Just Buffy and Angel

[ptnewell]

Ever watch the series through skipping everything but Buffy’s scences with Angel? No? Well, then, um, me neither. But following just the Buffy-Angel story does make some things clearer. There are a couple of episodes (notably “When She Was Bad”) that are hard to make sense of outside of the context of Buffy’s relations to Angel. Usually, though, ignoring everything else just makes it easier to follow their story.
I propose to go through the entire series, from “Welcome to the Hellmouth” to the “Chosen”, but contemplating just the Buffy-Angel scences (excepting a few cases where, say, Buffy talks with Willow about Angel). I have some commentary on their conversations, partly to point out out the magic.
Which is the real point. To enjoy the only really magical relationship in the Whedonverse. Willow and Tara are wonderful, and practice magic, but they do not seem to have any magical insights about one another. Excepting perhaps a few instances between Fred and Wesley (on Angel) no other couple does the things Buffy and Angel do.
I won’t spam the board, so if there are not at least a couple of others interested in the project, I’ll quit. And naturally, if anyone wants to to make their own comments, or point out my grevious errors, that is quite welcome.
The first two samples follow in the next two messages. It gives an idea how the project will go. It is not highlights or favorite moments, it is the whole story, annotated.

[ptnewell]

Just Buffy and Angel Pt. 1 (Welcome to the Hellmouth)

Buffy is walking down a dark street, when someone appears behind her. She senses that she is being followed. … she ducks down an alley and looks around for a place to hide. A cat yowls and kicks some cans as it runs away. She spies {a bar} above her.
{Originally the script called for Buffy to hear footsteps, but in the final version she just “senses” Angel. She often senses Angel, and eventually tells him she can do so. Angel is the only one she ever specifically identifies without seeing. Their special connection begins immediately.}

Angel comes into the alley but doesn't see her. As he slowly walks along, the camera pulls up to reveal Buffy in a handstand on a bar high above the pavement. When Angel has passed underneath her, she swings down and kicks him in the back. He is knocked to the ground, and Buffy positions herself above him with a foot on his chest.
{Buffy opts for an unnecessarily dramatic introduction. He could have been following her just to, say, talk to her.}

Angel: Ah, heh. Is there a problem, ma'am?
Buffy: Yeah, there's a problem. Why are you following me?
Angel: I know what you're thinking. Don't worry, I don't bite.
{Angel does joke, but he is so deadpan it can be hard to tell. If you really want to convince someone you are not a vampire, probably the worst thing is to blurt out “I’m not a vampire” unasked.}

She backs off and lets him get up, but keeps her fighting stance.
Angel: Truth is, I thought you'd be taller, or bigger muscles and all that. You're pretty spry, though. (massages his neck)
Buffy: What do you want?
Angel: The same thing you do.
Buffy: (lets down her guard) Okay. What do I want?
{He’s gorgeous, and says he doesn’t bite. Sure, let your guard down.}

Angel: (steps toward her) To kill them. To kill them all.
Buffy: Sorry, that's incorrect. But you do get this lovely watch and a year's supply of Turtle Wax. What I want is to be left alone!
{Nah. What Angel said. She wants the Master and all his accolytes dead, or will soon.}

Angel: Do you really think that's an option anymore? You're standing at the Mouth of Hell. And it's about to open.
She stops, turns to him and looks at him with a wide-eyed gaze. He reaches into his jacket and pulls out a small box.
Angel: Don't turn your back on this. (tosses her the box) You've gotta be ready.
Buffy: What for?
Angel: For the Harvest.
Buffy: Who are you?
Angel: Let's just say... I'm a friend. (starts to leave)
Buffy: Yeah, well, maybe I don't want a friend.
Angel: (turns back) I didn't say I was yours.
{The vampire with a soul has no friends. Never in a century. He came to Sunnydale hoping to be Buffy’s, despite his defensiveness when challenged.}

{Later, Buffy finds Giles in the Bronze.}
Buffy: This... guy. Dark, gorgeous in an annoying sort of way. I figured you two were buds.
Giles: No. The Harvest. Did he say anything else?
Buffy: Something about the Mouth of Hell. I *really* didn't like him!
{Yet she is already wearing dark, gorgeous and annoying’s silver cross.}

[iamthewalrus]

i wish i could watch the entire series skipping the Buffy/Angel moments

...just kidding
but their relationship started to bore me a long time ago

[ptnewell]

Just Buffy and Angel Pt. 2 (The Harvest)

Cut to inside the mausoleum. Buffy comes in … Angel appears behind her.
Angel: (exhales)
Buffy: (without turning) I don't suppose you've got a key on you?
Angel: They really don't like me dropping in.
Buffy: (turns around, faces him) Why not?
{Buffy senses Angel again. They each have special powers: Angel is stealthy, and Buffy can sense Angel. Angel does not need to sneak up on Buffy, anymore than he needs to exhale. He is announcing what he has done. Likewise, Buffy does not need to start talking to him before she turns around. She is proving something. This conspicuous showing off for each other is something they do early on. Later their special connection is more often shown through conversational magic.}

Angel: They really don't like me.
Buffy: How could that possibly be?
Angel: I knew you'd figure out this entryway sooner or later. Actually, I thought it was gonna be a *little* sooner.
Buffy: Sorry you had to wait. (exhales) Okay. Look, if you're gonna be popping up with this Cryptic Wise Man act on a regular basis, can you at least tell me your name?
{Angel has only uttered one cryptic warning, so Buffy is guessing. Correctly.}

Angel: Angel.
Buffy: Angel. It's a pretty name.
{It seems silly, but I like her immediate reaction to his name. Xander and Cordelia (at separate times) call it a “girlie” name, which in our culture is true. }

She turns to the tunnel entrance.
Angel: Don't... go down there.
Buffy: (turns back) Deal with my going.
Angel: You shouldn't be putting yourself at risk. Tonight is the Harvest. Unless you can prevent it, the Master walks.
Buffy: Well, if this Harvest thing is such a suckfest, why don't *you* stop it?
Angel: 'Cause I'm afraid.
She looks at him for a moment and then spins around quickly, kicking open the doors to the tunnel. She turns back to him.
Angel: They'll be expecting you.
Buffy: I've got a friend down there. Or at least a potential friend. Do you know what it's like to have a friend?
He lowers his eyes as a look of sadness fills them.
Buffy (softly): That wasn't supposed to be a stumper.
{Busted. She has already learned his secret – well one of them. Later we will learn that Buffy herself has a tendency toward isolation.}

They look at each other a moment longer.
Angel: When you hit the tunnels head east towards the school. That's where you're likely to find them.
Buffy: You gonna wish me luck?
Angel says nothing. They look at each other for another moment, then Buffy turns and heads into the tunnels. He watches her go.
Angel: (whispers) Good luck!
{Angel believes it’s his responsibility to hide his affection for Buffy.}


{Angel lurks, later sees Buffy’s success, and (in hiding) talks to himself.}
Angel: She did it! I'll be damned!
{Actually he regards himself as already damned. In later years he says instead: “I’ll be damned again.”}

[Emmie]

It's interesting to think about making a specific 'ship story. I actually did this for Willow/Oz for a term paper presentation.

[Skeptic]

How many hours of footage are there of Buffy/Angel stuff, between the two shows? I've always been curious about that, in terms of who Buffy ultimately had the most 'relationship time' onscreen with. I'm tempted to say it's Riley, oddly enough.

I'm not a crewman on the SS Bangel, but I sure appreciate the position Angel has in Buffy's life and what they mean to each other. In the be-all, end-all, even though I doubt they'll ever be a couple again, and they may both move on with life, I think they'll always have the kind of connection that allows them to revisit each other and have it feel like they've never skipped a moment in time. I have an ex like that. We dated before we both realized we were gay (lol) but he's exactly the kind of person I can not talk to for 5 years, then get in touch with again, and the connection is as close and deeply loving as it always was.

[rebeccaplant]

Jun 25, 2009 11:29:51 GMT -5 ptnewell said:

Ever watch the series through skipping everything but Buffy’s scences with Angel? No? Well, then, um, me neither. But following just the Buffy-Angel story does make some things clearer. There are a couple of episodes (notably “When She Was Bad”) that are hard to make sense of outside of the context of Buffy’s relations to Angel. Usually, though, ignoring everything else just makes it easier to follow their story.
I propose to go through the entire series, from “Welcome to the Hellmouth” to the “Chosen”, but contemplating just the Buffy-Angel scences (excepting a few cases where, say, Buffy talks with Willow about Angel). I have some commentary on their conversations, partly to point out out the magic.
Which is the real point. To enjoy the only really magical relationship in the Whedonverse. Willow and Tara are wonderful, and practice magic, but they do not seem to have any magical insights about one another. Excepting perhaps a few instances between Fred and Wesley (on Angel) no other couple does the things Buffy and Angel do.
I won’t spam the board, so if there are not at least a couple of others interested in the project, I’ll quit. And naturally, if anyone wants to to make their own comments, or point out my grevious errors, that is quite welcome.
The first two samples follow in the next two messages. It gives an idea how the project will go. It is not highlights or favorite moments, it is the whole story, annotated.

This is a very cool idea. I'd be down if I wasn't already watching the whole show from the beginning.

[The Night Lord]

Normally I just watch the Angel series for all the goodiness of Angel & Cordelia, which always makes me smile, go 'awww' and then curse Joss...honestly, the whole Buffy/Angel thing really bores me