fandom oops
I swore for ages that I had no interest in watching the Buffy spin-off Angel because its cast was basically a dumping ground for characters I was thrilled to see the back of on Buffy anyway. They could go have their own show so their fans wouldn't get bitter and bitchy about them leaving permanently, while still being less likely to do guest spots on Buffy. Basically they could GTFO my fandom with everyone being satisfied. Woot.
Then I made a deal whereby I'm now watching Angel in return for someone else reading the Dresden books. And he's really enjoying Dresden, so I am thrilled, because Dresden is just a fun romp and full of awesome moments and memorable snark, and I love spreading the word of Jim Butcher, who will never have enough of a fanbase as far as I'm concerned. So yay! And I'm trying very hard to find enjoyment in Angel in return, because my friend rocks for upholding the deal in the first place. Besides, he rocks in general.
I watched Angel for a while while sitting around working on Christmas presents, but eventually I needed to take a break with another show. And I picked up The West Wing again and rewatched the second season. And just. Damn. That show is so mindblowingly, heart-poundingly amazing, at times laugh-out-loud funny and at other times so profoundly sad that it makes me do the full-on ugly scrunchy faced crying, not the single misty tear of some shows. And it's got to be up there with Farscape as one of the greatest TV experiences of my life, so, um... pairing it with Angel was probably a bad idea. Because comparisons are unfair, I know, but I just watched Angel's "Hero" and "The Prodigal," which are about a favorite character's death and Angel's daddy issues respectively, but lined up against "18th and Potomac" and "Two Cathedrals," which are also about a favorite character's death and President Bartlet's daddy issues, the Angel stuff is just... mealy and tasteless, like a bad apple.
I'm holding out hope for Gunn and Lorne, who still haven't shown up but who I've been assured I will like. I'm not quitting -- I'm too stubborn for that -- but at this point I think the ghost in Cordelia's apartment is my favorite character. The show isn't bad, it just doesn't have the wit, brilliance, quick turnaround and immaculate plotting I expect out of a Joss Whedon production. Yet. *is stubborn*
Also, someone please tell me that Kate the cop either dies or leaves the show soon. Pleeeeaaaase.
But, um, in the spirit of a revived interest in West Wing... I give you some reasons to watch this show!
Bartlet completely flays the spine out of a conservative Christian radio talk show host: "One last thing. While you may be mistaking this for your monthly meeting of the Ignorant Tightass Club, in this building when the President stands, nobody sits."
Toby can also deliver a mightly Biblical smackdown when needed: "She meant Jewish. When she said New York sense of humor."
Oliver Babbish, the White House Counsel, gets his first hint that Bartlet's been hiding a medical condition in a veil of secrecy that could constitute multiple federal crimes: "I need a dictaphone." "There's one on your desk." "It doesn't work." "Why?" "It's stuck on record, it won't stop recording things, so it's exactly what you want lying around the White House counsel's office, because there's never been a problem with that before."
Ainsley Hayes, leggy blonde Republican from the South, whose policies I completely disagree with but who is stupendously awesome anyway, completely hands Sam his ass on a talk show: "Ginger, get the popcorn."
Josh Lyman drinks from the keg of glory: Bring him the finest muffins and bagels in all the land!
Sam's explains terrorism: "What do you call a society where the pizza place you're eating in could just blow up without warning?" "Israel."
Josh takes over from Sam, same scene: "Islamic extremist is to Islamic as blank is to Christianity"
CJ slams gun crimes in the press room: "If anyone thinks that these crimes could have been prevented had the victims been carrying guns themselves..."
Bartlet took the vicodin AND the percocet for his back: "I wasn't supposed to take both?"
Jed Bartlet shames God, possibly the most powerful thing I've ever seen on television: From the end of Two Cathedrals.
Now I really need to quit because it's FREEZING in my room and I need to get under some warm covers right now.
-rave