The countdown to the end on this weeks Angel
 
tennyson
 

 
 
The countdown to the end on this weeks Angel
      2002/04/30 04:34 AM
     

Spoilers
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I thought this was a servicable Angel but I really didn't get a lot out of it. There were some interesting character moments but it just felt wrong to me somehow, like the beginning of the end is happening. It really feels like the group is disintegrating and I don't like that. Instead of the actions of one being forcing all the others away it seems like all the various interactions are combining together to drive them apart. Without Wesley they seem to be crumbling from thier own internal stresses.
Gru is feeling jealousy of Angel when she goes to help him all the time. Gun cares more about Fred than saving the rest of the group. Cordelia has strange powers that are manifesting and may lead to her seperation. Angel is still lost and wallowing in his own pain and loss and is really not being that effective or inspiring a leader and Wesley wants nothing to do with any of them at all.Only Lorne seems along for the ride anymore at all. It's kind of sad.
The episode itself has the group trying to make repairs on the damaged rooms of the hotel only to run into the aftereffects of Angel's dabbling with darkness. Strange translucent sluglike creatures that crave water are unleashed upon the world and kill one of Angel's clients. Then once they realize the damage these things can do they try to contain them inside the hotel only to discover that what seems like thousands of them are nesting in side the hotel.
These slugs are tough and the group can't figure out how to kill them so Angel has Fred to hit the books to locate some mystical means of defeating them. She can't make heads of tails of the magic books and while along gets infested by the slugs. In a very short time Angel and co are trapped by the slugs and Gun runs to Wesley to get real mystical help.He gets it for Fred but Wesley doesn't want to see any of them again.
Then in an unexplained burst of mystical power Cordelia banishes all the slugs and a dimensional rift opens near the pentagram. Out pops a demon with Angel's son hot on its trail. He's now an early teen and he seems really pissed at Angel.
There is also a subplot where Gavin manipulates Lila with selective bits of information about Angel's situation and thereby erodes her position with the president of thier department.
This episode sets a lot of things up like Angel's returned son, Cordelia's mysterious powers,and what is Wesley going to do with himself that we will now have to wait yet another week for some hope of closure. I give it an okay for workmanlike attention to quality but I just didn't feel the old excitement in this one.

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Beings who are now latent in our thoughts and hidden in our loins, shall stand upon this earth as one stands upon a footstool, and shall laugh and reach out thier hands amid the stars.

Dylanite
 

 
Re: The countdown to the end on this weeks Angel
      2002/04/30 06:12 AM
     

I SO disagree with you. This, imho was one of the best episodes EVER. Lila and the spider? YEESH. The confrontations between her and the Dan Kim character? MARVELOUS. The confrontations between Gunn and Angel? It's about frelling time. And Cordie. Ah. I just can't say enough good about her.

And Fred is just amazing.

But the BEST scene wsas Gunn ans Wes and GOOD ON WES for being not just the guilt ridden guy but for being PISSED at his friends. good on him.

And the end? Oh yeah.

This is Angel at its best imho.

Lil

BeyondPraxis25
 

 
Re: The countdown to the end on this weeks Angel
      2002/04/30 06:56 AM
     

What was it that Lilah said to gavin?

"When a co-woker pats me on the back...I look for the knife."

Well...whatever she said that's my nomination for line of the week.

[This message has been edited by BeyondPraxis25 (edited April 30, 2002).]

Dylanite
 

 
Re: The countdown to the end on this weeks Angel
      2002/04/30 06:59 AM
     

Yup that was an awesome line.

I love this episode.

Matt
 

 
Re: The countdown to the end on this weeks Angel
      2002/04/30 07:34 AM
     

This episode worked for me just fine. It sets up several plotlines (the return of Connor, albeit a very pissed-off older version), Cordy's emerging demoniness, and Wesley's continuing journey of pain.

What tennyson didn't like, ie, the seeming coming apart at the seams of the group, is what is making Angel a great show for me. Buffy would've had all the characters in a group hug (like they did in the Adam season-ender) and making kissey-face (well, maybe not Giles). The characters in Angel are fractious, irritable, and petty at times; in short, well-written, multi-layered players.

Aside from Connor coming back, the arcs I'm waiting on are Cordy's evolution into who knows what, and Wesley's story. From tonight, it's clear that Wesley is The Man when it comes to demonology, and that without him, Angel Inc. is going to be short on info on future creepy-crawlies. For his part, Wesley has had one of those crucible-type experiences, and he seems a walking shell right now (plus he's got a really nasty scar). It'll be fun to see how they run with this.

enTranced
 

 
 
Re: The countdown to the end on this weeks Angel
      2002/04/30 02:04 PM
     

I agree with Lil , i posted more in the other thread!

enTranced

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DeLenn, you are very CUTE for a Minbari!
And you are cute in a very annoying way!
Everyone is cute, even ME.
But in PURPLE i am STUNNING!
-Londo


Dylanite
 

 
Re: The countdown to the end on this weeks Angel
      2002/04/30 02:49 PM
     

What Matt said. Another thing: Gunn lying to Angel about how he figured out how to save Fred. Another thread in the continuing theme of how lack of honesty and trust can undermine relationships. Love it.

And LOL at Pixie Boy and me actually agreeing...

Lil

BeyondPraxis25
 

 
Re: The countdown to the end on this weeks Angel
      2002/04/30 03:41 PM
     

I was wondering what you guys thought about Linwood giving gavin his super secret cell number since lilah was the senior of the two between her and gavin. I don't know if it an undercurrent of mysogeny or if linwood likes gavin's methods better or if linwood is upset at lilah for not handeling things better in "Forgiving" or a combo of all of the above.

BTW i was wondering who has better baddies between Buffy and Angel. I like the baddies on Angel much more complicated motives. I love Wolferman and Hart and the whole Sajhan/Holtz thing was wicked cool.

[This message has been edited by BeyondPraxis25 (edited April 30, 2002).]

Dylanite
 

 
Re: The countdown to the end on this weeks Angel
      2002/04/30 03:44 PM
     

^

I'm not taking Gavin at his word. And if Lilah has any brains she won't either.

I'm more interested in kowing exactly what Gavin is doing with access to secret emails and cell numbers.

bossysister
 

 
 
Re: The countdown to the end on this weeks Angel
      2002/04/30 03:53 PM
     

quote:
Originally posted by BeyondPraxis25:
I was wondering what you guys thought about Linwood giving gavin his super secret cell number since lilah was the senior of the two between her and gavin. I don't know if it an undercurrent of mysogeny or if linwood likes gavin's methods better or if linwood is upset at lilah for not handeling things better in "Forgiving" or a combo of all of the above.

BTW i was wondering who has better baddies between Buffy and Angel. I like the baddies on Angel much more complicated motives. I love Wolferman and Hart and the whole Sajhan/Holtz thing was wicked cool.

[This message has been edited by BeyondPraxis25 (edited April 30, 2002).]

Okay, I got interupted once or twice while watchig this. So, I might have missed something. I don't think that there was confirmation that Gavin was telling the truth about Linwood. My impression of that exchange was that Gavin was pulling Lilah's strings and getting her worked up. She couldn't afford to treat his assertations as false, however.

Bossy

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Bossy

Kryptonite, sliver buller, Buffy? Dammit! What does it take to keep you in the grave? - John to Scorpy

And then there's the paranoia .... and, I'm still talking to myself. - Johnny Smith

BeyondPraxis25
 

 
Re: The countdown to the end on this weeks Angel
      2002/04/30 04:04 PM
     

Yep...you guys probably right about gavin not telling the truth and that he was just pulling lilah's strings. I really like the chemistry between the two of them. Gavin is still somewhat one-dimentional he is no where near as complex as lidsey was but that took like one and half seasons and i hope they work their magic again. btw i updated the spoiler theard about upcomming angel eps. the info on benediction is up the ep before the finale.