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Buffy S5-6 and Angel S2-3 Rewatch
Continuing with my comfort re-watch of Buffy and Angel, and for some reason or other, I don't feel compelled to watch anything else. Outside of a movie here and there. Nothing else is appealing to me at the moment, including Stranger Things, which recently dropped the first part of its' fifth and final season. I think I'm waiting for the second part to drop? Also trying to remember what happened previously.
Mother: Should I watch Stranger Things?
Me: No, I'd not recommend it - think Steven King and Steven Spielberg, circa 1980s.
Mother: What's it about?
Me: It's about a bunch of folks in a small New England town who stumble upon a porthole to a hell dimension, which brings in various demonic monsters - one captures a small boy. It's sci-horror. Very similar to the stuff Steven King and Steven Spielberg did in the 1980s.
Mother: Ugh. Really? Say no more, I'll pass.
Me: Told you.
I don't recommend television shows, books, or films to folks that I know won't like them. For example? If someone likes hyper-realistic dramas, with top-notch diverse casts, and hates fantasy and horror, I'm not going to recommend Buffy the Vampire Slayer to them, the Wire yes, Buffy no.
Why torture myself and them unnecessarily? I'm not that masochistic. Much easier to say - no you won't like it - it's a fantasy, with this that, and the other thing, and leave it at that. People need to be more tolerant of others tastes, and realize we most likely do not share the same tastes and leave it at that? Also, I'm a moody television and film and book watcher/reader. I go with whatever is calling me to it at the moment. If it's not, my brain will refuse to pay attention to it.
Finished Angel S2 finally - and it's a mixed bag. Buffy S5 is actually better - and more fluid and tighter. Of course it didn't have the problems Angel did. Angel S2, had some of the same issues Buffy S4 had - in that half of the supporting cast suddenly and without warning became unavailable in the second half of the season. Julie Benze (Darla) and Christian Kane (Lindsey) were both unavailable at the end of S2, and they had to write another story instead. Also, they ended up writing out Kate - because her involvement was contrived, also the actress got a role on Law and Order, and was unavailable. They intended to bring her back in Angel S3 as part of the Holtz story arc (she was supposed to be in the Justine role), but the actress wasn't available.
As a result, we got the Pylea arc - which is....not great. I kind of played a video game through it, and watched as background noise? I'd stop every once and awhile - out of curiosity - because I wanted to know something. (Such as Joss Whedon plays Numfar, who is told to keep dancing, in the background at Lorne's family reunion. And how Cordy becomes Princess, and how they figure out the way home (Fred figures it out with Wes's help).)
Takeaways?
The Pylea arc - goes overboard in hinting to the audience that both Cordelia and Angel may be far too self-involved and vain, to be redeemed. They are also a lot alike. Both care a great deal about how others view them, how they look, their image and clothing. Also Angel really cares about his reflection. Yes, yes, writers - I get it, Angel is into his appearance, can we move on now? He spends half the time looking at his reflection - whether it be in a pool of water or an actual mirror. And is more horrified by the reflection of his demonic self, then what the demonic self actually did. I didn't realize Angel was that narcissistic?
Cordelia is just as bad, if not worse. She is very similar to the Anya character on Buffy - she cares about money, likes the smell of it, and even has some of the same lines. (I think Anya was in reality the Cordelia replacement). And she wants to take her jewels from Pylea with her (it's already been established - that she can't).
What's really striking about these episodes - and I'd forgotten, mainly because I really hadn't watched them previously, is that they find out about the portal - due to a vision of Cordy's about Fred being sucked through one in the library. They are supposed to save Fred - but they kind of forget about her? Instead it's more important to send Lorne's brother back. They wouldn't have gone at all - if Cordy hadn't gotten sucked through the portal with Lorne's brother. Lorne reluctantly goes. The others also are somewhat reluctant - but have to save Cordy. (Fred - the helpless person in the vision - who has been missing for five years? Forgotten.)
Angel only notices Fred and saves her - when he's about to literally chop off her head - then when he sees her drivers license - he's like, oh, you were the girl from Cordy's vision.
Cordy whines incessantly about the pain from her visions. But when given the opportunity to pass them over to Groo (during sex) - declines, because the visions make her feel important, valuable, and part of Angel's crew, also she gets to play the victim - and just can't give them up. Where would she be without them.
Add to all this - once again, Cordy is a sex object, and being told to mate with someone, and possibly pass something on to them, or get pregnant. (This is an on-going trope throughout the series. I'm not sure about S3, but it does happen in the other seasons.) Anyone who thinks the Cordy becoming big evil pregnant Mama doesn't fit or track - needs to rewatch S1-2. It's there folks. Not only is it there? It's kind of jumping up and down and screaming at us. Subtle they aren't. Also, people getting pregnant, and that changing them, being important, or being a devil's spawn is a constant in the series. They love playing with that horror trope - which may explain why several episodes in Angel the Series - S1-3 kind of annoyed me? So did parts of S4, for the same reason. The only season that I don't think does it - is S5. The pregnancy horror trope is not a favorite of mine..
Cordelia is really objectified in the last three episodes, and spends 98% of the time in a skimpy bikini. While Fred seems to disappear and not be seen - mainly because she's not seen as sexually alluring. I'm not sure what the writers were going for here? It's kind of over the top - so I'm thinking it's meant to be satirical and critical of Hollywood and our society at large?
After watching this - I'm wondering how anyone watching this series, couldn't tell it was noir, and couldn't see the signs that Angel, Wes, Gunn, Cordelia, and Fred were doomed? This series wasn't going to end happy for any of them. Also Cordy was definitely going to be killed off by the third or fourth season. That's the story-thread. The visions are getting worse. And Angel is falling for her and wants her to see him. The moment they pair Angel and Cordelia as a couple or as in love - Cordelia is doomed.
I guess folks see what they want to see? I don't want to see any of that.
So maybe not.
They send them to Pylea - to get Angel and his crew out of the verse, so Buffy's fight with Glory doesn't pull Angel into it. Otherwise it wouldn't make sense why Angel isn't in Sunnydale helping Buffy - and why he hasn't yanked Cordelia and Wes with him. No, in order for both Buffy S5 and Angel to work storywise - Angel has to be out of the verse for a bit. And it is Willow who informs him that Buffy is dead - and does it in person. (That makes the most sense - I can't see any of the other characters doing it.)
What's interesting about how Angel handles Buffy's death in contrast to how Spike handles it - is Angel goes off on a retreat to a Monastery, in Shangra La (the other option was Vegas), while Spike stays in Sunnydale, fights along side Buffy's friends (who tolerate him) to protect her sister and her home. (Angel S3 and Buffy S6). Angel is kind of self-involved for a soulful vampire? More so, actually, than Spike appears to be, for a soulless vampire. In case we find this odd, or think Spike is an isolated case - we are given another example - with the young lovers in the second episode of Angel S3. It's made clear that while Angelus and Darla enjoy each other's company - they both care more about themselves than each other, and both know it. They are basically two narcissistic sociopaths paling around together. But the other vampires they hang with appear to be less narcissistic and sociopathic than they are. Angelus leaves Darla in the lurch, just as Darla leaves Angelus in the lurch. But James and Elizabeth (the Dru/Spike standin's for the 18th Century or 1700s) do care for each other, and in marked contrast care about those they are with. Angel completely forgets about them both, all he really remembers is Holtz, whose life he destroyed. What he did to Holtz's family - was horrific.
Holtz is basically to Angel, what Wood is to Spike, except Wood got off easy, he just lost his mother, a vampire slayer, Holtz lost his children and his wife - and Angelus raped his wife first. The series keeps reminding the audience and Angel - how truly horrible Angelus was and is.
Angel the Series gets pretty dark at times. Buffy's lighter.
Another takeaway? A lot of Cordelia's dialogue and how she's treated in the commercial shoot in the first episode of the Pylea Arc (Belonging) is ironic, if you know anything about CC's (the actress) complaints about Whedon and the atmosphere on set. It makes you wonder about the writers - and if they are aware of what is happening.
As an aside? You really can't trust Google's AI summaries, can you? I googled why Christian Kane and Elizabeth Roem left Angel or were unavailable - and the summary told me that Roem came back in the episode Same Time, Same Place in the 4th Season. (Uhm no. Also that's an episode in Buffy S7). Also when I was googling the Nosh Oven and how to fix something in it - it told me to preheat (you aren't supposed to, it heats up fast), and gave me the wrong cooking time.
It also says, Lindsey comes and goes in the later seasons. He only came back in S5, and on a limited basis.
Mother: Should I watch Stranger Things?
Me: No, I'd not recommend it - think Steven King and Steven Spielberg, circa 1980s.
Mother: What's it about?
Me: It's about a bunch of folks in a small New England town who stumble upon a porthole to a hell dimension, which brings in various demonic monsters - one captures a small boy. It's sci-horror. Very similar to the stuff Steven King and Steven Spielberg did in the 1980s.
Mother: Ugh. Really? Say no more, I'll pass.
Me: Told you.
I don't recommend television shows, books, or films to folks that I know won't like them. For example? If someone likes hyper-realistic dramas, with top-notch diverse casts, and hates fantasy and horror, I'm not going to recommend Buffy the Vampire Slayer to them, the Wire yes, Buffy no.
Why torture myself and them unnecessarily? I'm not that masochistic. Much easier to say - no you won't like it - it's a fantasy, with this that, and the other thing, and leave it at that. People need to be more tolerant of others tastes, and realize we most likely do not share the same tastes and leave it at that? Also, I'm a moody television and film and book watcher/reader. I go with whatever is calling me to it at the moment. If it's not, my brain will refuse to pay attention to it.
Finished Angel S2 finally - and it's a mixed bag. Buffy S5 is actually better - and more fluid and tighter. Of course it didn't have the problems Angel did. Angel S2, had some of the same issues Buffy S4 had - in that half of the supporting cast suddenly and without warning became unavailable in the second half of the season. Julie Benze (Darla) and Christian Kane (Lindsey) were both unavailable at the end of S2, and they had to write another story instead. Also, they ended up writing out Kate - because her involvement was contrived, also the actress got a role on Law and Order, and was unavailable. They intended to bring her back in Angel S3 as part of the Holtz story arc (she was supposed to be in the Justine role), but the actress wasn't available.
As a result, we got the Pylea arc - which is....not great. I kind of played a video game through it, and watched as background noise? I'd stop every once and awhile - out of curiosity - because I wanted to know something. (Such as Joss Whedon plays Numfar, who is told to keep dancing, in the background at Lorne's family reunion. And how Cordy becomes Princess, and how they figure out the way home (Fred figures it out with Wes's help).)
Takeaways?
The Pylea arc - goes overboard in hinting to the audience that both Cordelia and Angel may be far too self-involved and vain, to be redeemed. They are also a lot alike. Both care a great deal about how others view them, how they look, their image and clothing. Also Angel really cares about his reflection. Yes, yes, writers - I get it, Angel is into his appearance, can we move on now? He spends half the time looking at his reflection - whether it be in a pool of water or an actual mirror. And is more horrified by the reflection of his demonic self, then what the demonic self actually did. I didn't realize Angel was that narcissistic?
Cordelia is just as bad, if not worse. She is very similar to the Anya character on Buffy - she cares about money, likes the smell of it, and even has some of the same lines. (I think Anya was in reality the Cordelia replacement). And she wants to take her jewels from Pylea with her (it's already been established - that she can't).
What's really striking about these episodes - and I'd forgotten, mainly because I really hadn't watched them previously, is that they find out about the portal - due to a vision of Cordy's about Fred being sucked through one in the library. They are supposed to save Fred - but they kind of forget about her? Instead it's more important to send Lorne's brother back. They wouldn't have gone at all - if Cordy hadn't gotten sucked through the portal with Lorne's brother. Lorne reluctantly goes. The others also are somewhat reluctant - but have to save Cordy. (Fred - the helpless person in the vision - who has been missing for five years? Forgotten.)
Angel only notices Fred and saves her - when he's about to literally chop off her head - then when he sees her drivers license - he's like, oh, you were the girl from Cordy's vision.
Cordy whines incessantly about the pain from her visions. But when given the opportunity to pass them over to Groo (during sex) - declines, because the visions make her feel important, valuable, and part of Angel's crew, also she gets to play the victim - and just can't give them up. Where would she be without them.
Add to all this - once again, Cordy is a sex object, and being told to mate with someone, and possibly pass something on to them, or get pregnant. (This is an on-going trope throughout the series. I'm not sure about S3, but it does happen in the other seasons.) Anyone who thinks the Cordy becoming big evil pregnant Mama doesn't fit or track - needs to rewatch S1-2. It's there folks. Not only is it there? It's kind of jumping up and down and screaming at us. Subtle they aren't. Also, people getting pregnant, and that changing them, being important, or being a devil's spawn is a constant in the series. They love playing with that horror trope - which may explain why several episodes in Angel the Series - S1-3 kind of annoyed me? So did parts of S4, for the same reason. The only season that I don't think does it - is S5. The pregnancy horror trope is not a favorite of mine..
Cordelia is really objectified in the last three episodes, and spends 98% of the time in a skimpy bikini. While Fred seems to disappear and not be seen - mainly because she's not seen as sexually alluring. I'm not sure what the writers were going for here? It's kind of over the top - so I'm thinking it's meant to be satirical and critical of Hollywood and our society at large?
After watching this - I'm wondering how anyone watching this series, couldn't tell it was noir, and couldn't see the signs that Angel, Wes, Gunn, Cordelia, and Fred were doomed? This series wasn't going to end happy for any of them. Also Cordy was definitely going to be killed off by the third or fourth season. That's the story-thread. The visions are getting worse. And Angel is falling for her and wants her to see him. The moment they pair Angel and Cordelia as a couple or as in love - Cordelia is doomed.
I guess folks see what they want to see? I don't want to see any of that.
So maybe not.
They send them to Pylea - to get Angel and his crew out of the verse, so Buffy's fight with Glory doesn't pull Angel into it. Otherwise it wouldn't make sense why Angel isn't in Sunnydale helping Buffy - and why he hasn't yanked Cordelia and Wes with him. No, in order for both Buffy S5 and Angel to work storywise - Angel has to be out of the verse for a bit. And it is Willow who informs him that Buffy is dead - and does it in person. (That makes the most sense - I can't see any of the other characters doing it.)
What's interesting about how Angel handles Buffy's death in contrast to how Spike handles it - is Angel goes off on a retreat to a Monastery, in Shangra La (the other option was Vegas), while Spike stays in Sunnydale, fights along side Buffy's friends (who tolerate him) to protect her sister and her home. (Angel S3 and Buffy S6). Angel is kind of self-involved for a soulful vampire? More so, actually, than Spike appears to be, for a soulless vampire. In case we find this odd, or think Spike is an isolated case - we are given another example - with the young lovers in the second episode of Angel S3. It's made clear that while Angelus and Darla enjoy each other's company - they both care more about themselves than each other, and both know it. They are basically two narcissistic sociopaths paling around together. But the other vampires they hang with appear to be less narcissistic and sociopathic than they are. Angelus leaves Darla in the lurch, just as Darla leaves Angelus in the lurch. But James and Elizabeth (the Dru/Spike standin's for the 18th Century or 1700s) do care for each other, and in marked contrast care about those they are with. Angel completely forgets about them both, all he really remembers is Holtz, whose life he destroyed. What he did to Holtz's family - was horrific.
Holtz is basically to Angel, what Wood is to Spike, except Wood got off easy, he just lost his mother, a vampire slayer, Holtz lost his children and his wife - and Angelus raped his wife first. The series keeps reminding the audience and Angel - how truly horrible Angelus was and is.
Angel the Series gets pretty dark at times. Buffy's lighter.
Another takeaway? A lot of Cordelia's dialogue and how she's treated in the commercial shoot in the first episode of the Pylea Arc (Belonging) is ironic, if you know anything about CC's (the actress) complaints about Whedon and the atmosphere on set. It makes you wonder about the writers - and if they are aware of what is happening.
As an aside? You really can't trust Google's AI summaries, can you? I googled why Christian Kane and Elizabeth Roem left Angel or were unavailable - and the summary told me that Roem came back in the episode Same Time, Same Place in the 4th Season. (Uhm no. Also that's an episode in Buffy S7). Also when I was googling the Nosh Oven and how to fix something in it - it told me to preheat (you aren't supposed to, it heats up fast), and gave me the wrong cooking time.
It also says, Lindsey comes and goes in the later seasons. He only came back in S5, and on a limited basis.
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