The One and Only Angel Season 5 Thread

[Guest Brian]

"Dear Boy" Thoughts:

 

Man I love this epsiode. It really kicks off the main story arc of Season 2, with Angel getting obsessed over Darla. In the opening scene, you get that daydream with Darla and the fight scene where Angel is just going crazy wailing on this guy in rage while being totally despondant from the rest of the group. And right before the opening, you get that first glimpse of Angel seeing Darla.

 

Then you have the real cool re-occuring flashback of London in the 1860s where Angellus is targeting Druscilla, and you can see how he created her and such. Just the eternal torment part is so great.

 

"Right between the clowns and the big hot dog."

 

Angel trying to reason with Cordy and Wes was fine. In fact, I liked all of it, especially the stuff coming out of the hotel.

 

Darla and Lindsay have a good chemistry. Not enough.

 

I liked Kate getting more withdrawn, and the effects you can see on the police force.

 

Lorne gets more screen time. Angel sings horribly, to the point where he was overdoing it. Durthock the child eater was just shaking his head. Anways, Lorne is awesome.

 

I love all the Darla/Angel stuff and Gunn/Wes/Cordy stuff, and shows the beginning of the schism in the group. Angel evading the cops was nice. Gunn contemplating Angellus was good. Anyways, the two major points in this was Kate and the gang realizing that Angel couldn't enter unless the host was dead, which would play out in "Epiphany", and Cordy and Wes approaching Angel at the end of the episode. The latter was big because it was like the scene in "Redefinition", where Angel shut the door and people were left wondering whether he turned, questioning his intentions.

[Anya 0]

Not Fade Away is better than Chosen as an episode, but I like Chosen more because it's buffy and I care about the characters a lot more.

[Mole 0]

Both are overrated.

[LaParkaMarka 0]

Chosen is overrated? I thought the general consensus was that it sucked.

[Anakin Flair 0]

Chosen is overrated? I thought the general consensus was that it sucked.

The general consensus was that it should have been two hours to give it an epic feel. Hell, even most of the stars feel it should have been two hours.

But overall, I didn't think Chosen sucked. I rather enjoyed it. As for NFA, I thought it was a damn fine episode, and I rank it up there with the best ever, from either show.

[Anya 0]

Chosen doesn't really need an extra hour. More like 30 minutes or something. The overall story is told fine, it's just some details that need more time. Like Dawn does NOTHING. Andrew has a bigger role than her. Anya has like 6 lines in the entire episode and besides dying horribly does nothing. Same with Xander, except instead of dying in 2 seconds he talks to Andrew in just about the same amount of time. These characters needed better scenes alone. They could have done it just with some editing. Like the Buffy/Angle scene goes on too long. They could have done a better job with the build too. Like I don't understand the point of the Dawn/Xander stuff in End of Days. Joss did nothing with it, besides a dumb joke. I also didn't get the point of the Spike "what a bitch" cliffhanger in End of Days.

 

Also, important to me, is how badly the Xanya ship is handled in the end. It's almost like each writer had their own views on how it should end. Espenson got them talking again but left it up in the air if they were over or not. Then nothing happens for a while, until Touched where they have break up sex again. Then nothing in End of Days. Then in Chosen they're seemingly back together again. WTF? Which is it?

 

 

 

If anything needs another hour it's NFA. There is like no fight scenes! They spend 50 minutes building to it, then show these really cool intros to the fight scenes, then it's just over. The final battle is just a big montage of the beginnings of some fights.

[Mole 0]

Chosen is overrated? I thought the general consensus was that it sucked.

Good point, it did suck.

[Anya 0]

It has some good parts.

 

Spike's death is really good. The face off between FE/Caleb and Buffy in the basement is creepy. The scene where the main scoobs talk and then seperate one by one in the entrance to the school is good. Andrew's really funny. The battle is decent. Not much is really that BAD either, it's mostly just kinda....decent. It's one of the best eps in the season.

[Guest Brian]

C'mon people, get in on the DVD club. Where's Rudo?

[Mole 0]

Sorry, sorry. I was watching the election coverage last night, so I didn't get a chance to watch an episode last night.

 

Which one we one again?

[RavishingRickRudo 0]

Slept from 7 to 7 after staying up for 31 hours, so I didn't get to watch it. I'll do it before LOST tonight.

[Guest Brian]

We're currently on "Dear Boy", and tomorrow is "Guise Will Be Guise".

[brokentusk16 0]

Not sure if it's been brought up yet, but the 5th season is due out on DVD in February. We get the featurettes, plus commentaries. Here are the specs.

 

 

List price is $59.98 (CAN$89.98 in Canada), for 990 minutes that cover 22 episodes. Among those, look for a special re-appearance by Charisma Carpenter as Cordelia. Fox Home Entertainment hasn't sent out the cover art yet (stay tuned for that), but here is the disc-by-disc breakdown of episodes and announced extras:

 

* Disc 1:

* "Conviction" (Part 1) - Commentary by Writer/Director Joss Whedon

* "Just Rewards" (Part 2)

* "Unleashed"

* "Hell Bound"

* Featurette:

* "Hey Kids! It's Smile Time!"

 

* Disc 2:

* "Life of the Party"

* "The Cautionary Tale of Nemero Cinco"

* "Lineage"

* "Destiny" - Commentary by Director Skip Schoolnik, Writers David Fury and Steven S. DeKnight and Juliet Landau.

 

* Disc 3:

* "Harm's Way"

* "Soul Purpose" - Commentary by Director / Actor David Boreanaz, Writer Brent Fletcher, Christian Kane

* "Damage"

 

* Disc 4:

* "You're Welcome" - Commentary by Director / Actor David Fury, Christian Kane and Sarah Thompson

* "Why We Fight"

* "Smile Time"

* "A Hole In The World" - Commentary by Writer/Director Joss Whedon, Amy Acker, Alexis Denisof

* Featurette:

* "Angel 100"

 

* Disc 5:

* "Shells"

* "Underneath" - Commentary by Director Skip Schoolnik, Writer Elizabeth Craft, Writer Sarah Fain and Adam Baldwin

* "Origin"

* "Time Bomb"

* Featurette:

* "Angel: Choreography of a Stunt"

 

* Disc 6:

* "The Girl in Question"

* "Power Play"

* "Not Fade Away" - Commentary by Co-Writer/Director Jeffrey Bell

* Featurettes:

* "Angel: The Final Season" (27:15)

* "To Live & Die in L.A.: The Best of Angel" (8:48)

* "Halos and Horns: Recurring Villainy" (9:22)

* "Angel Unbound: The Gag Reels" (8:51)

[Guest croweater]

I watched "New Moon Rising" last night and have decided that it's one of my favourite episodes ever. I cried twice. Willow's just too cute and pity worth, Oz is OZ~! and you can't help feeling for poor Tara either. It's awful how your flung between wanting Willow and Oz to get back together but also wanting to explore the other side of Willow and her other relationships.

[Anya 0]

I watched NMR the other week on DVD. I always thought the ep was kind of pointless. There was no need to bring Oz back just to have him leave again. It's also lame how they break into the Initative for the millionth time. It's supposed to be this highly guarded top secret facility but a college girl and her friends seem to have no problem getting inside. The hand slap scene with Giles and Anya is funny though.

 

 

I watched "Beneath You" today. It....sucks. So boring and pointless. That whole crazy Spike storyline sure went no where fast. Emma's clothes and hair in that ep and Lessons is awful. It makes her look 10 years older.

[Guest Brian]

"Guise Will Be Guise" was today. Great comedy, good episode. Lots of good stuff.

 

First, you've got to love Wes in this episode. He goes through the whole gauntlet of character, from comedy to serious to badass. He hits the extremes in terms of visual acting, doing physical comedy and kicking ass. This episode, much like the Pylea arc and the Baby Connor saga, are so pivotal to his character.

 

Second, the Tish McGiv/Angel stuff is great. Great development, really fleshing out Angel's character. Every conversation played so well to his character.

 

I'm going to do the rest of the write-up a little differently to break down the discussion:

 

Comedy:

This episode brought the comedy in spades. At the start, you have this physical comedy scene with Wes trying to be a badass and just falling over himself. Wes is great all episode. You also have this big talk through at the end where everyone is hitting notes, with Gunn, Cordy, Angel, and Wes all getting their share. Posted for reference:

 

Bryce: "She's impure? - She-she's not a virgin? (Starts towards Wesley) You...."

Gunn: "Woah! That's what impure meant?"

Cordy: "She slept with him?"

Bryce: "You were supposed to be Angel. This wouldn't have happened. That's why I hired him. He's a eunuch."

Cordy: "You slept with her."

Angel: "Eunuch?"

Wesley to Bryce: "Things happen. Two young people, danger..."

Virginia: "What are you talking about?"

Bryce: "She was a virgin before you got here."

Virginia: "I was *not* a virgin!"

Bryce: "What?"

Wesley: "Oh, thank goodness."

Gunn: "I could have told you she was no virgin."

Angel: "I'm not a eunuch."

Cordy: "One day as Angel, one day! - and he's getting some."

Bryce: "What? How could you. I kept you away from all men!"

Angel: "I mean, the curse isn't even all that clear.

Virginia: "Daddy, you remember that chauffeur from when I was 16? And the one at 18? I haven't been a virgin for a *very* long time. - I even dated Rick."

Bryce turns to look at one of the robed guards, who hurriedly and quietly makes his way from the room.

Bryce: "Ginny, don't do this! Don't make me angry!"

Virginia: "Right. Because then you might do something bad. - *You* were going to *kill* me! (She hauls back and hits her dad with a hard left, knocking him to the ground) You are not my father anymore."

Cordelia smiles at her as Virginia walks out of the room.

Angel to Bryce still on the floor: "I'm not a eunuch."

 

The Overall story arcs:

 

The big thing going on at this point is Angel dealing with Darla. Tish and Angel really explore the heart of his brooding in this episode, looking at how he hates himself, the demon inside, Buffy, and Darla. I think the great thing was hearing Tish say that Angel, despite having no reflection, was reflected in the people around him, and then looking at how that paralleled Wes' imitation.

 

The Foreshadowing:

 

First big theme that needs to be discussed is the demon within Angel and the rocky path it creates. Is Angel really fighting himself? He always is. From the brooding, to the Pylean arc where he's trying to control the pure demon, to Orpheus where Angel squares off with Angellus, to the whole notion of Angel being able to rid himself of all his years of baggage through the Shanshu. Part of Angel is the demon, is Angellus, is vile and hateful and did years worth of harm. Can he overcome it?

 

When Tish is talking about Angel and Darla, he says that Angel should find another blond and knock her up, an obvoius reference to Buffy. Well, what if it's the other way around? Buffy's his only true, pure love, and he did her so wrong so often, and maybe knocking Darla was his way of going the other way around. Truth is, we find out later, that he never had the same feelings for Darla he did for Buffy. And maybe that's why he ends up chasing blonds so often.

 

As an aside to the last paragraph, that was the big thing about the last Tish/Angel convo about the curse between Wes getting his groove on. It's not sex that makes the curse, as evidenced later, it's the pure happiness.

 

You also get Wes being the leader, also symbolized by him wearing the coat. But he was taking charge, and later in the episode you get talk of the "Wyndam-Pryce Detective Agency", more for later.

[Guest croweater]

I watched NMR the other week on DVD. I always thought the ep was kind of pointless. There was no need to bring Oz back just to have him leave again. It's also lame how they break into the Initative for the millionth time. It's supposed to be this highly guarded top secret facility but a college girl and her friends seem to have no problem getting inside. The hand slap scene with Giles and Anya is funny though.

 

 

I watched "Beneath You" today. It....sucks. So boring and pointless. That whole crazy Spike storyline sure went no where fast. Emma's clothes and hair in that ep and Lessons is awful. It makes her look 10 years older.

NMR was the coming out of the Willow and Tara relationship and the final burrying of her relationship with Oz. It's very important because it shows Willow has moved on and isn't gonna go back. It's the episode that strengthens and explores the Willow and Tara relationship.

And yes, I laughed mya ss off at the Giles/Anya stuff.

[LaParkaMarka 0]

The end sequence that Brian posted from GWBG is just wonderful. The whole scene, from them busting in and Wesley getting the first line, it was gold. Really fun ep.

[Guest Brian]

Comedy's excellent. But you can look at that episode and see so much in it. I never really looked at it other than to get a lot of enjoyment, but there's so much to it.

[Guest Brian]

Season Two episodes schedule for discussion:

 

11/06 - Darla

11/08 - Shroud of Rahmon

11/10 - The Trial

11/12 - Reunion

11/14 - Redefinition

11/16 - Blood Money

11/18 - Happy Anniversary

11/20 - Thin Dead Line

11/22 - Reprise

11/24 - Epiphany

11/26 - Disharmony

11/28 - Dead End

11/30 - Belonging

12/02 - Over the Rainbow

12/04 - Through the Looking Glass

12/06 - There's No Place Like Plrtz Glrb

 

And Season 3 starts after that.

 

If you don't have the DVDs, Season 2 is on replays on TNT in the morning, showing "The Trial" on Monday.

[Jericholic82 0]

“How can I thank you, you mysterious, black-clad hunk of a night thing?"

 

"No need, little lady, your tears of gratitude are enough for me. You see, I was once a badass vampire, but love and a pesky curse defanged me. Now I’m just a big, fluffy puppy with bad teeth. (Rachel steps closer to Angel, and Angel steps back warding her off with his hands) No, not the hair! Never the hair!"

 

"But there must be someway I can show my appreciation."

 

"No, helping those in need’s my job, - and working up a load of sexual tension, and prancing away like a magnificent poof is truly thanks enough!"

 

"I understand. I have a nephew who is gay, so…"

 

"Say no more. Evil’s still afoot! And I’m almost out of that Nancy-boy hair-gel that I like so much. Quickly, to the Angel-mobile, away!”

thank you Brian

 

 

 

 

anyhow I watched the buffy s6 season ender the other day on fx. easily the weakest way to end a season, but still interesting .

 

the best part was giles interacting with buffy and anya

 

"Giles: You cut your hair (to buffy)

 

ANya walks around the stares at giles kinda angrily

 

Anya: Im blond, I dyed my hair....agian...im blond

[Jericholic82 0]

NOT A EUNUCH lol great line

 

but you forgot the end where angel and cordy are looking in the paper and see a picture of wes and ginny

 

Angel: Theres no windham pryce agency

 

anyhow I really like this episode

 

I marked out the first time I saw since angel goes to ojai to visit the tish guy as I live pretty close to that city

 

 

 

NOT A EUNUCH!!!!!!!

[Guest Brian]

I mentioned the Wyndam Pryce detective agency because basically, Angel would eventually split off and that's why I thought it was a good line.

[RavishingRickRudo 0]

Alright! This is MY on-going coverage of the ANGEL season 2: disc 2!~

 

Episode 5: Dear Boy

 

"247" - Angel is awesome. He has, like, more insecurities than, than *puts finger up as if to point out something or stop someone*, than Woody Allen.

 

I like how they have consistently had Angel "catch" Cordy when she gets a vision. This is particularly relevant since it is how Angel "returned" to the group after he fired them.

[RavishingRickRudo 0]

"This is why I rarely go to church"

 

*tumbleweed*

 

".. I thought it was funny"

 

"BLUH!" - Angel waking up.

 

This is so far, AWESOME.

 

And Wes is slowly becoming less Wes-ie. Look at that tie. Jesus Christ, very loosely tied.

 

"He's just off his game"

 

"Since when is it a game"

 

GUNN~!

[RavishingRickRudo 0]

"Personal Bubble... PERSONAL BUBBLE!"

 

"Is it something I did"

 

"Right between the clowns and the big talking hot dog"

 

"Who loves guilt like you love guilt"

 

"God, I could eat his eye balls"

 

1481 Hyperion Avenue

LA CA 90026

213-555-0162

 

What's on Angels business card.

 

The scene with Darla in the hotel lounge is fucking awesome. I was totally worked at the time and the walking into the sun along with Wes trying to stop him was great.

[Mole 0]

Aww, thanks for the schedule Brian.

 

I'll watch an episode late night.

 

Most likely.

[RavishingRickRudo 0]

"Angel you can't just sniff a person and..."

 

"You had sex last night with a bleached blonde"

 

"Good lord, how'd you"

 

"Everybody Wang-chfun to night... "

 

Holy SHIT, Angel singing this with such conviction as if to force everyone to like it is sooooo fucking fucking fuck. "I'm very sorry"

 

"This is way off your path, sweetie" - that is sweet, cause it could be Lorne sensing JASMINES influence and telling Angel to stay away from Darla cause it will lead to SEX and CONNOR.

 

The husband is named Stephen... Connors name in the Kortah was Stephen... HUH>!

 

BOSOMS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOWZA!~

 

It's great to see Darla (especially in that dress... YOWZA) be afraid of Angelus when he proposes turning Dru.

 

"But you never made me happy"

 

"You don't learn that kind of darkness"

 

"There's going to be a lot of trouble... and I say bring it on" ~!~!~!!!

[Guest Brian]

Ohh, how about Darla with the cross and all "God doesn't want you", as if Angel can't really be redeemed.

[RavishingRickRudo 0]

That was lame, because they rarely ever play up the religious aspects in a serious way. But it is something that is interesting to consider.