Angel Season 5
After a year and a half of Buffyverse "catch-up" I've come to the last bittersweet leg of my journey--Angel Season 5.
Heaven only knows if the Eagles will be able to carry me back.
Season one of Buffy was so much goofy fun--before I started watching the show, the two most iconic images I recalled from casual channel surfing were Buffy angsting amongst tombstones and the Master camping it up in his underground lair. I was hooked by the snappy dialogue and Scooby Doo asthetic. Don't ask me to remember any of the episodes individually though.
Season two became electric with the sudden arrival of Spike and Drucila and the unceremonius dusting of the Annointed One. As things developed I really became emotionally hooked into the saga. Gilles going all vigilante still sticks.
Season three came of age, mixing the humour, angst and storytelling into a perfect blend. Oz, Faith, the Mayor, wonderful stuff!
Season four changed the format in a clever way, brought Spike back as a regular, and started off strong with the morally ambiguous Initiative. Adam was a letdown, but Willow came out and the Gentlemen were sublime.
I watched virtually all of season 5 while home sick over two days. I literally had a fever through the death of Buffy's mom.
Season 6 was the odd duck of all the seasons--it "felt" like the show had jumped networks--it was as if everything had shifted slightly out of sync. My roomate Tana and I started watching it together, then I skipped ahead, then she did, and things became absurd as she would be watching one disk downstairs and I'd be watching another upstairs, and we'd occasionally hear each other gasp on separate floors.
Season 7 felt rejuvenated, with a new Sunnydale High, and Spike with a soul. Best parts were watching Willow deal with the aftermath of season 6, Andrew's geekery and the whole Principal Wood as the son of a slayer sub-plot.
I was extremely dubious about signing on to Angel--he was never a strong component for me on Buffy. The show worked though--I loved the whole Wolfram and Hart set-up.
Teaming up Darla and Drucilla as the ambiguously lesbian duo was inspired, shame when they got Flambéed.
I actually liked the whole baby thing in season 3, the chemistry between Angel and Cordy and Wesley's betrayal. Then a la "All My Children" the kid grew up during a commercial and made me hurl Doritos at the television.
Season four was completely over the top and didn't make a hell of a lot of sense, but I LOVED IT. All that apocalytic soap opera stuff was great!
And season 5? I watched the first two episodes last night and my first impression is that things seem a bit rushed, due to the change of format. Gunn suddenly getting a law degree dumped in his head, Harmony's first appearance (although funny) and the Spike cliff-hanger at the end of episode 1 all have the feel of a pilot. I don't care for Angel's hair and I miss Cordy terribly (even though technically she hasn't "really" been around since the finale of season 3).
All in all, I've been impressed by the production team's inventiveness. Even when an episode falls completely flat, there is always some element that suprises me or turns a familiar convention on it's head!
Heaven only knows if the Eagles will be able to carry me back.
Season one of Buffy was so much goofy fun--before I started watching the show, the two most iconic images I recalled from casual channel surfing were Buffy angsting amongst tombstones and the Master camping it up in his underground lair. I was hooked by the snappy dialogue and Scooby Doo asthetic. Don't ask me to remember any of the episodes individually though.
Season two became electric with the sudden arrival of Spike and Drucila and the unceremonius dusting of the Annointed One. As things developed I really became emotionally hooked into the saga. Gilles going all vigilante still sticks.
Season three came of age, mixing the humour, angst and storytelling into a perfect blend. Oz, Faith, the Mayor, wonderful stuff!
Season four changed the format in a clever way, brought Spike back as a regular, and started off strong with the morally ambiguous Initiative. Adam was a letdown, but Willow came out and the Gentlemen were sublime.
I watched virtually all of season 5 while home sick over two days. I literally had a fever through the death of Buffy's mom.
Season 6 was the odd duck of all the seasons--it "felt" like the show had jumped networks--it was as if everything had shifted slightly out of sync. My roomate Tana and I started watching it together, then I skipped ahead, then she did, and things became absurd as she would be watching one disk downstairs and I'd be watching another upstairs, and we'd occasionally hear each other gasp on separate floors.
Season 7 felt rejuvenated, with a new Sunnydale High, and Spike with a soul. Best parts were watching Willow deal with the aftermath of season 6, Andrew's geekery and the whole Principal Wood as the son of a slayer sub-plot.
I was extremely dubious about signing on to Angel--he was never a strong component for me on Buffy. The show worked though--I loved the whole Wolfram and Hart set-up.
Teaming up Darla and Drucilla as the ambiguously lesbian duo was inspired, shame when they got Flambéed.
I actually liked the whole baby thing in season 3, the chemistry between Angel and Cordy and Wesley's betrayal. Then a la "All My Children" the kid grew up during a commercial and made me hurl Doritos at the television.
Season four was completely over the top and didn't make a hell of a lot of sense, but I LOVED IT. All that apocalytic soap opera stuff was great!
And season 5? I watched the first two episodes last night and my first impression is that things seem a bit rushed, due to the change of format. Gunn suddenly getting a law degree dumped in his head, Harmony's first appearance (although funny) and the Spike cliff-hanger at the end of episode 1 all have the feel of a pilot. I don't care for Angel's hair and I miss Cordy terribly (even though technically she hasn't "really" been around since the finale of season 3).
All in all, I've been impressed by the production team's inventiveness. Even when an episode falls completely flat, there is always some element that suprises me or turns a familiar convention on it's head!