ANGEL~ Tournament QUARTERFINALS

[Hank Kingsley 0]

Completely randomized (meaning I LITERALLY put the episodes on post-its, put them in a hat, and drew blindly), so no complaining. Voting ends Sunday at Midnight (because with only a little more than 10 people voting, it doesn't take that long).

 

The Brackets!

 

Hero - Season 1 - Written by Howard Gordon and Tim Minear, Directed by Tucker Gates

vs.

Shells - Season 5 - Written & Directed by Steven S. DeKnight

 

Origin - Season 5 - Written by Drew Goddard, Directed by Terrence O'Hara

vs.

A Hole in the World - Season 5 - Written & Directed by Joss Whedon

 

To Shanshu in LA - Season 1 - Written & Directed by David Greenwalt

vs.

Not Fade Away - Season 5 - Written by Jeffrey Bell & Joss Whedon, Directed by Jeffrey Bell

 

Apocalypse, Nowish - Season 4 - Written by Steven S. DeKnight, Directed by Vern Gillum

vs.

Reprise - Season 2 - Written by Tim Minear, Directed by James Whitmore, Jr.

 

 

This here's gonna be a mighty close race, so get voting!

[Hank Kingsley 0]

My votes!

 

Shells

A Hole in the World

Not Fade Away

Reprise

[Mecha Mummy 0]

Hero - Season 1 - Written by Howard Gordon and Tim Minear, Directed by Tucker Gates

vs.

Shells - Season 5 - Written & Directed by Steven S. DeKnight

 

Origin - Season 5 - Written by Drew Goddard, Directed by Terrence O'Hara

vs.

A Hole in the World - Season 5 - Written & Directed by Joss Whedon

 

To Shanshu in LA - Season 1 - Written & Directed by David Greenwalt

vs.

Not Fade Away - Season 5 - Written by Jeffrey Bell & Joss Whedon, Directed by Jeffrey Bell

 

Apocalypse, Nowish - Season 4 - Written by Steven S. DeKnight, Directed by Vern Gillum

vs.

Reprise - Season 2 - Written by Tim Minear, Directed by James Whitmore, Jr.

[Guest reekspeak]

Hero

Origin

Not Fade Away

Apocalypse, Nowish

 

After the semis, can we have a loser vs loser match for the bronze?

[RavishingRickRudo 0]

Shells

 

A Hole in the World

 

Not Fade Away

 

Apocalypse, Nowish

 

A good Semi Final being set up, but I don't know how "Hero" or "Shells" made it to the Quarters. I love both, but "Hero" was a one-trick pony with Doyle dying and "Shells" may have deserved to be here, but with "Not Fade.." and "Hole in.." from Season 5 already making it, I would have liked to have seen say "Shanshu.." or "Home" or "Reprise.." or "anything from season 3!" make it into the Quarters to make it more rounded.

[Guest reekspeak]

Shells is better than A Hole in the World. If you call Hero a one trick pony just because of the death then AHitW is as well, all the emotion came in the following episode.

 

(Incidentally, I think neither are one trick ponies)

[Tawren 0]

Hero

 

A Hole in the World

 

Not Fade Away

 

Apocalypse, Nowish

[LaParkaMarka 0]

Shells

 

A Hole in the World

 

Not Fade Away

 

Reprise

 

Voting for three season 5 episodes seems wrong, but I guess that's how these kinda tourneys go.

[RavishingRickRudo 0]

AHITW, however, was a slow-burn of the end of Winnifred Burkle and started a wave that rippled till the end and had masterful performances from the cast and wonderful writing and direction from Joss. The ENTIRE episode was great, while "Hero" had Nazi's and it's saving grace was Dolye killing himself. Granted, that last scene is particularly touching, but it shouldn't stand amongst the giants because of it.

 

How *the fuck* can you say all the emotion came in the following episode? Did you not fucking see AHITW? Seriously.

[Hank Kingsley 0]

Yeah, some other episodes should probably be in here, but, well, thems the breaks. Voting in this tournament, it's like you just vote for which one you like *more*, because there's hardly an Angel episode that I don't like (with the exception of a select few).

[Guest reekspeak]

The realisation of her death and the consequences surrounding it had 10x the emotional impact of AHitW, with the clock counting down they really didn't get past "This can't happen" on the emotion scale. To get the most out of AHitW, you really need to be a big fan of Fred, Shells advances every character and should be enjoyed by any fan of the show.

 

Still like Hero better though.

[RavishingRickRudo 0]

Yes, because Wes holding Fred in his arms and Fred not wanting to go wasn't emotional AT ALL. Lorne fucking Eve up-something-proper didn't advance his character... oh no. The desperation in Gunns character was just fluff.

 

C'mon, just admit you didn't watch it.

 

Hero had nazis. NAZIS. And THRILLER Zombies.

[Anakin Flair 0]

Hero

 

A Hole in the World

 

Not Fade Away

 

Apocalypse, Nowish

[RavishingRickRudo 0]

HOW THE FUCK IS HERO WINNING?!?!

 

Other than "Doyle died" please justify this. I watched the episode recently and -aside from that- it was pretty fucking basic.

 

Here's my review of Shells:

 

I really, REALLY enjoyed this episode. Not so much that I'll go on an insane "fuck"-fest, but it was just a nice, warm, episode. Not warm in terms of "oooh this was a light-hearted episode that made me realize the importance of goodness", but warm in the "everything is actually playing out now and I'll let it wash out all over me." I really like the pace they're hitting, very relaxed, nothing forced, they've set up their dominoes and they're watching each one fall onto the other.

 

The one doubt I had about this from reading the spoilers was Fred as Illyria, but fuck, if I don't buy her hook-line-and-sinker... just great work and I like the subtle voice change (well, I guess not-so-subtle, but the lower octave changes her from the sweet country girl into a big city woman.. it's a nice touch and she pulls it off well). I also dig the costume even though I thought it was horrid looking from a preview picture. She looks good in it, IMO. Though the one thing I do not get is Wes could smash an axe against her head and it shatters and she doesn't feel it, yet she still dodges Angel and Spikes swords and fears guns. I mean, they probably did it to separate her from THE BEAST in that she is more agile rather than just standing there and no selling everything, but I like just standing there and no selling everything.

 

Actually, what I *really* like about Illyria is that she combines what liked about THE BEAST (Ballstomping Invincibility with a certain distance from her violence... though no Eastern European Accent) and what I liked about Jasmine from Season 4. She is what Jasmine was before Connor killed her - trying to find meaning in this new world. I really love the idea that she expected the human race to die out by now, that she doesn't quite understand why Angel protects humans, that she looks down on Wolfram and Hart - it really makes her an outsider, it makes it believable (at least, within that universe created).

 

Knox was fantastic tonight. Jonathon M. Woodward is a fucking treasure that should be shared with the world on a much larger scale. Great timing; great delivery; just great.

 

Wes is a fucking show stealer (yes, I know, the show was based around him - he still made good!). The way he portrays this painful, desperate, sad, lonely anger is one-of-a-kind work. I haven't really seen anything like it. He plays a crushed individual excellently and given the circumstances (finally getting Fred just to lose her) he had to. I like how they didn't City Of Angels him; where he was content with just the moment of love; where he wanted more. It's a very selfish-thing and he recognizes that. I also liked how they left it open where he didn't say that love and hope were good enough. The irony here is that he is the most empty, yet he is the one sharing. Where, at the end, everyone was alone but him. It's a sort-of twisted thing they're doing too with Wes sticking with Illyria because she looks like Fred. A haunting thought, really; but fitting.

 

I was a lil uneasy about the lyrical music at the end, but once it got going I thought it worked pretty well. I may sound like a broken record, and it may not mean much, but I _love_ how they've positioned the characters and how it relates to Angels overall theme of retribution and "If nothing that we do matters, then what matters is what we do". This is just good fucking television, people. It really puts into perspective that fateful decision they made last season to join with Wolfram and Hart. And Giles denying Angel is *perfect*, because even Giles - who is all about the big picture and doing what shouldn't be done - is turning away from Angel (of course, Giles was never a fan of Angel post-Jenny anyways).

 

They made a deal with the devil, straight-up. It's best represented in Gunn (who was his usually awesome self tonight, even maybe a lil better than usual), whose choice to sign the contract directly effected the world. Those of you who thought this season put too much emphasis off the "big picture", you're right and you're wrong. It did _exactly_ what it set out to do and that's build up to this moment where they realize -and YOU, the viewer, realize- that dispite the good work they've done using WR&H, they still made the _wrong_ decision.

 

Actually, now that I think about it, this episode was really FUCKING good.

[Guest reekspeak]

I'll give you Lorne.

 

The rest had more to do in Shells, Wes and Gunn in particular, AHitW was tip of the iceberg stuff for the direction they went.

[Molotov The Bear 0]

On the topic of voting, most of my votes came for the episodes I've seen. Having not seen much of seasons 2 & 3 I didnt feel right voting for them.

 

Hero - Season 1

vs.

Shells - Season 5

 

Everything RRR says, completely true about HERO.

 

Origin - Season 5 -

vs.

A Hole in the World -Season 5

 

To Shanshu in LA - Season 1 -

vs.

Not Fade Away - Season 5 -

 

 

Apocalypse, Nowish - Season 4

vs.

Reprise - Season 2

[Golgo 13 0]

Shells

A Hole in the World

Not Fade Away

Reprise

[Anya 0]

Hero

Origin

Not Fade Away

Reprise

[Ravenbomb 0]

Hero - Season 1 - Written by Howard Gordon and Tim Minear, Directed by Tucker

 

A Hole in the World - Season 5 - Written & Directed by Joss Whedon

 

Not Fade Away - Season 5 - Written by Jeffrey Bell & Joss Whedon, Directed by Jeffrey Bell

 

Apocalypse, Nowish - Season 4 - Written by Steven S. DeKnight, Directed by Vern Gillum

[RavishingRickRudo 0]

I can't believe it, "Hero" is going to win the whole fucking tournament. There is no doubt about it. It made it this far and is currently in the lead despite having NOTHING IN IT* to substantiate its place.

 

*cept the obvious, and I don't mean Nazis

[Guest Brian]

Shouldn't have gone to the ballgame today. Lost my brackets.

 

Shells

A Hole in the World

Not Fade Away

Reprise

 

And the last one was tough. I love Apocalypse, and Wes and the beast, but Reprise marks such a change and is so vital. It was the home office, and Angel and Darla.

[RavishingRickRudo 0]

I hope to see -at least- half-a-dozen more changes in ownership of this thread before it's done

[BlackFlagg 0]

Shells

 

A Hole in the World

 

Not Fade Away

 

Apocalypse, Nowish

[Hank Kingsley 0]

The end of Apocalypse, Nowish is what ruined it for me. Funny how both episodes ended with HOT SEX~, but at least Reprise's made sense (well, A,N's made sense in the long run, it was just disturbing), and wasn't just incest.

[Anya 0]

Demon nazis are good.

[Mole 0]

Shells

 

A Hole in the World

 

Not Fade Away

 

Apocalypse, Nowish

[Hank Kingsley 0]

Alright, it's Sunday, it's 5 minutes to Midnight, so here are the results!

 

WINNERS!

 

Shells - 8

Hero - 6

(You can rest easy, Rudo).

 

A Hole in the World - 12

Origin - 2

 

Not Fade Away - 14

To Shanshu in LA - 0

 

Apocalypse, Nowish - 8

Reprise - 6

 

Now, time to draw up the SEMIFINALS, which should be up in a few minutes.