Angel - Season 2 impressions (episode 22)
Jan. 27th, 2006 05:06 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
thalia_seawoodThere's No Place Like Plrtz Glrb
For a summary click here.
- I didn't find it easy to write something about this episode.
While I love the title, the episode itself drags on way too long. It's in particular the scenes between Cordy and Groo that I find boring. Why introduce a love interest for Cordy when both Gunn and Wesley are around. :-) But then, all scenes would have been improved by some cuts.
The highlights:
- The interaction between Wesley and Gunn is lovely.
Wesley: "Forgive me, Gunn. I should never have opened my mouth."
Gunn: "I've got a plan."
Wesley: "Oh thank god! What is it?"
Sasha: "One."
Gunn: "We die horribly and painfully, *you* go to hell and I spend eternity in the arms of baby Jesus."
Wesley: "Oh."
- Wesley is being pushed once more into a leadership position.
Sasha: "You shall lead us!"
Wesley: "Wha... Me? No, no, no, I was just suggesting that..."
Bartok: "No, no, you fought well. The Covenant hates you. And you know the princess."
Sasha: "And you have a *plan*."
Bartok: "Besides, our leader is dead."
Sasha puts the sword in Wesley's hand: "Hail to our new leader!"
Rebels yell: "Hail!"
Wesley aside to Gunn: "Why do people keep putting me in charge of things?"
Gunn: "I have no idea."
Rebels: "Hail!"
This little scene also shows us why Wesley is actually a good choice for a leader: Wesley is good at making plans, he doesn't just jump into action and see how things work out. Despite this, he also has a lot of courage when he's confronted with unexpected situations for which he doesn't have a plan. What he still needs to learn is to make plans under pressure. So far, he's still too insecure to give orders then.
It's funny: Angel likes being a leader, but he doesn't care much for plans. He usually just goes ahead and figures things out as he goes along. In this context it's interesting that Angelus used to enjoy coming up with intricate
plans. Maybe that's why Angel prefers action over deliberation. Only when he's behaving in a morally questionable way (Bloodmoney) do we see him come up with complex planning.
- Cordelia defends her visions. This is an interesting development as it's the first time that Cordelia openly states that she wants to keep them. She had already hinted at it in Disharmony when she told Harmony that she may no longer be rich or popular, but that she feels much more content than during her days on Sunnydale Highschool.
Cordy: "Groo - I can't give up my visions. - I *like* them. Okay, I don't like the searing pain and agony that is steadily getting worse."
Groo: "You are pure human. - You are not meant to carry such a burden."
Cordy: "Maybe not. - But I'm not ready to give them up either. - They're a part of who I am now. They're an honor. And you know - the visions, they only last for like a..."
- I didn't find Lorne's head funny throughout, put this scene was very nice. Loved how it was shot and performed.
Lorne's head lies in the basket, eyes closed.
We get a shot of the Angel, Gunn, Wes and Fred as if we were looking up at them from inside the basket.
Angel: "He was..."
Gunn: "Yeah."
Wesley: "Hmm."
Lorne's eyes pop open: "That's it?"
Angel, Gunn and Wes all recoil with a scream, leaving Fred the only one still framed by the rim of the basket, peering down - completely unmoved.
Lorne: "Where is the praising and extolling of my virtues? Where's the love?"
- Wesley tells Angel to confront the undefeated champion and in his talk with Gunn afterwards we see that he can be remarkable callous.
Angel: "Kill their undefeated champion. - I can't do that without turning into the beast."
Wesley: "I know."
Angel looks around for a moment then takes a step closer to Wes.
Angel: "Look, when I fired you guys the reason I... Darkness was coming out in me. I didn't want you near it. -
The thing that comes out here is ten times worse. - Wes. - I do this - you know I won't come back from it."
Wesley: "Yes, you will. I know you. (Glances over at Gunn) We know you. We know you're a man with a demon inside - not the other way around. *We* know you have the strength to do what needs to be done, and you will come back to us."
Angel and Wes look at each other for a long moment.
Fred: "I could go with you. I know how to prepare the challenge torch."
Wesley puts a hand on Angel's shoulder.
Wesley: "You'll come back."
Angel looks over at Gunn, whose face remains expressionless, then he and Fred leave.
Gunn to Wes: "You really think he'll come back?"
Wesley turning to leave: "I need *him* to think it."
Gunn stares after Wesley.
This is my favorite scene in this episode. It gives Wesley's character a whole new dimension which is *very* cool!
The scene shows that Wesley can be very practical when the need calls for it. If this is good or bad, depends on the situation. There are certainly moments when it makes sense for a leader to be unsentimental.
Part of me is wondering if in this moment Wesley asks something so risky of Angel, because he subconsciously feels bitter about how Angel treated him in the aftermath of the W&H debacle.
- Cordelia kills Silas.
Have to say that this surprised me. It's a nice twist, though, because Cordy is not a helpless victim who needs to be rescued by her male friends. She's able to come out on top by herself as well.
- Cordelia tells Angel that she doesn't love him. This scene made me laugh out loud.
Cordy: "Stop. Stop the fight. Don't hurt him. Stop. (Looks at Groo) I love him. I love him."
Angel: "You love me?"
Cordy frowns at Angel: "Not you, dumb ass. Him! I love him!"
Cordy gives Groo a quick hug.
Angel: "Oh."
- We don't see Numfar in action, but just hearing this line made me grin.
Mom muffled: "Numfar, do the dance of shame."
- The ending kicks a punch when the happy return of the AI team is broken up by Willow bringing the news of Buffy's death.
For a summary click here.
- I didn't find it easy to write something about this episode.
While I love the title, the episode itself drags on way too long. It's in particular the scenes between Cordy and Groo that I find boring. Why introduce a love interest for Cordy when both Gunn and Wesley are around. :-) But then, all scenes would have been improved by some cuts.
The highlights:
- The interaction between Wesley and Gunn is lovely.
Wesley: "Forgive me, Gunn. I should never have opened my mouth."
Gunn: "I've got a plan."
Wesley: "Oh thank god! What is it?"
Sasha: "One."
Gunn: "We die horribly and painfully, *you* go to hell and I spend eternity in the arms of baby Jesus."
Wesley: "Oh."
- Wesley is being pushed once more into a leadership position.
Sasha: "You shall lead us!"
Wesley: "Wha... Me? No, no, no, I was just suggesting that..."
Bartok: "No, no, you fought well. The Covenant hates you. And you know the princess."
Sasha: "And you have a *plan*."
Bartok: "Besides, our leader is dead."
Sasha puts the sword in Wesley's hand: "Hail to our new leader!"
Rebels yell: "Hail!"
Wesley aside to Gunn: "Why do people keep putting me in charge of things?"
Gunn: "I have no idea."
Rebels: "Hail!"
This little scene also shows us why Wesley is actually a good choice for a leader: Wesley is good at making plans, he doesn't just jump into action and see how things work out. Despite this, he also has a lot of courage when he's confronted with unexpected situations for which he doesn't have a plan. What he still needs to learn is to make plans under pressure. So far, he's still too insecure to give orders then.
It's funny: Angel likes being a leader, but he doesn't care much for plans. He usually just goes ahead and figures things out as he goes along. In this context it's interesting that Angelus used to enjoy coming up with intricate
plans. Maybe that's why Angel prefers action over deliberation. Only when he's behaving in a morally questionable way (Bloodmoney) do we see him come up with complex planning.
- Cordelia defends her visions. This is an interesting development as it's the first time that Cordelia openly states that she wants to keep them. She had already hinted at it in Disharmony when she told Harmony that she may no longer be rich or popular, but that she feels much more content than during her days on Sunnydale Highschool.
Cordy: "Groo - I can't give up my visions. - I *like* them. Okay, I don't like the searing pain and agony that is steadily getting worse."
Groo: "You are pure human. - You are not meant to carry such a burden."
Cordy: "Maybe not. - But I'm not ready to give them up either. - They're a part of who I am now. They're an honor. And you know - the visions, they only last for like a..."
- I didn't find Lorne's head funny throughout, put this scene was very nice. Loved how it was shot and performed.
Lorne's head lies in the basket, eyes closed.
We get a shot of the Angel, Gunn, Wes and Fred as if we were looking up at them from inside the basket.
Angel: "He was..."
Gunn: "Yeah."
Wesley: "Hmm."
Lorne's eyes pop open: "That's it?"
Angel, Gunn and Wes all recoil with a scream, leaving Fred the only one still framed by the rim of the basket, peering down - completely unmoved.
Lorne: "Where is the praising and extolling of my virtues? Where's the love?"
- Wesley tells Angel to confront the undefeated champion and in his talk with Gunn afterwards we see that he can be remarkable callous.
Angel: "Kill their undefeated champion. - I can't do that without turning into the beast."
Wesley: "I know."
Angel looks around for a moment then takes a step closer to Wes.
Angel: "Look, when I fired you guys the reason I... Darkness was coming out in me. I didn't want you near it. -
The thing that comes out here is ten times worse. - Wes. - I do this - you know I won't come back from it."
Wesley: "Yes, you will. I know you. (Glances over at Gunn) We know you. We know you're a man with a demon inside - not the other way around. *We* know you have the strength to do what needs to be done, and you will come back to us."
Angel and Wes look at each other for a long moment.
Fred: "I could go with you. I know how to prepare the challenge torch."
Wesley puts a hand on Angel's shoulder.
Wesley: "You'll come back."
Angel looks over at Gunn, whose face remains expressionless, then he and Fred leave.
Gunn to Wes: "You really think he'll come back?"
Wesley turning to leave: "I need *him* to think it."
Gunn stares after Wesley.
This is my favorite scene in this episode. It gives Wesley's character a whole new dimension which is *very* cool!
The scene shows that Wesley can be very practical when the need calls for it. If this is good or bad, depends on the situation. There are certainly moments when it makes sense for a leader to be unsentimental.
Part of me is wondering if in this moment Wesley asks something so risky of Angel, because he subconsciously feels bitter about how Angel treated him in the aftermath of the W&H debacle.
- Cordelia kills Silas.
Have to say that this surprised me. It's a nice twist, though, because Cordy is not a helpless victim who needs to be rescued by her male friends. She's able to come out on top by herself as well.
- Cordelia tells Angel that she doesn't love him. This scene made me laugh out loud.
Cordy: "Stop. Stop the fight. Don't hurt him. Stop. (Looks at Groo) I love him. I love him."
Angel: "You love me?"
Cordy frowns at Angel: "Not you, dumb ass. Him! I love him!"
Cordy gives Groo a quick hug.
Angel: "Oh."
- We don't see Numfar in action, but just hearing this line made me grin.
Mom muffled: "Numfar, do the dance of shame."
- The ending kicks a punch when the happy return of the AI team is broken up by Willow bringing the news of Buffy's death.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2006-01-27 04:37 pm (UTC)The scene with Wesley and Angel is very cool, yes, and points to Wesley being capable of sacrificing friends for the big picture. Which is very much a Watcher trait. More about this after you've reached half point of season 3.
Gunn and Wesley interaction: treasure it while it lasts, is all I'm saying.
no subject
Date: 2006-01-27 06:45 pm (UTC)And that "you love me?" scene is maybe the only time I have any sympathy for Angel/Cordy :).
As for the Gunn thing about reconstruction, somebody seriously needs to be slapped (not only for the clunky racial message but for the extraordinarily bad interpretation of what American reconstruction was like!)
no subject
Date: 2006-01-27 09:03 pm (UTC)(And of course since Joss is the overall producer, you can slap him as well. In a fannish, i.e. Buffy punches Spike way which indicates UST and impending (spoiler). Since you write RPS about him.)
no subject
Date: 2006-01-27 09:47 pm (UTC)Anyway, Joss is meant to be with Alexis. Clearly. I would not get in the way of that OTP for anything.
no subject
Date: 2006-01-30 07:18 am (UTC)So far it's the same for me. I really disliked the "Angel has romantic feelings for Cordy" scenes in season 2.
no subject
Date: 2006-01-30 07:21 am (UTC)well, i'll hold my peace until you get further. I will say that it gets better in s4. mostly.
no subject
Date: 2006-01-30 07:16 am (UTC)Gunn and Wesley interaction: treasure it while it lasts, is all I'm saying.
*g* Yes, I know Joss' tendency to break up friendships.
The look Gunn gives Wesley after Wes' says "I need him to think it." already shows that Gunn will become wary of Wes.
no subject
Date: 2006-01-28 07:45 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-01-30 07:09 am (UTC)Season 2 had the Darla arc with some brilliant performances all around.
So far I've only seen 4 episodes of season 3 and am not that impressed. There's some nice character interaction, but I don't get any feelings of "Wow! So cool!!". :-)
I've heard some good things about Angel season 4, but am sure to love season 5. I've seen some vids about Angel and Spike - and these two have so much chemistry it will be fun to see them interact on a regular basis.
no subject
Date: 2006-01-30 07:23 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-01-30 09:33 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-01-30 08:15 am (UTC)No, seriously, my own personal ranking is
4
Darla arc of season 2, but not the rest.
1 and 5 on an equal basis (good character stuff, but too many standalone eps for this arc-girl to rank it on top)
3
no subject
Date: 2006-01-30 12:29 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-03-13 07:28 pm (UTC)No, I don't think it's just because Wes feels bitter - unless he stores up a boatload of bitterness inside, because he frequently makes these kinds of decisions. This one is just the harbinger. (Not saying any more)
no subject
Date: 2006-03-19 10:46 am (UTC)If there's an easy way and a hard way, Wesley takes the hard way. Even if the easy way would be the better option. He has this urge to be a marthyr - which says a lot about what his childhood looked like. Achievements without suffering obviously didn't count.