(no subject)
This post is comprised of random and mostly disjointed Buffyverse thoughts. Much with the spoilers beneath the cut.
Buffy 702, Beneath You (A giant worm-like creature begins stalking a young girl. As the gang begin to investigate, they realise it's appearance in Sunnydale may be linked to Anya.)
So. That thar Spike sure be crazed! But I think he's coming out of it. When he's lucid, he's fine. I think it's just the shock of suddenly having a soul. I really liked how the lady, Nancy, thought they were all SO NUTS! Because honestly, outside of TV-land, if you ever met any of them, you'd think they were pretty crazed themselves, I'm betting. A few Xander things I liked (which trust me, is a rare enough occurrence that it should be noted)
Talking to Nancy: Sunnydale: Come for the food, stay for the dismemberment
Upon hearing about their relationships
Nancy: Is there anyone here who hasn't slept together?
Spike and Xander share a significant look and then avoid eye contact
I like how nervous Willow is about coming back, and I really don't know how she's going to be received. I hope well, but it's going to take some time. Did we ever see what happened to Jonathon and Andrew in last season? I'm having a sudden blank.
I'm not sure why Spike was trying to hide having a soul, though. Although the scene with Anya was funny, I have to admit, when she was on the verge of spilling the soul beans and Spike kept trying to be meaner to cover it up.
I also approve of Buffy's new position. I'm thinking it's just a plot device to give her a reason to be in the school, but it would be interesting if it comes out as more than that.
Angel 403 The House Always Wins (Angel, Gunn and Fred head to Las Vegas to see Lorne only to find that he is being forced to steal people's destinies. Once Angel's is stolen, only Cordelia can help. Meanwhile Cordelia unexpectedly shows up at the hotel.)
Cordy, poor Cordy. I felt so bad for her, all trapped in space. And now she's somehow free and she doesn't know who anyone is. I really, really hope she figures it out right quick, because I miss her.
I love Angel so much! *_* The scene at the beginning when he was watching Connor like a proud dad at a football game just. ♥. like, flail worthy amounts of ♥. I didn't really understand why he pushed for the trip to Vegas and then seemed aimless once he got there. He tried to leave at the stage door waiting for Lorne, and he didn't even want to go see him at first. So why did he want to go? Just a change of scenery? Joss's plot devices are usually smoother than that. I loved that even without a destiny (and how creepy was that?) he still fought for his friends. Also his little anecdotes about the people he knew from the way back v. much amused me.
I thought something was wrong with Lorne. He isn't the sort to just forget his friends, especially friends who've done so much for him, and vice versa. What's that phrase about a cage with golden bars or something? How very very true. He seemed so sad and that made me sad :(. I do wonder how he knew which audience members to sing. He can't read them until they sing, and he can't go around and listen to everyone sing. Hmmm.
Wesley? With the phone sex? I have not usually been particularly attracted to him, but goddamn was that hot!
703 Same Time Same Place (Though they seem to be in the same places at the same time, Buffy, Xander and Dawn are unable to find Willow when she returns from England. Shortly after returning to Sunnydale, people start turning up skinned alive. As Buffy and Xander worry that this could be Willow's work, Willow sets out to find the creature that did it.)
This one really hit home with me. Poor Willow, thinking her friends were avoiding her. I am very worried that she can make things happen with her mind, just by thinking it without realizing it. That does not bode well. Who hasn't had a random thought about "go fall of a cliff" or whatever? Reminds me of the earlier episode, the one where Spike and Buffy were getting married? hahahah. But it makes me think of that, because Willow has the power to make things happen without realizing it, and that is a really dangerous power. I think we're going to need to watch that.
Both this episode and the Angel one before it were about old friends returning, but not being the same. Is this maybe going to be a theme of the season? Life goes on, but no one and nothing remains unchanged, not even our eternal friends.
Angel 404 Slouching Towards Bethlehem. (Cordy returns from being a Higher Power and Team Angel is thrilled to see her. Unfortunately, she has amnesia and can't remember anything about her life or the monsters that she deals with on a daily basis. Meanwhile, Wolfram & Hart learns that she's back among the corporeal and decides to see what she might know about life on the Higher Plane.
So I still don't get the title woe. It is v. much bugging me. Slouching...sneaking, kind of shady like...towards the place of the birth of the Messiah. Maybe that is Connor? Or no, maybe the hotel, because it's where Angel came into his own, and there was a lot of champion talk in this episode. Maybe it's referring to all the encroachment? With W&H breaking in to take Lorne's brain, and Connor himself taking Cordelia from Angel, and the human eating demon--it's not safe there anymore? I just don't know.
Interesting that Cordelia trusted Connor over Angel. Maybe for the same reason that Wesley is attracted to Lilah--you can always trust a dishonest person, because they're not going to try to hide their tracks and make themselves look better than they are, which is what Angel did. They're going to be upfront about what they are, and you can take it or leave it.
This reminded me of the Nancy plot in the last Buffy episode. If you are just thrust into Angel's world, or Buffy's for that matter--you are going to be terrified and think everyone around you is crazy and probably out to hurt you. Cordelia really brought that into perspective. There were some really nicely done shots here, where Angel and co were just trying to be comforting, and you could see through Cordy's eyes exactly how scary that was.
The scene with Cordy and Angel on the bed in her room was sweet, with Cordy hoping they'd been a family and Angel just aching for it. And then she asked if she was a nun and ruined the moment, hahah. Oh Cordy. I love how after all this, and even without memories, she is still so kick ass and hard hitting. Both physically and verbally she doesn't pull her punches and I love it. I also liked her looking for Lorne before the human eating demon found her and calling for "Mr. Bumpy Face?" Hahah. I really like Cordy so much. :) I also like the things her classmates had written in her yearbook, hahah. "Hey Cordy, thanks for the flaming arrows! Keep in touch!"
Buffy 704 Help (Buffy begins a new job as school counselor at Sunnydale High. On her first day she encounters a troubled young girl who is convinced she is about to die.)
Buffy is such a good counselor. Really, this episode just warmed my heart. Hahaha, and all the boys coming in and trying to pick her up. So realistic, hahah, because Buffy is a hottie. I especially liked the one who pretended to be gay, and thought that Buffy should help him figuring it out by going on a date with him. Dawn coming in to complain about her big sister made me laugh, too,
OK, this episode shocked me. Buffy saved Cassie from the demons, and then she had a heart attack. How devastating. You do everything you can and defeat the bad guy and then it's all for nothing. I loved the last shot of the episode. Someone, I forget who, I watched this episode a few days ago (probably Xander asjfsldjf.) was saying something about how if you fight the demon and you still can't help, what good do you do? And the shot was over Buffy going back to work and sitting down in her cubicle, knowing that all you can do is to keep trying.
I think this was a really important lesson for Buffy. She may be able to save the world, but she can't save everyone. If she were going to let that defeat her, this would have been the time, but she keeps fighting, because, what else can you do?
Buffy 704 Selfless(Anya grants a young woman's wish, and the violent and deadly act of vengeance leaves everyone stunned. Buffy must put aside her feelings for her friend and take action before more people die. Meanwhile, flashbacks depict how Anya became a vengeance demon, and Willow returns to college.)
Anya Anya Anya. I love the scene with Olaf in the beginning. I like how Anya, even without the weirdness that comes from spending a millennium as a demon, was still very, um, unique. Her conversation with D'Hoffren was really entertaining. Interesting that she had a different name. I wonder why D'Hoffren felt it was necessary to change it. Hahahah, bunnies. :)
I am so glad that Buffy brought up killing Angel with Xander. This is where my Xander hate stems, right around that time. Oh man, even just hearing her talk about it and thinking about it was painful. Most heart wrenching finale ever, I think. Well, season, um, 5? yeah. was bad, but 1) I didn't really like Dawn that much although she's growing on me, and 2) I knew there was another season, so I knew Buffy was coming back. falkjdfsjf XANDER. *does not approve*
Anya singing=good. Poor girl. She was so head over heels in love, not just with Xander himself, but with their future together and then he took it all away. lasjdflsdkj XANDER. *still does not approve*
Angel 405 Super Symmetry (When Fred writes a physics paper, she's invited to her old college as a guest lecturer. Angel, Gunn and Wes show up to support her as she speaks in front of all her former professors. But when a portal opens up over Fred's head, it becomes clear that something supernatural is happening to her... Again.)
OK first? Watching Connor make out with Cordelia? All sorts of wrong. alsjflskjf he's a BABY :(((( (For the record, I do not like children v. much at all? But baby!Connor was the cutest thing ever. No, hahaha, I am lying. daddy!Angel was the cutest thing ever. Although honestly it wasn't the age thing that weirded me out as much as the hi there, I'm making out with my DAD'S GIRLFRIEND.
I am surprised that Cordy hasn't come back to herself yet. I didn't realize this was going to be an arc--I was thinking a 40 minute happy ending. I should have known better, hahahah. It IS Joss.
Angel 406 Spin The Bottle (In an attempt to restore Cordelia's memory, Lorne accidentally reverses everyone's memory to making them think they are 17 and on a vampire chase. When they find out Angel is a vampire, everyone sets out to get him. As Cordelia's memory is revived, a demon inside her is awakened.)
So, this was the funniest episode I think I've ever seen on Angel. I adored it so much, alflsalskfjsdf yay. I loved Angel hating on the English, and being all confused about his accent, and thinking the cars were demons. I also really loved him finding out he was a vampire. Thinking he was invisible because he didn't show up in the mirror, and switching his face back and forth...and back...and forth...
This episode also showed in vivid detail how much Cordy has changed. I'd almost forgotten what a bratty cocky teenager she was. And to think, that she changed from that to a Higher Being, and it was completely believable. That's what I call good character development.
Wesley, what a loser! And again, stark contrast from his modern day self to his 17 year old self. Wesley is so scary and dark now, and he was such a huge massive nerd. His "fight" with Gunn when he tried to use his special Watcher technique, hahah. And looking for more weapons on his legs. Also, I didn't realize he'd been put into Watcher training that early.
Fred was a huge stoner psychedelic modern day hippy. Hee. She made me laugh but got old. I like her better now.
Gunn was so much angrier! Again, I like him better now.
Connor I sympathize with in some ways. Lorne's comment about "his engine's revving but he's stuck in park" hit home for me. And then Cordy, who he's totally in love with, offered him Special Fun if he killed Angel, which he still kinda wants to do anyway. What's a boy gonna do? I felt really bad for him in the prostitute scene. Of course he didn't realize that's what she was, and he ended up feeling taken advantage of, I think.
Buffy 702, Beneath You (A giant worm-like creature begins stalking a young girl. As the gang begin to investigate, they realise it's appearance in Sunnydale may be linked to Anya.)
So. That thar Spike sure be crazed! But I think he's coming out of it. When he's lucid, he's fine. I think it's just the shock of suddenly having a soul. I really liked how the lady, Nancy, thought they were all SO NUTS! Because honestly, outside of TV-land, if you ever met any of them, you'd think they were pretty crazed themselves, I'm betting. A few Xander things I liked (which trust me, is a rare enough occurrence that it should be noted)
Talking to Nancy: Sunnydale: Come for the food, stay for the dismemberment
Upon hearing about their relationships
Nancy: Is there anyone here who hasn't slept together?
Spike and Xander share a significant look and then avoid eye contact
I like how nervous Willow is about coming back, and I really don't know how she's going to be received. I hope well, but it's going to take some time. Did we ever see what happened to Jonathon and Andrew in last season? I'm having a sudden blank.
I'm not sure why Spike was trying to hide having a soul, though. Although the scene with Anya was funny, I have to admit, when she was on the verge of spilling the soul beans and Spike kept trying to be meaner to cover it up.
I also approve of Buffy's new position. I'm thinking it's just a plot device to give her a reason to be in the school, but it would be interesting if it comes out as more than that.
Angel 403 The House Always Wins (Angel, Gunn and Fred head to Las Vegas to see Lorne only to find that he is being forced to steal people's destinies. Once Angel's is stolen, only Cordelia can help. Meanwhile Cordelia unexpectedly shows up at the hotel.)
Cordy, poor Cordy. I felt so bad for her, all trapped in space. And now she's somehow free and she doesn't know who anyone is. I really, really hope she figures it out right quick, because I miss her.
I love Angel so much! *_* The scene at the beginning when he was watching Connor like a proud dad at a football game just. ♥. like, flail worthy amounts of ♥. I didn't really understand why he pushed for the trip to Vegas and then seemed aimless once he got there. He tried to leave at the stage door waiting for Lorne, and he didn't even want to go see him at first. So why did he want to go? Just a change of scenery? Joss's plot devices are usually smoother than that. I loved that even without a destiny (and how creepy was that?) he still fought for his friends. Also his little anecdotes about the people he knew from the way back v. much amused me.
I thought something was wrong with Lorne. He isn't the sort to just forget his friends, especially friends who've done so much for him, and vice versa. What's that phrase about a cage with golden bars or something? How very very true. He seemed so sad and that made me sad :(. I do wonder how he knew which audience members to sing. He can't read them until they sing, and he can't go around and listen to everyone sing. Hmmm.
Wesley? With the phone sex? I have not usually been particularly attracted to him, but goddamn was that hot!
703 Same Time Same Place (Though they seem to be in the same places at the same time, Buffy, Xander and Dawn are unable to find Willow when she returns from England. Shortly after returning to Sunnydale, people start turning up skinned alive. As Buffy and Xander worry that this could be Willow's work, Willow sets out to find the creature that did it.)
This one really hit home with me. Poor Willow, thinking her friends were avoiding her. I am very worried that she can make things happen with her mind, just by thinking it without realizing it. That does not bode well. Who hasn't had a random thought about "go fall of a cliff" or whatever? Reminds me of the earlier episode, the one where Spike and Buffy were getting married? hahahah. But it makes me think of that, because Willow has the power to make things happen without realizing it, and that is a really dangerous power. I think we're going to need to watch that.
Both this episode and the Angel one before it were about old friends returning, but not being the same. Is this maybe going to be a theme of the season? Life goes on, but no one and nothing remains unchanged, not even our eternal friends.
Angel 404 Slouching Towards Bethlehem. (Cordy returns from being a Higher Power and Team Angel is thrilled to see her. Unfortunately, she has amnesia and can't remember anything about her life or the monsters that she deals with on a daily basis. Meanwhile, Wolfram & Hart learns that she's back among the corporeal and decides to see what she might know about life on the Higher Plane.
So I still don't get the title woe. It is v. much bugging me. Slouching...sneaking, kind of shady like...towards the place of the birth of the Messiah. Maybe that is Connor? Or no, maybe the hotel, because it's where Angel came into his own, and there was a lot of champion talk in this episode. Maybe it's referring to all the encroachment? With W&H breaking in to take Lorne's brain, and Connor himself taking Cordelia from Angel, and the human eating demon--it's not safe there anymore? I just don't know.
Interesting that Cordelia trusted Connor over Angel. Maybe for the same reason that Wesley is attracted to Lilah--you can always trust a dishonest person, because they're not going to try to hide their tracks and make themselves look better than they are, which is what Angel did. They're going to be upfront about what they are, and you can take it or leave it.
This reminded me of the Nancy plot in the last Buffy episode. If you are just thrust into Angel's world, or Buffy's for that matter--you are going to be terrified and think everyone around you is crazy and probably out to hurt you. Cordelia really brought that into perspective. There were some really nicely done shots here, where Angel and co were just trying to be comforting, and you could see through Cordy's eyes exactly how scary that was.
The scene with Cordy and Angel on the bed in her room was sweet, with Cordy hoping they'd been a family and Angel just aching for it. And then she asked if she was a nun and ruined the moment, hahah. Oh Cordy. I love how after all this, and even without memories, she is still so kick ass and hard hitting. Both physically and verbally she doesn't pull her punches and I love it. I also liked her looking for Lorne before the human eating demon found her and calling for "Mr. Bumpy Face?" Hahah. I really like Cordy so much. :) I also like the things her classmates had written in her yearbook, hahah. "Hey Cordy, thanks for the flaming arrows! Keep in touch!"
Buffy 704 Help (Buffy begins a new job as school counselor at Sunnydale High. On her first day she encounters a troubled young girl who is convinced she is about to die.)
Buffy is such a good counselor. Really, this episode just warmed my heart. Hahaha, and all the boys coming in and trying to pick her up. So realistic, hahah, because Buffy is a hottie. I especially liked the one who pretended to be gay, and thought that Buffy should help him figuring it out by going on a date with him. Dawn coming in to complain about her big sister made me laugh, too,
OK, this episode shocked me. Buffy saved Cassie from the demons, and then she had a heart attack. How devastating. You do everything you can and defeat the bad guy and then it's all for nothing. I loved the last shot of the episode. Someone, I forget who, I watched this episode a few days ago (probably Xander asjfsldjf.) was saying something about how if you fight the demon and you still can't help, what good do you do? And the shot was over Buffy going back to work and sitting down in her cubicle, knowing that all you can do is to keep trying.
I think this was a really important lesson for Buffy. She may be able to save the world, but she can't save everyone. If she were going to let that defeat her, this would have been the time, but she keeps fighting, because, what else can you do?
Buffy 704 Selfless(Anya grants a young woman's wish, and the violent and deadly act of vengeance leaves everyone stunned. Buffy must put aside her feelings for her friend and take action before more people die. Meanwhile, flashbacks depict how Anya became a vengeance demon, and Willow returns to college.)
Anya Anya Anya. I love the scene with Olaf in the beginning. I like how Anya, even without the weirdness that comes from spending a millennium as a demon, was still very, um, unique. Her conversation with D'Hoffren was really entertaining. Interesting that she had a different name. I wonder why D'Hoffren felt it was necessary to change it. Hahahah, bunnies. :)
I am so glad that Buffy brought up killing Angel with Xander. This is where my Xander hate stems, right around that time. Oh man, even just hearing her talk about it and thinking about it was painful. Most heart wrenching finale ever, I think. Well, season, um, 5? yeah. was bad, but 1) I didn't really like Dawn that much although she's growing on me, and 2) I knew there was another season, so I knew Buffy was coming back. falkjdfsjf XANDER. *does not approve*
Anya singing=good. Poor girl. She was so head over heels in love, not just with Xander himself, but with their future together and then he took it all away. lasjdflsdkj XANDER. *still does not approve*
Angel 405 Super Symmetry (When Fred writes a physics paper, she's invited to her old college as a guest lecturer. Angel, Gunn and Wes show up to support her as she speaks in front of all her former professors. But when a portal opens up over Fred's head, it becomes clear that something supernatural is happening to her... Again.)
OK first? Watching Connor make out with Cordelia? All sorts of wrong. alsjflskjf he's a BABY :(((( (For the record, I do not like children v. much at all? But baby!Connor was the cutest thing ever. No, hahaha, I am lying. daddy!Angel was the cutest thing ever. Although honestly it wasn't the age thing that weirded me out as much as the hi there, I'm making out with my DAD'S GIRLFRIEND.
I am surprised that Cordy hasn't come back to herself yet. I didn't realize this was going to be an arc--I was thinking a 40 minute happy ending. I should have known better, hahahah. It IS Joss.
Angel 406 Spin The Bottle (In an attempt to restore Cordelia's memory, Lorne accidentally reverses everyone's memory to making them think they are 17 and on a vampire chase. When they find out Angel is a vampire, everyone sets out to get him. As Cordelia's memory is revived, a demon inside her is awakened.)
So, this was the funniest episode I think I've ever seen on Angel. I adored it so much, alflsalskfjsdf yay. I loved Angel hating on the English, and being all confused about his accent, and thinking the cars were demons. I also really loved him finding out he was a vampire. Thinking he was invisible because he didn't show up in the mirror, and switching his face back and forth...and back...and forth...
This episode also showed in vivid detail how much Cordy has changed. I'd almost forgotten what a bratty cocky teenager she was. And to think, that she changed from that to a Higher Being, and it was completely believable. That's what I call good character development.
Wesley, what a loser! And again, stark contrast from his modern day self to his 17 year old self. Wesley is so scary and dark now, and he was such a huge massive nerd. His "fight" with Gunn when he tried to use his special Watcher technique, hahah. And looking for more weapons on his legs. Also, I didn't realize he'd been put into Watcher training that early.
Fred was a huge stoner psychedelic modern day hippy. Hee. She made me laugh but got old. I like her better now.
Gunn was so much angrier! Again, I like him better now.
Connor I sympathize with in some ways. Lorne's comment about "his engine's revving but he's stuck in park" hit home for me. And then Cordy, who he's totally in love with, offered him Special Fun if he killed Angel, which he still kinda wants to do anyway. What's a boy gonna do? I felt really bad for him in the prostitute scene. Of course he didn't realize that's what she was, and he ended up feeling taken advantage of, I think.