Episode Reviews A:TS 4.05 - 4.08
I should be asleep right now, but wifi was throwing fits and so instead I fiddled with it for ages. Oh, yeah, I also watched another disk of Angel S4. Tsk.
I realise now that I've seen this episode before. Not sure when or where, exactly, but I've definitely seen it before. But, yeah, I definitely remembered the plot from way before, and I remembered feeling really, really angry on Fred's behalf at how Angel and Gunn reacted. maybe especially how Gunn reacted. I don't want you to be a murderer is fine as motivations go, but she still feels like one! She just doesn't have the satisfaction to go with it. Way to go, Gunn.
Things I liked - Wesley. Lilah. Wesley&Lilah. Lilah&Wesley. Lilah 'stalking' Wesley. Lilah's hair, 80s though it was. Lilah's gift. *pets*
Angel&Lilah, too, rang my bells in all the right way.
I'm struggling to remember, actually, as I watched all four episodes and much stuff happened in there that related to Cordy and Connor but I don't remember what happened where - um, it was good, anyway. I'm generally happy with the Connor and Cordelia progression. Oh! Yes, they fought a vampire together, didn't they? I loved Cordelia asking what she should wear - you're right, selenak! - and the kiss was really rather sweet, as was Connor's anger. And him asking Angel for help - that happened in this episode, right? - was spot on.
Things I didn't like - Gunn. Bleargh. Gunn. He actually overtook my dislike of Fred in this episode, mainly because Fred kicked ass and Gunn was wishy washy, even when committing murder. Jesus, if you're gonna do it, don't sit there and martyr yourself, for crying out loud! Take some responsibility for your actions - "I did it so you wouldn't have to" - how does that make Fred feel? When Giles killed Ben, he didn't go bleating to Buffy about it. Jesus.
Anyway, overall, I dug this episode. 8/10.
Spin the Bottle, how cute! And I remember this episode too. No idea why. It's just these two I remember, and, erm, nope, drawing a blank. Har har.
Right. Wesley as Head Boy = adorable dork, especially when he nearly kills himself with his various implements. It's such a sharp contrast to action!Wesley that they both look like caricatures - which is odd, in a way, as action!Wesley is supposed to be Wesley after his character has developed for several years... right? Or not. Over-doing it is silly and - well, given how dark and dramatic everyone has become in this season, I found this episode hysterical, as it made it all seem like they'd fallen through into the Star Trek mirror universe - you know, the one where everyone is evil and tortured for no apparent reason? yep, that's the one. Cordelia is very upset about her hair, Wesley is - Wesley, Angel is convinced they're all mad and is a delightful boy, and Gunn is actually rather hot. Damn. How did that happen? See where a sense of occasional violence will get you?
What I didn't like about this episode was the implication that Connor would kill Angel in order to sleep with Cordelia. It wasn't supposed to be that, but it somehow came out that way, and it really irked me. Thinking on it, this might be one of my first impressions of S4 Connor, which explains why I have so little patience with him. He's very annoying in this episode, other than his conversation with Angel about fathers, that is. That was priceless.
Other stuff - oh, Cordelia's vision? Meh. I know it's the big bad - and does this mean that's she's seeing it as Cordy, or is the Beast waking up in her, or what? - but it just looks a bit like the horned demon that Jonathan turned into in Buffy and I can't take it seriously. Plus, fire effects are really hard to do, especially if you're going for the molten lava look.
But, still, a solid comedy episode, and the fighting between Wesley and Gunn was lovely. Also, horny!Cordy was a double plus. 8/10.
Apocalypse Nowish, and boy, is it ever. This episode rocked, from start to finish. It had me hiding behind my cushion, it had me with tears in my eyes, and only once did I cringe.
Right, the good bits first.
1. The fight! OMG, the fight rocked. It rocked because the demon won, and it rocked because our heroes got seriously beat up. It rocked because the body count was scary. It rocked because Angel got stabbed in the neck and blood came out of his mouth and did I mention that our heroes got beat up? I mean, I felt genuinely worried for them, even though I knew that they all made it through all right. It looked scary!
2. Wesley & Lilah - yeah, I'm gonna keep saying that. Just, all of it.
3. Connor & Cordelia, and the kiss while the sky burned and tears down Connor's cheeks and how hesitantly he opened his mouth against hers.
4. Angel, watching them in bed, and there is absolutely nothing in his eyes.
5. The spot where Connor was born? Man, that rocked. Because I can't remember what happens, exactly, and so I don't know if it's significant, but it sounds it. So, um, yeah, if it's a red herring, it's a good one.
6. Fred and Gunn and taking a break. I'm totally with Fred on this one, and if Gunn can't see that she needs a break, then he's... he's just wrong.
7. Wesley. *pets* Wesley helping Gunn. *pets some more*
8. The spell, and the sky raining fire, and Lilah looking out of the window and hugging herself.
In fact, I'd give this episode a whopping 9.5/10, but for one teeny thing -
THE OH-MY-GOD-THAT'S-THE-WORST-SEX-SCENE-EVER bit.
Yeah, that bit. Where Charisma is lying perfectly syill and not moving any part of her body or indeed changing expression. Yeah, 'cause when I have sex, I also prefer to lie like a corpse. It looks so fake and plastic, and Connor's pale skin, slowly flushing, looks so real in comparison to Cordelia's monotan that it looks like he's fucking a blow-up doll. Seriously.
So, in light of the above, I give this 9/10.
Corpses! Corpses everywhere! I guessed zombies from the title, you see. Actually, I guessed dead lawyers from the title too. The Latin, it puns.
Another cracking episode. It made me really, really wonder about the state of Wesley and Lilah's relationship, as she looked so genuinely emotional in the tunnel as he's leaving that I wouldn't be surprised if she got someplace safe afterwards, had a good cry and then mentally slapped herself for showing weakness. So, I'm gonna take a stab in the dark and say they got under each other's skin. 'Cause, after all, we know that Wesley went in to get her out - and he carried her, too. Awww. The Gone with the Wind fan in me is going all gooey. Did I mention I secretly want them to just smooch a lot, and then have cuteness abound? yeah, I'm sick, I know. But 'cute' and Wesley&Lilah just don't go together, so we're safe.
So we also have Gavin confessing that he finds Lilah more frightening than the big bad and - let's be honest - wouldn't you?
Also, does Connor have a thing about strangling attractive women or is it just me? First Cordelia, then Lilah. Does he ever do it to Fred, 'cause that would be a hat-trick. Of course, the hand-on-the-throat thing isn't really about strangulation, but about demonstrating power. And Connor desperately needs to demonstrate some power at this point as Lilah has shown precisely what she thinks of him - a weak little boy, capable of being brought down by some security guards. *pets* Ah, Lilah.
Did I mention that this episode should be all about the Lilah and Wesley action?
The Angel & Cordelia action, too, was a sight to behold. "Now take your new boyfriend and get out" - yep, totally. That's Angel to a T.
And - and other stuff. I can barely keep my eyes open now so I forget. But Gunn harping on at Wesley is really getting old and if he doesn't shut up soon I'm going to just hate him. Fred was a little better, in that she picked up a weapon and didn't wibble. Lorne was lovely in not wanting to fight and I fully respect that decision to actually, you know, live.
Wesley looks hotter and hotter the more bruises he accumulates. If he gets any more beaten up I shall simply expire on the spot.
9/10.
Doubtless I missed much, both because I watched four episodes at once and because I am so tired I am falling head-first into my keyboard. Meh.
I owe some people some drabbles. Tomorrow, cupcakes, during my lunch-hour. You shall have your slice of pie.
I realise now that I've seen this episode before. Not sure when or where, exactly, but I've definitely seen it before. But, yeah, I definitely remembered the plot from way before, and I remembered feeling really, really angry on Fred's behalf at how Angel and Gunn reacted. maybe especially how Gunn reacted. I don't want you to be a murderer is fine as motivations go, but she still feels like one! She just doesn't have the satisfaction to go with it. Way to go, Gunn.
Things I liked - Wesley. Lilah. Wesley&Lilah. Lilah&Wesley. Lilah 'stalking' Wesley. Lilah's hair, 80s though it was. Lilah's gift. *pets*
Angel&Lilah, too, rang my bells in all the right way.
I'm struggling to remember, actually, as I watched all four episodes and much stuff happened in there that related to Cordy and Connor but I don't remember what happened where - um, it was good, anyway. I'm generally happy with the Connor and Cordelia progression. Oh! Yes, they fought a vampire together, didn't they? I loved Cordelia asking what she should wear - you're right, selenak! - and the kiss was really rather sweet, as was Connor's anger. And him asking Angel for help - that happened in this episode, right? - was spot on.
Things I didn't like - Gunn. Bleargh. Gunn. He actually overtook my dislike of Fred in this episode, mainly because Fred kicked ass and Gunn was wishy washy, even when committing murder. Jesus, if you're gonna do it, don't sit there and martyr yourself, for crying out loud! Take some responsibility for your actions - "I did it so you wouldn't have to" - how does that make Fred feel? When Giles killed Ben, he didn't go bleating to Buffy about it. Jesus.
Anyway, overall, I dug this episode. 8/10.
Spin the Bottle, how cute! And I remember this episode too. No idea why. It's just these two I remember, and, erm, nope, drawing a blank. Har har.
Right. Wesley as Head Boy = adorable dork, especially when he nearly kills himself with his various implements. It's such a sharp contrast to action!Wesley that they both look like caricatures - which is odd, in a way, as action!Wesley is supposed to be Wesley after his character has developed for several years... right? Or not. Over-doing it is silly and - well, given how dark and dramatic everyone has become in this season, I found this episode hysterical, as it made it all seem like they'd fallen through into the Star Trek mirror universe - you know, the one where everyone is evil and tortured for no apparent reason? yep, that's the one. Cordelia is very upset about her hair, Wesley is - Wesley, Angel is convinced they're all mad and is a delightful boy, and Gunn is actually rather hot. Damn. How did that happen? See where a sense of occasional violence will get you?
What I didn't like about this episode was the implication that Connor would kill Angel in order to sleep with Cordelia. It wasn't supposed to be that, but it somehow came out that way, and it really irked me. Thinking on it, this might be one of my first impressions of S4 Connor, which explains why I have so little patience with him. He's very annoying in this episode, other than his conversation with Angel about fathers, that is. That was priceless.
Other stuff - oh, Cordelia's vision? Meh. I know it's the big bad - and does this mean that's she's seeing it as Cordy, or is the Beast waking up in her, or what? - but it just looks a bit like the horned demon that Jonathan turned into in Buffy and I can't take it seriously. Plus, fire effects are really hard to do, especially if you're going for the molten lava look.
But, still, a solid comedy episode, and the fighting between Wesley and Gunn was lovely. Also, horny!Cordy was a double plus. 8/10.
Apocalypse Nowish, and boy, is it ever. This episode rocked, from start to finish. It had me hiding behind my cushion, it had me with tears in my eyes, and only once did I cringe.
Right, the good bits first.
1. The fight! OMG, the fight rocked. It rocked because the demon won, and it rocked because our heroes got seriously beat up. It rocked because the body count was scary. It rocked because Angel got stabbed in the neck and blood came out of his mouth and did I mention that our heroes got beat up? I mean, I felt genuinely worried for them, even though I knew that they all made it through all right. It looked scary!
2. Wesley & Lilah - yeah, I'm gonna keep saying that. Just, all of it.
3. Connor & Cordelia, and the kiss while the sky burned and tears down Connor's cheeks and how hesitantly he opened his mouth against hers.
4. Angel, watching them in bed, and there is absolutely nothing in his eyes.
5. The spot where Connor was born? Man, that rocked. Because I can't remember what happens, exactly, and so I don't know if it's significant, but it sounds it. So, um, yeah, if it's a red herring, it's a good one.
6. Fred and Gunn and taking a break. I'm totally with Fred on this one, and if Gunn can't see that she needs a break, then he's... he's just wrong.
7. Wesley. *pets* Wesley helping Gunn. *pets some more*
8. The spell, and the sky raining fire, and Lilah looking out of the window and hugging herself.
In fact, I'd give this episode a whopping 9.5/10, but for one teeny thing -
THE OH-MY-GOD-THAT'S-THE-WORST-SEX-SCENE-EVER bit.
Yeah, that bit. Where Charisma is lying perfectly syill and not moving any part of her body or indeed changing expression. Yeah, 'cause when I have sex, I also prefer to lie like a corpse. It looks so fake and plastic, and Connor's pale skin, slowly flushing, looks so real in comparison to Cordelia's monotan that it looks like he's fucking a blow-up doll. Seriously.
So, in light of the above, I give this 9/10.
Corpses! Corpses everywhere! I guessed zombies from the title, you see. Actually, I guessed dead lawyers from the title too. The Latin, it puns.
Another cracking episode. It made me really, really wonder about the state of Wesley and Lilah's relationship, as she looked so genuinely emotional in the tunnel as he's leaving that I wouldn't be surprised if she got someplace safe afterwards, had a good cry and then mentally slapped herself for showing weakness. So, I'm gonna take a stab in the dark and say they got under each other's skin. 'Cause, after all, we know that Wesley went in to get her out - and he carried her, too. Awww. The Gone with the Wind fan in me is going all gooey. Did I mention I secretly want them to just smooch a lot, and then have cuteness abound? yeah, I'm sick, I know. But 'cute' and Wesley&Lilah just don't go together, so we're safe.
So we also have Gavin confessing that he finds Lilah more frightening than the big bad and - let's be honest - wouldn't you?
Also, does Connor have a thing about strangling attractive women or is it just me? First Cordelia, then Lilah. Does he ever do it to Fred, 'cause that would be a hat-trick. Of course, the hand-on-the-throat thing isn't really about strangulation, but about demonstrating power. And Connor desperately needs to demonstrate some power at this point as Lilah has shown precisely what she thinks of him - a weak little boy, capable of being brought down by some security guards. *pets* Ah, Lilah.
Did I mention that this episode should be all about the Lilah and Wesley action?
The Angel & Cordelia action, too, was a sight to behold. "Now take your new boyfriend and get out" - yep, totally. That's Angel to a T.
And - and other stuff. I can barely keep my eyes open now so I forget. But Gunn harping on at Wesley is really getting old and if he doesn't shut up soon I'm going to just hate him. Fred was a little better, in that she picked up a weapon and didn't wibble. Lorne was lovely in not wanting to fight and I fully respect that decision to actually, you know, live.
Wesley looks hotter and hotter the more bruises he accumulates. If he gets any more beaten up I shall simply expire on the spot.
9/10.
Doubtless I missed much, both because I watched four episodes at once and because I am so tired I am falling head-first into my keyboard. Meh.
I owe some people some drabbles. Tomorrow, cupcakes, during my lunch-hour. You shall have your slice of pie.