Topic: Tom's Buffy and Angel Marathon

[Tom]

04. I Fall To Pieces (1999-10-26)
Writer: Joss Whedon (Created By), David Greenwalt (Created By), David Greenwalt (Screenwriter), Joss Whedon (Story By), David Greenwalt (Story By)
Director: Vern Gillum
Cast: David Boreanaz (Angel), Charisma Carpenter (Cordelia Chase), Glenn Quinn (Doyle), Elisabeth Rohm (Kate Lockley), Tushka Bergen (Melissa), Andy Umberger (Dr. Ronald Meltzer), Carlos Carrasco (Dr. Vinpur Narpudan), Brent Sexton (Beat Cop), Garikayi Mutambirwa (Intern), Kent Davis (John), Jan Bartlett (Penny), Patricia Gillum (Woman Patient), Christopher Hart (The Hand)

A rather stupid episode. And boring.

Rating:

[Tom]

05. Rm w/a Vu (1999-11-02)
Writer: Joss Whedon (Created By), David Greenwalt (Created By), David Greenwalt (Writer), Jane Espenson (Writer)
Director: Scott McGinnis
Cast: David Boreanaz (Angel), Charisma Carpenter (Cordelia Chase), Glenn Quinn (Doyle), Elisabeth Rohm (Kate Lockley), Beth Grant (Maude Pearson), Marcus Redmond (Griff), Denney Pierce (Vic), Greg Collins (Keith), Corey Klemow (Young Man), Lara McGrath (Manager), B.J. Porter (Dennis)

A good episode. I like how Cordelia refuses to give up the apartment even if it has an evil ghost. And I always liked the idea of Phantom Dennis.
In this episode it became quite obvious though, that we still have a very small ensemble cast. Only three people. In later seasons Angel is known for having a very big set of regular characters.

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[Tom]

06. Sense & Sensitivity (1999-11-09)
Writer: Tim Minear (Writer)
Director: James A. Contner
Cast: David Boreanaz (Angel), Charisma Carpenter (Cordelia Chase), Glenn Quinn (Doyle), Elisabeth Rohm (Kate Lockley), John Capodice (Little Tony Papazian), John Mahon (Trevor Lockley), Ron Marasco (Allen Lloyd), Alex Skuby (Harlan), Kevin Will (Heath), Thomas Burr (Lee Mercer), Ken Abraham (Spivey), Jimmy Shubert (Johnny Red), Ken Grantham (Lieutenant), Adam Donshik (Uniform Cop # 1), Kevin E. West (Uniform Cop #2), Wilson Bell (Uniform Cop #3), Colin Patrick Lynch (Beat Cop), Steve Schirripa (Henchman), Christopher Paul Hart (Traffic Cop)

Sadly this episode is boring and rather stupid. I would have liked a better episode, when we have Kate Lockley in a bigger role.

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07. The Bachelor Party (1999-11-16)
Writer: Tracey Stern (Writer)
Director: David Straiton
Cast: David Boreanaz (Angel), Charisma Carpenter (Cordelia Chase), Glenn Quinn (Doyle), Kristin Dattilo (Harry Doyle), Carlos Jacott (Richard Howard Straley), Ted Kairys (Ben), Chris Tallman (Nick), Brad Blaisdell (Uncle John), Robert Hillis (Pierce), Lauri Johnson (Aunt Martha), Kristen Lowman (Mother Rachel), David Polcyn (Russ)

A fun episode. But I always had a little trouble with the way, that this series humanized the demons. In Buffy they always made it clear, that demons are evil and there is no question that they have to be killed.

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[DJ Doena]

In Buffy they always made it clear, that demons are evil and there is no question that they have to be killed.

Clem? Whistler?

[Tom]

In Buffy they always made it clear, that demons are evil and there is no question that they have to be killed.

Clem? Whistler?

I meant Buffy up to that point. Later on they also took Angel's stance.
And with Whistler it was made clear, that he is there to balance between good and evil. He also would have done evil things. And wasn't he half-demon? I don't remember exactly, only that he was supposed to be on Angel instead of Doyle.

[Tom]

08. I Will Remember You (1999-11-23)
Writer: David Greenwalt (Writer), Jeannine Renshaw (Writer)
Director: David Grossman
Cast: David Boreanaz (Angel), Charisma Carpenter (Cordelia Chase), Glenn Quinn (Doyle), Carey Cannon (Female Oracle), Randall Slavin (Male Oracle), Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy), David Wald (Mohra Demon #1), Chris Durand (Mohra Demon #2)

I didn't enjoy this episode as much this time around. Previously I was excited about the crossover, but now I just feel, that now the whole Buffy/Angel drama is forced into this show. I also forgot that Angel didn't start out as an ensemble cast. We notice it particularly in this episode. It entirely focuses on Buffy and Angel. Cordy and Doyle are almost forgotten. I would have liked more interaction between them and Buffy.

Rating:

[Tom]

09. Hero (1999-11-30)
Writer: Howard Gordon (Writer), Tim Minear (Writer)
Director: Tucker Gates
Cast: David Boreanaz (Angel), Charisma Carpenter (Cordelia Chase), Glenn Quinn (Doyle), Tony Denman (Rieff), Anthony Cistaro (Scourge Commander), Michelle Horn (Rayna), Lee Arenberg (Tiernan), Sean Gunn (Lucas), James Henriksen (Elder Lister Demon), David Bickford (Cargo Inspector), Christopher Comes (Storm Trooper #2), Paul O'Brien (Captain), Ashley Taylor (First Mate)

This episode is so full of bad clichés. Particular the assembly of the demons wanting to get rid of the half-breeds. This supposedly Nazi-rally like scene. Also the means to it is a rather lazy plot device. Just to give Doyle a chance to die an heroic death.
Even a computer game did something similar a lot better. I mean "Wing Commander 4: The Price of Freedom". One of my all-time favorite games. In it, Admiral Tolwyn (played by Malcolm McDowell), is using a gene-selective bio-weapon to get rid of all people who do not match a certain criteria in their genes. During the game, the main protagonist Colonel Blair (Mark Hamill, "Luke Skywalker") also infiltrates a rally just like Angel did in this episode.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1F-JfoXSzuk

What I really liked in this episode is the final scene with the pre-recorded videotape of Doyle.

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10. Parting Gifts (1999-12-14)
Writer: David Fury (Writer), Jeannine Renshaw (Writer)
Director: James A. Contner
Cast: David Boreanaz (Angel), Charisma Carpenter (Cordelia Chase), Glenn Quinn (Doyle), Maury Sterling (Barney), Carey Cannon (Female Oracle), Randall Slavin (Male Oracle), Alexis Denisof (Wesley Wyndam-Pryce), Jayson Creek (Producer #1), Sean Smith (Producer #2), Sara Devlin (Producer #3), Jason Kim (Soon), Brett Gilbert (Reptilian Demon), Henry Kingi (Kungai Demon), Lawrence Turner (Hank), Cheyenne Wilbur (Concierge), Dominique Jennings (Mac), Kotoko Kawamura (Ancient Korean Woman)

I like the introduction of Wesley. At first introduced as a hard-assed demon hunter, but as it turns out, he hasn't much changed since we last seen him on Buffy.
"I am a rogue demon hunter!" - "What's a rogue demon?"

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11. Somnambulist (2000-01-18)
Writer: Tim Minear (Writer)
Director: Winrich Kolbe
Cast: David Boreanaz (Angel), Charisma Carpenter (Cordelia Chase), Alexis Denisof (Wesley Wyndam-Pryce), Elisabeth Rohm (Kate Lockley), Jeremy Renner (Penn), Nick McCallum (Skateboard Kid), Kimberleigh Aarn (Precinct Clerk), Paul Webster (Uniform #1), Brien DiRito (Task Force Member #1)

Finally Kate has a bigger and a better role in an episode. Here she learns the truth about Angel.

Rating:

[Tom]

12. Expecting (2000-01-25)
Writer: Howard Gordon (Writer)
Director: David Semel
Cast: David Boreanaz (Angel), Charisma Carpenter (Cordelia Chase), Alexis Denisof (Wesley Wyndam-Pryce), Daphnee Duplaix (Selene), Ken Marino (Wilson Christopher), Josh Randall (Bartender), Doug Tompos (Dr. Wasserman), Louisette Geiss (Emily), Julie Quinn (Pregnant Woman), Maggie Connelly (Nurse), Steven Roy (Jason)

A episode I don't like very much. I think it's a stupid storyline, having Cordelia being impregnated by a demon. And Wesley is just a joke here.

Rating:


13. She (2000-02-08)
Writer: David Greenwalt (Writer), Marti Noxon (Writer)
Director: David Greenwalt
Cast: David Boreanaz (Angel), Charisma Carpenter (Cordelia Chase), Alexis Denisof (Wesley Wyndam-Pryce), Ling Bai (Jheira), Colby French (Tay), Heather Stephens (Demon Girl), Sean Gunn (Mars the Spa Worker), Tracey Costello (Laura), André Roberson (Diego), P. J. Marino (Peter Wilkers), Honor Bliss (Girl), Chris Durand (Demon Henchman #1), Alison Simpson (Demon Girl #2), Lucas Dudley (Security Guard)

A rather bland episodes. Didn't keep my attention very much.

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14. I've Got You Under My Skin (2000-02-15)
Writer: Jeannine Renshaw (Writer), David Greenwalt (Writer)
Director: R. D. Price
Cast: David Boreanaz (Angel), Charisma Carpenter (Cordelia Chase), Alexis Denisof (Wesley Wyndam-Pryce), Elisabeth Rohm (Kate Lockley), Will Kempe (Seth Anderson), Katy Boyer (Paige Anderson), Anthony Cistaro (Ethros Demon), Jesse James (Ryan), Ashley Edner (Stephanie Anderson), Patience Cleveland (Nun), Jerry Lambert (Rick the Clerk)

Most of the episode is a rather boring Exorcist rip-off (or so I assume. I never have seen Exorcist). But I like the twist at the end, that the boy is more evil than when the demon was inside him.

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[Tom]

15. The Prodigal (2000-02-22)
Writer: Tim Minear (Writer)
Director: Bruce Seth Green
Cast: David Boreanaz (Angel), Charisma Carpenter (Cordelia Chase), Alexis Denisof (Wesley Wyndam-Pryce), Elisabeth Rohm (Kate Lockley), Julie Benz (Darla), John Mahon (Trevor Lockley), J. Kenneth Campbell (Angel's Father), Henri Lubatti (Suit #1), Frank Potter (Uniformed Delivery), Eliza Szonert (Chamber Maid), Bob Fimiani (Grounds Keeper), Christina Hendricks (Bar Maid), John Maynarnd (Uniformed Worker), Glenda Morgan Brown (Angel's Mother), Mark Ginther (Head Demon Guy), John Patrick Clerkin (Black Robed Priest), Michael Vendrell (Suit #2)

The story in this episode is average, but we got a few nice flashbacks to Angel's past and what happened to his family.

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[Tom]

16. The Ring (2000-02-29)
Writer: Howard Gordon (Writer)
Director: Nick Marck
Cast: David Boreanaz (Angel), Charisma Carpenter (Cordelia Chase), Alexis Denisof (Wesley Wyndam-Pryce), Markus Redmond (Tom Cribb), Douglas Roberts (Darin Macnamara), Scott William Winters (Jack Macnamara), Stephanie Romanov (Lilah Morgan), Anthony Guidera (Ernie Nellins), Chris Flanders (Mr. Winslow), Marc Rose (Mellish), David Kalloway (Doorman), Juan A. Riojas (Val Trepkos), Michael Philip (Announcer), Mark Ginther (Lasovic)

Boring. One of those stupid ring episodes, where they force demons/creatures/aliens to fight. Voyager also had one of those.

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[Tom]

17. Eternity (2000-04-04)
Writer: Tracey Stern (Writer)
Director: Regis B. Kimble, David Greenwalt
Cast: David Boreanaz (Angel), Charisma Carpenter (Cordelia Chase), Alexis Denisof (Wesley Wyndam-Pryce), Tamara Gorski (Rebecca Lowell), Michael Mantell (Oliver Simon), Robin Meyers (Masseuse)

Nice to Angelus again. Although I felt his performance a little weak here.

Rating:

[DJ Doena]

Voyager also had one of those.

Tsunkatse

[Tom]

18. Five by Five (2000-04-25)
Writer: Jim Kouf (Writer)
Director: James A. Contner
Cast: David Boreanaz (Angel), Charisma Carpenter (Cordelia Chase), Alexis Denisof (Wesley Wyndam-Pryce), Julie Benz (Darla), Christian Kane (Lindsey McDonald), Thomas Burr (Lee Mercer), Tyler Christopher (Bret Folger), Stephanie Romanov (Lilah Morgan), Eliza Dushku (Faith), Rainbow Borden (Gangbanger), Francis Fallon (Dick), Adrienne Janic (Attractive Girl), Rodrick Fox (Assistant DA), Thor Edgell (Romanian Man), Jennifer Slimko (Romanian Woman)

It's always fun to see Faith again. I always liked this episode. Only this time I found, that her turn to Angel at the end was coming to suddenly.

Rating:

[Tom]

19. Sanctuary (2000-05-02)
Writer: Tim Minear (Writer), Joss Whedon (Writer)
Director: Michael Lange
Cast: David Boreanaz (Angel), Charisma Carpenter (Cordelia Chase), Alexis Denisof (Wesley Wyndam-Pryce), Elisabeth Rohm (Kate Lockley), Christian Kane (Lindsey McDonald), Thomas Burr (Lee Mercer), Stephanie Romanov (Lilah Morgan), Alastair Duncan (Collins), Eliza Dushku (Faith), Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy), Jeff Ricketts (Weatherby), Kevin Owers (Smith), Adam Vernier (Detective Kendrick)

A good conclusion to the Faith storyline. It's nice that she turns herself in. Sadly this means that we won't see her often the next few years.

Rating:

[Tom]

20. War Zone (2000-05-09)
Writer: Garry Campbell (Writer)
Director: David Straiton
Cast: David Boreanaz (Angel), Charisma Carpenter (Cordelia Chase), Alexis Denisof (Wesley Wyndam-Pryce), Michele Kelly (Alonna), Maurice Compte (Chain), Mick Murray (Knox), Joe Basile (Lenny Edwards), David Herman (David Nabbit), J. August Richards (Charles Gunn), Sean Parhrm (Bobby), Sven Holmberg (Ty), Rebecca Klingler (Madame Dorion), Kimberly James (Lina), Ricky Luna (James)

An episode I never really enjoyed that much. I always thought that Gunn is a boring character. And I don't know why they had to bring a character "from the street" into the mix.

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