Page now up for Buffy and Angel Rewatch

Even though it's been quite a while since I finished my Buffy and Angel rewatch blog, I've pnly just got around to fully updating my page for the blogs.

All links including episodes names to each rewatch blog are now conveniently linked on the following page:

http://natstvblog.blogspot.com/p/buffy-and-angel-rewatch.html

Take a look and let me know what you think and of any incorrect links!

Buffy and Angel Rewatch part 70 (Conclusion)

Review of the Rewatch

It's taken me about 11 months to complete the rewatch- that's 12 seasons and 254 episodes in roughly 48 weeks. It's been hard going at times I have to admit; there are some not so good episodes amongst the good ones and it was tough to make myself watch them. I was also feeling a little over-saturated at one point.

However now I'm done with the rewatch, I'm finding myself badly missing the shows. I had never watched either shows continuously like that and doing so definitely made me love both shows a lot more. It's easy to forget how the stories were layered and built up over the years, how much effort went into each episode and how enjoyable and underrated certain episodes can be. There were a lot of episodes that I enjoyed a lot more this time round and I appreciated more of the general arcs as I was watching the seasons in a short amount of time.

I must say, in terms of episode order, it was difficult to watch the shows together, completely in chronological order. Often episode arcs would have to be split in order to watch episodes in the rght order and sometimes I would go quite a long time before switching to the other show. I would probably conclude therefore that a true episode order of the two shows (in terms of watching) can't be done, especially for the later crossovers.

It's hard to write up a summary for both shows in just a few short paragraphs to sum up how amazing I think both shows are- I mean let's face it, I never would have done this rewatch if both shows were not deserving of one. However I'll give it a go!

Buffy the Vampire Slayer- Series Review

In pop culture's history, this is usually considered a special so- and for very good reason. A failed film, a silly title and a teeny-bopper premise, meant that to begin with the show probably wasn't taken very seriously. The show took a little while to find it's feet, not truly reaching it's true potential until the end of it's first season and even then it took a dramatic twist in the second season to put Buffy on the map. It demonstrated to critics that despite it's origins Buffy the Vampire Slayer was more than just a high school vampire romp- it was a show to be taken seriously.

Many people say that the high school years of the show were it's best and in some ways that's true. Sunnydale High was the perfect place for vampire/demons to wreck havoc and the the storylines became the perfect metaphor for growing up. There is a definite charm to these early years; there were a lot of not so stellar stand alone episodes, but the three Big Bads (the Master/Angelus/the Mayor) brought a nice cohesion to the episodes, each representing an important stage in Buffy's life. The stand alone episodes also had their merits; they were often silly but sometimes dark, but the episodes were nearly always funny and the 'little' personal moments contained within them made the show what it was.
The year after school was a little bit of a struggle, both creatively for the writers and for the characters. The Big Bad was probably the weakest of the show, but the show did it's best to retain some of the high school essence, whilst still propelling it's characters forward.
Though Buffy has always been a young show, it was thrust more firmly into the adultworld when Buffy gained a sister in the fifth season. Dawn may have annoyed some, but she had an important purpose and brought around some of the most terrific drama seen on the show.
Seasons 6 and 7 are often considered the worst by fans; many preferred The Gift as a finale and the change of network did mean the show had a very different tone. However I personally don't think that the latter two seasons were particularly worse than the other seasons, though the dark tone does make it a very different show from what it started out as. The lack of Big Bad for most of season 6 allowed for rich character development and the omnipresent Big Bad in season 7 pushed the story along nicely, creating a real sense of drama and lay the foundations down for that stunning finale.
I'm not sure if I can decide on my favourite season; season 5 was probably the strongest but season 3 mixed the stand alones with the Big Bad more effectively than any other season, so I'd probably pick those two.

Though I found Buffy more palatable (and gasp even likable!) as a lead this time watching; the core of the show always has and will be the entire Scooby gang. Though there were a lot of characters that came and went throughout the show, some of them integrating themselves with the Scoobies one time or another, the core four of Buffy, Willow, Giles and Xander provided the emotional stability and depth of the show. Without them, the show wouldn't have been the same.

Overall the show made a name for itself and will never be forgotten. For me personally, the whole show was infinitely more enjoyable this time round. The friendship built up between the group, the trials faced, the witty banter and inside jokes are all a lot more enjoyable when the show is watched from start to end. In terms of quality the show probably beats out Angel, due to it's role as the original and best.

Angel- Series Review

Spin-off's usually crash and burn but this one flourished and went on to survive only 1 and half seasons less than it's predecessor. However despite that, Angel proved to be one hell of a show. Based on vampires and the good vs evil fight it was always going to be difficult to establish it's identity. The characters quickly evolved though- Angel, Cordy and Wes were completely different from who they were in Buffy and it was a joy to watch the characters grow up.
This growing up was important as Angel had a more distinctly adult feel to it. The characters faced many problems a young adult would face (housing, jobs, identity, evil law firms!) which definitely made it different from Buffy (though the latter show did venture into adult territory, it never did quite as much Angel did). LA provided a very suitable background to the gang's adventures especially in some of the earlier seasons. Angel's mission statement of helping the helpless may never have worked in any other city.

Though the first season was pretty much made up of standalone episodes, character development was still important. Doyle left a huge lasting impression and Cordy/Wes ended up very different characters from the ones we saw in Sunnydale. Wolfram and Hart in it's many incarnations played the big villain which kept Angel on his toes. Through season 1, they were always there, but it was in season 2 that the writers made them step up and they became a huge part of the show. Bringing back Darla was also important, especially as she became so embedded in the mythology of the show. W&H and Darla continued to play major roles in season 3, but the biggest new player was easily Connor. Though many fans don't like Connor; like Dawn in Buffy, he plays an integral part in the show, shaping the characters and especially Angel into the people they became.
Though W&H was Angel's main foe, they ironically faded into the background when a more traditional big bad(s) appeared in season 4. This season definitely has a different feel to all other seasons in that there aren't really many cases of the week and the whole season is just one big adventure.
Though Angel was supported by Buffy in the early years, season 3 and 4 saw the show stand fully on it's own two feet with only brief interludes to keep the two shows spinning in the same universe. My personal saddness at season 5 is because after this act of independence by the show, it fell back heavily to leaning on Buffy- funny that, as the show wasn't even on anymore- with characters from Buffy crossing over permanently onto Angel. Though some semblance of an arc was developed later in the season season 5, was again very much full of standalone episodes, similar in many ways to season 1.
For me my favourite seasons of the show were 2-4. Although season 4 got a little messy towards the end, everything that happened in those seasons cause a further consequence that led to the three seasons feeling very much like the middle arc of the show. Season 1 and 5 were good, but both were very much standalone and though all seasons had some less than good episodes, the worst episodes are probably to be found in the beginning and closing seasons.

In keeping with it's more adult tone, the show was never afraid to kill of it's main characters. Though Buffy did do this to some extent, the core four all survived. This was not the case with major characters dying in every season (Doyle, Darla, Lilah, Cordy, Fred, Lindsey, Wes). In fact the only character truly left standing was Angel. This definitely gave Angel a darker feeling than Buffy had. It's a testament to the actor and writing that each character left a hole, when they died (thankfully those last few death's were in the final season so we didn't have to do without the characters for too long!) Doyle was in just in 9 episodes but is sorely missed throughout the show and season 5 is definitely worse off for the lack of Cordelia.


Overall though, despite the shows minor faults, this was an excellent show and showed producers can a drama spin-off can work and exactly how to do one. However Angel was more than a spin-off and though it's often seen as Buffy's lesser sibling, it was probably my favourite out of the two shows (only just though!).

My Best and Worst Buffy and Angel Episodes

My Best episodes are those that I scored 10 for (couldn't include the episodes I scored 9.5 as the list is already very long!); the worst are those that I scored 5.5 and below (listed in chronological order; to see why I thought the episodes were so good or bad please click the link!) I don't think there ate any surprises on these lists- the best list, especially is fairly standard and the there aren't too many shockers on the worst list either. It is nice to see that my best list well outweighs the bad list.

Worst Episodes

1.04 Teacher's Pet
2.18 Killed By Death
B4.05 Beer Bad
A1.06 Sense and Sensitivity
A1.15 The Prodigal
B4.18 Where the Wild Things Are
A2.08 The Shroud of Rahmon
B6.12 Doublemeat Palace
A3.18 Double or Nothing
5.13 Why We Fight
5.20 The Girl in Question

Best Episodes

2.17 Passion
2.21 Becoming Part 1
2.22 Becoming Part 2
3.16 Dopplegangland
3.21 Graduation Day part 1
3.22 Graduation Day Part 2
A1.09 Hero
B4.10 Hush
B4.15 This Year's Girl
B4.16 Who Are You?
A1.18 Five by Five
A1.19 Sanctuary
B4.22 Restless
A1.22 To Shanshu in LA
A2.07 Darla
A2.15 Reprise
A2.16 Epiphany
B5.16 The Body
B5.22 The Gift
B6.07 Once More With Feeling
B6.08 Tabula Rasa
A3.13 Waiting In The Wings
A4.07 Apocalypse Nowish
A4.22 Home
B7.22 Chosen
5.12 You're Welcome
5.15 A Hole in the World
5.22 Not Fade Away

Special thanks

This may sound stupid, but a big thanks to the cast and crew of Buffy and Angel for providing such quality entertainment.

Thanks to the websites I have pilfered pictures from along the way including (but not limited to):
Angel Screen Caps
Buffy Wikia
Wikipedia
Amazon.co.uk (and .com)
Sidereel

Thanks to Shawn, who has commented on every single Rewatch post and to the others that have also read and commented along the way.

Buffy and Angel Rewatch part 69

5.21 Power Play
As everybody knows, this episode was done pretty quickly to bring the series to a suitable conclusion. However that doesn't stop the amazing-ness of this episode. Making Angel appear evil was a brilliant and excellently pulled off storyline. When I first watched the episode, I nearly believed it and watching it again, he continues to pull it off convincingly. It's nice to see the gang work together, for the first time in a long while- first against Angel and then with him in that stunning final scene (one of my favourite of the show). There are some flaws with this episode as it was so rushed; Angel's explanation of what happened since Cordy's final flashback doesn't quite fit in with what's happened on the show; the Angel/Nina stuff is pretty awful since they have no chemistry together and the pair have gone from zero to 100 in the space of a few episodes and it feels very quick; and finally the Black Thorn idea, slightly contradicts everything we've known about the Senior Partners up until now. However looking at that final flaw from another angel, it does make sense especially since the society was secret and until they were inside W&H the gang had no idea how it truly worked. Either way, this episode neatly sets up for the final showdown. (9.5/10)

5.22 Not Fade Away
Apparently two episodes was all that was needed to create the perfect finale for this stunning show. The gang went out fighting and even though Angel was a little bit wordy in doing it, he reminded us of the mission statement of the show- fight the good fight, help the helpless and never give up. Angel and the gang showed exactly what they were made of by going to their deaths in a fight not to win, but to keep on fighting.
The composition of this episode was impeccable. Every character was allowed a moment of happiness. There were few surprises in what they decided to do; I loved seeing Lorne and Spike up on their stages, having Wesley stay with Illyria was just perfect for where he is emotionally and Angel and Connor's honest conversation was beautiful as they finally got to have the father/son relationship that Angel always wanted. Gunn's perfect day was perhaps the biggest surprise, but bringing Anne and the 'streets' back was an inspired move and it worked so well. Having Harmony betray Angel was perhaps a little sudden, and the dialogue was a little odd, but it served the purpose.
The fight scenes were equally amazing. We didn't really need to see much of Illyria's, Lindsey's or Spike's; it was clear that they would easily win. The subsequent death's of Wesley and Lindesey were far more important and utterly heartbreaking. Bringing Fred back for one final moment was a cruel and beautiful decision; Lindsey got a distinctly imperfect death, but Wesley's final moments were a lot kinder on him. It was sad to see Lorne walk away so defeated though. He was definitely a shadow of the character that entered in season 2. I'm only sad we didn't get to explore more of that.
In a way it was good to see Angel get beat up a bit as it made his final fight a lot more meaningful. Having Connor join him was yet another joyous moment and it's a nice way to wrap up their storyline together.
The final fight in the alleyway is definitely the best way to wrap the show. It's fitting that only the non-humans made it bar a nearly dead Gunn, as it presses home the reality of the fight they undertook. Overall a superb finale in which storylines are simultaneously wrapped up and left completely open ended- perfect for the show. (10/10)


Angel Season 5
Overall this was a very mixed season for me. The season started of shakily and produced very few good episodes within the first half. At the network's bequest most of the episodes were played as standalones which was a disjointing change from season 4, which had virtually no standalone episodes. The second half of the season was a lot better, but some of the shows worst episodes were in this part of the season, so it's difficult to say that the show found it's footing again.

One of the things I disliked most about the season was the arrival of both Spike and Harmony. Harmony wasn't so bad as she had appeared on the show before and fitted in with W&H's moral ambiguity. However Spike's appearance, not only lessened his heroic death in Sunnydale, it put him centre of stage which cause all the main Angel cast to be booted in favour of his hijinks with Angel. Whilst some of these escapades were funny, Spike generally got on my nerves and if he hadn't out stayed his welcome by returning to Sunnydale in season 4 and staying til the end, he definitely out-stayed it here.
There were other new arrivals in the form of Eve, Knox, Nina, Hamilton and various W&H clients, particularly those that ended up forming the Black Circle. Eve was a character that became more interesting as she lost power and I respected Hamilton in his obvious villain role. Knox was irritating, so it was almost a relief when he was revealed to be evil. Nina continued to be annoying during her performances- the network must've been behind Angel's romance because I can't seriously believe that the writers though that the pair had chemistry.

The season wasn't all bad however. I loved the gang's stint in W&H, it did help to rejuvenate the series and gave them new situations to face, which after the epic-ness of the previous season was needed. I'm sad we didn't get to see more of what Lorne and Gunn did within the firm; it would've been fun to see them do their thing- Gunn especially since it was so new to him.
I also liked that the show, despite network intervention, managed to to tie up lose ends- Cordy, Connor and Lindsey all returned to see out their storylines (sadly ending in 2 of them dying, but at least it was closure).

Overall this is easily my least favourite Angel season; there were many highs but many were cancelled out by the lows. (7.5/10)


There'll be one final blog to follow in which I'll round up the rewatch!

Buffy and Angel Rewatch part 68

5.17 Underneath
This is a little bit of a disjointed episode. The events of the last episode mean that Wesley can't possibly mix with the rest of the gang whilst they deal with the problem of the week. However, despite Amy Acker nailing her new role, there is little for Wesley and Illyria to do apart from talk, which gets a little boring.
The main story is a lot more interesting. The idea that Lindsey isn't in some standard hell, but a groundhog day suburban nightmare is a neat one and it works very well. Not seeing the cellar torture just adds to the terrifying nature of it.
However having Gunn take Spike's place was just pure genius and it's the perfect way to have him atone for his sins. With Wesley and Lorne severely depressed, we do not need another character brooding.
Eve's storyline was a little less interesting, but it did bring some light humour into an otherwise depressing episode and it was a nice introduction for Hamilton. (8/10)

5.18 Origin
The concept of this episode is a relief to me as it finally addresses the storyline of Connor and one of the biggest problems of the season- the rewriting of everyone's memories. Everything is more or less out in the open and everyone knows the truth behind why the gang cam to W&H (apart from Lorne and Gunn). This is an important aspect considering how much the gang are questioning their motives.Plus all the little references, demonstrate that the show isn't completely trying to scrub out the last the past couple of years, in favour of a new shinier show.
Bringing Connor back was also a much needed necessity; Angel's son is such a huge part of the series (whether fans like that or not) and lets face it, in the Whedonverse he couldn't just get a completely happy ending. The way in which he is brought back is a cool one and it allows Angel the chance to help the helpless and reconnect with his son- with Connor going mad again. Cyvus Vail is an interesting villain- more so than Sahjhan as he seems to have a lot more power- which says a lot considering what Sahjhan put the group through during season 3. Connor fighting Sahjhan also opens up another can of worms in that the prophecy is now well and truly fulfilled and begs the question- what does this mean for the Shanshu?
I'm glad to see Gunn wasn't completely forgotten about and having him decline Hamilton's offer is a nice way of showing that Gunn has truly learnt his lesson. The Spike/Illyria scenes were funny, though it still doesn't completely make sense why she is hanging around W&H. (8.5/10)

5.19 Time Bomb
This is a mixed episode for me. I'm not a fan of the time jumps, but it does address many important issues and generally it's quite enjoyable. This isn't Amy Acker's best performance of Illyria; Fred seems to seep through quite a lot. However by taking away her power, this allows the character to integrate into the group in a way that actually makes sense rather than the hanging around she has been doing in the last few episodes. Wes' growing attachment for her, is as Angel puts it 'weird' but almost understandable, considering who she looks like and although he claims he doesn't love her, I;m guessing that had the show continued that, that wouldn't have been the case any more. The case of the girl giving her baby up to the demon brethren, is again one we've seen before on the show. However it is poignant to bring it up here as this time Angel is fighting on the other side, which makes it a whole lot more significant, especially for the final few episodes. It was nice to see Gunn back to his old self a lot more, fighting for what is right. (8/10)

5.20 The Girl in Question
So close to the finale (series or season regardless) this was was really necessary. Once again the world of Buffy invades the show again, leaving Lorne and Gunn with little to do and Angel and Spike to rehash out old ground. They were pretty pathetic in their relentless pursuit of Buffy with only Andrew to interact with. As a comedic storyline the chasing of the head wasn't too bad, but mixed with the Buffy stuff it was just tiring. Though there were a couple of funny set pieces- in the bar and on the scooter- this storyline was mostly just pretty embarrassing with the cliche Italian characters, the silly flashbacks and Angel and Spike's continuous bickering which got tiring long ago.
The only storyline which kept this episode grounded was the Burkle storyline. I liked seeing Fred's parents again, as they were such sweet characters, and Amy Acker pulled off a blinder switching effortlessly between the two characters. Wesley's pain during the scene was pretty raw to watch, but it served an important purpose in the lead up to the finale. (5/10)

Buffy and Angel Rewatch part 67

5.13 Why We Fight
When I first watched this episode, I most disliked the fact that it came after Cordy's death and there was no reference to that at all. But watching the episode this time, the episode's actual flaws are glaringly obvious. Firstly we've have this episode before- Somnabulist in season 1, wasn't entirely different and the episode wasn't that interesting. Then we have the flashback itself, which completely contradicts the Angel we have seen around that time in past flashbacks (in Are You Now Or Have You Ever Been; Orpheus; Becoming part 1 in season 2 of Buffy). The Angel in the flashbacks (personality wise) wasn't that different from the Angel we know in the show's timeline and is miles away from the reclusive, can't bear to be near humans Angel that we saw a few years later in the flashback for 'Are you Never...'. Though the writers came up with a plausible storyline, it just didn't work with what we've already been given. Finally there's the fact that we saw very little of the gang, the flashbacks, which were pretty boring, took up most of the time and this made the episode very lacklustre for me. (4.5/10)

5.14 Smile Time
This is an utterly silly and yet brilliant episode. The puppet idea, could've gone wrong, but the sheer cuteness of the Angel puppet keeps it going. This is a great demon of the week/ helping the helpless storyline and it gives all the main characters something meaningful to do. It's funny playful and a joy to watch.
There are plenty of side stories to keep the episode from being too much of a flight of fancy. I'm not a fan of the Nina storyline, since her chemistry with Angel is pretty forced. Gunn making a deal with the devil to get his permanent brain upgrade was pretty interesting as it shows huge character change within him. Shame his cockiness and determination to have this super brain doesn't get explored any further. The Fred/Wesley storyline was the sweetest storyline. Wes is such a sweetheart in his devotion to Fred, especially during his conversation with Angel. However it's hardly surprising he failed to pick up on her signals considering how long she has kept him waiting. Regardless of their future, it's a moment of pure happiness to see the two finally together. (9.5/10)

5.15 A Hole in the World
This is a heartbreaking episode. The episode gut-wrenchingly begins happily, with all characters content, before throwing them all for six and breaking theirs and the audiences hearts. Fred's death scenes are not dissimilar from what someone with a terminal disease may go through- mystical style of course. They're horrible and yet brilliantly powerful scenes, made all the more excellent by Amy Acker's and Alexis Denisof's wonderful performances.
One of the most stunning and memorable scenes in on the stairs. The only bit of cute, Wesley and Fred flirting we get before that pure look of horror on Lorne's face after Fred sings, is just shocking.
The Gunn and Knox scenes are also painful to watch, but in a good way. It's almost a relief to see Know be revealed as evil, since he's not been very likable so far and because it's a further sign of the influence of W&H. However seeing Gunn receive the ultimate punishment for his upgrade is devastating and it's something he won't recover from.
Though the Angel/Spike scenes aren't quite as emotive, and the fight scenes kept the episode from being too much of a sobfest. Drogyn was a nice character, though a little backstory here would've been nice. I liked the name check for Cordy, since the show has largely ignored her death. (10/10)

5.16 Shells
Another heart breaking episode, though until the end, this episode perhaps isn't quite as sad as the last. Killing off Fred good and proper, (no soul to bring back) was a necessity because, as Angel said in the episode, death isn't always death in this verse. The job of this episode was to establish that death really was death in Fred's case. The episode therefore is a touch rushed; Illyria's powers are revealed to their full extent, her purpose ruined and she submits herself to Wesley just a little too quickly and easily. Though the gang obviously struggle to control her, it feels too quick. The decision to kill off Fred is a contentious one. It does make the season a lot more interesting, but losing sweet Fred is hard on everyone. It does however give Amy Acker the chance to shine in a really different role.
Thankfully Knox is dispatched off as I don't think I could've taken more of him. The show not so sneakily used the old hotel set for the Illyria stand off which made the scene lose it's impact a little.
Gunn's guilt and Wes' anger/grief is more acutely felt in this episode and it's hard not to sympathise with them both. It's a little shocking to see Wes be so violent, so easily, but he and Gunn have had their fair share of problems so it's believable. There's also the brilliant ending, in which the bookends of Fred leaving her parents and home (started in the previous episode) act as a poignant reminder of who she once was and the journey she has made. (9.5/10)

Buffy and Angel Rewatch part 66

5.09 Harm's Way
Though this is an decent enough light-hearted episode, it's also another weird one, as again in foucses on a supporting character and not one of the main ones. Harmony is a very funny supporting character, but as a lead- not as much. The overall story isn't bad and is enjoyable in places- the warring demon clans, the opening W&H advert, the mystery behind who framed Harmony- but this is very much a filler episode. (7/10)

5.10 Soul Purpose
This is another mixed episode. The hallucinations are a little grating at first, though some of them are funny and they do get better later in the episode. The best hallucination was Spike saving the world from the apocalypse as it gives the clearest example of what Angel is feeling.
The more interesting plotline was the Lindsey stuff. For the first time this season and perhaps the only time, Spike has a purpose and Lindsey drives him towards one, making him a lot more exciting. The 'Doyle' references are a great way to remind the audience of season 1 and it sets up nicely for the 100th episode. Lindsey and Eve are also pretty interesting as a couple; Lindsey's plan and aims are clear, but watching them mess with Angel and Spike, is kinda fun! (7/10)

5.11 Damage
I have mixed feelings about this episode. On one hand it's better than I remembered and is actually a quite enjoyable episode. Andrew is funny in places and whilst Spike does look silly trying to play the hero, he comes off better when lying in the hospital bed, realising the bad he has done.
On the other hand, this is a very disappointing episode. Angel has spent 4 and half years trying to establish itself as a show all on it's own, the use of slayer mythology here, demonstrates that once again it's leaning on Buffy to support it, which personally I think is a shame as the show doesn't really need to do that. Plus bringing aboard Andrew and his stories of the what the gang is up to know lessens the impact of Chosen where the future was undecided and this brings the promise of that episode down with a bump. (6.5/10)

5.12 You're Welcome
This is probably my most watched episode of Angel, though this is maybe only the second time I've seen it in context (ie with the episodes surrounding it) and I never tire of it. In what is a lovely tribute to the early days of Angel and the original cast, the episode revisits what makes Angel so great and demonstrates what the show can do. There is a lot packed into this episode with the returns of Cordy and Lindsey and practically every moment of this episode is a highlight. Lindsey's proper return is a good one; I must admit I get a bit of a kick from seeing Lindsey beat up Angel a little and I do feel sorry for him that his plan didn't work.Cordy's return makes me miss the early days of Angel and she definitely is a reminder of what is currently missing from the show. It's a bit of a shame that Cordy doesn't spend more time with the rest of the gang, but she gets decent screen time with Angel and Wesley, plus that little appearance from Doyle makes it special. (10/10)

Buffy and Angel Rewatch part 65

5.05 Life of the Party
Though I love that we got a Lorne-centric episode, I just wish it could've been better. All the pieces were there in the story- the big party, the crazy antics of the gang (especially Fred and Wes who were hilarious), the introduction of some key W&H clients- however something about this episode just didn't quite gel together. Perhaps this is because Lorne was never really a leading character, so the episode struggled with him at the centre. Maybe it's because at the heart of the story- Lorne having his sleep taken out, was very unsatisfactorily resolved, without any input from Lorne as to why he did this. Plus the Lorne monster was a little cheesy. (6.5/10)

5.06 The Cautionary Tale of Numero Cinco
This is a polarizing episode; on one hand it's a rather sweet tale of Mexican folklore (fictional) which nicely plays to Angel's own insecurities. On the other hand, it's cheesy, lazy and pretty all round ridiculous. The ending in the graveyard was silly, though in a way it was a nice way to end the story. Otherwise there wasn't too much to like in this episode. There was a lot of talking and a lot of exposition with Numero Cinco, and the flashbacks felt tacky and not at all that funny.
However it was nice to have the core gang working on the problem, though annoyingly Spike hung around uselessly for most of it as well. I liked the continuity with Numero Cinco as he has appeared in previous episodes and it was a nice touch to bring him back. However it probably would've been preferable to have him as a recurring gag than as a focal point of the episode. Also I have to point out how I didn't like that Angel could call upon the Shanshu prophecy from the book. Yes technology has moved on and no doubt so had magic technology, but there was so much trouble over the scroll in the season 1 finale that this felt a little too easy and well rounded. (6/10)

5.07 Lineage
Wesley is easily one of the strongest characters in the show and therefore his character centric episodes usually turn out fairly well. This is a particularly good one for me and a nice change from the recent average episodes. The cyborg story at the centre of the episode wasn't terribly interesting, especially as there wasn't a resolution, but Wesley's father issues were brilliant to watch. Alexis Denisof, is such a wonderful actor, that every quip from his father could be felt as he battled that fine line between loving and hating your parents. His feelings for Fred were also displayed here and it's heartbreaking to watch Fred leave with Knox after he made that hidden, yet very obvious declaration of his love for her.
Also in this episode we get some nice foreshadowing from Spike and Eve of the role she has played in bringing him back which is nicely underplayed. (8.5/10)

5.08 Destiny
This episode is seen by many as one of the best of season 5 and I really can't understand why. Until the final scene, it's very unfulfilling as it doesn't really offer up an answers and the gang don't seem in a rush to explore the matter in following episodes. The Spike/Angel fight is quite enjoyable though it goes on for a little too long though the flashbacks are quite fun to watch, especially Angel's and Spike original camaraderie.
Spike becoming real is something that was very necessary as he was really starting to grate. Though his little quips are there, at least now he's corporeal, he can actually affect things and become more interesting.
Another character becoming more interesting surprisingly is Eve, whose character they cleverly played making her ambiguously good with until that final reveal. As a big Lindsay fan, I'm thrilled to see him back. Spike was brought on as an antagonist for Angel but he never managed it quite as well as Lindsay has. (7/10)

Buffy and Angel Rewatch part 64

I must say I'm a little sad about beginning this final season of my rewatch. It's a little odd to watch Angel just on it's own and for me personally this wasn't Angel's best season, so it'll be interesting to see how my opinion changes/stays the same this time.

5.01 Conviction
Taking over the evil law firm was always going be a difficult things, for the characters and for the viewers. Whilst we didn't see Wesley struggling too much, Angel definitely had it the hardest as the boss. He battled with Eve and with the overzealous special ops unit as he tried to do what he has always done. Gunn, Lorne and Fred on the other hand seemed to fit in more happily into their new roles. In a way it's a thrill to see Gunn get a little more status in the team, though intrinsically it does change who he is. Fred, though doubtful at first, does learn, very quickly, how to be a leader. The additions of Eve and Harmony to the team are a little irritating. Both characters were brought in to up the female quotient and fill the giant Cordy shaped hole, but quite frankly Eve is far too annoying to do that. She does bring some clarity to the season in which she tells the gang that they have to actually run the business. On first thought shutting the business down would be a great idea, but by having Eve point out why they can't do that, perfectly lays the scene for the season. A decent season opener and a good way to introduce the inside-W&H element of the show. (7.5/10)

5.02 Just Rewards
I'm not a huge fan of the show's decision to bring Spike on board. Whilst James Marsters is a talented actor who brings a lot of charm and humour to the proceedings, Spike's presence on the show is an odd one. Just like on Buffy season 4, Spike hangs around here for no good reason, but another set of plot contrivances that have to be resolved. The it was his chip, now it's the amulet. A lot of this episode is taken up with exposition of Spike and who he is, most of which is is old news to Buffy fans. The sheer amount of talking means that the episode can get pretty bogged down. This is added to the villain of the week in the necromancer, who's pretty downbeat as characters go. It's a shame though because he actually is a nice example of the kind of people Angel will now be dealing with. I would've liked to see more about what this necromancer actually does rather than the bickering we actually got. (6/10)

5.03 Unleashed
The werewolf theme is a little overdone in the Buffy-verse. A lot of what Nina goes through, we have seen before with OZ in Buffy, but I did like the eating werewolf spin they put on it as it kept the story fresher than it was. Casting Nina as a love interest feels like it was clearly a network decision to make Angel 'normal' like other leading men. However since Angel isn't like other leading men, the boys joking about whether Angel is in with her, doesn't quite fit in with the show.
I'm not a fan of the Spike and Fred storyline either. Spike is quite annoying and Fred seems to have fallen under his spell quite quickly, though perhaps that's to be expected.
There were some nice moments of the episode however; Wes' jealousy of Fred as it's always sweet to see Wes passionate for Fred, Lorne reminding Angel to not forget the gang and those group get togethers at the beginning and at the end of the episode where they are almost happy- a rare scene in Angel. (6/10)
5.04 Hell Bound
Whilst this is an interesting episode, it's also an odd one. The role Spike played in this episode, the hero, is the one Angel traditionally plays. He has dealt with spooks before, but it has always been Angel who saves the day not Spike, which makes this episode disconcerting to watch.
Otherwise though this isn't a bad episode; the idea of Pavayne is a neat one and it makes a lot of sense in the context of W&H. Fred also had a nice role to play in desperately trying to free Spike. It was nice also to see the gang solving problems together and keeping them all in the building made for a nice intimate episode which amped up the spooky. I'm surprised there wasn't a bigger mention made of Gunn's relationship with the conduit; he doesn't just have law knowledge in his brain now, he is a trusted member of W&H. It would've been nice if the gang picked up on that a bit more. (6.5/10)

Buffy and Angel Rewatch part 63

Buffy season 7
As a final season, this is a great one. Even though the show has changed a great deal over 7 years, one of my favourite things about this final season is that it brings the characters and the show full circle allowing it to finish where it began.
Like season one, this season kicks off with the Big Bad firmly at work and present in Sunnydale. There is another first day at high school, but this time for Dawn. A lot of evils that once plagued the high school return for another haunting. The Scoobies are firmly back together, really for the first time since season 5 and the season ends back in the Hellmouth and the High School.

Surprisingly there are some filler episodes in this season, but I think pretty much every episode references the coming evil in some way. The strongest episodes are probably those that directly tackle the problem of the First, though there are a couple of weaker ones that fall into that category as well.
The show's final big bad, is fittingly one we've seen before. I feel that the big bad mostly works, some people dislike the vagueness of it and it is difficult to know it's exact purpose. However I think the fact that it can manipulate people into doing it's bidding make it a very strong final Bad for Buffy to fight. The First gets into the heart of Buffy's army on more than one occasion and makes it difficult for the Slayer to fight, as her opinion knows her every move. When the First comes in the form of dead loved ones (which was a great move as we got to see a lot of old favourites back in the final season in a unique and non shark jumpy way), the characters mostly know who it is and still The First manages to affect them. The First is also interesting in that respect as it's played by a variety of actor's, so it's never one continuing character. This keeps the First interesting throughout the season which was important especially as it's the Big Bad that has lasted the longest on the show.
As for it's lackey's Caleb is obviously the best one. It's slightly ironic though, considering he is alone but manages to do the most damage. The fact that he isn't around for very long makes him all the more interesting.

The Potentials are undoubtedly the weak link of the season. Though the writers do a decent job of dividing the screen time between the originals and these newbies- so that we can actually care a little when they die, or at the prospect of them dying, it does feel like the original Scoobies get inched out a little. The reduced screen time is good for some characters, especially Dawn who is a much better character in season 7, but I did miss seeing Anya and Xander, who got a little shafted in terms of storylines.

Out of the Scoobies, Buffy and Willow get the best storylines. Willow with Kennedy and her magic problems and Buffy with her Slayer and army. It's interesting to not that this is the only season where Buffy doesn't have a proper love interest (Spike doesn't really count as it's very much an ex relationship, no matter how strong their bond seems to be), but this only helps to highlight the loneliness she feels as the Slayer.
However annoying the potentials are it does make for a great ending in which Buffy changes Slayer history for good. She finds a cure for her loneliness and the burden she has felt (an ongoing arc during the series) and creates many others like her. It's a brilliant idea and one that closes that the show nicely.

Overall this was a great season to end on. The episodes were a little mixed and there were some filler ones, but like always, the show pulls all the stops out for a terrific finale. (9/10)

Angel season 4
This is a very odd season for Angel. In some ways this is the best season. It has some of the strongest episodes and overall arcs that the show has produced. It has an actual apocalypse, which as I have said before is the first time we've actually seen one. All the actor's are just brilliant do a great job and there are some amazing action scenes throughout the season/ Plus it makes you think especially when Jasmine's true nature is revealed and the consequences of killing her are felt. However this is also the worst season in a way. There are some awful plot points and a lot of contrivances as the writers scrambled to write around Charisma Carpenter's pregnancy. The Cordy/ Connor relationship is just icky, which ever way you look at it. Plus the whole season just makes Cordy an unlikeable character, no matter how hard you try to believe that Jasmine is the one in control the whole time. These reasons are probably the reason why this season often ends up at the bottom and top of many a fan's favourite season lists.

When taken in it's smaller arcs - Cordy's return, the apocalypse/The Beast, The Beast master/ Angelus/Faith, Cordy is evil, and finally Jasmine, the season is a lot more successful in my opinion. The season swings around lot during these arcs and it make it hard to believe that so much happened in just one season.
Cordy's return is probably the least interesting arc, amnesia whilst a convenient plot device can get a little boring and since the Cordy/ Connor relationship begins here, it can be a little hard to watch at times. The apocalypse arc is a lot more interesting. The Rain of Fire and blotting out of the sun, makes the apocalypse that little bit more real and we got a lot of fun action scene to go along with it. This is the same with the Angelus and Faith arc. Both characters are so interesting and just a joy to watch, that it's hard not to enjoy these episode, no matter how they were brought about.
In hindsight, it's easy to see how Cordy/Jasmine's evil plan plays out,even before the reveal. In Long Day's Journey, it becomes obvious that killing Manny, the last totem, is an inside job making it very likely to be Cordy (1 out of 4 chance; just Gwen, Gunn, Angel, and Cordy present). Later she has the 'memory' that Angelus knew the Beast, but Angel doesn't remember this. There was probably no meeting, (or maybe there was, the gang believe that the memory has been wiped, but I think the fact that it never happened made more sense) awakening Angelus was just a distraction and she led them right down that path with a little help from the Beast. In 'Calvary' again she has another vision that doesn't pan out and leads to Angelus being released.
The final arcs of Cordy being revealed as evil and pregnant is a little tough to take, just because it's Cordy a beloved character who is meant to be evil. It becomes more palatable when it is revealed that Jasmine has been the driving force all a long.
Jasmine is an interesting evil to have. Essentially she wants to bring a sort of utopia upon earth, which is very different from the big bads we've experienced on the show so far. Lilah commends the gang on ending world peace; she and W&H believe that that's just what Angel and team have done. Jasmine herself also believes this and her logic makes sense. Kill a few thousand to save millions. It's hard to hate her that much, when she offered happiness to so many and the gang definitely feel this after they have been released from her thrall. However, it is easy to see why Angel had to bring her down. For instance, if Jasmine was good, it seems hard to believe that she needed so much destruction and devastation for her to be brought about. Plus free will- pretty much a big thing, especially on this show. However this ambiguity is what makes Jasmine such an interesting, if not an especially enjoyable, big bad.

Character wise, Lorne becomes further ingratiated in the team and Gwen makes a big splash in her few episodes. Fred steps up to the plate and becomes more of a heroine rather than the victim she was. Wesley had changed immeasurably, but in many ways, his looser morals make him a more likable character. Angel, as a character is very much all over the place during this season and it continues into the next. Until he loses his soul, he mostly plays hurt and vengeful over the loss of Cordy and Connor and Cordy's growing relationship.
Whilst I enjoyed the Angelus arc and David Boreanaz does such a good job of playing him, it does annoy me a touch. For a show that dabbles in the grey area a lot, its annoying when the characters differentiate so much between souled and unsouled Angel. Plenty of characters in the show with souls (eg all W&H employees) do unspeakable things without feeling too much guilt so why should Angel (souled) be much different? Granted Angelus is far worse than most of the lawyers could be. Watching Buffy season 7 at the same time, showed the vast differences with how the writers of each handled their souled vampires and I have to say in respect to this Angelus/Angel argument, the Buffy writers handled Spike going 'good' a lot better as they didn't differentiate between the soul/no soul personalities as much (Spike's personality was pretty much the same in s6 and s7).

Overall then, even though this season does have it's problems, it's generally a highly enjoyable season to watch. There's few filler episodes and everything just flows from one episode to the next. (9/10)

Buffy and Angel

Episode Order
This was easily the hardest two seasons to watch together. Both seasons had big overarching arcs meaning that storylines flowed from one episode to the next with very few natural storyline breaks. This made it nearly impossible to watch the shows alternately, without taking a break in one where there shouldn't have been. This wasn't so hard for the beginning of the season but from the Faith arc, this became very difficult. As a result there the episode order I watched wasn't a perfect one.

Episodes
In some ways the seasons were very similar. They both had big 'Big Bad's'. On Buffy the big bad claimed to be the ultimate evil; on Angel the bad claimed to bringing world peace. The two storylines were fortunately kept separate until the end of Buffy. Angel's apocalypse and blotting out of the sun, was a little bizarre in that it was confined to LA but it would've messed with the story on Buffy if it had spread further. At the end of the season, having Angel present, would've severely negated the work the writers had out into developing Spike's own path to hero, making it a necessity that he left. Keep the shows separate didn't always work. I loved the Faith break-out of jail in Angel as it worked so well in the storyline; Faith is a character who naturally belongs in Angel. However it felt silly that the Scoobies didn't bring her back earlier. As the other remaining Slayer she would've been a natural asset to their cause.

Crossovers
The main crossover was of course Faith and even then that wasn't a strictly a crossover. Her story carried on Buffy after she departed LA, but since Faith' character was originally on Buffy, her story was naturally finished on here. The entire Faith arc was a joy to watch. She was amazing in her few episodes on Angel, slotting perfectly into the team also sorting out some of her issues along with it. She continued to 'deal' when she went to Sunnydale and sorted out her relationships with the Scoobies. Willow and Angel both pulled double duty on the two shows. Willows crossover was brilliant to watch mostly because of the off screen romance between Alyson Hannigan and Alexis Denisof, which added the 'awww' factor. Angel's appearance as Buffy's first love and because he is such an important on the show, was crucial to the show ending and going off in style. It was nice to add some sort of closure to their relationship, which was done in a brilliantly diplomatic way so as not to upset either Spike or Angel fans.

Overall
It's hard to pick which had the better season in that they were both pretty epic, but admittedly both seasons had pretty big flaws. Buffy's season ended stronger, but Angel's was probably consistently better. Overall I think Angel slightly edges out on best season, mostly because of the pure epic-ness of the season as a whole.

Buffy and Angel Rewatch part 61

A4.19 The Magic Bullet
This episode does a great job of contrasting Fred's and later the groups, loneliness and despair over 'losing' Jasmine, with the happiness that the rest of LA is feeling, especially in the opening scene. The show is basically attributing to Jasmine's control to a cult and the mixing of the blood, to the loss of a cult and that sense of sureity and happiness. Fred's loneliness is sad to watch especially as she has been an outcast before in Pylea so this undoubtedly brings back
memories of that.
I'm not really sure what the writers were thinking writing a romantic scene between Fred and Angel; testing the water perhaps but they have already been down that road and feels a little odd to have every member of Angel Investigations fall for Fred.
There are a lot of fun scenes in this episode surprisingly, the open mic night and particularly Angel and Connor singing together was a real highlight. It's also pretty interesting to note that Lorne's demon-ness is completely out in the open and accepted as in another funny scene in which he discusses his physiology. A little odd perhaps that he's so open about it considering the wider demon 'jihad' as its put. (8/10)

A4.20 Sacrifice
Now that Angel Inc are out of Jasmine's control and her true colours are starting to show, the arc has become a lot more enjoyable. The show is always stronger when the gang is together anyway. The street/sewer kids were a good device to use to give the group direction. Them running away is not something we are used to; it makes more sense that they would stay to fight something. The skittery demon Angel fights, is pretty gruesome, though I did love that she was making a sacrifice out of a vampire, that was pretty amusing.
Jasmine continues to get creepier, especially in the scene in which she digs her nails into Connor and the final scene where she's manically laughing. However this also means that as a villain she is becoming stonger and more more interesting. When she talked about politicians surrendering to her was a particularly important scene as it gives an inclination into what she really wants. (8.5/10)

A4.21 Peace Out
This is an odd climax to the arc, but it was always going to be difficult to end. Jasmine's true name being the key to her destruction was a little hokey, but I loved her final confrontation with Angel. It throws up so many questions as to what Angel has achieved and the season as a whole. Was Jasmine really good like she says or was she evil? Yes she ate people, but she offered happiness. Lilah ascertains that Angel did just end world peace, but Angel contests that and it's a debate that will continue into the next episode. Speaking of, I also loved Lilah's entrance in this episode and it sets up for a much more satisfying finale than this episode would've been.
Connor played a major part in this episode, as it's revealed that he has known all along who Jasmine was. This is a little bit of ret-con but an interesting theory- perhaps he wasn't under her spell as he was her father. Why he overlooked it is easier to understand as Jasmine was to all intents and purposes, his daughter and parents tend to have a blind love. Vincent Karthesier, doesn't often get praised for his acting but he did a great job in this episode, especially in his monologue scene with Cordy, which a frank look at Connor's perspective. (8.5/10)

A4.22 Home
Though this episode starts off a little shaky, it develops into one of the best season finale the show has done. Coming of the back of an apocalypse and world peace/domination, where is there left to go for the team. They have saved the world, could they really go back to saving singular people week in and week out? That's why as the episode takes shape, the idea of Angel taking of W&H becomes more and more genius. It is a little hard to accept the idea of W&H now becoming
the gang's new home since it's been the villain for so long and also to see why the gang are considering it. There are perks for sure, but it must be hard for them to get their heads around the idea.
Bringing back Lilah was just a wonderful idea, there is no one better suited to entice the team. Her scene with Wesley, in amongst the filing cabinets is my favourite. The scene is fairly quiet, but there is a connection that runs surprisingly deep between the pair that just makes that scene so incredibly sweet and painful. This also goes for Angel in his scenes with both Lilah and Connor. Angel, along with Fred, is the least excited about the W&H deal; Angel was especially sceptical and even the offer of help for Buffy in Sunnydale wasn't enough to tempt him. Connor, of course would be the only reason for Angel to make a deal with the devil. It's perhaps an easy but necessary end for Connor's storyline and troubled past.
As for the rest of the gang's tours, I would've liked to have seen at least some of Lorne's and it's a shame that we didn't. Gunn's was the most interesting in that we don't see what happens to him in the White Room. Overall though this is a sensational finale and the perfect way to cap the season off. (10/10)

Buffy and Angel Rewatch part 60

A4.16 Players
I'm a big fan of this episode. What could've been a filler episode for the finale arc kicked in, was seamlessly part of the overall season by bringing back Gwen, who this time was looking for a cure. Her three episodes was actually a nice story arc for Gwen. We got to see her origins, and what she does best, then her helping the gang and being a hero, and finally her finding cure for her inner freak. This episode was also a nice episode for Gunn and showed that he has more talents that he has perhaps ever been given credit for. The final scene with the pair was incredibly hot and they would've made an interesting couple.
The storyline at the hotel felt a little filler, until the final scene, where it is revealed that Cordy's treachery has been found out. It makes for an exciting cliffhanger ending for the next episode. (9/10)

A4.17 Inside Out
For me this a pretty amazing episode. We finally get explanations of all Cordy's transgressions and also we finally get to see fully evil Cordy. It would've been nice to see more of Cordy as this evil thing- Charisma Carpenter does evil so well, but the fact we get so little makes this episode more special. Whilst its nice seeing Skip again- visually he's a pretty amazing demon and he's pretty funny even when evil- I'm not sure I like his explanation of how fate or Jasmine specifically has worked. It therefore renders both shows as the machinations of this god, which doesn't quite sit right with me. Still an explanation is better than none at all. I do love his death though, Wes' amazing on target shot into Skip's head was just incredible.
The strongest part of this episode is of course the Darla/Connor scenes. Its a thrill to see Julie Benz back and for once being the good one. The scenes are hugely haunting. It was also a nice chance for mother and son to meet and a reminder that TPTB are still around, despite Angel thinking they have deserted them. (9/10)

A4.18 Shiny Happy People
This is an interesting start to the Jasmine arc. Like many of Angel's arcs it's difficult to talk about this episode in itself. The beginning is a touch tedious as all the team bow to her will and act all googly eyed over her. Unadulterated happiness isn't that interesting to watch on TV funnily enough. However things get a lot more interesting once Fred finally wakes up. Emotionally and physically Fred has always been the weakest of the characters (baring perhaps Lorne), but here she becomes the detective and eventual hero of the group. As the only remaining female member, it's probably harder on her than it would be on any of the others and that's what makes it so interesting. I love the scene where Fred tells Wes her findings and he betrays her. It's very poignant and enjoyable to watch. (7.5/10)

B7.18 Dirty Girls
This is one of my favourite episodes of the season. The return of Faith brings much joy; she has a lot more history with the Scoobies than with those in LA making her entrance that little bit more interesting. It's a touch annoying that we have to have so much exposition courtesy of Andrew as to Faith's past, but for new viewers at the time this must've been useful. She zings with all the main characters and its nice to see that apart from Dawn and to an extent Buffy, they are all able to put their history with her to one side.
The other notable entrance in this episode is of course of Caleb. Nathan Fillion plays this role to perfection and it's a testament to his incredible acting skills. Having a corporeal and coherent baddie was much needed. The Turok Han and the Bringers are fearsome warriors, but they don't say much and though the First like to talk the talk, he can't really do anything. Caleb however makes a dramatic impact killing at least two of the girls and of course the biggest impact in squeezing out Xander's eye. This scene doesn't get any less shocking or hard to watch the more times I watch it and puts Xander top of the casualty list. Apart from Anya, Xander hasn't really lost anyone or thing like the other Scoobies have (Angel, Joyce, Tara, Jenny) so perhaps it is fitting that he loses something so important now. His speech earlier in the episode only makes his loss here more poignant. (9.5/10)

B7.19 Empty Places
Though this is a very enjoyable episode, it is somewhat of a placeholder between the last episode and the next one. I love the final scene when Buffy is chucked out of her house, it is a very strong scene, especially as all the main Scoobies get involved with their thoughts. Silence from any of them was just not an option. If I'm honest it's a little hard to feel sorry for Buffy at the end of this episode. She hasn't always done well at her leadership role and it's something that she has definitely struggled with. This is exemplified here more than anything, when she refuses to listen to anyone else over what they should do. (I must say her view on democracy is very interesting considering American's think themselves as the leaders of democracy!) Whilst I do think the potentials step out of line here, Buffy doesn't want to listen to the other Scooby's, even those she is currently speaking to and this is her downfall here. Buffy hasn't been a bad leader this season, but she has definitely lost perspective by the end of this episode. That said I'm not sure Faith is a better leader for the girls. In effect she and Buffy do make a good team playing good/bad cop, and I love the scenes when the girls go to The Bronze, but Faith is really not a leader. Even during her stint on Angel, she struggled with it a little and Wesley was by her side in the planning and execution of their ruse to trap Angelus. (8.5/10)

Buffy and Angel Rewatch part 59

B7.16 Storyteller
Whilst its nice to get a little background as to what happened before Andrew killed Jonathan, this episode feels a little strange. Its format and focusing on a minor character feels a little weird and it doesn't quite fit in with the rest of the season, especially so late on. Andrew can be funny though, so it wasn't awful. Having to see so much of the Trio is a little annoying though. It was nice to see Xander and Anya make nice after their previous year of difficulties, even if they're not meant to be as a couple. The students freaking out on the Hellmouth was also fun to see; calling back to many season 1-3 storylines. (7.5/10)

B7.17 Lies My Parents Told Me
My opinion on this episode has definitely changed from the last time I watched it. Whilst it is still an excellent episode, I'm more firmly on Wood's side here. They are in a war, but Wood's need for vengeance here is completely understandable. Giles too, had just cause for worrying about Spike, since Buffy seems to be more blind to the danger he poses than she did to Angel. Now I'm not saying Buffy is totally wrong for saying Spike has changed because the soul has surely changed who he is, just like it changed Angel, but its unfair for her to shut Giles out (literally and figuratively) at the end of the episode.
The flashbacks are a fun and effective way for Spike to work out his Oedipal issues, which are allowing the First to take control of him. The episode is flawed though in the fact that even after Spike is sired, he still dotes on his mother, but she completely turns on him. The writing here isn't completely consistent with how far the demon takes over the body as Spike's inner demon doesn't seem to have complete control over him. Therefore when Spike tells Robin that his mother loved him, the point isn't quite true. Similarly when Spike tells Robin that Nikki didn't love him completely, well that isn't true either. I severely don't think that Nikki should've given up her calling just because she had a son. She wouldn't have been able to live with herself of she had. Like Buffy she doesn't have the luxury of choosing to protect the world. It chose her. (8.5/10)

A4.14 Release
The Faith and Wesley aspect of this episode is very strong. Its understandable that Faith would be off her game, now she's reformed after her stint in prison. She's used to fighting like she didn't care for her life and now she does, forcing her to adjust. Wes, is very in tune with this and knows just what to do and say to get her back to her best. Their confrontation over her torturing him was particularly notable as Wes has never had a chance to avenge this and so its only right he get's a chance to say what he's probably wanted to say for 3 years.
The activities at the hotel are less interesting however. Gunn and Fred's interactions weren't that thrilling, though it did give them a chance for closure. I didn't care for Connor and Cordy much either, they are a bit icky, though the scene where Connor checks for vampire-ness was funny. I also wasn't a fan of Cordy/the Beast master speaking to Angelus in his head. The 'British' voice was a little cheesy and it made the scenes where Angelus was talking to her a bit weird. (8/10)

A4.15 Orpheus
When Willow comes to LA in his episode, it does make you wonder why in the story they never thought of that beforehand. However her return, at any time is welcome and her interactions with all the cast members here are a lot of fun. All the Sunnydale characters here have changed a lot since they were last all together in Buffy's season 3, so there's a lot of catching up to do as well as a lot of changed agenda's. However considering Cordy and Willow's history, it is fun to see them fight magically even if Willow doesn't know it. The Connor and Cordy stuff continues to get more icky, which Fred thankfully points out but the end reveal more than makes up for it.
The Angelus/Faith flashbacking, isn't my favourite aspect of the episode as its a bit of a weird concept, but it acts as a nice character arc for Faith and gets her back to where she needs to be for her time in Sunnydale. As for Angel's soul being returned, I can't say that I'm that sad to see Angelus leave. He started off the arc so interesting and fun to watch, but he hasn't really done anything that evil this time round (probably so Angel doesn't have to atone for it), apart from a lot of talking especially in the last couple of episodes. (9.5/10)