Buffy and Angel Rewatch part 35

NOTE: according to the episode guide I'm following I was Made To Love You and The Body should be next, but since I think they should be watched alongside Forever an episode which wouldn't make sense without Angel's Epiphany coming first, therefore I will watch the Angel episodes (2.15/16) and then the Buffy episodes (5.15/16/17).

A2.15 Reprise
This, the first half in what I would regard as a two parter, is an excellent episode and one of my favourite of the series. Everyone on the episode is looking for the meaning of life, or their place in the world. The Wolfram and Hart lawyers are in a spin awaiting the dreaded Senior Partners and looking for a way to keep their jobs; only Lindsey seems to not care and he has shown this lack of caring many times before. The Angel Investigations team are looking at how to fight evil and still make money and Angel is looking to end his war with Wolfram and Hart once and for all. The latter is the most compelling storyline, though I love the way in which they set up Cordy's storyline for the next episode.
Angel continually shows that he cares even though he claims not too. Holland Manners speech in the elevator, which simply inspired makes him realise that there isn't a good vs evil fight; they will always exist. That in a nutshell is really what Angel is all about. The characters and storylines continually make good choices which have bad outcomes and vice-versa and that is what the show is all about- evil can never be defeated. Its a powerful speech and marks a real turning point. However perhaps this turning point more comes in the last scene with Angel and Darla having sex. As foreshadowed by Cordy's speech earlier in the episode, its maybe a good thing that Angel 'got laid' as certainly it has a good effect on him. It has other ramifications of course but it is a nice bookend to the Angel/Darla relationship this season. (10/10)

A2.16 Epiphany
I adore this episode. There's a real sense of happiness after the previous episodes which were very dark. Angel's epiphany effects everyone; it angers both Lindsey and Darla causing the latter to leave town, it forced Angel to seek counsel with Lorne and it helps Angel to save Kate's, Cordy's, Gunn's and Wes' lives. I always like the storyline in which he saves Kate from her attempted suicide; her final words to him hint that the Powers That Be haven't gone anywhere, they allowed him in to save her life. Its very poignant for Angel as it shows they're still on his side.
I do feel sorry for Lindsey in this episode, he also has an epiphany that his relationship with Darla will never happen, though I admit his road rage against Angel felt a little bit surplus to the episode.
Angel saving his team were the best bits of the episode though; there were a lot of funny bits and Angel's such a funny character when he's trying to be lighthearted. The little touch at the end with him going to work for the others was very nice, as it made a lot more sense than the others suddenly forgiving Angel. (10/10)

B5.15 I Was Made To Love You
A rather silly and yet sad episode, and not just for that heart wrenching ending. April the robots story played out in obvious parallel to Buffy's feelings of abandonment. I felt bad for Buffy, however I couldn't fully sympathise with her feelings as she's only 20 and bound to find love again, though maybe her shorter than average life expectancy means she has to rush these things a little. The character of April was really well played and even though she was a robot it was hard not to feel a little sympathetic towards her.
Other good moments included a little happy Summers time together and a rare scene between just Anya and Tara; we don't get to see the Scoobies other halves together that much, but it makes a lot of sense that they would share a bond. (7.5/10)

B5.16 The Body
This is a difficult episode to watch and an even harder one to write about. It had a much bigger impact on me watching it this time than when I watched it before probably because this time round I watched the whole story of Joyce's illness. Its a hugely haunting; none of the sad music or histrionic crying that usually accompanies TV deaths, just shock and grief. The silence is some parts of the episode is nearly deafening. I'm not a huge fan of the vampire in the morgue as I think the fighting takes a little away from the rawness of the episode, but in a way it highlights that death happens regularly on this show and sometimes deaths can be a little glossed over, which is necessary to keep the story moving. This death is very different from most deaths however because not only is it someone close, but its from human causes. (10/10)

B5.17 Forever
Another sad episode and a nice way to round off the initial impact of Joyce's death. This episode isn't as dark as the last, we get some lighter moments in the form of Anya's life and death talk, Glory finding out about the key and Giles listening to the song he and Joyce listened to in Band Candy, which I thought was a nice touch. The darker moments came from Dawn's quest to resurrect Joyce which produced some particularly creepy scenes, especially with Joyce rising and nearly appearing at the end. However this storyline is a little spoiled by Dawn's constant whininess. Understandable, but still a little annoying.
The saddest and best moments came at the funeral and Buffy and Dawn's confrontation at the end, where both sisters realise that that the other felt alone and symbolically they learn to lean on each other. Whilst this doesn't continue for the rest of the season so much, this is an important step.
Another bit I liked was the Angel visit after the funeral. I'm not a big Buffy/Angel fan but his appearance fit into the story well and it makes sense that he would come. The conversation was also nicely steered around the subject of Dawn, a way of avoiding perhaps how far the monks had created their reality. Even though it would've been interesting to see some conversation between the two about Dawn and her existence, its probably best they didn't. (8/10)