Power Play/Not Fade Away
We made it to the end! We chat all about the final two episodes of Angel, which thankfully was as good as we remember but also shows the strengths and flaws of the series as a whole. Let’s get to work.
Time Bomb/The Girl In Question
What can we say? We are almost finished with Angel and unfortunately, these are the episodes we get for the antepenultimate run. Sigh. We tried to be generous, really, but we’re very over the Buffy of it all.
Underneath/Origin
Lindsay’s back! Connor is back! This week, we talk through some tying up of loose ends and/or revisiting dropped plot lines, depending on how charitable you want to be. Lindsay gets rescued from a suburban hell dimension, Connor’s parents show up looking for help for their super-powered son, and Wesley learns the truth about Angel’s deal with Wolfram & Hart.
A Hole in the World/Shells
It's a tragic double header for Angel this week, as another woman on this show dies to birth a demon. Sigh.
Why We Fight/Smile Time
It’s Smile Time! Yes, we finally got to watch the puppet episode! And it’s still pretty great! But we also watched “Why We Fight” which was less good. We talk about both episodes this week, with a little bit too much about the cuteness of puppets, maybe.
Damage/You're Welcome
It’s almost an episode of Buffy:The Continuing Story this week when Andrew shows up in LA to bring in a newly discovered Potential, and deliver some unwelcome feedback to Angel and co. on their current status in the fight against evil. And then finally we get to “You’re Welcome” and honestly we’ve got some mixed reactions and post-Season 4 hangups about it.
Harm's Way/Soul Purpose
It’s a day in the life of Harmony Kendall, young vampire just trying to make it on her own! This episode is delightful and we can’t get enough of the comedy, pain, and resourcefulness Angel’s assistant brings to Wolfram & Hart. We also watch “Soul Purpose” and have less to say about that.
Lineage/Destiny
Wesley’s father shows up at W&H, spinning Wesley backwards in his character arc and causing us to ask a lot of questions about Angel alternate histories. Then, Spike gets mail! He’s corporeal! He and Angle must fight it out over a magic cup! Nope, someone from the past is just pulling the strings.
Life of the Party/The Cautionary Tale of Numero Cinco
It’s our Pudding Podcast! Well, we talk about it for 10 minutes anyway, but you can skip ahead to hear our thoughts on Lorne’s subconscious and Numero Cinco, a man without hope who might be able to show Angel how to care again.
Unleashed/Hell Bound
This week, Angel encounters a werewolf supper club and the team asks why Wolfram & Hart doesn't have more hauntings. Spike confronts an enemy and tries to avoid slipping into hell.
Conviction/Just Rewards
Angel is running the L.A. branch of Wolfram & Hart and discovering the perks and challenges of his new position, as are Fred, Wesley, Lorne and Gunn. Harmony returns as Angel’s new assistant, we meet the mysterious Eve, and Blondie Bear is back!
Angel, Season 5
Welcome to the final season of our Buffy and Angel journey! This season, we a watching the final season of Angel, and hoping the show rises to improve in it’s new solo position. Things look promising, as Angel and friends take over the L.A. branch of Wolfram & Hart, and encounter old friends and enemies along the way. There’s love, tragic deaths, and one hell of a final showdown to look forward to. Let’s go!
Chosen/Home
We made it to the end of Buffy! Cue some tears (but no bubbly, Allie is in Boston before noon). We start with the Angel finale, and the Wolfram & Hart deal has us very excited for next season, bye bye Jasmine! Then, we dive into the Buffy finale, where we appreciate the emotions while quibbling with some of the plot. Then, we go over our rankings for the show as a whole and how a non-binge viewing has changed our minds.
End Of Days/Peace Out
This week, Buffy reenacts the Sword In the Stone, Angel arrives in town, and everyone prepares for the final battle. Meanwhile on Angel, our hero is somehow also in a hell dimension, while his friends wait in a cell for his return with the word to destroy Jasmine.
Touched/Sacrifice
It’s a brazil nut of an episode for Buffy this week, when Faith replaces Buffy as lead slayer and…everyone just has sex. Buffy finds her sword in the stone and Faith leads the potentials into a trap. On Angel, the gang is on the run from Jasmine’s minions, and they stumble on a very Rumplestiltskin-like clue to defeating her in the sewers.
Empty Places/The Magic Bullet
On Buffy, tensions come to a head as the potentials, Giles and Xander confront Buffy over her leadership. Spike and Andrew take a road trip and learn more about what Caleb is after. In LA, Fred tries desperately to show Angel and the others the truth about Jasmine.
Dirty Girls/Shiny Happy People
It’s refreshing for Buffy to again have a flesh and blood villain to fight instead of whatever the First is, and Caleb brings a real creep factor to this story. But would it have worked better if he were introduced earlier? Then, we didn’t hate Angel this week but we have a hard time believing this episode was seasons in the making and planning. And don’t get us started on Fred and the sweater.
Lies My Parents Told Me/Inside Out
This Buffy episode doesn’t quite live up to our memories of enjoying it, and we have our quibbles, but we do get some good flashbacks for both Spike and Principal Wood. Although, what is the show trying to say with these parallel tales? We aren’t sure. Let’s face it though, this episode didn’t have to try very hard to be better than Angel. Oh wow. But anyway… have you seen Yennefer’s eyeshadow on The Witcher?
Storyteller/Players
Andrew treats us to his version of Masterpiece Theater this week, but his attempts to catalogue the work of the slayer lead ultimately to a confrontation of his own actions and part he’s played in the rise of the First. On Angel, the team starts to put the pieces together about Cordelia and the Beast’s master, while Gunn helps Gwen with a mission.
Get It Done/Orpheus
It’s a day in the life in Sunnyvale this week, as So.Much.Is.Happening. and we don’t quite know which part is supposed to be important? Let us not forget this is episode with the bonkers insanity of Buffy opening a portal with shadow puppets and Andrew making funnel cake!! As for Angel, we still don’t know what is supposed to be going on with Cordelia but thank god Willow showed up to breathe some life into the hotel!
First Date/Release
We planned the TED Talk for Ginny’s wedding! But also, we discussed “First Date” and “Release” and since when was Buffy in love with Spike? That’s a bad retcon. Good retcon would be Principle Wood being the son of a slayer killed by Spike. We’ll allow that. As usual, there’s an interesting story on Angel that the show is ignoring. This week felt like a rehash, and we hope to be done with Angelus soon!
