll take the Sunnydale Scoobies another 3 years to get theirs. Great performance from Sean Gunn as the spa manager, always thought he was in Desperate Housewives but he's not. Wes handles himself well in a fight for the first time. The only ep of Angel with a sequence over the end titles (Buffy does it in The Puppet Show). It seems unlikely that Angel actually knew Manet or Baudelaire as he would actually have been Angelus at the time?
Marks out of 10; 7/10, Keith Topping loathes this ep but I think it's quite good.
I'VE GOT YOU UNDER MY SKIN
The Good;
Nice counterplay at the end when the family get back together and Angel Investigations walk away as if they are a family too.
The Bad;
Rather an uninvolving story although a nice twist
Best line:
Wes; "It's for killing extinct demons"
Jeez, how did they get away with that?
The cross into Wes' neck, yeesh!
Apocalypses: 4
Angel Cliches
Damsel in distress; 15,
Inverting the Hollywood cliche;
The dad is shown smoking cigarettes in front of his kids which is rare indeed nowadays
In disguise; 3
DB get's his shirt off;
4
Cordy's tattoo;3
Cheap Angel; 2
Fang Gang in bondage:
Cordy: 5
Angel: 5
Wes: 1
Fang gang knocked out:
Cordy: 8
Angel: 7
Wes: 2
Doyle; 1
Kills:
Cordy: 3 vamps, 1Ѕ demons
Angel: one demon so 8 vamps, 5 and 1/2 demons, 2 humans.
Doyle; 1 vamp
Wes; 1/2 a demon
Fang Gang go evil:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 1
Alternate Fang Gang:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 5
Characters killed:
25
Recurring characters killed;
1;
Total number of Angel Investigations:
3, Angel and Cordy and Wes
Angel Investigations shot:
Angel: 6,
Packing heat;
Wes; 1
Doyle; 1
Notches on Fang Gang bedpost:
Cordy: 2 ?+Wilson/Hacksaw Beast
Angel: 1;Buffy
Kinky dinky:
Wes owns a 2 thighmasters and a 'buns of steel' video
Captain Subtext;
Our first hints on Wes' relationship with his father
Know the face, different character; 2
Parking garages;
3,
Guantanamo Bay;
Buffy characters on Angel;
6; Angel, Cordy, Oz, Spike, Buffy, Wes
Questions and observations;
Cordy can cook, who'd have thought? Angel mentions Doyle in poignant moment. Cool bait and switch, we think the dads the villain. Also we have Kate in her middling phrase, aware that Angel's a vamp but not totally anti.The scenes with the circle are very reminiscent of classic Brit horror flick The Devil Rides Out (Christopher Lee as a good guy!) Ricks magic, the LA branch of The Magic Shop. Cordy puts her shopping skills to good use. A lot more christian than normal. 'Three blind mice' is actually about 3 bishops executed by Bloody Mary. Anyone know what rock-a-bye-baby is about? Lizzie Borden was actually found innocent but the circumstantial evidence against her was overwhelming.
Marks out of 10; 6/10, ok ep but still supernatural threat of the week
THE PRODGAL
The Good;
Clever opening scene with Liam. Darla, yay! Her words about love infecting the heart always are just incredible. Some nice paralells with Kate and some nice comedy with the alarm system.
The Bad;
The head demon looks stupid and looks rather like the guy Cordy will save Gunn from in season 2
Best line:
Liam's dad; "I was never in your way boy" (the most tragic line in the whole of Angel AND Buffy!)
Jeez, how did they get away with that?
Cordy sawing up the demon. Angelus slaughters Liam's family, even his little sister which we thankfully don't see.
Apocalypses: 4
Angel Cliches
Damsel in distress; 15,
Inverting the Hollywood cliche;
In disguise; 3 no Angel but love Cordy as a blonde, only in Hollywood would that mean you could blend in.
DB get's his shirt off;
4
Cordy's tattoo;3
Cheap Angel; 2
Fang Gang in bondage:
Cordy: 5
Angel: 5
Wes: 1
Fang gang knocked out:
Cordy: 8
Angel: 7
Wes: 2
Doyle; 1
Kills:
Cordy: 3 vamps, 1Ѕ demons
Angel: 1 demon and 3 vamps for Angel so 11 vamps, 5 and 1/2 demons, 2 humans.
Doyle; 1 vamp
Kate; 2 vamps for Kate making 3 in all
Wes; 1/2 a demon
Fang Gang go evil:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 1
Alternate Fang Gang:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 5
Characters killed:
25
Recurring characters killed; Trevor Lockley
2;
Total number of Angel Investigations:
3, Angel and Cordy and Wes
Angel Investigations shot:
Angel: 6,
Packing heat;
Wes; 1
Doyle; 1
Notches on Fang Gang bedpost:
Cordy: 2 ?+Wilson/Hacksaw Beast
Angel: 1;Buffy
Kinky dinky:
Captain Subtext;
Trevor asks if Angel is 'West Hollywood', the term for LA's famous gay district
Know the face, different character; 2
Parking garages; yep, that's how Angel gets into the police station
4,
Guantanamo Bay;
Buffy characters on Angel; Darla
7; Angel, Cordy, Oz, Spike, Buffy, Wes, Darla
Questions and observations;
All the scenes between Kate and her dad are heartbreaking but pale compared to the tragedy of Liam and his family. We find that Trevor Lockley does care about Kate, he's on the take partially to provide for her (which explains how she can set herself up as a supernatural version of The Punisher in season 6). It seems that Angel(us) got the idea for his name from his sister.
Marks out of 10; 7/10, the flashback scenes a lot better than the modern day stuff
THE RING
The Good;
Lilah! I know she's an evil bitch but I can't help loving her anyway. Cordy and Wes' police double act is also a highlight
The Bad;
Pretty much the rest, Angel as Spartacus, not bad but not very involving. The brother's plan to get Angel into the ring seems unnecessarily complex? Also Angel seems to be very easily overcome by their thugs considering what we know him to be capable off?
Best line:
Wes; Something's going down, something with 'The Man'
Jeez, how did they get away with that?
Wes pinning the guys hand to the wall with his crossbow bolt then twisting it. Fingers in a box One McNamara brother casually killing the other.
Apocalypses: 4
Angel Cliches
Damsel in distress; 15,
Inverting the Hollywood cliche;
In disguise; 3
DB get's his shirt off; no but he wears his vest top most of the time
4
Cordy's tattoo;3
Cheap Angel; 2
Fang Gang in bondage: Angel in the cuffs
Cordy: 5
Angel: 6
Wes: 1
Fang gang knocked out: Angel, twice
Cordy: 8
Angel: 9
Wes: 2
Doyle; 1
Kills:
Cordy: 3 vamps, 1Ѕ demons
Angel: one demon. 11 vamps, 6 and 1/2 demons, 2 humans.
Doyle; 1 vamp
Wes; 1/2 a demon
Kate; 3 vamps
Fang Gang go evil:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 1
Alternate Fang Gang:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 5
Characters killed:
25
Recurring characters killed;
2;
Total number of Angel Investigations:
3, Angel and Cordy and Wes
Angel Investigations shot: yep
Angel: 7,
Packing heat; Wes for the second time
Wes; 2
Doyle; 1
Notches on Fang Gang bedpost:
Cordy: 2 ?+Wilson/Hacksaw Beast
Angel: 1;Buffy
Kinky dinky:
Wes states that Cordy wears high heels and a push up bra.
Captain Subtext;
Cordy insinuates that Angel cross dresses.
Know the face, different character; 2
Parking garages;
4,
Guantanamo Bay;
Wes tortures the bookie
Buffy characters on Angel;
6; Angel, Cordy, Oz, Spike, Buffy, Wes
Questions and observations;
Cordy considers calling the police. Even if they believed her is demon fighting illegal? Cordy mentions her pony, Lilah's talk with Angel foreshadows him joining WR&H in season 5
Marks out of 10; 5/10, an ep mainly notable for the introduction of Lilah
ETERNITY
The Good;
Nice central concept, lovely to see Oliver again and the scenes with him and Rebecca and Angel and Rebecca are also good. Tamara Gorski is very good as she also was in Hercules although her Irish accent is just as bad as DBs.
The Bad;
The explanation that the drugs effects are only temporary is stupid, it's not like the 'happy' Buffy gave Angel lasted for weeks (or if it did I'm doing it wrong?) In season 4 when they need to bring Angelus out why not just give him some of this? Why does Angelus cut the phones, who are they going to call?
Best line:
Rebecca (after Angel tells her he doesn't kill any more) "There's a support group for everything in this town"
Jeez, how did they get away with that?
Angel(us)? spraying the blood over Rebecca
Apocalypses: 4 Cordy tells Rebecca that Angel saved the world but he also points out he tried to destroy it
Angel Cliches
Damsel in distress; 15,
Inverting the Hollywood cliche; Angel tries to act casual about saving Rebecca but you can see he's miffed when the papers don't mention him.
In disguise; 3
DB get's his shirt off; yep, after Rebecca spills her drink on it
5
Cordy's tattoo;3
Cheap Angel; 2
Fang Gang in bondage: Cordy chains the boss to the bed again
Cordy: 5
Angel: 7
Wes: 1
Fang gang knocked out: Wes and Angel(us)
Cordy: 8
Angel: 10
Wes: 3
Doyle; 1
Kills:
Cordy: 3 vamps, 1Ѕ demons
Angel: 11 vamps, 6 and 1/2 demons, 2 humans.
Doyle; 1 vamp
Wes; 1/2 a demon
Fang Gang go evil: Angel and how!
Cordy: 2
Angel: 2
Alternate Fang Gang: Angelus
Cordy: 2
Angel: 6
Characters killed:
25
Recurring characters killed;
2;
Total number of Angel Investigations:
3, Angel and Cordy and Wes
Angel Investigations shot: just blanks this week
Angel: 7,
Packing heat;
Wes; 2
Doyle; 1
Notches on Fang Gang bedpost:
Cordy: 2 ?+Wilson/Hacksaw Beast
Angel: 1;Buffy
Kinky dinky:
Cordy calls Rebecca a slut. How long did she know Wilson for before jumping into bed with him and his Hackslaw beast?
Captain Subtext;
Cordy says she'd have picketed the studio but lacked 'sensible shoes' (interesting considering the furore surrounding Angel's cancellation). Angel says that Ernest Borgnine is a 'skilled lover'?
Know the face, different character; 2
Parking garages;
4,
Guantanamo Bay;
Buffy characters on Angel;
6; Angel, Cordy, Oz, Spike, Buffy, Wes
Questions and observations;
Can't quite imagine Doyle and Angel at an Ibsen play? Wes and Angel seem much more at home. Wes' remark of ET meaning Emma Thompson is SOOO him. Angel thinks Frank Langella is the best Dracula (did he ever meet the real deal? Langella doesn't physically resemble him). Wonder what he'd have made of his Oscar nominated turn in Frost vs Nixon? Angelus says he never killed a famous person which is reassuring.
Marks out of 10; 8/10 good ep, nice character development and a little to say about Hollywood
Stay tuned, hurricane Faith is on her way!saturn5
FIVE BY FIVE
The Good;
All of it, brilliant episode that gives Angel it's first 10/10 story. It's my all time favorite Angel ep AND contains my nearly all time favourite Angel moment, Wes coming across the weeping Faith in Angel's arms and dropping the knife.
The Bad;
If you think there's anything bad in this ep, go to the doctor because you're clearly crazy
Best line:
Cordy 'Generally you don't change a guy. Scratch the surface and what do you get? More surface!' (the events of Expecting still sting obviously)
Jeez, how did they get away with that?
Faith tortures Wes, horribly. She hurts Lee too but who cares? Darla describes killing children who 'squeal like little piggies', eugh!
Apocalypses: 4
Angel Cliches
Damsel in distress; 15,
Inverting the Hollywood cliche; loathsome pimp picks up beautiful lost girl who then turns around and beats the crap out of him! Good for her!
In disguise; 4, Angel masquerades as a lawyer
DB get's his shirt off; 5
Cordy's tattoo;3
Cheap Angel; he doesn't carry any cash with him
3
Fang Gang in bondage: Wes tied to a chair
Cordy: 5
Angel: 8
Wes: 2
Fang gang knocked out: Cordy and Wes
Cordy: 9
Angel: 10
Wes: 4
Doyle; 1
Kills:
Cordy: 3 vamps, 1Ѕ demons
Angel: 3 demons so 11 vamps, 9 and 1/2 demons, 2 humans.
Doyle; 1 vamp
Wes; 1/2 a demon
Kate; 3 vamps
Fang Gang go evil:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 2
Alternate Fang Gang:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 6
Characters killed:
25
Recurring characters killed;
2;
Total number of Angel Investigations:
3, Angel and Cordy and Wes
Angel Investigations shot: Angel by Faith
Angel: 8,
Packing heat; Angel tries to shoot Faith in the leg but fires blanks
Wes; 2
Doyle; 1
Angel; 1
Notches on Fang Gang bedpost:
Cordy: 2 ?+Wilson/Hacksaw Beast
Angel: 1;Buffy
Kinky dinky:
Lindsey offers to 'get Faith off' but she's heard that from guys before (although Lilah promises she'll impress Faith?). The guy who picks Faith up at the bus station is clearly looking to be her pimp but she gives him what he deserves. In a blow to Cesly fans CC proclaims that hell will freeze over before she has sex with Wes. Faith dancing is always a highlight. Darla and Angel(us) refer to 'playing games'.
Captain Subtext;
Lilah picks Faith up in the club. Faith remarks she's not much of a talker, more of a doer
Know the face, different character; 2
Parking garages;
4,
Guantanamo Bay;
Buffy characters on Angel;
7; Angel, Cordy, Oz, Spike, Buffy, Wes, Faith
Questions and observations;
Note that when Angel catches the crossbow bolt Faith fires at him it's nowhere near his heart, she just wants to goad him into the fight. At this stage Wolfram and Hart don't realise that they need Angel for their prophecy so are quite happy to try and kill him. We have flashbacks to resouled Angel having broken up with Darla, starving but isn't able to bring himself to kill in order to eat. All of the WR&H lawyers have the same initials, LM? How does Angel enter the thugs apartment when he's not invited? PTB or is the guy squatting?
Marks out of 10; 10/10 my favourite Angel ep ever
SANCTUARY
The Good;
Just when you think it can't get any better, Buffy arrives and all is good with the world.
The Bad;
All still fantastic
Best line:
NEARLY-Detective (to Kate) Everyone knows you've gone all Scully
Kate; Mulder's the believer, Scully's the skeptic
Detective; Scully's the chick, right?
but the winner, one of my favourites which I use all the time is;
Buffy; "A cry for help is when you shout 'Help, help!' in a loud voice"
Jeez, how did they get away with that?
For all those afraid of needles avoid the syringe scene. Faith's daydream about killing Angel
Apocalypses: 4
Angel Cliches
Damsel in distress; 15,
Inverting the Hollywood cliche; the popcorn scene. Plus Wes calling Angel on his decision to protect Faith.
In disguise; 3
DB get's his shirt off; yep, in the shower again 6
Cordy's tattoo;3
Cheap Angel;
3
Fang Gang in bondage: Angel in cuffs and possibly Faith too
Cordy: 5
Angel: 8
Wes: 2
Fang gang knocked out:
Cordy: 9
Angel: 10
Wes: 4
Doyle; 1
Kills:
Cordy: 3 vamps, 1Ѕ demons
Angel: 3 demons so 11 vamps, 9 and 1/2 demons, 2 humans.
Doyle; 1 vamp
Wes; 1/2 a demon
Kate; 3 vamps
According to Boo's stats Faith has killed 16 vamps, 5 demons, 3 humans. Add another demon to the list here.
Fang Gang go evil:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 2
Alternate Fang Gang:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 6
Characters killed:
25
Recurring characters killed;
2;
Total number of Angel Investigations:
3, Angel and Cordy and Wes
Angel Investigations shot:
Angel: 8,
Packing heat;
Wes; 2
Doyle; 1
Angel; 1
Notches on Fang Gang bedpost:
Cordy: 2 ?+Wilson/Hacksaw Beast
Angel: 1;Buffy
Kinky dinky:
Faith let's slip that she's bedded Buffy's new beau, Riley Finn. Which is news to Angel! Does Cordy not keep touch with things in Sunnydale or did she just not want to tell him?
Captain Subtext;
Buffy refers to Faith's 'pouty lips and heaving bosom', interesting she thinks of her in that way? The rooftop scene feels riven with hidden passions. Buffy refers to Riley saying she trust him. Heading for a fall again. The Watcher's Council refer to the insult 'ponce' again.
Know the face, different character; 2
Parking garages;
4,
Guantanamo Bay;
Kate plans to throw Angel into a cell exposed to the rising sun.
Buffy characters on Angel; 11
Wetherby, Collins and Smith. Angel, Cordy, Oz, Spike, Buffy, Wes, Faith, Darla
Questions and observations;
What exactly does Angel do with the Watcher's team? Surely Kate must lock them up for turning the streets of LA into a bulletfest? Nice to see that Wes and Buffy are now on good terms, unfortunately this probably marks the nadir of the Buffy/Angel romance and the Kate/Angel relationship. Jelly doughnut's again, someone in the writing staff must have a thing for them. Buffy has the worst timing ever when walking in on Faith and Angel. How does Giles find out about Faith? Sources in the Watcher's council or do Wes or Cordy phone Sunnydale. Good acting by Wes, you really think he might have sided with the Watchers for a moment. How can Wes and Buffy just walk into the police station?
Marks out of 10; 10/10 just great, stunning
WAR ZONE
The Good;
Charlie Gunn, yay! David Nabbit too and some nice humour at the brothel (love the characterisation of the Madam, hard as nails but extremely streetwise as to the sensitive realities of her business)
The Bad;
Not much, good story although the slum allegory is laid on a bit thick.
Best line:
Gunn; "I don't need advice from some middle class white dude who's dead"
Jeez, how did they get away with that?
A nasty incestuous vibe between Gunn and his vamped-sister.
Apocalypses: 4
Angel Cliches
Damsel in distress; 15, in this case it's the male characters who need help
Inverting the Hollywood cliche; We expect a patrician speech from Angel to Gunn at the end. Instead Angel actually asks Gunn for his help in future, again recognising talent when he sees it. CC and Wes rescue Angel who forgets to use his mobile phone to get himself out of the meatlocker.
In disguise; 4
DB get's his shirt off; yep, Angel getting patched up so 7
Cordy's tattoo;3
Cheap Angel; A paying client for AI, Cordy must be so happy. Angel also wants to 'see the cheque'
4
Fang Gang in bondage:
Cordy: 5
Angel: 8
Wes: 2
Fang gang knocked out:
Cordy: 9
Angel: 10
Wes: 4
Doyle; 1
Kills:
Cordy: 3 vamps, 1Ѕ demons
Angel: 3 vamps and 1 demon for Angel so 4 demons so 14 vamps, 10 and 1/2 demons, 2 humans.
Doyle; 1 vamp
Wes; 1/2 a demon
Kate; 3 vamps
Faith; 16 vamps, 6 demons, 3 humans.
Gunn;
Fang Gang go evil:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 2
Alternate Fang Gang: no but Angel refers to himself as Angelus to intimidate the other vamps
Cordy: 2
Angel: 6
Characters killed: 2 of Gunn's people killed.
27
Recurring characters killed;
2;
Total number of Angel Investigations: Gunn a long way from joining yet
3, Angel and Cordy and Wes
Angel Investigations shot:
Angel: 8,
Packing heat; no but one of Gunn's guys uses a flamethrowers which Wes will employ later to good effect.
Wes; 2
Doyle; 1
Angel; 1
Notches on Fang Gang bedpost:
Cordy: 2 ?+Wilson/Hacksaw Beast
Angel: 1;Buffy
Kinky dinky:
Angel's entire visit to Madame Dorians and the David Mabbet stuff is just SOOO out there, especially the tail gag (this was the era of Madame Alex/Hedi Fleiss etc). That said of all the demon girls am I the only one to find Lina the only attractive one? One of the demons appears to be one of the girls from She, her Ko well and truly intact (hope she's still not burning people)Cordelia is once again tempted to prostitute herself to a wealthy man as she was in the pilot. Cordy says that David's name feels 'Good in her mouth'!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (I don't think even Faith would say that?)
Captain Subtext;
Not so subtle racial and social hints, even the vamps bemoan the sort of people they now have to feed on.
Know the face, different character; 2
Parking garages;
4,
Guantanamo Bay;
Angel once again tortures a vamp
Buffy characters on Angel; 11
Wetherby, Collins and Smith. Angel, Cordy, Oz, Spike, Buffy, Wes, Faith, Darla
Questions and observations;
Gunn's strategy seems ok to me, taking the fight to the enemy rather than waiting until they come to you. By contrast Angel lets the vamps go at the end, to kill others? The vamps attacking Gunn's headquarters resemble the aliens in the War of the Worlds series. Both Angel and Gunn have killed their sisters.
Marks out of 10; 6/10, an ok ep but one that's hard to watch at times, largely significant for the introduction of Gunn (and his truck) and his motivations
BLIND DATE
The Good;
Lindsay's dilemma and Angel's solution to it. The final battle. Best of all though has to be Gunn's entrance to WR&H, one day he'll have a very different persepctive. The mind-reader line up is also a winner.
The Bad;
Would WR&H really be so forgiving of Lindsey?
Best line:
Cordy; "Are you telling me self-mutilating psycho assassin chick reached enlightenment?"
Jeez, how did they get away with that?
Angel shows remarkably little sympathy for Lindsey's story of his dead sibling but then he was from an age where most kids didn't make it out of infancy. Killing Lee is horrible, scumbag though he is, even Lilah has a horrified reaction to it, suggesting the woman beneath the mask.
Apocalypses: 4
Angel Cliches
Damsel in distress;
Inverting the Hollywood cliche; In every other genre handicapped people are inspirational, of course in the Jossverse they're EVIL!
In disguise; 4
DB get's his shirt off; 7
Cordy's tattoo;3
Cheap Angel;
4
Fang Gang in bondage:
Cordy: 5
Angel: 8
Wes: 2
Fang gang knocked out:
Cordy: 9
Angel: 10
Wes: 4
Doyle; 1
Kills:
Cordy: 3 vamps, 1Ѕ demons
Angel: 2 vamps and one human so 16 vamps, 10 and 1/2 demons, 3 humans.
Doyle; 1 vamp
Wes; 1/2 a demon
Kate; 3 vamps
Faith; 16 vamps, 6 demons, 3 humans.
Fang Gang go evil:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 2
Alternate Fang Gang:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 6
Characters killed:
25
Recurring characters killed; byebye Lee although he's evil so screw him
2;
Total number of Angel Investigations:
3, Angel and Cordy and Wes
Angel Investigations shot:
Angel: 8,
Packing heat;
Wes; 2
Doyle; 1
Angel; 1
Notches on Fang Gang bedpost:
Cordy: 2 ?+Wilson/Hacksaw Beast
Angel: 1;Buffy
Kinky dinky:
Lee asks Lindsey does he find the assassin sexy, you get the impression they both do
Captain Subtext;
Holland really does treat Lindsey like he's his son or something.
Know the face, different character; 2
Parking garages;
4,
Guantanamo Bay;
Buffy characters on Angel; 11, Cordy talks to Willow here but we don't see her. She says hello to Wes, AH and AD having just married
Wetherby, Collins and Smith. Angel, Cordy, Oz, Spike, Buffy, Wes, Faith, Darla
Questions and observations;
Vanessa Brewer is actually played by CC's stunt double, always nice when that happens (LL's stunt double on Xena would go on to play a recurring characters in the show). This also marks the entrance of the great Sam Anderson as Holland. Angel kills another human and has very little remorse about doing so, very different from Buffy. The scroll refers to the 'vampire with the soul', obstensibly Angel but by season 5 maybe Spike too?
Marks out of 10; 8/10, good ep
TO SHANSHU IN LA
The Good;
My all time favourite moment in Angel is when he walks up to Lindsey clutching his stump, the music swells and Angel looks on him with buggerall sympathy. Such a powerful scene, you realise how much Angel loves Cordy in that moment and would fight his way to hell on her behalf. CCs acting as stricken Cordy is also great and love the doughnut scene. And THAT ending!
The Bad;
Gunn's prescence seems a bit shoe-horned in, they're obviously thinking about making him a regular. Same for David Nabbit. Kate seems to want to make Angel hang around to make a statement which is weird as she's prepared to let him just walk away the rest of the time.
Best line:
"Don't believe everything your foretold, Lindsey" (why doesn't he just kick him in the head whilst he's at it?)
Jeez, how did they get away with that?
Severed hands. Voca's mask. Angel is also quite brutal with Kate. Lilah mentions a past WR&H employee who was made to eat his own liver as pennance for failing the senior partners.
Apocalypses: 4
Angel Cliches
Damsel in distress; 15,
Inverting the Hollywood cliche;
In disguise; 4
DB get's his shirt off; 7
Cordy's tattoo;3
Cheap Angel;
4
Fang Gang in bondage:
Cordy: 5
Angel: 8
Wes: 2
Fang gang knocked out: Wes by the explosion
Cordy: 9
Angel: 10
Wes: 5
Doyle; 1
Kills:
Cordy: 3 vamps, 1Ѕ demons
Angel; 2 demons so 16 vamps, 12 and 1/2 demons, 3 humans
Doyle; 1 vamp
Wes; 1/2 a demon
Kate; 3 vamps
Faith; 16 vamps, 6 demons, 3 humans.
Fang Gang go evil:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 2
Alternate Fang Gang:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 6
Characters killed:
25
Recurring characters killed; bye-bye the Oracles which is a shame as I liked them, I didn't think they COULD be killed
4;
Total number of Angel Investigations:
3, Angel and Cordy and Wes
Angel Investigations shot:
Angel: 8,
Packing heat;
Wes; 2
Doyle; 1
Angel; 1
Notches on Fang Gang bedpost:
Cordy: 2 ?+Wilson/Hacksaw Beast
Angel: 1;Buffy
Kinky dinky:
Naked Darla in a box, bet you can't order that on Amazon!
Captain Subtext;
Know the face, different character; 2
Parking garages;
4,
Guantanamo Bay;
Buffy characters on Angel; 11
Wetherby, Collins and Smith. Angel, Cordy, Oz, Spike, Buffy, Wes, Faith, Darla
Questions and observations;
Wes once again makes a biblical reference which Watcher's are wont to do. The promise of great things to come, Darla in the box. Interestingly you can bring a vamp back from the dead as they attempted to do in 'When she was bad', a technique often used in fanfic for bringing back Angel and souled-Spike if they've been killed in a story. Cordy refers to 'The old me' indicating personal growth. Of course we assume the 'Vamp with a soul' is Angel but it could just as easily be season 5 Spike?
Marks out of 10; 9/10, very good ep with my all time favourite Angel scene.
JUDGEMENT
The Good;
Jousting in LA, even in Tinseltown that must be a rare enough sight.
The Bad;
A fairly slow opener for a season that will eventually start firing on all cylinders
Best line:
Jeez, how did they get away with that?
The demon who sings at Caritas is 'Gorshak the Child-eater'? His pick is 'Achy breaky heart' (I'm not sure which is worse?)
Apocalypses: 4
Angel Cliches
Damsel in distress; 16, yep, she sure is
Inverting the Hollywood cliche;
Angel the hero actually kills the damsel in distress' protector by accident
In disguise; 4
DB get's his shirt off; 7
Cordy's tattoo;3
Cheap Angel;
4
Fang Gang in bondage:
Cordy: 5
Angel: 8
Wes: 2
Fang gang knocked out:
Cordy: 9
Angel: 10
Wes: 5
Doyle; 1
Kills:
Cordy: 3 vamps, 1Ѕ demons
Angel; 4 demons for Angel so 16 vamps, 16 and 1/2 demons, 3 humans
Doyle; 1 vamp
Wes; 1/2 a demon
Kate; 3 vamps
Faith; 16 vamps, 6 demons, 3 humans.
Gunn; one more vamp so 4 in all.
Fang Gang go evil:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 2
Alternate Fang Gang:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 6
Characters killed:
25
Recurring characters killed;
4;
Total number of Angel Investigations:
3, Angel and Cordy and Wes
Angel Investigations shot:
Angel: 8,
Packing heat;
Wes; 2
Doyle; 1
Angel; 1
Notches on Fang Gang bedpost:
Cordy: 2 ?+Wilson/Hacksaw Beast
Angel: 1;Buffy
Kinky dinky:
Wes seems to attract the attention of a beautiful girl in a bar. The first hints of the love affair between Lindsey and Darla.
Captain Subtext;
From the beginning a very flirtatious relationship between Lorne and Angel. Gunn comments that he's seen Wes before in bed which Wes takes a lot of exception to. Cordy points out that if Angel joins a gym he'll have to shower with naked men but he says he'll always be a loner.
Know the face, different character; 2
Parking garages;
4,
Guantanamo Bay;
Angel beats up Merl and kills an innocent
Buffy characters on Angel; 11
Wetherby, Collins and Smith. Angel, Cordy, Oz, Spike, Buffy, Wes, Faith, Darla
Questions and observations;
The Introduction of Lorne for the first time, no sign yet that he'll become such an important character. Pretty obvious he's inspired by Barney from Parting Gifts. Angel Investigations have been busy over the summer with at least 6 cases according the whiteboard. First appearance of Merl and first meeting of Gunn, Cordy and Wes. Wonderful to see Angel visit Faith, such a lovely touch. So what happens to the mother and child? Often in fanfic whatever goes wrong in the Buffyverse that kid turns up to set it right. When Angel meets Gunn he inquires after his health as Gunn said he should in Blind Date. Jo is played by Justina Machado who played Rico's wife in the wonderful Six Foot Under, a show that not only guest starred Michelle Tractenberg and Eric Balfour (Jesse) but at one point her characters' actress sister appears to be guest-starring on Angel (or possibly Charmed?)
Marks out of 10; 6/10, the opening and ending are probably better than the rest of the ep.
ARE YOU NOW OR EVER HAVE BEEN?
The Good;
Very good allegory of the McCarthy age and we get an idea of what Angel got up to after 'Why we fight?'.
The Bad;
According to the commentary Angel sends the money back to the bank. I wouldn't, they're a bunch of racists, I'd have given it to charity or something.
Best line:
DENVER; "No other cat but me"
Jeez, how did they get away with that?
Seeing Angel lynched is nasty in the extreme.
Apocalypses: 4
Angel Cliches
Damsel in distress; 16,
Inverting the Hollywood cliche;
Angel doesn't save the inhabitants of the hotel, just leaves the demon to feast upon them. When he finally returns to rescue Melissa it's to let her die.
In disguise; 4
DB get's his shirt off; 7
Cordy's tattoo;3
Cheap Angel;
4
Fang Gang in bondage:
Cordy: 5
Angel: 8
Wes: 2
Fang gang knocked out: yep, Angel
Cordy: 9
Angel: 11
Wes: 5
Doyle; 1
Kills:
Cordy: 3 vamps, 1½ demons
Angel; 1 demon for Angel so 16 vamps, 17 and 1/2 demons, 3 humans
Doyle; 1 vamp
Wes; 1/2 a demon
Kate; 3 vamps
Faith; 16 vamps, 6 demons, 3 humans.
Gunn; one more vamp so 4 in all.
Fang Gang go evil:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 2
Alternate Fang Gang:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 6
Characters killed:
25
Recurring characters killed;
4;
Total number of Angel Investigations:
3, Angel and Cordy and Wes
Angel Investigations shot:
Angel: 8,
Packing heat;
Wes; 2
Doyle; 1
Angel; 1
Notches on Fang Gang bedpost:
Cordy: 2 ?+Wilson/Hacksaw Beast
Angel: 1;Buffy
Kinky dinky:
The starlet is obviously supplementing her income through prostitution. Nevertheless she refers to Melissa as a slut as an insult.
Captain Subtext;
The leading man is obviously gay and hiding it Rock Hudson style.
Know the face, different character; 2
Parking garages;
4,
Guantanamo Bay;
The McCarthy era is a strange one as after the fall of communism it was revealed that many of those he persecuted were indeed Soviet agents (it's an interesting paralell of George Bush/Barack Obama being pressured to release some the Guantanamo inmates only for 1 in 7 going back to terrorism) but the important point here is that we rail against all lynch-mobs and witch-hunts which are inherently evil no matter their justification, Angel season 2 of course was during the War on Terror and the point is well made.
Buffy characters on Angel; 11
Wetherby, Collins and Smith. Angel, Cordy, Oz, Spike, Buffy, Wes, Faith, Darla
Questions and observations;
2nd appearance of the Hyperion which is also in Judgement and 'I fall to pieces' under a different name . Presumably Angel must be pretty rich just to be able to give the money away like that. After this we presume he must go into his hedonistic phase, henceforth to be known as 'The Manilow Era'. He does return to hotel later however as he's in the picture when the police arrest the bell-hop (who goes to the electric chair despite being innocent of the charges against him). First apprearance of Denver who'll crop up again later. In an ep about the 50s Cordy's dress seems very sixties? If this ep is 9 minutes over as the commentary says, why not Special Edition DVDs with the footage restored?
Marks out of 10; 8/10
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
The Good;
Not much, this has a good chance of being the worst Angel ep ever. Some eps of Charmed were better than this, even the one's without Shannen Doherty (or Charisma Carpenter).
The Bad;
The demon and the whole 'Gunn in trouble' bit is very stupid.
Best line:
"NOW!" all in the delivery
Jeez, how did they get away with that?
Can't help but wince when Veronica get's a neck full of glass. Cordy's right though, to pull it out would kill her. The whimpering from Angelus and Darla's victims is horrible.
Apocalypses: 4
Angel Cliches
Damsel in distress; 16,
Inverting the Hollywood cliche;
In disguise; 4
DB get's his shirt off; yep, twice so that makes 9
Cordy's tattoo;3
Cheap Angel;
4
Fang Gang in bondage:
Cordy: 5
Angel: 8
Wes: 2
Fang gang knocked out:
Cordy: 9
Angel: 11
Wes: 5
Doyle; 1
Kills:
Cordy: 2 vamps for Cordy so 5 vamps, 1½ demons
Angel; 1 demon and 1 vamp so 17 vamps, 18 and 1/2 demons, 3 humans
Doyle; 1 vamp
Wes; 1/2 a demon
Kate; 3 vamps
Faith; 16 vamps, 6 demons, 3 humans.
Gunn; one more vamp so 5 in all.
Fang Gang go evil:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 2
Alternate Fang Gang:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 6
Characters killed:
25
Recurring characters killed;
4;
Total number of Angel Investigations:
3, Angel and Cordy and Wes
Angel Investigations shot:
Angel: 8,
Packing heat;
Wes; 2
Doyle; 1
Angel; 1
Notches on Fang Gang bedpost:
Cordy: 2 ?+Wilson/Hacksaw Beast
Angel: 1;Buffy
Kinky dinky:
All the Darla/Angel stuff is just excellent. Wes uses the very British insult 'Wanker'. Once again Cordy appears to be turned on by money, maybe that 'prostitute' remark wasn't so far of the mark as she also says she could be a 'working girl' if she wanted to. She also states that when it comes to sex women see more levels than men.
Captain Subtext;
Semi-naked Angel on top of Wes! Angel objects to wearing 'The girl's helmet'. Wes doesn't help by telling him 'Hop on gorgeous'
Know the face, different character; 2
Parking garages;
4,
Guantanamo Bay;
Gunn beats his way to the truth so ruthlessly even Angel steps in to stop him.
Buffy characters on Angel; 11
Wetherby, Collins and Smith. Angel, Cordy, Oz, Spike, Buffy, Wes, Faith, Darla
Questions and observations;
Angel is a fan of Denzel Washington which is weird as he claimed to not even have a TV and was living like a tramp during his most successful movies?
Marks out of 10; 3/10, VERY weak ep, saved largely by the Darla/Angel stuff and the motorcycle humour.
UNTOUCHED
The Good;
Some lovely stuff from Lilah and some nice humour with Gunn.
The Bad;
I think the whole abused child bit is a little overdone, if you want to see that go so Michelle Tractenberg's excellent film 'Mysterious Skin' (but be warned, it's hard to watch)
Best line:
Angel; "Do you know what it's like to get a re-bar through your torso?"
Cordy; "Actually yes I do. Benefits of a Sunnydale education" (Lover's Walk)
Jeez, how did they get away with that?
The whole incest storyline is super-icky, father's once more getting a rough ride in the Buffyverse. Plus Bethany squishing the thugs with the dumpster but as Gunn says "Mr rapist-for-hire? See me crying?"
Apocalypses: 4
Angel Cliches
Damsel in distress; 17, yep and how
Inverting the Hollywood cliche; Bethany actually comes on to Angel which is unusual to see. Wes confesses he has no knowledge whatsoever about telekenisis. Cordy warns Bethany about Angel, hints of jealousy.
In disguise; yep as a detective, must have been taking hints from Kate so 5
DB get's his shirt off; yep, amazing how he always get's wounded in the chest but Cordy never does? 10
Cordy's tattoo;3
Cheap Angel; Cordy says she likes her men "Less broody, more spendy"
5
Fang Gang in bondage:
Cordy: 5
Angel: 8
Wes: 2
Fang gang knocked out: Angel and Cordy
Cordy: 10
Angel: 12
Wes: 5
Doyle; 1
Kills: none this ep for anyone although I love the way Cordy fights off the thugs with her lattes.
Cordy: 5 vamps, 1½ demons
Angel; 17 vamps, 18 and 1/2 demons, 3 humans
Doyle; 1 vamp
Wes; 1/2 a demon
Kate; 3 vamps
Faith; 16 vamps, 6 demons, 3 humans.
Gunn; 5 vamps.
Fang Gang go evil:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 2
Alternate Fang Gang:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 6
Characters killed:
25
Recurring characters killed;
4;
Total number of Angel Investigations: Gunn now being paid so add him in
4, Angel, Cordy, Wes and Gunn
Angel Investigations shot:
Angel: 8,
Packing heat;
Wes; 2
Doyle; 1
Angel; 1
Notches on Fang Gang bedpost:
Cordy: 2 ?+Wilson/Hacksaw Beast
Angel: 1;Buffy
Kinky dinky:
Bethany comments that Angel's Darla dream must make him 'Pretty happy' to judge by his bed covers. Indeed they resemble the x-rated cover of a period romance novel, bodice-ripping by the fireside. Bethany says guy's love the whole 'innocent and fragile' thing. Cordy comments that she came in the top 10% of her class and Wes wonders was that class 'Advanced bosoms?" (I think she gets more a C in that area?;)
Captain Subtext;
Lilah's relationship with Bethany smacks mightily of lesbianism just in the same way as her picking up Faith at the club did. When Gunn boasts about his new axe and hopes he might 'Get the chance to stick it in something" Cordy comments "Men, all alike!"
Know the face, different character; 2
Parking garages;
4,
Guantanamo Bay;
Buffy characters on Angel; 11
Wetherby, Collins and Smith. Angel, Cordy, Oz, Spike, Buffy, Wes, Faith, Darla
What the fanficcers thought; read a very good one once where Buffy confronts Hank about abusing her as a child. He confesses to being abused himself, she forgives him then he turns himself in, REAL tearjerker. http://www.fanfiction.net/s/3035521/1/The_Monsters_of_Childhood
Incest-fic of course HUGELY popular but almost invariably Buffy/Dawn/Joyce (Charmed sisters, Gilmore Girls etc) as consenting adults.
http://www.t-s-s-a.com/stories/show-story.php?story=Buffy-DontGo.txt and
http://www.t-s-s-a.com/stories/show-story.php?story=Buffy-MercifulMistress.txt
probably the most tasteful in a highly dubious genre if you're over 18.
Questions and observations;
Hugely dark, you wonder if this is what Joss and co intended the series to originally be like in terms of both 'Damsel in distress of the week' and in the dark nature of the subject matter (Lonely Heart for instance was originally called Corrupt and had Kate not only posing undercover as a prostitute but had gotten too far into her role, actually working as one and having sex with her clients. At that point the studio stepped in. Of course the studio seems to have no such problem with Dollhouse which is basically the ultimate fantasy escort agency).
Marks out of 10; 7/10. Good ep, suprisingly funny in places and all about redemption, I for one am glad Bethany didn't kill her father. Also more and more depth added to Lilah and that's always a good thing.
DEAR BOY
The Good;
All the Angel and Darla stuff and the Kate stuff. Love the cheating wife subplot too.
The Bad;
?
Best line:
"God doesn't want you, but I do"
Jeez, how did they get away with that?
Awful scene between Darla and Angelus whilst driving Dru mad. She is a virgin and a saint, how different her life could have been. Darla grabbing/killing the actor.
Apocalypses: 4
Angel Cliches
Damsel in distress; 17
Inverting the Hollywood cliche;
In disguise;
Whilst surveiling the cheating wife in the hotel so 6
DB get's his shirt off; 10
Cordy's tattoo;3
Cheap Angel; AI jump at the chance of a paying client Cordy noting he has Mastercard etc. Angel asks Wes if he has any money he can lend him for Caritas
6
Fang Gang in bondage:
Cordy: 5
Angel: 8
Wes: 2
Fang gang knocked out:
Cordy: 10
Angel: 12
Wes: 5
Doyle; 1
Kills: one demon for Gunn
Cordy: 5 vamps, 1½ demons
Angel; 17 vamps, 18 and 1/2 demons, 3 humans
Doyle; 1 vamp
Wes; 1/2 a demon
Kate; 3 vamps
Faith; 16 vamps, 6 demons, 3 humans.
Gunn; 5 vamps + 1 demon.
Fang Gang go evil:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 2
Alternate Fang Gang:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 6
Characters killed: 3, the actor, the Lord and the Streetwalker
26
Recurring characters killed;
4;
Total number of Angel Investigations:
4, Angel, Cordy, Wes and Gunn
Angel Investigations shot: Angel shot by the cops who respond to the call
Angel: 9,
Packing heat; we have the first appearance the tranquliser guns.
Wes; 4
Doyle; 2
Angel; 1
Notches on Fang Gang bedpost:
Cordy: 2 ?+Wilson/Hacksaw Beast
Angel: 1;Buffy
Wes; 1 bleached blonde according to Angel and to the amazement of Cordy
Kinky dinky:
Angel forces himself on Darla but being Darla she revels in it. "You're hurting me, I like it". Angel tells Darla she can 'Scream all she wants'. Darla says she's pretty familar with the international sign for 'enough' whilst Angel says what they did together 'blew the top of my head off'. Angel has 'a thing for convents', hmmm? The nuns or the teenage schoolgirls in uniforms? Darla kills the streetwalker even though she was one herself. Angel smells Cordy's hair, the first hint of Cangel. When Angel refers to his love Cordy thinks he's talking about Buffy. Cordy's 'Pet me I'm a whore' outfit certainly fits the bill. Angel observes that Wes has recently had sex with a bleach blonde, probably the girl from 'Judgement', much to Cordelia's incredulity. Buffy the cheerleader gave Angel a happiness Darla couldn't give, maybe Darla should get the costume and some pompoms?
Captain Subtext;
In fanfic the bleach blonde Wes had sex with is often Spike. Lorne refers to his bartender Ramon as a 'treasure'.
Know the face, different character; 2
Parking garages;
4,
Guantanamo Bay;
Buffy characters on Angel; Dru for the first time 12
Wetherby, Collins and Smith. Angel, Cordy, Oz, Spike, Buffy, Wes, Faith, Darla, Dru
Questions and observations;
Angel is 247 years old and now a coffee addict contrary to what was stated in The Prom. Great ep, the renewal of the Angel/Darla relationship and it's terrific on all levels, great things to come. Angel seems to have established a reputation as a PI for the superanatural, AI's spying on the cheating wife is quite professional with listening devices, mini-camera's, the works. In the Buffyverse there appear to be no aliens (what about the Queller demon from season 5?). Kate is now a pariah in the LAPD but is still loved by her friends and colleagues. Lorne is back for the first time in a while. Some great satire on Hollywood actors. Gunn has a long and colourful record with LAPD.
Marks out of 10; 9/10
GUISE WILL BE GUISE
The Good;
So wonderful, finally Wes gets a chance to shine and it's just fabulous. Also love Cordy's Angel impression. And love Rick the guard quietly sloping off when it's revealed that he'd had sex with his employer's daughter.
Bad;
Gunn never noticed the existance of netherworld? So how come he once traded his soul at a demon casino? (The House Alway's Wins) Surely there's a better way to get Angels help than threatening Cordy? Wouldn't have Wes have noticed that he'd deflowered Virginia during their sex?
Best line:
Angel; "Wesley was in virginia?"
Wes; "That's beside the point"
Jeez, how did they get away with that?
The father who wants to sacrifice his daughter, my god, talk about the lowest of the low! Prophetically she observes he also insures his car. Angel tortures fake Swami with fishing hook and line through his cheek.
Apocalypses: 4
Angel Cliches
Damsel in distress; 17
Inverting the Hollywood cliche;
Angel plans to infiltrate WR&H by 'moving real fast'
As Gunn horrifiedly observes 'Going real quick was the plan?"
In disguise;
No but love the way Cordy and Wes are able to infiltrate WR&H with just a business suit and a pair of glasses and Wes' Angel impression is priceless.
DB get's his shirt off; 10
Cordy's tattoo;3
Cheap Angel;
5
Fang Gang in bondage:
Cordy: 5
Angel: 8
Wes: 2
Fang gang knocked out: Gunn by the fake Swami
Cordy: 10
Angel: 12
Wes: 5
Doyle; 1
Gunn; 1
Kills:
Cordy: 5 vamps, 1½ demons
Angel; 17 vamps, 18 and 1/2 demons, 3 humans
Doyle; 1 vamp
Wes; 1/2 a demon
Kate; 3 vamps
Faith; 16 vamps, 6 demons, 3 humans.
Gunn; 5 vamps+ 1 demon.
Fang Gang go evil:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 2
Alternate Fang Gang:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 6
Characters killed: the Swami offscreen
27
Recurring characters killed;
4;
Total number of Angel Investigations:
4, Angel, Cordy, Wes and Gunn
Angel Investigations shot:
Angel: 9,
Packing heat;
Wes; 2
Doyle; 1
Angel; 1
Notches on Fang Gang bedpost:
Cordy: 2 ?+Wilson/Hacksaw Beast
Angel: 1;Buffy
Wes; 2, one bleached blonde and Virginia
Kinky dinky:
Wes has sex with Virginia although he doesn't take her virginity, that was long gone (what girl ever didn't fool her father in that regard?). Of course if she had sex at 16 that's technically statuatory rape in California. Virginia is lovely, check her out as the 'Blair' witch in Charmed although her outfit in that episode exaggerates her (already respectable) cleavage to the degree it may knock you unconscious. Cordy observes that he 'screwed her over'. The thug refers to Cordy as Angel's piece. Yeska comments that the sacrifice is impure, as Cordy later observes if it was sacrificing male virgins the world would be aethiest in a second. Angel protests he isn't a eunuch and that the curse isn't that clear as later proven by Nina/Darla/The Furies.
Captain Subtext;
Cordy asks Wes if he has any clothes 'a man would wear'? Of course being Wes he has some excellent suits and Cordy has a very nice business suit. Cordy says she loves Angel. She also refers to Angel as girly. The fake Swami's recipie for Angel's happiness is word perfect for his relationship with Buffy, using her as a Darla substitute (but Buffy made him happy and Darla didn't).
Know the face, different character; 2
Parking garages;
4,
Guantanamo Bay;
Angel tortures the false Swami with a fishook through his cheek
Buffy characters on Angel; 12
Wetherby, Collins and Smith. Angel, Cordy, Oz, Spike, Buffy, Wes, Faith, Darla, Dru
Questions and observations;
Angel says he rarely goes to church although it's implied that he's a Catholic. A great satire on Hollywood success, anyone with talent and looks has to have magic. A terrific lightweight comedy episode with Wes coming into his own for the first time and getting a girlfriend, just as he should have.
Marks out of 10; 8/10
DARLA
The Good;
Everything between Angel and Darla is just superb, adds a whole new dimension to the Buffyverse
The Bad;
?
Best line:
Angel; "You damned me!"
Jeez, how did they get away with that?
Everything with Darla, Dru and Spike is just TRAGIC. Angel garroting Lindsey is also pretty near the knuckle.
Apocalypses: 4
Angel Cliches
Damsel in distress; 17
Inverting the Hollywood cliche;
In disguise;
DB get's his shirt off; yep,10
Cordy's tattoo;3
Cheap Angel;
5
Fang Gang in bondage:
Cordy: 5
Angel: 8
Wes: 2
Fang gang knocked out:
Cordy: 10
Angel: 12
Wes: 5
Doyle; 1
Gunn; 1
Kills:
Cordy: 5 vamps, 1½ demons
Angel; 17 vamps, 18 and 1/2 demons, 3 humans
Doyle; 1 vamp
Wes; 1/2 a demon
Kate; 3 vamps
Faith; 16 vamps, 6 demons, 3 humans.
Gunn; 5 vamps.
Fang Gang go evil:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 2
Alternate Fang Gang:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 6
Characters killed: Dru kills the sailor, Spike kills the Slayer offscreen.
29
Recurring characters killed;
4;
Total number of Angel Investigations:
4, Angel, Cordy, Wes and Gunn
Angel Investigations shot:
Angel: 8,
Packing heat;
Wes; 2
Doyle; 1
Angel; 1
Notches on Fang Gang bedpost:
Cordy: 2 ?+Wilson/Hacksaw Beast
Angel: 1;Buffy
Wes; 2; Virginia and the bleached blonde
Kinky dinky:
"You're leaving with the stallion" You know they just don't have dialogue like that on Dawson's Creek.
Darla asks Lindsey to kiss her. We have confirmed what we always suspected, that she was a prostitute in her human life (women weren't allowed to own property during the Elizabethen era so she could hardly be anything else)
Captain Subtext;
Gunn shows his legal mind for the first time, working out that WR&H would place Darla's expenses as a tax rebate. Angelus appreciates human life whilst the Master wishes to end it. That said he let's Darla go as he seems to have genuine affection for her. Darla wonders if Lindsey has either a boyfriend or girlfriend. Little hints of humanity in Dru, she hints she could be Darla's mummy as she will eventually be when she sires her. Once again Spike calls Angel(us) a poofter.
Know the face, different character; 2
Parking garages; yep, where they go to kill Darla
5,
Guantanamo Bay;
Buffy characters on Angel; 13 The Master rears his ugly head
Wetherby, Collins and Smith. Angel, Cordy, Oz, Spike, Buffy, Wes, Faith, Darla, Dru, Master
Questions and observations;
Dru sires Spike. The cleverness of this scene is that when we see it on Buffy we think the Fang Gang are the kings of the world. Although when we see it on Angel we realise it's all a lie, Angel is resouled. Despite being resouled Angel still kills criminals, rapists and murderers, an undead version of the Punisher. So what's Darla's real name? In season 1 of Buffy 'Angel' he comments that the last time he saw Darla she was dresssed in kimonos which fits here. So what happens to the baby Angel saves? I like to think that she grows up under his watchful eye, much like Rachel in the Highlander series, that Angel visits her as an old lady on her deathbed and holds her hand as she passes to the afterlife and rejoins the rest of her family. Interesting when we compare Angelus, the bullying father of the fang gang with his own domineering father.
Marks out of 10; 9/10
REUNION
The Good;
Darla and Dru make quite a pair whilst Angel does his Batman routine. Some nice humour from Lilah and like the way Angel is so consumed by his quest that he tries to ignore his mission sent by the PTBs. And the shock ending is a kick in head.
The Bad;
Why does Lilah want to hear police sirens, what are the LAPD going to do against Dru and Darla? Shouldn't Angel have saved Holland's wife at least?
Best line:
Lilah (to Lindsey, indicating dead Darla) "Think you got a shot with her now?" Why we love Lilah even though she's a total bitch.
Jeez, how did they get away with that?
The scene in the shop with the murdered staff is horrifying
Apocalypses: 4
Angel Cliches
Damsel in distress; 17
Inverting the Hollywood cliche;
Lindsey (indicating the soon to be vamp Darla) "Can she hear us?"
Darla "She's DEAD!"
In disguise; 7
DB get's his shirt off; 11
Cordy's tattoo;3
Cheap Angel;
5
Fang Gang in bondage: Angel in cuffs
Cordy: 5
Angel: 9
Wes: 3
Fang gang knocked out:
Cordy: 10
Angel: 12
Wes: 5
Doyle; 1
Gunn; 1
Kills:
Cordy: 5 vamps, 1½ demons
Angel; 18 vamps, 19 and 1/2 demons, 3 humans
Doyle; 1 vamp
Wes; 1/2 a demon
Kate; 3 vamps
Faith; 16 vamps, 6 demons, 3 humans.
Gunn; 5 vamps+ 1 demon.
Fang Gang go evil:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 2
Alternate Fang Gang:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 6
Characters killed: 16 including the shopgirls and the motorist
30
Recurring characters killed;
4;
Total number of Angel Investigations:
4, Angel, Cordy, Wes and Gunn
Angel Investigations shot: no but Angel takes a gun away from a demon acolyte intent on suicide.
Angel: 10
Packing heat;
Wes; 2
Doyle; 1
Angel; 1
Notches on Fang Gang bedpost:
Cordy: 2 ?+Wilson/Hacksaw Beast
Angel: 1;Buffy
Wes; 2; Virginia and the bleached blonde
Kinky dinky:
Gunn comments that he's freaked out by the whole incest vibe of the grandaughter remaking the grandmother (as he was with his vamped sister). Dru wants Angel to 'Spank us til Tuesday, we promise to be bad if you do'!!!!!!
Captain Subtext;
Loved to have seen the Dru/neighbour scene. Once again Dru seems a very unusual vamp in some regards, more human than most. Dru appreciates Lilah's beauty. All of the Darla/Dru stuff
Know the face, different character; 2
Parking garages;
5,
Guantanamo Bay;
Buffy characters on Angel; 13
Wetherby, Collins and Smith. Angel, Cordy, Oz, Spike, Buffy, Wes, Faith, Darla, Dru, Master
Questions and observations;
Like the way it's Gunn who figures out the whole nursery angle, once again showing his brains. Weird seeing Darla in her shroud. Kate and Angel seem a team once more.
Marks out of 10; 8/10, Angel on top form.
REDEFINITION
The Good;
Angel goes Punisher, as extra-crispy Darla says "Who the hell was THAT?". Plus "We are the champions..."
The Bad;
Darla and Dru seem to spend an awful lot of time on fire, other vamps vaporise much quicker.
Best line:
Dru "Galloping, galloping still he'll come!"
Jeez, how did they get away with that?
The ears gag, funny but hooooo....!
Apocalypses: 4
Angel Cliches
Damsel in distress; 17
Inverting the Hollywood cliche;
In disguise; 7
DB get's his shirt off; not topless but some vest action
11
Cordy's tattoo;3
Cheap Angel;
5
Fang Gang in bondage:
Cordy: 5
Angel: 8
Wes: 3
Fang gang knocked out:
Cordy: 10
Angel: 12
Wes: 5
Doyle; 1
Gunn; 1
Kills: 4 vamps and 12 demons for Angel really racking them up. I demon for Gunn
Cordy: 5 vamps, 1½ demons
Angel; 22 vamps, 31 and 1/2 demons, 3 humans,
Doyle; 1 vamp
Wes; 1/2 a demon
Kate; 3 vamps
Faith; 16 vamps, 6 demons, 3 humans.
Gunn; 5 vamps+ 2 demons.
Fang Gang go evil:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 2
Alternate Fang Gang:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 6
Characters killed:
30
Recurring characters killed;
4;
Total number of Angel Investigations: 1 or 3 depending on which way you look at it?
4, Angel, Cordy, Wes and Gunn
Angel Investigations shot:
Angel: 10
Packing heat;
Wes; 2
Doyle; 1
Angel; 1
Notches on Fang Gang bedpost:
Cordy: 2 ?+Wilson/Hacksaw Beast
Angel: 1;Buffy
Wes; 2; Virginia and the bleached blonde
Kinky dinky:
Gunn says Angel is 'going Commando', does he mean the action film or without underwear? Dru and Darla are looking for 'muscular slaves'. I know a few people who'd gladly volunteer. Once again Dru wants Angel to punish them for being naughty, she likes the idea of flogging but not of churches.
Captain Subtext;
Is the attraction between Lindsey and Darla real? Dru seems to like Lilah. Wes denies that his arse is 'pansy'.
Know the face, different character; 2
Parking garages;
5,
Guantanamo Bay;
Poor old Merl get waterboarded
Buffy characters on Angel; 13
Wetherby, Collins and Smith. Angel, Cordy, Oz, Spike, Buffy, Wes, Faith, Darla, Dru, Master
Questions and observations;
Virginia's back, hooray! Wes intends to sing Cat Stevens, I'm guessing 'Morning has Broken' rather than 'Father and Son' or 'The First Cut is the Deepest'. In the end they pick Queen, good choice. Darla wonders why people always assume a man has to be involved in a woman's business? Angel smokes again.
Marks out of 10; 8/10
BLOOD MONEY
The Good;
Anne's back, wonderful the way minor characters from old eps can now assume major roles in the Buffyverse. A nice pastiche of the cynicism of major corporations.
The Bad;
Couldn't they have got some real TV stars to do that benefit?
Best line:
Lindsey "Boo hoo Lilah, let me wipe away the tears with my plastic hand!"
Jeez, how did they get away with that?
Anne refer to a 14 year old prositute lying in her own blood after a rough trick, uuggghhhh! (real life always more horrific than supernatural evil)
Apocalypses: 4
Angel Cliches
Damsel in distress; 17
Inverting the Hollywood cliche;
In disguise; 7
DB get's his shirt off; 11
Cordy's tattoo;3
Cheap Angel; he owes Merle money
6
Fang Gang in bondage:
Cordy: 5
Angel: 8
Wes: 3
Fang gang knocked out:
Cordy: 10
Angel: 12
Wes: 5
Doyle; 1
Gunn; 1
Kills: Half a demon for Wes and Gunn
Cordy: 5 vamps, 1½ demons
Angel; 22 vamps, 31 and 1/2 demons, 3 humans
Doyle; 1 vamp
Wes; 1 demon
Kate; 3 vamps
Faith; 16 vamps, 6 demons, 3 humans.
Gunn; 5 vamps+ 2 and half demons.
Fang Gang go evil:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 2
Alternate Fang Gang:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 6
Characters killed:
30
Recurring characters killed; Holland the scumbag appears again, I bet he's looking up rather than down and could use some ice about now
4;
Total number of Angel Investigations: 3 or 1?
4, Angel, Cordy, Wes and Gunn
Angel Investigations shot:
Angel: 10
Packing heat;
Wes; 2
Doyle; 1
Angel; 1
Notches on Fang Gang bedpost:
Cordy: 2 ?+Wilson/Hacksaw Beast
Angel: 1;Buffy
Wes; 2; Virginia and the bleached blonde
Kinky dinky:
Kennell's school for girls, why is it that the buildings supernatural evil always seems to be drawn to are filled with teenage schoolgirls? (The Craft, Suspira, Carrie and countless trashier efforts, Satan's School for Girls, 5 Girls anyone?) Or did I just answer my own question? It's implied that Angel enjoys dressing up in Cordy's clothes. Angel says he is hitching a ride in Lilah's back seat, probably literally but the way he says it hints at innuendo.
Captain Subtext;
The 'Life Lessons' actress is asked why they made her character gay, an obvious nod to Willow on Buffy
Know the face, different character; Anne/Lily/Chantrelle but still the same girl
2
Parking garages; yep, Angel attacks Lilah in hers
6,
Guantanamo Bay;
More Merle bashing, you genuinely start to feel sorry for him.
Buffy characters on Angel; 14
Wetherby, Collins and Smith. Angel, Cordy, Oz, Spike, Buffy, Wes, Faith, Darla, Dru, Master, Anne
Questions and observations;
Angel criticises Merle's beanbags, surely he had some during the Manilow years. We're told that Angel was in Mexico in the 20s and fought Boon over a girl, love to see that in the comics some time. Love his built-in knuckledusters. So why doesn't Anne recognise Angel when she was introduced to him in the Buffy ep Lie to Me? Interesting to see Wes as Bond, he would have been great in the Roger Moore style. Presumably Angel beats Boon for the money.
Marks out of 10; 6/10 standalone ep, some nice stuff with Anne and Boon and some nice humour with Lindsey and Lilah.
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY
The Good;
Lorne really comes into his own, we see him set up to become a regular character . Love Angel Investigation's Agatha Christie moment.
The Bad;
Why does the scientist act suprised at Lorne's appearance when he's been to Caritas? His plan is pretty stupid, surely after a while someone will notice and pull the plug? And won't the time freeze affect the demons too? And won't the time freeze stop the electricity thus disrupting the process?
Best line:
Gunn; "Truth is there's always more down"
Jeez, how did they get away with that?
Apocalypses: oh yeah
5
Angel Cliches
Damsel in distress; 17
Inverting the Hollywood cliche;
In disguise; yep, posing as a grant fund agent
8
DB get's his shirt off; 11
Cordy's tattoo;3
Cheap Angel;
6
Fang Gang in bondage:
Cordy: 5
Angel: 8
Wes: 3
Fang gang knocked out: Lorne, all the makings of an Angel investigations regular right there
Cordy: 10
Angel: 12
Wes: 5
Doyle; 1
Gunn; 1
Lorne; 1
Kills: a demon for Gunn and 2 for Angel
Cordy: 5 vamps, 1½ demons
Angel; 22 vamps, 33 and 1/2 demons, 3 humans
Doyle; 1 vamp
Wes; 1 demon
Kate; 3 vamps
Faith; 16 vamps, 6 demons, 3 humans.
Gunn; 5 vamps+ 2 demons.
Fang Gang go evil:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 2
Alternate Fang Gang:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 6
Characters killed:
30
Recurring characters killed;
4;
Total number of Angel Investigations: 3 or 1
4, Angel, Cordy, Wes and Gunn
Angel Investigations shot:
Angel: 10
Packing heat;
Wes; 2
Doyle; 1
Angel; 1
Notches on Fang Gang bedpost:
Cordy: 2 ?+Wilson/Hacksaw Beast
Angel: 1;Buffy
Wes; 2; Virginia and the bleached blonde
Kinky dinky:
The sympathy bone! Does anyone actually ever do that for real? The most slow motion sex in history. How exactly do they know that Kevin is impotent?
Captain Subtext;
Lorne acts in a stereotypically gay fashion but he describes Cordy as hot-o-rama suggesting he's actually Bi? The bartender remarks that they don't get many of Lorne's kind in his bar, we think for a moment he means gay but he actually means demon.
Know the face, different character; 2
Parking garages;
5,
Guantanamo Bay;
Buffy characters on Angel; 14
Wetherby, Collins and Smith. Angel, Cordy, Oz, Spike, Buffy, Wes, Faith, Darla, Dru, Master, Anne
Questions and observations;
For some reason the demons seem to dress like Abraham Lincoln (or the Amish)? The weapons they use are similar to the hunga-munga used by Buffy in Anne. What do they do with Aunt Helen, turn her over to the police to charge her with murder by demon? A lovely metaphor from Lorne on holding the note. The beginning of Angel's eventual coming back to the good fight. Make Hegarty who plays the Bartender is one of those faces you see all over US TV. Cordy dances, she's quite a groover just as she was in Buffy. Wes dances too and is much better now than he was in 'She'.
Marks out of 10; 7 out of 10, funny enough but not really a classic and suffers in comparison to what's gone before and what's to come.
THIN DEAD LINE
The Good;
Excellent ep, lovely to see Anne again, good story, especially like the Jackson/Gunn confrontation. Also a nice little role for the desk sergeant.
The Bad;
Could this really all happen without anyone knowing about it? Or should I ask without anyone caring? Doesn't anyone hear the gunshots in the police station?
Best line:
Angel; "I just killed a cop"
Kate; (looking around the police station) "I wouldn't say that in here no matter how immortal you think you are"
Jeez, how did they get away with that?
Once again man's (or should that be zombie's?) inhumanity to man always more disturbing than the supernatural.
Apocalypses: 5
Angel Cliches
Damsel in distress; 17
Inverting the Hollywood cliche;
In disguise; 8
DB get's his shirt off; 11
Cordy's tattoo; oh yeah, we see it at the siege at the refuge
4
Cheap Angel;
6
Fang Gang in bondage:
Cordy: 5
Angel: 8
Wes: 3
Fang gang knocked out:Wes passes out after being shot
Cordy: 10
Angel: 12
Wes: 6
Doyle; 1
Gunn; 1
Kills:
Cordy: 5 vamps, 1½ demons
Angel; 22 vamps, 31 and 1/2 demons, 3 humans and 1 zombie
Doyle; 1 vamp
Wes; 1 demon
Kate; 3 vamps
Faith; 16 vamps, 6 demons, 3 humans.
Gunn; 5 vamps+ 2 demons.
Fang Gang go evil:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 2
Alternate Fang Gang:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 6
Characters killed:
30
Recurring characters killed;
4;
Total number of Angel Investigations: 3/1?
4, Angel, Cordy, Wes and Gunn
Angel Investigations shot: yes, Wes by the zombie cop
Angel: 10
Wes; 1
Packing heat;
Wes; 2
Doyle; 1
Angel; 1
Notches on Fang Gang bedpost:
Cordy: 2 ?+Wilson/Hacksaw Beast
Angel: 1;Buffy
Wes; 2; Virginia and the bleached blonde
Kinky dinky:
No time for that
Captain Subtext;
Or that!
Know the face, different character; 2
Parking garages;
5,
Guantanamo Bay;
Merle moves and I don't blame him. The whole thing is one big discussion of The End Justifies the Means, the police Captain uses vigilante methods to eradicate the crime in his area but at what cost? Angel is happy to give the area back to the Jackson's of the world because that's human trouble rather than supernatural.
Buffy characters on Angel; 14
Wetherby, Collins and Smith. Angel, Cordy, Oz, Spike, Buffy, Wes, Faith, Darla, Dru, Master, Anne
Questions and observations;
Nice mislead, you think Anne is going to Angel but instead she goes to Gunn. Gunn himself starts to feel removed from his old gang. Angel and Kate seem to have restored their working relationship after the Shroud of Rashamon. Love the Cordy's clothes gag. The whole ep is reminiscent of the old Maniac Cop horror film series (which also featured a vigilante zombie cop ressurected through voodo) with hints of Night of the Living Dead, Magnum Force and Assault on Precinct 13 (the original, forget the remake even if it has Gay Byrne)
Marks out of 10; 7/10, enjoyable but a step outside the arc.
REPRISE
The Good;
Hell of a shock when Darla makes the Angel/Darla shish kebab. Good scenes at WR&H and the Darla/Lindsey stuff is great.
The Bad;
How come Angel can sense Darla at the Hyperion but not when she's evesdropping on him and Denver?
Best line:
Lilah; "Stake the bitch!"
Jeez, how did they get away with that?
One of the WR&H employees pulls their child out of daycare as a sacrifice? Killing the mom and her family is horrible! Kate's suicide attempt also ain't nice.
Apocalypses: 5
Angel Cliches
Damsel in distress; 17
Inverting the Hollywood cliche;
In disguise; 8
DB get's his shirt off; at the end Darla rips it off
12
Cordy's tattoo;4
Cheap Angel;
6
Fang Gang in bondage:
Cordy: 5
Angel: 9
Wes: 3
Fang gang knocked out:
Cordy: 10
Angel: 12
Wes: 5
Doyle; 1
Gunn; 1
Lorne; 1
Kills:
Cordy: 5 vamps, 1½ demons
Angel; 22 vamps, 31 and 1/2 demons, 3 humans
Doyle; 1 vamp
Wes; 1 demon
Kate; 3 vamps
Faith; 16 vamps, 6 demons, 3 humans.
Gunn; 5 vamps+ 2 demons.
Fang Gang go evil:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 2
Alternate Fang Gang:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 6
Characters killed: Denver plus the family
35
Recurring characters killed; byebye Denver
5;
Total number of Angel Investigations: 3/1
4, Angel, Cordy, Wes and Gunn
Angel Investigations shot:
Angel: 10
Wes; 1
Packing heat;
Wes; 2
Doyle; 1
Angel; 1
Notches on Fang Gang bedpost: Angel and Darla and how!
Cordy: 2 ?+Wilson/Hacksaw Beast
Angel: 2; Buffy and Darla
Wes; 2; Virginia and the bleached blonde
Kinky dinky:
The Claimac demons apparently 'raped' the villages of man in addition to laying them waste. Speaking of which Angel 'taking' Darla at the end is about as close to rape as you'll ever see from a heroic character on TV. Their foreplay is him chucking her through a glass door!
Captain Subtext;
Know the face, different character; 2
Parking garages;
5,
Guantanamo Bay;
Buffy characters on Angel; 14
Wetherby, Collins and Smith. Angel, Cordy, Oz, Spike, Buffy, Wes, Faith, Darla, Dru, Master, Anne
Questions and observations;
Why no commentary on all these great eps? Why do people sacrifice goats? They're the nicest animals out but they always seem to be associated with evil. Must have been fun to have them on the set that day. David Fury of course is one of the sacrificers. First mention of Lilah's mum. Lorne doesn't like Lloyd Webber, not even 'Memory'? Wes and Virginia breaking up, awwwww! Cordy remarks she has no friends in LA, I guess she didn't keep up with the girls from 'Expecting' or 'She' (you'd think being knocked up against their will by a demonic entity and ending up in his breeding hot tub together would have bound them closer?). Darla with the glove rather reminds me of the old TV series Witchblade. Last appearance of Holland, not a nice guy but a great character. He's right of course, supernatural evil depends on human weakness. Poor Kate!
Marks out of 10; 9/10, truly great
DISHARMONY
The Good;
Wes and co take delight in humiliating Angel and it is funny as hell. All the Harmony stuff is excellent.
The Bad;
Understandably a lightweight ep, Cordy pretty much in denial throughout, she needs a friend and wants to believe she can trust Harmony. Harmony says that there are over 100 vamps in the theatre but they seem to almost all flee at the sight of the 5 strong AI team?
Best line:
Gunn "I say nuh and uh"
Jeez, how did they get away with that?
The all you can eat vamp buffet
Apocalypses: 5
Angel Cliches
Damsel in distress; 18
Inverting the Hollywood cliche;
In disguise; 8
DB get's his shirt off; 12
Cordy's tattoo; yep, definitely as CC stands up.
5
Cheap Angel;
6
Fang Gang in bondage:
Cordy: 5
Angel: 9
Wes: 4
Gunn; 1
Fang gang knocked out:
Cordy: 10
Angel: 12
Wes: 5
Doyle; 1
Gunn; 1
Lorne; 1
Kills: 4 vamps for Angel, 2 for Gunn
Cordy: 5 vamps, 1½ demons
Angel; 26 vamps, 32 and 1/2 demons, 3 humans
Doyle; 1 vamp
Wes; 2 demon
Kate; 3 vamps
Faith; 16 vamps, 6 demons, 3 humans.
Gunn; 7 vamps+ 2 demons.
Fang Gang go evil:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 2
Alternate Fang Gang:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 6
Characters killed:
35
Recurring characters killed;
5;
Total number of Angel Investigations:
4, Angel, Cordy, Wes and Gunn
Angel Investigations shot:
Angel: 10
Wes; 1
Packing heat;
Wes; 2
Doyle; 1
Angel; 1
Notches on Fang Gang bedpost:
Cordy: 2 ?+Wilson/Hacksaw Beast
Angel: 1;Buffy
Wes; 2; Virginia and the bleached blonde
Kinky dinky:
Harmony is so cute in her babydoll nightie. Her ode to the joys of human blood seems to even tempt Angel. Gunn also seems beguiled by Harm and vice versa until he discovers she's a vampire
Captain Subtext;
Lesbian subtext between Cordy and Harmony and then more explicit lesbian text between Cordy and Willow, CC not aware of Will's relationship with Tara up until this point. The cult leader wants to turn Wes and Gunn and eat Cordy suggesting women aren't really his thing. Cordy praises Angel as having a 'gay man's taste in clothes'.
Know the face, different character; 2
Parking garages;
5,
Guantanamo Bay;
Buffy characters on Angel; add Willow and Harmony so 16
Wetherby, Collins and Smith. Angel, Cordy, Oz, Spike, Buffy, Wes, Faith, Darla, Dru, Master, Anne, Willow, Harmony
What the fanficcers thought;
http://buffy.adultfanfiction.net/story.php?no=15274 (18+ only)
Questions and observations;
Cordy's jacket makes her look like a Prussian Hussar or something. Interesting to see Wes and Angel silently vie for the leadership role. Now I know an awful lot of people hate this ep with a vengence but I think it's great, Harmony is such a breath of fresh air, a nice light ep after the intensity of the Darla arc. Love Wes' Xena moment, "Kill'em all!"
Marks out of 10; 8/10
DEAD END
The Good;
Well if you like gross horror concepts this one's for you! A very nice end to the Lindsey story arc (for now) and some good humour about corporations and how they work. Very clever scene where we see around Lindsey's apartment with all the little features showing his life with 1 hand.
The Bad;
When Lindsey shoots up the boardroom where the heck are WR+H's crack security team who always seem to turn up on every other occasion?
Best line:
Lindsey "Stop it evil hand!"
Jeez, how did they get away with that?
Eye stabbing anyone? Or living organ donors? Plus Angel garrotting the parole officer.
Apocalypses: 5
Angel Cliches
Damsel in distress; 18
Inverting the Hollywood cliche;
In disguise; 8
DB get's his shirt off; 12
Cordy's tattoo;
Her green top shows it to great advantage so 6
Cheap Angel;
6
Fang Gang in bondage:
Cordy: 5
Angel: 9
Wes: 4
Gunn; 1
Fang gang knocked out:
Cordy: 10
Angel: 12
Wes: 5
Doyle; 1
Gunn; 1
Kills:
Cordy: 5 vamps, 1½ demons
Angel; 26 vamps, 32 and 1/2 demons, 3 humans
Doyle; 1 vamp
Wes; 2 demon
Kate; 3 vamps
Faith; 16 vamps, 6 demons, 3 humans.
Gunn; 7 vamps+ 2 demons.
Fang Gang go evil:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 2
Alternate Fang Gang:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 6
Characters killed: Lindsey's donor
36
Recurring characters killed;
5;
Total number of Angel Investigations:
4, Angel, Cordy, Wes and Gunn
Angel Investigations shot: Angel by the parole officer.
Angel: 11
Wes; 1
Packing heat;
Wes; 3
Doyle; 1
Angel; 1
Notches on Fang Gang bedpost:
Cordy: 2 ?+Wilson/Hacksaw Beast
Angel: 1;Buffy
Wes; 2; Virginia and the bleached blonde
Kinky dinky:
Of course this being LA even the organ donors are insanely pretty. Lindsey pinches Lilah on the way out, well you would, wouldn't you? (I tried using the 'evil hand' excuse at a strip club once but it didn't work, the bouncers were a profoundly cynical lot who showed me the door, the street, the pavement, the ambulance and ultimately the hospital emergency room)
Captain Subtext;
Angel seems to yearn for the parole officers 'butterfat'? (Yuck!)
Know the face, different character; 2
Parking garages;
5,
Guantanamo Bay;
Buffy characters on Angel; 16
Wetherby, Collins and Smith. Angel, Cordy, Oz, Spike, Buffy, Wes, Faith, Darla, Dru, Master, Anne, Harmony, Willow
Questions and observations;
Once again Wes and Angel subtly compete for leadership. Love Wes delegating Angel to help Cordy. Lilah suffers a death of the thousand cuts, constantly humiliated by Lindsey, treated as a secretary by Lindsey's client. No offence to Christian Kane but I really don't think he's that good as a singer. Kate is sorely missed by AI who now have to pay an outside contractor. Poor Cordy, the visions really starting to take their toll. Interestingly Angel warns Lindsey to never come back and Lindsey warns Angel never to play WR&H's game. NEITHER listens to each other's advice.
Marks out of 10; 8/10 great stuff and the last we'll see off Lindsey for 3 whole seasons.
BELONGING
The Good;
Very clever opening with the mirror in the resteraunt. The scene with Angel on the false beach is also great and all the stuff between Lorne (aka Krevlorneswath of the Deathwok clan) and his cousin "Again ,NOT a coward!"
The Bad;
Awful to see Cordy humiliated by the director, CC a veteran of loads of commercials in real life, I wonder if this was an experience she had? As Angel says, I thought demon violence was impossible in Caritas.
Best line:
Rondell "We been waiting on you for months, bro"
Jeez, how did they get away with that?
The poor guys whom the Drakken eats
Apocalypses: 5
Angel Cliches
Damsel in distress; the girl the Drakken takes as food 19
Inverting the Hollywood cliche;
In disguise; 8
DB get's his shirt off; 12
Cordy's tattoo; 6, they actually go to great lengths not to show it during the commercial shoot.
Cheap Angel; 7
Treats the gang to a fancy dinner but insists on getting his money's worth. Says he's not cheap just old.
Fang Gang in bondage:
Cordy: 5
Angel: 9
Wes: 4
Gunn; 1
Fang gang knocked out:
Cordy: 10
Angel: 12
Wes: 5
Doyle; 1
Gunn; 1
Lorne; 1
Kills: Wes kills the Haclaar, Angel kills the Drakken
Cordy: 5 vamps, 1½ demons
Angel; 26 vamps, 33 and 1/2 demons, 3 humans
Doyle; 1 vamp
Wes; 3 demons
Kate; 3 vamps
Faith; 16 vamps, 6 demons, 3 humans.
Gunn; 7 vamps+ 2 demons.
Fang Gang go evil:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 2
Alternate Fang Gang:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 6
Characters killed: 2 guys by the Drakken
37
Recurring characters killed; Gunn's friend George
6;
Total number of Angel Investigations:
4, Angel, Cordy, Wes and Gunn
Angel Investigations shot:
Angel: 11
Wes; 1
Packing heat; Gunn suggests using a flamethrower against the demon, we've seen a member of his gang use one in War Zone
Wes; 3
Doyle; 1
Angel; 1
Notches on Fang Gang bedpost:
Cordy: 2 ?+Wilson/Hacksaw Beast
Angel: 2; Buffy and Darla
Wes; 2; Virginia and the bleached blonde
Kinky dinky:
Angel remembers when you could get a tavern wench for a few bob (presumably when he was Liam the drunken whoring layabout rather than Angelus). Needless to say Cordy looks incredible in her seashell bikini as indeed does her gorgeous blonde co-star who seems quite smitten with Angel and very taken aback that he doesn't notice her considerable charms on display. When Angel relates the description of Cordy's bikini to Gunn and Wes they seem very interested (still think of CC sexually?). And check out Angel fondling his axe as he tells them. Apparently Haclaar beasts feed and mate at the same time.
Captain Subtext;
Cordy describes Fred as pretty. Lorne says he used to chat up the senoritas at the bar when the other Pylean men were out hunting once again painting him as bi.
Know the face, different character; 2
Parking garages;
5,
Guantanamo Bay;
Buffy characters on Angel; 16
Wetherby, Collins and Smith. Angel, Cordy, Oz, Spike, Buffy, Wes, Faith, Darla, Dru, Master, Anne, Willow and Harmony
Questions and observations;
Wes phones home, when we see his dad in 'Lineage' we understand this conversation better. Lorne performs an excellent version of Stevie Wonders 'Superstition', Andy Hallet's second best song on the show in my opinion. Fred for the first time. Love the way the librarian rationalises Lorne's appearance. He refers to Harry Potter, I don't know if it's deliberate but Wes the sorcerer has a little zigzag scar on his forehead throughout the ep.
Marks out of 10; 6/10 ok ep but not brilliant, promises much to come
THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS
The Good;
Angel sees his hair in the mirror for the first time, you always wondered? (I guess Dru always fixed Spike's?) Lovely reveal of WR&H, very clever. Also like the double bluff of Cordy meeting the Groo. All the scenes with Lorne's family are hysterical.
The Bad;
Aside from that this seems to be a case of 6 characters rushing about in search of a plot?
Best line:
Lorne's mother; "No longer do the dance of joy Numfar"
Jeez, how did they get away with that?
Angel still enjoys telling the story of cutting Lindsey's arm off, still some bad feeling there obviously.
Apocalypses: 5
Angel Cliches
Inverting the Hollywood cliche;
Angel actually enjoys playing the hero, revelling in his (literal) moment in the sun.
In disguise; 8
DB get's his shirt off; 12
Cordy's tattoo; 6,
Cheap Angel; 7
Fang Gang in bondage: Wes, Gunn and Lorne again
Cordy: 5
Angel: 9
Wes: 6
Gunn; 3
Lorne; 2
Fang gang knocked out: Lorne again
Cordy: 10
Angel: 12
Wes: 5
Doyle; 1
Gunn; 1
Lorne; 2
Kills: Angel kills 2 demons
Cordy: 5 vamps, 1½ demons
Angel; 26 vamps, 35 and 1/2 demons, 3 humans
Doyle; 1 vamp
Wes; 3 demons
Kate; 3 vamps
Faith; 16 vamps, 6 demons, 3 humans.
Gunn; 7 vamps+ 2 demons.
Fang Gang go evil: almost Angel but not quite
Cordy: 2
Angel: 2
Alternate Fang Gang: demon Angel
Cordy: 2
Angel: 7
Characters killed:
37
Recurring characters killed;
6;
Total number of Angel Investigations:
4, Angel, Cordy, Wes and Gunn
Angel Investigations shot:
Angel: 11
Wes; 1
Packing heat;
Wes; 3
Doyle; 1
Angel; 1
Notches on Fang Gang bedpost:
Cordy: 2 ?+Wilson/Hacksaw Beast
Angel: 2; Buffy and Darla
Wes; 2; Virginia and the bleached blonde
Kinky dinky:
Cordy is expected to Com-shuk with the Groo, as Gunn observes "Sounds dirty to me". Obvious sexual attraction between Queen C and Groo, Lorne asks should he call the guards back with their cuffs? Cordy once again in a bikini despite saying she doesn't want to seem 'too easy' for the Groo. Cordy observes it's along time since she Com-shuked and remarks on her propensity to be impregnated by demons "Do I send out some sort of 'Com-Shuk me' vibe?" There's a great t-shirt slogan for you. Even the Groo of course is part-demon but can only mate with humans.
Captain Subtext;
Huge beauty and beast vibe between Angel and Fred, Fangel right from the start. Lorne also seems enamoured of Groo so more evidence for the bi vibe. Wes keeps a picture of Cordy in his wallet
Know the face, different character; 2
Parking garages;
5,
Guantanamo Bay;
Buffy characters on Angel; 15
Wetherby, Collins and Smith. Angel, Cordy, Oz, Spike, Buffy, Wes, Faith, Darla, Dru, Master, Anne, Willow and Harmony
Questions and observations;
Here's the Groo, yay! After being abused and pushed around for the last 3 eps Cordy is now a Queen as she always wanted to be. Some beautiful small details like Cordy's little finger gesture when she tells the constable who wants the 'Most high princess' to feast on AI's blood "You're most high if you think that's going to happen!". Also Cordy reaching out to embrace her friends who walk past her to the food, shades of Indianna Jones (except Angel who makes for the mirror). Wes' idea of a list of demands sent to the Princess sounds reminiscent of Magna Carta.
Marks out of 10; 7/10
THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE PLZTH GRB
The Good;
The basket scene alone makes this wonderful. All told it's pretty good stuff though, a revolution in three eps.
The Bad;
It seems rather contrite that the entire world of Pylea is ruled by this small band of priests and their tiny army.
Best line:
Wes; "Why do people keep putting me in charge of things?"
Gunn; (exasperated) "I have NO idea!". In many ways Gunn is the straight man of Angel Investigations, constantly staggered at the rest of the gangs grand notions.
Jeez, how did they get away with that?
Severed Lorne's head, Pylea has a 'mutilation chamber'? Everyone keeps spitting on poor Lorne. The Groo sets his own hand on fire to intimidate Angel before they fight. He feels pain but just overcomes it!
Apocalypses: 5
Angel Cliches
Inverting the Hollywood cliche; Lovely heart to heart between Wes and Angel over the fireside but we later learn that Wes doesn't necessarily believe it, he just needs Angel to.
In disguise; 8
DB get's his shirt off; 12
Cordy's tattoo; 6,
Cheap Angel; 7
Fang Gang in bondage: Angel by Groo
Cordy: 5
Angel: 10
Wes: 6
Gunn; 3
Lorne; 2
Fang gang knocked out: Angel after the fight in the cave
Cordy: 10
Angel: 13
Wes: 5
Doyle; 1
Gunn; 1
Lorne; 1
Kills: 3 demons for Angel, 3 for Wes, 2 for Gunn and 1 for Cordy
Cordy: 5 vamps, 2½ demons
Angel; 26 vamps, 38 and 1/2 demons, 3 humans
Doyle; 1 vamp
Wes; 6 demons
Kate; 3 vamps
Faith; 16 vamps, 6 demons, 3 humans.
Gunn; 7 vamps+ 4 demons.
Fang Gang go evil:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 2
Alternate Fang Gang:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 6
Characters killed:
37
Recurring characters killed;
6;
Total number of Angel Investigations:
4, Angel, Cordy, Wes and Gunn
Angel Investigations shot:
Angel: 11
Wes; 1
Packing heat;
Wes; 3
Doyle; 1
Angel; 1
Notches on Fang Gang bedpost:
Cordy: 2 ?+Wilson/Hacksaw Beast
Angel: 2; Buffy and Darla
Wes; 2; Virginia and the bleached blonde
Kinky dinky:
Cordy touches the Groo 'by accident' in the dark. She refers to Groo and her on their wedding night having a 'shared burden lifting' but denies that she has much experience. She doesn't like the idea of Com-shukking in front of the priests. The priests tell Groo that if Angel should win he will ravage and defile Cordy again and again until she has no more screaming in her.
Captain Subtext;
Do the Covenant represent the Taliban? Check out the slave-girls expression when Cordy orders her to strip naked. Also check out that Lorne's eyes flicker open to watch. Lorne observes that Groo works out when Cordy rubs him up against him. When Cordy tells Groo she loves him Angel is a little afronted that she doesn't say she loves him too. Gunn's speech at the end neatly sums up post American Civil War history.
Know the face, different character; 2
Parking garages;
5,
Guantanamo Bay;
Buffy characters on Angel; 16
Wetherby, Collins and Smith. Angel, Cordy, Oz, Spike, Buffy, Wes, Faith, Darla, Dru, Master, Anne, Willow and Harmony
Questions and observations;
To judge by his remarks when he and Wes are going to be executed Gunn is a Christian who believes when he dies he'll go to Jesus. CC can scream like a Classic Dr Who companion (as can Dawn, see Shadow). Angel doesn't snore. In demon form he rather resembles the Incredible Hulk. Lorne doesn't have 5 toes on each foot although we don't know how many he does have. Wes is faced with the General's classic dilemma of having to sacrifice some of his men for the greater good. How do they get Angel's car out of Caritas? Willow at the end is heartbreaking, how much can Alysson Hannigan emote with just her expression?
Marks out of 10; 8/10 good end to an enjoyable arc but you're keen to get back to LA.
HEARTHROB
The Good;
Great stuff, once again you feel the Buffy writers are making fun of the whole endless vamp love concept (Twilight/True Blood). Also Lorne's version of 'I left my heart in San Francisco' is WONDERFUL, one of the top three Lorne songs.
The Bad;
How many times can we see the same courtyard even if it is redressed?
Best line:
Angel (after fighting the demon monks) "Should have gone to Vegas"
Jeez, how did they get away with that?
Apocalypses: 5
Angel Cliches
Inverting the Hollywood cliche;
In disguise; 8
DB get's his shirt off; 12
Cordy's tattoo; yep, when she bends over to pick up the fire extinguisher during the fight in the hotel lobby
7,
Cheap Angel; 7
Fang Gang in bondage:
Cordy: 5
Angel: 10
Wes: 6
Gunn; 3
Lorne; 2
Fang gang knocked out:
Cordy: 10
Angel: 13
Wes: 5
Doyle; 1
Gunn; 1
Lorne; 1
Kills: 2 vamps for Angel and one each for Wes and Gunn. Amazingly this is the first vamp Wes ever kills in four years in the Buffyverse. We don't know how many vamps/demons AI killed in the summer but I'll give them one each
Cordy: 5 vamps, 3½ demons
Angel; 28 vamps, 38 and 1/2 demons, 3 humans
Doyle; 1 vamp
Wes; 7 demons+1 vamp
Kate; 3 vamps
Faith; 16 vamps, 6 demons, 3 humans.
Gunn; 8 vamps+ 5 demons.
Fang Gang go evil:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 2
Alternate Fang Gang:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 6
Characters killed: the dude Darla kills and a couple of people at the party
40
Recurring characters killed;
6;
Total number of Angel Investigations: Fred not part of the gang yet, still hiding in her room
4, Angel, Cordy, Wes and Gunn
Angel Investigations shot: only Angelus by Holtz and he doesn't count
Angel: 11
Wes; 1
Packing heat;
Wes; 3
Doyle; 1
Angel; 1
Notches on Fang Gang bedpost:
Cordy: 3(?) ?+Wilson/Hacksaw Beast+Phantom Dennis(?)
Angel: 2; Buffy and Darla
Wes; 2; Virginia and the bleached blonde
Kinky dinky:
Gunn refers to 'doin it with the demons' but doesn't mean what we think (except for Cordy who regularly seems to 'do it' with various supernatural entities). Speaking of which she's close enough to Phantom Dennis to strip naked in front of him and get some loufa action in the bathtub with him. Cordy thinks her new necklace brings out her breasts, Gunn certainly seems to think so to judge by his expression. Nice 'screwed Darla' gag. Darla says Angelus made her pay for leaving him in an extreme S&M style. Wes says Angel doesn't need a lapdance.
Captain Subtext;
Hugs all around when Angel comes back, the events of season 2 well and truly forgotten. James and Elizabeth (both regal names) are obviously a proto Spike and Dru (maybe Darla and Angelus needed another couple to make a four at bridge?).
Know the face, different character; 2
Parking garages;
5,
Guantanamo Bay;
Buffy characters on Angel; 16
Wetherby, Collins and Smith. Angel, Cordy, Oz, Spike, Buffy, Wes, Faith, Darla, Dru, Master, Anne, Willow and Harmony
Questions and observations;
Love to see more of AI in the summer without Angel, they obviously kept busy. Also would have liked to have seen how Gunn coped with a solo case whilst everyone else was at Buffy's funeral. Can't they buy Fred a whiteboard so that she doesn't have to write on the wall? Does Fred really have to invite Angel into the room she occupies in his hotel? Or is Angel just bluffing to reassure her and make her feel at home? Note Angel takes the time to put his coat on before going vamp hunting. James says that Angelus knows no poetry, well he liked Spike's. Or Angel did? Holst is referred to as the foremost vamp hunter, what about the Slayer of the age? Vamps don't really seem to have love as much as twisted obsession but not having souls they can't appreciate that. Cordy's right of course, the human thing for Angel to do is mourn Buffy but continue his life. Surely James can be killed by fire or decapitation? Nice to know that when the chips are down you can rob the handicapped guy of his crutches and it's all ok.
Marks out of 10; 8/10
THAT VISION THING
The Good;
A real one for Lilah fans, our first sight of Skip and some great acting by CC
The Bad;
The brain thing looks fake. It also seems all very unnecessarily complicated to rescue Billy
Best line:
CC (about Gavin) "Ok, Satan's toady but that's a NICE suit!"
Jeez, how did they get away with that?
You so feel for Cordy as she suffers. Not so much the rebar through the head but Darla slicing her hand makes me wince every time.
Apocalypses: 5
Angel Cliches
Inverting the Hollywood cliche;
Darla's "Men are such babies" remark, about some things yes.
In disguise; 8
DB get's his shirt off; 12
Cordy's tattoo; oh yes
8
Cheap Angel; 7
Fang Gang in bondage:
Cordy: 5
Angel: 10
Wes: 6
Gunn; 3
Lorne; 2
Fang gang knocked out: Cordy and Lorne
Cordy: 11
Angel: 13
Wes: 5
Doyle; 1
Gunn; 1
Lorne; 2
Kills: 2 demons for Angel
Cordy: 5 vamps, 3½ demons
Angel; 28 vamps, 40 and 1/2 demons, 3 humans
Doyle; 1 vamp
Wes; 7 demons+1 vamp
Kate; 3 vamps
Faith; 16 vamps, 6 demons, 3 humans.
Gunn; 8 vamps+ 5 demons.
Fang Gang go evil:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 2
Alternate Fang Gang:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 6
Characters killed:
37
Recurring characters killed;
6;
Total number of Angel Investigations: Fred doing research and taking care of Cordy, now part of the gang
5, Angel, Cordy, Wes, Gunn, Fred
Angel Investigations shot:
Angel: 11
Wes; 1
Packing heat;
Wes; 3
Doyle; 1
Angel; 1
Notches on Fang Gang bedpost: I'm going to add Phantom Dennis who Cordy will later tell us is 'good with a loufa'.
Cordy: 3 ?+Wilson/Hacksaw Beast+Phantom Dennis(?)
Angel: 2; Buffy and Darla
Wes; 2; Virginia and the bleached blonde
Kinky dinky:
'Dick' and 'dong' in the car on the way to get the key. Lilah paws Angel when he's in her office and when he's violent with her it actually seems to turn her on all the more, she keeps pawing. Fred is 'forking with Gunn'.
Captain Subtext;
Lorne loves The Sound of Music. But who doesn't?
Know the face, different character; 3
Bob Morrisey who plays the demon Dr is also the mad guy who accosts Dawn outside the Magic Shop in The Real Me.
Parking garages;
5,
Guantanamo Bay;
Angel threatens Lilah and Gavin. Wes and Gunn are quite prepared to kill Billy if WR&H try anything smart. Despite her tough girl image Lilah seems to be genuinely afraid at the end of the ep.
Buffy characters on Angel; 16
Wetherby, Collins and Smith. Angel, Cordy, Oz, Spike, Buffy, Wes, Faith, Darla, Dru, Master, Anne, Willow and Harmony
Questions and observations;
CC impressed by Gavin's clothes, what a shame she missed most of season 5 when AI can put their wardrobe on WR&H expense account. I wonder if the makers of The Matrix say this ep? They certainly steal the key gag for the second film. Fred meets Phantom Dennis although she also feels the need to introduce herself in a later ep.
Marks out of 10; 6/10, pretty good, not totally brilliant
THAT OLD GANG OF MINE (anyone else keep expecting Gunn to break into a number from Sweet Charity?)
The Good;
Angel apologising to Merl is hilarious but this is Gunn's ep. Love Fred singing at Caritas and she shows some steel for the first time.
The Bad;
Evidence bags. Hmmm? Are we on CSI or something? Weird how they appear this week as an important part of the plot but then we never see them again.
Best line:
Fred; "Oh. Oh! Ohhhhhh!" (all in the delivery)
Jeez, how did they get away with that?
The killing of the balancing entity is particularly gruesome
Apocalypses: 5
Angel Cliches
Inverting the Hollywood cliche;
Human's bad, demons, well if not good not inherently evil
In disguise; 8
DB get's his shirt off; 12
Cordy's tattoo; 8,
Cheap Angel; 7
Fang Gang in bondage:
Cordy: 5
Angel: 10
Wes: 6
Gunn; 3
Lorne; 2
Fang gang knocked out:
Cordy: 11
Angel: 13
Wes: 5
Doyle; 1
Gunn; 1
Lorne; 2
Kills: one demon for Gunn
Cordy: 5 vamps, 3½ demons
Angel; 28 vamps, 40 and 1/2 demons, 3 humans
Doyle; 1 vamp
Wes; 7 demons+1 vamp
Kate; 3 vamps
Faith; 16 vamps, 6 demons, 3 humans.
Gunn; 8 vamps+ 6 demons.
Fang Gang go evil:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 2
Alternate Fang Gang:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 6
Characters killed:
40
Recurring characters killed; goodbye Merl. Gunn is still haunted by killing his sister which you can't blame him for.
7;
Total number of Angel Investigations:
5, Angel, Cordy, Wes, Gunn and Fred
Angel Investigations shot:
Angel: 11
Wes; 1
Packing heat; Gunn with a shotgun. He seems to object to the gang using Uzis but under his leadership they didn't hesitate to use a flamethrower.
Wes; 3
Doyle; 1
Angel; 1
Gunn; 1
Notches on Fang Gang bedpost: Angel and the Furies
Cordy: 3 ?+Wilson/Hacksaw Beast+Phantom Dennis
Angel: 5; Buffy, Darla and The Transcending Furies
Wes; 2; Virginia and the bleached blonde
Kinky dinky:
It's implied that Angel beds the three Furies (genuine characters from Greek mythology and very popular on TV at the time also turning up on Xena and Charmed, Piper even becomes one for a while). Singly or all three sisters at the same time? (Every man's ultimate fantasy? Or would that include their milfy mom joining in as well?) He's now happy to do so as after Darla he knows he won't lose his soul because he doesn't love them. Of course this is what we all assume. I read a very funny fanfic once where we learn that the Furies actually dig Angel due to his exquisite foot massage technique.
Captain Subtext;
CC describes Fred as 'sweet and adorable'. Lorne describes Gunn as 'sweetie'. The Furies tell Cordelia she is not equipped to pay this debt but I once read a rather good fanfic on the subject which ended in the words "MMMMmmmmm Cordelia!". http://www.fanfiction.net/s/3037269/1/Mmmmmmmmmmmm What exactly did Rondell flee from in Florida? Who is the girl who trusted him to the end? Someone he betrayed or someone who he couldn't save?
Know the face, different character; 3
Parking garages;
5,
Guantanamo Bay;
Buffy characters on Angel; 16
Wetherby, Collins and Smith. Angel, Cordy, Oz, Spike, Buffy, Wes, Faith, Darla, Dru, Master, Anne, Willow and Harmony
Questions and observations;
Wes saves Fred in Caritas. Wes' new image makes him look like some form of student teacher or something. Surely shooting Lorne would do him no harm if cutting his head off doesn't kill him? One demon keeps saying "Oh god", the other says "He's not listening", weird that demons refer to god.
Now, are Rondell and the guys right or wrong? When they raid Caritas they kill at least one vamp and a babyeating demon, it's hard to say that's really wrong? The problem is they don't distinguish as AI do. The ending is probably as good as you can get in this dilemma. Interesting that Wes warns Gunn about divided loyalties a subject he's going to learn all about later in the season.
Marks out of 10; 7/10
CARPE NOCTEM
The Good;
Some nice humour, especially over the whole 'Fred' thing and some nice stuff with Lilah
The Bad;
Surely Marcus notices that in his new body the heart isn't beating and he doesn't breathe?
Best line:
Cordy; "You're a eunuch"
Angel; "Hey!"
CC; "Figure of speech"
Angel; "Find another one!"
Jeez, how did they get away with that?
Apocalypses: 5
Angel Cliches
Inverting the Hollywood cliche; Much like the handicapped in Blind Date in the Buffyverse old people are EVIL! We don't expect Marcus' spell to affect Angel but it does.
In disguise; 8
DB get's his shirt off; 12
Cordy's tattoo; yes, her two piece purple outfit shows it off to great effect.
9,
Cheap Angel; 7
Fang Gang in bondage: yep, Angel
Cordy: 5
Angel: 11
Wes: 6
Gunn; 3
Lorne; 2
Fang gang knocked out: Angel as Marcus
Cordy: 11
Angel: 14
Wes: 5
Doyle; 1
Gunn; 1
Lorne; 2
Kills:
Cordy: 5 vamps, 3½ demons
Angel; 28 vamps, 40 and 1/2 demons, 3 humans
Doyle; 1 vamp
Wes; 7 demons+1 vamp
Kate; 3 vamps
Faith; 16 vamps, 6 demons, 3 humans.
Gunn; 8 vamps+ 6 demons.
Fang Gang go evil:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 2
Alternate Fang Gang: Angel/Marcus
Cordy: 2
Angel: 7
Characters killed: the three poor guys Marcus hijacks
43
Recurring characters killed;
7;
Total number of Angel Investigations:
5, Angel, Cordy, Wes, Gunn and Fred
Angel Investigations shot:
Angel: 11
Wes; 1
Packing heat;
Wes; 3
Doyle; 1
Angel; 1
Gunn; 1
Notches on Fang Gang bedpost:
Cordy: 3 ?+Wilson/Hacksaw Beast+Phantom Dennis
Angel: 5; Buffy, Darla and The Transcending Furies
Wes; 2; Virginia and the bleached blonde
Kinky dinky:
Three in the bed sex with 2 beautiful hookers. Well, we've all been there. CC refers to Angel as a eunuch, remember she doesn't know about Darla. CC salivates over the bodybuilders but still thinks 'All men are dogs'. Gunn and Wes argue over who gets to visit the 'First Class Escorts' but CC decides she should go instead. She refers to them as 'Pretty skanky women' (does she mean 'Women who are pretty skanky' or 'Women who are skanky and pretty'? To judge by the extremely attractive girls in the opening scene they certainly live up to their companies' billing). That's a bit rich considering she wanted to prositute herself to Rusell Winters and David Nabbit, has twice been knocked up by demons, twice sold as a slave and is currently having a high old time with her ghost and his loufa.
The simmering sexual tension between Lilah and 'Angel' finally comes to a head. Much like Kate in 'The Shroud of Rahmon' Lilah finally gets what she secretly always wanted, thrown across the desk to be ravished Viking-style and bitten by Angel. Is this ever mentioned again because Lilah is actually the only one who knows about it and she has no idea it's not really Angel? And what do AI make of Lilah's forgeries plonked on Wes' desk?
Captain Subtext;
Marcus thinks Angel is gay (just look at his outfit) and Wes is 'Fred', his boyfriend.
Know the face, different character; 3
Parking garages;
5,
Guantanamo Bay;
Buffy characters on Angel; 16
Wetherby, Collins and Smith. Angel, Cordy, Oz, Spike, Buffy, Wes, Faith, Darla, Dru, The Master, Anne, Willow and Harmony
Questions and observations;
Amy Acker's remarks about skinny models are weird as she's the thinest girl in the Buffyverse by quite some way, even more so that season 5 Buffy. Angel likes 70s Charlton Heston films, a leftover from the Manilow era? (The Omega Man has vampiric theme, plenty of blood and contains the wonderful line 'Honky paradise brother?'). You could also see a paralell with Fred in season 4 when she's the Omega woman fleeing Jasmine. The 'Nightstalker' is referred to but probably the LA serial killer rather than Kolchak. Marcus/Angel drinks martinis with Lilah, thought she was a whiskey girl?
Read a good fanfic once where Angel doesn't get his body back in the end but his soul gradually retakes control, Marcus' magic temporary and unstable. Good performace from Rance Howard as Marcus (Ron Howard's dad)
Marks out of 10; 7/10, always thought I disliked this ep but the humour makes up for a pretty weak story in many ways, actually found myself enjoying the rewatch more than I thought I would.
FREDLESS
The Good;
Wonderful acting by AA when Fred's finally reunited with her parents. CC and Wes' Buffy/Angel show is FANTASTIC! A good ep all around. The scene where Fred calms herself at the bus station by reciting Pi and the crazy looking homeless guy moves away from HER is the funniest scene in all of Angel and may be my favourite Angel scene ever.
The Bad;
Bit of a reach that they just let the bugs go?
Best line:
Fred; (when reunited with her parents) "I didn't mean to get so lost, I'm sorry I got so lost" (tears me up every time)
Jeez, how did they get away with that?
Apocalypses: 5
Angel Cliches
Inverting the Hollywood cliche;
Bugs ain't evil and neither really is the demon Angel kills, just driven mad by the eggs in it's skull. We think Fred's parents are evil but they're not. They're also able to accept AI's rather odd lifestyle
In disguise; 8
DB get's his shirt off; 12
9,
Cheap Angel; 7
Fang Gang in bondage:
Cordy: 5
Angel: 11
Wes: 6
Gunn; 3
Lorne; 2
Fang gang knocked out:
Cordy: 11
Angel: 14
Wes: 5
Doyle; 1
Gunn; 1
Lorne; 2
Kills: chalk up one demon bug for Fred's mum and one demon for Angel
Cordy: 5 vamps, 3½ demons
Angel; 28 vamps, 40 and 1/2 demons, 3 humans
Doyle; 1 vamp
Wes; 7 demons+1 vamp
Kate; 3 vamps
Faith; 16 vamps, 6 demons, 3 humans.
Gunn; 8 vamps+ 6 demons.
Fang Gang go evil:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 2
Alternate Fang Gang:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 7
Characters killed:
43
Recurring characters killed;
7;
Total number of Angel Investigations:
5, Angel, Cordy, Wes, Gunn and Fred
Angel Investigations shot:
Angel: 11
Wes; 1
Packing heat;
Wes; 3
Doyle; 1
Angel; 1
Gunn; 1
Notches on Fang Gang bedpost:
Cordy: 3 ?+Wilson/Hacksaw Beast+Phantom Dennis
Angel: 5; Buffy, Darla and The Transcending Furies
Wes; 2; Virginia and the bleached blonde
Kinky dinky:
Fred's mum asks if Fred is making 'movies', LA's porn industry probably bigger than it's tourism, film and music combined. Check out CCs fishnets. She seems to revel in playing nurse for the gang and later tells Angel she could 'soothe his ass off'.
Captain Subtext;
Lorne wears eyeliner which Fred's dad says men from Texas tend not to do (never been to a 'Gay Rodeo'?).
Know the face, different character; 3
Parking garages;
5,
Guantanamo Bay;
Buffy characters on Angel; 16
Wetherby, Collins and Smith. Angel, Cordy, Oz, Spike, Buffy, Wes, Faith, Darla, Dru, The Master, Anne, Willow and Harmony
Questions and observations;
A nice ep with Fred now part of the gang more than ever. AI are in awe of the PI the Burkle's hire who can find Fred with only a letter to go on. The Alien films are referred to with JW of course writing part 4. Fred's dad refers to Spiro Agnew who was Nixon's vice president (he was caught up in a corruption scandal before Watergate which is why Gerald Ford, the speaker of the house becomes President following Tricky Dickie's resignation). Famously his name is an anagram of 'grow a penis'. Angel likes ice cream, weird I thought he couldn't enjoy normal food. Lorne smokes and is still bitter about what Gunn's friends did to his bar. Fred considers going to Vegas for a new job, well one day she will. Angel likes golf and apparently watched the Bob Hope Desert Classic which was presumably played in Vegas. In the daytime? Wes' talk of his own parents puts Lineage into perspective.
Marks out of 10; 7/10 a funny and touching romp before we get down to the more serious stuff of season 3
FREDLESS
The Good;
Wonderful acting by AA when Fred's finally reunited with her parents. CC and Wes' Buffy/Angel show is FANTASTIC! A good ep all around. The scene where Fred calms herself at the bus station by reciting Pi and the crazy looking homeless guy moves away from HER is the funniest scene in all of Angel and may be my favourite Angel scene ever.
The Bad;
Bit of a reach that they just let the bugs go?
Best line:
Fred; (when reunited with her parents) "I didn't mean to get so lost, I'm sorry I got so lost" (tears me up every time)
Jeez, how did they get away with that?
Apocalypses: 5
Angel Cliches
Inverting the Hollywood cliche;
Bugs ain't evil and neither really is the demon Angel kills, just driven mad by the eggs in it's skull. We think Fred's parents are evil but they're not. They're also able to accept AI's rather odd lifestyle
In disguise; 8
DB get's his shirt off; 12
9,
Cheap Angel; 7
Fang Gang in bondage:
Cordy: 5
Angel: 11
Wes: 6
Gunn; 3
Lorne; 2
Fang gang knocked out:
Cordy: 11
Angel: 14
Wes: 5
Doyle; 1
Gunn; 1
Lorne; 2
Kills: chalk up one demon bug for Fred's mum and one demon for Angel
Cordy: 5 vamps, 3½ demons
Angel; 28 vamps, 40 and 1/2 demons, 3 humans
Doyle; 1 vamp
Wes; 7 demons+1 vamp
Kate; 3 vamps
Faith; 16 vamps, 6 demons, 3 humans.
Gunn; 8 vamps+ 6 demons.
Fang Gang go evil:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 2
Alternate Fang Gang:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 7
Characters killed:
43
Recurring characters killed;
7;
Total number of Angel Investigations:
5, Angel, Cordy, Wes, Gunn and Fred
Angel Investigations shot:
Angel: 11
Wes; 1
Packing heat;
Wes; 3
Doyle; 1
Angel; 1
Gunn; 1
Notches on Fang Gang bedpost:
Cordy: 3 ?+Wilson/Hacksaw Beast+Phantom Dennis
Angel: 5; Buffy, Darla and The Transcending Furies
Wes; 2; Virginia and the bleached blonde
Kinky dinky:
Fred's mum asks if Fred is making 'movies', LA's porn industry probably bigger than it's tourism, film and music combined. Check out CCs fishnets. She seems to revel in playing nurse for the gang and later tells Angel she could 'soothe his ass off'.
Captain Subtext;
Lorne wears eyeliner which Fred's dad says men from Texas tend not to do (never been to a 'Gay Rodeo'?).
Know the face, different character; 3
Parking garages;
5,
Guantanamo Bay;
Buffy characters on Angel; 16
Wetherby, Collins and Smith. Angel, Cordy, Oz, Spike, Buffy, Wes, Faith, Darla, Dru, The Master, Anne, Willow and Harmony
Questions and observations;
A nice ep with Fred now part of the gang more than ever. AI are in awe of the PI the Burkle's hire who can find Fred with only a letter to go on. The Alien films are referred to with JW of course writing part 4. Fred's dad refers to Spiro Agnew who was Nixon's vice president (he was caught up in a corruption scandal before Watergate which is why Gerald Ford, the speaker of the house becomes President following Tricky Dickie's resignation). Famously his name is an anagram of 'grow a penis'. Angel likes ice cream, weird I thought he couldn't enjoy normal food. Lorne smokes and is still bitter about what Gunn's friends did to his bar. Fred considers going to Vegas for a new job, well one day she will. Angel likes golf and apparently watched the Bob Hope Desert Classic which was presumably played in Vegas. In the daytime? Wes' talk of his own parents puts Lineage into perspective.
Marks out of 10; 7/10 a funny and touching romp before we get down to the more serious stuff of season 3
BILLY
The Good;
Love the fact that Lilah is the hero, all round great performance from Stephanie Romanov and CC (their scene together is wonderful) and some terrific out of character stuff from Wes and Gunn. Fantastically poignant ending.
The Bad;
Why does Angel tell Billy's cousin he's going to kill him? How does he expect to be invited in after that?
Best line:
Angel; "She thinks I'm melodramatic?"
Jeez, how did they get away with that?
Very hard to watch at times, man's brutality to woman a lot harder to take than demons and vampires. Even though Gavin is evil you don't doubt that he would never dream of attacking Lilah if Billy hadn't infected him.
Apocalypses: 5
Angel Cliches
Inverting the Hollywood cliche;
Lilah kills the villain, bad girl comes good.
In disguise; 8
DB get's his shirt off; 12
9,
Cheap Angel; 7
Fang Gang in bondage:
Cordy: 5
Angel: 11
Wes: 6
Gunn; 3
Lorne; 2
Fang gang knocked out: Gunn and Wesley
Cordy: 11
Angel: 14
Wes: 6
Doyle; 1
Gunn; 2
Lorne; 2
Kills:
Cordy: 5 vamps, 3½ demons
Angel; 28 vamps, 40 and 1/2 demons, 3 humans
Doyle; 1 vamp
Wes; 7 demons+1 vamp
Kate; 3 vamps
Faith; 16 vamps, 6 demons, 3 humans.
Gunn; 8 vamps+ 6 demons.
Fang Gang go evil: Gunn and Wes
Cordy: 2
Angel: 2
Gunn; 1
Wes; 1
Alternate Fang Gang:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 7
Characters killed: two women Billy's victims.
45
Recurring characters killed;
7;
Total number of Angel Investigations:
5, Angel, Cordy, Wes, Gunn and Fred
Angel Investigations shot:
Angel: 11
Wes; 1
Packing heat; Only Lilah.
Wes; 3
Doyle; 1
Angel; 1
Gunn; 1
Notches on Fang Gang bedpost:
Cordy: 3 ?+Wilson/Hacksaw Beast+Phantom Dennis
Angel: 5; Buffy, Darla and The Transcending Furies
Wes; 2; Virginia and the bleached blonde
Kinky dinky:
Wes comments on Fred's slinky number. CC and Angel 'getting all sweaty' whilst training as Xander would say. CC thinks Billy is 'kinda cute'.
Captain Subtext;
Wes has the hots for Fred and CC is aware of this. CC comments on using a phallic shaped weapon to threaten Billy. Angel is hurt that CC thinks him melodramatic.
Know the face, different character; 3
Parking garages;
5,
Guantanamo Bay;
Even Angel is shocked when he meets a battered Lilah. She refuses his sympathy however considering what he'd done to her in the past.
Buffy characters on Angel; 16
Wetherby, Collins and Smith. Angel, Cordy, Oz, Spike, Buffy, Wes, Faith, Darla, Dru, The Master, Anne, Willow and Harmony
Questions and observations;
The Blims are very obviously supposed to be the Kennedys (of course Stephanie Romanov played Jackie O in the excellent Cuban missile crisis drama '13 Days'). His cousin actually seems ok. What happens to the poor guys who Billy infected and who attacked their women? Hopefully AI/Lilah get them out? Angel tries to spare CC from killing Billy just as he and Gunn will later do with Fred and the Professor.
Marks out of 10; 8/10, good episode, would be 9/10 if it had more arc.
OFFSPRING
The Good;
Season 3 really kicks into high gear with the arrival of Darla and her 'passenger'.
The Bad;
?
Best line:
CC; "What are friends for?"
Darla; "Knocking you up and leaving you high and dry"
Just beating Lorne's "It's beyond my Ken and my Barbie and all my action figures"
Jeez, how did they get away with that?
Cordy describes Angel as not going evil but 'going male' which is positively misandrist.
Apocalypses: 5
Angel Cliches
Inverting the Hollywood cliche;
Darla the pregnant mother is still pure evil, defying all our expectations
In disguise; 8
DB get's his shirt off; 12
9,
Cheap Angel; 7
Fang Gang in bondage:
Cordy: 5
Angel: 11
Wes: 6
Gunn; 3
Lorne; 2
Fang gang knocked out:
Cordy: 11
Angel: 14
Wes: 5
Doyle; 1
Gunn; 1
Lorne; 2
Kills:
Cordy: 5 vamps, 3½ demons
Angel; 28 vamps, 40 and 1/2 demons, 3 humans
Doyle; 1 vamp
Wes; 7 demons+1 vamp
Kate; 3 vamps
Faith; 16 vamps, 6 demons, 3 humans.
Gunn; 8 vamps+ 6 demons.
Fang Gang go evil:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 2
Gunn; 1
Wes; 1
Alternate Fang Gang:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 7
Characters killed:
45
Recurring characters killed;
7;
Total number of Angel Investigations:
5, Angel, Cordy, Wes, Gunn and Fred
Angel Investigations shot:
Angel: 11
Wes; 1
Packing heat; Wes takes the pistol from the scroll owner
Wes; 4
Doyle; 1
Angel; 1
Gunn; 1
Notches on Fang Gang bedpost:
Cordy: 3 ?+Wilson/Hacksaw Beast+Phantom Dennis
Angel: 5; Buffy, Darla and The Transcending Furies
Wes; 2; Virginia and the bleached blonde
Kinky dinky:
Wes refers to the date rape drugs GHB/rohypnol. CC refers to the Furies as Angel's 'chippies' and hopes they're on the pill. CC refers to Angel 'boning' Darla.
Captain Subtext;
The Kyrumption subtext between CC and Angel finally comes to the fore but Darla's arrival puts a spanner in the works. Darla seems appalled by the world suggesting her baby is already giving her a soul.
Know the face, different character; 4
Jack Conley as Sahjhan, also played the werewolf hunter Cain in the Buffy season 2 ep Phases
Parking garages;
5,
Guantanamo Bay;
Buffy characters on Angel; 16
Wetherby, Collins and Smith. Angel, Cordy, Oz, Spike, Buffy, Wes, Faith, Darla, Dru, The Master, Anne, Willow and Harmony
Questions and observations;
Hang on everybody, we're going for a hell of a ride! Holst appears to be a Catholic which is ironic given that he's based on Oliver Cromwell who was markedly anti-Catholic despite being largely regarded as a champion of liberty. Gunn is a great juggler, I wonder if he was taught by the same person as Buffy in 'Hell's Bells'?
Marks out of 10; 8/10
QUICKENING
The Good;
Love Angel's pride at 'Our kid, special!", everything else just moves at SUCH a frantic pace
The Bad;
Fred is introduced to Phantom Dennis but didn't they meet before in That Vision Thing? How non-corporeal is Sahjhan, it seems to vary?
Best line:
Linwood; "We're going to give you a second chance"
Psychic; (reading him) "No you're not, you're going to have me killed!"
Linwood; "See, why couldn't you come up with insight like that earlier?"
Jeez, how did they get away with that?
Killing the psychic with the plastic bag, euuuughhh!
Apocalypses: 5
Angel Cliches
Inverting the Hollywood cliche;
Love the fact that the all powerful WR&H are once more betrayed by an underling, their security really does suck.
In disguise; 8
DB get's his shirt off; 12
Cordy's tatt; 9,
Cheap Angel; 7
Fang Gang in bondage:
Cordy: 5
Angel: 11
Wes: 6
Gunn; 3
Lorne; 2
Fang gang knocked out:
Cordy: 11
Angel: 14
Wes: 5
Doyle; 1
Gunn; 1
Lorne; 2
Kills: one vamp for Wes and one for Angel
Cordy: 5 vamps, 3½ demons
Angel; 28 vamps, 41 and 1/2 demons, 3 humans
Doyle; 1 vamp
Wes; 7 demons+2 vamp
Kate; 3 vamps
Faith; 16 vamps, 6 demons, 3 humans.
Gunn; 8 vamps+ 6 demons.
Fang Gang go evil:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 2
Alternate Fang Gang:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 7
Characters killed:
45
Recurring characters killed;
7;
Total number of Angel Investigations:
5, Angel, Cordy, Wes, Gunn and Fred
Angel Investigations shot:
Angel: 11
Wes; 1
Packing heat;
Wes; 4
Doyle; 1
Angel; 1
Gunn; 1
Notches on Fang Gang bedpost:
Cordy: 3 ?+Wilson/Hacksaw Beast+Phantom Dennis
Angel: 5; Buffy, Darla and The Transcending Furies
Wes; 2; Virginia and the bleached blonde
Kinky dinky:
Angel; "I'd had a bad day"
Darla; "So you pushed me onto the bed and took what you wanted?"
Angel; "Seemed the thing to do"
Never got THAT on Party of Five! Which is probably why Buffy/Angel are the most popular series for adult fanfic ever. Gavin is quite the voyeur. It seems that everyone knows about Marcus/Lilah on the desktop. Angel remarks to Darla that she likes pain. Linwood dumped his wife for a younger model (perhaps literally?).
Captain Subtext;
Know the face, different character; 3
Parking garages;
5,
Guantanamo Bay;
Buffy characters on Angel; 16
Wetherby, Collins and Smith. Angel, Cordy, Oz, Spike, Buffy, Wes, Faith, Darla, Dru, The Master, Anne, Willow and Harmony
Questions and observations;
The title is derived from the term when a pregnant mother feels her child move inside her for the first time (rather puts a different perspective on 'Highlander' huh?). How does Wes know so much about childbirth? WR&H lose audio for a crucial 2 days, Jasmine/PTB interference? Linwood is played by the same actor who was in 80s detective show 'Crazy like a fox'.
Marks out of 10; 8/10
LULLABY
The Good;
All of it, pretty damn brilliant, especially love Holtz raiding the club. The Lilah and the interpreter scene is also great, no such thing as a minor character on Angel.
Interpreter (horrified); "You highlighted an ancient gushundi text?"
Lilah (defensively); "In yellow"
The Bad;
Even if it's just a stun grenade wouldn't Lilah and Holtz be deafened for hours afterwards? Why can't they just resoul Darla?
Best line:
Sahjahn; "He's using product but he's the same guy"
Jeez, how did they get away with that?
Darla and Angelus slaughtering Holtz's family is beyond horrible. Holtz's killing his sired daughter is the strongest and most tragic act in the series, your heart just bleeds for him.
Apocalypses: 5
Angel Cliches
Inverting the Hollywood cliche;
In disguise; 8
DB get's his shirt off; 12
9,
Cheap Angel; 7
Fang Gang in bondage: Angel pinned
Cordy: 5
Angel: 12
Wes: 6
Gunn; 3
Lorne; 2
Fang gang knocked out: Wes by Darla
Cordy: 11
Angel: 14
Wes: 6
Doyle; 1
Gunn; 1
Lorne; 2
Kills:
Cordy: 5 vamps, 3½ demons
Angel; 28 vamps, 41 and 1/2 demons, 3 humans
Doyle; 1 vamp
Wes; 7 demons+2 vamp
Kate; 3 vamps
Faith; 16 vamps, 6 demons, 3 humans.
Gunn; 8 vamps+ 6 demons.
Fang Gang go evil:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 2
Alternate Fang Gang:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 7
Characters killed:
45
Recurring characters killed; Goodbye Darla, she'll appear again but she's finally dead this time
8;
Total number of Angel Investigations:
5, Angel, Cordy, Wes, Gunn and Fred
Angel Investigations shot:
Angel: 11
Wes; 1
Packing heat; Lilah threatens her lackey with her gun. Angel uses the stun grenade (which Holtz is obviously impressed by and uses one later at Caritas) and Wes wishes he had a shotgun.
Wes; 4
Doyle; 1
Angel; 1
Gunn; 1
Notches on Fang Gang bedpost:
Cordy: 3 ?+Wilson/Hacksaw Beast+Phantom Dennis
Angel: 5; Buffy, Darla and The Transcending Furies
Wes; 2; Virginia and the bleached blonde
Kinky dinky:
Way to much going on for that
Captain Subtext;
Or that.
Know the face, different character; 4
Parking garages;
5,
Guantanamo Bay;
Buffy characters on Angel; 16
Wetherby, Collins and Smith. Angel, Cordy, Oz, Spike, Buffy, Wes, Faith, Darla, Dru, The Master, Anne, Willow and Harmony
Questions and observations;
Holtz is one pretty damn tough guy to take on WR&H's commando team. Note Angel doesn't even try to tell Holtz he has a soul, he knows he'd be wasting his time. Goodbye Caritas, after this Lorne won't bother trying to rebuild again.
The end of the Angel/Darla relationship and it's EPIC! And hello Connor (for good or ill).
Marks out of 10; 9/10
DAD
The Good;
Love all the Lilah stuff, especially love 'Files and records' girl (who presumably gets killed by the Beast in season 4). The seige of the Hyperion is also good as is the reveal of Lorne's message
The Bad;
Won't the LAPD notice all this going on?
Best line:
Holtz; "I think you'll find your modern popular culture references wasted on me" (No kidding!)
Jeez, how did they get away with that?
Apocalypses: 5
Angel Cliches
Inverting the Hollywood cliche;
In disguise; 8
DB get's his shirt off; 12
Cordy's tatt; 9,
Cheap Angel; 7
Fang Gang in bondage:
Cordy: 5
Angel: 11
Wes: 6
Gunn; 3
Lorne; 2
Fang gang knocked out:
Cordy: 11
Angel: 14
Wes: 5
Doyle; 1
Gunn; 1
Lorne; 2
Kills: 3 demons, 2 humans and a vamp for Wes, a demon for Gunn, 4 vamps, 4 demons and 4 humans for Angel
Cordy: 5 vamps, 3½ demons
Angel; 32 vamps, 45 and 1/2 demons, 7 humans
Doyle; 1 vamp
Wes; 10 demons+3 vamps, 2 humans
Kate; 3 vamps
Faith; 16 vamps, 6 demons, 3 humans.
Gunn; 8 vamps+ 7 demons.
Fang Gang go evil:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 2
Alternate Fang Gang:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 7
Characters killed:
45
Recurring characters killed;
8;
Total number of Angel Investigations: Lorne moves into the Hyperion and joins the gang. Most would say that this is the definitive Angel Investigation line-up?
6, Angel, Cordy, Wes, Gunn, Fred and Lorne
Angel Investigations shot:
Angel: 11
Wes; 1
Packing heat; literally, Wes with a flamethrower (why not use that more often?)plus Angel with explosives
Wes; 5
Doyle; 1
Angel; 1
Gunn; 1
Notches on Fang Gang bedpost:
Cordy: 3 ?+Wilson/Hacksaw Beast+Phantom Dennis
Angel: 5; Buffy, Darla and The Transcending Furies
Wes; 2; Virginia and the bleached blonde
Kinky dinky:
Captain Subtext;
Angel has a woman's taste in clothes according to CC.
Know the face, different character; 4
Parking garages;
5,
Guantanamo Bay;
Buffy characters on Angel; 16
Wetherby, Collins and Smith. Angel, Cordy, Oz, Spike, Buffy, Wes, Faith, Darla, Dru, The Master, Anne, Willow and Harmony
Questions and observations;
Justine's sister is portrayed by Pat Tallman (her stunt double) who was one of my favourite characters from Babylon 5. Gunn refers to his cousin, I thought Elana was his only family? Fred is a computer expert now, just like Willow. Connor likes Angel in vampface which explains why he has no problem with Jasmine's true form. Cordy comments that Connor has Angel's brow. Holtz has killed 378 vamps in 9 years which is good going, in six years by my count Buffy has only killed about 150 vamps/demons and she's the most successful Slayer ever (although she has spent much of that time running away to LA and dead).
Marks out of 10; 9/10, slam bam all the way.
Monthly Newsletter
Get the latest news and gossip on all your favourite shows and films. Be the first to find out about exclusive videos and behind the scenes footage.
Now Showing
Now Showing
Popular Shows
Lonely Heart
The Good;
Angel on the singles scene is a joy to behold, another commentary on the reality if life in LA. And Kate!
The Bad;
The nightclub actually seems quite hip and not 'stuck in the 80s', better than Henry's.
Best line:
Kate; You can go to hell!
Angel; Been there, done that
Jeez, how did they get away with that?
Can you say 'eviscerated'? The nasty has some obvious influence from the Aliens series and some obvious influence from a very bad film called The Hidden which Kyle Maclachlan made before he got famous.
Apocalypses: 4
Angel Cliches
Damsel in distress; nope, still 1
Inverting the Hollywood cliche; we think there's a male killer picking in helpless females but that's not the case. Also Angel tries to use his grappling hook only to pull the beam down
In disguise; no but he poses as a vet which Fred will also pick as a job for him in Dad
DB get's his shirt off; not this time so that makes 1
Fang Gang in bondage: no although Kate tries to handcuff Angel
Cordy: 5
Angel: 4
Wes: 1
Fang gang knocked out: no but Kate is
Cordy: 6
Angel: 6
Wes: 1
Kills:
Cordy: none this ep. 3 vamps, Ѕ a demon from her time in Sunnydale
Angel: 1 demon for Angel. So that gives Angel 7 vamps, 2 demons, 1 human.
Fang Gang go evil:
Cordy: 1
Angel: 1
Alternate Fang Gang:
Cordy: 1
Angel: 3
Characters killed: 7 including a couple offscreen
Total; 9
Total number of Angel Investigations:
3, Angel, Doyle and Cordy
Angel Investigations shot: no although Kate shoots at Angel, shoots the lock out with her backup gun and shoots the bartender at the end.
Angel: 4,
Notches on Fang Gang bedpost:
Cordy: 1?
Angel: 1;Buffy
Kinky dinky:
On a scale of one to incredible exactly how gorgeous is Kate? No shortage of beautiful women in the Buffy/Angelverse but even so! Hard to imagine her in a cop's uniform (although I'm sure many have with the fanfic to prove it). Only in LA could the character of Sharon be called 'dowdy'. Now, of course this ep was originally known as Corrupt and was much darker in tone. It concentrated largely on Kate who was posing undercover as a prostitute but had gotten too far into her role and was actually having sex with her clients (sounds like the plot of some late night Channel 5 film). The studio said no and the series is probably the better for it (although we still have an oblique reference to sexual dysfunction). Unfortunately this meant we lost this rumoured scene;
Cordy (posing as a streetwalker, approaching a group of hookers on a corner) "Hello fellow prostitutes, how's tricks?"
Hooker; "*****, if you're living the life I'm Julia Roberts!"
Even so she's still mistaken for a prostitute at the club and will interview a bunch of them in Carpe Noctem. Presumably the scene in the opening titles with the lovely girl in the bikini top getting into the sports car also comes from this sequence. Angel also get's propositioned by a girl who get's turned on by him hitting people. Doyle examines one of Cordy's bras which she thinks is 'So high school'. Kate refers to herself as a 'self flagellating drunken ****'. Doyle uses internet porn. Cordy and Doyle slumber on each other's shoulder.
Captain Subtext;
For the second time in 2 eps Angel is mistaken for hitting on a guy in a bar. Cordy also says she's a student of humanity and can tell one of the clubbers is a 'closet ****'. Weird she never twigged Willow, huh?
Questions and observations;
The guy who is the third victim says he was a real 'something is out there' geek, a reference to the X-files I almost missed. There's also 'High school's over' which might be a oblique ref to Buffy. Angel sitting alone in the dark rather reminds me of how we first see Bruce Wayne in Batman Returns. Angel muses how different the dating scene is to when he was Liam, small town boy getting used to the big city.
Marks out of 5; 3/5 good ep but Angel still dealing with the case of the week