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Date Posted: 10:21:12 02/12/04 Thu
Author: Kuzibah
Author Host/IP: 12.175.117.195
Subject: Angel 5/13 (SPOILERS)

To start with, let me say that I found last night's episode very eh. Not a standout, but fairly entertaining for what it was.

Mainly it was a further exploration of the season's theme, which is where the line gets drawn between good and evil, and that purpose was served well. Questions were raised that have no easy answers, but we'll get to that in a second.

The plot itself was somewhat whack. Not completely crack-tastic (we'll have to wait a week for that...) but not entirely logical within the established timeline of the show. No, scratch that. For long-time fans (*waves*) there were plot holes you could navigate a sub through. Some of the dumber ones: The government not only tracks vampires, but knows when they're souled? The "Initiative" was around during WWII? Angel has *another* vampire offspring we never heard of (just how many are running around out there)? The Americans who captured the sub let their German prisoner just wander around? Huh?

But the big one? Angel and Spike ran into each other in 1943? Spike, who knew instantly something was up with Angel in Sunnydale, and accused him of the worst kind of betrayal, pretty much shrugs off his appearance in a Nazi sub? I mean, come ON! This snaps the bounds of credibility, people. Although, it was fun to see Spike in all his bratty pre-chip glory, and to see Angel keep him under control by dragging him around the sub by the scruff of his neck, but I don't know. Smacks of bad fanfic.

Still, we open more cans of ambiguous worms. The big one, of course, is the one that went unsaid but was implied by having Spike walk around in a Nazi armband the entire episode: it isn't always as simple as Humans=Good, Demons=Bad. This may be the crux upon which the entire show revolves.

A few things: It's interesting and fun that some of Spike's character traits are consistent over time.

The Mark Harmon look-alike who played the lead American was really inconsistent. The director should have watched that and clamped down on him.

The two other vamps captured by the Nazis were amusing, though if they're going to re-use Camden Toy, they should at least have more variation in his make-up.

Spike's vehement declaration that he wouldn't be experimented on by the government: famous last words. And I wonder if the Initiative ever made the connection between 1943 Spike and Hostile 17, seeing as they apparently track vampires. *ahem*

Going back to the teaser: Is Gunn starting to lose his lawyer super-powers? Interesting.

Eve has supoosedly dropped off the face of the earth? Oh, don't tease me.

Favorite line? Spike: You're still a dick.
Me: Right there with you, buddy.

Really, really nice denoument with Angel and Spike in the office. If they continue this understated understanding of their common ground, I, for one, wouldn't mind.

Finally, re: next week's trailer. Even having seen the photos yesterday, I succumbed to a debilitating giggle fit. Hee hee hee, I can't wait.

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Replies:

[> Re: Angel 5/13 (SPOILERS) -- Pouncer, 10:38:30 02/12/04 Thu (156.80.140.115)

I think "eh" is about right. Nothing about the episode drew me in emotionally. It was an interesting story, and I'm willing to shrug at canon errors, but I felt like the episode lacked a soul. Much like Souled Angel's offspring. I did like him, the sort of tragic nature of turning him to save them all. But then Angel abandons him, because he knows that his new childe will be evil. Angel is such an appallingly bad father. I wonder if we were supposed to draw a connection with Connor?


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[> Only slightly better than the Andrew debacle of a few weeks ago. -- Grim ,_,_), 11:25:06 02/12/04 Thu (66.95.229.84)

MO-O-ONkey crack! Get your MONkey Crack here!

Lawson gets out of a staking by telling Angel he had an "ace in the hole." The "ace" was that he had Angel's friends tied up. So WHAT? Angel could have killed him anyway and just let his friends down.

The Initiative thing is officilly beyond old. It didn't work the first time, or the second. And it's NOT working now. Get OFF it.

One question raised is whether some of Angel's soul passed on to his child. The answer is ambiguous at best. We were never given the chance to find out. Lawson is dust. It would have been an interesting point to follow and may yet yield some interesting plots in the future. Does Angel's overarching prophecy have something to do with saving vampires by giving them all souls and consciences? i'd like to see that possibility explored.


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[> Re: Angel 5/13 (SPOILERS) -- GG, 04:31:06 02/13/04 Fri (62.254.32.5)

I would have to agree with eh. *shrug*

messes with canon, that's for sure. wasn't Angel all broody and guilt ridden during that time?


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[> [> oh and -- GG, 04:39:32 02/13/04 Fri (62.254.32.5)

I found it hard to take nosferatu seriously when he looked just like the Mutant Enemy Guy...I kept expecting him to say "Grrrr argh"


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[> It probably was my favorite since "The Somnambulist." -- wwolfe, 00:41:06 02/17/04 Tue (209.179.146.187)

At least since Drusilla burst in on Angel and Darla in Season two.

The connection to the Initiative thrilled me. It was the very first time I ever got any pleasure from that plot line, and I loved that they made it analagous to the race between America and Germany to invent the A-bomb.

The introduction of "Spike, Prince of Lies - Prince of Lies, Spike" cracked me up.

As you did, I enjoyed the way this episode tied in with the season's theme of using evil means for a good end.

My enjoyment might have been abetted by the fact that this was the first episode of either show that I've ever had an opportunity to watch with a fellow fan. But whatever the reason, I enjoyed it thoroughly, start to finish.

James shouldn't wear slicked-back black hair, though - it gives him a very Nixonian hairline.


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[> [> It's fun watching with a friend, isn't it -- Kuzibah, 08:32:26 02/17/04 Tue (12.175.117.195)

I can't believe you've never had the chance to do that.

And I didn't mind James with black hair, but I never want to see a vamp singing in game face again. *shudder*


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