I always found Angel to be such a relatable character. A character who is alone and is detached from society and is trying so hard to find a path in life for himself. I saw that in him even in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. He's a man with a very troubled past. Without a soul he's Angelus. Now Angelus may be a sadistic monster, but at least he has set a path for himself. He knows who he is and he knows what he wants. But Angel however is lost, he doesn't know where he belongs. He's weak, but given time he'll get there. Some people find Angel boring and always prefer Spike because he's cool and has more energy to him and I understand that. I love Spike as well, but Angel is one of my favorite characters in the Buffyverse, along with Spike of course.
SepiaWren Exactly, I love that about Angel. He he's a man who always seems to fail all the time and never gets what he wants but never gives up and still keeps trying anyway. I admire that about him.
I very much agree. I love spike and angel almost equally (honestly it backs and forths, sometimes I prefer spike a BIT more and sometimes I prefer Angel a BIT more), but I feel like I see more of myself in Angel.
I like this episode because it's dripping with 90s cheese. my favourite bit is the montage of Angel searching for the parasite to the song Touched by Vast.
I actually adored this episode my first watch. To me, this is what a supernatural detective show's Case of the Week episodes should be like: There was the expected event (the man giving the woman this predatory look, making it clear he was the monster of the week), then there was the shocking twist (when the man turned out dead, revealing the woman to be the monster instead), then we're left questioning until Angel Investigations figures out the creature's body surfing. That final reveal made every oddity in the mystery up to that point just click into place.
Casper Fall i used to be threatened by her as a romantic interest for Angel (being a bangel fan) but watching it now with more maturity gives me a real appreciation of her.
Yes, I felt she was very underused especially in the second season, and then she just disappeared, thats the only gripe I have with Angel as a show, the underused female characters like her, Virginia and Gwen.
IMO, the single biggest flaw of Season 5 is the lack of Kate. I know they lost the actress, but still, she was an incredible character with plenty of plot and characterization devoted to her before her abrupt disappearance.
2:40 Aside from fourth-wall breaking, that is also one of the most painful stunts on the entire series... Angel falls right on his head and neck! It looks like the stunt kills the stuntman!
Speaking of the parallels with Batman, the opening shot of Angel is eerily reminiscent of the first shot of Michael Keaton in Batman Returns. A lonely hero brooding in a dark room before he's called back to duty.
I don’t know if someone’s mentionned it yet, but it’s neat how on Buffy e02 we glimpse Veruca for the first time as a quick cameo, and in Angel e02 the song playing when they first come to the bar is THC’s Girlflesh (THC being the real band whose songs Shy, Veruca’s band, perform)
Your thoughts and analysis here of Angel's relationship with Buffy makes me legitimately excited for "I Will Remember You" (or at least the Guide video on it), even though it's one of my least favorite Angel episodes. Spoilers below, so just in case you haven't seen Angel yet: .... Piggybacking off of what you start to get into here, with Angel still basically idolizing his ex girlfriend, that would make "I Will Remember You" important in that it's the moment when Angel finally decides he needs to be more than just Buffy's satellite. There are a lot of things that make that idea interesting to me, but especially the idea that it's Angel who has to reclaim his agency. It gender-flips the trope of the girl leaving the relationship because she needs to reclaim her sense of self worth. I'm not even sure the writers meant to do that--although maybe they did, who knows?
@@guyr3618 the problem is Becoming is absolutely awesome and hits all the emotional beats. IWRY is only good if you ship Bangel, because there's literally nothing else to the episode.
@@thebasedgodmax1163 your “shipping” comment only works if ….there’s not an actual philosophical & emotional relationship between Angel & The B. Basically, one of the most significant aspects of their emotional landscape is the exploration of their relationship with all its attendant struggles mortals suffer, plus some.
@@cindytartt4048 I preferred your other comment you deleted saying nobody cares, because you cared enough to comment again AND comment on another comment of mine on this channel
I always love TPN episode analysis. And yes-Alistair-I also loved Kate. I always feel like she was due to be a bigger character, but left before any arc came to fruition.
One of the reasons I love your videos so much is that you find things of value even in the less stellar and/or forgotten episodes. I think, even though Angel season 1 is uneven in terms of quality, it is essential to the rest of the series. Without the building blocks established now, without the rough edges, we don't get this show at its absolute best -- which to me is the latter half of season 1, all of season 2, the first half of season 3, the Faith arc in season 4, and all of season 5. It's easy for me to see some of these early season 1 episodes and be tempted to skip them (the one with the detachable doctor and "She" are the biggest "skip it" contenders), but without those -- warts and all -- we don't get the REALLY good stuff.
just want to join in on saying i happen to like Kate a great deal. i feel she's one of those rare female characters who isn't meant to be, like, appealing? like not really talking sexually/romantically cuz obviously she's gorgeous but. she's someone who's set against our protagonist and she isn't an Evil TM lawyer or otherwise villainous at all. she's allowed to be her own character, her own person, in a way that feels very independent from Angel. this kind of cuts her off from being in the show more, but it makes the culmination of her arc a lot richer and rewarding imo. she's not here to be Angel's friend, or the audience's friend. she's just here to exist. i like that, and i really like her personally as well.
I think my favorite parts of this episode are the after-sex scenes (before the possessions). The empty expressions on their faces are so uncomfortable. I don't like to relate it with casual sex, but with the loneliness those specific characters are feeling
I love all deep's in episodes. You always helps the new watching people like my fiance understand Buffy and Angel tv series. Thanks to You guide he is now a big fan of this shows and stop making fun every time I watch it
Don't forget that this episode has one of the best songs in either series. Also I was wondering if you ever noticed the somewhat superhero ambience music that plays throughout the series which to me really made Angel feel more like a superhero or comic book show in a good way.
I've looked up this episode multiple times before, and discovered that apparently it went through several iterations, and was originally a much, much darker episode called "Corrupt." There's actually a lot of information on this earlier (and quite different) story, and I wasn't sure whether or not you were going to mention it. (You didn't.) Perhaps material for a future video, "Angel: The Lost Episode" or something? en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corrupt_(Angel)
Arkatox , that synopsis sounds AMAZING! I'm sad ill never be able to see 'Cookie.' remember Cordy's bit when Buffy was in the hospital? or when she went with Xander to the armory?
Passion of the Nerd "Nine hundred and ninety-nine to go." Daaaaaaaamn. Can't you just picture that scene exactly? And some of the other quotes in that Wikipedia articlrme are so true to the characters or the series as a whole. I can see why it was vetoed as it was (it's not only too dark, it appears a little overstuffed) but a few tweaks here and an excision there, and I think we would have had a nuanced, kickass Angel ep. ....damnit.
Shame the abandoned script didnt get a comic interpretation; even if it had to be tweaked to fit with the likes of either post -After The Fall/Aftermath or during the gap months between Buffy S8's final issue and the beginning of Angel & Faith. Well that or sandwich it during early S3 before Darla popped up at the Hyperion with Connor still in her
Watched this episode recently and it had me thinking about the metaphor of someone attached to the idea of finding "the one" addicted to some romantic fantasy of what a relationship is and leaves it when it starts to lose it's shine. Convinced that there is "a one" searching this way forever.
Agreed; this channel as a whole has me re-thinking what I know and remember of the Buffyverse, and I want so badly to embark on a rewatch when I'm not knee-deep in 17,000 other things.
I adore Kate. I know she's a bit hard to swallow and most(?) don't like her / care for her but I really do. I loved her arc and her relationship with Angel. Don't get me started on Epiphany. Gold. I wish Kate had been in seasons 3-5 too. Even if it was just as special guest star. But I'm getting ahead of myself.
What I didn't like about Kate was her lack of development, in a very Connor way. I loved the complexity of her character, but she kept having regression after regression after regression. It got really annoying at times. I'd also have loved to see her coming back because of the beautiful way she left the show
tsukigalleta Very true. There wasn't the best continuity there. But also I saw it like when people repeatedly don't seem to change much in real life despite there being so much that probably should cause them to change their ways / attitudes. She definitely was one-note at times. I loved her final few appearances though.
tsukigalleta I think her regression was very natural emphasizing how out of control her life was spiraling since discovering demons. I don't think we get the scene in epiphany if she didn't have this behavior.
Part of that had to do with the scheduling with the actress. Originally in season 2 she was supposed to end up joining Angel and friends. But the Actress got a job on Law and Order and left the show.
Hey dude, I love your videos, my brother introduced me to your channel at Christmas and I have watched every episode since! Got even more love for Angel than Buffy for in really enjoying these so far, so many great episodes in Season 1, can't wait to see so many reviews, so as 'I will remember you', 'the ring' and obviously 'hero'. Don't have much to contributed other than keep up the good work!!
When I first saw the non 4:3 version for the first time I actually thought for a moment that there was a 3rd character in the scene that I had somehow missed. It's like the occasional establishing shots in S4 Buffy that are irised out along the edges because that was obviously never supposed to be in frame.
This is one of my top 5 Angel episodes, I like how this episode portrays Angel's lonely life and the aftermath of saving the day, and rarely being rewarded for it. I must say it is one of the darkest Angel episodes ever with the parasite that switches bodies in order to keep living. Here's a link to my video of my top 10 Angels episodes, hope you enjoy! ruclips.net/video/yIeKkXUToy4/видео.html
Its funny how Kate and Gwen from Season 4 just dissappear from the series with no mention from them in Angel's final Season. I liked the Gwen Character with her electricity power she had as for Kate she was an ok character and i loved the mention from her later on about the X-files when she explains the differences between Mulder and Scully in the Sanctuary episode to the other detective guy. I'm a big X-Files fan aswell it was nice hearing both shows are in the same universe. at the time....This episode was a good stand alone.
All the episdoes have something great. Example: Buffy Season One's "The Puppet Show"--all the bits were Buffy, Xander and Willow have to act are pure gold, especially that bit they added after the credits.
Absolutely adore her. In the end, she lost her father, her job and simply disappeared from the show. The first time I watched the show, I was hoping she would reappear as a member of Angel's Investigation
I actually really liked this episode. I don't understand how it got so much flack. This episode felt very much like X Files. And I loved the sexual nature of this episode. This is when I realized that Angel villains...and monsters weren't going to hold back and the writers were going to test the waters on how dark they could get with this. I love the "one night stand" troupes and "STD" Sexually transmitted Demon...reminds me of the movie "it follows".
Hey, just watched and subscribed. Love what you're doing so far that I've seen. Ugh, I can't go any further until I know what you thought in general of season 3 though. I'll go ahead and say that I loved it.
I would love to hear your opinion in The Prodigal in my opinion one of the best episodes this season, that deepens in Angel Secret Origins, and more in his character.
"Before he met Buffy Angel wasn't trying to help anyone." What was he doing then hanging near the Master? The don't like him, they really don't like him, he said. Why not, I assumed that they didn't like him because he was trying to thwart their evil plans. If not, why was Angel near lethal people who really don't like him?
I'm just now thinking about the episode Amends and... ok spoilers but is it possible that the first went after angel because it knew a vampire with a soul was going to beat it ? and assumed it was angel? is that cannon and I'm forgetting or completely wrong or have I cracked something?
i noticed angel not comprehending that kate has a crush on him. he is very smart, but (probably due to the long time he spent alone) doesn't always spot social cues (i am not english, i hope you get what i mean), an aspect of his personality. i remember him not knowing that gunn and fred were dating, or that gunn and wesley had a quibble a bit later. oh and of course nina's signals didn't sink in until wesley laid it on the table. i was wondering where angel stands on your Character ranking.. he is my fave after buffy
I always change how I feel about this episode. There are things to like, and there are things that make this an incredibly boring rewatch. As you mentioned, pretty much everything you said about the Angel bits of this episode I would agree with. To add to that, it was good to see this little trio was still very much green in terms of how to solve these cases due to Doyle's visions. Its a very makeshift operation to this point and I like that element to it. Very much like in Season 1 Buffy, the Scoobies weren't a solid cohesive kickass group yet. In Season 1, Angel Investigations is the same. That said, the episode is rather slow and lacked the quiet intimacy of the pilot I feel. That said, it does introduce us to a key character throughout the series in Kate. I do have more to say on the state of the female characters on Angel, but I'll save that for when we get deeper into Season 1 and probably post Season 2 when the show really starts finding its groove. Mind you that doesn't mean a totally negative observation, just an observation.
Oh Kate, I love her arc. She added an element of conflict that I always welcome into my stories lol. In the original Spider-Man comics, Peter Parker had a bully, Flash Thompson, who was a huge Spider-Man fan, but hated Peter. His 1st girlfriend Betty Brant, hated Spider-Man. His boss, J. Johnah Jameson forced him to take pictures of Spider-Man only to slander his name. Peter Parker was always in direct conflict with the people closest to him just for being Spider-Man. This kind of conflict is what I felt Kate introduced to Angel. Always having the wrong idea about Angel, always being there and crossing his path with little reason to trust him. Good stuff.
ok where are you in the world. Because unlike me I doubt you are up posting videos at 4:23 in the morning in Canada. Also I was wondering if you were going to review other shows like your doing with Buffy and Angel. Because I would love to see your pov on other shows I love like Charmed and Xena the warour princess.
In the gym in the first episode of season 2, there is a bit where angel is supposed to be invisible in mirrors, they use some clever little tricks to make him disappear in the wide shots, but in one 3 second walking shot, you can see D. Boreanz waiting off to the side. It's hilarious.
Mark's book definitely formed the baseline of my knowledge for the Buffy guide and I've relied on it quite a bit.. I go nowhere deep on topics as he does in his text, but I've tried to branch out here and there and include topics and other material he didn't cover. If you check the tentpole reviews (finales, Helpless, Amends, Top 10s) the source lists can sometimes be 4 or 5 deep. There is no one baseline book for Angel but the same thing applies. I try and do a lot of reading and if something I read makes it into the video essay I cite it in the description. In this case All Things Philosophical on Buffy. Thank you for the kind word.
I love Angel. I will watch it again and again however how does he stand in the sunlight so many times in the first season? I understand the fifth season (no spoilers) but he stands in sunlight and doesn't smoke.
4:00 - were there some words between "after" and "wandering" that you cut out, or did you just say that weird? :P I always liked this episode. It was more metaphor-heavy than the pilot, which led me to realize Angel is basically going to Buffy about adults. It's not as good as the pilot or In The Dark, but it sets the tone pretty well. Also, there's Kate. I like Kate.
isn't the club just d'oblique? like, contraction of "de oblique" because you don't pronounce the vowel part of "de" or "le" etc before a word that starts with a vowel in french? as in a different word than "diabolique"? i mean they have some consonants in common but i don't get this reference.
How did you decide to use that specific song (Favorite Secrets) for openings and endings of your videos? Does it have any connections to the show, to you or do you just like it?
I gotta say I am not looking forward to recapping Kate and Angel passive aggressively dancing around each other for the next season and a half or so. Oh, spoilers.
Passion of the Nerd I'm sure your reviews will be great. But watching along on netflix might start to feel like trying to squeeze that last drop of blood from a stone.
Hey Angel fans do you remember those blue veined Roman yoga type Oracle beings that Angel use to visit? Can you remember what series or episodes they were in and what they were called?
I realise that as this was months ago you probably either found out or just stopped caring, but... His name is Jack Conley. The clip is from the Buffy season 2 ep "Phases", where he plays a werewolf hunter named Cain.
I am sorry that Kate became a failed character. Was that for extra-narrative reasons? Did she leave the show for Law and Order? There are hints here of an interesting relationship that wasn't fulfilled. The relationship went another way. The alliance and misalliance between a cop and a private eye is of course a Film Noir trope and I was excited about what Whedon and Greenwalt might do with that trope.
I always thought they would revisit why he was able to enter her apartment without an invitation in order to save her life? I mean... I thought that would mean something
Looking today, what I cringe about most is how the whole "vision from powers that be" thing is just such an obvious plot device to have the heroes start being involved in the cases and seek out the 'monster of the week'. If 'Angel' was made today, I'd be far less impress with this, but back then I don't give a damn.
My thoughts on Kate. Kate is a foil for Angel throughout most of her time on the show so I don't think the audience is suppose to really "like" her, but I don't think she was meant to be as universally despised as she is either. Personally, I don't hate her, but I don't like her either. I think she is a wet blanket, but I also sympathize with her very much. I won't elaborate on why I sympathize with her as I'm trying to keep this comment relatively spoiler free, but while her actions can be infuriating at times, I still can't help but feel sorry for her.
I actually liked Kate, until she let her demons control her and not matter how much Angel want her to help her, she view him to see him more as a "villain" than a hero, hell, even in the comics she still has her demons, not matter how much good she tries to do or how much she want to help Angel.
whisperienced I didn't find out about the Kate hate until maybe last year. It came as a surprise to me too initially. I actually liked Kate the first couple of times I watched Angel. In fact it wasn't until my most recent re-watch that she began to irritate me. But I only dislike how she becomes a foil for Angel and how she continually distrusts him regardless of how many good things he does. So it's so much me not liking her but how she treats Angel.
Beauty Effulgent Yeah I guess I could see that but when I look at the situation from her eyes this supernatural world is all new and her father is killed by vampires I could see her not trusting Angel.
I always found Angel to be such a relatable character. A character who is alone and is detached from society and is trying so hard to find a path in life for himself. I saw that in him even in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. He's a man with a very troubled past. Without a soul he's Angelus. Now Angelus may be a sadistic monster, but at least he has set a path for himself. He knows who he is and he knows what he wants. But Angel however is lost, he doesn't know where he belongs. He's weak, but given time he'll get there. Some people find Angel boring and always prefer Spike because he's cool and has more energy to him and I understand that. I love Spike as well, but Angel is one of my favorite characters in the Buffyverse, along with Spike of course.
scifinerd17 I'm with you 100% re: Angel. Hear hear.
SepiaWren Exactly, I love that about Angel. He he's a man who always seems to fail all the time and never gets what he wants but never gives up and still keeps trying anyway. I admire that about him.
I very much agree. I love spike and angel almost equally (honestly it backs and forths, sometimes I prefer spike a BIT more and sometimes I prefer Angel a BIT more), but I feel like I see more of myself in Angel.
i love the bit before the climax when the demon tries to pick up women while in a visibly-decaying host. real smooth
I know right? I'm like "Dude. Really? Your face is falling off!"
Rowynne Crowley but that's exactly what it feels like to age.
I like this episode because it's dripping with 90s cheese. my favourite bit is the montage of Angel searching for the parasite to the song Touched by Vast.
Oh my, we getting lots of episode quickly, it's like Christmas :O
sssh, dont jinx it lol :P
Nice to see your old comments scattered throughout these guides
I actually adored this episode my first watch. To me, this is what a supernatural detective show's Case of the Week episodes should be like: There was the expected event (the man giving the woman this predatory look, making it clear he was the monster of the week), then there was the shocking twist (when the man turned out dead, revealing the woman to be the monster instead), then we're left questioning until Angel Investigations figures out the creature's body surfing. That final reveal made every oddity in the mystery up to that point just click into place.
Joseph Davis All about subverting your expectations, remember? Angel and Buffy were excellent in doing that
The highlight of this episode, for me, was that song during the montage. ("Touched" by VAST.). Great song for biking!
quibily I love that it's on the (only) Angel soundtrack!
quibily that song is why I love this episode.
That song is so beautiful.
Around 3:32 when you said Echo's and showed Eliza Dushku it reminded me of Dollhouse haha
And the episode is called lonely hearts, like Ms Lonelyhearts
God damn I am loving these guides and their regular uploads
Keep it up! :)
Anyone else really love Kate as a character? I feel she's a seriously under-appreciated heroine in the Buffyverse.
Casper Fall i used to be threatened by her as a romantic interest for Angel (being a bangel fan) but watching it now with more maturity gives me a real appreciation of her.
Yes, I felt she was very underused especially in the second season, and then she just disappeared, thats the only gripe I have with Angel as a show, the underused female characters like her, Virginia and Gwen.
IMO, the single biggest flaw of Season 5 is the lack of Kate.
I know they lost the actress, but still, she was an incredible character with plenty of plot and characterization devoted to her before her abrupt disappearance.
Happygolucky The actress left the show because she got cast on Law and Order, perhaps they might have kept her character on otherwise.
I've heard that originally, before the character of Justine was created, Kate was intended to be Holtz's second-in-command. Thoughts?
2:40 Aside from fourth-wall breaking, that is also one of the most painful stunts on the entire series... Angel falls right on his head and neck! It looks like the stunt kills the stuntman!
Doesn't Doyle call D-Oblique "one of those terminally stuck in the 80's" places in the episode?
I always liked the episode and its metaphor. Nothing else to really say about this one.
Speaking of the parallels with Batman, the opening shot of Angel is eerily reminiscent of the first shot of Michael Keaton in Batman Returns. A lonely hero brooding in a dark room before he's called back to duty.
I don’t know if someone’s mentionned it yet, but it’s neat how on Buffy e02 we glimpse Veruca for the first time as a quick cameo, and in Angel e02 the song playing when they first come to the bar is THC’s Girlflesh (THC being the real band whose songs Shy, Veruca’s band, perform)
Your thoughts and analysis here of Angel's relationship with Buffy makes me legitimately excited for "I Will Remember You" (or at least the Guide video on it), even though it's one of my least favorite Angel episodes.
Spoilers below, so just in case you haven't seen Angel yet:
....
Piggybacking off of what you start to get into here, with Angel still basically idolizing his ex girlfriend, that would make "I Will Remember You" important in that it's the moment when Angel finally decides he needs to be more than just Buffy's satellite. There are a lot of things that make that idea interesting to me, but especially the idea that it's Angel who has to reclaim his agency. It gender-flips the trope of the girl leaving the relationship because she needs to reclaim her sense of self worth. I'm not even sure the writers meant to do that--although maybe they did, who knows?
I always saw 'I Will Remember You' as Angel's version of 'Becoming' - choosing to do the right thing, over being with the person he loves.
@@guyr3618 the problem is Becoming is absolutely awesome and hits all the emotional beats. IWRY is only good if you ship Bangel, because there's literally nothing else to the episode.
@@thebasedgodmax1163 your “shipping” comment only works if ….there’s not an actual philosophical & emotional relationship between Angel & The B. Basically, one of the most significant aspects of their emotional landscape is the exploration of their relationship with all its attendant struggles mortals suffer, plus some.
@@cindytartt4048 I preferred your other comment you deleted saying nobody cares, because you cared enough to comment again AND comment on another comment of mine on this channel
I always love TPN episode analysis. And yes-Alistair-I also loved Kate. I always feel like she was due to be a bigger character, but left before any arc came to fruition.
This is my favorite youtube channel by far. Thank you!
One of the reasons I love your videos so much is that you find things of value even in the less stellar and/or forgotten episodes. I think, even though Angel season 1 is uneven in terms of quality, it is essential to the rest of the series. Without the building blocks established now, without the rough edges, we don't get this show at its absolute best -- which to me is the latter half of season 1, all of season 2, the first half of season 3, the Faith arc in season 4, and all of season 5. It's easy for me to see some of these early season 1 episodes and be tempted to skip them (the one with the detachable doctor and "She" are the biggest "skip it" contenders), but without those -- warts and all -- we don't get the REALLY good stuff.
Ok, your intro gives me goosebumps, makes me want to cry, and makes me want to jump up and down~ all at the same time!! It's so awesome!!!
You continue to a true treat to this fandom and Don't let anyone tell you different Passion of the Nerd.
just want to join in on saying i happen to like Kate a great deal. i feel she's one of those rare female characters who isn't meant to be, like, appealing? like not really talking sexually/romantically cuz obviously she's gorgeous but. she's someone who's set against our protagonist and she isn't an Evil TM lawyer or otherwise villainous at all. she's allowed to be her own character, her own person, in a way that feels very independent from Angel. this kind of cuts her off from being in the show more, but it makes the culmination of her arc a lot richer and rewarding imo. she's not here to be Angel's friend, or the audience's friend. she's just here to exist. i like that, and i really like her personally as well.
I think my favorite parts of this episode are the after-sex scenes (before the possessions). The empty expressions on their faces are so uncomfortable. I don't like to relate it with casual sex, but with the loneliness those specific characters are feeling
I’m on my rewatch and ended up really enjoying this episode vs when I first saw it.
I KNEW I wasn't seeing things with that cameraman!
I came to these guides late, but just in time for me to have seen enough to be excited for when you started Angel. I'm so happy that you did
Have to say that your comments on Angel were great, the whole time I kept thinking about the opening episode of AtS season 3.
Im probably the only one who was prepared to wait a month for this to come out... Thank you for uploading sooner, i love you even more now :D
I love all deep's in episodes. You always helps the new watching people like my fiance understand Buffy and Angel tv series. Thanks to You guide he is now a big fan of this shows and stop making fun every time I watch it
Loving the episodes and the consistency. Thanks for continuing these guides
Don't forget that this episode has one of the best songs in either series. Also I was wondering if you ever noticed the somewhat superhero ambience music that plays throughout the series which to me really made Angel feel more like a superhero or comic book show in a good way.
I've looked up this episode multiple times before, and discovered that apparently it went through several iterations, and was originally a much, much darker episode called "Corrupt." There's actually a lot of information on this earlier (and quite different) story, and I wasn't sure whether or not you were going to mention it. (You didn't.) Perhaps material for a future video, "Angel: The Lost Episode" or something? en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corrupt_(Angel)
Fascinating. I didn't know about this.
Arkatox , that synopsis sounds AMAZING! I'm sad ill never be able to see 'Cookie.' remember Cordy's bit when Buffy was in the hospital? or when she went with Xander to the armory?
Passion of the Nerd "Nine hundred and ninety-nine to go."
Daaaaaaaamn. Can't you just picture that scene exactly? And some of the other quotes in that Wikipedia articlrme are so true to the characters or the series as a whole.
I can see why it was vetoed as it was (it's not only too dark, it appears a little overstuffed) but a few tweaks here and an excision there, and I think we would have had a nuanced, kickass Angel ep.
....damnit.
Shame the abandoned script didnt get a comic interpretation; even if it had to be tweaked to fit with the likes of either post -After The Fall/Aftermath or during the gap months between Buffy S8's final issue and the beginning of Angel & Faith. Well that or sandwich it during early S3 before Darla popped up at the Hyperion with Connor still in her
is it bad i love your guides more than some of the episodes themselves? keep up your great work :)
i like these more than the buffy guide cant wait for more
Watched this episode recently and it had me thinking about the metaphor of someone attached to the idea of finding "the one" addicted to some romantic fantasy of what a relationship is and leaves it when it starts to lose it's shine. Convinced that there is "a one" searching this way forever.
@@jamie7398 the worst character in it.
Aight, two guides in and you're already pointing out themes to me I never thought about
One hell of an effort, well done ,man!
Great review! You brought out the themes, actions, and underlying ideas very well! Definitely lots to ponder here.
Kate Lockley and Illyria were my 2 favourite Angel characters!
awesome review. So many things I never thought about
Agreed; this channel as a whole has me re-thinking what I know and remember of the Buffyverse, and I want so badly to embark on a rewatch when I'm not knee-deep in 17,000 other things.
I like Kate.
so glad these are back! Ive been so excited for the Angel guides to start.
Great vid, just loving these Angel reviews now, also loved the singalong at the end of the Buffy review.
my perfect start in the day, thank you! :)
I adore Kate. I know she's a bit hard to swallow and most(?) don't like her / care for her but I really do. I loved her arc and her relationship with Angel. Don't get me started on Epiphany. Gold. I wish Kate had been in seasons 3-5 too. Even if it was just as special guest star. But I'm getting ahead of myself.
What I didn't like about Kate was her lack of development, in a very Connor way. I loved the complexity of her character, but she kept having regression after regression after regression. It got really annoying at times. I'd also have loved to see her coming back because of the beautiful way she left the show
tsukigalleta Very true. There wasn't the best continuity there. But also I saw it like when people repeatedly don't seem to change much in real life despite there being so much that probably should cause them to change their ways / attitudes. She definitely was one-note at times. I loved her final few appearances though.
In fact she's a big part of the reason why I love the episode "Epiphany" :)
tsukigalleta I think her regression was very natural emphasizing how out of control her life was spiraling since discovering demons. I don't think we get the scene in epiphany if she didn't have this behavior.
Part of that had to do with the scheduling with the actress. Originally in season 2 she was supposed to end up joining Angel and friends. But the Actress got a job on Law and Order and left the show.
Hey dude, I love your videos, my brother introduced me to your channel at Christmas and I have watched every episode since! Got even more love for Angel than Buffy for in really enjoying these so far, so many great episodes in Season 1, can't wait to see so many reviews, so as 'I will remember you', 'the ring' and obviously 'hero'. Don't have much to contributed other than keep up the good work!!
Just to throw a spanner in the works, the title on the vhs is Lonely Hearts. So in my opinion, you said it correctly the whole time
When I first saw the non 4:3 version for the first time I actually thought for a moment that there was a 3rd character in the scene that I had somehow missed. It's like the occasional establishing shots in S4 Buffy that are irised out along the edges because that was obviously never supposed to be in frame.
This is one of my top 5 Angel episodes, I like how this episode portrays Angel's lonely life and the aftermath of saving the day, and rarely being rewarded for it.
I must say it is one of the darkest Angel episodes ever with the parasite that switches bodies in order to keep living.
Here's a link to my video of my top 10 Angels episodes, hope you enjoy!
ruclips.net/video/yIeKkXUToy4/видео.html
this therapy session was great
"Action without Faith is empty"
Your videos are just amazing and a joy to watch!! Thank you so much for making them and keep them coming! :)
Its funny how Kate and Gwen from Season 4 just dissappear from the series with no mention from them in Angel's final Season. I liked the Gwen Character with her electricity power she had as for Kate she was an ok character and i loved the mention from her later on about the X-files when she explains the differences between Mulder and Scully in the Sanctuary episode to the other detective guy. I'm a big X-Files fan aswell it was nice hearing both shows are in the same universe. at the time....This episode was a good stand alone.
Blake Goodson grusolog and Justine also go away never returns.
Great analysis!
All the episdoes have something great. Example: Buffy Season One's "The Puppet Show"--all the bits were Buffy, Xander and Willow have to act are pure gold, especially that bit they added after the credits.
Thank you again for that.
Wil Huges made those surprisingly high quality intros? Neat.
Maniaman213 Wil Hughes did the music. AM did the animation.
oh, ok understood.
Absolutely adore her. In the end, she lost her father, her job and simply disappeared from the show. The first time I watched the show, I was hoping she would reappear as a member of Angel's Investigation
love the angel intro!
Dang, Nerd, ANOTHER VIDEO? How do you do it? I'm loving it.
Thank you!!!
Wow some great analysis.
Papa bless
Jesus Ian, go easy on ma boy :P
haha nah, good talk, can't wait for the next
I actually really liked this episode. I don't understand how it got so much flack. This episode felt very much like X Files. And I loved the sexual nature of this episode. This is when I realized that Angel villains...and monsters weren't going to hold back and the writers were going to test the waters on how dark they could get with this. I love the "one night stand" troupes and "STD" Sexually transmitted Demon...reminds me of the movie "it follows".
“Scully the wrong idea!” *sigh*... okay I’ll allow it
Hey, just watched and subscribed. Love what you're doing so far that I've seen. Ugh, I can't go any further until I know what you thought in general of season 3 though.
I'll go ahead and say that I loved it.
In the fight scene, the new guy with the bigger inside him, the 2nd cameraman doesn't get out of the shot far enough. 😎😜🤠
hmm we have Lonely Hearts ... a club ... now all we need is a band
Dingos ate my baby?
Scully is the skeptic.
That freakin intro tho
Gloria Baquera I'm a little mad it's better than the Buffy one
I would love to hear your opinion in The Prodigal in my opinion one of the best episodes this season, that deepens in Angel Secret Origins, and more in his character.
"Before he met Buffy Angel wasn't trying to help anyone." What was he doing then hanging near the Master? The don't like him, they really don't like him, he said. Why not, I assumed that they didn't like him because he was trying to thwart their evil plans. If not, why was Angel near lethal people who really don't like him?
Who does your intro? It kicks ass.
I'm just now thinking about the episode Amends and... ok spoilers but is it possible that the first went after angel because it knew a vampire with a soul was going to beat it ? and assumed it was angel? is that cannon and I'm forgetting or completely wrong or have I cracked something?
i noticed angel not comprehending that kate has a crush on him. he is very smart, but (probably due to the long time he spent alone) doesn't always spot social cues (i am not english, i hope you get what i mean), an aspect of his personality. i remember him not knowing that gunn and fred were dating, or that gunn and wesley had a quibble a bit later. oh and of course nina's signals didn't sink in until wesley laid it on the table.
i was wondering where angel stands on your Character ranking.. he is my fave after buffy
I always wish Angel and Kate have thing with each other
I always change how I feel about this episode. There are things to like, and there are things that make this an incredibly boring rewatch. As you mentioned, pretty much everything you said about the Angel bits of this episode I would agree with. To add to that, it was good to see this little trio was still very much green in terms of how to solve these cases due to Doyle's visions. Its a very makeshift operation to this point and I like that element to it. Very much like in Season 1 Buffy, the Scoobies weren't a solid cohesive kickass group yet. In Season 1, Angel Investigations is the same.
That said, the episode is rather slow and lacked the quiet intimacy of the pilot I feel. That said, it does introduce us to a key character throughout the series in Kate. I do have more to say on the state of the female characters on Angel, but I'll save that for when we get deeper into Season 1 and probably post Season 2 when the show really starts finding its groove. Mind you that doesn't mean a totally negative observation, just an observation.
Nice review ! Lots to think about. I disagree with the chemistry comment, but to each its own I guess.
Oh Kate, I love her arc. She added an element of conflict that I always welcome into my stories lol. In the original Spider-Man comics, Peter Parker had a bully, Flash Thompson, who was a huge Spider-Man fan, but hated Peter. His 1st girlfriend Betty Brant, hated Spider-Man. His boss, J. Johnah Jameson forced him to take pictures of Spider-Man only to slander his name. Peter Parker was always in direct conflict with the people closest to him just for being Spider-Man. This kind of conflict is what I felt Kate introduced to Angel. Always having the wrong idea about Angel, always being there and crossing his path with little reason to trust him. Good stuff.
ok where are you in the world. Because unlike me I doubt you are up posting videos at 4:23 in the morning in Canada. Also I was wondering if you were going to review other shows like your doing with Buffy and Angel. Because I would love to see your pov on other shows I love like Charmed and Xena the warour princess.
Canadian also. Cheers.
Hi... I'm Canadian also.
WE'RE TAKING OVER THE WORLD.
***** We're already on top of the world.
I was never really a fan of Kate as a character i just couldn't relate to her ... Great Ep-Guide though :)
I just want to know the song playing in the back ground at the bar.
I think what it means, Ian, is that Angel sucks at being alone. Ironic, as he's had so much practice.
cue hobastank
Queen Cordy 🙏😍💖
Oh, the episode is actually "Lonely Heart"? How did this plural mistake propagate?
I blame the Beatles.
Just wait 'till Season 2 Episode 1, there is a 4th wall break that is so bad it hurts. (the one moment with mirrors?) @2:43
Not sure what you're referring to, but there is a horrible mirror faux pas in Season 1 "To Shanshu in LA", when Angel follows W&H in his car.
In the gym in the first episode of season 2, there is a bit where angel is supposed to be invisible in mirrors, they use some clever little tricks to make him disappear in the wide shots, but in one 3 second walking shot, you can see D. Boreanz waiting off to the side. It's hilarious.
Oh yeah. I think I caught that one. It's really quick tho.
You make the Buffy Guide based on a book right? Is this Angel Guide the same thing?
Good job by the way, your channel is incredibly good
Mark's book definitely formed the baseline of my knowledge for the Buffy guide and I've relied on it quite a bit.. I go nowhere deep on topics as he does in his text, but I've tried to branch out here and there and include topics and other material he didn't cover. If you check the tentpole reviews (finales, Helpless, Amends, Top 10s) the source lists can sometimes be 4 or 5 deep.
There is no one baseline book for Angel but the same thing applies. I try and do a lot of reading and if something I read makes it into the video essay I cite it in the description. In this case All Things Philosophical on Buffy.
Thank you for the kind word.
I love Angel. I will watch it again and again however how does he stand in the sunlight so many times in the first season? I understand the fifth season (no spoilers) but he stands in sunlight and doesn't smoke.
4:00 - were there some words between "after" and "wandering" that you cut out, or did you just say that weird? :P
I always liked this episode. It was more metaphor-heavy than the pilot, which led me to realize Angel is basically going to Buffy about adults. It's not as good as the pilot or In The Dark, but it sets the tone pretty well. Also, there's Kate. I like Kate.
isn't the club just d'oblique? like, contraction of "de oblique" because you don't pronounce the vowel part of "de" or "le" etc before a word that starts with a vowel in french? as in a different word than "diabolique"? i mean they have some consonants in common but i don't get this reference.
How did you decide to use that specific song (Favorite Secrets) for openings and endings of your videos?
Does it have any connections to the show, to you or do you just like it?
I gotta say I am not looking forward to recapping Kate and Angel passive aggressively dancing around each other for the next season and a half or so. Oh, spoilers.
+CitanulsPumpkin I will endeavor to make it watchable
Passion of the Nerd I'm sure your reviews will be great. But watching along on netflix might start to feel like trying to squeeze that last drop of blood from a stone.
But it is great when Angel finally gives her the what-for in Season 2 during the Darla debacle.
Hey Angel fans do you remember those blue veined Roman yoga type Oracle beings that Angel use to visit? Can you remember what series or episodes they were in and what they were called?
anyone know who the actor is 16 seconds in, saying " your a girl" he looks like john bishop a british comedian,,but not him.
I realise that as this was months ago you probably either found out or just stopped caring, but... His name is Jack Conley. The clip is from the Buffy season 2 ep "Phases", where he plays a werewolf hunter named Cain.
I think this show is better than buffy
Does anyone know if reading the Buffy Season Eight comics will give away any spoilers for Angel as a series?
Yes.
Darn.
Yes, it would give away a fair amount of what happens.
Barnaby Jones All good things in time :)
Just watch Angel, and then start season 8. You should like both, if you liked 'Buffy'.
I am sorry that Kate became a failed character. Was that for extra-narrative reasons? Did she leave the show for Law and Order? There are hints here of an interesting relationship that wasn't fulfilled. The relationship went another way. The alliance and misalliance between a cop and a private eye is of course a Film Noir trope and I was excited about what Whedon and Greenwalt might do with that trope.
I always thought they would revisit why he was able to enter her apartment without an invitation in order to save her life? I mean... I thought that would mean something
Looking today, what I cringe about most is how the whole "vision from powers that be" thing is just such an obvious plot device to have the heroes start being involved in the cases and seek out the 'monster of the week'. If 'Angel' was made today, I'd be far less impress with this, but back then I don't give a damn.
My thoughts on Kate. Kate is a foil for Angel throughout most of her time on the show so I don't think the audience is suppose to really "like" her, but I don't think she was meant to be as universally despised as she is either. Personally, I don't hate her, but I don't like her either. I think she is a wet blanket, but I also sympathize with her very much. I won't elaborate on why I sympathize with her as I'm trying to keep this comment relatively spoiler free, but while her actions can be infuriating at times, I still can't help but feel sorry for her.
I actually liked Kate, until she let her demons control her and not matter how much Angel want her to help her, she view him to see him more as a "villain" than a hero, hell, even in the comics she still has her demons, not matter how much good she tries to do or how much she want to help Angel.
I didn't know people didn't like her. She was a great character and it's a shame she moved on to L&O
whisperienced I didn't find out about the Kate hate until maybe last year. It came as a surprise to me too initially. I actually liked Kate the first couple of times I watched Angel. In fact it wasn't until my most recent re-watch that she began to irritate me. But I only dislike how she becomes a foil for Angel and how she continually distrusts him regardless of how many good things he does. So it's so much me not liking her but how she treats Angel.
Beauty Effulgent Yeah I guess I could see that but when I look at the situation from her eyes this supernatural world is all new and her father is killed by vampires I could see her not trusting Angel.