ANGEL REVIEWS: SEASON ONE

[Dalton]

This thread contains the Scoopme Reviews for the First Season of Angel. For discussion of these reviews and episodes, see the Angel Season One Discussion Thread on the Main message board.

[Dalton]

City of ...: A Bright New Day Brings New Questions


Let me preface by saying that I really want to like Angel. I have every reason to. I'm a huge Buffy fan. I love the character of Angel. And David Boreanaz is so yummy. But, I already have major issues with the show. Can we say inconsistencies galore? I know that vampire rules differ from movie to TV show to book to comic strip and so on. And, I want to give Joss, David Greenwalt, etc. benefit of the doubt, at least for the first three episodes. But, on top of apparent breakage of vampire rules, I was also so distraught over the lack of continuity between last summer in Sunnydale and this fall in L.A. that I barely had a chance to swoon over those puppy dog eyes. But, then again, Joss Whedon fans are known to be very forgiving. Especially when it comes to inconsistencies.

Our first glimpse of Angel is sitting at a bar presumably in a drunken stupor over his lost love, Buffy. Come on! This is how they try and get our attention? Pretending that the whole show is going to be about Angel crying over Buffy? Ah, relief: it's only a ruse to fool three vamps in search of young female blood.

Wait! What's with Angel's game face? It seems a little more, shall we say, puffy? Did anyone else notice that game faces in L.A. in general are a bit green? Maybe it's something in the water or do Los Angeles-based vamps suffer from gastrointestinal problems?

Quick! Change gears. Am I watching a batman movie? Angel pulls out stake-o-matics out from each sleeve. Yahoo! This show isn't going to be such a bummer after all.

But, wait! The opening credits...sooooo depressing. Whatever happened to sunny L.A.? Yes, this is supposed to be darker, but I have enough dreariness in my day to day life. I don't need it forced down my throat in the first thirty seconds of a new television show. I was feeling so good after the fight. Why do they have to bring me down?

Cut.

We've definitely looking at a new and improved Angel. This is an Angel with cool, trendy clothes. (Lucky for Angel that black will never go out of style in Hell-Ay). His very, own batmobile (I love a man with a convertible). And a fat pad. Which by the way, is the straw that broke this camel's back. Where did Angel get the money for the new threads, the new car, and a whole building worth of space in one of the most expensive cities in the country? Whoever thinks Joss has some major explaining to do, raise your stakes!

Our Angel is going through the biggest transformation he's seen since he and Buffy did the deed, with some help from his new pal, Doyle. Less brooding, more socializing. (Does anyone think Tina looked remarkably like Buffy as she was walking out of the door of the coffee shop?) Less lovin', more whoop ass. (Someone's been taking self defense classes!) Less tears, more laughter. Angel actually has this amazing ability to deliver a great one-liner completely deadpan. He needs a little more practice, but he (and the show) definitely have great comic potential.

Speaking of comic relief. Enter Cordy. Who hasn't changed a bit. Excuse me, but when has Angel ever been happy to see Cordy? ("Are you still a grrrrrr....?" Is she kidding?) She is so obviously there to lighten up the atmosphere: literally. After all, Cordy seems to be the only major character that actually enjoys hanging out in direct sunlight. But are we really supposed to believe that she's become a softer, better person just because she can't buy her panties at Barney's anymore? Yeah right. Losing your trust fund doesn't wipe out the damage that 18 years of being on top of the cheerleading pyramid of life can cause. In fact, I think her character has become an even worse human being...and even more of an airhead. How can you spend three years as a member of the Scooby Gang and still be such an idiot when it come to evil?

"I finally get invited to a nice place with no mirrors and lots of curtains...hey, you're a vampire!" Thanks for the laugh, Cordy, but I'm laughing AT you, not with you.

"I'm from Sunnydale, we had our own Hellmouth, I think I know a vampire when...I'm alone with him...in his fortress-like home." What took you so long?!? Run, Cordy, run!

And you know what made me completely nauseous?!? When Cordy was helping Angel with his gunshot wound post whoop ass. She practically caresses him!!! Yuck! The cat's away for one episode and the rat already starts to play. Angel, dost thou protest at all? Once crank call to Buffy and we're supposed to think you're still pining over her?

Overall, we got what we were told to expect from all the buzz surrounding the spinoff. A darker, more adult show. But, it's going to take a lot more to turn this Buffy fan into an Angel fan.

Note to producers: There are major questions that need answering.

1. The daylight thing-both Russell Winters and Angel seemed to be spending a lot of time in the daylight. Are we supposed to believe that there's an extensive underground sewer system in L.A. like there was in Sunnydale?

2. There seem to be a lot of private invitations happening behind the viewers backs. Are we assuming that vampire rules from BtVS automatically transcend to Angel? If so, then it's okay that Angel entered Russell's lair uninvited, but when did Russell get invited into Tina's apartment?

3. Since when is Angel a computer genius? Did he take a class over the summer or something? And a search for "Murders, Young Women" automatically leads him to the victim he was looking for? Angel's going to have a really short superhero-in-training period if everything comes this easy for him. Even if he jumps in the wrong car every now and then.

4. Angel in Missoula? I thought he spent the last century in NYC? Okay, so maybe he did a little traveling here and there, but Vietnam?

But, like I said above. I'll allow you the three episode rule before I rip you to total shreds. After that, I might just have to turn my attention back up North, not to Sunnydale, but to San Francisco, with the Salingers.

[Dalton]

Lonely Hearts: Confessions of a ‘Shipper

Hello, my name is Kristen and I’m a Buffy/Angel ‘Shipper.

I make that sound like an addiction, don’t I? Well, it is.

Now some of you may not know what I’m talking about. Allow me to enlighten you.

A Buffy/Angel ‘Shipper is a person who is a firm believer in and supporter of the relationship between Buffy and Angel.

I swoon when they’re on screen together. I read fan fiction about them. Heck, I write fan fiction about them. Every time I see that picture of them together with the shaft of sunlight and the words "Love is Immortal" I sigh. I can’t get enough of the romance between them.

With that said, I have a confession to make…

I like Kate. A lot.

I can hear people gasping in shock and disbelief as I make that statement. I’m having a little trouble believing it myself. I was primed to hate her. During the season finale of Buffy, when Angel vanished into the smoky air alone, that’s how I thought he would stay. Alone.

Then over the summer, I started to hear these rumblings. Some blonde chick was joining the cast. As a potential love interest for Angel. I’m sure you can imagine my reaction.

Some of my friends still suffer from partial hearing loss.

I was of the firm belief that Angel should not see other people. Buffy? Sure, why not! She’s young. She hasn’t experienced life yet. The whole point of Angel leaving was for her to spread her wings. To have a shot at normalcy. So that when they finally do find their way back to each other, it’ll be for the right reasons and they’ll know it was meant to be. (See, ‘Shipper Gal at it again.)

But Angel has experienced life. A quarter millennium’s worth. He’s seen all there is to see and been with hundreds of women and he’s loved exactly one person. Buffy. Full stop. End of discussion. We’re done here.

There was a part of me wanting to rant and rave and scream, "What in the hellmouth is Joss thinking?" But another part of me was desperately trying to have faith in his storytelling abilities, to the point of chanting "I will have faith in Joss" as my mantra. Because there have been some pretty radical plot twists and turns that, had you told me about in advance, I would have hated. And he managed to pull them off. The whole second Slayer bit…Angel losing his soul…Angelus killing Jenny…Buffy sending Angel to hell. See what I mean?

So I kept up the chanting. I told everyone who asked that I wasn’t going to prejudge. I would have an open mind. I would put myself in the hands of the storyteller and see where he leads me.

Despite my best efforts though, I really didn’t think I was going to like her.

Imagine my surprise when not only did I like Kate, but I liked her with Angel. Not that I’m saying romance. I’m still clinging firmly to my "Angel doesn’t date other people" stance. But I can see a friendship forming between the two of them. They have a lot in common.

I know that at first glance my statement doesn’t make any sense. What could a cop and a vampire have in common?

How about some of the same things a vampire and a vampire slayer did?

For starters, they share a common line of work. They both battle against good and evil on a daily basis. Many people can’t comprehend what they go through: to be exposed to the worst elements of society day in and day out. It’s a thankless job…one that can make a person hard and cynical. The trick is finding a release. Someone to talk to. Someone who can understand and talk you down off the ledge when you feel like you’re losing it. You take turns. I go crazy this week. You can flip out next week.

Buffy and Angel did it. Buffy talked him off the ledge, literally, in Amends. He returned the favor in Gingerbread.

Neither Doyle nor Cordelia will work in this capacity. Because while they help him battle evil, the burden of saving souls rests squarely upon Angel’s broad, hunky shoulders. I’m sure a part of him blames himself for Tina’s death. For not throwing away that slip of paper. For not getting to her apartment sooner. And I can guarantee that there has to be at least one person in Kate’s past that she wasn’t able to save. Which I’m sure she blames herself for.

That brings us to something else Angel and Kate have in common. Self-flagellation. I can already sense that Kate is the "beat yourself up for everything you coulda-shoulda-woulda done better" kind of person. As reigning champ, Angel may need to be concerned about the "mea culpa" competition.

They are also both a bit awkward and ill-at-ease in social situations. During their initial meeting at the bar, it was a toss up as to which seemed more out of their element. Kate seemed to have that "foot in mouth" disease and they both seemed painfully aware of the double meaning to every word they said. It would have been painful to watch had it not been so damn amusing.

Now this leads me to all sorts of questions about Kate? What’s her back-story? Why does she seem so unsure of herself around men? She certainly threw a lot of anger in Angel direction when she thought he’d dropped her for someone better. I’m sensing a recent betrayal. Perhaps a broken heart?

Kate strikes me as someone utterly alone. I don’t even think she has a cat. Maybe a fish. She’s independent and self-sufficient and likes to pretend she doesn’t need anyone. But deep down she knows better.

Some people have said that her conversation with Angel wherein they’re trying to "make a connection" was part of some undercover work. That it was all an act. Color me unconvinced. She was a little too good at playing the part. There was an underlying sadness to her words. She’s experienced disappointment and disillusionment. She doesn’t seem to fit in with the world around her. She can’t connect to other people.

But I think she’ll connect with Angel. These two outsiders are kindred spirits. They can help each other heal and open up to the outside world.

And when they’re done, she can kiss him goodbye and send him back to Sunnydale.

To be with his one true love.

Buffy Summers.

Hello, my name is Kristen and I’m still a Buffy/Angel ‘Shipper.

[Dalton]

Angel

Allow me to say the following…

Spike. How do I love thee? Let me count the ways…

I love you when you’re funny.
I love you when you’re sad.
I love you when you’re a badass.
I love you when you’re mad.

Okay, I’m not a poet. But you get the general idea.

Last night began with a great hour of Buffy and then segued nicely into an equally amazing hour of Angel.

We started with a simple set up. A damsel in distress. A evil druggie boyfriend. Angel to the rescue. Simple and straightforward, right?

Enter Spike.

I don’t know what was being said in that alley and, quite frankly, I don’t care. Whatever it was, it wasn’t nearly as entertaining as what was going on up on the roof.

"No! Not the hair! Never the hair!"

His monologue was so funny and on point I missed half of it because I was laughing so hard. I had to rewind and watch again. Three times.

It just kept getting better from there. I had felt that Cordelia was a little off last week. Her character didn’t ring true for me on one or two occasions. This week I have no such complaints. Cordelia was perfectly caustic and tactless, as she should be.

Her reaction to Oz was a nice touch. How many of us have had that experience? You’re excited to see a familiar face. But once past the basic pleasantries, you have nothing to talk about. It was nice to be reminded that Cordelia does have a heart. A big one, as evidenced by her concern for Angel.

The banter between Cordelia and Doyle was excellent. I like the direction their relationship is going. Some snipes. A few barbs. The thinly veiled insult. Doyle is so clearly besotted with our Cordy while she pretends she feels nothing. However, I couldn’t help but notice her crying his name out in concern when he went down for the count. Me thinks the lady doth protest too much.

Doyle is shaping up to be one of my favorite characters. He’s a simple man looking for a little fun. Though his idea of fun may differ from mine on occasion. "Put on the ring and I’ll stake you! It’ll be fun." He drinks too much. He gets a bit tipsy. He quotes Angela’s Ashes. Incorrectly. And calling Oz Cordy’s little Bam Bam? Nice mental picture.

Which brings to me our taciturn man, Oz. I have always enjoyed interactions between he and Angel because of the distinct lack of verbiage. I think they understand each other on a certain level that less laconic and less supernaturally challenged folk cannot. Oz is a man of few words but he knows how to make them count. He certainly knows how to put quite a bit of menace into saying Spike’s name.

And Spike. I don’t know where to begin. He was perfect. Deliciously evil and deliriously funny. Though I am starting to wonder if he suffers from ADD. What is this the third time he’s acted rashly and scrapped a plan because he was bored? Unless that was the plan. With Spike it’s hard to tell.

Either way, Spike is a delight. His conversations with himself are just as amusing as his conversations with other people. But he and Angel? The air fairly crackles when they’re in the room together. The animosity between them is palpable. And nothing tops watching a fight sequence between them.

Angel was mesmerizing. Every week he seems to acquire new depth and be more interesting to watch. He is a master of the facial expression. I suppose he has to be, since he’s not always good with the verbal expression. But I saw it all last night--his uncertainty about using the ring and what it would mean. . .his wonder at standing in the sunlight for the first time in 200 years.

I can certainly understand his destruction of the ring. When he stood in the sun, my immediate reaction was, "Oh no! Potential moment of happiness ahead!" I think that being able to be like other people would change Angel. It would make him less tortured. His guilt would lessen in time. And that loophole is only a moment of contentment away.

He was brought back for a reason. We’ve heard this before and I’m sure it will continue to remain a central theme. Angel is on a path to redemption. He’s saving souls to preserve his own. And no, you can’t do that playing golf. Besides, can you really see him in golf pants? I didn’t think so.

If Angel could walk around in the daylight it would change the entire complexion of the show. The world is a different place at night. The darkness is a convenient cover for all sorts of evil. Angel’s ability to be one with the night, to see what others don’t, is a unique ability.

Soldiers talk about night vision. When you’re on a mission in the dark, your eyes eventually adjust to the lack of light. Once they’ve adjusted, you can see more easily. But as soon as there is a flash of light, even as little as striking a match, your night vision vanishes and you’re seeing pitch-black nothingness again.

Angel has his own kind of night vision. Perhaps he would lose that if were able to go into the light.

Plus, we’d have to stop all the Batman references and I don’t think anyone wants that.

To me, Spike’s presence made everything better. It helped take the show to another level. Based on last night, I think they’ve found their niche. Lots of action. Lots of dark humor. And keep the story moving along. Fast.

But I thought the nicest thing about the cross over was it demonstrated clearly that Angel, Doyle and Cordelia are a unit. More than working together. They’re friends. They care about one another. Having "outsiders" helped to showcase that. Angel worries about Cordelia and Doyle. Cordelia worries about Angel and Doyle. Doyle worries about Angel and Cordelia.

The relationship between these three is coming together in the same way that the Scooby Gang gelled and became a family. It’s the three of them against the world.

Now if we could only come up with a cool name for them.

[Dalton]

Angel saved another damsel in distress. But in a shocking turn of events, she was a brunette.
It was a nice change of pace from the steady stream of blondes we’ve seen thus far. Although it does lead one to ask the question, aren’t there any men in LA who need rescuing?
I suppose we should keep in mind that it is Doyle’s visions guiding them. He may be repressing the call of the other gender.
Take that joke anyway you like.
In this case, Doyle’s visions lead to Melissa. A nice, average young woman who has a problem. Her former surgeon is stalking her.
Ronald was Melissa’s doctor. He saved her eyesight and, feeling indebted, she agreed to go out with him. They went on a single date after which he became fixated on her. He calls. He writes. He sends ugly flowers that look like funeral arrangements. He pops up around every corner, concern and solicitous advice at the ready. It’s during one of these "caring" exchanges that we discover the truth.
Ronald may be a stalker, but he’s far from average.
He knows things he shouldn’t. He has details about Melissa’s life that he couldn’t. Unless he had been there. This is where the real fear comes in.
The idea that someone can see you at your most private moments. Times when you think you’re alone and have let down your guard, allowing the natural defenses you have against the world outside to slip. It is a violation in the most extreme sense.
Ronald is unsettling on several levels.
First, he exudes creepiness. Think Hannibal Lechter with less charisma.
Next are his credentials. He’s a doctor. More importantly, he was her doctor. Just stop for a moment and think about that. This is a person that you entrust your health and personal well being to. Someone who, in doing his job, has access to your persona. That in and of itself is enough to give me a wiggins.
The worst part though is that Ronald seems omniscient. He’s everywhere. He knows every move Melissa makes at every moment of the day. When she’s at work, when she’s at home, when she goes to the ladies room. He even knows the code to her ATM card.
How do you even begin to deal with intrusiveness on such a grand scale? The sense that someone is always watching you. Fixated on your every move. It’s the sort of thing that makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up.
Or to quote Cordelia, "Flesh, anytime you want to stop crawling is okay with me."
But how is he doing it? That’s the mystery. Astral projection? Maybe he implanted a hidden camera behind her eyeball when he operated on her? Some weird psychic connection, perhaps?
You’ve been thinking that it couldn’t possibly get more disturbing.
Oh, but it does.
You see, Ronald can take pieces of himself and send them to other places. That’s just … well, gross. An eyeball watching Melissa was bad enough. But his hands? In her bed? Crawling all over her? That was like a nightmare starring Thing from The Addams Family. If he were possessed. And cloned.
I’ll be sleeping with the lights on tonight. Not to mention checking between the sheets before sliding into bed.
If the idea was to inspire stomach-turning terror, Joss and Co. hit the ball out of the park. Every time I think of those disembodied hands, I still shudder.
The ick factor aside, this was another fine installment in Angel’s continuing saga.
The damsel in question was a nice change of pace. And not just the hair color.
Like all the blondes we’ve seen, Michelle was being terrorized by a man. She was afraid. She turned to Angel for help. But the difference lies in the resolution.
In the end, she stood up for herself.
Ronald stood before her, having incapacitated those that Melissa had hired to protect her, threatening and menacing. She was alone. She knew he was going to kill her. And she decided not to go gentle into that good night. If her life was going to end, so be it. She couldn’t stop him from killing her. But she wasn’t going out without a fight.
She stood on her own two feet and looked him straight in the eye. (Yes, at that point I think he might have been down to one.) She told him in no uncertain terms what she thought of him. He was a pathetic loser. A "thing". Not even human. An unlovable freak that lives its life preying on others.
And she got to him. Every word was like a physical blow. Ronald visibly recoiled at the venomous truth behind her words. As his temper rose, he seemed to be losing control of those cells he could so easily manipulate. One more barb and his head was going to explode.
Angel did come to the rescue at the prescribed moment. But I think Melissa would have been okay even without him. She’s a survivor.
Doyle and Cordy are more fun every week. It should be interesting to see if Cordy tries to bring on some visions of paying customers by bashing Doyle in the head. Really hard.
Yes, another fine installment. I wonder what’s in store for next week.
I hope the next one is a redhead.
Or Ben Affleck. I’m not picky.

Kristen Reidel

[Dalton]

The Bitch is Back

And not a moment too soon.
Queen C has been sorely missed. Not that there’s anything wrong with the human being that Cordelia is developing into. But I had been wondering what happened to the old Cordy. When someone mistook her for a hooker a few weeks ago, I waited with gleeful anticipation for the stinging comeback. The ultimate putdown to reduce that jerk to a sputtering fool. And then…nothing.
She let Doyle defend her.
Since when does she need defending? Maybe other people needed defending from Cordelia. But our girl take can care of herself. She’s not a cry-Buffy.
Granted, life has thrown her some curve balls lately. Her entire way of life crumbled around her in Sunnydale. She packed up and headed south for fortune and fame, but found neither.
Instead she has been subjected to having to work for a living when she seems to have no marketable skills. Living in a roach infested hovel. Hiding from her Sunnydale friends so they can’t see how low she’s sunk.
Still, this is very un-Cordelia like behavior.
Her reaction to the insects in her apartment was understandable. I freak out over one bug. Cordy’s apartment looked like the roach motel. No one can possibly blame her for packing up and heading to cleaner pastures.
It was a nice touch that she tried to reach Doyle first. Unfortunately Doyle couldn’t answer the call as he was getting his butt whooped by a Trekkie-wannabe demon.
Since Doyle’s nowhere to be found, she arrives on Angel’s doorstep. The interaction between the two of them is always great. Cordy is a freight train running over everything in her path. Angel is a clueless but well-meaning guy, tied to the tracks.
Well, not entirely clueless. He knew after one night that he needed to get Cordelia out of his place. Fast. So he drafted Doyle to go on apartment hunting duty. Doyle and Cordelia went from dive to flophouse looking at apartments. Most of which I wouldn’t even consider letting a sewer rat that I disliked live in.
But then they found the place. The delightful, enchanting, I-could-never-get-a-place-like-this-except-on-television, rent controlled apartment. The place is so perfect; it really has only one minor flaw. Cordelia has to share it with an angry ghost who wants to kill anyone who lives there.
And I thought the real estate market in New York was tough.
To be fair, Cordelia wasn’t willing to just walk away. I can’t say I blame her. Did you see her other apartment options?
She was trying to hang on. But the ghost managed to get her alone and just hacked away at Cordy. Over and over again.
Wherever Dennis’ fiancé is, she should be glad Dennis died before they ever got married. Would you want that woman as your mother in law? It reminds me of a line from a movie: "Your husband ain’t dead lady. He’s hiding."
We’ve established that the ghost is evil. But still Cordelia is not some weak, sniveling creature afraid of a mere ghost. She’s faced far worse. Vampires, demons, hellmouths. She’s seen it all.
That’s why it was such a relief to see her spirit back in high gear. That apartment was hers damnit and she wasn’t giving it up without a fight. That ghost was a fool. She thought she had Cordy right where she wanted her. Cowering in fear. Crying her eyes out. But then she unwittingly said the magic word and unleashed the real Cordelia Chase.
That was all she wrote.
So Cordy was doing well in the end. She had her to-die-for (pardon the pun) apartment. A new roommate who knows how to stay out of the way. Plus her equilibrium has been restored.
The same cannot be said of Doyle.
The more we discover about Doyle, the more troubling it appears. He has enforcers camping out at his home. He’s secretive and trying to hide his past from Angel and Cordelia. There’s something very wrong here. It's anyone’s guess as to what it is. I feel a story arc forming.
Angel was completely entertaining again. Plus we saw lots of skin. Which is always of the good.
I know I can’t possibly be the only one who was looking for that towel to slip. Plus, the boxers! That man is just entirely too attractive for his own good. This leads to me one of my favorite aspects of this show.
The ability to poke fun at its leading man.
Every week we have an ongoing commentary about Angel’s good looks. He is the butt of every other joke. The hair, the brooding stare and now the forehead. I love it all.
Angel is the perfect straight man. It’s his reaction to these sometimes snide, occasionally flattering remarks about his appearance that make watching so much fun. When Doyle assumed that Angel and Cordy had been…um…shall we say, intimate, he just went off. In your face jealousy. He got in some great zingers about why women, and men, fall all over Angel.
Angel took it all in stride. But when Doyle commented on the overhang of his forehead, I laughed out loud. And when Angel touched his own forehead in bewilderment, it was a certified spit-take moment.
Angel’s relationships with Doyle and Cordelia continue to develop. He seems to be a combination boss, friend, mentor and long-suffering father type. I do find myself siding with the others from time to time. Angel is a bit rigid. Somewhat stiff and out of touch. Perhaps in need of some lightening up. But there is one thing on which Angel and I are in total agreement…
A wet towel on the leather chair?
Shame on you, Cordelia.

[Dalton]

Kill them with kindness

Allow to me to reiterate how much I like Kate. She hasn’t been much of a presence lately. Every episode seems to have that requisite "Kate moment," usually comprised of her giving a speech and then vanishing for the remainder of the night.
Someone referred to her recently as an "older Buffy". I think there is some truth to that statement. She’s a strong woman with issues, working in a field that might not have been her first choice. Destiny…and the Watcher’s Council… thrust Buffy’s career as a Slayer upon her. Kate’s decision to become a police officer was motivated, in large part, by her need for approval.
Bringing us to another, Buffy/Kate parallel. Daddy issues, much? They both have strained relationships with their father. The major difference between Buffy and Kate here is at least Buffy still has Joyce. Kate is alone. Her father is so distant and uncommunicative that it’s painful to watch.
And lest we forget our Buffy history, during Career Week, what field was Buffy considered most well suited for? That’s right. Police Officer.
But I digress…
Kate seems to be somewhat of a loose cannon in the LAPD. In her professional life, she’s hard and tough and never needs to take a bathroom break while interrogating a suspect. She also knows the rules, but is willing to bend them in the name of justice. It’s that quest for justice that gets her into trouble this time.
Kate wanted to get that mobster and bring him down. She was willing to bend the rules and go outside the LAPD approved channels by enlisting Angel’s help. (No, the LAPD does not have vampires on the payroll. That we know of.)
Her gamble succeeded. Thanks to Angel and his Hawaiian shirt.
Oh and yes, the hat was too much.
But bad guys are notorious for not giving up so easily. And our villain is no exception to that rule. He just gets his big shot lawyer, who mouths off about civil rights and police brutality, to do his dirty work. This would be just like an episode of Law & Order.
Except that the lawyer in question works for Wolfram & Hart.
We already know that they’re up to no good. Plus they do seem to travel in the supernatural circles more than most law firms. And they certainly come up with a doozy of a plot against our Kate. Send the police officers for Sensitivity Training run by a scary, new age therapist, who clearly dabbles in sorcery.
Why scary, you ask?
Did you see what he did to Angel? He made him all touchy-feely. Angel really was the nancy boy that Spike always accuses him of being. No breaking and entering? Not wanting to resort to violence?
Scary.
Earlier, Cordelia had wanted Angel to be more appreciative of their efforts. She wished he’d be a little nicer to she and Doyle.
Cordelia needs to stop wishing for things.
They always end badly and in ways she never anticipated.
Although I think the memory of Angel’s hug might have cured her of that habit. Who knew that a hug from Angel could produce an "ick"? My world is askew.
Angel was…well, I don’t know that there is a word for it. I couldn’t stop laughing at his antics. Gone was Mr. Laconic. Kiss the taciturn vampire goodbye.
He was the perfect, sensitive, sharing man. "I feel you withdraw when I go vamp. I sense you judging me." He was in touch with his inner child. Happy to talk about his issues. Willing to express his feelings.
Let’s all be grateful that the effect of the talking stick was temporary.
In watching the havoc that this spell wreaked, I couldn’t help but wonder if this therapist had studied at the Ethan Rayne School of Spellcasting. This level of chaos sounds right up his alley.
The police officers wanting to bond with the suspects was a stroke of brilliance. Encouraging victims to "hear" their attackers. Cops composing incredibly bad poetry to their arrestees. And shutting down the precinct because no one cared about their needs.
Our bad guy was onto something with this plot. Make everyone nice, caring and feeling to the extent that they lose all common sense and self-preservation instincts. The entire police force was so involved with their own emotional baggage that they could have cared less about doing their jobs.
"These criminals are misunderstood and incarceration only increases the vicious cycle. Let’s open their cells and allow them the freedom to repair their scarred psyches."
Thank goodness that the sensitivity training hadn’t made it to the Federal Penitentiary.
Of course, being set free was just a means to an end for our villain. As much as he wanted out of the slammer, he wanted Kate dead more. He just couldn’t handle being taken down by a mere woman.
Talk about your issues. I think someone needs a session with the talking stick. And a group hug.
It led to his downfall. That and his inability to share his pain.
So the next time someone asks me, "Would it kill you to be nice?"
I can honestly reply, "Yes. That is a definite possibility."

Kristen Reidel

[Dalton]

Hidden Depths

Doyle, we hardly knew you.
Or should I say Francis?
It’s funny how your entire life can change in just a moment. One event can call into question your very existence. Or as another demon once said, "There's moments in your life that make you, that set the course of who you're gonna be."
Based on Doyle’s behavior to date, we have all put together a picture of who he is. In my mind’s eye, I saw him as a dreamer. Big talker, but not much of a doer. Someone who always saw his lucky break just around the next corner. He drank too much and played too hard, but at his heart he was a caring man with a lot to give.
I was both right and wrong.
Doyle isn’t a dreamer. At least, not anymore.
Once upon a time, not so long ago, he was idealistic. That caring man with a lot to give wanted to share his talents with society. He wanted to help others and make the world a better place. That’s why he was a grade school teacher. That’s why he volunteered at a soup kitchen. He was making a contribution.
And then came that moment. That life-altering event. For Doyle, it was nothing more than a sneeze. But it changed everything.
After 21 years, Doyle found out that he wasn’t the person he always thought he was. A discovery that shook him to his very core. Nothing about his life could ever be the same. Even the blood flowing through his veins was tainted. He lost his identity, his sense of self.
Suddenly, he had no idea where he fit in. Not human. Not demon. Not belonging anywhere.
This sent him into a tailspin. He had been robbed. His life had been ripped away from him. His response? Cynicism and apathy.
Not that you can blame him. How many of us have had similar thoughts? When life has knocked you down enough times, it’s hard to care about someone else’s plight. You’re too wrapped up in your troubles to concern yourself with making the world better for mankind. What has mankind done for me lately?
Instead, Doyle drinks and gambles and walks on the wilder side of life. Doyle’s badass attitude is his way of distancing himself from who he used to be. Back when he was young and idealistic…and foolish. Being that person, even being reminded of being that person, is too painful. So he pretends to be this detached cynic. He acts like he doesn’t care.
The trouble is that he does care. Too much.
Doyle is caught up in a vicious cycle of self-loathing. He hates the demon within him but doesn’t feel he fits with humans. He moves over to the seedier side of life because it’s easier. No one there expects him to be anything other than selfish and self-absorbed. But that idealistic young man is still inside, peeking out every now and then. Every time Doyle catches a glimpse of that bright and shiny, hopeful boy, he is reminded of how low he’s sunk. And that realization causes him to slip further.
How much lower can he go before he hits bottom?
Not that Doyle is without hope. His feelings for Cordelia may be the ticket for pulling him out of the quicksand his life has dissolved into. But first he has to be honest with her about who he is. Which he may never be able to do because that requires being honest with himself about who he is.
Doyle has to conquer his personal demons. And I’m not talking about the blood in his veins.
He needs to see that his life isn’t man vs. demon, good vs. bad. He didn’t change overnight when he discovered the truth of his parentage. It was only his perception of himself that was altered.
He’s running hard and fast. Away from his feelings. Away from his commitments. Away from the painful memories.
But you can’t run forever. Eventually you get tired; you slow down. And your problems are right behind you. Gaining ground everyday.
Doyle’s problems are catching up with him. Fast. One day very soon there will be a reckoning.
The only question that remains: Will he turn and face them once and for all? Or will they overcome him and take him down?
Unfortunately, I think I already know the answer.
You see, hidden depths are tricky things. They can be filled with joyous wonders and treasures untold.
But, more often than not, they are cold, dark places holding painful secrets best kept locked away. Exposing those depths to the harsh light of day can have unexpected ramifications.
I can only imagine what lies ahead for Doyle
To quote that other demon once more…
"The big moments are gonna come. You can't help that. It's what you do afterwards that counts. That's when you find out who you are."
We don’t know who Doyle is. Neither does he.
But I have a strange feeling we’re all about to find out.
"You’ll see what I mean."


Kristen Reidel

[Dalton]

But you won’t remember a thing

What is it about star crossed lovers? Why are we compelled to watch epic love stories that can only end badly? Why do we cling to the persistent belief that love will conquer all?
I wish I knew. Because if I did, maybe I could stop watching. Then Buffy and Angel would be unable to make me cry on a regular basis.
I expected angst. I expected misery. I expected to have my heart ripped out and stomped upon.
I wasn’t wrong. But I may have underestimated how much it was going to hurt to watch.
Because tonight, we all saw a glimpse of true love. That perfect, all encompassing love that poets and musicians and writers talk about. The one we all dream of. The one we’re not entirely sure exists.
For three years, we followed the development of the relationship between Buffy and Angel. From the moment she knocked him off his feet, sparks flew. And we were intrigued. Who was this cryptic guy? What was his agenda?
Buffy’s discovery that Angel was, in fact, a vampire was only the first obstacle in their path. It was a sign of things to come. Every time these two found their way back to each other, there was a new menace on the horizon ready to tear them apart again.
It was interesting to watch them as they faced each new dilemma. Unfortunately, we were so focused on watching them overcome these problems to be together that we never really saw them together.
Until a fluke encounter with a Morra demon restored Angel’s humanity.
Because for one night, there were no obstacles. It was just the two of them. No dire prophecies to decipher. No evil minions from Hell trying to end the world.
For a brief moment, they were just two normal people who loved each other more than anything else on this earth. It was sweet and tender and passionate and beautiful. It was also bittersweet and poignant. Because in the back of our mind’s, there was this voice. This tiny, evil voice telling us it wasn’t going to last.
Let’s call that voice…Joss.
Joss was smart and logical. Joss knew that no matter what happened, Buffy and Angel would not end up together. If they did…well, why would we need a spin-off? And besides, if Buffy and Angel were blissfully happy together, what fun would that be? Joss kept telling us that no matter how iron clad this reunion seemed…no matter how right they looked together…something was going to tear them part. Joss kept saying it wasn’t going to last.
Joss is mean.
The plot twist was still a bit unexpected. We knew he’d have to lose his humanity again. I figured that the demon’s blood would have a side effect that made Angel fatally ill. He’d choose to give up his humanity or Buffy would force him to give it up in order to keep him around.
I guess I should have known better. Angel is always making sacrifices for Buffy. And to be truthful, vice versa. They love one another so much that there isn’t anything they wouldn’t do for the other.
Except allow the other person to be harmed.
Angel could not stand by and watch Buffy fight evil alone. Knowing every time she walked out the door, she might not be coming back. He couldn’t live as a mortal if there was even the slightest chance that giving up his mortality could save her.
Some may think that Angel was making decisions for both of them. I would disagree. He made the only decision he could live with.
Angel once said, "It’s not the demon in me that needs killing, it’s the man." The man Angel had been once was weak and selfish. If he took the easy way out, if he placed a higher value on what made him happy than on what was right, how would that make him different? What would he have learned from two and a half centuries on this Earth?
Instead, he made the hard choice. Angel gave up his happiness for the possibility of Buffy’s happiness.
Although I don’t think he gave it up, I like to think of it as a postponement. From what we learned last night, The Powers That Be have the power to restore Angel’s humanity. We also learned that Angel was brought back from Hell for a reason. He is a warrior in the great battle that is approaching.
The battle that he and Buffy will fight together.
Maybe they’ll succeed and Angel and Buffy will finally find happiness.
Or maybe they’ll fail and they’ll die in each other’s arms.
Or maybe they’ll succeed and die in each other’s arms anyway.
No matter what, this will end with the two of them. Our star crossed lovers. Together. In one way or another.
We want to believe that love is enough. That if a love is strong and true and pure enough, it can overcome the obstacles.
I suppose that’s why we watch. Because in our hearts, every time we watch a pair of lovers being kept apart by a cruel twist of fate, we hold out a faint hope.
Maybe this time…love will conquer all.



Kristen Reidel

[Dalton]

A Fitting End

"The big moments are gonna come. You can't help that. It's what you do afterwards that counts. That's when you find out who you are."
Two weeks ago, I used this quote in reference to Doyle. I had no idea how apt it would be. Because last night, we found out who Doyle really was.
A hero.
We witnessed two of the biggest moments from Doyle’s life. The first one was years ago. Not long after Doyle discovered that the blood running through his veins was not quite human. A member of his clan, one of his kind, asked him for help.
Doyle was angry and bitter and confused. How could he help anyone? He was barely hanging on himself. So, Doyle turned them all away.
That night his visions began. The first one led him to a room filled with dead bodies. His clan members. The Scourge had come and slaughtered them.
Doyle once remarked that everyone has something they’re trying to atone for. This was Doyle’s. His transgression was turning away someone in need. Those were the ghosts that haunted him.
Last night, history repeated itself. Once again there was a clan in trouble. Once again The Scourge were threatening to exterminate innocents. Once again Doyle had to make a choice. This was his chance to make up for the last time. He finally had an opportunity to make amends.
Which he did. He sacrificed himself to save the others. He gave up his life for the greater good.
He also broke Angel and Cordelia’s hearts. Not to mention mine and the rest of the viewing audience. His death couldn’t have possibly come at a more painful time.
Because just before he left us, we saw something amazing. That moment when three individual personalities jelled and became a unit. Just as the Scooby Gang did on Buffy, the Bat Pack crossed the line from friends to loved ones. They were no longer people who were stuck with each other. They were family.
When Angel confided the truth about what really happened with Buffy, it was a milestone. For the first time ever, Angel chose not to simply shoulder the burden alone and brood. He let someone in. He shared his pain with someone he could trust. A person he knew would listen and care and support him. Doyle. Anyone who’s watched Buffy try and get inside the head of Mr. Laconic for the past three years knows what a huge step this was.
Doyle passed that information on to Cordelia. They were both astounded by Angel’s sacrifice. This brought them all closer. It was Cordelia who wanted to implement a firm ‘no secrets’ rule. She knew how destructive anything less than the truth could be. The three of them needed to always be honest with another.
Of course, there was still a secret to be revealed. Doyle tried. He was finally willing to lay all his cards out on the table. Unfortunately, that damned vision had to interrupt. In the end, Cordelia did discover the truth. She was hurt that Doyle didn’t tell her. That he didn’t have enough faith in her to trust that it wouldn’t make a difference. But once past the anger and hurt of the lie, Cordy rose to the occasion with her usual bluntness.
She didn’t care. Angel was a vampire. Doyle was half-demon. She was an actress. We all have our burdens to bear.
It was the three of them against the world.
From the moment the three of them stood together on that catwalk, it was one long sob fest. Beginning with Cordelia’s automatic protestation to Angel sacrificing himself. That was touching because it showed how much she really does care about Angel. Yes, she may bully him. On more than one occasion, she has yelled at him. But it’s because he matters to her.
Angel reaching out to Doyle, ready to say goodbye. It shows how far that pairing has come. They started out as reluctant partners. They ended as best friends.
Doyle repeating Angel’s own words about the greater good. Finally, he understood what Angel had been talking about. He could now see that there were some things worth dying for.
Angel screaming Doyle’s name when he realized what Doyle was about to do. Angel didn’t want to let it to happen. That’s Angel’s way. He’s supposed to be the one to risk everything. He was ready to die. He wasn’t ready to watch his friend die.
That bittersweet farewell kiss. We never will know, Doyle, if that was a face Cordelia could learn to love. But I think it was. I think she already does.
Doyle took that leap. He lost his life and saved the day. He was The Promised One. He just didn’t realize it.
And then there were two.
Cordelia and Angel were left behind. They reached for each other in grief. It’s now just the two of them against the world. The sight of them crying together over their loss was heartbreaking.
But it was the last scene that hurt the most. Angel and Cordelia sitting there so intent on the tiny screen. Watching Doyle. That’s all that they have left of their fallen friend. A video tape and some personal effects. There wasn’t even a body to bury.
They were so serious. As though they were trying to burn his image in their mind’s eye. Doyle … talking about heroes. Leading to the final silent blackout.
"Am I done yet?"
Yes. Yes, you are.
Fare thee well, Doyle. You will be missed.

[Dalton]

No Refunds or Exchanges

I went into "Parting Gifts" with a feeling of uncertainty. Doyle is gone. What does this mean for those he left behind?
Apparently, it means that life, as they know it, will never be the same. After seeing how drastically things have changed for Cordelia and Angel, I can’t help but wonder if Doyle’s final words should have been, "Fasten your seat belts. It’s going to be a bumpy ride."
Cordelia once told Doyle that if someone had given her the gift of vision that he had, she’d return it. Well, it looks like our Cordy is eating her words.
Guess who Angel’s new link to The Powers That Be is?
That’s right. Cordelia. When Doyle kissed her at the end of "Hero", he wasn’t just saying goodbye. He was transferring his powers to her. That’s what that lovely blue glow meant.
I’m not sure how I feel about that.
Cordelia is a great character. She has constantly surprised and entertained since her first appearance in Los Angeles. Her blunt, direct method of dealing with the world is refreshing and, at times, uproariously funny. "I think it, I say it. It’s my way."
Now obviously someone had to pick up the slack following Doyle’s untimely demise. Angel is still on a mission for redemption. He needs a liaison with The Powers That Be. Someone had to do it.
But Cordelia the Clairvoyant? It just doesn’t seem to fit.
While she has certainly come a long way since her fall from privilege, she doesn’t seem to quite be ready for the task at hand. Correctly interpreting the visions and picking up pertinent details in the midst of the migraine from hell is not an easy task. Plus, would you want to trust the fate of the helpless to a young woman who, just weeks ago, thought a burrower was a type of donkey demon? However, I’m reserving judgment until more evidence is in.
On to the next change.
The Bat Pack was comprised of three members. And then there were two. Not for long, though.
Guess who’s shed his tweed and hopped aboard a Big Dog?
That’s right. Wesley. After he left Sunnydale, he was fired from the Watcher’s Council. I can’t imagine why. Apparently those stuffy Brits held Faith’s turn to the dark side and subsequent coma-inducing head trauma, not to mention Buffy’s decision to tell the Council to take a hike, against him. He decided to strike out on his own. He is now a rogue demon hunter. (Emphasis on the "rogue" if you please.)
I’m not sure how I feel about that.
Allow me to state for the record that I have never really liked Wesley. In fact, I am the founder of the Volunteers to Hit Wesley, an online organization dedicated to smacking His Blueberry Sconeness. End of disclaimer.
He still needs a good slap. But he does make me laugh. His ineptitude in battle is amusing. Watching him struggle with his toys, not to mention falling on his face, made me laugh out loud. But we have a long way top go before I’m convinced that he has what it takes to be a full-fledged sidekick.
On to what I liked this week:
Angel and Cordelia bonding. I had been concerned that without Doyle to act as an intermediary between the two of them, the family would fall apart. Thankfully, Cordelia isn’t willing to let Angel sink into his Brood Boy persona anymore than Angel is willing to lose Cordelia. Cordelia’s tirade at Angel when she assumed he was trying to shut her out was wonderful. Angel’s concern for Cordelia, regarding her grief and later her safety, was touching. I am reassured as to the future of their friendship. The two of them are quite an entertaining twosome.
The kissing. Cordelia’s immediate reaction to discovering Doyle had gifted her with his powers was to pass them onto someone else. Cordy kissing Angel was hilarious. I haven’t seen such an uncomfortable, passionless kiss since she kissed Wesley on Graduation Day. However, based on the most recent kiss, it does appear that Wesley’s kissing skills have improved. I wonder what else our Rogue Demon Hunter was up to the past few months.
Wesley’s knowledge of demons and paranormal phenomenon. Let’s face it; if we’re going to be stuck with him, he needs to serve some useful purpose. His Watcher Council training is extensive. In respect to research and information, Wesley is an excellent choice to replace Doyle.
Angel cooking breakfast. Oh, and Angel speaking Korean. Every week, we discover more new and intriguing layers to our leading man. My curiosity is peaked. When and why did he learn to cook? How did he come to speak Korean? Was this during his pre-Soul Boy travels around the world with Darla? Angel has always been easy on the eyes but have to admit, he wasn’t nearly this fascinating when he was on Buffy.
So that’s where we stand. There was a lot to like. There was a little to be uncertain about. But make no mistake, there’s a lot worth tuning in for 2000.
One last thing. A plea. Could we please keep Wesley out of the leather clothes? Leather was not meant to be worn that way. It was almost enough to put me off of leather pants forever.
And we can’t have that.
That’s one thing I’m certain of.

[Dalton]

A Dream is a Wish Your Demon Makes

som · nam · bu · lism: (sm-nmby-lzm) noun
1 : an abnormal condition of sleep in which motor acts (as walking) are performed.
2 : actions characteristic of somnambulism
Last month, I stated that, on certain levels, I believed that Wesley was a good replacement for Doyle. I was wrong. Wesley is not Doyle’s replacement. I’m not sure that he ever was supposed to be.
Cordelia is.
Yes, Wesley will be the one to provide research assistance. He is the one who possesses that broad base of knowledge about demons and other things that go bump in the night. But it’s Cordelia who has truly taken Doyle’s place. Not only is she Angel’s connection to The Powers That Be (though thankfully we were spared having to witness those mind numbing headaches again) she has also stepped into the role of trusty sidekick. Part confidant, part cheerleader, all friend.
If you take a moment to remember how Cordelia and Angel were first introduced to one another back in Sunnydale, the constantly changing and continually deepening friendship between them is nothing short of miraculous. And friends they are. For proof of that statement, you need look no further than Cordelia’s reaction to Wesley’s accusations. The calm and firm manner in which she ordered him out of the office spoke volumes. Her absolute faith in Angel’s innocence had me cheering.
That’s not to say that her faith is blind. Cordy is a practical young woman. She lived through Angelus’ last reign of terror. It’s reassuring to know that if he ever loses his soul again, she’s willing to kill him dead in a heartbeat.
Coming from most people, a statement such as that one would seem harsh and unkind. However, in Cordelia’s inimitable fashion of thinking it and saying it, she allowed Angel to breathe a little easier. He knows that at least with Cordy, he doesn’t have to worry about her being too softhearted to do what needs to be done. She’s a true friend. She’ll behead him in a second.
For Angel, these dreams were his worst fears realized. The possibility that Angelus was somehow regaining control while Angel was sleeping must have been horrifying to him. Although, given Angel’s propensity for self-flagellation, the realization that a vampire he created did these things is only slightly less troubling.
Especially when he created a vampire such as Penn. From what we’ve seen of Angelus’ offspring, the black sheep in this family must be . . . well, Angel. The rest of them are all blood-sucking fiends in the truest form and make no apology for it. Penn, however, seems to relish murder and mayhem on an epic scale. He makes Spike look tame. He makes Drusilla look sane. Well, maybe not sane, that might be overstating the case a bit. One can only imagine how many more vampires he’s sired, as it appears that Angelus did indeed get some major neck in his day. I suspect that if Angel ever has a family reunion, they’ll put the Manson Family to shame.
As if that wasn’t enough to deal with, Kate finally discovered who, or should I say what, Angel truly is. Her initial reaction was shock and disbelief. However like the true detective she is, she immediately began the investigation process. The one surprise here was not that she discovered volumes of information on vampires but that she discovered volumes of information on Angelus.
Did someone write a book about him? Interview with the Badass Vampire? Can I buy it at Brentano’s? Has it been turned into a made-for-television-movie-of-the-week? It’s one thing for the Watcher’s Council, an ancient organization with countless texts and diaries at their fingertips, to know the history of Angelus. It’s quite another for every Tom, Dick or Kate to be able to walk into an occult bookstore and read up on his misdeeds. What would that information be filed under anyway? "A" for Angelus? "V" for Vampire? "S" for Scourge of Europe?
Naturally, Kate had her doubts about Angel after her trip to the Boogedy Boogedy Bookstore. Not that anyone can really blame her. The man has a colorful history (see "Scourge of Europe" above). That color, of course, being blood red. Her instincts told her that she could trust Angel. Look at how she mobilized an entire task force into action based solely upon Angel’s say so. But she had difficulty trusting her instincts once she realized that Angel was hiding a lot more than just his last name.
A great deal of her newfound misgivings were fueled by anger and perhaps even hurt. To discover that a person she trusted, someone she might even consider a friend, had a secret of such magnitude was unsettling. In fact, this was more than a mere secret. This was an alternate identity. Kate had no clue. She always knew Angel was a little mysterious but this? He was a vampire. A creature that, by all reason and logic, should not exist. If he could keep a secret that big from a seasoned pro such as herself, who knows what else he might be hiding.
In the end, she followed her heart. Angel had proven time and again that he was trustworthy. He had saved Kate’s life on more than one occasion. It was her chance to return the favor. Thanks to some quick thinking and ingenuity, not to mention extraordinary upper arm strength, she was able to thrust the timber through Angel’s stomach and into Penn’s chest, saving both Angel and herself.
But what will come next for the two of them? Now that Kate knows the truth, will their relationship continue as it has before? Will Kate be as willing to help Angel and give him information when he needs it? The upcoming weeks will certainly be interesting to watch.
Finally, a plea to all the fans. Give Wesley a chance. I have never been a big Wesley fan but surprisingly enough, he’s growing on me. He’s not nearly as irritating as usual. He even had a funny line. I realize that Doyle’s departure has been difficult for everyone. I too was saddened by the loss.
But Doyle is gone. He’s not coming back. Or at least not anytime in the foreseeable future. Give the writers, cast and crew the opportunity to make you like Wesley. Don’t close yourselves off to the possibility that he might be entertaining to watch.
You might be surprised. I know I was.

[Dalton]

The Ties That Bind

Sex is bad.
But we all knew that.
So rather than discuss why anyone in the Buffy / Angelverse would ever consider having sex again, let’s instead focus on the real theme.
Family.
In an odd way, Angel is, in much the same way Buffy is, a family drama. Not that it’s a drama for families. I think we can all agree that you should not be sitting down with your toddlers to watch at 9 PM on Tuesdays. No, it’s a drama about a family, albeit a very unique family.
Family is the strangest thing. It means different things to different people. Some people are very literal minded; they define family as a blood tie. You are born into this world as part of a family and you’re stuck with those people until the day you die. Personally, I’ve always thought that… well, sucked. You didn’t pick these people, but you have to spend every legal holiday with them playing out the same tired roles?
To me, family is a feeling. It’s a sense of love and devotion to someone. Not because you share the same genetic makeup, but because you share the same spirit. These are people who mean the world to you. People you would live and die for. Sometimes they also happen to be blood relations. But, more often than not, they are your friends. People you have laughed and cried with. The ones who know your darkest secrets and greatest fears. They have seen you at your weakest moments--and love you anyway.
Cordelia and Angel have that. At first, their relationship was based upon proximity and necessity. They were both alone in Los Angeles without real ties to anyone or anything. When Angel came to Cordelia’s rescue, she integrated herself into his life because she felt lost and alone in the big city. Angel allowed it because he could see how desperate she was and, truth be told, he felt a bit of that desperation himself.
While Doyle was alive, he served as the buffer between Cordelia and Angel. He could temper some of Cordy’s exuberant bluntness and lighten Angel’s heavy brooding nature. The three of them together were a well-balanced unit--until Doyle left them.
Sharing the loss of a loved one can either strengthen a bond or sever it completely. There is no halfway. You accept the burden, work your way through it and hopefully come out on the other side a better person for the experience. With any luck, the person that you started the grief process with is still by your side.
That’s what Cordelia and Angel did. They dealt with Doyle’s death together. Their success was partly due to Cordy’s stubborn nature. She would not let Angel shut her out. She simply banged on the door until he let her in. But a large part of the credit should go to Angel. He learned something very important from Doyle. The lone, brooding vampire routine only works in Anne Rice novels. Angel discovered that he needs people to survive.
So at first it was just the two of them. Angel and Cordy. Battling evil professionally, supporting and caring for one another personally.
Enter Wesley.
When he first appeared on the scene, he was his usual pompous self. Or at least he tried to be. It wasn’t as successful without the weight of the Watcher’s Council backing him up. It felt more like he was trying too hard.
But gradually, Wesley began to understand that Cordelia and Angel were not going to judge him. These two were long past the stage where they felt the need to be concerned about other people’s lives. They had enough going on in their own lives to worry about. They simply accepted that Wesley was… Wesley.
This has afforded Wes the opportunity to loosen up. He doesn’t have to be so stiff and straight-laced as he was in Sunnydale. He doesn’t have to play Mr. Tough Guy in the leather pants (thank goodness). He can just kick back and be himself. No one was going to laugh at him. Well, maybe they will laugh at him (evidence the reaction to his tears), but they won’t think less of him.
The change in Wesley has been startling. He’s almost funny. Very nearly endearing. One of the most irritating things about him was his propensity for condescension and arrogance. He was a sanctimonious and judgmental buffoon. There are some that would say he still is. (They’re probably screaming in outrage as they read this.) But consider Wesley’s reaction when he and Angel found a despondent, eight and a half months pregnant Cordelia at home in bed. She thought this must be some form of punishment. A sanctimonious and judgmental buffoon would have agreed. He would have heaped on the recrimination and probably tossed an “I told you so” into the mix for good measure.
Wesley, however, did none of these things. He was reassuring and compassionate. He vowed to get to the bottom of what had happened to Cordelia. When he took a good look at the ultrasound (not to mention when the amniotic fluid ate through the office floor), I would have expected Wesley to shriek like a woman, faint, or run away. Or possibly all three. Instead, he was stoic and cool-headed under pressure. He didn’t wish to alarm Cordelia, so he kept his emotions and concerns under wraps.
He went above and beyond the call of duty of a mere acquaintance. He behaved as a true friend. Or should we say a true member of the family.
Cordelia, Angel, and now Wesley seem to develop new layers and acquire new aspects to their respective personalities with every passing week. Their characters develop richer, truer, and deeper the more we get to know them. Every time I turn around, I learn something new about these people.
And I’m not the only one. They are continually learning more about themselves, and each other.
“I learned that I have two people I trust absolutely with my life… and that part’s new.”
I don’t know about you, but I’m looking forward to see what we learn next.

[Dalton]

Dead Men Don't Dance


And now we know why. If only we could get those Rogue Demon Hunters to adopt a similar policy.
There have been several moments of true comedy on Angel. For example, there was the time Angel hopped into the wrong Angelmobile. Or that rooftop monologue Spike gifted us with. So, yes, there has been laughter before. But never have I witnessed anything that made me double over, shaking with from the sheer hilarity of the moment.
Until now. My neighbors must think I'm possessed.
Beyond the spastic maneuvers, there were several new developments. Wesley is officially an employee of Angel Investigations. Which is a good thing, because a man who is as fond of light colored suits as he is, who tends to get roughed up and spewed upon as much as he does, must have some hefty dry cleaning bills.
The contrast between Wesley and Cordelia's attitude toward their employer is striking. While Cordy is still tell-it-like-it-is-girl, Wes is the ultimate suck up. In his defense, he does it extremely well. Bowing and scraping has never seemed so elegant. The character is developing in interesting ways that I would never have expected last Season on Buffy. Wesley is high-strung and very emotional. He cries at the drop of the hat. And he's got this thing about floral arrangements.
Um, Wes, are you trying to stop the speculation about you and Angel or merely fan the flames?
I must concede, though, that Wesley has grown on me. Yes, he is an odd duck. But he is an endearing one. And the perfect foil for Angel. I can't help it. I like him. A lot.
But this Jheira woman. Now her, we'll have to wait and see about. She is a fascinating character. A creature, a princess no less, from another dimension, who is strong and willing to fight for what she believes in. A defender of the innocent. It's no wonder Angel finds her attractive. You can sense a definite chemistry between them.
They fight very well together, and their styles seem to mesh perfectly. Which leads to the question of what else they might do well together. Plus, Jheira may be the one woman in all the world that Angel could have make love to without fearing the loss of his soul. After all, it's somewhat difficult to experience a moment of true contentment with the possibility of being charbroiled looming over your head.
Not that she's perfect. Far from it. Her definition of "the innocent" is rather subjective. She wants to save the women of her dimension. And if a few pesky humans get in the way, that's a shame-but oh well. Whereas Angel is all about self sacrifice. He's willing to give up his own life if need be to save others. This large and significant difference in their moral codes should lead to a lot of conflict and angst between them.
The other demons from Jheira's dimension were quite disturbing. Beyond the obvious metaphor for genital mutilation, the treatment of the women in their world was appalling. In our world, there is frequent debate about women being thought of or alluded to as sexual objects. It is a topic that people discuss frequently, often heatedly, without ever finding any common ground. But the world of these demons is beyond anything that they're discussing on Oprah or The View. These women were objects. Their names were unimportant. They were things. Not even considered worthy enough to be referred to as "she".
"It."
Tae referred to the young runaway and to Jheira as "it"s. Worse than even thinking of them as animals or pets. At least referencing them as a pet would imply that the women were capable of thought and feeling.
But these women were designed to be dolls and serve as mirrors. Flat, one-dimensional, decorative objects that look pretty and reflect the wants and needs of the men they serve. They have no thoughts or feelings of their own. There is no spark or spirit to them. They are dull and lifeless.
What does it say about the men of that dimension? It demonstrates that they are spineless weaklings who are easily threatened by women. Men so insecure in their own masculinity that they can only exist in a world where their mates are no more than empty shells. It's understandable. These women who escaped, who risked life and limb to flee to a new, unknown world, have amazing strength and courage. Clearly, in their dimension, the women have the balls and the men have the weapons. Yes, it's an entire race of female warriors and male morons.
Could you guys please seal up those portals on your way out? Permanently. Thanks.
NOTES
There were quite a few really wonderful small moments throughout the evening that stood out. Here are my top five picks:
#5 Cordelia asks, "When did they put in portals?" I was wondering the same thing. It doesn't bother me when The Powers That Be decide to spring something new on us like the portals. I just want the nod that 'yes, it is new'. It's a nice touch, and always appreciated.
#4 Thank you for the Return of the Dark Knight. The toys are back. And this time, they're working properly.
#3 The cell phone. That scene was priceless. From the poor reception to the inability to understand what was being said on the other end of the line to the low battery. Driving and talking on a phone are two things that were never meant to be done simultaneously. Here's your proof of that fact. Angel may have super vamp powers, but even he cannot talk on the phone and remember that he's supposed to hang a right at the next intersection.
#2 Angel, as the art historian, giving us another insight into his past. Hmmm...wonder who the vampire was in that poem? Forget a Buffy movie. The real story that needs to be brought to the big screen is Angelus' Travels Through the Ages.
And my #1 favorite moment...
"Here's the plan. We go in. I start hitting people in the face. We'll see where it takes us."
You've got to love a man with a plan.
Tune in next week. Same Bat time. Same Bat channel.

[Dalton]

Looking Beyond the Bad Seed


Doyle is gone but he’s not forgotten. On one hand, this pleases me to no end. Doyle was Angel’s friend and an integral part of his new life in LA. The fact that Angel misses him so much, he can’t bear to speak his name is touching. Angel’s guilt over Doyle’s death is...well, typical of Angel. It was a tender, bittersweet moment between Cordelia and Angel before a new vision interrupted it. However, there’s the other hand, which actually slapped my forehead when it happened.
Why? Because I can’t talk about Doyle’s death anymore.
From the moment that we first heard that Glenn Quinn was leaving the show, I felt as though I have been under siege by Doyle fans. The emails, the posts (and not just here), the angry diatribes, the campaigns to bring him back. I’m frankly drained from discussing it. I was sad to see Doyle go but I think the show is doing just fine without him.
I understand that many of you feel passionately about Doyle and want him back no matter what. I honestly do not see that happening. Ever. The fact that they used previously aired footage last night for Glenn’s voice speaks volumes to me. But what do I know? I’m just a columnist. As far as I’m concerned, I’ve said everything I could possible say. I’m feeling like a broken record. Or a demonic cheerleader on crack, waving her pom poms and pleading with people to “Give Wes a Chance”. Therefore, I’m shutting up on this subject. Feel free to continue talking amongst yourselves.
On to more pleasant matters.
Wesley continues to wow me. For someone that was so irritating and one dimensional in Sunnydale to be so interesting and multi-layered in Los Angeles, is astounding. Wesley has come a long way from the pompous ass he once was. He is still a bit clueless, as evidenced by the weaponry he possesses for extinct demons, but now it seems somehow...endearing. And who knew he was so concerned about his physique? The Thighmaster AND Buns of Steel? I’m impressed.
He’s also quite capable of being a smart ass.
“All right then, you perform the ritual.”
Wesley tosses Angel a cross, which Angel quickly drops.
“That was vulgar.”
I think Cordelia is beginning to rub off on him.
A new discovery about Wesley is that he does not seem to have had the happy, pampered childhood that one might assume. His father seems to be a shadow hanging over his shoulder. Clearly, his father was, at best, demanding and disapproving; at worst, abusive. Which leads to another theme in the Buffy/Angel Universe.
Theme One was “Sex is Bad”.
Theme Two is “Fathers are Heartless Bastards”.
Even when they are not outright abusive, the fathers in this world are neglectful and absent. For example:
Buffy’s father is the classic Divorced Dad. He makes promises he never keeps and is never around.
Willow and Xander’s fathers (and mothers for that matter) are a unique breed that I wish were limited in existence to Sunnydale. They are completely unaware of what is going on in the lives of their children.
Doyle’s father, aside from the demonic aspect of it all, was gone. Your typical Deadbeat Dad.
Cordelia’s father is a bit of an unknown quantity, though I don’t think too highly of a man who gets his family in dire financial straits and hightails it out of town, leaving his 18-year-old daughter to fend for herself.
Kate’s father is one of those borderline cases. He did everything a father is supposed to do. He kept a roof over head, clothes on her back, food on the table. But emotionally, he was cold and distant. Once upon a time, you would have called a father like that “reserved”. Nowadays, many would call him emotionally abusive.
When Wesley was confronted with the familiar taunt of a domineering father, there seemed to be a flare of recognition in Angel’s eyes. Next week we find out about Angel’s own parental issues. Seems like there’s more to it than just they “tasted like chicken”. Before Seth’s obvious love for his family, the best father figure (aside from Giles) that I can recall is the Mayor.
Insert mental shudder here.
For what seemed at first glance to be a remake of The Exorcist, the revelation that the demon was not responsible for Ryan’s actions was startling. We all work from the belief that children are good and innocent and pure. To see someone so young, with such lack of remorse or conscience, is unsettling. To hear a demon, who by his own admission relishes corrupting the innocent, describe being trapped inside Ryan as ”the blackest hell he’s ever known” was chilling. All in all, while this episode was not big on physical action, it still managed to pack quite a whollop.
My only issue is a rather glaring continuity error. Last season on Buffy, Buffy was infected with an aspect of a demon. She was suddenly telepathic. Upon discovering that she could read minds, she did what many women would do. She beat a path to her on-again, off-again boyfriend’s door to try and discern how he truly felt about her. But when Buffy came face-to-face with Angel, there was a problem.
She couldn’t read his mind. Angel explained to Buffy that a vampire’s mind is like the rest of him. It casts no reflection. Therefore, you can’t pick up a vampire’s thoughts.
Could someone please explain to me how the Ethros demon was able to figure out that Angel felt guilty about Doyle? Perhaps I missed something. Was there an explanation that I just didn’t catch? If so, please let me know. I would love to be wrong about this. Because while I will certainly concede that Angel seems to move about with a cloud of guilt and brooding surrounding him, the demon was awfully quick to pick up on what specifically he was brooding about.
This could be another case of a crucial line getting edited out. Perhaps the demon picked up on it from Cordelia or Wesley. But if that’s the case, I didn’t see it. So for me, it didn’t happen. This sort of mistake is one that we’ve seen before on both Buffy and Angel. To err is human, I know. But sometimes I just wish Joss would hire a Buffy fanatic to work for him and point these things out. I guarantee that there are a lot of people willing to volunteer for the job.
The line forms behind me.
Continuing what I started last week, here are my top five little things I liked:
#5. Good demon make up. For some reason this look of this particular demon struck me. Normally I don’t notice things like that. So for it to have caught my eye says something.
#4. Blind Tibetan Monks... Mute Chinese Nuns. The ability to poke fun at oneself is a truly great thing, which I enjoy every time.
#3. The Lizzie Borden reference. I love when they use historical events and make it their own.
#2. Angel proved that he truly is a product of the 18th Century by calling Ryan “scamp”. When was the last time, other than in a remake of Oliver!, that you heard that term?
#1. The brownies. “What’s your secret, Angel?” “I used chocolate.”
Thank you for the tip.

Kristen Reidel
2/16/2000