Tonight's Angel Episode
Jan. 15th, 2004 12:27 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shadowkatAhhh...Angel 5.9, after doing my ATS ranking meme analysis up to episode 12, and knowing the gist of the episode before it aired? I liked it better than I expected.
Here's an edited version of what I wrote on the other seasons regarding episode 9, and yes my choices stand - Lullaby the best, Hero the worst. But what about 5.9 Harm's Way?
Episodes 9: S1 Hero, S2 The Trial, S3 Lullaby, S4 Long Day’s Journey, S5 yet to be seen
Each episode centers on the idea of the unlikely hero. This character is usually, with the possible exception of the Trial, not a regular character and the audience and regulars believe the character will do the opposite of what they eventually end up doing. Hero – does it first with Doyle’s decision to push Angel out of the way and save the half-demons from the full-blooded demon troops himself. Doyle had previously been set up as someone who was denying his demon heritage and avoiding being heroic at all costs. In the Trial – Angel attempts to give his life for Darla’s. Which is a surprise because prior to this Angel is shown as denying that he cares for Darla. Angel also is the one who staked and killed Darla the first round. But the life he gains is not Darla’s but something else. Darla is still doomed to die the way she did as a human. But before Darla can fully embrace that death – Drusilla steps in and turns her. The surprise in the Trial is *not* Angel and is *not* Dru, really, it's what Darla decides. Up to this point Darla wanted to be turned into a vampire, by the end of Angel's trials, she gives up her desire for eternal life or life and asks for Angel's life - she accepts the idea of dying as a human - it was meant to be. Just as Doyle prior to Darla accepts dying as a demon saving other demons - they both accept they part of themselves they'd previously despised.
Lullaby comments on Trial – where Darla gives her life for the love of the child she and Angel created. Selfless act? Not really. Certainly not like Doyle’s. But for Darla it’s miraculous. Prior to this, Darla cared for no one but herself and hated the child inside her, wishing to kill it. Now she kills herself so it can be born.
Long Day’s Journey is a difficult one - but I think I was wrong in the meme, this episode is a mystery - who killed the neutral Manny - Gwen is framed for it by Cordelia, who is jealous of Gwen. We believe Angelus did it. But in truth it is revealed to be Cordy. Gwen's the one who realizes something is up and sees Cordy as being the cause but no one believes her. The final - is the Beast making a sacrifice in Cordy's and Connor's apartment which blocks out the sun, setting in motion the events that release Angel's soul.
HArm's Way comments on Long Day's Journey, just as Lullaby commented on The Trial. In Harm's way - we have a non-regular, recurring character, of shady allegiance (one we've been told in the past - Disharmony - not to trust) who finds herself framed for killing a "neutral" party - in fact a demon right negotiator - who is a comment on Manny. To resolve the problem between the clans without bloodshed - AI needs a sacrifice, any sacrifice will do. Harmony tracks down the person who did this to her and sacrifices the person on Angel's conference table and then comes clean to AI team on what occurred. Unexpected and a much lighter take on the events of Long Day's. The final in Long Day's is Cordy telling Angel that Angelus knew the Beast and he must sacrifice something to get rid of it. Wes says his soul - Angel resists.... The finale in HArm's Way is Spike returning, realizing he can't go to Buffy - it sort of cheapens his sacrifice to go back to her now...In a way it's a light-hearted commentary on Angel's situation at the end of Long Day's. (Yeah, I'm probably reaching a bit on that one - but both are ME's way of getting a character to do something - in Angel's case - voluntarily releasing the soul, in Spike's case hanging around LA and not going after Buffy - of the two? I found Spike's easier to buy, b/c I see Spike as incredibly insecure - he really doesn't believe Buffy ever loved him or could, that he was just a sex object, I honestly don't think he likes himself very much - hence the bravado and attitude. Both signs of self-loathing. So it makes sense that he would ramble off an excuse instead of stating that he's scared. Harm, to her credit, sees through it and tries to tell him there's nothing to be afraid of, but in realizing how he rejected Harm and considering Buffy treated Spike pretty much the same way during the majority of their relationship, Spike's moment of insight, makes him realize that he's right in not flying after her. I honestly think the scene made a lot of sense characterwise and plotwise. If I were Spike? I'd be terrified to go after Buffy too. Made sense. All the Spike scenes completely worked for me, were in character, and made complete sense. But then I'm in the small group of fans who has *never* really had any problems with how Spike has been written. I may not like a few episodes that featured him here or there, but that wasn't because I had any problems with how his character was portrayed. (Unleashed I disliked for the storyline, the pacing, and well Fred.) Spike's character always seems consistently written to me. Remember - I like pricky characters - the more flawed they are, the better. Otherwise where's the character's arc? Why even bother watching??
I think the episode works if a) you didn't go in with high expectations and knew it would be about Harmony, don't mind Harmony (I don't mind her - sort of neutral on the character) and b)if you've ever worked in a large corporation. The corporation jokes were spot on. Especially the employee orientation video in the beginning - even the way it was filmed worked. LOL!
Harm's day - a wonderful parody on the lives of administrative office clerks and the way people ignore you at the office because your the boss' secretary. Having been there in a former life - I completely got the jokes. If you've never experienced this type of workplace or lifestyle? IT may have flown over your head, much like The Zeppo and Doublemeat Palace flew over mine. Situational Humor is sometimes dependent on what you've experienced yourself. The hit British comedy the Office? Shows that the humor in Harm's Way is spot on - even if it is directed at a specific group.
What wasn't good? It was choppy in places. Craft and Fain aren't the best at plotting and they don't seem to have a firm handle on the other characters or group chemistry - but since this was in Harmony's pov, that probably wasn't necessary. The other characters were supposed to be slightly off - because we are completely in Harmony's head - looking at them from her perspective. I think that may have worked for Craft and Fain here, much better than Unleashed. The fight scenes? Could have been better. They weren't bad. Just a little cheesy.
Overall? A much better episode than I expected, considering I'm not a Harmony fan. Actually this may have been the first time I actually sympathized with her. I also laughed. Particularly at the office confusion over Fred and her beaus - is she involved with Wes, Gunn or Knox. Harm - who for all her ditziness, is fairly intiutive when it comes to human emotion - sort of like Anya and Cordelia used to be - seems to be the only one who notices Wes has the hots for Fred. Apparently the office workers are as confused as the audience, yet far more interested. Fred's love life has begun to bore me. Oh, and I loved the comment one of the workers made about Wes - "no, he's not into Fred, isn't he..." LOL! Kudos to the writers for making fun of how people like to guess sexual orientation based on stereotypes or what they think depicts it.
I'd give it a 71/2 out of 10. Not the best episode ever, but loads of fun. But much better than Hero in S1, and a lot better than Craft and Fain's earlier effort - Unleashed in my opinion.
Again, it probably helps that I've worked in companies like the one ATS is making fun of and
I could identify with Harmony.
Here's an edited version of what I wrote on the other seasons regarding episode 9, and yes my choices stand - Lullaby the best, Hero the worst. But what about 5.9 Harm's Way?
Episodes 9: S1 Hero, S2 The Trial, S3 Lullaby, S4 Long Day’s Journey, S5 yet to be seen
Each episode centers on the idea of the unlikely hero. This character is usually, with the possible exception of the Trial, not a regular character and the audience and regulars believe the character will do the opposite of what they eventually end up doing. Hero – does it first with Doyle’s decision to push Angel out of the way and save the half-demons from the full-blooded demon troops himself. Doyle had previously been set up as someone who was denying his demon heritage and avoiding being heroic at all costs. In the Trial – Angel attempts to give his life for Darla’s. Which is a surprise because prior to this Angel is shown as denying that he cares for Darla. Angel also is the one who staked and killed Darla the first round. But the life he gains is not Darla’s but something else. Darla is still doomed to die the way she did as a human. But before Darla can fully embrace that death – Drusilla steps in and turns her. The surprise in the Trial is *not* Angel and is *not* Dru, really, it's what Darla decides. Up to this point Darla wanted to be turned into a vampire, by the end of Angel's trials, she gives up her desire for eternal life or life and asks for Angel's life - she accepts the idea of dying as a human - it was meant to be. Just as Doyle prior to Darla accepts dying as a demon saving other demons - they both accept they part of themselves they'd previously despised.
Lullaby comments on Trial – where Darla gives her life for the love of the child she and Angel created. Selfless act? Not really. Certainly not like Doyle’s. But for Darla it’s miraculous. Prior to this, Darla cared for no one but herself and hated the child inside her, wishing to kill it. Now she kills herself so it can be born.
Long Day’s Journey is a difficult one - but I think I was wrong in the meme, this episode is a mystery - who killed the neutral Manny - Gwen is framed for it by Cordelia, who is jealous of Gwen. We believe Angelus did it. But in truth it is revealed to be Cordy. Gwen's the one who realizes something is up and sees Cordy as being the cause but no one believes her. The final - is the Beast making a sacrifice in Cordy's and Connor's apartment which blocks out the sun, setting in motion the events that release Angel's soul.
HArm's Way comments on Long Day's Journey, just as Lullaby commented on The Trial. In Harm's way - we have a non-regular, recurring character, of shady allegiance (one we've been told in the past - Disharmony - not to trust) who finds herself framed for killing a "neutral" party - in fact a demon right negotiator - who is a comment on Manny. To resolve the problem between the clans without bloodshed - AI needs a sacrifice, any sacrifice will do. Harmony tracks down the person who did this to her and sacrifices the person on Angel's conference table and then comes clean to AI team on what occurred. Unexpected and a much lighter take on the events of Long Day's. The final in Long Day's is Cordy telling Angel that Angelus knew the Beast and he must sacrifice something to get rid of it. Wes says his soul - Angel resists.... The finale in HArm's Way is Spike returning, realizing he can't go to Buffy - it sort of cheapens his sacrifice to go back to her now...In a way it's a light-hearted commentary on Angel's situation at the end of Long Day's. (Yeah, I'm probably reaching a bit on that one - but both are ME's way of getting a character to do something - in Angel's case - voluntarily releasing the soul, in Spike's case hanging around LA and not going after Buffy - of the two? I found Spike's easier to buy, b/c I see Spike as incredibly insecure - he really doesn't believe Buffy ever loved him or could, that he was just a sex object, I honestly don't think he likes himself very much - hence the bravado and attitude. Both signs of self-loathing. So it makes sense that he would ramble off an excuse instead of stating that he's scared. Harm, to her credit, sees through it and tries to tell him there's nothing to be afraid of, but in realizing how he rejected Harm and considering Buffy treated Spike pretty much the same way during the majority of their relationship, Spike's moment of insight, makes him realize that he's right in not flying after her. I honestly think the scene made a lot of sense characterwise and plotwise. If I were Spike? I'd be terrified to go after Buffy too. Made sense. All the Spike scenes completely worked for me, were in character, and made complete sense. But then I'm in the small group of fans who has *never* really had any problems with how Spike has been written. I may not like a few episodes that featured him here or there, but that wasn't because I had any problems with how his character was portrayed. (Unleashed I disliked for the storyline, the pacing, and well Fred.) Spike's character always seems consistently written to me. Remember - I like pricky characters - the more flawed they are, the better. Otherwise where's the character's arc? Why even bother watching??
I think the episode works if a) you didn't go in with high expectations and knew it would be about Harmony, don't mind Harmony (I don't mind her - sort of neutral on the character) and b)if you've ever worked in a large corporation. The corporation jokes were spot on. Especially the employee orientation video in the beginning - even the way it was filmed worked. LOL!
Harm's day - a wonderful parody on the lives of administrative office clerks and the way people ignore you at the office because your the boss' secretary. Having been there in a former life - I completely got the jokes. If you've never experienced this type of workplace or lifestyle? IT may have flown over your head, much like The Zeppo and Doublemeat Palace flew over mine. Situational Humor is sometimes dependent on what you've experienced yourself. The hit British comedy the Office? Shows that the humor in Harm's Way is spot on - even if it is directed at a specific group.
What wasn't good? It was choppy in places. Craft and Fain aren't the best at plotting and they don't seem to have a firm handle on the other characters or group chemistry - but since this was in Harmony's pov, that probably wasn't necessary. The other characters were supposed to be slightly off - because we are completely in Harmony's head - looking at them from her perspective. I think that may have worked for Craft and Fain here, much better than Unleashed. The fight scenes? Could have been better. They weren't bad. Just a little cheesy.
Overall? A much better episode than I expected, considering I'm not a Harmony fan. Actually this may have been the first time I actually sympathized with her. I also laughed. Particularly at the office confusion over Fred and her beaus - is she involved with Wes, Gunn or Knox. Harm - who for all her ditziness, is fairly intiutive when it comes to human emotion - sort of like Anya and Cordelia used to be - seems to be the only one who notices Wes has the hots for Fred. Apparently the office workers are as confused as the audience, yet far more interested. Fred's love life has begun to bore me. Oh, and I loved the comment one of the workers made about Wes - "no, he's not into Fred, isn't he..." LOL! Kudos to the writers for making fun of how people like to guess sexual orientation based on stereotypes or what they think depicts it.
I'd give it a 71/2 out of 10. Not the best episode ever, but loads of fun. But much better than Hero in S1, and a lot better than Craft and Fain's earlier effort - Unleashed in my opinion.
Again, it probably helps that I've worked in companies like the one ATS is making fun of and
I could identify with Harmony.
