Best excuse ever: evil hand issues

[danceswithwords]

I just caught the rerun of "Dead End" on TNT. I love that episode. It's not the best episode ever, but it's got so many good moments: some great glimpses of what makes up Lindsey's life at the beginning of the episode, Lindsey's performance at Caritas (which immediately made me think of asta77), the Angel/Lindsey bickering rivalry, the evil hand speech

Comments

[asta77]

Ah, great minds think alike. :) As soon as I saw your reply to my post I hopped over here to see what you had to say.

'Dead End' is definitely one of my favorite episodes for all the reasons you list. As well as the bit where Angel mocks Lindsey's "He's my lead. He's My lead." and Lindsey questioning why Angel isn't trying to kill him (he'll get there yet sweetie). IMHO, it's the best Lindsey ep because it gave CK a chance to show his talent for both drama and comedy and it was a very nice showcase for his musical abiility (I didn't know he could sing prior to the scene in Caritas).

And I'm not generally one to notice homoerotic subtext unless it's really freaking obvious, but even I picked up on the Angel/Lindsey hoyay in this episode. Whew.

Yeah, me too. Angel's little talk with Lindsey in the car really stands out in my mind. He lists what Lindsey's lost - including, in a way, him. Um, Angel, buddy, what are you trying to say? ;) It also manages to add another layer as to why, if anyone was going to take Lindsey out,

[danceswithwords]

IMHO, it's the best Lindsey ep because it gave CK a chance to show his talent for both drama and comedy and it was a very nice showcase for his musical abiility (I didn't know he could sing prior to the scene in Caritas).

It really rounded out the fleshing-out of the character that had been happening all along, too. I can't imagine that W&H would have been an interesting nemesis in the first two seasons without Lindsey's ambiguity.

The one thing that I really regret about season 5 (other that TGiQ ;p), was that the complex relationships between Spike and Angel and Lindsey and Angel weren't explored as they could have been.

"TGiQ"? Let us not speak of it again. ::ptui!::

I at least feel they made a stab (a very uneven and superficial stab) at getting into the Spike/Angel relationship, but I was incredibly frustrated that they brought Lindsey back--implying that he'd spent years of elaborate preparation getting ready to do whatever it was he wanted to do--and then never bothered to actually work out his motivation.

[sdwolfpup]

I adore 'Dead End'! It's all that you say above as well as, to me, a very disturbing episode. Whenever people are get alive for gruesome ends, I just get wigged.

Also, I've always liked 'Ted' because I think it shows remarkably well that awkwardness when a single mother starts dating. How the child/ren may metaphorically think he's a monster. It resonates with me having had a single mother.

And I already totally agree regarding the Olympics coverage and synchronized diving, which I didn't even know existed until two days ago.

[danceswithwords]

Another neat thing about "Ted" is the way it draws the teenage/adult divide--Ted has automatic credibility because he's an adult, whereas nobody believes Buffy when she says he threatened her. Of course, the drugged cookies helped there, but it really homed in on something a lot of teenagers experience.

I didn't know about synchronized diving until this week either, and was left wondering if it was a craze that had swept the nation while I wasn't paying attention. That happens pretty often. They were showing it in prime time and the announcers were like, "Of course, we know everyone at home has been waiting with bated breath for the synchronized diving." And I was like, "Synchronized diving? There's synchronized diving now?" I'm glad it's not just me. :)

And welcome back from the con! I'm glad you had such a wonderful and stimulating time!

[molly_may]

I also watched Dead End last night, while at the same time talking on the phone to a friend who was also watching it. Apparently, that's what all the cool people were doing last night! I love the episode too, and I think that the evil hand speech is Lindsey's finest moment. And no, his motives for coming back in S5 don't make any sense. I can't think about it too much or my head starts to hurt.

I've always liked Ted, and when I rewatched it a few months ago I was also struck by how similar Buffy's reactions were to her reactions in Dead Things. I thought it was interesting that Joyce actually tries to cover for her with the police, but Buffy is willing to take on full responsibility for what she thinks she's done.

[danceswithwords]

Apparently, that's what all the cool people were doing last night!

It was! :)

Yes, Buffy's not only willing to take on responsibility--she's unreasonably determined to do so. Joyce is telling the police he fell down the stairs and she confessed when no one's even questioning her. I think at this point in the season the responsibility that comes with her power is finally starting to sit really heavily on her.

[asta77]

Apparently, that's what all the cool people were doing last night!

LOL. Anyone here have conference calling capability?

[danceswithwords]

Hee! That would be excellent!

[danceswithwords]

On my friends page your entry on "Dead End" and asta's come right after each other. HEE!

Wasn't that scary cool?

It makes his return in S5 really confusing to me now--even thought it was still pretty confusing before I knew that.

I suspect it will never be anything but confusing. Such a missed opportunity. Imagine how powerful Lindsey's reappearance would have been if he'd actually had, like, coherent motives that made sense.

I hadn't thought of it in quite those terms, but you're right: "Ted" plants the seeds for Buffy's reaction to Faith quite nicely. Neat.