Angel - Season 1 impressions (episode 22)
Dec. 9th, 2005 12:56 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
thalia_seawoodTo Shanshu in L.A.
For a summary click here.
Very nice final season 1 episode. A main theme in this episode is friendship.
Angel, Wesley and Cordelia - Friends and Family
I heart all the interaction between Angel, Wesley and Cordy in this episode!! E.g. scenes like this? Priceless:
Cordy: "Well, hurry up and figure out what it says about Angel, because - I wanna know what it says about me. If there is torrid romance in my future - massive wealth? If I have to I'll settle for enviable fame."
Wesley: "This is an ancient sacred text, not a magic eight ball."
Cordy: "Nobody gets my humor."
Angel: "I thought it was funny."
- The first scene shows us Wesley, a man with a mission (nothing will stop him from deciphering the prophecy). Angel, on the other hand, acts as if the prophecy doesn't concern him at all.
I can sympathize with Angel's non-reaction: He has lived for such a long time. At the moment, he just sees his ownunlife as a burden and the idea of finally dying would be a relief. In fact, I think he's only alive, because he has the urge to atone for his guilt and therefore wouldn't consider suicide an option.
However, Wesley and Cordelia care deeply for him by the end of season 1: They are totally shocked when they realise that Angel might die. Cordy tries to cover it up by being snarky in her selfish way, doesn't quite succeed though. We get the impression that they try to anchor him to the world.
Cordy: "But you said it was all about the vampire with the soul. (Wesley looks at her then they both look at Angel, who is reading his book as if he hadn't even heard Wesley) Angel is going to die?"
Angel glances up: "Oh. Anything else?"
Cordy: "He certainly took that well. - Is this that opportune time to talk about my raise?"
Wesley: "It's probably years off - ah, after the coming battles."
Cordy: "My raise?"
Wesley: "Apocalyptic prophecies aren't exactly a science. And-and I could be way off the mark, so - no reason to be concerned."
Angel never looking up from his book: "Hmm."
Wesley: "So it's good you're not concerned. - Not - even remotely concerned."
- Once again it's Wesley who understands Angel:
Wesley: "He's got a soul - but he's not a part of the world. (Gets up) He-he can never be part of the world."
Cordy: "Because he doesn't want stuff? - That's ridiculous. (Wesley takes her doughnut away from her) Hey! I want that!"
Wesley: "What connects us to life?"
Cordy: "Right now? I'm going with doughnuts."
Wesley: "What connects us to life is the simple truth that we are part of it. - We live, we grow, we change. - But Angel..."
Cordy: "Can't do any of those things. - Well, what are you saying - that Angel has nothing to look forward to? That he going to go on forever, in the world, but always cut off from it?"
Wesley: "Yes."
- Cordy in her attempts to make Angel strike a connection to the world is very, very funny:
Angel laughs a little as he looks at her: "No. I don't want anything. (Cordelia makes a sound and looks at Wesley) Am I supposed to know what this is about?"
Wesley: "We - were just discussing how - you don't - want that many things."
Cordy: "You're cut off. But don't worry, I'm gonna help you with that."
Angel: "Oh. Good."
Cordy: "We'll start small. Keep it simple. - How would you like a puppy? (Angel just looks at her) Right. - A Ficus? They're low maintenance. - Ant farm?"
- The present Cordy selects for Angel (lots and lots of drawing materials) is interesting. I'm not sure she knows that Angelus loved to paint. Did she ever see the drawings he made of Buffy and Joyce? Angel also draws, e.g. we see his sketch of Penn. I'm still wondering how he would have received this present. Would he have enjoyed it or would it have brought back bad memories?
- A tough episode for Angel's friends: Cordelia is overwhelmed by her visions. Wesley is nearly killed when their ofice building & Angel's home explodes. And this is what allows Angel to realise what they mean to him: He sees them as family.
Angel: "I'm looking for Cordelia Chase."
[...]
Angel: "What happened?"
Doctor: "Are you family?"
Angel: "Yes!"
Cordelia confirms this bond by the end of the episode:
Cordy hands Angel the cup with the blood: "You too. (Angel looks up at her) Don't be embarrassed. We're family."
Kate - Shattered Friendship
- Kate has gained a reputation for dealing with all the cases that have a supernatural tinge to them.
- Too bad the friendship between Kate and Angel has totally fractured. I feel sorry for Kate: She's deeply unhappy and alone - and desperately tries not to feel much of anything. Lashing out at Angel is a reflex; it helps her not to confront her feelings. Of course, her tactics suck. The more she pushes people away, the more she hurts herself.
- Angel has accepted Kate's accusations, but when his friends are in danger he stands up to her.
- I still hope Kate finds some peace within herself and can recover her friendship with Angel. (No, I don't want to see them romantically involved, but I did like the understated friendship between them.)
David Nabbit - Man Without Friends
- He only has a small part in the introduction scene, but he's someone who has no real friends, who is lonely and would like to be friends with Angel and co.. Their life of excitement appeals to him.
Other Themes
- The Oracles are dead. This development makes sense story wise. I'm amazed though that they aren't truly immortal.
- I liked Gunn in this episode. He just has a short scene, but I liked how he interacted with Angel.
- Lindsey has decided on which side he wants to fight. What I appreciate about him is that he makes spontanous decisions, e.g. taking over reading the incantation, and is willing to risk a lot in order to stop Angel. What I don't appreciate about him is his general moral judgement.
He can talk to Anakin Skywalker and also Wormtail to get advice on how to deal with lost limbs.
- Darla is back. Am definitely looking forward to see all the episodes with her present. Introducing Darla at the end of season 1 means that just as Angel has found his new family, his old family comes back to haunt him. Well, it's only Darla so far, but who knows.
- Cordelia: I hope she doesn't loose all her snark now that she has had all the terrifying visions. I think helping others and being snarky isn't mutually exclusive! In fact, a wicked sense of humor should help her in dealing with the sorrows of the world.
For a summary click here.
Very nice final season 1 episode. A main theme in this episode is friendship.
Angel, Wesley and Cordelia - Friends and Family
I heart all the interaction between Angel, Wesley and Cordy in this episode!! E.g. scenes like this? Priceless:
Cordy: "Well, hurry up and figure out what it says about Angel, because - I wanna know what it says about me. If there is torrid romance in my future - massive wealth? If I have to I'll settle for enviable fame."
Wesley: "This is an ancient sacred text, not a magic eight ball."
Cordy: "Nobody gets my humor."
Angel: "I thought it was funny."
- The first scene shows us Wesley, a man with a mission (nothing will stop him from deciphering the prophecy). Angel, on the other hand, acts as if the prophecy doesn't concern him at all.
I can sympathize with Angel's non-reaction: He has lived for such a long time. At the moment, he just sees his own
However, Wesley and Cordelia care deeply for him by the end of season 1: They are totally shocked when they realise that Angel might die. Cordy tries to cover it up by being snarky in her selfish way, doesn't quite succeed though. We get the impression that they try to anchor him to the world.
Cordy: "But you said it was all about the vampire with the soul. (Wesley looks at her then they both look at Angel, who is reading his book as if he hadn't even heard Wesley) Angel is going to die?"
Angel glances up: "Oh. Anything else?"
Cordy: "He certainly took that well. - Is this that opportune time to talk about my raise?"
Wesley: "It's probably years off - ah, after the coming battles."
Cordy: "My raise?"
Wesley: "Apocalyptic prophecies aren't exactly a science. And-and I could be way off the mark, so - no reason to be concerned."
Angel never looking up from his book: "Hmm."
Wesley: "So it's good you're not concerned. - Not - even remotely concerned."
- Once again it's Wesley who understands Angel:
Wesley: "He's got a soul - but he's not a part of the world. (Gets up) He-he can never be part of the world."
Cordy: "Because he doesn't want stuff? - That's ridiculous. (Wesley takes her doughnut away from her) Hey! I want that!"
Wesley: "What connects us to life?"
Cordy: "Right now? I'm going with doughnuts."
Wesley: "What connects us to life is the simple truth that we are part of it. - We live, we grow, we change. - But Angel..."
Cordy: "Can't do any of those things. - Well, what are you saying - that Angel has nothing to look forward to? That he going to go on forever, in the world, but always cut off from it?"
Wesley: "Yes."
- Cordy in her attempts to make Angel strike a connection to the world is very, very funny:
Angel laughs a little as he looks at her: "No. I don't want anything. (Cordelia makes a sound and looks at Wesley) Am I supposed to know what this is about?"
Wesley: "We - were just discussing how - you don't - want that many things."
Cordy: "You're cut off. But don't worry, I'm gonna help you with that."
Angel: "Oh. Good."
Cordy: "We'll start small. Keep it simple. - How would you like a puppy? (Angel just looks at her) Right. - A Ficus? They're low maintenance. - Ant farm?"
- The present Cordy selects for Angel (lots and lots of drawing materials) is interesting. I'm not sure she knows that Angelus loved to paint. Did she ever see the drawings he made of Buffy and Joyce? Angel also draws, e.g. we see his sketch of Penn. I'm still wondering how he would have received this present. Would he have enjoyed it or would it have brought back bad memories?
- A tough episode for Angel's friends: Cordelia is overwhelmed by her visions. Wesley is nearly killed when their ofice building & Angel's home explodes. And this is what allows Angel to realise what they mean to him: He sees them as family.
Angel: "I'm looking for Cordelia Chase."
[...]
Angel: "What happened?"
Doctor: "Are you family?"
Angel: "Yes!"
Cordelia confirms this bond by the end of the episode:
Cordy hands Angel the cup with the blood: "You too. (Angel looks up at her) Don't be embarrassed. We're family."
Kate - Shattered Friendship
- Kate has gained a reputation for dealing with all the cases that have a supernatural tinge to them.
- Too bad the friendship between Kate and Angel has totally fractured. I feel sorry for Kate: She's deeply unhappy and alone - and desperately tries not to feel much of anything. Lashing out at Angel is a reflex; it helps her not to confront her feelings. Of course, her tactics suck. The more she pushes people away, the more she hurts herself.
- Angel has accepted Kate's accusations, but when his friends are in danger he stands up to her.
- I still hope Kate finds some peace within herself and can recover her friendship with Angel. (No, I don't want to see them romantically involved, but I did like the understated friendship between them.)
David Nabbit - Man Without Friends
- He only has a small part in the introduction scene, but he's someone who has no real friends, who is lonely and would like to be friends with Angel and co.. Their life of excitement appeals to him.
Other Themes
- The Oracles are dead. This development makes sense story wise. I'm amazed though that they aren't truly immortal.
- I liked Gunn in this episode. He just has a short scene, but I liked how he interacted with Angel.
- Lindsey has decided on which side he wants to fight. What I appreciate about him is that he makes spontanous decisions, e.g. taking over reading the incantation, and is willing to risk a lot in order to stop Angel. What I don't appreciate about him is his general moral judgement.
He can talk to Anakin Skywalker and also Wormtail to get advice on how to deal with lost limbs.
- Darla is back. Am definitely looking forward to see all the episodes with her present. Introducing Darla at the end of season 1 means that just as Angel has found his new family, his old family comes back to haunt him. Well, it's only Darla so far, but who knows.
- Cordelia: I hope she doesn't loose all her snark now that she has had all the terrifying visions. I think helping others and being snarky isn't mutually exclusive! In fact, a wicked sense of humor should help her in dealing with the sorrows of the world.
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no subject
Date: 2005-12-09 06:06 am (UTC)The Shanshu prophecy is of course central to the developing mythology.
Cordelia's present: I think Angel loves to draw in both incarnations, but with a soul we usually only see him do it when he's in obsessive mood about an (old) family member, so yes, it definitely ties him to his past in his mind. Whether or not Cordelia knows - hm. She was around during Passion, but unless Buffy showed her the sketches...
Kate: wait and see.
David Nabbit: will never be seen again, unfortunately.
What I appreciate about him is that he makes spontanous decisions, e.g. taking over reading the incantation, and is willing to risk a lot in order to stop Angel. What I don't appreciate about him is his general moral judgement.
And let's just say that since he didn't need the scroll anymore after the incantation was complete, holding on to it out of pettiness (he knew, as he says, that this will help Angel save Cordelia), being willing to leave a girl in a vision-induced coma? Doesn't exactly help me feel sorry for the loss of limb. But yes, he shows courage and initiative here.
Cordelia: I hope she doesn't loose all her snark now that she has had all the terrifying visions. I think helping others and being snarky isn't mutually exclusive! In fact, a wicked sense of humor should help her in dealing with the sorrows of the world.
Um. Um. Ahem. Let's just say in season 2, you're safe. Um.
no subject
Date: 2005-12-11 09:56 pm (UTC)Oh yes, I'm already getting ready for the tragedy...
The Shanshu prophecy is of course central to the developing mythology.
Can't believe I hardly mentioned it in my impressions post. I was rather tired when I wrote it. I had found it fascinating, especially since it talks about a vampire with a soul. Now I already know that Spike will also gain a soul. (It's impossible to escape this spoiler when most fanfiction pages lists categorize Spike fiction in "William. Unsouled Spike. Souled Spike.". :-) Also there was this one line in Destiny.) So I was wondering what will happen when Spike gets his soul. Can the prophecy relate to both Angel and Spike? Or "can there only be one"?
She was around during Passion, but unless Buffy showed her the sketches...
Actually I'm thinking now that she doesn't know about this. She seems unsure if Angel would enjoy drawing when she talks to the saleswoman.
David Nabbit: will never be seen again, unfortunately.
Oh! I liked him.
And let's just say that since he didn't need the scroll anymore after the incantation was complete, holding on to it out of pettiness (he knew, as he says, that this will help Angel save Cordelia), being willing to leave a girl in a vision-induced coma? Doesn't exactly help me feel sorry for the loss of limb. But yes, he shows courage and initiative here.
Hm, I didn't catch that. I thought he was still holding on to the scroll because the scroll would allow Angel to find out too much about himself and the senior partners didn't want this to happen. Since Lilah needles Lindsey a bit earlier on -- reminding him of the guy who failed the senior partners and had to eat his own liver -- I thought he was rather motivated to give his very best. I thought he was more motivated by fear of failure than by malice in this instant.
Um. Um. Ahem. Let's just say in season 2, you're safe. Um.
Ah. So Florence Nightingale!Cordelia is lurking in the future... *shudders*
no subject
Date: 2005-12-12 07:31 am (UTC)Spike and Angel are wondering the same thing.*g* It's a big theme in season 5.
I thought he was still holding on to the scroll because the scroll would allow Angel to find out too much about himself and the senior partners didn't want this to happen.
From the transcript:
LINDSEY: (holds up scroll) I see that what happened here tonight was foretold. That doesn't bode well for you. I see that you are either the one with the power or you're powerless.
ANGEL: Uh-huh. You see what I'm gonna do to you if you don't give me that scroll?
LINDSEY: You need the words of Anatole to cure your friend. She's your connection to the Powers That Be. And since it's foretold that we sever all your connections... well... (holds scroll into fire)
(Angel throws scythe, cutting off Lindsey’s hand at the wrist; Angel retrieves scroll)
ANGEL: Don't believe everything you're foretold. (exits)
no subject
Date: 2005-12-13 10:18 pm (UTC)Totally overheard that.
But this moment is consistent with what we've seen from Lindsey so far. When he has decided on doing something, he goes through with it, no matter what. Saving some children. Bringing Darla back to life and bringing Angel down. All the same when he's decided to pursue a goal.
What I find really fascinating is that Whedon gives us a bunch of lawyers who are human beings and have souls, yet nevertheless are utterly ruthless. I think having Lindsey save the children is supposed to show us that he can distinguish between right and wrong - he simply chooses not to follow his conscience most of the time.