T.V. Review: Angel Season 4 *Spoiler Alerts*
Make no mistake, of the twelve collective seasons of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Angel", Season 4 of "Angel" is the worst.
I just finished watching the box-set {Thanks Andy} and it wasn't as bad as I remember. This is important as the reason it wasn't as bad as before, was that the 22 episodes of season 4 wasn't spread out from September to May. On DVD, season 4 holds up better, and the reasons I couldn't stand this season when I first saw it are still there, but aren't as aggravating as they were then.
One of the reasons season 4 really annoys me, is because it reminded me of every "E.R." and "The West Wing" promo over the last few years. Tune in for _______ crisis this week, and on and on and on, with no real delivery. The problem with Angel Season 4, is that it keeps the crises coming and coming and coming. It's not so much the long story lines that won't die, but the fact that they try to keep that crisis tension going for entire story arcs and not succeeding. Finally, when something does get wrapped up, they immediately plunge into the next crisis, with an huge lure at the end of the episode.
For a box set this isn't a very big problem compared to a person watching it on network television. Yet even on a box set with the various fake outs and drawing out of the story lines, the tension is simply unsustainable. They try to keep this tension going by ending the various episodes at a critical moment with the revelation of something rather important, and they do it too many times. At the beginning of the next episode it's harder to give a damn because you know they're going to end it in the same way. For a series that seems to take delicious pride in turning cliches upside down, they practically create their own cliche by ending so many episodes in the same fashion. By trying to draw out then tension it just dilutes it and lessens the impact of what should be jaw dropping revelations. But when you're expecting them and running the worst case scenario program in your head, it leaves little room for surprises. The surprises they do deliver seem cheap because they're trying way too hard.
When it comes to drawing out the story lines, they have to do so because they hit their peak way too soon and try to pack in way too much. In particular, I absolutely hated Episode 10: Awakening. Thinking about it now, it suits the whole mechanics of Angel's soul, but damnit, it's an entire 42 minute episode that advances the plot about 5 minutes. It could have been cut down completely if not discarded. A fine example of the writers trying way too hard to pull a surprise on the audience.
Plotting aside, the season was also let down by the villains. Two of the three {Well, two are actually one, but they're in different bodies} were creepy. Not the chills down the spine creepy, but child molester creepy. The revelation of one of the villains also seemed a litte forced. The Beast was a decent villain, but was dealt with in a rather unsatisfactory manner. Rather like Achilles and his heel. You expected more from his death scene, something epic.
Another character I found annoying was the Gwen Raiden {Raider??} character. A lot of effort was put into her character, and she was well acted by Alexa Davalos. In general she was too pretty, and had too much back story for what was just a bit part. For the three episodes she's in she is setup as a love interest for not one, but two of the male cast, and is just plain interesting and was screaming series regular. Hell, two {Fred and Lorne} of the series regulars didn't have near as much in the way of back story when they became series regulars. I don't know if there were career commitments or maybe they couldn't write her into the story or maybe what was shown was the entire scope of the character, but the Gwen Raiden character seemed a little too big for a rather small part and it was shame she didn't become a series regular.
The other character I found annoying, had the opposite problem. He was too small for the amount of time he spent on screen and the pivotal role he plays. For Connor, played by Vincent Kartheiser, the only comparison that comes to mind is that he is channeling his inner Anakin Skywalker. He'll say and do things that screams stupid teenager, or I need my lines rewritten. Additionally the dynamic between Connor and Cordelia was just creepy, as defined previously. Connor was always given a weird role. He had to maintain the brooding demeanor ala Angel, but as a teenager and it never really works.
However, given the fact that this Season had 22 episodes I can't say they were all consistently bad. In fact the first six episodes were great and reminded me of what I always liked about Angel, namely the inventive plots and how fun they could be sometimes all the while preparing the foundation for later episodes. Probably the best part of Season 4 was the tail end of the Angelus story arc, starting with episode 13. This part of the story arc included guest stars who were simply fresh air in the increasingly stale story line. Additionally, even in my much hated Episode 10, the standard of writing and the production values is still top notched, and never really wanes.
Overall Season 4 had a fine beginning some ups in the middle and a pathetic ending with just a small bright spot with the final episode, an episode that at the very least promised an interesting fifth season. In all honestly I don't think I'll ever get over the fact I watched this on network television. I cannot stress how badly this plays on television. Getting the jaw-dropping revelation at the end of the episode, and then waiting a week for the process to repeat. Eventually I was left with the feeling, "Here we go again". I'll never forget the Christmas break either.
Hands down, the worst season in the Buffyverse and this rates it a 4.5/10.
P.S.I don't think I'll ever be able to forgive the writers for the perpetrating the Jasmine story line on me either.