buffy & angel

[kaalee]

Just before we left for the wedding, we finished Season 4 of Buffy. Today we watched the first two episodes of Angel.

A couple of thoughts:

1. It's interesting how often I really like an episode, or am deeply affected by it, or it's over, and even if I didn't particularly like everything, I'm sort of breathless by it or I recognize that it was really well done.
   
   Those are generally the episodes written & directed by Joss Whedon.
   
   It's become almost... predictable to me now. We'll finish an episode and I'll turn to copilot and say, "That was a Joss episode, wasn't it?" We're nearly always right, and I still can't put my finger on what it is. copilot says, "The writing it tighter" to which I think I agree, but I can't really explain what makes for 'tight' writing.
   
   Generally, I think Joss's episodes tend to just have this overall sense of everything working toward telling the story... that you really have to -- or want to -- pay attention so you don't miss anything that is or will later be significant.


2. I really want to talk about some of the Season 4 episodes of Buffy -- particularly the one where they can't talk -- Hush, was it? But we gave the season back to my colleague and I now can't remember them all. I may need to make a case for buying Buffy on DVD. There were so many things from Season 4 that I want to talk about, but I can remember very few. This might have been my favorite season of Buffy so far, but I'm not sure I can explain why, yet.


3. I thought the first two episodes of Angel were well done. I thought the way they handled the back story in episode 1 was short and to the point, allowing new watchers to get a sense of things, and not overstating things for current fans. Oh, and Doyle? Isn't it lovely that I now get to listen to his lovely Irish accent in every episode? *happy sigh* I could get used to this. Also, Cordelia always amuses me. She's just always herself and so beautifully so. That actress must have so much fun with her.


4. Angel already feels darker to me than Buffy does. I'm going to be very interested to see how the show develops, actually. I mean, Angel can't exist in direct sunlight, so the show is going to have to be darker... but also being within a city, and focusing on a character that isn't 18 years old and that has already been through a lot can give them the opportunity to examine a whole host of other things. I'm really excited about it. Also, I like Angel's character a lot here. He's not as tortured, or rather, he is, but he's actively trying to do something about it and isn't as mopey as I seem to remember him in Buffy.

Anyone know of any communities where I can find Buffy & Angel icons?