Angel - Season 2 impressions (episode 6)

[thalia_seawood]

Guise Will Be Guise

For a summary click here.


I have to admit I was a tad annoyed by Virginia at first, but then I came to appreciate the understated humour and the subtle irony of the episode. Watching it made me laugh out loud several times. Favorite moments are:

- Guy: "Are you a creature of the night?"
Wesley: "No. But I was a rogue demon hunter so - I know how to handle myself when things get rough."
Wesley slips on the papers on the floor and lands on his butt.
Guy: "Yeah. You're scary."

- Wesley wearing Angel's coat. Later on, Angel trying to get his coat back from Wesley repeatedly, but being totally overlooked by him.

- Angel to the trio at the table: "We're going. I don't have to sing."
Cordelia: "Oh thank God! (Angel looks at her) I - I mean for your sake, 'cause you don't like to do that."

It's okay, Cordy, I know what you really meant, but I understand. Angel not singing is a very good thing.

- Cordelia imitating Angel:
Cordy: "Right. Right. This is Angel. (Picks up a book, opens it and pretends to read it, leaning her head in one hand.) Oh, no. I can't do anything fun tonight. I have to count my past sins, then alphabetize them. Oh, by the way, I'm thinking of snapping on Friday.

- Love how the fake Swami demon analyses Angel by focusing on his car and his hair style.
Also this line rocks:
Magev: "You're deeply ambivalent."
Angel: "Yeah, well, I am and I'm not."

- The various comments about Angel's curse made me smile:

Magev: "Curse?"
Angel: "Yeah. I thought you knew."
Magev: "Well, they don't tell me everything. So you really can't - at all?"
Angel: "Well, that's part of what makes me special, right?"
Magev: "Right. No, that's real special. - So, it's a sex thing this curse?"
Angel: "Well, no, not specifically."
Magev: "Well, then, what specifically?"

Wesley: "You know this whole curse thing has been *widely* misinterpreted."
Virginia: "Really?"
Wesley: "Oh, yes! Yes, it's less of a curse and more of a hex, actually (she continues to kiss him) Barely that (he kisses her back) a recommendation..."

Angel: "I'm not a eunuch."

- I enjoyed the ironical tone in the final show down where it turns out Virginia is not a virgin and hasn't been for a very long time. Also it's nice to see Wesley in charge for a while with Angel standing muttering on the sidelines.

- Nice ending:
Angel takes it and reads: "Virginia Bryce squired by Mr. Wesley Wyndham-Price, private detective and bodyguard to the stars. -Hah. Squired - who says squired?"
Cordy points at the picture: "Look at him all over her!"
Angel: "Cordelia, you're just jealous that he's getting some attention."
Cordy: "Damned skippy! He's getting famous off this! Reflected glory - that's my thing!"
Angel: "Get a little perspective. (Cordy stalks out and Angel returns to reading the article) 'Bodyguard to the stars.' Yeah, right! - There is no Wyndham-Price Agency."

Comments

[likeadeuce.livejournal.com]

I had a long comment and LJ ate it -- bother!

In brief, this is one of my favorite eps, and one of a few that I always show newbies to explain why I love Wesley. I suppose some of the Virginia scenes are a bit over the top, but I love the twist at the end -- not only that she isn't a virgin (and Wesley is relieved) but that she decides to stick with him at the end, in spite of the lie. So many shows would have made her a one-off character, and ended with her explaining that she couldn't be with Wes b/c he lied to her and he would Learn His Lesson. But V is a practical girl, and besides -- it really was Wes she fell for, not the Angel persona. This ep does always leave me with the question of who is slower on the uptake -- Wes for not realizing she wasn't a virgin, or V for not realizing he wasn't a vampire. Finally, I choose to believe that Cordelia is really jealous of Wesley's relationship with V, though Selena insists I am projecting :)

The Angel plot is terrific as well; I love the parody of therapy with the swami -- and the fact that the fake swami gives bad advice. And Gunn may have the best line in the ep: "That's the plan? Walking real quick was the plan?"

[thalia-seawood.livejournal.com]

I expected more Darla plot which is why I underrated this episode at first.
It's a cool episode for Wesley newbies because it gives us a quick overview over Wesley's character development.

Finally, I choose to believe that Cordelia is really jealous of Wesley's relationship with V, though Selena insists I am projecting :)

I'll back you up in this regard. I just watched the follow up episode and Cordy is jealous. She's needling Wesley with Virginia and is totally happy when he invites her to go with him to a premiere.

And Gunn may have the best line in the ep: "That's the plan? Walking real quick was the plan?"
Upset Angel reverts back to his reckless Liam/early Angelus state... which mirrors Spike's way of behaving. Actually, if Spike was around, Angel *would* plan things more thoroughly, simply to prove to Spike that he's so much more organized and level-headed.

[spikeylover.livejournal.com]

Season two of Angel and season five of Buffy are among my favorites. I think both shows were really hitting on all cylinders during these seasons.


ANGEL: No. It's, it's still her, it's still Darla. It's -- kinda hard to explain.

MAGEV: What hard? You're obsessed.

ANGEL: I guess I am, a little, yeah.

MAGEV: You blame her.

ANGEL: I suppose I do.

MAGEV: You want to punish her.

ANGEL: A bit ...

MAGEV: At the same time you want to thank her.

ANGEL: Thank her?

MAGEV: For the gift she's given you.

ANGEL: Gift?

MAGEV: You're deeply ambivalent.

ANGEL: Yeah, well, I am and I'm not.

MAGEV: You need to get over her. Okay, what does she look like?

ANGEL: She's beautiful. Small, blonde ...

MAGEV: Right. So here's what you do. You go out and find yourself some small, blonde thing. You bed her, you love her, you treat her like crap, you break her heart. You and your inner demon will thank me, I promise.

[thalia-seawood.livejournal.com]

Oh yes! And Angel's facial expression after receiving this bit of advice... He could have told Magev that he already tried that particular therapy - and only felt worse afterwards. *g*

[selenak.livejournal.com]

It's a fun episode and the first, but not the last, Wesley-centric one. Loved the subplot, too. Some people were indignant about the fake Swami's advice re: Darla because of the possible implication that Buffy's relationship with Angel was in parts due to his Darla issues, but it makes me smile each time.

The "not a eunuch" rant is priceless and imo totally meta because a lot of fanfic did define the curse as making sex for Angel impossible.*g*

Wesley's and Virginia's relationship continuing beyond the episode, and Wesley's strengthened confidence as well, were both big plus points. In retrospect, I think this is when Wesley was happiest in the entire show. Heck, this episode is the last light hearted moment for the entire Angel Investigations gang for a good long while.

[thalia-seawood.livejournal.com]

In a way, this episode gives us Wesley character development in a nutshell: From clumsy and insecure to confident leader of the operation.

Heck, this episode is the last light hearted moment for the entire Angel Investigations gang for a good long while.
Oh dear. Well, I know the Darla re-vampirification is approaching fast.

[selenak.livejournal.com]

Yes, indeed, it sums up his arc for the first two seasons, same way Are you now... sums up Angel's.

Oh dear. Well, I know the Darla re-vampirification is approaching fast.

It's not just that.*veg*

[buffyangellvr23.livejournal.com]

I like this ep too.

It could also be seen as a sort of foreshadowing to Wes becoming the team leader later in S3, amongst other already pointed out stuff.