Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel the Vampire

[lorenzovanmatte]

Lorenzo, just to let you know I actually enjoy the scorecards, but since they seem to bother people so much why don't you just put them in Spoiler tags? That way the people that want to read them, such as myself can without annoying those who don't.

Great solution, that's what I'll do

DARLA

Spoiler

The Good;
Everything between Angel and Darla is just superb, adds a whole new dimension to the Buffyverse
The Bad;
?
Best line:
Angel; "You damned me!"
Jeez, how did they get away with that?
Everything with Darla, Dru and Spike is just TRAGIC. Angel garroting Lindsey is also pretty near the knuckle.
Apocalypses: 4
Angel Cliches
Damsel in distress; 17
Inverting the Hollywood cliche;
In disguise;
DB get's his shirt off; yep,10
Cordy's tattoo;3
Cheap Angel;
5
Fang Gang in bondage:
Cordy: 5
Angel: 8
Wes: 2

Fang gang knocked out:
Cordy: 10
Angel: 12
Wes: 5
Doyle; 1
Gunn; 1
Kills:
Cordy: 5 vamps, 1½ demons
Angel; 17 vamps, 18 and 1/2 demons, 3 humans
Doyle; 1 vamp
Wes; 1/2 a demon
Kate; 3 vamps
Faith; 16 vamps, 6 demons, 3 humans.
Gunn; 5 vamps.
Fang Gang go evil:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 2

Alternate Fang Gang:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 6

Characters killed: Dru kills the sailor, Spike kills the Slayer offscreen.
29
Recurring characters killed;
4;
Total number of Angel Investigations:
4, Angel, Cordy, Wes and Gunn

Angel Investigations shot:
Angel: 8,
Packing heat;
Wes; 2
Doyle; 1
Angel; 1

Notches on Fang Gang bedpost:
Cordy: 2 ?+Wilson/Hacksaw Beast
Angel: 1;Buffy
Wes; 2; Virginia and the bleached blonde

Kinky dinky:
"You're leaving with the stallion" You know they just don't have dialogue like that on Dawson's Creek.
Darla asks Lindsey to kiss her. We have confirmed what we always suspected, that she was a prostitute in her human life (women weren't allowed to own property during the Elizabethen era so she could hardly be anything else)
Captain Subtext;
Gunn shows his legal mind for the first time, working out that WR&H would place Darla's expenses as a tax rebate. Angelus appreciates human life whilst the Master wishes to end it. That said he let's Darla go as he seems to have genuine affection for her. Darla wonders if Lindsey has either a boyfriend or girlfriend. Little hints of humanity in Dru, she hints she could be Darla's mummy as she will eventually be when she sires her. Once again Spike calls Angel(us) a poofter.
Know the face, different character; 2
Parking garages; yep, where they go to kill Darla
5,
Guantanamo Bay;
Buffy characters on Angel; 13 The Master rears his ugly head
Wetherby, Collins and Smith. Angel, Cordy, Oz, Spike, Buffy, Wes, Faith, Darla, Dru, Master
Questions and observations;
Dru sires Spike. The cleverness of this scene is that when we see it on Buffy we think the Fang Gang are the kings of the world. Although when we see it on Angel we realise it's all a lie, Angel is resouled. Despite being resouled Angel still kills criminals, rapists and murderers, an undead version of the Punisher. So what's Darla's real name? In season 1 of Buffy 'Angel' he comments that the last time he saw Darla she was dresssed in kimonos which fits here. So what happens to the baby Angel saves? I like to think that she grows up under his watchful eye, much like Rachel in the Highlander series, that Angel visits her as an old lady on her deathbed and holds her hand as she passes to the afterlife and rejoins the rest of her family. Interesting when we compare Angelus, the bullying father of the fang gang with his own domineering father.
Marks out of 10; 9/10

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Spoiler tags =

Spoiler

I think you used tags, which are for strikeout (the line through all of the text).

 

[lorenzovanmatte]

Spoiler tags =

Spoiler

I think you used tags, which are for strikeout (the line through all of the text).

Spoiler

Damn, yeah got it now, the smiley with the blindfold

 

[Specter313]

Maybe you guys should consider adding an actual & proper ignore feature where if we ignore someone we do not see their post or someone replying to something they post

One already exists in every user's Control Panel. It won't stop you from seeing them if the posts are quoted, but I don't see that as a problem since no one ever quotes lorenzo. But it does blank out every original post of theirs for you. Look it up.

 

[lorenzovanmatte]

I think my stats just irk a few people, no one has a problem with my Glee or Dr Dr Who posts
DARLA
No spoiler tags as I'm posting from my phone but I'll use them from my pc
The Good;
Everything between Angel and Darla is just superb, adds a whole new dimension to the Buffyverse
The Bad;
?
Best line:
Angel; "You damned me!"
Jeez, how did they get away with that?
Everything with Darla, Dru and Spike is just TRAGIC. Angel garroting Lindsey is also pretty near the knuckle.
Apocalypses: 4
Angel Cliches
Damsel in distress; 17
Inverting the Hollywood cliche;
In disguise;
DB get's his shirt off; yep,10
Cordy's tattoo;3
Cheap Angel;
5
Fang Gang in bondage:
Cordy: 5
Angel: 8
Wes: 2

Fang gang knocked out:
Cordy: 10
Angel: 12
Wes: 5
Doyle; 1
Gunn; 1
Kills:
Cordy: 5 vamps, 1½ demons
Angel; 17 vamps, 18 and 1/2 demons, 3 humans
Doyle; 1 vamp
Wes; 1/2 a demon
Kate; 3 vamps
Faith; 16 vamps, 6 demons, 3 humans.
Gunn; 5 vamps.
Fang Gang go evil:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 2

Alternate Fang Gang:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 6

Characters killed: Dru kills the sailor, Spike kills the Slayer offscreen.
29
Recurring characters killed;
4;
Total number of Angel Investigations:
4, Angel, Cordy, Wes and Gunn

Angel Investigations shot:
Angel: 8,
Packing heat;
Wes; 2
Doyle; 1
Angel; 1

Notches on Fang Gang bedpost:
Cordy: 2 ?+Wilson/Hacksaw Beast
Angel: 1;Buffy
Wes; 2; Virginia and the bleached blonde

Kinky dinky:
"You're leaving with the stallion" You know they just don't have dialogue like that on Dawson's Creek.
Darla asks Lindsey to kiss her. We have confirmed what we always suspected, that she was a prostitute in her human life (women weren't allowed to own property during the Elizabethen era so she could hardly be anything else)
Captain Subtext;
Gunn shows his legal mind for the first time, working out that WR&H would place Darla's expenses as a tax rebate. Angelus appreciates human life whilst the Master wishes to end it. That said he let's Darla go as he seems to have genuine affection for her. Darla wonders if Lindsey has either a boyfriend or girlfriend. Little hints of humanity in Dru, she hints she could be Darla's mummy as she will eventually be when she sires her. Once again Spike calls Angel(us) a poofter.
Know the face, different character; 2
Parking garages; yep, where they go to kill Darla
5,
Guantanamo Bay;
Buffy characters on Angel; 13 The Master rears his ugly head
Wetherby, Collins and Smith. Angel, Cordy, Oz, Spike, Buffy, Wes, Faith, Darla, Dru, Master
Questions and observations;
Dru sires Spike. The cleverness of this scene is that when we see it on Buffy we think the Fang Gang are the kings of the world. Although when we see it on Angel we realise it's all a lie, Angel is resouled. Despite being resouled Angel still kills criminals, rapists and murderers, an undead version of the Punisher. So what's Darla's real name? In season 1 of Buffy 'Angel' he comments that the last time he saw Darla she was dresssed in kimonos which fits here. So what happens to the baby Angel saves? I like to think that she grows up under his watchful eye, much like Rachel in the Highlander series, that Angel visits her as an old lady on her deathbed and holds her hand as she passes to the afterlife and rejoins the rest of her family. Interesting when we compare Angelus, the bullying father of the fang gang with his own domineering father.
Marks out of 10; 9/10

*

 

[Donut]

One already exists in every user's Control Panel. It won't stop you from seeing them if the posts are quoted, but I don't see that as a problem since no one ever quotes lorenzo. But it does blank out every original post of theirs for you. Look it up.

I know about that feature but its useless until it blocks quoted posts

 

[lorenzovanmatte]

Got it now

Listening to Fear
The Good;
Some great acting from SMG and KS with Joyce's madness. Lovely Buffy/Joyce/Dawn scenes, especially when they're in bed together. In many ways though this is Riley's ep, see him take charge of the military team, he's back in his place.
The Bad;
Not a great deal
Best line;
Joyce "My dear sweet brave Buffy, what would I do without you?" (always brings a tear to my eye)
Women good/men bad;
Jeez!;
The Queller is HORRIBLE! Ben demonstrates his ruthless side.Poor Dawn spends the entire episode quaking in fear at either the Queller demon or mad people (including her mother) shouting at her. Buffy breaks into tears and I don't blame her. The scene where Joyce, always the tower of strength in Buffy begs for her daughters to take her home like a frightened child is heartbreaking.
Kinky dinky;
None this ep, too much happening
Captain Subtext;
Joyce works out that Dawn isn't her natural daughter but doesn't care because she still belongs to her and Buffy, she's precious and they love her. She makes Buffy promise to take care of her. When Joyce asks what she'd ever do without Buffy you can see Buffy wondering what she'd ever do without her mum?When Anya suggests that the radiation from the meteorite might cause sterility Riley and Xander look alarmed but Giles doesn't, given up on the idea of having his own children?

Spoiler

Guantanamo Bay;
Scoobies to the ER;
Missing scenes;
Apocalypses; 5,
Wheldon Cliches (with kind permission from Boo)

Scoobies in bondage:
Buffy: 8
Giles: 4
Cordy: 5
Will: 3
Jenny: 1
Angel: 4
Oz: 1
Faith: 3
Joyce: 1
Wes: 1
Xander; 1
Dawn; 1

Scoobies knocked out:
Buffy: 15
Giles: 10
Cordy: 6
Xander: 8
Will: 5
Jenny: 2
Angel: 6
Oz: 3
Faith: 1
Joyce: 3
Wes: 1
Anya;1
Kills: 2 vamps for Will and one demon for Buffy
Buffy: 86 vamps, 32 demons, 6 monsters, 3 humans, 1 werewolf, 1 spirit warrior & a robot
Giles: 5 vamps, 1 demon
Cordy: 3 vamps, ½ a demon
Will: 6 vamps
Angel: 3 vamps, 1 demon, 1 human
Oz: 3 vamps, 1 zombie
Faith: 16 vamps, 5 demons, 3 humans
Xander: 5 vamps, 2 zombies, ½ a demon, ½ a demon
Anya: ½ a demon
Riley; 18 vamps + 7 demons

Scoobies go evil:
Giles: 1
Cordy: 1
Will: 2
Jenny: 1
Angel: 1
Oz: 1
Joyce: 1
Xander: 3

Alternate scoobies:
Buffy: 6
Giles: 3
Cordy: 1
Will: 2
Jenny: 2
Angel: 3
Oz: 2
Joyce: 2
Xander: 3

Recurring characters killed: 9
Jesse, Flutie, Jenny, Kendra, Larry, Snyder, Professor Walsh, Forrest, McNamara

Sunnydale deaths; 6 mental patients
89;

Total number of scoobies: 7
Giles, Xander, Willow, Buffy, Anya, Tara, Riley

Xander demon magnet: 5(6?)
Preying Mantis Lady, Inca Mummy Girl, Drusilla, VampWillow, Anya (arguably Buffy & Faith with their demon essences?), Dracula?

Scoobies shot:
Giles: 2
Angel: 3
Oz: 4
Riley; 1

Notches on Scooby bedpost:
Giles: 2; Joyce & Olivia, possibly Jenny and 3xDraccy babes?
Cordy: 1?
Buffy: 3 confirmed; Angel, Parker,Riley, 1 possible, Dracula(?)
Angel: 1;Buffy
Joyce: 1;Giles, 2 possible, Ted and Dracula(?)
Oz: 3; Groupie, Willow & Verucca
Faith:2 ;Xander, Riley
Xander: 2; Faith, Anya
Willow: 2;Oz and Tara
Riley; 2; Buffy and Sandy
What the fanficcers thought;
Buffy has sex with the Quellar demon. No, I'm NOT kidding either! http://www.t-s-s-a.com/stories/show-story.php?story=Buffy-Quelled.txt (if over 18 and VERY open minded)

Questions and observations;
Our first hints that Ben is not all he appears. Will finds the dead body again. Graham again, yay! He should fix his beret though. Dawn saves Joyce through her quick thinking, she's a Summer's girl alright. Joyce's insane remark about about Buffy being 'disgustingly fat' is all the more ironic given how painfully thin SMG looks this season. The vamps Willow stakes look like they're female wrestlers or something? Really this ep hits Buffy where she hurts, she can face all the dangers of being a slayer as long as she has her friends and Joyce and Dawn to come home to. When her home life is threatened that really unnerves her
Marks out of 10; 7/10

 

[lorenzovanmatte]

THE SHROUD OF RAHMON

The Good;
Very little, like Angel's Ja'Don impression and some nice Kate stuff but that's about all.
The Bad;
Cordy's hair is awful, she looks like Courtney Cox after a bad perm. The rest of the episode is pretty awful, the whole Wes interrogated by the cops technique really not working at all. If the Shroud is so powerful and destructive how could it have survived for so long?
Best line:
Angel " I could use a sweater, something dark"
Jeez, how did they get away with that?
The twisting of the guard's neck. The story of the city's population going insane with mother's killing their children is also horrible.

Spoiler

Apocalypses: 4
Angel Cliches
Damsel in distress; 17
Inverting the Hollywood cliche;
In disguise;
As Jay-Don so 7
DB get's his shirt off; 10
Cordy's tattoo;3
Cheap Angel;
5
Fang Gang in bondage: Wes handcuffed
Cordy: 5
Angel: 8
Wes: 3

Fang gang knocked out:
Cordy: 10
Angel: 12
Wes: 5
Doyle; 1
Gunn; 1
Kills:
Cordy: 5 vamps, 1½ demons
Angel; 17 vamps, 18 and 1/2 demons, 3 humans
Doyle; 1 vamp
Wes; 1/2 a demon
Kate; 3 vamps
Faith; 16 vamps, 6 demons, 3 humans.
Gunn; 5 vamps+ 1 demon.
Fang Gang go evil:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 2

Alternate Fang Gang:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 6

Characters killed: the corrupt security guard
30
Recurring characters killed;
4;
Total number of Angel Investigations:
4, Angel, Cordy, Wes and Gunn

Angel Investigations shot:Angel by Kate
Angel: 10
Packing heat;
Wes; 2
Doyle; 1
Angel; 1

Notches on Fang Gang bedpost:
Cordy: 2 ?+Wilson/Hacksaw Beast
Angel: 1;Buffy
Wes; 2; Virginia and the bleached blonde

Kinky dinky:
Kate finally get's what she always wanted deep down, Angel bites her under the influence of the shroud and she appears to orgasm against her will as a result just as Buffy did in Graduation Day pt2. Afterwards she seems almost bent to his will, finally able to forgive him for what's happened to her father and letting Wesley go. Apparently the things bringing in the chicks are 'the dough and the ride'. Wes says he's 'Good with the ladies himself'
Captain Subtext;
Angel mistakes Kate for Darla. Hmmmm? Kate also has a pic of her dad on her desk. Where's her mum? Gunn refers to vamps killing his sister.
Know the face, different character; 2
Parking garages;
5,
Guantanamo Bay;
Buffy characters on Angel; 13
Wetherby, Collins and Smith. Angel, Cordy, Oz, Spike, Buffy, Wes, Faith, Darla, Dru, Master
Questions and observations;
Angel is a Chow Yun Fat fan, again weird when he was supposed to be a street tramp when he was at the height of his fame (Hard Boiled). If Wes wasn't under arrest before, why was he at the police station? We have the first appearance the tranquliser guns. Noted character actor Tony Todd (Candyman, Babylon 5, Night of the Living Dead etc) appears here almost unrecognisable as one of the demons. Is the head of the robbery gang human or demon? Jay-Don ran with the Rat-Pack as apparently Angel did during his Manilow phase according to 'The House Always Wins'. Kate is the first human Angel has fed on since Buffy in Graduation Day pt2.
Marks out of 10; 3/10, in my honest opinion the worst episode of Angel EVER!

 

[lorenzovanmatte]

INTO THE WOODS
The Good; Buffy killing the 7 vamps is awesome, Xander's speech to Anya at the end is wonderful. Love Buffy's run to the chopper but do we really want her to make it?
The Bad;
Who's right and wrong in the Riley/Buffy argument? Riley cheats on Buffy but through no fault of her own she's been driving him away for a long time. In the end Riley's departure has a sense of relief about it.
Best line;
Anya (in a perfect impression of Willow) "I dislike that Anya. She's newly human and strangely literal"
Women good/men bad;
Who wins the gender war here?
Jeez!;
Kinky dinky;
Dawn refers to Buffy and Riley 'boinking'. Apparently Giles used to frequent vamp brothels in his Ripper days (hence the Draccy babes?). Xander and Anya have apparently used the vaulting horse in Buffy's training room for sexual adventures. Buffy suggests giving Joyce a wig that would make her look like a French Maid? Sure Xander would like that! Spike asks Buffy if she's naked under the sheet. Anya bathes Xander in a 'Penthousey' sort of way.
Captain Subtext;
Psychologists say that new mothers tend to lose interest in sex partly because of the exhaustion and trauma of giving birth but also because they get much of the physical and emotional affection they crave from their babies. When you look at Buffy at the hospital with Dawn in her lap and Riley sitting to one side you wonder if something similar was an aggravating factor in their breakup, that Buffy didn't need Riley so much anymore because she had Dawn? The army captain says to Riley that his organisation 'always need bodies'. Riley catches on to Spike's obsession a long time before anyone else.
Xander and Giles seem reluctant to hug at the hospital. Even now Spike realises that he doesn't have a shot with Buffy, foreshadowing Angel season 5.

Spoiler

Guantanamo Bay;
Scoobies to the ER;
Missing scenes;
Apocalypses; 5,
Wheldon Cliches (with kind permission from Boo)

Scoobies in bondage:
Buffy: 8
Giles: 4
Cordy: 5
Will: 3
Jenny: 1
Angel: 4
Oz: 1
Faith: 3
Joyce: 1
Wes: 1
Xander; 1
Dawn; 1

Scoobies knocked out:
Buffy: 15
Giles: 10
Cordy: 6
Xander: 8
Will: 5
Jenny: 2
Angel: 6
Oz: 3
Faith: 1
Joyce: 3
Wes: 1
Anya;1
Kills: Buffy effortlessly kills 7 vamps, you realise how far she's come as a Slayer.
Buffy: 93 vamps, 32 demons, 6 monsters, 3 humans, 1 werewolf, 1 spirit warrior & a robot
Giles: 5 vamps, 1 demon
Cordy: 3 vamps, ½ a demon
Will: 6 vamps
Angel: 3 vamps, 1 demon, 1 human
Oz: 3 vamps, 1 zombie
Faith: 16 vamps, 5 demons, 3 humans
Xander: 5 vamps, 2 zombies, ½ a demon, ½ a demon
Anya: ½ a demon
Riley; 18 vamps + 7 demons

Scoobies go evil:
Giles: 1
Cordy: 1
Will: 2
Jenny: 1
Angel: 1
Oz: 1
Joyce: 1
Xander: 3

Alternate scoobies:
Buffy: 6
Giles: 3
Cordy: 1
Will: 2
Jenny: 2
Angel: 3
Oz: 2
Joyce: 2
Xander: 3

Recurring characters killed: 9
Jesse, Flutie, Jenny, Kendra, Larry, Snyder, Professor Walsh, Forrest, McNamara

Sunnydale deaths;
89;

Total number of scoobies: 7
Giles, Xander, Willow, Buffy, Anya, Tara, Riley

Xander demon magnet: 5(6?)
Preying Mantis Lady, Inca Mummy Girl, Drusilla, VampWillow, Anya (arguably Buffy & Faith with their demon essences?), Dracula?

Scoobies shot:
Giles: 2
Angel: 3
Oz: 4
Riley; 1

Notches on Scooby bedpost:
Giles: 2; Joyce & Olivia, possibly Jenny and 3xDraccy babes?
Cordy: 1?
Buffy: 3 confirmed; Angel, Parker,Riley, 1 possible, Dracula(?)
Angel: 1;Buffy
Joyce: 1;Giles, 2 possible, Ted and Dracula(?)
Oz: 3; Groupie, Willow & Verucca
Faith:2 ;Xander, Riley
Xander: 2; Faith, Anya
Willow: 2;Oz and Tara
Riley; 3; Buffy, Sandy and unknown vamp****e

Questions and observations;
If we're to believe Dawn's chopstick story then she always knew about Buffy being the Slayer which is confirmed in the comics. Spuffers must have been choking on their cornflakes at the fake staking Spike scene.
So Buffy and Riley? Could it ever have worked? Well, maybe post-Chosen but not then I think, Riley makes the right decision.
Marks out of 10; 8/10

 

[Sawyer]

Well, this is fun.

 

[lorenzovanmatte]

Well, this is fun.

Sure is!t:

The Trial

The Good;
Love the valet and the trials, they're both excellent, the suprise ending is a killer, thankfully they left Juliet Landau's name out of the credits this time so it's a genuine shock.
The Bad;
Very little, terrific ep but Angel seems to be overwhelmed by the WR&H thugs very easily
Best line:
Lindsey; "How did you think this was going to end?"
Jeez, how did they get away with that?
The trials are almost akin to gorno, especially the key in the vat of Holy Water.

Spoiler

Apocalypses: 4
Angel Cliches
Damsel in distress; oh yeah!
18
Inverting the Hollywood cliche;
In disguise; 7
DB get's his shirt off; oh yeah!
11
Cordy's tattoo;3
Cheap Angel;
5
Fang Gang in bondage: Angel chained up by the valet
Cordy: 5
Angel: 9
Wes: 3

Fang gang knocked out:
Cordy: 10
Angel: 12
Wes: 5
Doyle; 1
Gunn; 1
Kills:
Cordy: 5 vamps, 1½ demons
Angel; 1 vamp and 1 demon, 18 vamps, 19 and 1/2 demons, 3 humans
Doyle; 1 vamp
Wes; 1/2 a demon
Kate; 3 vamps
Faith; 16 vamps, 6 demons, 3 humans.
Gunn; 5 vamps+ 1 demon.
Fang Gang go evil:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 2

Alternate Fang Gang:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 6

Characters killed:
30
Recurring characters killed; Darla dies for the 3rd time
4;
Total number of Angel Investigations:
4, Angel, Cordy, Wes and Gunn

Angel Investigations shot;
Angel: 10
Packing heat;
Wes; 2
Doyle; 1
Angel; 1

Notches on Fang Gang bedpost:
Cordy: 2 ?+Wilson/Hacksaw Beast
Angel: 1;Buffy
Wes; 2; Virginia and the bleached blonde

Kinky dinky:
Darla has once more turned to prostitution to support herself.
Captain Subtext;
The eps so full he really doesn't have time to appear. Although Darla/Dru I suppose at the end.
Know the face, different character; 2
Parking garages;
5,
Guantanamo Bay;
Buffy characters on Angel; 13
Wetherby, Collins and Smith. Angel, Cordy, Oz, Spike, Buffy, Wes, Faith, Darla, Dru, Master

Questions and observations;
Oddly Holland believes in god whilst Darla wears a cross whilst tricking (she takes it off when she goes to find a vamp to sire her). Angelus comments that in Romania they know how to treat a creature of the night (Dracula?). Holtz mentioned for the first time. The dumb vamp Darla propositions says he was sired in 1992, by Lothos and co in the Buffy movie? Anne Rice mocked again. Why doesn't Angel sire Darla and then resoul her? He wonders what would happen if he sired someone when he had a soul, in 'Why we fight?' we find out. Jasmine referenced once more. Does JB really sing or is she voiced over? The valet is great, you really could see him as Jeeves, his little 'Use it wisely' speech at the end is reminiscent of Highlander. The actor recurs in a Dollhouse ep where he plays Beyonce's manager.
One thing, Angel is owed a life restored by magical means. So why does he never call in that marker and try to bring back Doyle, Cordy, Fred etc?
Marks out of 10; 9/10, Angel at the top of it's game.

 

[lorenzovanmatte]

TRIANGLE
The Good;
All of it, a lightweight ep but a really good one, I think we've all had enough Buffy/Riley doomed romance and ill Joyce for a while. Time for some fun plus some lovely Buffy/Dawn bed scenes and a great redefinement of the Anya/Xander/Willow relationship.
The Bad;
Anya says she's never driven before but she refers to her car in Graduation Day pt2.
Best line;
Troll; "Do you know where there are babies?"
Spike (to Xander) "Where do you think, the hosptial?"
Xander (shocked) "What? SHUT UP!" (that humanity still a work in progress, huh Spike? As is proved by him expecting credit for not feeding off the victims at the Bronze)
Women good/men bad;
Actually Anya seems to disparage women who constantly pick the wrong man meaning she has to inflict vengence on them again and again. Anya made her boyfriend a troll to punish him for cheating on her.
Jeez!;
Eating babies?
Kinky dinky;
Buffy meets a nun who let's her try on her wimple which is a level of kink that even scares Xander (although from all we've learned it might be just Angel's thing?). Spikes rant at the mannequin is hysterically funny, pathetic and scary all at the same time. Anya intends to get around the health inspector by flirting with him. The Troll plans to make 'Merry sport' with Sunnydales more attractive daughters and 'making merry with the local virgins'. Spike seems to delight in copping a feel of Buffy when the troll knocks them both to the ground at the Bronze (his little smile as they get to their feet says it all). Anya reminds Willow that it was her lips that broke up Xander and Cordelia.
Captain Subtext;
Tara likes Greek studies, the Amazons?Sappho? Buffy and Tara snuggle, Buffy's distress at their fight obviously grounded in her and Riley. She asks the nun what the whole 'abjuring the company of men' is like, implying she's considering it. Will defensively states she would never have sex with Xander because 'Hello, gay now!' Lovely scene where Xander walks into the Magic Shop and sees Willow and Anya "Hey my two favourite girls"(notices Tara) "Three favourite girls". Love the little smile Tara gives when he says that. Xander says that Willow gives him a 'What do you see in her?' look concerning Anya, surely as a lesbian she should appreciate exactly what Xander sees in the beautiful Anya? Anya comments that Willow doesn't want anyone else to have Xander. Again with Riley gone Buffy seems to be drawing closer and closer to Dawn as an emotional substitute.

Spoiler

Guantanamo Bay;
Scoobies to the ER;
Xander pretty banged up, his hand seemingly broken.
Missing scenes;
Apocalypses; 5,
Wheldon Cliches (with kind permission from Boo)

Scoobies in bondage:
Buffy: 8
Giles: 4
Cordy: 5
Will: 3
Jenny: 1
Angel: 4
Oz: 1
Faith: 3
Joyce: 1
Wes: 1
Xander; 1
Dawn; 1

Scoobies knocked out: Buffy at the magic shop
Buffy: 16
Giles: 10
Cordy: 6
Xander: 8
Will: 5
Jenny: 2
Angel: 6
Oz: 3
Faith: 1
Joyce: 3
Wes: 1
Anya;1
Kills: another vamp for Buffy
Buffy: 94 vamps, 32 demons, 6 monsters, 3 humans, 1 spirit warrior & a robot
Giles: 5 vamps, 1 demon
Cordy: 3 vamps, ½ a demon
Will: 6 vamps
Angel: 3 vamps, 1 demon, 1 human
Oz: 3 vamps, 1 zombie, 1 werewolf
Faith: 16 vamps, 5 demons, 3 humans
Xander: 5 vamps, 2 zombies, ½ a demon, ½ a demon
Anya: ½ a demon
Riley; 18 vamps + 7 demons

Scoobies go evil:
Giles: 1
Cordy: 1
Will: 2
Jenny: 1
Angel: 1
Oz: 1
Joyce: 1
Xander: 3

Alternate scoobies:
Buffy: 6
Giles: 3
Cordy: 1
Will: 2
Jenny: 2
Angel: 3
Oz: 2
Joyce: 2
Xander: 3

Recurring characters killed: 9
Jesse, Flutie, Jenny, Kendra, Larry, Snyder, Professor Walsh, Forrest, McNamara

Sunnydale deaths;
89;

Total number of scoobies: 6
Giles, Xander, Willow, Buffy, Anya, Tara,

Xander demon magnet: 5(6?)
Preying Mantis Lady, Inca Mummy Girl, Drusilla, VampWillow, Anya (arguably Buffy & Faith with their demon essences?), Dracula?

Scoobies shot:
Giles: 2
Angel: 3
Oz: 4
Riley; 1

Notches on Scooby bedpost:
Giles: 2; Joyce & Olivia, possibly Jenny and 3xDraccy babes?
Cordy: 1?
Buffy: 3 confirmed; Angel, Parker,Riley, 1 possible, Dracula(?)
Angel: 1;Buffy
Joyce: 1;Giles, 2 possible, Ted and Dracula(?)
Oz: 3; Groupie, Willow & Verucca
Faith:2 ;Xander, Riley
Xander: 2; Faith, Anya
Willow: 2;Oz and Tara
Riley; 3; Buffy, Sandy and vamp****e

Questions and observations;
Anya makes Xander promise he will send her big signals if he ever leaves her. Well, jilting her at the altar was a pretty big sign. Nice visual gag, Xander wonder's how Buffy is dealing with her breakup and the action cuts to a pretty young nun standing in the convent courtyard, for a moment we wonder if Buffy's taken her vows (Buffy the Vampire Slaying Nun would probably please some of the shows more puritan critics. Or maybe the kinkier ones depending on how you look at it?). Anya's top makes her look like a whale shark. Willow refers to Dr Seus and is ironically wearing a red/white striped top just like the character in the book. Buffy looks like she needs an after school burger. With Giles out of town and Riley and Oz gone Xander ends up confiding in Spike as the only other male around which foretells seasons 6 and 7. The origin of the phrase 'Insane troll logic'. Again a bit morally dubious letting the troll go. Joyce, Giles and Buffy are all in on the Dawn secret, Joyce refers to her as 'My little girl'.
Marks out of 10; 8/10

 

[lorenzovanmatte]

REUNION
The Good;
Darla and Dru make quite a pair whilst Angel does his Batman routine. Some nice humour from Lilah and like the way Angel is so consumed by his quest that he tries to ignore his mission sent by the PTBs. And the shock ending is a kick in head.
The Bad;
Why does Lilah want to hear police sirens, what are the LAPD going to do against Dru and Darla? Shouldn't Angel have saved Holland's wife at least?
Best line:
Lilah (to Lindsey, indicating dead Darla) "Think you got a shot with her now?" Why we love Lilah even though she's a total *****.
Jeez, how did they get away with that?
The scene in the shop with the murdered staff is horrifying

Spoiler

Apocalypses: 4
Angel Cliches
Damsel in distress; 17
Inverting the Hollywood cliche;
Lindsey (indicating the soon to be vamp Darla) "Can she hear us?"
Darla "She's DEAD!"
In disguise; 7
DB get's his shirt off; 11
Cordy's tattoo;3
Cheap Angel;
5
Fang Gang in bondage: Angel in cuffs
Cordy: 5
Angel: 9
Wes: 3

Fang gang knocked out:
Cordy: 10
Angel: 12
Wes: 5
Doyle; 1
Gunn; 1
Kills:
Cordy: 5 vamps, 1½ demons
Angel; 18 vamps, 19 and 1/2 demons, 3 humans
Doyle; 1 vamp
Wes; 1/2 a demon
Kate; 3 vamps
Faith; 16 vamps, 6 demons, 3 humans.
Gunn; 5 vamps+ 1 demon.
Fang Gang go evil:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 2

Alternate Fang Gang:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 6

Characters killed: 16 including the shopgirls and the motorist
30
Recurring characters killed;
4;
Total number of Angel Investigations:
4, Angel, Cordy, Wes and Gunn

Angel Investigations shot: no but Angel takes a gun away from a demon acolyte intent on suicide.
Angel: 10
Packing heat;
Wes; 2
Doyle; 1
Angel; 1

Notches on Fang Gang bedpost:
Cordy: 2 ?+Wilson/Hacksaw Beast
Angel: 1;Buffy
Wes; 2; Virginia and the bleached blonde

Kinky dinky:
Gunn comments that he's freaked out by the whole incest vibe of the grandaughter remaking the grandmother (as he was with his vamped sister). Dru wants Angel to 'Spank us til Tuesday, we promise to be bad if you do'!!!!!!
Captain Subtext;
Loved to have seen the Dru/neighbour scene. Once again Dru seems a very unusual vamp in some regards, more human than most. Dru appreciates Lilah's beauty. All of the Darla/Dru stuff
Know the face, different character; 2
Parking garages;
5,
Guantanamo Bay;
Buffy characters on Angel; 13
Wetherby, Collins and Smith. Angel, Cordy, Oz, Spike, Buffy, Wes, Faith, Darla, Dru, Master

Questions and observations;
Like the way it's Gunn who figures out the whole nursery angle, once again showing his brains. Weird seeing Darla in her shroud. Kate and Angel seem a team once more.
Marks out of 10; 8/10, Angel on top form.

 

[lorenzovanmatte]

CHECKPOINT
The Good;
Some very good scenes with the council and a nice face off between Buffy and Glory at the Summer's house. Buffy's speech to the council is spot on. Love Tara's little look of panic as she invents a magical proficency level for her and Willow.
The Bad;
Surely Buffy's point that the Watcher's depend on her rather than vice versa is self evident all along?
Best line;
Travers; "Glory's not a demon"
Buffy; "What is she?"
Travers; "She's a god"
Oh boy!
Women good/men bad;
Buffy tells the Council that she has the power, changing a relationship between Watcher and Slayer that has endured millenia.
Jeez!;
Glory brainsucks the postman. Even more horrible is the way she refers to him as 'that' afterwards.
Kinky dinky;
The female Watcher seems to have a Spikette's lust for Spike. Spike suggests Buffy's beauty is fading and that she is not has firm and high (at 20?)
Captain Subtext;
Willow and Tara finally say what they are out loud. Buffy seems to imply that Rasputin was a vamp. The lover of the one Angel killed in 'Why we fight?' Another terrific Spike/Joyce scene, they both love the Passions TV show. Buffy remarks that she 'Doesn't need a boyfriend'. Once again we see the Glory-Buffy-Dawn subtext with Glory suggesting Ben 'bang' the key's location out of Buffy. She also refers to Buffy as 'Sweetie' and thinks the picture of her and Dawn in 'So cute'. She describes Dawn as the 'Darlingest thing', 'Honey' and says she likes her as she's 'Sassy'. Glory's minion thinks Ben 'quite attractive'. Willow refer to her and Tara's relationship with Buffy as 'Just friends'.

Spoiler

Guantanamo Bay;
Scoobies to the ER;
Missing scenes;
Apocalypses; 5,
Wheldon Cliches (with kind permission from Boo)

Scoobies in bondage:
Buffy: 8
Giles: 4
Cordy: 5
Will: 3
Jenny: 1
Angel: 4
Oz: 1
Faith: 3
Joyce: 1
Wes: 1
Xander; 1
Dawn; 1

Scoobies knocked out:
Buffy: 16
Giles: 10
Cordy: 6
Xander: 8
Will: 5
Jenny: 2
Angel: 6
Oz: 3
Faith: 1
Joyce: 3
Wes: 1
Anya;1
Kills:
Buffy: 94 vamps, 32 demons, 6 monsters, 3 humans, 1 werewolf, 1 spirit warrior & a robot
Giles: 5 vamps, 1 demon
Cordy: 3 vamps, ½ a demon
Will: 6 vamps
Angel: 3 vamps, 1 demon, 1 human
Oz: 3 vamps, 1 zombie
Faith: 16 vamps, 5 demons, 3 humans
Xander: 5 vamps, 2 zombies, ½ a demon, ½ a demon
Anya: ½ a demon
Riley; 18 vamps + 7 demons
Spike; 1 demon and 1 vamp in Scooby service

Scoobies go evil:
Giles: 1
Cordy: 1
Will: 2
Jenny: 1
Angel: 1
Oz: 1
Joyce: 1
Xander: 3

Alternate scoobies:
Buffy: 6
Giles: 3
Cordy: 1
Will: 2
Jenny: 2
Angel: 3
Oz: 2
Joyce: 2
Xander: 3

Recurring characters killed: 9
Jesse, Flutie, Jenny, Kendra, Larry, Snyder, Professor Walsh, Forrest, McNamara

Sunnydale deaths;
89;

Total number of scoobies: 6
Giles, Xander, Willow, Buffy, Anya, Tara,

Xander demon magnet: 5(6?)
Preying Mantis Lady, Inca Mummy Girl, Drusilla, VampWillow, Anya (arguably Buffy & Faith with their demon essences?), Dracula?

Scoobies shot:
Giles: 2
Angel: 3
Oz: 4
Riley; 1

Notches on Scooby bedpost:
Giles: 2; Joyce & Olivia, possibly Jenny and 3xDraccy babes?
Cordy: 1?
Buffy: 3 confirmed; Angel, Parker,Riley, 1 possible, Dracula(?)
Angel: 1;Buffy
Joyce: 1;Giles, 2 possible, Ted and Dracula(?)
Oz: 3; Groupie, Willow & Verucca
Faith:2 ;Xander, Riley
Xander: 2; Faith, Anya
Willow: 2;Oz and Tara
Riley; 3; Buffy, Sandy and unnamed vamp****e

Questions and observations;
First appearance of the Knights of Byzantium. Couldn't they put their tattoos somewhere a little less obvious? Of course the Watcher's are right about the dangers of some of the Magic Shop contents as Triangle and later eps will prove. The stars are once again pivotal to Glory's spell. So how do we kill a god? Titan's rib? Golden Hind's blood? Xena?
So who are these Byzantium guys and what do they want other than to fight Glory? (which seems pretty admirable but bad news for Dawn). I always figured that maybe the Watcher's Council had some form of schism reformation style and they're an offshoot
Marks out of 10; 6/10

 

[Donut]

You killed single handily killed this thread. Bravo. Do this to all of the other shows with threads on here & then you will just scare everyone away from the TV Section. Start going to the individual movie threads & forums & watch them scatter all because of you. If you play your cards right then sooner or later you will be the only one posting here at the Hype. Not even the mods will want to stay

 

[Charlie Boy]

Relax. So not that serious.

 

[Sawyer]

Donut went a little overboard there, but it really is annoying.

 

[Doomed_hero]

I am all for posting what u want, it just made me not really want to come here. Having to shift down past 5 or 6 post of reviews just to see what the next person has to say about the conversation is just really annoying.

 

[Donut]

If she really wants to post her cap why not do it in spoiler tags. At least then it will not clog up the threads here & we can ignore her more easily

 

[lorenzovanmatte]

Life is too short for internet flame wars especially with people with whom you have common interests. So I'll put my 'cap' in spoiler tags entirely from now on. But I'd point out that these threads were essentially moribund until I started posting.

Spoiler

REDEFINITION

The Good;
Angel goes Punisher, as extra-crispy Darla says "Who the hell was THAT?". Plus "We are the champions..."
The Bad;
Darla and Dru seem to spend an awful lot of time on fire, other vamps vaporise much quicker.
Best line:
Dru "Galloping, galloping still he'll come!"
Jeez, how did they get away with that?
The ears gag, funny but hooooo....!
Apocalypses: 4
Angel Cliches
Damsel in distress; 17
Inverting the Hollywood cliche;
In disguise; 7
DB get's his shirt off; not topless but some vest action
11
Cordy's tattoo;3
Cheap Angel;
5
Fang Gang in bondage:
Cordy: 5
Angel: 8
Wes: 3

Fang gang knocked out:
Cordy: 10
Angel: 12
Wes: 5
Doyle; 1
Gunn; 1
Kills: 4 vamps and 12 demons for Angel really racking them up. I demon for Gunn
Cordy: 5 vamps, 1½ demons
Angel; 22 vamps, 31 and 1/2 demons, 3 humans,
Doyle; 1 vamp
Wes; 1/2 a demon
Kate; 3 vamps
Faith; 16 vamps, 6 demons, 3 humans.
Gunn; 5 vamps+ 2 demons.
Fang Gang go evil:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 2

Alternate Fang Gang:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 6

Characters killed:
30
Recurring characters killed;
4;
Total number of Angel Investigations: 1 or 3 depending on which way you look at it?
4, Angel, Cordy, Wes and Gunn

Angel Investigations shot:
Angel: 10
Packing heat;
Wes; 2
Doyle; 1
Angel; 1

Notches on Fang Gang bedpost:
Cordy: 2 ?+Wilson/Hacksaw Beast
Angel: 1;Buffy
Wes; 2; Virginia and the bleached blonde

Kinky dinky:
Gunn says Angel is 'going Commando', does he mean the action film or without underwear? Dru and Darla are looking for 'muscular slaves'. I know a few people who'd gladly volunteer. Once again Dru wants Angel to punish them for being naughty, she likes the idea of flogging but not of churches.
Captain Subtext;
Is the attraction between Lindsey and Darla real? Dru seems to like Lilah. Wes denies that his arse is 'pansy'.
Know the face, different character; 2
Parking garages;
5,
Guantanamo Bay;
Poor old Merl get waterboarded
Buffy characters on Angel; 13
Wetherby, Collins and Smith. Angel, Cordy, Oz, Spike, Buffy, Wes, Faith, Darla, Dru, Master
Questions and observations;
Virginia's back, hooray! Wes intends to sing Cat Stevens, I'm guessing 'Morning has Broken' rather than 'Father and Son' or 'The First Cut is the Deepest'. In the end they pick Queen, good choice. Darla wonders why people always assume a man has to be involved in a woman's business? Angel smokes again.
Marks out of 10; 8/10

 

[lorenzovanmatte]

New slimline version!t:

BLOOD TIES

Spoiler

The Good;
Dawn's ep first and foremost and she really comes into her own here. Very touching scenes, especially with the Summers girls and Dawn's memories, precious to her but she knows they were created. The battle with Glory is also great and I defy anyone to say they knew Ben was Glory?
The Bad;
?
Best line;
Buffy; "Summer's blood', how important that will be!
Women good/men bad;
Jeez!;
Glory killing the security guard
Kinky dinky;
Anya tells the gang about her and Xander playing dress up, I get Xander being a fireman but a shepherd? Spike thinks the only way monks can justify giving up girls is if they're protecting something. Anya says that Xander 'Needs help with his thing'. More Glory-Buffy-Dawn subtext with Dawn saying that Glory is prettier than Buffy. Glory thinks that knights have a 'fear of intimacy'. Buffy likes her presents 'more frilly, less killy' with a girly dress. Giles apparently has 'one just like it'. Spike refers to Dawn as a 'hormone bomb' and Glory as a 'skank'.
Captain Subtext;
Dawn self-harms, once again Buffy using a magical metaphor for a very real and serious social problem. Anya thinks Dawn is very pretty. The little look that Buffy and Joyce share when she hugs Dawn at the party is priceless. Buffy intends to start a new tradition of 'birthdays without boyfriends' which Tara and Willow approve off. Spike paints his nails. When looking for Dawn Buffy and Spike patrol together for the first time.
More Glory-Buffy-Dawn; Glory changes in front of Dawn. She wonders if Ben is being 'naughty' with Dawn? (Yeesh! But she is a hellgod so we shouldn't be suprised). She strokes Dawn's hair (in the same way Joyce and Buffy do) but then spanks her breasts and hauls her away. She also refers to Dawn as a 'fox' and 'sugar and spice' and asks if Ben was giving her a look at 'Glory's unmentionables'? She likes Buffy's shoes. She refers to Spike as Buffy's boyfriend which she's almost too quick to deny.
Guantanamo Bay;
Glory tortures the Knight
Scoobies to the ER;
Buffy get's stabbed with the crowbar but seem ok.
Missing scenes;
Apocalypses; 5,
Wheldon Cliches (with kind permission from Boo)

Scoobies in bondage:
Buffy: 8
Giles: 4
Cordy: 5
Will: 3
Jenny: 1
Angel: 4
Oz: 1
Faith: 3
Joyce: 1
Wes: 1
Xander; 1
Dawn; 1

Scoobies knocked out:
Buffy: 16
Giles: 10
Cordy: 6
Xander: 8
Will: 5
Jenny: 2
Angel: 6
Oz: 3
Faith: 1
Joyce: 3
Wes: 1
Anya;1
Kills:
Buffy: 94 vamps, 32 demons, 6 monsters, 3 humans, 1 werewolf, 1 spirit warrior & a robot
Giles: 5 vamps, 1 demon
Cordy: 3 vamps, ½ a demon
Will: 6 vamps
Angel: 3 vamps, 1 demon, 1 human
Oz: 3 vamps, 1 zombie
Faith: 16 vamps, 5 demons, 3 humans
Xander: 5 vamps, 2 zombies, ½ a demon, ½ a demon
Anya: ½ a demon
Riley; 18 vamps + 7 demons

Scoobies go evil:
Giles: 1
Cordy: 1
Will: 2
Jenny: 1
Angel: 1
Oz: 1
Joyce: 1
Xander: 3

Alternate scoobies:
Buffy: 6
Giles: 3
Cordy: 1
Will: 2
Jenny: 2
Angel: 3
Oz: 2
Joyce: 2
Xander: 3

Recurring characters killed: 9
Jesse, Flutie, Jenny, Kendra, Larry, Snyder, Professor Walsh, Forrest, McNamara

Sunnydale deaths; the poor security guard, they're Buffy's equivalent of Star Treks redshirts
90;

Total number of scoobies: 6
Giles, Xander, Willow, Buffy, Anya, Tara,

Xander demon magnet: 5(6?)
Preying Mantis Lady, Inca Mummy Girl, Drusilla, VampWillow, Anya (arguably Buffy & Faith with their demon essences?), Dracula?

Scoobies shot:
Giles: 2
Angel: 3
Oz: 4
Riley; 1

Notches on Scooby bedpost:
Giles: 2; Joyce & Olivia, possibly Jenny and 3xDraccy babes?
Cordy: 1?
Buffy: 3 confirmed; Angel, Parker,Riley, 1 possible, Dracula(?)
Angel: 1;Buffy
Joyce: 1;Giles, 2 possible, Ted and Dracula(?)
Oz: 3; Groupie, Willow & Verucca
Faith:2 ;Xander, Riley
Xander: 2; Faith, Anya
Willow: 2;Oz and Tara
Riley; 3; Buffy, Sandy and unnamed vamp****e
Questions and observations;
Another disasterous Buffy birthday, if I was her I'd just stay in bed all day when it comes around. Also the beginning of the Spike/Dawn relationship. The Scoobs finally learn the truth about Dawn. So who are the other Hellgods from Glory's dimension? WR&H? Why not just pack Dawn off to Europe so that Glory can't find her? Or will Glory's minions/The Knights track her mystically?
The Knights can easily beat Glory's minions but are not match for herself. Dawn has a photo from her and Buffy's holiday with their dad, the monks really do a full service job. The chocs Spike brings Buffy are the same ones he bashed the mannequin over the head with, cheap and stalkery! Dawn's burglary of the Magic Shop foretells her shoplifting. Dawn has been around for 6 months, suggesting she was also about for Buffy vs Dracula etc? The 'Urn of Ishtar', wasn't that a Dustin Hoffman movie? Introduction of Dawn's catchphrase, 'Get out'. The scene with little Buffy and little Dawnie on the swing is especially moving. Giles warns Willow of the dangers of magic.
Marks out of 10; 7/10 the Key storyline really getting going.

REDEFINITION

Spoiler

The Good;
Angel goes Punisher, as extra-crispy Darla says "Who the hell was THAT?". Plus "We are the champions..."
The Bad;
Darla and Dru seem to spend an awful lot of time on fire, other vamps vaporise much quicker.
Best line:
Dru "Galloping, galloping still he'll come!"
Jeez, how did they get away with that?
The ears gag, funny but hooooo....!
Apocalypses: 4
Angel Cliches
Damsel in distress; 17
Inverting the Hollywood cliche;
In disguise; 7
DB get's his shirt off; not topless but some vest action
11
Cordy's tattoo;3
Cheap Angel;
5
Fang Gang in bondage:
Cordy: 5
Angel: 8
Wes: 3

Fang gang knocked out:
Cordy: 10
Angel: 12
Wes: 5
Doyle; 1
Gunn; 1
Kills: 4 vamps and 12 demons for Angel really racking them up. I demon for Gunn
Cordy: 5 vamps, 1½ demons
Angel; 22 vamps, 31 and 1/2 demons, 3 humans,
Doyle; 1 vamp
Wes; 1/2 a demon
Kate; 3 vamps
Faith; 16 vamps, 6 demons, 3 humans.
Gunn; 5 vamps+ 2 demons.
Fang Gang go evil:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 2

Alternate Fang Gang:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 6

Characters killed:
30
Recurring characters killed;
4;
Total number of Angel Investigations: 1 or 3 depending on which way you look at it?
4, Angel, Cordy, Wes and Gunn

Angel Investigations shot:
Angel: 10
Packing heat;
Wes; 2
Doyle; 1
Angel; 1

Notches on Fang Gang bedpost:
Cordy: 2 ?+Wilson/Hacksaw Beast
Angel: 1;Buffy
Wes; 2; Virginia and the bleached blonde

Kinky dinky:
Gunn says Angel is 'going Commando', does he mean the action film or without underwear? Dru and Darla are looking for 'muscular slaves'. I know a few people who'd gladly volunteer. Once again Dru wants Angel to punish them for being naughty, she likes the idea of flogging but not of churches.
Captain Subtext;
Is the attraction between Lindsey and Darla real? Dru seems to like Lilah. Wes denies that his arse is 'pansy'.
Know the face, different character; 2
Parking garages;
5,
Guantanamo Bay;
Poor old Merl get waterboarded
Buffy characters on Angel; 13
Wetherby, Collins and Smith. Angel, Cordy, Oz, Spike, Buffy, Wes, Faith, Darla, Dru, Master
Questions and observations;
Virginia's back, hooray! Wes intends to sing Cat Stevens, I'm guessing 'Morning has Broken' rather than 'Father and Son' or 'The First Cut is the Deepest'. In the end they pick Queen, good choice. Darla wonders why people always assume a man has to be involved in a woman's business? Angel smokes again.
Marks out of 10; 8/10

 

[lorenzovanmatte]

CRUSH

Spoiler

The Good;
The stunning opening, the moment you see Dru pop up you just know it's going to be a good one.
The Bad;
Nothing although you have to be following the series to understand it all.
Best line;
Buffy; (to Spike) "You're like a serial killer in prison"
Spike; "Women marry them all the time!" Sad but true, hybristophia is the term for women being attracted to men who have committed an outrage. Female serial killers (such as there are) tend not to get all the adoration and fan mail from men their masculine counterparts recieve from women.
Women good/men bad;
Harmony finally wises up and dumps Spike, about time too! (he's especially cruel to her here) Spike wonders "Why you *****es torture me?". His idea of proving his love for Buffy is to kill Dru for her?!
Jeez!;
The slaughter on the train. Buffy sitting in the chalk outline of the murder victim. Spike's story of massacaring an entire family. Dru and Spike's horrible stalking and slaughter of the kids at the Bronze.
Kinky dinky;
Anya dancing. What does Spike do to the little girl in the coal cellar? We won't find out until season 7 (remember this story, Spikettes when you're talking about how misunderstood he is and how badly Buffy treats him!). Buffy compares beating up Spike to sexual foreplay. He says he know's this is wrong as his stalker shrine and smelling her sweater testify to. Harmony is gorgeous in her nightie and is happy to play dress up with Spike. However she says no to threesomes...
Captain Subtext;
....unless it's boy-boy-girl or Charlize Theron. Dawn announces her crush on Spike much to Xander's chagrin. Dru says vamps can love 'Quite well' if not wisely as she and Spike and Darla and Angel prove. Spike suspects that the two vamps he and Buffy chase away are gay. Buffy suggests Spike 'Hit on Giles'. Dru says she knew Spike loved Buffy even before she did.
Finally everyone catches on to Spike's Buffy obsession! And it's lil'Dawnie that points it out.
Guantanamo Bay;
Scoobies to the ER;
Missing scenes;
Apocalypses; 5,
Wheldon Cliches (with kind permission from Boo)

Scoobies in bondage: Buffy in chains once more
Buffy: 9
Giles: 4
Cordy: 5
Will: 3
Jenny: 1
Angel: 4
Oz: 1
Faith: 3
Joyce: 1
Wes: 1
Xander; 1
Dawn; 1

Scoobies knocked out: Buffy by Dru.
Buffy: 17
Giles: 10
Cordy: 6
Xander: 8
Will: 5
Jenny: 2
Angel: 6
Oz: 3
Faith: 1
Joyce: 3
Wes: 1
Anya;1
Kills:
Buffy: 94 vamps, 32 demons, 6 monsters, 3 humans, 1 werewolf, 1 spirit warrior & a robot
Giles: 5 vamps, 1 demon
Cordy: 3 vamps, ½ a demon
Will: 6 vamps
Angel: 3 vamps, 1 demon, 1 human
Oz: 3 vamps, 1 zombie
Faith: 16 vamps, 5 demons, 3 humans
Xander: 5 vamps, 2 zombies, ½ a demon, ½ a demon
Anya: ½ a demon
Riley; 18 vamps + 7 demons

Scoobies go evil:
Giles: 1
Cordy: 1
Will: 2
Jenny: 1
Angel: 1
Oz: 1
Joyce: 1
Xander: 3

Alternate scoobies:
Buffy: 6
Giles: 3
Cordy: 1
Will: 2
Jenny: 2
Angel: 3
Oz: 2
Joyce: 2
Xander: 3

Recurring characters killed: 9
Jesse, Flutie, Jenny, Kendra, Larry, Snyder, Professor Walsh, Forrest, McNamara

Sunnydale deaths; six dead on the train plus the poor kids at the Bronze
98;

Total number of scoobies: 6
Giles, Xander, Willow, Buffy, Anya, Tara,

Xander demon magnet: 5(6?)
Preying Mantis Lady, Inca Mummy Girl, Drusilla, VampWillow, Anya (arguably Buffy & Faith with their demon essences?), Dracula?

Scoobies shot:
Giles: 2
Angel: 3
Oz: 4
Riley; 1

Notches on Scooby bedpost:
Giles: 2; Joyce & Olivia, possibly Jenny and 3xDraccy babes?
Cordy: 1?
Buffy: 3 confirmed; Angel, Parker,Riley, 1 possible, Dracula(?)
Angel: 1;Buffy
Joyce: 1;Giles, 2 possible, Ted and Dracula(?)
Oz: 3; Groupie, Willow & Verucca
Faith:2 ;Xander, Riley
Xander: 2; Faith, Anya
Willow: 2;Oz and Tara
Riley; 3; Buffy, Sandy and unnamed vamp****e
Questions and observations;
Dru doesn't believe in electricity but she seems content to use the cattle prod on Buffy. She fills Dru in on the events in LA but neither seem overly concerned about extra-crispy Darla (as Dru says vamps love 'Quite well'). Note when Spike courts Buffy he wears a jacket and tie, trying to present a different image? Xander refers to Spike as Evil Dead, wouldn't Nic Brendon make a great Ash in a remake? Love Xander's remarks on not offending a brutal killer ("actually pretty good advice"). You can already see that Dawn is taller than Buffy in the scene where they walk away from Spike's tomb (Michelle Tractenberg just shoots upwards during the course of the seasons). Harmony refers to Dru as 'Morticia' MM of course having starred in the Addams Family Movies. Note Buffy is a match for Dru even when chained up.
Once read an interesting fanfic where Harmony accidentally kills Buffy during the crypt fight but when Dawn touches Buffy's corpse she starts glowing green and brings her back to life (and spends the next five days in a coma as a consequence), a staple of happy-sequal fanfic.
Marks out of 10; 8/10

BLOOD MONEY

Spoiler

The Good;
Anne's back, wonderful the way minor characters from old eps can now assume major roles in the Buffyverse. A nice pastiche of the cynicism of major corporations.
The Bad;
Couldn't they have got some real TV stars to do that benefit?
Best line:
Lindsey "Boo hoo Lilah, let me wipe away the tears with my plastic hand!"
Jeez, how did they get away with that?
Anne refer to a 14 year old prositute lying in her own blood after a rough trick, uuggghhhh! (real life always more horrific than supernatural evil)
Apocalypses: 4
Angel Cliches
Damsel in distress; 17
Inverting the Hollywood cliche;
In disguise; 7
DB get's his shirt off; 11
Cordy's tattoo;3
Cheap Angel; he owes Merle money
6
Fang Gang in bondage:
Cordy: 5
Angel: 8
Wes: 3

Fang gang knocked out:
Cordy: 10
Angel: 12
Wes: 5
Doyle; 1
Gunn; 1
Kills: Half a demon for Wes and Gunn
Cordy: 5 vamps, 1½ demons
Angel; 22 vamps, 31 and 1/2 demons, 3 humans
Doyle; 1 vamp
Wes; 1 demon
Kate; 3 vamps
Faith; 16 vamps, 6 demons, 3 humans.
Gunn; 5 vamps+ 2 and half demons.
Fang Gang go evil:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 2

Alternate Fang Gang:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 6

Characters killed:
30
Recurring characters killed; Holland the scumbag appears again, I bet he's looking up rather than down and could use some ice about now
4;
Total number of Angel Investigations: 3 or 1?
4, Angel, Cordy, Wes and Gunn

Angel Investigations shot:
Angel: 10
Packing heat;
Wes; 2
Doyle; 1
Angel; 1

Notches on Fang Gang bedpost:
Cordy: 2 ?+Wilson/Hacksaw Beast
Angel: 1;Buffy
Wes; 2; Virginia and the bleached blonde

Kinky dinky:
Kennell's school for girls, why is it that the buildings supernatural evil always seems to be drawn to are filled with teenage schoolgirls? (The Craft, Suspira, Carrie and countless trashier efforts, Satan's School for Girls, 5 Girls anyone?) Or did I just answer my own question? It's implied that Angel enjoys dressing up in Cordy's clothes. Angel says he is hitching a ride in Lilah's back seat, probably literally but the way he says it hints at innuendo.
Captain Subtext;
The 'Life Lessons' actress is asked why they made her character gay, an obvious nod to Willow on Buffy
Know the face, different character; Anne/Lily/Chantrelle but still the same girl
2
Parking garages; yep, Angel attacks Lilah in hers
6,
Guantanamo Bay;
More Merle bashing, you genuinely start to feel sorry for him.
Buffy characters on Angel; 14
Wetherby, Collins and Smith. Angel, Cordy, Oz, Spike, Buffy, Wes, Faith, Darla, Dru, Master, Anne
Questions and observations;
Angel criticises Merle's beanbags, surely he had some during the Manilow years. We're told that Angel was in Mexico in the 20s and fought Boon over a girl, love to see that in the comics some time. Love his built-in knuckledusters. So why doesn't Anne recognise Angel when she was introduced to him in the Buffy ep Lie to Me? Interesting to see Wes as Bond, he would have been great in the Roger Moore style. Presumably Angel beats Boon for the money.
Marks out of 10; 6/10 standalone ep, some nice stuff with Anne and Boon and some nice humour with Lindsey and Lilah.

 

[lorenzovanmatte]

I WAS MADE TO LOVE YOU

Spoiler

The Good;
All the scenes with Buffy and April are wonderful plus the Scoobies robot humour and Giles babysitting Dawn. A nice lightweight episode before some of the heaviest storylines in the show's history.
The Bad;
A fairly slight tale but fun. How does Spike know about Warren? Jane comments on Buffy's self-involvement which is true but understandable. She says it's Tara who shows sympathy with Warren but actually surely it's Willow?
Best line;
Buffy; "I've had it with superstrong little women who aren't me!"
Women good/men bad;
Warren the sleazoid shows his ugly face. Hate the way that when April doesn't answer him it actually causes her pain? That said he does have some redeeming features, preferring a human girl over his ideal sexbot due to her humour and intellect. Him redirecting April's rage onto Buffy hints at his ruthlessness to come. Buffy thinks that she should try to please men by laughing at their jokes (much as CC used to) but Xander assures her she doesn't need to, again the one who sees. The boys at the coffee shop are horrible to April. Buffy wonders if she is to blame for Spike's attraction to her. Buffy decides she doesn't want a guy right now. Warren programmed April not to cry as 'Crying is blackmail' (jeeez!). Note even though she's walked out from Warren when she meets April, Katrina still tells him to stay away from her man. Also see Captain Subtext.
Jeez!;
April picking up Katrina and breaking her ribs is cringeworthy (although you can see how the perspective gag is done)
Kinky dinky;
April is probably what every 14 year old boy/Xander dreams off (or is that Britney Spears who was rumoured to be lined up for the role?) What exactly did Spike whisper in her ear to make him chuck him through a window? Joyce has a date with Brian and claims that it went so well she left her bra on the dessert cart (we hope she's joking but after Band Candy...?). Her dress is the same one as she wore in Ted and Buffy believes it cries 'Randy sex kitten' (Dawn also remembers Ted and suspects there may have been more of him about). April is programmed for fetishisms, positions and sex. Ben cross dresses. Buffy says that her secret to attracting men is to 'Slap them around a bit, torture them, make their lives a living hell" which she actually has done to all her boyfriends. Giles comments that Buffy is attractive. Dawn wonders if Bryan is a gigilo and thinks they can be spotted by their shiny shirts? Buffy says she's had 2 boyfriends so I guess she doesn't count Owen, Parker, Dracula, Scott or Jeffrey from her LA days. Spike tells Buffy he wants her to put her hands on his 'hot tight little body'. Tara tries the spicy talk saying April has 'Genuine molded plastic stamped on her ass'. Warren programmes April to growl?
Captain Subtext;
Glory seems genuinely disappointed that Buffy turned her/Ben down. Willow seems very appreciative of April which suggests that it's not just Tara who does it for her. It's a lovely little scene where Magic Jane defies our expectations, Tara is jealous, Anya isn't. "Too many girls" moans Xander who misses Oz (wait until next season when he doesn't even have Giles), it would probably have been Riley but he doesn't want to mention his name in front of Buffy. Xander finally get's a nice big hug from Buffy but unfortunately he's in the training suit so can't really appreciate it. Xander says a good guy will come along for Buffy eventually. We're still waiting really. Is it just me or would anyone else have liked a scene where Buffy actually has sex with Ben only for him to turn into Glory half way through?
Giles and Dawn talked about boys whilst he was babysitting?
Guantanamo Bay;
Scoobies to the ER;
Xander pummelled in the puffy suit
Missing scenes;
Apocalypses; 5,
Wheldon Cliches (with kind permission from Boo)

Scoobies in bondage:
Buffy: 8
Giles: 4
Cordy: 5
Will: 3
Jenny: 1
Angel: 4
Oz: 1
Faith: 3
Joyce: 1
Wes: 1
Xander; 1
Dawn; 1

Scoobies knocked out:
Buffy: 16
Giles: 10
Cordy: 6
Xander: 8
Will: 5
Jenny: 2
Angel: 6
Oz: 3
Faith: 1
Joyce: 3
Wes: 1
Anya;1
Kills:
Buffy: 94 vamps, 32 demons, 6 monsters, 3 humans, 1 werewolf, 1 spirit warrior & a robot
Giles: 5 vamps, 1 demon
Cordy: 3 vamps, ½ a demon
Will: 6 vamps
Angel: 3 vamps, 1 demon, 1 human
Oz: 3 vamps, 1 zombie
Faith: 16 vamps, 5 demons, 3 humans
Xander: 5 vamps, 2 zombies, ½ a demon, ½ a demon
Anya: ½ a demon
Riley; 18 vamps + 7 demons

Scoobies go evil:
Giles: 1
Cordy: 1
Will: 2
Jenny: 1
Angel: 1
Oz: 1
Joyce: 1
Xander: 3

Alternate scoobies:
Buffy: 6
Giles: 3
Cordy: 1
Will: 2
Jenny: 2
Angel: 3
Oz: 2
Joyce: 2
Xander: 3

Recurring characters killed: 9
Jesse, Flutie, Jenny, Kendra, Larry, Snyder, Professor Walsh, Forrest, McNamara

Sunnydale deaths;
98;

Total number of scoobies: 6
Giles, Xander, Willow, Buffy, Anya, Tara,

Xander demon magnet: 5(6?)
Preying Mantis Lady, Inca Mummy Girl, Drusilla, VampWillow, Anya (arguably Buffy & Faith with their demon essences?), Dracula?

Scoobies shot: no but Xander says he should be (but never is as far as I'm aware?)
Giles: 2
Angel: 3
Oz: 4
Riley; 1

Notches on Scooby bedpost:
Giles: 2; Joyce & Olivia, possibly Jenny and 3xDraccy babes?
Cordy: 1?
Buffy: 3 confirmed; Angel, Parker,Riley, 1 possible, Dracula(?)
Angel: 1;Buffy
Joyce: 1;Giles, 2 possible, Ted and Dracula(?)
Oz: 3; Groupie, Willow & Verucca
Faith:2 ;Xander, Riley
Xander: 2; Faith, Anya
Willow: 2;Oz and Tara
Riley; 3; Buffy, Sandy and unnamed vamp****e
Questions and observations;
The return of Ripper threatening Spike. Note even Dawn has turned against Spike due to his treatment of Buffy. Another lovely Anya/Tara scene, the outsiders on the Scoobygang to a degree. Love Joyce's Wonder Woman spinning routine, if they were to make the movie she should be Queen of the Amazons (or Lynda Carter should be). Xander refers to his Uncle 'Dave the Plumber' (is he the one with money?) Note it's actually Willow who feels sympathy for Warren, so lonely he has to make himself a sex bot. Once again it seems Warren know's Buffy is the Slayer, it's an open secret. So what do they do with April? Is she too sitting in the basement of the Magic Shop? A fanfic staple is that if a Scooby dies the others bring their soul back and re-install it in the robot's body.
Marks out of 10; 8/10

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

Spoiler

The Good;
Lorne really comes into his own, we see him set up to become a regular character . Love Angel Investigation's Agatha Christie moment.
The Bad;
Why does the scientist act suprised at Lorne's appearance when he's been to Caritas? His plan is pretty stupid, surely after a while someone will notice and pull the plug? And won't the time freeze affect the demons too? And won't the time freeze stop the electricity thus disrupting the process?
Best line:
Gunn; "Truth is there's always more down"
Jeez, how did they get away with that?
Apocalypses: oh yeah
5
Angel Cliches
Damsel in distress; 17
Inverting the Hollywood cliche;
In disguise; yep, posing as a grant fund agent
8
DB get's his shirt off; 11
Cordy's tattoo;3
Cheap Angel;
6
Fang Gang in bondage:
Cordy: 5
Angel: 8
Wes: 3

Fang gang knocked out: Lorne, all the makings of an Angel investigations regular right there
Cordy: 10
Angel: 12
Wes: 5
Doyle; 1
Gunn; 1
Lorne; 1
Kills: a demon for Gunn and 2 for Angel
Cordy: 5 vamps, 1½ demons
Angel; 22 vamps, 33 and 1/2 demons, 3 humans
Doyle; 1 vamp
Wes; 1 demon
Kate; 3 vamps
Faith; 16 vamps, 6 demons, 3 humans.
Gunn; 5 vamps+ 2 demons.
Fang Gang go evil:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 2

Alternate Fang Gang:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 6

Characters killed:
30
Recurring characters killed;
4;
Total number of Angel Investigations: 3 or 1
4, Angel, Cordy, Wes and Gunn

Angel Investigations shot:
Angel: 10
Packing heat;
Wes; 2
Doyle; 1
Angel; 1

Notches on Fang Gang bedpost:
Cordy: 2 ?+Wilson/Hacksaw Beast
Angel: 1;Buffy
Wes; 2; Virginia and the bleached blonde

Kinky dinky:
The sympathy bone! Does anyone actually ever do that for real? The most slow motion sex in history. How exactly do they know that Kevin is impotent?
Captain Subtext;
Lorne acts in a stereotypically gay fashion but he describes Cordy as hot-o-rama suggesting he's actually Bi? The bartender remarks that they don't get many of Lorne's kind in his bar, we think for a moment he means gay but he actually means demon.
Know the face, different character; 2
Parking garages;
5,
Guantanamo Bay;
Buffy characters on Angel; 14
Wetherby, Collins and Smith. Angel, Cordy, Oz, Spike, Buffy, Wes, Faith, Darla, Dru, Master, Anne
Questions and observations;
For some reason the demons seem to dress like Abraham Lincoln (or the Amish)? The weapons they use are similar to the hunga-munga used by Buffy in Anne. What do they do with Aunt Helen, turn her over to the police to charge her with murder by demon? A lovely metaphor from Lorne on holding the note. The beginning of Angel's eventual coming back to the good fight. Make Hegarty who plays the Bartender is one of those faces you see all over US TV. Cordy dances, she's quite a groover just as she was in Buffy. Wes dances too and is much better now than he was in 'She'.
Marks out of 10; 7 out of 10, funny enough but not really a classic and suffers in comparison to what's gone before and what's to come.

 

[lorenzovanmatte]

THE BODY

Spoiler

The Good;
All of it, an epic 40 minutes of TV, the cast are all incredible
The Bad;
A few problems. Why did the paramedics tell Buffy to stop CPR when she breaks Joyce's rib? A broken rib won't kill her, lack of oxygen would. Surely only a doctor can officially determine that someone is dead? How can the vamp rise when it's already had it's autopsy, it's heart has been taken out and put back in again?
Best line;
Buffy; "That's not her, she's gone"
Dawn; "Where did she go?"
Just beating Anya's heartful monologue as she desperately tries to understand what's happening.
Women good/men bad;
No room for that here
Jeez!;
Buffy breaking Joyce's rib is just wince inducing. The scariest vamp in all of the Buffyverse is the one who attacks Dawn in the morgue, partly because this is a naked man attacking a terrified 14 year old girl but also because this is a vamp stripped to it's bare bones, it genuinely looks like what it is, a reanimated corpse. The scene where Buffy imagines successfully reviving Joyce then we realise it's all just her fantasy is just too cruel for words.
Kinky dinky;
Dawn's schoolfriend Lisa says that her crush Kevin 'Wants her'
Captain Subtext;
The Willow/Tara's first onscreen kiss, so much going on that it almost goes unnoticed. Willow likes it when Tara rubs her tummy. Could she be related to Sheldon in The Big Bang Theory? Willow and Tara refer to the Amazons. Anya and Giles hug. Buffy seems to just be able to sense when Dawn is in trouble, maybe their link is deeper than just sisters. Buffy's 'Mommy?' line surely needs no explanation?
Guantanamo Bay;
Scoobies to the ER;
Xander hurts his hand again
Missing scenes;
Apocalypses; 5,
Wheldon Cliches (with kind permission from Boo)

Scoobies in bondage:
Buffy: 8
Giles: 4
Cordy: 5
Will: 3
Jenny: 1
Angel: 4
Oz: 1
Faith: 3
Joyce: 1
Wes: 1
Xander; 1
Dawn; 1

Scoobies knocked out:
Buffy: 16
Giles: 10
Cordy: 6
Xander: 8
Will: 5
Jenny: 2
Angel: 6
Oz: 3
Faith: 1
Joyce: 3
Wes: 1
Anya;1
Kills: 1 vamp for Buffy
Buffy: 95 vamps, 32 demons, 6 monsters, 3 humans, 1 werewolf, 1 spirit warrior & a robot
Giles: 5 vamps, 1 demon
Cordy: 3 vamps, ½ a demon
Will: 6 vamps
Angel: 3 vamps, 1 demon, 1 human
Oz: 3 vamps, 1 zombie
Faith: 16 vamps, 5 demons, 3 humans
Xander: 5 vamps, 2 zombies, ½ a demon, ½ a demon
Anya: ½ a demon
Riley; 18 vamps + 7 demons

Scoobies go evil:
Giles: 1
Cordy: 1
Will: 2
Jenny: 1
Angel: 1
Oz: 1
Joyce: 1
Xander: 3

Alternate scoobies:
Buffy: 6
Giles: 3
Cordy: 1
Will: 2
Jenny: 2
Angel: 3
Oz: 2
Joyce: 2
Xander: 3

Recurring characters killed: 10, goodbye Joyce, how we loved her and how we never really realised it until she was gone.
Jesse, Flutie, Jenny, Kendra, Larry, Snyder, Professor Walsh, Forrest, McNamara, Joyce

Sunnydale deaths; Joyce but from natural causes
89;

Total number of scoobies: 6
Giles, Xander, Willow, Buffy, Anya, Tara,

Xander demon magnet: 5(6?)
Preying Mantis Lady, Inca Mummy Girl, Drusilla, VampWillow, Anya (arguably Buffy & Faith with their demon essences?), Dracula?

Scoobies shot:
Giles: 2
Angel: 3
Oz: 4
Riley; 1

Notches on Scooby bedpost:
Giles: 2; Joyce & Olivia, possibly Jenny and 3xDraccy babes?
Cordy: 1?
Buffy: 3 confirmed; Angel, Parker,Riley, 1 possible, Dracula(?)
Angel: 1;Buffy
Joyce: 1;Giles, 2 possible, Ted and Dracula(?)
Oz: 3; Groupie, Willow & Verucca
Faith:2 ;Xander, Riley
Xander: 2; Faith, Anya
Willow: 2;Oz and Tara
Riley; 3; Buffy, Sandy and unnamed vamp****e
Questions and observations;
Notice that Buffy never hugs Dawn, never holds her? More on that next episode. How can you have an episode so sad yet so beautiful? Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful, cannot praise this highly enough. Wonderful details like Buffy pulling down Joyce's skirt as the paramedics arrive. The end of the fantastic Joyce/Kristine Sutherland as a semi-regular on the show, she'll be missed as all the cast and crew remark upon but what a wonderful send-off she gets. A very real posibility that this may be simply the best ever episode of television ever.
Marks out of 10; do you have to ask? 10/10

THIN DEAD LINE

Spoiler

The Good;
Excellent ep, lovely to see Anne again, good story, especially like the Jackson/Gunn confrontation. Also a nice little role for the desk sergeant.
The Bad;
Could this really all happen without anyone knowing about it? Or should I ask without anyone caring? Doesn't anyone hear the gunshots in the police station?
Best line:
Angel; "I just killed a cop"
Kate; (looking around the police station) "I wouldn't say that in here no matter how immortal you think you are"
Jeez, how did they get away with that?
Once again man's (or should that be zombie's?) inhumanity to man always more disturbing than the supernatural.
Apocalypses: 5
Angel Cliches
Damsel in distress; 17
Inverting the Hollywood cliche;
In disguise; 8
DB get's his shirt off; 11
Cordy's tattoo; oh yeah, we see it at the siege at the refuge
4
Cheap Angel;
6
Fang Gang in bondage:
Cordy: 5
Angel: 8
Wes: 3

Fang gang knocked out:Wes passes out after being shot
Cordy: 10
Angel: 12
Wes: 6
Doyle; 1
Gunn; 1
Kills:
Cordy: 5 vamps, 1½ demons
Angel; 22 vamps, 31 and 1/2 demons, 3 humans and 1 zombie
Doyle; 1 vamp
Wes; 1 demon
Kate; 3 vamps
Faith; 16 vamps, 6 demons, 3 humans.
Gunn; 5 vamps+ 2 demons.
Fang Gang go evil:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 2

Alternate Fang Gang:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 6

Characters killed:
30
Recurring characters killed;
4;
Total number of Angel Investigations: 3/1?
4, Angel, Cordy, Wes and Gunn

Angel Investigations shot: yes, Wes by the zombie cop
Angel: 10
Wes; 1
Packing heat;
Wes; 2
Doyle; 1
Angel; 1

Notches on Fang Gang bedpost:
Cordy: 2 ?+Wilson/Hacksaw Beast
Angel: 1;Buffy
Wes; 2; Virginia and the bleached blonde

Kinky dinky:
No time for that
Captain Subtext;
Or that!
Know the face, different character; 2
Parking garages;
5,
Guantanamo Bay;
Merle moves and I don't blame him. The whole thing is one big discussion of The End Justifies the Means, the police Captain uses vigilante methods to eradicate the crime in his area but at what cost? Angel is happy to give the area back to the Jackson's of the world because that's human trouble rather than supernatural.
Buffy characters on Angel; 14
Wetherby, Collins and Smith. Angel, Cordy, Oz, Spike, Buffy, Wes, Faith, Darla, Dru, Master, Anne
Questions and observations;
Nice mislead, you think Anne is going to Angel but instead she goes to Gunn. Gunn himself starts to feel removed from his old gang. Angel and Kate seem to have restored their working relationship after the Shroud of Rashamon. Love the Cordy's clothes gag. The whole ep is reminiscent of the old Maniac Cop horror film series (which also featured a vigilante zombie cop ressurected through voodo) with hints of Night of the Living Dead, Magnum Force and Assault on Precinct 13 (the original, forget the remake even if it has Gay Byrne)
Marks out of 10; 7/10, enjoyable but a step outside the arc.

 

[lorenzovanmatte]

REPRISE

Spoiler

The Good;
Hell of a shock when Darla makes the Angel/Darla shish kebab. Good scenes at WR&H and the Darla/Lindsey stuff is great.
The Bad;
How come Angel can sense Darla at the Hyperion but not when she's evesdropping on him and Denver?
Best line:
Lilah; "Stake the *****!"
Jeez, how did they get away with that?
One of the WR&H employees pulls their child out of daycare as a sacrifice? Killing the mom and her family is horrible! Kate's suicide attempt also ain't nice.
Apocalypses: 5
Angel Cliches
Damsel in distress; 17
Inverting the Hollywood cliche;
In disguise; 8
DB get's his shirt off; at the end Darla rips it off
12
Cordy's tattoo;4
Cheap Angel;
6
Fang Gang in bondage:
Cordy: 5
Angel: 9
Wes: 3

Fang gang knocked out:
Cordy: 10
Angel: 12
Wes: 5
Doyle; 1
Gunn; 1
Lorne; 1
Kills:
Cordy: 5 vamps, 1½ demons
Angel; 22 vamps, 31 and 1/2 demons, 3 humans
Doyle; 1 vamp
Wes; 1 demon
Kate; 3 vamps
Faith; 16 vamps, 6 demons, 3 humans.
Gunn; 5 vamps+ 2 demons.
Fang Gang go evil:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 2

Alternate Fang Gang:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 6

Characters killed: Denver plus the family
35
Recurring characters killed; byebye Denver
5;
Total number of Angel Investigations: 3/1
4, Angel, Cordy, Wes and Gunn

Angel Investigations shot:
Angel: 10
Wes; 1
Packing heat;
Wes; 2
Doyle; 1
Angel; 1

Notches on Fang Gang bedpost: Angel and Darla and how!
Cordy: 2 ?+Wilson/Hacksaw Beast
Angel: 2; Buffy and Darla
Wes; 2; Virginia and the bleached blonde

Kinky dinky:
The Claimac demons apparently 'raped' the villages of man in addition to laying them waste. Speaking of which Angel 'taking' Darla at the end is about as close to rape as you'll ever see from a heroic character on TV. Their foreplay is him chucking her through a glass door!
Captain Subtext;
Know the face, different character; 2
Parking garages;
5,
Guantanamo Bay;
Buffy characters on Angel; 14
Wetherby, Collins and Smith. Angel, Cordy, Oz, Spike, Buffy, Wes, Faith, Darla, Dru, Master, Anne
Questions and observations;
Why no commentary on all these great eps? Why do people sacrifice goats? They're the nicest animals out but they always seem to be associated with evil. Must have been fun to have them on the set that day. David Fury of course is one of the sacrificers. First mention of Lilah's mum. Lorne doesn't like Lloyd Webber, not even 'Memory'? Wes and Virginia breaking up, awwwww! Cordy remarks she has no friends in LA, I guess she didn't keep up with the girls from 'Expecting' or 'She' (you'd think being knocked up against their will by a demonic entity and ending up in his breeding hot tub together would have bound them closer?). Darla with the glove rather reminds me of the old TV series Witchblade. Last appearance of Holland, not a nice guy but a great character. He's right of course, supernatural evil depends on human weakness. Poor Kate!
Marks out of 10; 9/10, truly great

FOREVER

Spoiler

The Good;
Angel's back, hooray. The final scene where Buffy and Dawn collapse into each other's arms is my favourite scene in the whole of Buffy.
The Bad;
Dawn stealing the eggs, the Ghora demon just looks lame.
Best line;
Dawn; "It's ok, okkaaayyyyy!"
Women good/men bad;
Jeez!;
Doc is far more human that many of the demons the gang face and ALL the scarier for it. Like Mayor Wilkins, Doc is a tribute to the skill of an actor in the role. Am I the only one who finds Willow's idea of making a stuffed animal dance extremely sinister? Buffy slaps Dawnie but in fairness she has every right to.
Kinky dinky;
Glory refers to Jinx as her 'Robed stud'. Willow likens Tara's fried eggs to 'little boobs'. Anya and Xander have sex, Anya hinting to a terrified Xander she eventually wants children.
Captain Subtext;
Note that Buffy never hugs Dawn after Joyce dies, not even at the graveside, can't even bare to look her in the face. (both girls sitting alone in their bedrooms) Can't stand to see her mother's eyes looking back at her? It's only in the last scene that the sisters finally find each other and it's all too wonderful. Spike (who was noticeably absent in The Body) brings flowers for Joyce whom he professes his fondness for (in Lies My Parents Told Me we discover why). Buffy says she wants Angel to stay on in Sunnydale for all time which must give Bangler's reassurance.
Guantanamo Bay;
Scoobies to the ER;
Missing scenes;
Apocalypses; 5,
Wheldon Cliches (with kind permission from Boo)

Scoobies in bondage:
Buffy: 8
Giles: 4
Cordy: 5
Will: 3
Jenny: 1
Angel: 4
Oz: 1
Faith: 3
Joyce: 1
Wes: 1
Xander; 1
Dawn; 1

Scoobies knocked out:
Buffy: 16
Giles: 10
Cordy: 6
Xander: 8
Will: 5
Jenny: 2
Angel: 6
Oz: 3
Faith: 1
Joyce: 3
Wes: 1
Anya;1
Kills:
Buffy: 95 vamps, 32 demons, 6 monsters, 3 humans, 1 werewolf, 1 spirit warrior & a robot
Giles: 5 vamps, 1 demon
Cordy: 3 vamps, ½ a demon
Will: 6 vamps
Angel: 3 vamps, 1 demon, 1 human
Oz: 3 vamps, 1 zombie
Faith: 16 vamps, 5 demons, 3 humans
Xander: 5 vamps, 2 zombies, ½ a demon, ½ a demon
Anya: ½ a demon
Riley; 18 vamps + 7 demons

Scoobies go evil:
Giles: 1
Cordy: 1
Will: 2
Jenny: 1
Angel: 1
Oz: 1
Joyce: 1
Xander: 3

Alternate scoobies:
Buffy: 6
Giles: 3
Cordy: 1
Will: 2
Jenny: 2
Angel: 3
Oz: 2
Joyce: 2
Xander: 3

Recurring characters killed: 10
Jesse, Flutie, Jenny, Kendra, Larry, Snyder, Professor Walsh, Forrest, McNamara, Joyce

Sunnydale deaths;
89;

Total number of scoobies: 6
Giles, Xander, Willow, Buffy, Anya, Tara,

Xander demon magnet: 5(6?)
Preying Mantis Lady, Inca Mummy Girl, Drusilla, VampWillow, Anya (arguably Buffy & Faith with their demon essences?), Dracula?

Scoobies shot:
Giles: 2
Angel: 3
Oz: 4
Riley; 1

Notches on Scooby bedpost:
Giles: 2; Joyce & Olivia, possibly Jenny and 3xDraccy babes?
Cordy: 1?
Buffy: 3 confirmed; Angel, Parker,Riley, 1 possible, Dracula(?)
Angel: 1;Buffy
Joyce: 1;Giles, 2 possible, Ted and Dracula(?)
Oz: 3; Groupie, Willow & Verucca
Faith:2 ;Xander, Riley
Xander: 2; Faith, Anya
Willow: 2;Oz and Tara
Riley; 3; Buffy, Sandy and unnamed vamp****e
Questions and observations;
Willow's helping of Dawn foretells her abuse of magic in later seasons. A lot of people blame Dawn for trying to ressurect Joyce but just imagine you're 14 year old girl and the mother you love more than anything has died. If there was the slightest chance you could bring her back, wouldn't you? Wouldn't anyone?
Angel comes to Sunnydale for the funeral. Do Wes and Cordy come? Oz? Do they tell Faith? She doesn't mention Joyce when she turns up in season 7 but maybe Buffy posts her a letter? Nice mislead with Buffy and the coffins, you think she's vamphunting at first. Dawn in pigtails to make her look even younger. The album Giles is listening to is the same one he listened to with Joyce in Band Candy.
For the record the scariest monster we never see is the THING that crosses past the window and knocks on the door of the Summer's house. And Buffy goes 'Mommy' and runs to the door because she'd give the world to have Joyce back. And Dawn becomes the grown up and rips up the photo so she opens the door to nothing. And the Summer's girls collapse into each other's arms because (to paraphrase Ally McBeal) Joyce is dead, they loved her and she died and she's going to be dead forever. But they'll always have each other, she lives on through her deeds and her daughters. Angelus in Passion referred to 'The ecstasy of grief'. Here we see it in all it's glory. And in many ways Buffy needs Dawn a lot more than Dawn needs Buffy, Buffy doesn't ask who's going to take care of Dawn, she asks who's going to take care of 'us'. And the answer is from now on they take care of each other.
Marks out of 10; 9/10, would be 10/10 except for the stupid looking demon.