Angel - Season 1 impressions (episode 3)

[thalia_seawood]

Today I was in an extremely cranky mood. Started to work at 7.30 and I'm emphatically not a morning person. I fully come awake in the evening hours. 10pm, 11pm, midnight, 1am, 2am - hey, I'm fully active. Ready to think and plot and plan. (Back at school, I sometimes slept in the afternoon after school and then did my homework in the early morning

Comments

[likeadeuce]

this is a fun episode -- the only thing that doesn't quite click for me about it is Spike hiring someone to do the torture. I'd have thought he'd want to do it himself. the Niska parallel is interesting, though, I hadn't thought of that!

[thalia_seawood]

the only thing that doesn't quite click for me about it is Spike hiring someone to do the torture. I'd have thought he'd want to do it himself.

Oh, but Spike does torture Angel. We don't see any details, but we see him picking up the torture instruments about halfway through the episode. We then see the building from the outside and hear Angel scream. Cut to the next scene.

I thought the violence was only implied, because Spike's mostly supposed to be a fun character at this point, someone about whose antics we can laugh. Seeing him torturing someone would not be helpful in that regard. :-)
Looking at this from Spike's POV I think he'd not try to get too involved in torturing Angel. He knows he's not patient and might easily go to far.

[selenak]

Spike's opening monologue is an all time classic. Also somewhat ironic from Spike's pov due to future events. This episode is the last one on either show which uses Spike in his original role as villain; from this point onwards, his role in the overall narrative changes, so this appearance is a last hoorah to that original role.

(Which had to go. I mean, how often could Spike show up, try to kill Buffy and/or Angel and fail without losing all believability?)

Loved the moment between Cordy and Oz, too, and Cordelia in general at this state.

[thalia_seawood]

This episode is the last one on either show which uses Spike in his original role as villain; from this point onwards, his role in the overall narrative changes, so this appearance is a last hoorah to that original role.

(Which had to go. I mean, how often could Spike show up, try to kill Buffy and/or Angel and fail without losing all believability?)

I stumbled over the Buffy summary on a livejournal dedicated to multifandom recommendations (can't remember its correct name at the moment). I didn't read anything I didn't know yet (e.g. Spike gets a chip and Buffy will get a sister called Dawn

[selenak]

She totally reminded me of Star Wars fans who only ever wanted to see Vader as big bad monster, but got upset when we learned about his backstory and saw that he was human.Oh, it's a definite parallel. I called it the "Evilista Furiosa" attitude in my Spike Wars guide. Mind you, the opposite extreme, the "Whedon, how dare you put Spike through that chip and (spoiler) business when he's so wonderful that he doesn't NEED redemption of any kind!" attitude annoys me as well

[thalia_seawood]

Mind you, the opposite extreme, the "Whedon, how dare you put Spike through that chip and (spoiler) business when he's so wonderful that he doesn't NEED redemption of any kind!" attitude annoys me as well.

Spike clearly loves Drusilla, but that's his one redeeming feature so far. Fans forgive him more easily, because his antics and commentaries are very funny. It also helps that he's very handsome. Even I feel overpowered by the amazing beauty of his cheekbones at times. :-)

Anyway: If you want to be a hero in a good TV show, you *have* to go through some a lot of suffering. Otherwise you're not qualified for the position

[lyore]

The mutual obsession between Spike and Angel is, to me, one of the most interesting relationships of the show. Though I do agree with karabair, I was a little surprised that Spike didn't get in on the Angel-torture action. Maybe he thought he'd get too distracted, and so brought in a professional?

Spike's commentary - genius. Lapoons the show and the character, in such a comedic way. You'e right, Spike is a compete drama queen. In some ways, he reminds me of early Cordy.

For me, Season one is when we see Cordy at her best.

[lyore]

That would be season one of Angel, btw

[thalia_seawood]

The mutual obsession between Spike and Angel is, to me, one of the most interesting relationships of the show. Though I do agree with karabair, I was a little surprised that Spike didn't get in on the Angel-torture action. Maybe he thought he'd get too distracted, and so brought in a professional?

Oh, but it is suggested that he does join in. I think it's after he comes back from meeting Cordy and Doyle. We then see him pick up some torture instruments and approach Angel. The scene is then faded out, but we hear Angel screaming.

Spike's commentary - genius. Lapoons the show and the character, in such a comedic way. You'e right, Spike is a compete drama queen. In some ways, he reminds me of early Cordy.Yes, they both like to be in your face bratty and to make a production out of tiny things

[berne]

Spike in high voice: “How can I thank you, you mysterious, black-clad hunk of a night thing? (low voice) No need, little lady, your tears of gratitude are enough for me. You see, I was once a badass vampire, but love and a pesky curse defanged me. Now I’m just a big, fluffy puppy with bad teeth.

That bit cracks me up EVERY TIME. Without fail. I just... It's hilarious!

[thalia_seawood]

Yes, and I was totally unprepared for it! There should be a warning label attached to this episode: "Do NOT imbibe any liquids while watching the beginning of this show."

James Marster's delivery of these lines is priceless.