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AtS S5. Ep. 1, 2 & 3.
Squee! *bounces* Bestest sister-in-law ever just called and said she'll pick up the girls from school! Which is extra brilliant since Little Miss M has choir and finishes and hour later than Impish Girl! Oh and she's going to get them some tea as well!
So since I decided to take a break, you get some scattered thoughts on the beginning of AtS (which I've been re-watching), since AOQ has just posted his review of 'Conviction (yet again proving that he has no sense of humour!).
Conviction
This was *so* much fun! 'Deep Down' is still my favourite opener, but this comes a close second. Too many lovely moments to mention, so I'll just focus on the best bits:
Hauser: "You pathetic little fairy!"
Angel: "I'm not little!"
Squeeeeeeeeeeee!
And of course the best one of all:
Angel: "I have no problems spanking men!"
(And a million fangirls died and went to heaven, where they - after worshipping The Mighty Joss - proceeded to write lots and lots of slashy porn!)
Dear Lord above what a great line! Sub-text rapidly becoming text... Is it any wonder that we all love Joss, no matter how much he likes to rip out our hearts?
Anyway, on to the meat of the episode:
HAUSER: That's exactly what you are. You're minuscule. A dust mote on the shelf of that great institution. Now, you think I'm just a trigger-happy jerk who follows orders, but I am something you will never be. I'm pure. I believe in evil. You and your friends, you're conflicted. You're confused. We're not. That is why you are gonna lose, because we possess the most powerful thing in the world... conviction.
ANGEL: There is one thing more powerful than conviction. Just one. Mercy.
[kills Hauser in cold blood]
AGENT: What happened to mercy?
ANGEL: You just saw the last of it.
Just damn! That was *so* cold. No second chance, no trying to save this guy... just brutal murder. And foreshadowing of the shooting of Lindsey in NFA much? Angel's not so heroic anymore...
See it ties back to 'Blind Date':
Angel: "No, it's not my fault. - I-I didn't cause it, and I can't fix it. I can't do anything about it. - Well, she's guilty. - She's guilty and- and they let her go. She murdered a man right in front of me and I can't even testify to that fact in a court of law."
Cordy: "Well, maybe in night court you could..."
Angel: "It's their court room, not mine."
Cordy: "Whose?"
Angel: "Their rules, their game."
Cordy: "Oh, you mean the Wolfram and Hart types."
Angel shakes his head: "I have no place in their world at all."
Wesley: "Angel."
Angel: "How am I expected to do battle if I can't even get into the ring?"
Wesley: "You have a place, Angel. Our battle will be fought elsewhere."
Angel: "It's still their world, Wesley. Structured for power - not truth. - It's their system, and it's one that works. - It works because - there is no guilt - there is no torment, no consequences. - It's pure. - I remember what that was like. - Sometimes I miss that clarity."
Notice the repetition of the word 'pure'! There's even a mention of Holland Manners in this episode, and none of that is co-incidence. 'Blind Date' was all about Manners testing Lindsey... and in the end Lindsey chose W&H. Remember Lee being killed? Please compare Holland Manners then and the Angel we now have. Not so very different are they? Killing employees if they refuse to fall in line... And of course this time it's Gunn getting the guilty client off, not Lindsey! W&H don't want Angel dead, they want him dark - and they're definitely getting there!
Speaking of Lindsey, I have to mention this:
Lindsey: "The key to Wolfram and Hart: don't let them make you play their game. - You gotta make them play yours."
Angel: "Thanks. I'll keep that in mind."
'Dead End'
In the beginning of S5, Angel is playing their game... and when he finds a way to make them play his game the stakes have been raised unbearbly high. ::loves S5::
Just Rewards
I'm working on a long Spike&Angel essay inspired by this ep, so instead I'll go with silly. I was thinking of writing out how all (well some) of the different fandom groups reacted to Spike being on the show (since I was actually following fandom for the first time and noticed this stuff):
Spike fans: SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! [/incoherent joy]
Angel fans: Shirtless!Angel! Woohoo! [mutter: TWO YEARS we've been waiting for this!] Oh and Petty!Angel! Yay!
Spuffy shippers: Why didn't they show the 'I love you'? Although he *did* ask after her straight away! Now CALL HER!
Spangel shippers: Spike in Angel's bedroom! Spike saying he's Angel's date! Lots and lots and lots of snark! *pop Champagne, write lots of pr0n and already love S5 to infinity and beyond*
Spike/Fred shippers: We knew it! Spike needs someone *nice* who'll *appreciate* him - not like that nasty Buffy! [Rest of fandom: Yeah, whatever.]
Spike haters: Spike has ruined AtS! *sulk*
(Do you have any that you think I should add?)
Unleashed
This is such a sweet episode! I don't think I've actually re-watched it since it first aired, when mostly I was impatient, but I *love* the Angel/Nina interactions - and they're all so HAPPY! The last scene with everyone in Angel's appartment, ordering Chinese and being friendly... *SNIFF* It's like that breakfast scene at the end of 'Parting Gifts'. Utterly lovely, but so, so bittersweet knowing what'll become of them all...
So since I decided to take a break, you get some scattered thoughts on the beginning of AtS (which I've been re-watching), since AOQ has just posted his review of 'Conviction (yet again proving that he has no sense of humour!).
Conviction
This was *so* much fun! 'Deep Down' is still my favourite opener, but this comes a close second. Too many lovely moments to mention, so I'll just focus on the best bits:
Hauser: "You pathetic little fairy!"
Angel: "I'm not little!"
Squeeeeeeeeeeee!
And of course the best one of all:
Angel: "I have no problems spanking men!"
(And a million fangirls died and went to heaven, where they - after worshipping The Mighty Joss - proceeded to write lots and lots of slashy porn!)
Dear Lord above what a great line! Sub-text rapidly becoming text... Is it any wonder that we all love Joss, no matter how much he likes to rip out our hearts?
Anyway, on to the meat of the episode:
HAUSER: That's exactly what you are. You're minuscule. A dust mote on the shelf of that great institution. Now, you think I'm just a trigger-happy jerk who follows orders, but I am something you will never be. I'm pure. I believe in evil. You and your friends, you're conflicted. You're confused. We're not. That is why you are gonna lose, because we possess the most powerful thing in the world... conviction.
ANGEL: There is one thing more powerful than conviction. Just one. Mercy.
[kills Hauser in cold blood]
AGENT: What happened to mercy?
ANGEL: You just saw the last of it.
Just damn! That was *so* cold. No second chance, no trying to save this guy... just brutal murder. And foreshadowing of the shooting of Lindsey in NFA much? Angel's not so heroic anymore...
See it ties back to 'Blind Date':
Angel: "No, it's not my fault. - I-I didn't cause it, and I can't fix it. I can't do anything about it. - Well, she's guilty. - She's guilty and- and they let her go. She murdered a man right in front of me and I can't even testify to that fact in a court of law."
Cordy: "Well, maybe in night court you could..."
Angel: "It's their court room, not mine."
Cordy: "Whose?"
Angel: "Their rules, their game."
Cordy: "Oh, you mean the Wolfram and Hart types."
Angel shakes his head: "I have no place in their world at all."
Wesley: "Angel."
Angel: "How am I expected to do battle if I can't even get into the ring?"
Wesley: "You have a place, Angel. Our battle will be fought elsewhere."
Angel: "It's still their world, Wesley. Structured for power - not truth. - It's their system, and it's one that works. - It works because - there is no guilt - there is no torment, no consequences. - It's pure. - I remember what that was like. - Sometimes I miss that clarity."
Notice the repetition of the word 'pure'! There's even a mention of Holland Manners in this episode, and none of that is co-incidence. 'Blind Date' was all about Manners testing Lindsey... and in the end Lindsey chose W&H. Remember Lee being killed? Please compare Holland Manners then and the Angel we now have. Not so very different are they? Killing employees if they refuse to fall in line... And of course this time it's Gunn getting the guilty client off, not Lindsey! W&H don't want Angel dead, they want him dark - and they're definitely getting there!
Speaking of Lindsey, I have to mention this:
Lindsey: "The key to Wolfram and Hart: don't let them make you play their game. - You gotta make them play yours."
Angel: "Thanks. I'll keep that in mind."
'Dead End'
In the beginning of S5, Angel is playing their game... and when he finds a way to make them play his game the stakes have been raised unbearbly high. ::loves S5::
Just Rewards
I'm working on a long Spike&Angel essay inspired by this ep, so instead I'll go with silly. I was thinking of writing out how all (well some) of the different fandom groups reacted to Spike being on the show (since I was actually following fandom for the first time and noticed this stuff):
Spike fans: SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! [/incoherent joy]
Angel fans: Shirtless!Angel! Woohoo! [mutter: TWO YEARS we've been waiting for this!] Oh and Petty!Angel! Yay!
Spuffy shippers: Why didn't they show the 'I love you'? Although he *did* ask after her straight away! Now CALL HER!
Spangel shippers: Spike in Angel's bedroom! Spike saying he's Angel's date! Lots and lots and lots of snark! *pop Champagne, write lots of pr0n and already love S5 to infinity and beyond*
Spike/Fred shippers: We knew it! Spike needs someone *nice* who'll *appreciate* him - not like that nasty Buffy! [Rest of fandom: Yeah, whatever.]
Spike haters: Spike has ruined AtS! *sulk*
(Do you have any that you think I should add?)
Unleashed
This is such a sweet episode! I don't think I've actually re-watched it since it first aired, when mostly I was impatient, but I *love* the Angel/Nina interactions - and they're all so HAPPY! The last scene with everyone in Angel's appartment, ordering Chinese and being friendly... *SNIFF* It's like that breakfast scene at the end of 'Parting Gifts'. Utterly lovely, but so, so bittersweet knowing what'll become of them all...
no subject
Ooooh! Nice parallel! And yes, Angel's part of the problem now...
"Oh, OK. Spike's on the show now. Fair enough. I wonder what sort of stories they'll do with him?"
Ah yes. Normal, rational fans. However could I have forgotten! ;)
Nina as a character is mildly interesting
For some reason she really works for me. She's very 'normal', but not stupid or pathetic. And it's interesting to see how she views Angel - coming in as a complete outsider. Normally he just saves a girl and leaves her all flustered - but Nina he has to interact with and explain to who he is etc. And she really likes him! He's a very handsome guy, which I think he forgets...
Nina's actress was possibly the hottest thing on either show since Willow's outfit in 'Tabula Rasa'. :)
Heeee! And I did notice that she's rather better endowed than Willow... I'm *so* glad Angel ended up dating her. I think she did him a world of good!
no subject
Then again, this reaction would also suit people saying "Squeee! Harmony! Harnony's on the show! Yay! Oh, there's Spike as well." ;) (Not me specifically, but there are probably a few on atbvs).
On a slightly-related tangent, is there a word which means "sexually attracted to women" [or "sexually attracted to men"]? A catch-all term to include straight men, lesbians and bisexuals of both sexes? Maybe gynosexual? [and, mutatis mutandis, "androsexual"?] Because if the word doesn't exist, it should...
For some reason she really works for me. She's very 'normal', but not stupid or pathetic.
Don't get me wrong, I have no problems with her as a character. She's cute and sensible and normal and brave and everything. In fact [epiphany moment] she's the female version of Riley!
Heeee! And I did notice that she's rather better endowed than Willow...
Of course, I didn't notice any such thing myself [/shameless lying]. And AoQ hasn't even got to 'Smile Time' yet...
no subject
Indeed. And those obsessing about the masked mailman etc.
On a slightly-related tangent, is there a word which means "sexually attracted to women" [or "sexually attracted to men"]?
Dunno. There is probably something somewhere on a website...
In fact [epiphany moment] she's the female version of Riley!
Oh no. She *way* prettier and more attractive than Riley! (Just like Faith is way sexier than Xander.) Heck *I* can easily see why Angel falls for her, whereas I'm kinda struggling with why Buffy goes for Riley (or Parker for that matter).
And AoQ hasn't even got to 'Smile Time' yet...
Nina/Puppet!Angel4eva! *So* cute! :)