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Post by Nickim on Feb 21, 2004 15:49:39 GMT -5
Uncle Vlad,
I loved the way you did this review. Smile Time was an episode that could very easily have been really stupid, but ME pulled it off. I'm hoping you're wrong about Gunn. I really hope we get a scene where he tells everyone that he told that doc that "the high school drop-out IS the real me, so screw you."
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Post by Julia, wrought iron-y on Feb 21, 2004 21:34:58 GMT -5
Uncle Vlad, sir,
Thank you so much for the seriously amusing review, and for the emphasis on Angel's journey through it.
Unfortunately I was interrupted about every other sentencce, and so I have no coherant response to your analysis, and will probably have to wait until some ridiculously early hour tomorrow to make an intelligent response.
Julia, reconsidering the advantages of becoming a hermit
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Post by RAKSHA on Feb 21, 2004 22:02:14 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. I just wonder whether, if Angel manages to disentangle the FG from W&H with minds and bodies intact and memories of last year restored, his friends will forgive him for the mindwipe. I fear that Angel & co. are going to pay a very high price before the end. Though I think that Spike will understand, more than the others, he knows what it is to give it all up for love, do anything for love; and of course, he wasn't the one whose memory was compromised... [glow=red,2,300]GAIL [/glow]
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Post by Karen on Feb 22, 2004 0:14:11 GMT -5
I just wonder whether, if Angel manages to disentangle the FG from W&H with minds and bodies intact and memories of last year restored, his friends will forgive him for the mindwipe. I fear that Angel & co. are going to pay a very high price before the end. Though I think that Spike will understand, more than the others, he knows what it is to give it all up for love, do anything for love; and of course, he wasn't the one whose memory was compromised... [glow=red,2,300]GAIL [/glow]Gail, it gives me the goosebumps just imagining what that price might be. Angel had to sacrifice his friends' memories of Connor last season - and had to kill Connor in order to save him, as well as sell out to W&H to give him a home and help Buffy beat the First. In the Jossverse to set things right, Buffy sacrificed her life once. Spike his. Xander saved the world with love. And the Scoobies came together to destroy Adam. I wish that things will come to a head before the last episode of Angel. Even though "Chosen" was an awesome ending to the First's story arc, I've always felt that another episode to tie up loose ends would have been more satisfying. Like Rob's little scenario with the gang looking up at the starts at the end. I think I'll go reread that. It might cheer me up.
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Post by Nickim on Feb 22, 2004 7:29:22 GMT -5
Gail, it gives me the goosebumps just imagining what that price might be. Angel had to sacrifice his friends' memories of Connor last season - and had to kill Connor in order to save him, as well as sell out to W&H to give him a home and help Buffy beat the First. In the Jossverse to set things right, Buffy sacrificed her life once. Spike his. Xander saved the world with love. And the Scoobies came together to destroy Adam. I wish that things will come to a head before the last episode of Angel. Even though "Chosen" was an awesome ending to the First's story arc, I've always felt that another episode to tie up loose ends would have been more satisfying. Like Rob's little scenario with the gang looking up at the starts at the end. I think I'll go reread that. It might cheer me up. I rewatched Smile Time last night with my mom!!! This was the first episode of either BtVS or AtS that I've been able to talk her into watching. She thought it was really funny, but she's still not a fan. Oh well, I've tried. I was struck by the line about "Smile Time isn't free." Angel got a "smile time" for Connor and paid for it with the mind wipe and being CEO. The children & the Fang Gang were smiling after they had been mind wiped. The Fang Gang were all happy & excited about all their new toys at W&H, but it's a false happiness, just like Connor's, it's based on lies. What will it take for Connor and the Fang Gang wake up from their "stasis?" The nest egg needed to be destroyed to help the children. Will W&H need to be destoyed to save the Fang Gang? I know you & Karen have made similar points, but I just wanted to add my 2 cents, and try to organize my rambling thoughts.
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Post by Sue on Feb 23, 2004 13:35:02 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. Vlad, What can I add except "ditto" to this and everybody else's comments. (Which I know is lame, but ...it's all true). The only thing that could have made the ep better (for you, I'm guessing) would have been to have PAngel ride off on a PuppetMotorcycle! ;D
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Post by Karen on Feb 24, 2004 12:21:05 GMT -5
I rewatched Smile Time last night with my mom!!! This was the first episode of either BtVS or AtS that I've been able to talk her into watching. She thought it was really funny, but she's still not a fan. Oh well, I've tried. I was struck by the line about "Smile Time isn't free." Angel got a "smile time" for Connor and paid for it with the mind wipe and being CEO. The children & the Fang Gang were smiling after they had been mind wiped. The Fang Gang were all happy & excited about all their new toys at W&H, but it's a false happiness, just like Connor's, it's based on lies. What will it take for Connor and the Fang Gang wake up from their "stasis?" The nest egg needed to be destroyed to help the children. Will W&H need to be destoyed to save the Fang Gang? I know you & Karen have made similar points, but I just wanted to add my 2 cents, and try to organize my rambling thoughts. Don't apologize for your 2 cents! I was thinking this morning about what it's going to take to break the deal with W&H - and who is going to be able to do it. It has to all come down to Angel (stating the obvious, probably), but the "how" it's going to happen and what the trigger will be is what's unknown. Angel will probably realize that the mindwipe is hurting everyone and will have to sacrifice his relationship with his friends in order to put things right. But how will it all get resolved this year?
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