Turgid supernatural soap opera
Mar. 27th, 2003 08:50 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
gwynSpoilers for Angel episode Players -- beware!
Damn my office, they expected me to work today, and I never got around to writing a review of Angel last night -- now I've forgotten anything worthwhile to say. Of course, in my self-pity party today, I realize how arrogant that sounds, thinking anyone cares what I have to say, but I plow forward. I don't know why I feel so down today -- post fic-posting depression? Do you think it's a medical condition we can claim?
Anyways. Liked much of it, still wish C&C would go away. But that said, I did like the fact that Connor finally wised up to Cordy's manipulations and that even while he was whining about no one liking him, he still had the sense to see that something wasn't quite kosher about it all. When he puts down his little black cloud, he's able to actually pay attention; definitely something he needs to work on more. I suppose now that the Evil Cordy Cat's out of the bag, he'll be able to.
Gwen is an interesting character -- it seems as if they're trying to give her the sass and 'tude and bad girl look of Faith, but she's definitely not in the same league as Faith. I find her both irritating and enjoyable, but what I liked last night was that they really made her someone you could care about because of her loneliness. I guess in some ways it makes sense that she would amp up her sex appeal since she can't have sex, there's a power trip and a kind of mental fuck going on there. The thing I wonder about is whether she knows it, or is unaware of what she's doing. But she's way more Gunn's type (Gunn and Gwen, try saying and typing that real fast three times) than Fred ever was, and clearly they want to have a sassy gal in the show again, now that Lilah's gone -- and Gunn is really the person who needs a sassy gal. This is the first time in two seasons he's had his own sass back, and I found it totally believable that they would be attracted to each other. Gunn sees more of himself in her than he could ever find in Fred; Gwen needs someone who can give it as good as she does, and take it too.
Two best parts -- Wesley admitting things about his relationship to Fred. The way he seemed to be pulled down by the gravity of what he lost, and how far he went, and the places he's been, was exquisite. When he said it "isn't always about holding hands" he said more about sex and loneliness and need and pain than I think they've addressed in four years of Angel brooding and suffering. It was gorgeous, and reminded me of the feeling I had at the end of I Will Remember You, when you know that this person will never recover from what they know, that this darkness and understanding will always be with them. Sigh.
And the ending -- I don't really know when or how they figured it out, but I love that they did figure it out. The way they all looked at Cordy, and the eight ball, and Wes with the shotgun... lovely ending, beautifully filmed, and really making me so eager to see the rest of what they're going to throw at us. Next time I'm hitting the mute button when Lorne sings though.
All in all, a great two nights from the ME folks.
Damn my office, they expected me to work today, and I never got around to writing a review of Angel last night -- now I've forgotten anything worthwhile to say. Of course, in my self-pity party today, I realize how arrogant that sounds, thinking anyone cares what I have to say, but I plow forward. I don't know why I feel so down today -- post fic-posting depression? Do you think it's a medical condition we can claim?
Anyways. Liked much of it, still wish C&C would go away. But that said, I did like the fact that Connor finally wised up to Cordy's manipulations and that even while he was whining about no one liking him, he still had the sense to see that something wasn't quite kosher about it all. When he puts down his little black cloud, he's able to actually pay attention; definitely something he needs to work on more. I suppose now that the Evil Cordy Cat's out of the bag, he'll be able to.
Gwen is an interesting character -- it seems as if they're trying to give her the sass and 'tude and bad girl look of Faith, but she's definitely not in the same league as Faith. I find her both irritating and enjoyable, but what I liked last night was that they really made her someone you could care about because of her loneliness. I guess in some ways it makes sense that she would amp up her sex appeal since she can't have sex, there's a power trip and a kind of mental fuck going on there. The thing I wonder about is whether she knows it, or is unaware of what she's doing. But she's way more Gunn's type (Gunn and Gwen, try saying and typing that real fast three times) than Fred ever was, and clearly they want to have a sassy gal in the show again, now that Lilah's gone -- and Gunn is really the person who needs a sassy gal. This is the first time in two seasons he's had his own sass back, and I found it totally believable that they would be attracted to each other. Gunn sees more of himself in her than he could ever find in Fred; Gwen needs someone who can give it as good as she does, and take it too.
Two best parts -- Wesley admitting things about his relationship to Fred. The way he seemed to be pulled down by the gravity of what he lost, and how far he went, and the places he's been, was exquisite. When he said it "isn't always about holding hands" he said more about sex and loneliness and need and pain than I think they've addressed in four years of Angel brooding and suffering. It was gorgeous, and reminded me of the feeling I had at the end of I Will Remember You, when you know that this person will never recover from what they know, that this darkness and understanding will always be with them. Sigh.
And the ending -- I don't really know when or how they figured it out, but I love that they did figure it out. The way they all looked at Cordy, and the eight ball, and Wes with the shotgun... lovely ending, beautifully filmed, and really making me so eager to see the rest of what they're going to throw at us. Next time I'm hitting the mute button when Lorne sings though.
All in all, a great two nights from the ME folks.
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no subject
Date: 2003-03-28 01:05 am (UTC)I had been thinking that the gang clued in about Cordelia at least partly because of what Angel said to Wesley: he did what he did to Lilah...but he hadn't killed her.
I like Fred. She's risen to the occasion a number of times - of course on Pylea, but then in LA. When the going gets tough, she's whipped out a weapon, made threats, slapped together some kind of MacGyver device. And I also like Gunn. I thought it was going to be a good pairing. But in this last episode, Gunn kind of lit up again, and he hasn't done that for a while.
Has anyone discussed the fact that Angel is shown in a modified letterbox format now? I like that.
PS: You don't sound arrogant, sweetie.
no subject
Date: 2003-03-28 08:58 am (UTC)So, do you think that everything was a deliberate setup, then -- like, they knew they were testing Cordy with the bad translations and Lorne's setup and all? I guess that would make sense -- I should probably go back and watch it again to see if I can see the setup. I wonder if they'll mention it next week?
I wish I could like Lorne's singing -- it *is* kitschy, but I can't handle the vibrato. It's that Mandy Patinkin voice -- a high tenor with intense vibrato, it does something weird to my ears. My friends love when he sings, though, so I realize it's a me thing. ;-)
no subject
Date: 2003-03-28 10:57 am (UTC)Vibratos are dicey. I used to love Buffy St. Marie (long time ago; ask your mom) in spite of a vibrato that felt like needles.
I think I am feeling tender towards Lorne because I just saw Andy Hallett in Amber Benson's film "Chance", and he's just so lovely to look at. Damn. My hand keeps wanting to reach for the remote, so I can rewind "Chance" and watch it again. Alas, I saw it in an auditorium.
Fred + Gunn had possibilities. I think Gunn is a very good boyfriend. Fred's appropriation of sayings like "Word!" was really funny. But she'd always be air, and he'd be earth, except that's not quite how they played it. Fred needs to be both protected and given a lot of room. The protection is not so much because she's delicate, although obviously she is physically (except she lasted 5 years on Pylea), but because if she's really involved in thinking something through, she'd walk right off the end of a pier. But the last thing she needs is someone trying to make her be sensible.
Hmm. I should spend the same amount of time analyzing my own darn self.
no subject
Date: 2003-03-28 11:30 am (UTC)I definitely think they're going to pair Fred off with Wes at this point. Slowly. But as much as he might feel for her, I think they're both too far in the opposite directions of each other that it won't happen quickly, and she's going to feel betrayed by Gunn so...
And hey! I'm so old, I was around when Buffy St. Marie was a-singing! I was young, but around. Does that mean I'm old enough to be my mother? Scary...