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Post by William the Bloody on Feb 20, 2004 10:19:13 GMT -5
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Post by SpringSummers on Feb 20, 2004 10:26:56 GMT -5
Vlad!
I hope I am the first to say I LOVE your review!!
Very insightful and well written, but I gotta say, what I loved most about it was that it was so CUTE!
Wonderful, wonderful job. Thanks for the effort this must have taken.
My favorite line (about Angel): "Happiness is terrifying to him." Kinda says it all.
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Post by makd on Feb 20, 2004 10:55:04 GMT -5
Hi, "Uncle" Vlad!
Great review, and I loved3 the way you meshed screencaps, dialogue, and analysis! Superb! Insightful AND fun to read.
Although we've all pretty much laughed and talked about this episode on the main board, there's still a lot to say...
I hope this episode's "learning" gives Angel and the Team (which I think now almost includes Spike) what they will need to fight what's ahead. Since there are only 8 episodes remaining, I suspect the final arc (of this non-arc season) will be one that will need the learning from this episode.
Hope this is the beginning of Angel's integration of self - and of seeing himself as of the good, despite the lotta demon in him.
And, I really like Nina. Looks like it's not just Spike that's helping Angel to integrate. Too difficult to accept that lesson from Spike, but he can learn from the girly-girl. 'S okay; he's learning other lessons from Spike - like tolerance for family.
oh, and I noticed that Spike no longer spits out the name, Angel. Now it's said with some affection in the voice.
Great episode, and you are to be commended for:
1 writing a great and highly imaginative review
and
2 being able to stop laughing long enough to write the review!!
As Rob said on the main board: this was the funniest Angel episode ever. And, I can't remember a Buffy this funny, either.
Thanks, Uncle Vlad. You are the best!
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Post by Anne, Old S'cubie Cat on Feb 20, 2004 11:20:09 GMT -5
Great job, Uncle Vlad!
The format (text and pictures) was great, and appropriate to the kids' show theme of the episode, like a picture book. There's so much more to this ep than meets the eye, which is why I so love reading the reviews. I can't think of anything more coherent to say than "Thank you! Well done!".
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Post by Patti - S'cubie Cutie on Feb 20, 2004 13:00:21 GMT -5
Vlad, reading your review was Smile Time for me! I love the way did it - you always take it up a notch - it was inventive, so right for the episode, clever and just such fun to read.
And inside the kewl package, there was a terrific message - I loved the hope this episode conveyed, the hope that Angel can be happy, that he can enjoy being loved, with his flaws., that he can reach out and love too.
I wasn't that impressed with Nina first time we saw her, but love her now, because she sees him and still finds him loveable- she knows he iS a hero, and thinks he's kinda sexy, but she loves him even when he's got only 3 fingers and a detachable nose. And I like that she's not perfect either. She gets all grrr arrggh for 3 days a month..
I only disagree with you on one thing. I don't think Gunn took the permanent upgrade. I think he realized that he was already smart enough, and he IS good. But we'll see.
You did great Vlad and it was as neat to read as the episode was neat to watch. Thanks!
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Post by RAKSHA on Feb 20, 2004 15:42:56 GMT -5
GREAT REVIEW, Uncle Vlad! I can't see the photos though, they don't come up....WAAAHHH! GAIL  |
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Post by Lola m on Feb 20, 2004 17:58:30 GMT -5
Thank you very much for the wonderful story, Uncle Vlad. <Climbs up on Uncle Vlad's lap to tell him how much she liked the review.>  Funny! Funny! Funny!! This ep was just made for screencaps and visuals and you did a fab job with them! I love the title of your review. Picking up on the " how you get there" from the self-esteem song. 'Cuz, really, doesn't that song apply to each of the main characters on the show in some way or another? But it really struck me most with Angel and Gunn this ep. That doctor pushed all the right buttons with Gunn - knew just where to make it sting the most. The other thing you mentioned that really struck me at the time (but I hadn't taken time to think about deeply yet) was "smile time isn't free". I remember writing this down when I watched the first time, but kind of let it languish. Really appreciate you bringing me back to it. 'Cuz if something isn't free, then who is paying for it? Who is paying for the Connor-wipe? The whole gang is, but Angel most of all because he is the one aware of it. And you know Joss isn't gonna let that just lay there. Lola |
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Post by Matthew on Feb 20, 2004 19:11:46 GMT -5
Brilliant, insightful review, Vlad.
entertaining format, topical illustrations. Incredibly perceptive reading of the actions and the motivations...
Only one complaint:
No pics of an intact Evil Genuis in the person of Mr. Ratio Hornblower.
-Matthew, who thoroughly enjoyed all aspects of your review
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Post by Cal on Feb 20, 2004 19:39:16 GMT -5
Vlad, what a wonderful, funny, insightful review!
This episode was so much better than I expected it to be. Very funny, but still managing to move the story arc along.
Only eight more episodes of THIS season left (I refuse to believe that it will be the last). Where do we go from here? I'm looking forward to finding out.
Well done, Vlad!
Cal
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Post by LadyDi on Feb 20, 2004 19:45:03 GMT -5
Loved the format of your review. The screencaps were delightful. ;D
Angel as a puppet; Spike thinking he'd be "[his] own man..." after winning back his soul. Interesting. Travers' little pep talk ("Captains of our soul") just before Council HQ gets blown to bits. We do what we can, but there's only so much under our control. No man...pire is an island. We do not operate in a vacuum.
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Post by WinterDreamer on Feb 20, 2004 22:47:48 GMT -5
Loved the review. Not only was it insightful, it was funny, much like the episode! And illustrated! I'm glad you got an episode that was so well suited to your technopagan talents.
I had forgotten about that ominous line from Polo, "Smile Time isn't free." Once again JW combining funny and creepy most effectively. I'm guessing some will pay more than others, but everyone will pay.
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Post by Karen on Feb 21, 2004 0:18:52 GMT -5
Geez, Uncle Vlad, are they gonna all live happily ever after? Loved your review, Vlad. "Sometimes the best tool in the world is a sense of humor." You got that right! You gave my spirits a lift with your delightful analysis. I hope that you are right, and that Angel is learning to accept himself and realize that he doesn't have to be perfect or be "the one" to have value to the world. If he can do that, maybe then he'll finally be whole and content. Not perfectly content, but just enough. But there are so many things he has to undo first - to untangle his friends from the W&H web.  Angel just has to get renewed for at least another year. I am so not ready to give this stuff up yet. |
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Post by Sammie on Feb 21, 2004 2:15:16 GMT -5
Fun review and great points! I'd been wondering about that Mr. Fish'n'Chips reference after I watched the episode. When I read your review it occurred to me
fish'n'chips=>tasty British treat
Mr. Fish'n'Chips=>Spike
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Post by beccaelizabeth on Feb 21, 2004 10:28:35 GMT -5
Fun review and great points! I'd been wondering about that Mr. Fish'n'Chips reference after I watched the episode. When I read your review it occurred to me fish'n'chips=>tasty British treat Mr. Fish'n'Chips=>Spike if fishes is souls and we all know why chips is relevant, sounds right |
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Post by Fisherman on Feb 21, 2004 11:47:14 GMT -5
if fishes is souls and we all know why chips is relevant, sounds right Dru said there were burning baby fishes all around William's head, right before she killed him. I've never quite figured out what that was about. Fishes = soul? Well, sole=fish. There's been other fish stuff, like Willow and her string of fishes. But I've never tried to collect it all together and try to understand the meaning of fishes in the Jossverse. |
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Angel just has to get renewed for at least another year. I am so not ready to give this stuff up yet.
