Post by artiswar on Aug 1, 2008 21:53:39 GMT -5
I couldn't find the old thread to post my thoughts, so I made a new one. If you're bored and want to read a fellow fan's opinion, read on, or skip to the season you want.
Thoughts on Each Season
Buffy
Season 1
Low budget. Mid season replacement. Established itself as a new and different show. Took a lot of concepts and threw em at a wall to see what would stick. Story arch is almost non-existent, and overall there is little character development. However the mythos begins here, and although a lot of things that happen here become contradicted later on in the series as it expands outward, it can be shameless fun to come back to this after the dark, draining later seasons and explore the roots of the core Scooby group at the very beginning. Aside from a couple of horrible episodes like the atrocious I Robot You Jane (which has on occasion caused me to bleed out of every orifice like I got whacked by the Blue Hand Men) and to a lesser extent Teacher's Pet, this short season is full of solid one-shots. It's cheesy and corny but I cherish it for it's simplicity, before the characters accumilated vast amounts of baggage. Plus, Buffy in a prom dress with a leather jacket over it is the most iconic image of the entire freakin series. In the context of the entire series, I have to give this season a 6/10, although take this rating with a grain of salt as it's only technically half a season, so there was quite a bit of potential that didn't get explored.
Episode Highlights
Angel
The Puppet Show
Welcome To The Hellmouth
Season 2
Bigger budget, better writers, evolved dustings. Writers really start hitting their stride this season, and really realizing what they want to deliver. In a lot of ways, this is the penultimate season of Buffy because it contains all the elements that makes Buffy a special show in spades. Another thing that makes this season the ultimate Buffy season is the fact that this is the last time that Vampires are a real threat... But oh boy. This season shines because it introduces Angelus, Spike and Dru, and together they make this season really stand out. The emotional peaks this season are gut wrenching, and the drama is pretty damn epic. It also contains the season Finale, Becoming Part 2 which just may be the greatest Buffy episode ever made (perfect blend of action, humor, and drama). By the end of it, there's no dry eye in the house. And did I mention Snyder? Jenny and Oz also contribute a lot to this season. However this season never ends up making my top 3 because of the insane range in quality. For example, this season contains some of the worst episodes the series has ever seen in Some Assembly Required and Bad Eggs (leftover dregs of season 1 no doubt) which really drag this season down for me a bit, as well as a whole bunch of very average (although vintage Buffy) episodes like Reptile Boy and Inca Mummy Girl. A lot of things this season could have been done a lot better like two-parter What's My Line, but overall this season builds on the first in every aspect imaginable. All in all, some bad stand alones, but amazing story arch. 8/10
Episode Highlights
Becoming Part 2
Passion
Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered
Season 3
Liking this season depends largely on your liking of Faith who is the major player this season. I personally love reformed Faith, but this season is unofficially my favorite season of Buffy. They really outdid themselves with the stand alones this season. Actually, this season improves on the second season in (almost) every single way. For starters, something has to be said for a season with one weak-ish episode (Gingerbread). Everything else this season ranges from solid, to amazing. There is just a slew of god damn brilliant episodes. Band Candy, Homecoming, The Wish, Dopplegangland, The Zeppo, Lover's Walk... I could just run at the mouth. No seriously, this season is freaking brilliant. The only complaint that could be thrown at this season is that it doesn't reach nearly the same emotional heights of the second season which pretty much made you bawl your eyes out at several points, whereas in this season the only real tear-jerker is the ending of Amends. Another aspect that makes this season unique, is the Big Bad. The Mayor, the Mayor, the Mayor... For most of the season the main story arch is often on the backburner, simmering quietly, and for once this approach actually works. There are such conflicting emotions about Faith and The Mayor; you want to hate them and wish they'd lose, but you can't help but love them in a way. The writers play on it all brilliantly. The last highschool year went out with a bang I must say (that's not supposed to be a pun). There's simply nothing negative that can be leveled at this season, or at the very least nothing that can stand up to the overwhelming pros of this season. 10/10 (I have one big problem with this season, it just occurred to me now, and that is the fact that Buffy gets an SAT score almost as high as Willow. HUH? It's been established that Buffy is generally pretty ditzy, NEVER studies, and one of the only things she's really good at is Slaying. HOW did she get such a high score? Cheap, cheap plot contrivance to give Buffy the option of going to any college she wants and give the viewer the false hope that she might be able to get out of Slaying one day afterall. One ugly blemish on an otherwise amazing season.)
Episode Highlights
Lover's Walk
The Wish
The Zeppo
Season 4
Ah, Season 4... In a way, Season 4 is the exact opposite of Season 2... Amazing one-shots, horrible story arch. There honestly isn't that much more to say about it... that sums it up quite fittingly. In many ways this season serves as the connecting bridge between the first three seasons and the last three... Which makes sense because the high school years segue into college, and college abruptly cuts to adulthood in Season 5 and on. I have to say though... the writers really outdid themselves with the standalones this season... I know I said the exact same thing about Season 3, but man, they went completely over the top this year, probably to make up for the terrible storyline. I mean, damn... Hush? Fear Itself? Pangs? Pure Buffy classics. Also, Oz has something resembling a character arc?? gasp!!
Anyway, the main story is terrible. It brings in a very interesting concept of Science and Militarism clashing with the New Age, but it's common knowledge by now that Joss can't write the military for squat (kinda like God can't handle money). It gets botched even further when Maggie gets killed off and Adam becomes the pointless Big Bad of the season. Now, I'm the kind of person that feels bad when everyone rags on Adam as the worst Big Bad ever, and I try to find something worthwhile about him or another way to look at him to cast him in a slightly better light, but it's just f*cking impossible. This season is also home to possibly the single most horrible and downright retarded episode of the series (Okay, may not QUITE as bad as I Robot), Where The Wild Things Are. I refuse to waste words on this episode. We shall speak of it no more. Pffah! Just like in midway Season 4 of Angel, midway in Season 4 of Buffy Faith has a stint which has nothing to do with the main story arch and functions more like a side story, yet without it, both Season would collapse in on themselves. Both stints on both shows are integral to the structure of the seasons. Just a random observation. Another observation of mine that isn't too popular is I like the resolution to Adam in Primeval as well as the fight scene, and the huge fight in the Initiative was perfectly chaotic. On a less happy note, I don't particularly care for any of the character arcs that the Scoobs have. Giles and Xander both go through a major crisis of self that is painful to watch but necessary to the overall series, and is setting them up for season 5. I don't mind Willow's character arc, I just get annoyed at how she's so adament about keeping Tara a secret from the group. And last but definitely not least, I hate Buffy's arc this season... her cutting the gang out and pretty much ditching them for Riley and the initiative was really annoying. Anyway, to end on a happy note, how about that Season Finale, huh? Damn, that is one special episode, and a poignant and meaningful setup for what's to come. Perfect ending to a not so perfect season. 7/10
Episode Highlights
Restless
Hush
New Moon Rising
Season 5
Season 5... A lot consider it the best season of Buffy. This for me slides in at number 3 however. What makes this season so special is that while it doesn't have that many standout episodes (except for the obvious), it is fantastic to watch as a whole. The flow is excellent, and the story arch takes center stage for a large part of the season for the first time. When watched from start to finish, this season is an emotional rollercoaster from start to finish, rivaled only by Season 2. Have a box of tissues ready when you watch this season. A huge make-or-break part of the season is the Big Bad. A lot of people hate her, I personally love her. It gets annoying when she whines and doesn't do much in some episodes, but I think it's mostly a writing thing. One of my main problems with this season is Dawn. If they were writing her as such a young kid, then Joss shouldn't have gotten Michelle to play her, it just makes her look really immature, bratty, and unlikable. Still, she gets even worse in Season 6... but anyway... One of my big problems with Dawn and Buffy's relationship is that you can clearly see that Buffy loves Dawn, but my question is, does she love her because she's her (fake) sister? Because they share Summer's blood? The reason I ask this, is because it just feels to me like Buffy loves Dawn by the virtue of the fact that they're sisters, not because Dawn is Dawn... This really begins to bug me, and it makes their love for each other ring hollow on a few occasions. I really like the way Buffy is forced to become an adult after her mother dies and all that, she becomes an amazingly strong character but up till that point, I hate Buffy's character arc... Then again I haven't liked Buffy's character since Season 2. She's just so egotistical, especially when she's dealing with Spike once he realizes he's in love with her. On the other hand, I liked Ben a lot, and had he not been tied to Glory, I would have liked them to give a relationship a shot, he didn't seem like the kind of guy that'd feel really inferior just because his girlfriend could kick his ass, like Riley. As far as bad episodes go, this is one of the most consistently strong seasons. Pretty much every episode has good stuff going for it, and the only weak episode in my mind is Triangle, which was just pretty bad overall. Anyway, this season is quintissential Buffy; involved story, huge laughs, major drama, tears, action... One of the best seasons. 9/10
Episode Highlights
The Body
Fool For Love
Crush
Season 6
Infamous Season 6... Along with a new network come changes, and not all of them for the better. If I remember correctly, Joss at this point was starting to get more involved with Angel, and Marti Noxon took over as showrunner (don't kill me if this is off), and this might explain a lot of the weird stuff that happens in this season. First of all, from a directorial point of view, the entire season is shot with an almost candy-coated sheen, which is ironic considering the myriad of disturbing material. No one leaves this season unscathed, and it's a provider of a whole lot of baggage for the characters. It's just horrible for everyone. This season is a huge downer to watch, but I feel it was in the end necessary in the context of the whole series. There had to be one season where the scoobies just deal with life, and see what an unfair rigged deal it can be. Which brings me to one of my most important points, and that is, this season has no freakin storyline. I mean, you got the trio, and Buffy's dealing with life after heaven, but that doesn't constitute a storyline. In fact, this entire season is a string of disconnected events, and the majority of screentime is just the characters dealing with them. And that to me is the beauty of this season, because thats how life IS. There's no storyline in life, it's just a series of meaningless events that you have to deal with. While so far so good, this stroke of brilliance also brings out the season's ugliest warts... I have huge problems with the way certain things are handled here, in particular the fact that Giles didn't help Buffy out immediately with her monetary troubles considering he's sitting on a small goldmine with the freakin Magic Box, that Willow and Tara who were living with Buffy didn't seem to get any part time jobs to help Buffy out, and the mere fact that Buffy decides early on to go back to freakin college. WHAT? She's a freaking Slayer, it has already been established that she can't have a normal life, much less a career which takes up the majority of one's time, she has to be using that time to slay. And yet, everyone goes along with it. Seriously, this is just some really bad writing. In fact, as soon as Giles leaves, things start going really horribly, and the middle of the season gets absolutely wretched with Willow becoming a magic junkie and acting utterly out of character when she takes Dawn to Rack. Wrecked can easily give Where The Wild Things Are and I Robot You Jane a run for their money for the title of Most Awful Episode Of Buffy ever. I don't even have so much of a problem with the metaphor of magic for drugs, but Marti ham-handed it so badly that it insults the viewers' intelligence, plain and simple. The trio on the other hand may be the most intriguing Medium Bad ever, watching their descent from nerdy villainous fantasies to murderers and how it affects them individually is well executed. Overall, it's extremely hard for me to rate this season, because more than any other, my feelings about this season change on a weekly basis, but for now I'll have to give it a 7/10, on par with season 4. Some really good episodes, but more mediocre and awful episodes than almost any other season.
Episode Highlights
Once More With Feeling
Dead Things
Normal Again
Season 7
YAY!! My favorite season EVAH!
No, seriously. I'm not kidding. I'm in the minority here, I know, but this is my official favorite season of Buffy. Why? Well, let's see. First of all, Buffy. I've already said before that throughout most of the show, I dislike the character of Buffy. Well, and I'm in the minority here as well, I LOVE Buffy this season. The thing is, it's impossible to have saved the world so many times along with so many lives, and being so powerful, and not have it go to your head. This season shows us a powerful warrior, above the mortal coil, growing frustrated with the shortcomings of others because she's just out of their league. This sounds really, really conceited, but this season it's simply executed really well, and I can feel Buffy's frustration. Secondly, they managed to take Spuffy, one of the most twisted and wrong elements of Season 6, and turn it into something poignant and beautiful in Season 7. Honestly, every scene between Buffy and Spike this season is gold. How bout the part where Buffy takes Spike's hand and it bursts into flames? Does it get any more powerful than that? (No.) Thirdly, there simply isn't any weak episodes this season for me. While there is only a small handful of MAJOR standout episodes in the season, it's the really solid episodes that don't quite hit perfection that make this season so strong for me. I just love going through this season, it's entertaining the whole way through. Another huge thing in this season that makes it really good for me is, and I didn't think I'd say this, but... DAWN. I love her progression this season, especially the fact that it's so subtle. The major change in Dawn here is, that for the first time, she realizes that she's NOT the center of the world. But the beauty is that she still HAS those feelings, and she still feels very much inadequate and tossed to the side, but for once, she doesn't b*tch about it like an immature brat, instead she takes it in stride, and makes herself useful to help others. This is highlighted for me in Potential, especially at the end when Xander gives her his speech at the end (Michelle looks more beautiful here than she ever has before, I think). Hmm, what else is great. I like the potentials. Some of them are annoying and bad actresses, but I like the collective. I also love Buffy's house as the base of operations. I like the Turok-Han (some of the best choreographed fights in the show's run). I love Caleb, being the Nathan Fillion fanboy that I am. I love the slavaging of Willow's character after her horrid arch last season; I love the way she's still Willow, cracking the quirky jokes, yet just underneath there is a sad, lost woman who's smiles never crinkle her eyes anymore, and will probably never be happy again. I love the way she becomes so humbled, especially about magic, and that breakdown at the end of Killer In Me? Does it ever get more emotional than that? I like Kennedy. I think she's one of the better potentials, and I like her attraction to Willow. I love Andrew. Gah. I love everything about this season, no joke. It's freakin great. If you don't like it, you need new eyeballs. The only things that are weak is The First ended up being very underwhelming in certain parts, and there are a few plot inconsistencies here and there, probably because this season ended up getting rushed, but it still doesn't downplay my enjoyment of this season. One of my main regrets is that the Scythe didn't get introduced a bit earlier on so that they could have explored it a bit more in TV form instead of doing it all in comic form, but that's just nitpicking. Favorite Season. Only one really bad episode (Help). 10/10
Episode Highlights
Selfless
Storyteller
Conversations With Dead People
Lies My Parents Told Me
Sleeper
Never Leave Me
The Killer In Me
Season 8
This comic feels less like a season of Buffy, and more like a massive expansion of the Buffyverse. Combining the franchise with Fray, and Buffy The Animated Series issues as well on the horizon, it feels like Joss is stuffing this season with content from every direction imaginable. The first arc was very sketchy to me, with moments of brilliance and solid action, but the transition can hardly be blamed, since the entire premise is completely revamped and changed, so naturally a bit of jet-lag is expected. The whole Warren coming back, while cool, just didn't make sense at all, and I think Joss dropped the ball a bit there, which doesn't happen very often. All problems were rectified for me with the amazing second arc and third arc, with all the standalones in between. Just flawless. While I was reading the Wolves arc, I found it very amusing but extremely slow, and I thought it would be one of my least favorite arcs, but after the concluding issue, I came to the realization that even the parts that seem boring at first are going to make perfect sense at the end, once the arc comes to a close and wraps itself up. It makes each arc feel like an episode, or even a mini-blockbuster. Also, the voices are generally nailed down pretty tightly, and of course hearing the characters' voices in your head as you read is the highlight of these comics. And nothing beats those moments of brilliance when you feel like you're really watching another season of the show on television because that's how much it comes to life. Brillaint. It's hard to ask for more. 9/10
Angel
Season 1
Angel's first season is rather rocky. The show right away tries to separate itself from Buffy by establishing that it will be a much darker show, yet it still relies on Buffy like it's training wheels, with a handful of crossovers to generate interest in the series. Overall the season is enjoyable, though at this point the writers are still throwing things at the wall, resulting in a season comprised mainly of stand-alones loosely connected by a main story. This see-what-sticks approach results in some amazing episodes, as well some downright awful ones. The season is at its best when it presents stories rooted deeply in Angel's past and makes use of powerful flashbacks to move the story. These episodes are few and in between but they add shocking depth to Angel's character in a way that Buffy The Vampire Slayer never did. This side of the spectrum is executed in Somnambulist and The Prodigal, both amazing pieces of TV, especially the emotional latter. The other side of the spectrum is episodes that are made great mainly because they up the emotional stakes far higher and sooner than the viewer could be prepared for and result in powerful and shocking episodes that you won't soon forget after the credits roll, and here I'm mainly talking about Hero and I Will Remember You. These 4 episodes aside, we also get the 2 episode Faith arc which is AMAZING and really gets this season going even though it's a side story. With those 6 excelent episodes aside, the season ranges from solid to weak, and things don't greatly pick up until the very last episode. As far as the horrible episodes go... There is only a handful, but they still put a hamper on a series that could have stormed out of the gate more effectively. I Fall To Pieces, She, The Ring, and Rm w/ a Vu are atrocious and rival some of the worst episodes of Buffy in their suckitude in the context of both series'. With that said, this season's main strength is the main characters, and this season stands out in my mind for the sole reason that it's the only season where the main circle of friends is very small and intimate, therefore they get huge screen time to develop and contrast each other. Plus, the season finale rocks. The season's overall noir feel that is so heavy handed in the first episode sometimes works brilliantly, though often it ends up feeling rather hokey, and gets pretty much dropped after this season as the show expands. I'm in the minority because I actually didn't enjoy the season premiere that much, in fact I almost slept through it, but at the point where Angel throws the vampire out the window at W&H, I knew I was hooked. One final note, the last episode sees Cordelia inflicted with the pain of the entire world, which has a profound effect on her character and kickstarts her character arc which will continue throughout the next few seasons. A lot of people have a problem with Cordelia's development later on, but I don't mind it because she's one of the only characters in the Buffyverse that starts out rotten and ends up very good (Faith and Spike, but both progressed VERY differently). So to those people, I must point to the event at the end of Season 1, because in my mind, feeling the gravity of everyone's suffering would spurn Cordelia to essentially strive to become a saint, and I feel this progression is a lot more organic than people give it credit. Anyway, overall I give this season 7/10
Episode Highlights
The Prodigal
To Shanshu In L.A.
Five By Five
Season 2
If season one established the show, Season 2 feels greatly like the writers sat down and said "Okay, we've pretty much separated from Buffy, where do we go from here?". With that said, this season is a double-edged sword in that it tries a lot of different things, and not all of them work. The main story arch is amazing and emotional, full of twists and turns, yet out of the actual 22 episodes, takes up only a fraction of the overall time. The season is at it's worst when it does stand-alones unrelated to the main plot. These episodes are done even worse than in the previous season, and not only are they incredibly hokey and cheesy, they don't even add much character development, or progress anything, so at the end of the sh*tfest, you're left saying to yourself "yeah.... so what?". Episodes that fit in this category for me are First Impressions, Untouched, and The Thin Dead Line. HORRIBLE episodes with little to any redeeming value in them. Unfortunately for the season, there are other stand-alones which actually do progress things a bit, however are still really bad like Judgement, Happy Anniversary, and Guise Will Be Guise. That's about one quarter of the entire season that is Angel at its worst, however the episodes that progress the storyline are amazing, and there are a few stand-alones that actually work for me, like The Shroud Of Rahmon which is mindless (literally) but so very entertaining, and the daring and unique Are You Now Or Have You Ever Been. In a lot of ways this season reminds me of season 2 of Buffy, in that there's horrible episodes here and there, but the actual story is riveting and well executed. Episodes like Darla and The Trial are exhausting emotional rollercoasters executed with artistic grace, and Reunion, Redefinition, Reprise, and Epiphany are jaw dropping masterpieces that literally twist the show's whole ideology on it's head. The character progression for Angel in this season is simply tremendous. Angel goes from his utter worst when he fails to save Darla, sinks even lower when he sleeps with her in Reprise and gives up on the world, the most numbing moment of horror in the series for me, and then rises taller than ever in Epiphany when he gives his speech to Kate about the meaning of life. This is stirring stuff, that cannot be denied. Although this season tends to fall off my radar in the wake of more packed fast-paced later seasons, I never forget the emotional impact of what happens this season. Finally, the 4 episode Pylea arc at the end of the season solidifies that the show has become a completely separate entity from Buffy, be it for better or worst, and really reiterates my opening statement of the writers not really sure of where to take the series and their willingness to try completely off-the-wall ideas. Overall, good season, better than the first, and about on par with Season 2 of Buffy, or maybe a tiny notch below. However I'll give it 8/10. Yay Lorne!
Episode Highlights
Redefinition
Reprise
Darla
Season 3
While season 2 felt like the writers were a little lost as they tried hard to disassociate Angel from its mothershow, Season 3 feels in every way like a series that has shed it's overshadowing counterpart in favor of its own style and flavor. In fact, the very first episode deals exclusively with Angel putting Buffy behind him and moving on, and after this episode there is barely any mention of Buffy, as the Fang Gang has its hands full with its own problems that are more compelling and tragic than Buffy's concurrent season. I enjoyed Holtz as a villain quite a lot, I though he had a classy Anthony Hopkins vibe that felt out of place in the Angelverse, but to me was all the more cool for it. I absolutely loved the role-reversal of the protagonist vampire versus the fallen antagonistic vampire hunter, and the morally complex issues that stem from their battle. I have to agree with Bryan Lynch, and say that the Baby arch was the most compelling to me in probably the whole series, and I literally could not put the episodes down, it was so addictive and compelling. Darla's redemption and her relationship with Connor in her womb was one of the shining highlights of the season for me, and it's climax in the emotionally overwrought Lullaby left me stunned and in tears at Darla's sacrifice as well as the amazing acting and the caliber of the writing. Cordelia and Wesley have huge character development this season that is great to watch and adds great texture to their characters. Even Angel has some progression, especially with Connor, though not nearly as much as last season. Which brings me to Connor, who I absolutely loved in this season, and the pretty short run of episodes which included him as a young adult towards the end. His twisted morality and black and white view of good and evil was a stark contrast in a season full of shades of gray, and Vincent Kartheiser did a remarkable job with the character this season. This is also a contrast to how bad the writers would mess up his character further down the line, but in Season 3 I have the pleasure of greatly enjoying his character. Despite all the great things about this season, there are problems, and factors that detract from the finished product. Justine was a weak character that was written in and served very little purpose, and was just plain written badly. The only saving graces about her was the actress portraying her and her relationship with Holtz. Furthermore, I have issues with how fast Cordy drops Wesley after his betrayal considering how close they were in previous seasons; when she returns from her holiday she doesn't seem very concerned about Wes, and it bugs me. I also found the abrupt pairings midway in the season pretty hard to swallow considering how they all happened at once. Although Groo had some funny lines here and there, I just didn't really like having him around, he didn't add much besides comic relief and making Angel's character act like a dumb-ass. Another weak aspect was Holtz's little army... That plotline was very stagnant and added literally nothing. Also, though Sahjan was a funny and interesting villain, the big reveal that his goal is to kill Connor was anti-climatic and disappointing after all the buildup. Besides these problems, there were a few weak-ish stand-alones that could have been stronger, and Fred's character, though an utter joy to me whenever she's on-screen, had little to no development this season (besides Fredless). Though it sounds like I have a lot of problems with this season, they fall by the wayside in light of all the strong aspects. Overall, this is one of the best seasons, and the one where the writers really hit their stride and solidified the show as its own unique beast. I give it 8.5/10
Episode Highlights
Lullaby
Benediction
Sleep Tight
That Old Gang Of Mine
Waiting In The Wings
Season 4
There isn't much that can be said about Season 4 that hasn't been said before. For me, the strong aspects of the season are even better than Season 3, but it's flaws are even worse, making it a pretty double-edged sword. If the third season established the show as its own series without Buffy as its training-wheels, Season 4 takes everything from before and turns it up by about 10 notches. This is an attitude by the writers, producers and directors that filters through every aspect of this season. The first thing that tipped me off about this, was in Ground State, when the writers gives us a flashback backstory for a minor recurring character of Gwen Raiden, something that normally they probably wouldn't have bothered. The fight scenes are extremely epic and cinematic, and when they take place you feel like you're in a movie theatre watching a blockbuster; Apocalypse Nowish. Enough said. I love the huge overarching storyline that makes the whole product feel like one very long 20 hour movie. This was utterly fascinating to me, and unheard of in serialized television, and the writers risked a great drop in ratings as newcomers would have no idea what was happening if they missed just one episode. To me, this was a brave move and a treat to the hardcore fans in my opinion. I love this epic storytelling style, and the cliffhangers killed me at the end of each episode, forcing me to watch the whole season in fast succession. This is to me the most engrossing season by far, and at the same time the darkest and most apocalyptic. Whether you like it or not, it feels HUGE. However there is a steep price for such a huge story; For one thing, Cordelia's character gets utterly axed, and is relegated to little more than a plot device (never piss off Joss). Connor's character is also pretty badly botched, whittling him down to a paper-thin, humorless dolt that has one trademark: Always doing the wrong thing. The only points of redemption for Connor as a character are in his tear-jerking speech in Peace Out which sheds a lot of light on the character's intentions, and his compelling, bittersweet resolution in Home. Another fatal flaw is the season's final arc which had to be hurriedly re-written by no fault of the writers (damn you Charisma Carpenter) and resulted in a subpar plotline that, despite minor redeeming qualities (Oh Jasmine, you came and you gave...), falls pretty heavily on its face. Not only that, but the sickening relationship between Connor and Cordy is like nails on a chalkboard to most viewers, not just because of it's incestuousness (Connor has sex with his surrogate mother who is possessed by his DAUGHTER trying to give birth to herself), but because the actors have NO chemistry between them whatsoever. The result of these two characters on-screen interacting is more painful than watching Keanu Reeves trying to express emotion. Like in Season 4 of Buffy, the multi-episode Faith arc balances this season out and keeps it from sinking, and it's just awesome (plus guest appearance of Alyson Hannigan never hurt anybody). It provides a much needed balance in the season between the amazing streaks of great writing, and the downright horrible moments. On the plus side, the character development for Wesley, Lilah, and Fred is astounding, and Wes himself is the single most complex and jaw-dropping evolution in the history of television. Plus Angelus freakin' rocks, and causes devastation even when he's locked behind bars. Overall, this season is very near and dear to my heart despite it's fatal shortcomings, and I'll never forget what an experience it was watching it that first time without knowing what was gonna happen next (Cordy killed Lilah?? What?? Angelus is back?? WHAT??? WHAT?? They're taking over Wolfram & Hart?? WHAAATTT???). It's a dark and twisted season that is draining to watch, as all the episodes tend to bleed together under the shadow of a grander overarching story, but the experience is that much more rewarding for it. I give it 9/10
Episode Highlights
Deep Down
Supersymmetry
Spin The Bottle
Awakening
Apocalypse Nowish
Salvage
Release
Season 5
The best season of Angel. The show is revamped with a redefined premise separate from that of the series thus far, and the network forced the show to be very serialized after last season, squashing any multi-episode arcs that the writers might have cooked up. Knowing this before I jumped into the season, I feared the worst, as the standalones are often my least favorite of all Angel episodes, and I primarily crave for the big 'to be continued' stories. In the end though, I think the writers did the best they could with the new format, and the season still managed to maintain a wealth of depth despite the confines of the new episodic format. I think in the end, this format was appropriate for the final season of Angel (although they weren't sure at the time) because it lets the writers serve the plot in small morsels, with each morsel having a distinct flavor. You have monster of the day episodes, you have the humorous episodes, you have the serious episodes, and you have the downright tragic episodes. Overall, it epitomizes the show. There's some really weak episodes this season, like The Cautionary Tale Of Numero Cinco, and the first 3 episodes are just boring and feel off (I don't think the writers caught their groove with the new format yet). But for every bad episode you have a Hole In The World, Shells, Not Fade Away, Destiny, Lineage. In other words, masterpieces. This is a really short analysis, I know, considering that this is my favorite season, but in all honesty I don't see the point of dissecting any of the character development and plot lines and what I thought of them, because there's just no point. This season in my opinion just has to be watched by the viewer to formulate their own opinion. It has its highs and lows, but is essentially the best season of Angel because it has pretty much a little bit of everything, and then a little bit more. 10/10
Episode Highlights
Shells
A Hole In The World
Not Fade Away
After The Fall
In my opinion, the transition from television to comic book was a lot more graceful than Buffy. The first 5 issues blow my mind; a combination of unique and deliciously noir art, and Bryan Lynch's awesome writing. I ate the first 5 issues up. The First Night series is to me the lowpoint of After The Fall by far. None of the stories were bad, but nearly all of them were pointless, especially the Gunn and Gwen stories. The only First Night story that I felt wasn't a waste of time, was Connor's because he met up with Kate and gained a morsel of wisdom indirectly from his father without realizing it. The mini-series isn't bad, just a bit pointless, and it bogs down the pace of the main storyline considerably. Thankfully, the last 2 issues freaking rocked, plain and simple, so I'm looking forward to the conclusion like a madman. 8.5/10
Spike After The Fall
Awesome first issue, amazing writing and good art, Lynch nailed Spike's voice to a T, plain and simple. Also the short Fred moments are so sweet and melt my heart ("he was feeling oogly"). Only complaint is the cliffhanger is a little ineffectual since we already know that Spike teams up with Spider and the girls, and there's yet to be a sign of the main baddie. However this is pure nitpicking since it's just the first issue. It's just amazing so far. 10/10
Thoughts on Each Season
Buffy
Season 1
Low budget. Mid season replacement. Established itself as a new and different show. Took a lot of concepts and threw em at a wall to see what would stick. Story arch is almost non-existent, and overall there is little character development. However the mythos begins here, and although a lot of things that happen here become contradicted later on in the series as it expands outward, it can be shameless fun to come back to this after the dark, draining later seasons and explore the roots of the core Scooby group at the very beginning. Aside from a couple of horrible episodes like the atrocious I Robot You Jane (which has on occasion caused me to bleed out of every orifice like I got whacked by the Blue Hand Men) and to a lesser extent Teacher's Pet, this short season is full of solid one-shots. It's cheesy and corny but I cherish it for it's simplicity, before the characters accumilated vast amounts of baggage. Plus, Buffy in a prom dress with a leather jacket over it is the most iconic image of the entire freakin series. In the context of the entire series, I have to give this season a 6/10, although take this rating with a grain of salt as it's only technically half a season, so there was quite a bit of potential that didn't get explored.
Episode Highlights
Angel
The Puppet Show
Welcome To The Hellmouth
Season 2
Bigger budget, better writers, evolved dustings. Writers really start hitting their stride this season, and really realizing what they want to deliver. In a lot of ways, this is the penultimate season of Buffy because it contains all the elements that makes Buffy a special show in spades. Another thing that makes this season the ultimate Buffy season is the fact that this is the last time that Vampires are a real threat... But oh boy. This season shines because it introduces Angelus, Spike and Dru, and together they make this season really stand out. The emotional peaks this season are gut wrenching, and the drama is pretty damn epic. It also contains the season Finale, Becoming Part 2 which just may be the greatest Buffy episode ever made (perfect blend of action, humor, and drama). By the end of it, there's no dry eye in the house. And did I mention Snyder? Jenny and Oz also contribute a lot to this season. However this season never ends up making my top 3 because of the insane range in quality. For example, this season contains some of the worst episodes the series has ever seen in Some Assembly Required and Bad Eggs (leftover dregs of season 1 no doubt) which really drag this season down for me a bit, as well as a whole bunch of very average (although vintage Buffy) episodes like Reptile Boy and Inca Mummy Girl. A lot of things this season could have been done a lot better like two-parter What's My Line, but overall this season builds on the first in every aspect imaginable. All in all, some bad stand alones, but amazing story arch. 8/10
Episode Highlights
Becoming Part 2
Passion
Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered
Season 3
Liking this season depends largely on your liking of Faith who is the major player this season. I personally love reformed Faith, but this season is unofficially my favorite season of Buffy. They really outdid themselves with the stand alones this season. Actually, this season improves on the second season in (almost) every single way. For starters, something has to be said for a season with one weak-ish episode (Gingerbread). Everything else this season ranges from solid, to amazing. There is just a slew of god damn brilliant episodes. Band Candy, Homecoming, The Wish, Dopplegangland, The Zeppo, Lover's Walk... I could just run at the mouth. No seriously, this season is freaking brilliant. The only complaint that could be thrown at this season is that it doesn't reach nearly the same emotional heights of the second season which pretty much made you bawl your eyes out at several points, whereas in this season the only real tear-jerker is the ending of Amends. Another aspect that makes this season unique, is the Big Bad. The Mayor, the Mayor, the Mayor... For most of the season the main story arch is often on the backburner, simmering quietly, and for once this approach actually works. There are such conflicting emotions about Faith and The Mayor; you want to hate them and wish they'd lose, but you can't help but love them in a way. The writers play on it all brilliantly. The last highschool year went out with a bang I must say (that's not supposed to be a pun). There's simply nothing negative that can be leveled at this season, or at the very least nothing that can stand up to the overwhelming pros of this season. 10/10 (I have one big problem with this season, it just occurred to me now, and that is the fact that Buffy gets an SAT score almost as high as Willow. HUH? It's been established that Buffy is generally pretty ditzy, NEVER studies, and one of the only things she's really good at is Slaying. HOW did she get such a high score? Cheap, cheap plot contrivance to give Buffy the option of going to any college she wants and give the viewer the false hope that she might be able to get out of Slaying one day afterall. One ugly blemish on an otherwise amazing season.)
Episode Highlights
Lover's Walk
The Wish
The Zeppo
Season 4
Ah, Season 4... In a way, Season 4 is the exact opposite of Season 2... Amazing one-shots, horrible story arch. There honestly isn't that much more to say about it... that sums it up quite fittingly. In many ways this season serves as the connecting bridge between the first three seasons and the last three... Which makes sense because the high school years segue into college, and college abruptly cuts to adulthood in Season 5 and on. I have to say though... the writers really outdid themselves with the standalones this season... I know I said the exact same thing about Season 3, but man, they went completely over the top this year, probably to make up for the terrible storyline. I mean, damn... Hush? Fear Itself? Pangs? Pure Buffy classics. Also, Oz has something resembling a character arc?? gasp!!
Anyway, the main story is terrible. It brings in a very interesting concept of Science and Militarism clashing with the New Age, but it's common knowledge by now that Joss can't write the military for squat (kinda like God can't handle money). It gets botched even further when Maggie gets killed off and Adam becomes the pointless Big Bad of the season. Now, I'm the kind of person that feels bad when everyone rags on Adam as the worst Big Bad ever, and I try to find something worthwhile about him or another way to look at him to cast him in a slightly better light, but it's just f*cking impossible. This season is also home to possibly the single most horrible and downright retarded episode of the series (Okay, may not QUITE as bad as I Robot), Where The Wild Things Are. I refuse to waste words on this episode. We shall speak of it no more. Pffah! Just like in midway Season 4 of Angel, midway in Season 4 of Buffy Faith has a stint which has nothing to do with the main story arch and functions more like a side story, yet without it, both Season would collapse in on themselves. Both stints on both shows are integral to the structure of the seasons. Just a random observation. Another observation of mine that isn't too popular is I like the resolution to Adam in Primeval as well as the fight scene, and the huge fight in the Initiative was perfectly chaotic. On a less happy note, I don't particularly care for any of the character arcs that the Scoobs have. Giles and Xander both go through a major crisis of self that is painful to watch but necessary to the overall series, and is setting them up for season 5. I don't mind Willow's character arc, I just get annoyed at how she's so adament about keeping Tara a secret from the group. And last but definitely not least, I hate Buffy's arc this season... her cutting the gang out and pretty much ditching them for Riley and the initiative was really annoying. Anyway, to end on a happy note, how about that Season Finale, huh? Damn, that is one special episode, and a poignant and meaningful setup for what's to come. Perfect ending to a not so perfect season. 7/10Episode Highlights
Restless
Hush
New Moon Rising
Season 5
Season 5... A lot consider it the best season of Buffy. This for me slides in at number 3 however. What makes this season so special is that while it doesn't have that many standout episodes (except for the obvious), it is fantastic to watch as a whole. The flow is excellent, and the story arch takes center stage for a large part of the season for the first time. When watched from start to finish, this season is an emotional rollercoaster from start to finish, rivaled only by Season 2. Have a box of tissues ready when you watch this season. A huge make-or-break part of the season is the Big Bad. A lot of people hate her, I personally love her. It gets annoying when she whines and doesn't do much in some episodes, but I think it's mostly a writing thing. One of my main problems with this season is Dawn. If they were writing her as such a young kid, then Joss shouldn't have gotten Michelle to play her, it just makes her look really immature, bratty, and unlikable. Still, she gets even worse in Season 6... but anyway... One of my big problems with Dawn and Buffy's relationship is that you can clearly see that Buffy loves Dawn, but my question is, does she love her because she's her (fake) sister? Because they share Summer's blood? The reason I ask this, is because it just feels to me like Buffy loves Dawn by the virtue of the fact that they're sisters, not because Dawn is Dawn... This really begins to bug me, and it makes their love for each other ring hollow on a few occasions. I really like the way Buffy is forced to become an adult after her mother dies and all that, she becomes an amazingly strong character but up till that point, I hate Buffy's character arc... Then again I haven't liked Buffy's character since Season 2. She's just so egotistical, especially when she's dealing with Spike once he realizes he's in love with her. On the other hand, I liked Ben a lot, and had he not been tied to Glory, I would have liked them to give a relationship a shot, he didn't seem like the kind of guy that'd feel really inferior just because his girlfriend could kick his ass, like Riley. As far as bad episodes go, this is one of the most consistently strong seasons. Pretty much every episode has good stuff going for it, and the only weak episode in my mind is Triangle, which was just pretty bad overall. Anyway, this season is quintissential Buffy; involved story, huge laughs, major drama, tears, action... One of the best seasons. 9/10
Episode Highlights
The Body
Fool For Love
Crush
Season 6
Infamous Season 6... Along with a new network come changes, and not all of them for the better. If I remember correctly, Joss at this point was starting to get more involved with Angel, and Marti Noxon took over as showrunner (don't kill me if this is off), and this might explain a lot of the weird stuff that happens in this season. First of all, from a directorial point of view, the entire season is shot with an almost candy-coated sheen, which is ironic considering the myriad of disturbing material. No one leaves this season unscathed, and it's a provider of a whole lot of baggage for the characters. It's just horrible for everyone. This season is a huge downer to watch, but I feel it was in the end necessary in the context of the whole series. There had to be one season where the scoobies just deal with life, and see what an unfair rigged deal it can be. Which brings me to one of my most important points, and that is, this season has no freakin storyline. I mean, you got the trio, and Buffy's dealing with life after heaven, but that doesn't constitute a storyline. In fact, this entire season is a string of disconnected events, and the majority of screentime is just the characters dealing with them. And that to me is the beauty of this season, because thats how life IS. There's no storyline in life, it's just a series of meaningless events that you have to deal with. While so far so good, this stroke of brilliance also brings out the season's ugliest warts... I have huge problems with the way certain things are handled here, in particular the fact that Giles didn't help Buffy out immediately with her monetary troubles considering he's sitting on a small goldmine with the freakin Magic Box, that Willow and Tara who were living with Buffy didn't seem to get any part time jobs to help Buffy out, and the mere fact that Buffy decides early on to go back to freakin college. WHAT? She's a freaking Slayer, it has already been established that she can't have a normal life, much less a career which takes up the majority of one's time, she has to be using that time to slay. And yet, everyone goes along with it. Seriously, this is just some really bad writing. In fact, as soon as Giles leaves, things start going really horribly, and the middle of the season gets absolutely wretched with Willow becoming a magic junkie and acting utterly out of character when she takes Dawn to Rack. Wrecked can easily give Where The Wild Things Are and I Robot You Jane a run for their money for the title of Most Awful Episode Of Buffy ever. I don't even have so much of a problem with the metaphor of magic for drugs, but Marti ham-handed it so badly that it insults the viewers' intelligence, plain and simple. The trio on the other hand may be the most intriguing Medium Bad ever, watching their descent from nerdy villainous fantasies to murderers and how it affects them individually is well executed. Overall, it's extremely hard for me to rate this season, because more than any other, my feelings about this season change on a weekly basis, but for now I'll have to give it a 7/10, on par with season 4. Some really good episodes, but more mediocre and awful episodes than almost any other season.
Episode Highlights
Once More With Feeling
Dead Things
Normal Again
Season 7
YAY!! My favorite season EVAH!
No, seriously. I'm not kidding. I'm in the minority here, I know, but this is my official favorite season of Buffy. Why? Well, let's see. First of all, Buffy. I've already said before that throughout most of the show, I dislike the character of Buffy. Well, and I'm in the minority here as well, I LOVE Buffy this season. The thing is, it's impossible to have saved the world so many times along with so many lives, and being so powerful, and not have it go to your head. This season shows us a powerful warrior, above the mortal coil, growing frustrated with the shortcomings of others because she's just out of their league. This sounds really, really conceited, but this season it's simply executed really well, and I can feel Buffy's frustration. Secondly, they managed to take Spuffy, one of the most twisted and wrong elements of Season 6, and turn it into something poignant and beautiful in Season 7. Honestly, every scene between Buffy and Spike this season is gold. How bout the part where Buffy takes Spike's hand and it bursts into flames? Does it get any more powerful than that? (No.) Thirdly, there simply isn't any weak episodes this season for me. While there is only a small handful of MAJOR standout episodes in the season, it's the really solid episodes that don't quite hit perfection that make this season so strong for me. I just love going through this season, it's entertaining the whole way through. Another huge thing in this season that makes it really good for me is, and I didn't think I'd say this, but... DAWN. I love her progression this season, especially the fact that it's so subtle. The major change in Dawn here is, that for the first time, she realizes that she's NOT the center of the world. But the beauty is that she still HAS those feelings, and she still feels very much inadequate and tossed to the side, but for once, she doesn't b*tch about it like an immature brat, instead she takes it in stride, and makes herself useful to help others. This is highlighted for me in Potential, especially at the end when Xander gives her his speech at the end (Michelle looks more beautiful here than she ever has before, I think). Hmm, what else is great. I like the potentials. Some of them are annoying and bad actresses, but I like the collective. I also love Buffy's house as the base of operations. I like the Turok-Han (some of the best choreographed fights in the show's run). I love Caleb, being the Nathan Fillion fanboy that I am. I love the slavaging of Willow's character after her horrid arch last season; I love the way she's still Willow, cracking the quirky jokes, yet just underneath there is a sad, lost woman who's smiles never crinkle her eyes anymore, and will probably never be happy again. I love the way she becomes so humbled, especially about magic, and that breakdown at the end of Killer In Me? Does it ever get more emotional than that? I like Kennedy. I think she's one of the better potentials, and I like her attraction to Willow. I love Andrew. Gah. I love everything about this season, no joke. It's freakin great. If you don't like it, you need new eyeballs. The only things that are weak is The First ended up being very underwhelming in certain parts, and there are a few plot inconsistencies here and there, probably because this season ended up getting rushed, but it still doesn't downplay my enjoyment of this season. One of my main regrets is that the Scythe didn't get introduced a bit earlier on so that they could have explored it a bit more in TV form instead of doing it all in comic form, but that's just nitpicking. Favorite Season. Only one really bad episode (Help). 10/10Episode Highlights
Selfless
Storyteller
Conversations With Dead People
Lies My Parents Told Me
Sleeper
Never Leave Me
The Killer In Me
Season 8
This comic feels less like a season of Buffy, and more like a massive expansion of the Buffyverse. Combining the franchise with Fray, and Buffy The Animated Series issues as well on the horizon, it feels like Joss is stuffing this season with content from every direction imaginable. The first arc was very sketchy to me, with moments of brilliance and solid action, but the transition can hardly be blamed, since the entire premise is completely revamped and changed, so naturally a bit of jet-lag is expected. The whole Warren coming back, while cool, just didn't make sense at all, and I think Joss dropped the ball a bit there, which doesn't happen very often. All problems were rectified for me with the amazing second arc and third arc, with all the standalones in between. Just flawless. While I was reading the Wolves arc, I found it very amusing but extremely slow, and I thought it would be one of my least favorite arcs, but after the concluding issue, I came to the realization that even the parts that seem boring at first are going to make perfect sense at the end, once the arc comes to a close and wraps itself up. It makes each arc feel like an episode, or even a mini-blockbuster. Also, the voices are generally nailed down pretty tightly, and of course hearing the characters' voices in your head as you read is the highlight of these comics. And nothing beats those moments of brilliance when you feel like you're really watching another season of the show on television because that's how much it comes to life. Brillaint. It's hard to ask for more. 9/10
Angel
Season 1
Angel's first season is rather rocky. The show right away tries to separate itself from Buffy by establishing that it will be a much darker show, yet it still relies on Buffy like it's training wheels, with a handful of crossovers to generate interest in the series. Overall the season is enjoyable, though at this point the writers are still throwing things at the wall, resulting in a season comprised mainly of stand-alones loosely connected by a main story. This see-what-sticks approach results in some amazing episodes, as well some downright awful ones. The season is at its best when it presents stories rooted deeply in Angel's past and makes use of powerful flashbacks to move the story. These episodes are few and in between but they add shocking depth to Angel's character in a way that Buffy The Vampire Slayer never did. This side of the spectrum is executed in Somnambulist and The Prodigal, both amazing pieces of TV, especially the emotional latter. The other side of the spectrum is episodes that are made great mainly because they up the emotional stakes far higher and sooner than the viewer could be prepared for and result in powerful and shocking episodes that you won't soon forget after the credits roll, and here I'm mainly talking about Hero and I Will Remember You. These 4 episodes aside, we also get the 2 episode Faith arc which is AMAZING and really gets this season going even though it's a side story. With those 6 excelent episodes aside, the season ranges from solid to weak, and things don't greatly pick up until the very last episode. As far as the horrible episodes go... There is only a handful, but they still put a hamper on a series that could have stormed out of the gate more effectively. I Fall To Pieces, She, The Ring, and Rm w/ a Vu are atrocious and rival some of the worst episodes of Buffy in their suckitude in the context of both series'. With that said, this season's main strength is the main characters, and this season stands out in my mind for the sole reason that it's the only season where the main circle of friends is very small and intimate, therefore they get huge screen time to develop and contrast each other. Plus, the season finale rocks. The season's overall noir feel that is so heavy handed in the first episode sometimes works brilliantly, though often it ends up feeling rather hokey, and gets pretty much dropped after this season as the show expands. I'm in the minority because I actually didn't enjoy the season premiere that much, in fact I almost slept through it, but at the point where Angel throws the vampire out the window at W&H, I knew I was hooked. One final note, the last episode sees Cordelia inflicted with the pain of the entire world, which has a profound effect on her character and kickstarts her character arc which will continue throughout the next few seasons. A lot of people have a problem with Cordelia's development later on, but I don't mind it because she's one of the only characters in the Buffyverse that starts out rotten and ends up very good (Faith and Spike, but both progressed VERY differently). So to those people, I must point to the event at the end of Season 1, because in my mind, feeling the gravity of everyone's suffering would spurn Cordelia to essentially strive to become a saint, and I feel this progression is a lot more organic than people give it credit. Anyway, overall I give this season 7/10
Episode Highlights
The Prodigal
To Shanshu In L.A.
Five By Five
Season 2
If season one established the show, Season 2 feels greatly like the writers sat down and said "Okay, we've pretty much separated from Buffy, where do we go from here?". With that said, this season is a double-edged sword in that it tries a lot of different things, and not all of them work. The main story arch is amazing and emotional, full of twists and turns, yet out of the actual 22 episodes, takes up only a fraction of the overall time. The season is at it's worst when it does stand-alones unrelated to the main plot. These episodes are done even worse than in the previous season, and not only are they incredibly hokey and cheesy, they don't even add much character development, or progress anything, so at the end of the sh*tfest, you're left saying to yourself "yeah.... so what?". Episodes that fit in this category for me are First Impressions, Untouched, and The Thin Dead Line. HORRIBLE episodes with little to any redeeming value in them. Unfortunately for the season, there are other stand-alones which actually do progress things a bit, however are still really bad like Judgement, Happy Anniversary, and Guise Will Be Guise. That's about one quarter of the entire season that is Angel at its worst, however the episodes that progress the storyline are amazing, and there are a few stand-alones that actually work for me, like The Shroud Of Rahmon which is mindless (literally) but so very entertaining, and the daring and unique Are You Now Or Have You Ever Been. In a lot of ways this season reminds me of season 2 of Buffy, in that there's horrible episodes here and there, but the actual story is riveting and well executed. Episodes like Darla and The Trial are exhausting emotional rollercoasters executed with artistic grace, and Reunion, Redefinition, Reprise, and Epiphany are jaw dropping masterpieces that literally twist the show's whole ideology on it's head. The character progression for Angel in this season is simply tremendous. Angel goes from his utter worst when he fails to save Darla, sinks even lower when he sleeps with her in Reprise and gives up on the world, the most numbing moment of horror in the series for me, and then rises taller than ever in Epiphany when he gives his speech to Kate about the meaning of life. This is stirring stuff, that cannot be denied. Although this season tends to fall off my radar in the wake of more packed fast-paced later seasons, I never forget the emotional impact of what happens this season. Finally, the 4 episode Pylea arc at the end of the season solidifies that the show has become a completely separate entity from Buffy, be it for better or worst, and really reiterates my opening statement of the writers not really sure of where to take the series and their willingness to try completely off-the-wall ideas. Overall, good season, better than the first, and about on par with Season 2 of Buffy, or maybe a tiny notch below. However I'll give it 8/10. Yay Lorne!
Episode Highlights
Redefinition
Reprise
Darla
Season 3
While season 2 felt like the writers were a little lost as they tried hard to disassociate Angel from its mothershow, Season 3 feels in every way like a series that has shed it's overshadowing counterpart in favor of its own style and flavor. In fact, the very first episode deals exclusively with Angel putting Buffy behind him and moving on, and after this episode there is barely any mention of Buffy, as the Fang Gang has its hands full with its own problems that are more compelling and tragic than Buffy's concurrent season. I enjoyed Holtz as a villain quite a lot, I though he had a classy Anthony Hopkins vibe that felt out of place in the Angelverse, but to me was all the more cool for it. I absolutely loved the role-reversal of the protagonist vampire versus the fallen antagonistic vampire hunter, and the morally complex issues that stem from their battle. I have to agree with Bryan Lynch, and say that the Baby arch was the most compelling to me in probably the whole series, and I literally could not put the episodes down, it was so addictive and compelling. Darla's redemption and her relationship with Connor in her womb was one of the shining highlights of the season for me, and it's climax in the emotionally overwrought Lullaby left me stunned and in tears at Darla's sacrifice as well as the amazing acting and the caliber of the writing. Cordelia and Wesley have huge character development this season that is great to watch and adds great texture to their characters. Even Angel has some progression, especially with Connor, though not nearly as much as last season. Which brings me to Connor, who I absolutely loved in this season, and the pretty short run of episodes which included him as a young adult towards the end. His twisted morality and black and white view of good and evil was a stark contrast in a season full of shades of gray, and Vincent Kartheiser did a remarkable job with the character this season. This is also a contrast to how bad the writers would mess up his character further down the line, but in Season 3 I have the pleasure of greatly enjoying his character. Despite all the great things about this season, there are problems, and factors that detract from the finished product. Justine was a weak character that was written in and served very little purpose, and was just plain written badly. The only saving graces about her was the actress portraying her and her relationship with Holtz. Furthermore, I have issues with how fast Cordy drops Wesley after his betrayal considering how close they were in previous seasons; when she returns from her holiday she doesn't seem very concerned about Wes, and it bugs me. I also found the abrupt pairings midway in the season pretty hard to swallow considering how they all happened at once. Although Groo had some funny lines here and there, I just didn't really like having him around, he didn't add much besides comic relief and making Angel's character act like a dumb-ass. Another weak aspect was Holtz's little army... That plotline was very stagnant and added literally nothing. Also, though Sahjan was a funny and interesting villain, the big reveal that his goal is to kill Connor was anti-climatic and disappointing after all the buildup. Besides these problems, there were a few weak-ish stand-alones that could have been stronger, and Fred's character, though an utter joy to me whenever she's on-screen, had little to no development this season (besides Fredless). Though it sounds like I have a lot of problems with this season, they fall by the wayside in light of all the strong aspects. Overall, this is one of the best seasons, and the one where the writers really hit their stride and solidified the show as its own unique beast. I give it 8.5/10
Episode Highlights
Lullaby
Benediction
Sleep Tight
That Old Gang Of Mine
Waiting In The Wings
Season 4
There isn't much that can be said about Season 4 that hasn't been said before. For me, the strong aspects of the season are even better than Season 3, but it's flaws are even worse, making it a pretty double-edged sword. If the third season established the show as its own series without Buffy as its training-wheels, Season 4 takes everything from before and turns it up by about 10 notches. This is an attitude by the writers, producers and directors that filters through every aspect of this season. The first thing that tipped me off about this, was in Ground State, when the writers gives us a flashback backstory for a minor recurring character of Gwen Raiden, something that normally they probably wouldn't have bothered. The fight scenes are extremely epic and cinematic, and when they take place you feel like you're in a movie theatre watching a blockbuster; Apocalypse Nowish. Enough said. I love the huge overarching storyline that makes the whole product feel like one very long 20 hour movie. This was utterly fascinating to me, and unheard of in serialized television, and the writers risked a great drop in ratings as newcomers would have no idea what was happening if they missed just one episode. To me, this was a brave move and a treat to the hardcore fans in my opinion. I love this epic storytelling style, and the cliffhangers killed me at the end of each episode, forcing me to watch the whole season in fast succession. This is to me the most engrossing season by far, and at the same time the darkest and most apocalyptic. Whether you like it or not, it feels HUGE. However there is a steep price for such a huge story; For one thing, Cordelia's character gets utterly axed, and is relegated to little more than a plot device (never piss off Joss). Connor's character is also pretty badly botched, whittling him down to a paper-thin, humorless dolt that has one trademark: Always doing the wrong thing. The only points of redemption for Connor as a character are in his tear-jerking speech in Peace Out which sheds a lot of light on the character's intentions, and his compelling, bittersweet resolution in Home. Another fatal flaw is the season's final arc which had to be hurriedly re-written by no fault of the writers (damn you Charisma Carpenter) and resulted in a subpar plotline that, despite minor redeeming qualities (Oh Jasmine, you came and you gave...), falls pretty heavily on its face. Not only that, but the sickening relationship between Connor and Cordy is like nails on a chalkboard to most viewers, not just because of it's incestuousness (Connor has sex with his surrogate mother who is possessed by his DAUGHTER trying to give birth to herself), but because the actors have NO chemistry between them whatsoever. The result of these two characters on-screen interacting is more painful than watching Keanu Reeves trying to express emotion. Like in Season 4 of Buffy, the multi-episode Faith arc balances this season out and keeps it from sinking, and it's just awesome (plus guest appearance of Alyson Hannigan never hurt anybody). It provides a much needed balance in the season between the amazing streaks of great writing, and the downright horrible moments. On the plus side, the character development for Wesley, Lilah, and Fred is astounding, and Wes himself is the single most complex and jaw-dropping evolution in the history of television. Plus Angelus freakin' rocks, and causes devastation even when he's locked behind bars. Overall, this season is very near and dear to my heart despite it's fatal shortcomings, and I'll never forget what an experience it was watching it that first time without knowing what was gonna happen next (Cordy killed Lilah?? What?? Angelus is back?? WHAT??? WHAT?? They're taking over Wolfram & Hart?? WHAAATTT???). It's a dark and twisted season that is draining to watch, as all the episodes tend to bleed together under the shadow of a grander overarching story, but the experience is that much more rewarding for it. I give it 9/10
Episode Highlights
Deep Down
Supersymmetry
Spin The Bottle
Awakening
Apocalypse Nowish
Salvage
Release
Season 5
The best season of Angel. The show is revamped with a redefined premise separate from that of the series thus far, and the network forced the show to be very serialized after last season, squashing any multi-episode arcs that the writers might have cooked up. Knowing this before I jumped into the season, I feared the worst, as the standalones are often my least favorite of all Angel episodes, and I primarily crave for the big 'to be continued' stories. In the end though, I think the writers did the best they could with the new format, and the season still managed to maintain a wealth of depth despite the confines of the new episodic format. I think in the end, this format was appropriate for the final season of Angel (although they weren't sure at the time) because it lets the writers serve the plot in small morsels, with each morsel having a distinct flavor. You have monster of the day episodes, you have the humorous episodes, you have the serious episodes, and you have the downright tragic episodes. Overall, it epitomizes the show. There's some really weak episodes this season, like The Cautionary Tale Of Numero Cinco, and the first 3 episodes are just boring and feel off (I don't think the writers caught their groove with the new format yet). But for every bad episode you have a Hole In The World, Shells, Not Fade Away, Destiny, Lineage. In other words, masterpieces. This is a really short analysis, I know, considering that this is my favorite season, but in all honesty I don't see the point of dissecting any of the character development and plot lines and what I thought of them, because there's just no point. This season in my opinion just has to be watched by the viewer to formulate their own opinion. It has its highs and lows, but is essentially the best season of Angel because it has pretty much a little bit of everything, and then a little bit more. 10/10
Episode Highlights
Shells
A Hole In The World
Not Fade Away
After The Fall
In my opinion, the transition from television to comic book was a lot more graceful than Buffy. The first 5 issues blow my mind; a combination of unique and deliciously noir art, and Bryan Lynch's awesome writing. I ate the first 5 issues up. The First Night series is to me the lowpoint of After The Fall by far. None of the stories were bad, but nearly all of them were pointless, especially the Gunn and Gwen stories. The only First Night story that I felt wasn't a waste of time, was Connor's because he met up with Kate and gained a morsel of wisdom indirectly from his father without realizing it. The mini-series isn't bad, just a bit pointless, and it bogs down the pace of the main storyline considerably. Thankfully, the last 2 issues freaking rocked, plain and simple, so I'm looking forward to the conclusion like a madman. 8.5/10
Spike After The Fall
Awesome first issue, amazing writing and good art, Lynch nailed Spike's voice to a T, plain and simple. Also the short Fred moments are so sweet and melt my heart ("he was feeling oogly"). Only complaint is the cliffhanger is a little ineffectual since we already know that Spike teams up with Spider and the girls, and there's yet to be a sign of the main baddie. However this is pure nitpicking since it's just the first issue. It's just amazing so far. 10/10
