Saturday 10 April 2010

Buffy and Angel Rewatch part 47

A3.15 Loyalty
A chilling episode in which Wes is forced to question everything he knows. Alexis Denisof, in this episode and the arc in general is just amazing. He pulls off terror, anxiety, fear, disbelief and countless other emotions in just a look and its amazing to watch. I must admit though I'm not quite sure why Wes went to Holtz for help in stopping the prophecy coming true, but I guess he didn't have many options and after the infiltration by Aubrey, one of Holtz' soldiers, he was led there.
I liked the Angel as a dad moments in this episode, its so sweet to see and I like the Lilah/Sahjahn partnership. Fred and Gunn making googly eyes at each other is a little sickening to have to watch. (8/10)

A3.16 Sleep Tight
A heartbreaking episode. It was difficult to watch Wes betray Angel to protect Connor and there was a definite shift in his attitude and demeanor here from earlier in the season. I still get shocked when Wes brutally beats Lorne without even trying to explain why he is doing what he's doing. Watching this, it occurs to me that Holtz' plan (since Lullaby) must have always been to take Connor. Its tragic and ingenious really as nothing would or does cause Angel greater sorrow than to lose his son. It makes me feel doubly sorry for Wes then as he was just a pawn to get the baby easily away from Angel. Of course no-one counted on Sahjhan to make everything that much worse.
There are a lot of highlights to this episode, especially in the last 15 or so minutes when the story tragically unfolds. I also liked Angel and Lilah's conversation in the bar, as well as Angel going crazy from drinking Connor's blood. The only thing that slows the episode down is that they meander towards the end as a lot of things need to be put in place before the final few scenes. (9/10)

A3.17 Forgiving
The title couldn't be more apt as the fallout out from Hotlz and Connor's escape to Quor-toth is felt all over. Again I have to say poor Wesley. After lying half dead, unable to speak for hours, and despite the team trying to pacify Angel, angel still doesn't forgive and vows to kill Wes. Its hard not see both points of view and Angel's a naturally angry person and true forgiveness would be impossible but its sad that Angel couldn't manage even basic forgiveness.
I did enjoy most of Angel's fury though, especially directed at Sahjhan, Linwood and Lilah. I almost wish we had seen Angel torture Linwood a little, he's a really annoying character! The little girl in W&H white room was excellently creepy; perfectly articulate little girls usually are and I love the idea of this little girl holding all of W&H's secrets. (8/10)

B6.16 Hells Bells
Xander's decision to leave Anya in this episode always disappoints me. He's come so far from the childish teenage boy he was in season 1 as both Buffy and Willow attest to in this episode. (Sidenote: Giles I'm sure would agree too, where was he?) So its very upsetting that he gets spooked and leaves Anya. His fears, which cleverly come in the form of a man seeking vengeance on Anya, are justified and understandable, but its sad to me he couldn't overcome them.
As for the rest of the episode, despite the outcome, its an enjoyable episode, the festivities are fun, the girls in the bridesmaid dresses are hilarious and its nice to finally see Xander's hated family after he has disliked them for so long. (8/10)

4 comments:

shawnlunn2002 said...

I loved all those Angel episodes and it was certainly the strongest arc in the third season.

Hells Bells is great, though I wish Xander had figured all that out months before ditching Anya at the altar.

Nat said...

Personally I wish that Xander had gone through with the wedding and not had any doubts. It wouldn't be very Whedon-verse obviously, but Anya gets very much pushed to the background after that episode.

shawnlunn2002 said...

It's the beginning of the end for Anya as a prominent character. Even Andrew has more to do in S7 than Anya gets to.

Nat said...

Definitely and its such a shame as with Tara gone, they needed another Scooby