God this is a lame episode. I always find it incredibly dull.
Re the Christmas 'miracle' , well it needn't be seen as going against the Buffyverse as rather then 'heaven sent' it could be seen as those bloody powers that be protecting their 'investments so to speak. Especially If you fit it in to what went on in season 8.
This is my very least favorite episode of the whole series. Why? Because Angel is lame and his hair sticks straight up. Because of all the things you mention. It's all in service of Angel being a Very Special Vampire, complete with divine intervention. It's got pretty much nothing to do with Buffy, she doesn't get to save the (snowy) day, and seems pretty darn damsely and OTT girlfriendy and I am over it! Get lost already, Angel. You're dragging down my imaginary friend and her show
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It's all in service of Angel being a Very Special Vampire, complete with divine intervention. It's got pretty much nothing to do with Buffy, she doesn't get to save the (snowy) day, and seems pretty darn damsely and OTT girlfriendy and I am over it! Get lost already, Angel. You're dragging down my imaginary friend and her show.To be fair, and as a big fan of AtS, the new show does have to be set up somehow, and Angel really hasn't had a lot to do so far in this season. He needs an episode about him and where he's going next at some point. I agree that Buffy doesn't really save him, it's the PTBs or whoever sent the snow, because they've marked him out as a person of interest or whatever (which I would argue, and have done in meta, is not necessarily a good thing for him - quite the opposite in fact - and is going to end up making him miserable). I do wish that Joss had somewhat reined back on the emotion, though - even though I also get that the melodrama only serves to point out what Angel and Buffy already know deep down - that
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As with most of the flashback episodes, there is much that is deeply painful here, even discounting the agony-inducing accents. Oz's gentle rejection of Willow is a replay of his rejection of her offer to makeout last season.
The snow might just as well be syrup, frankly. Yes, yes, Angel is a Special Snowflake Vampire. We get it. And Buffy never does convince him - more proof that he really, really isn't a good partner for her. Not because he's a vampire but because he will always put his own wishes and understanding before hers. (Much as Riley does, actually.) He really doesn't recognise her autonomy. Also, she comes across as incredibly young in this episode. Gratuitously.
No passing vampire has ever stopped by the Harris house at Christmas for a seasonal snack? Xander is luckier than he ever realises.
A sop to Bangel fans, which generally pleases them greatly. I recall at least one of my then-teenage daughters bawling her eyes out at this episode. So I suppose in one way we could say it worked with the target audience. But still
As with most of the flashback episodes, there is much that is deeply painful here, even discounting the agony-inducing accents.
The party flashback is actually better done in this episode, I think, than in FFL. At least the party guests (including Angel) are dressed correctly. It's only Margaret who isn't.
I don't really agree with your assessment of Angel in this episode, but I do agree he's being selfish in not thinking what his death would do to Buffy.
I recall at least one of my then-teenage daughters bawling her eyes out at this episode. So I suppose in one way we could say it worked with the target audience. But still...
Well, it worked on me too, the first time I saw it. ;)
I may be having a major Angel-grudge on this rewatch. I keep remembering he is over ten times Buffy's age. The first time I saw it I liked the Christmas miracle idea. Now, not so much.
I think the staircase is the same as that they used in FFL, when Cecily walks down it.
I think the staircase is the same as that they used in FFL, when Cecily walks down it.
Could well be. And it's definitely at a strange place in the room in both instances.
I understand about the Angel grudge, but I think the age difference is one of those Buffyverse elastic things that you're not meant to take too literally. Yes, he is a lot older than her, but you're supposed (I think) to take it as the age difference between a man in his early to mid twenties and an older teenage girl, rather than hundreds of years, even though he is hundreds of years older.
It doesn't really jive with what we see of post-souled, pre-Buffy Angel in his own show, but Angel is probably suffering from arrested emotional development. Basically, he has the emotional naivety of his human self, who was a silly and careless young man. Er...I guess. Anyway, up until this point in BtVS, Angel's story is only there to service Buffy's. It becomes problematic in season 3 because they're preparing him to be the lead in his own show.
It snows where I live all the time. Sometimes you can hardly see in front of you. It's never blocked out the sun to the extent that a few flakes did in Sunnydale.
Clearly, this is because your snow is not magic snow sent by a higher power. ;)
I wonder why Joss decided to go back to thIs demon for season seven. The First is a little tedious.
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Changed it.
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Re the Christmas 'miracle' , well it needn't be seen as going against the Buffyverse as rather then 'heaven sent' it could be seen as those bloody powers that be protecting their 'investments so to speak. Especially If you fit it in to what went on in season 8.
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I hates it, precioussssssss.
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I think we can agree on that one. ;)
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The snow might just as well be syrup, frankly. Yes, yes, Angel is a Special Snowflake Vampire. We get it. And Buffy never does convince him - more proof that he really, really isn't a good partner for her. Not because he's a vampire but because he will always put his own wishes and understanding before hers. (Much as Riley does, actually.) He really doesn't recognise her autonomy. Also, she comes across as incredibly young in this episode. Gratuitously.
No passing vampire has ever stopped by the Harris house at Christmas for a seasonal snack? Xander is luckier than he ever realises.
A sop to Bangel fans, which generally pleases them greatly. I recall at least one of my then-teenage daughters bawling her eyes out at this episode. So I suppose in one way we could say it worked with the target audience. But still
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The party flashback is actually better done in this episode, I think, than in FFL. At least the party guests (including Angel) are dressed correctly. It's only Margaret who isn't.
I don't really agree with your assessment of Angel in this episode, but I do agree he's being selfish in not thinking what his death would do to Buffy.
I recall at least one of my then-teenage daughters bawling her eyes out at this episode. So I suppose in one way we could say it worked with the target audience. But still...
Well, it worked on me too, the first time I saw it. ;)
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I think the staircase is the same as that they used in FFL, when Cecily walks down it.
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Could well be. And it's definitely at a strange place in the room in both instances.
I understand about the Angel grudge, but I think the age difference is one of those Buffyverse elastic things that you're not meant to take too literally. Yes, he is a lot older than her, but you're supposed (I think) to take it as the age difference between a man in his early to mid twenties and an older teenage girl, rather than hundreds of years, even though he is hundreds of years older.
It doesn't really jive with what we see of post-souled, pre-Buffy Angel in his own show, but Angel is probably suffering from arrested emotional development. Basically, he has the emotional naivety of his human self, who was a silly and careless young man. Er...I guess. Anyway, up until this point in BtVS, Angel's story is only there to service Buffy's. It becomes problematic in season 3 because they're preparing him to be the lead in his own show.
My two pennorth, anyway.
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Clearly, this is because your snow is not magic snow sent by a higher power. ;)
I wonder why Joss decided to go back to thIs demon for season seven. The First is a little tedious.
I suspect because he'd run out of ideas.
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