AngelProductions The cello in the music just *kills*. Mournful and soulful and can't make up its mind where it sits on the dark/light spectrum. Just perfect for Angel.
Aw, you didn't play the whole thing. "I don't want to share my feelings. I want to find the guy who did this and look him in the eye." "And then what?" "And then I'm going to share my feelings."
I love Angel and it makes me sad when people dismiss it as not being as good as Buffy. The shows are very different and Angel gives me something that Buffy doesn't and vice versa
There is another thing I noticed that was different between the shows. The victims. I always felt so much sadness for all the victims in Angel more so then Buffy. In this episode Angel couldn't save Tina...Just like Buffy couldn't save Eddie in Freshmen. But you felt the tragedy of Tina's Death more because this show really takes time to make the viewer appreciate the victims. We got to know Tina..we understood her struggle and rooted for her to get out of there. Then Russel killed her. It was heartbreaking. And Because BTVS revolves around Buffy's growth it doesn't take time to analyze its victims or make you feel sorry for them in the way Angel does.
Cleapatra25 I disagree there are a few victims that Buffy couldn't save that you felt something for Ford and Kathy I think her name was in season 7. I also felt bad for Eddie because he was the one guy Buffy connected with but yeah his death was an after thought in the episode.
The810kid Case and point you felt bad for Eddie because it revolved around her. Angel victims were different to me. Ford is different because that was a unique episode. Im speaking in a general sense.
My favorite victims (or I should say survivors) are the woman from "I fall to pieces" and Bethany, the telekinetic girl from "Untouched". I think I've never seen a tv show victim standing up for herself the way they did
Thank You. I couldn't put it into words. It's like collateral Damage......thats how Buffy Victims feel. Even Angel revisits his guilt about not saving certain people but Buffy just skips through it and keeps trucking on. There is nothing wrong with that but it definitely puts a difference between the shows.
i remember when I started by first run-through of _Angel_. I wanted to get the complete boxset of _Buffy_ for Christmas, but I couldn't afford it so I settled with _Angel_. I must confess: it was one of the most powerful viewing experiences for me. Whenever I finished an episode, I always had a strong urge to watch another even though I didn't want to exhaust all my DVDs too quickly. Not many shows have thay effect on me. Even shows I enjoy I will look at the episode length so I can now when to move onto something different. For me, Angel wasn't a show. It was a journey.
Farhat C Just like the actual shows opening, Angel always literally had the best opening sequence and theme song and its no different on Passion of The Nerd
Personally I preferred the visuals of Buffy's opening but the 'Sanctuary' music of Angel's opening although I will air guitar to Buffy's one, every. Time. The Angel visual opening always feels 'primary school' to me. Like a 6th grade kid came up with it lol.
On the topic of crossovers, if there's one crossover you *must* see in sequence, it's the Faith 4-parter coming up in Buffy season 4 and Angel season 1. Her story arc spread across both shows was astounding.
jmwild1 Faith has that badass persona by the start and you see how much of s threat she can be without the mayor. By the end of the first Angel episode, everything broke down. It is beautiful.
My son fell instantly in love with Doyle, laughed like crazy at Cordy's "hey, you're a vampire!!" and repeated the scene several times, and adored Angel's "can you fly?" quote before his big superhero moment. Yes, this show was love at first sight for him. Can you imagine his outrage at certain characters' deaths?
He wasn't the only one. I went through all the stages of grief with that death (I was 12 or 13 at the time it aired) and that episode still gets me right in the feels every single re-watch.
I had read spoilers about it (I didn't expect anything to happen, much less that early), and after reading them I didn't want to finish the rest of the show, so that character would stay alive
I understand your feelings. I can only tell you that if you stop watching you're going to miss the introduction of 4 more fantastic characters (one of them you already know if you've watched Buffy) who are also bound to find their way to your heart
I have been waiting so long for this. I adore Buffy but I think I might like Angel more as a show, I definitely adore the main characters more. I am beyond excited for when you get to talk about Gunn, Fred, Lorne and Wesley.
thunder1soldier That's my all time favourite episode of either show. Especially because it most revolves around my two favourite characters from either show. Why is Angel season 5 so perfect?
Yeah me too, I mean, it breaks my heart because I love Fred so much that I wish she was a real person so I could marry her haha, but that episode hits all the right heart breaking notes that you cant help but love it. I also love Wesley's death scene, heartbreaking, but so beautifully done
thunder1soldier Hard to believe Hole In The World is the episode directly after Smile Time. Damn you Joss, don't make me switch emotions so quickly. The end of Smile Time was something I waited 2 and a half seasons for and then we get that.
HOLY SHIT IT IS TOO! Joss is a bastard coated bastard triple dipped in bastard... but we keep coming back for more lol Oh, and I love Illyria as a character too, but its just soooo brutal what happens to Fred. And I mean, death isnt always final in the Buffyverse, we know this... but her soul was literally destroyed... no coming back from that. I do remember hearing though, that if the show werent cancelled, there was going to be a storyline in which Fred and Illyria occupy the same body. I havent heard that from any official sources though
I always love how genuinely happy Angel is to see Cordelia. In a new place after a heartbreak and feeling lost, even hella broody Angel is comforted by familiarity.He was never really close to Cordy, but she reminds him of a happier time.
Well done you beautiful bastard, so excited for whats to come. So, I had no idea the vampire falling out of the window was a practical effect, Im extremely impressed. I think with something that "stunning" these days we automatically assume a computer had something to do with it. And yeah, Angel is kinda rough going at first, but unlike Buffy I dont think its first season is the roughest. We'll get to that though. I saw quite a bit of Angel when I was younger, and I guess more immature on these kinds of things but I always felt kinda frustrated that things very rarely go as they should so to speak. Theres always hiccups, someone dies, a couple doesnt get to be together etc and I just felt like Angel never "won" But years later, and after seeing the entire show, I came to realise that its that theme of atonement, and more so that its not something you achieve through a single act, and its an ongoing, arduous sort of thing. I came to realise that theme is strewn throughout the entire show. Ultimately its what made me fall in love with Joss Whedon, because at the end of the day you just never know what he's going to do. One last thing, I love Doyle too, but part of me kinda wishes Whistler was in the show, I just really liked that character
Like Angel said, "If nothing we do matters, then all that matters is what we do." I agree that when I was younger I got frustrated by the show because he never seemed to win. But now I'm older I can see that was the point. Angel could never truly win, so only the fight mattered to him, not the victories. I think that whole metaphor fits in perfectly with real life. Totally agree with you. And my heart is still broken from losing Doyle the very first time :'(
yep, and admittedly, that cliffhanger REALLY pissed me off the first time I saw it only a few years ago now as an adult, I was just like "that's it? but what happens?" But as you said, that was the whole point, there is no grand victory, no single battle to end it, life is a struggle and always will be. and I got so much love for "Epiphany"
I always love seeing Angel's dark side. Kicking Russel out the window, locking the vampires in with Wolfram and Heart, those scenes really stick in your mind.
thank u i been angel and buffy fan for years im 21 now and still watch. can't never get bored. you the only person made a video like this! i was very sad that people didn't care much about angel , it really had great story line. thank you again for bringing back good childhood for us angel fans.
I originally tried to watch Angel season 1 at the same time as Buffy and gave up on it. But then when I started Angel on its own, I LOVED season 1. I think it works best viewed on its own.
Yeah. In Season 1 they had a theme going where Angel was still struggling with his thirst after drinking Buffy's blood to cure himself of the Mayor and Faith's poison in Buffy Season 3.
I actually weirdly saw Angel before ever watching a single episode of Buffy, so it will always have the higher spot in my heart. I am so excited for these.
What did you think when Buffy characters popped up? I watched both as they aired so I can't really imagine what seeing some of those crossovers and flashbacks would feel like without knowing who people like Spike and Faith were
Me too! The crossover episodes are what eventually brought me to Buffy, probably around the time of the Faith crossover because I needed to know more about what she had to atone for.
"If you give it some space..... and some time to discover itself, it will find a place in your heart. It certainly did for me"I love that those words are laced over those images of Cordy and Angel. Thank you for the gift of your channel and the deep conversations you evoke. Buffy and Angel are timeless masterpieces that I hold dear and resonate with- as many do and will do for years to come.
Finally!!!!! The show that surpassed Buffy and is one of the greatest of tv shows of all time. The vampire with a soul and the guy the beats the bad guys.
Yay! I'm so happy you're doing an Angel guide!!! I love Angel so much! I actually started watching Angel before Buffy because I was in 7th grade when I saw the episode Somnambulist. I really liked it and was hooked. After the 1st season I realized that it was a spinoff and started watching Buffy. I couldn't really get into Buffy after Angel left because he was the reason I started watching in the first place. I still liked it, but I just started it for a different reason. So I am so happy to hear your thoughts and insights about this show!!
A really underrated pilot and a great review from you. When I first saw "City of" I was kind of meh about it. There was some good characters and funny moments sure, but it didn't grab me. Until Angel kicked Russell out of the window. Then I was hooked.
YESSSS! Angel reviews are here! I got the complete box set for Christmas, but I've been waiting to start watching them again until your reviews started. I'm so freaking excited for Wes to be back in my life again!
I'm such a proponent of watching all of one show and then the other, that I realize I even feel that way about your guides. Of course, please keep making them back and forth like how the show was created, I'm still gonna watch them when they come out, but I've found so far that I get the most enjoyment out of watching through the ones you have on Buffy, and THEN the ones you have on Angel.
Just as I prefer the music in Angel's intro, I much prefer the intro you made for this reviews. Outstanding work as always!!! PS: I love the fact that the police force feels a lot more real here than in Buffy, somehow the show is able to include more fantasy and yet feel more real at times. Nice start, nice start.
I find your point about Cordy feeling "more at home" on Angel than on Buffy interesting, because that's exactly how I felt about Faith. For all of my issues with Angel season 4, the three episodes in which Faith appeared were fantastic, and I thought Angel as a show treated her character far better than Buffy did -- because in a way, after season 3, Buffy as a show seemed to look at Faith and ask "Well, now what do we do with her?" But, to stop me from getting too much farther ahead of myself, I was so looking forward to the start of the Angel guide, and you have not disappointed. Well done, sir!
I never had trouble relating to Angel. This despite the broody batman routine, hell I related to even that. I took to it really easily.and had no issue finding a place for this show in my heart. And who don't worry not even Noir experts can properly define Noir.
I'm glad you've started this series. I've been looking forward to this. I do think it's somewhat important to mention the music, especially the intro, because it's so different from Buffy's theme song...it's more grown up, and more melancholy setting the stage for a different kind of show.
I've never been much of an Angel fan, I could just never get quite into it, although I've seen probably more than half of the show. I'm really excited for this because I love your Buffy videos, so maybe these will help me appreciate Angel a little bit more. Love the intro, btw!
Angel is my favorite tv show of all time and can't wait to get into it more. There isn't enough conversation about this show which does deserve it. You said it right Passion of the Nerd, patience is key. Though I do often wonder what if the original plan for Angel had played out, having whistler being the Doyle part instead of having to create a whole new character. Whistler being that Doyle part was part of the original plan and the fall out was scheduling (I believe, definitely check me on that though). I can't wait for this journey of Angel we have now started!!! SO HYPED!!!!!
4:57-5:10 - love it. Laughed a lot and enjoyed the comparison. Maybe they should have shot Angel in B&W. Thanks so much for all the work you put into these reviews.
Love love LOVE the introduction to the Angel Guides!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️ Am rewatching all of your Angel and Buffy videos at the moment 😍😍 Your Buffy and Angel videos really bring out the best of both series and I enjoy watching all of them time and again! Brilliant work!
My only recommendation for watching Angel and Buffy is don't watch Angel first. There are a few spoilers for Angel in Buffy, but there are some major spoilers for Buffy in Angel. Switch or don't switch, make sure you watch Buffy first. I can't vouch from if switching is a good idea because I just watched Buffy straight through and then Angel straight through. But I will say that worked out well for me. Also, two reviews in four days? I can die happy!
THE GEEK CLUB I would say the only spoilers that come from watching angel first that are big are in Angel's season 2 finale and Angel season 5 premiere.
The first time I watched both shows I'd watch a season of one, then a season of the other. So, I think I watched 1, 2, 3 of Buffy, started 4, didn't like it and watched Angel s1 instead, then went back to Buffy S4, and pretty much just alternated back and forth from there on. So, there was switching, but less frequently, and I didn't feel like I was missing anything or being spoiled, AND I didn't have to jump out of one story arc and into a different one (Angel S4 and Buffy S7 in particular read a lot better IMO if you don't jump in and out of them).
Just when I thought I couldn't love this channel more. I'm currently re-watching Angel with a friend (it's her first time) and I look forward to your reviews as they come out.
So excited! I can't thank you enough for doing these. I have already watched the entirety of both shows and gone back to them periodically over the years, but even though I am not watching them currently your guides make me think about the shows in such a different and deeper light. I has also changed the way I watch tv and movies in general. Changed in a good way. Thank you. Really.
Thank you so much for this!! I watched Angel for the first time this summer, and have since rewatched it (playing in the background as comfort noise, or just before bed) three times. It's a hard choice on which show has the better ensemble cast, but luckily we don't need to make that choice :) There are a ton of shows like Buffy or Angel, in terms of supernatural creatures dealing with overwhelming odds, etc. But none, so far, have resonated with me the way these two shows did. And I think it's because Whedon and Co. were conscious of the limits of even superheroes, and that consequences, while hard on the characters, makes for a tenser, better story. Of course, Xander is the exception. That kid gets away with murder.
Thanks for your advice on watching this series sequentially or not I was curious about that. Also as always thanks for not dumbing down these vids in anyway. You speak to your viewers like adults and aren't afraid to use big words like Zeitgeist in articulating a point of interest. Appreciate it. Only seeing this series for the first time now and loving it. Interesting how Doyle is Irish, I cant help but remember Angels past whenever they converse. I cant help but feel like the accent is a little infectious, maybe its just me but I swear theres a slight irish tone to some of the things David Boreanaz says when they are talking, maybe inadvertently recalling some of his time on Buffy.
For the question of how to watch the two series, my recommendation is to watch all of Buffy, then watch Angel, but keep track of where you are in the Buffy timeline as you go through Angel episodes (mainly in the first two seasons). That way, you'll get the references when the crossovers happen. Oh, and when you get to "Darla" (2x7), you MUST rewatch "Fool for Love" (BtVS 5x7) immediately before. That particular crossover isn't one about characters visiting each other's cities, it's about intertwined history, and it's beautifully filmed.
so awesome that you're doing both of the shows!! never thought about the deconstrction vs reconstruction of the main characters. need to think about it. :)
Credit where credit is due. The opener was by a very talented guy who contacted me last year. He did the Buffy opener (and future movie review and Firefly openers) as well. His info is in the description. But yes, Hollywood should hire him.
I love this episode. It's one of the best episodes of season 1. Really looking forward to the rest of the guides! As for watching order, I'm very much in favor of watching the 2 series side-by-side. Seeing these 2 stories go along side by side makes the Buffyverse feel more alive and some of the crossovers are really neat. Also there's the balancing factor - Sometimes you have to go through a bunch of bad Buffy episodes and sticking a good Angel episode between them can help (and vise-versa, of course) Oh and also, love the opening!
I really like your opening title sequence. When I watched Angel the first time around, I watched it alongside Buffy, which was fun. But I agree that I enjoyed it more when I watched Angel again, by itself. The 2 shows are so different in tone and philosophy, and what you get out of them speaks to you on such different levels.
I literally screamed with joy when I saw this review up! Really looking forward to seeing your Angel reviews every week. And I agree with you that Angel should be watched sequentially on its own. Yes it is a spin off, but it really is it's own show. It has a much different feel than Buffy. Yes there are some duds in its first season, but even so -- season 1 of Angel is much better than season 1 of Buffy. Angel is definitely a show that should be watched from beginning to end. It only gets better with each season, so I hope new viewers stick with it 'til the end :)
I've alway claimed that Buffy was a better show overall, but I find myself enjoying rewatches of Angel more. So excited to watch these guides. It may mean another rewatch in my near future.
yessss! i did my waiting!!!!!! excellent guide! i have to agree about watching them seperately because i first watched them seperate not knowing that angel aired at the same time as season 4 until after i was done, but when o decided to rewatch them alongside the buffy episodes it became daunting, sure thete are some things here and there that would be understood better having watched them that way, but i dont think those were too important. (honestly everytime buffy shows up on angel i just get really tired of it because i dont really like angel when he is around buffy)
Super excited to hear your take on Wesley. His character arc, in my opinion, is one of the best in the Buffyverse (perhaps second to only Buffy herself?). I still remember the slow mo edit you did in the buffy episode where he gets introduced. *heart snaps in two*
Oddly enough, i'm now re-watching season 1 of Angel. Angel is the Batman of the Buffy-verse. I like Buffy but i've always been more of an Angel fan. I like David Boreanaz no matter what role he plays but Angel is the one i favor the most.
Buffy came on when I was a child and Angel when I was a teen. I think the latter had a more profound impact on me than Buffy growing up in that confusing time of life. I just loved the style and the themes. It really spoke to me. I do love both though. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts of later episodes! Great job!
Your Buffy Guide is one of the finest things on TH-cam (up there with The Lizzie Bennet Diaries, CrashCourse, Craftversations, Poe Party) quality in-depth audio visual essays of the world's best TV program. Naturally perhaps these Angel Guides are going to be of a similar quality, the first definitely is. Why am I watching? I'm not into Angel (yet?) and I think for the reasons you mentioned: as I initially watched the original broadcasts interlaced with Buffy season 4's "liquid joy" and also as the writing didn't have it's footing. Although I often found episodes left me thrilled, the show just didn't resonate the way Buffy 3&4 did. Thus I watched all of seasons 1, but my viewing rapidly diminished as the seasons progressed. However, due to several Buffy storyline links appearing in several Angel series I did buy the Angel DVD boxset years ago for completeness, but I only rewatched all of season 1 once. However, I suspect by regularly watching this Angel Guide (should these be watched interlaced?:-), especially once you get to season 2 and beyond I will start to both watch and appreciate all of Angel at last.
Amazing video, Ian! And holy CRAP that opening sequence! Whoever made that is my hero :) Argh, I'm conflicted here! On the one hand, I know that this guide is here to help people enjoy the show more, and I want to add constructive thoughts to that if I can. On the other hand... I have so many problems with this show, and this main character, and this pilot, and I want to talk about them. So this is what I'm gonna do: This comment is gonna be NEGATIVE. I'm gonna talk here about problems I have with the show. Then, later, I'll post another comment that's all about the positive things. So, if you don't want to wallow in negativity (God knows negativity is too common on the internet...), you should stop reading this comment right now. There'll be a more constructive one later. If you're all about the negativity, though, or if you just want to debate or defend the show, here goes: I don't really like Angel. That's a fact that bothered me since episode 1 of 'Buffy', all the way up to the last episode of 'Angel'. I don't HATE him or anything like that, but I also don't have any warm fuzzy feelings for him, and I don't sympathize with him, and I don't feel for him when he's happy or sad or whatever. The words "block of wood" describe him pretty well for me. In a lot of ways, even RILEY is a better character than Angel for me, and that's just wrong, right? And the annoying thing is that I'm not really sure WHY I don't like Angel. On the surface, there's a lot of great stuff about his character: He's a morally ambiguous character (which is always great for storytelling, in my opinion), and he has a lot of trouble with socializing (which I can definitely relate to), and he's a lot like Batman (whom I love), and he's not very talkative (again, relatable. I may blab on and on in these comments, but in real life I'm mostly a listener), and he constantly struggles with philosophical questions (philosophy is awesome!), and so on. And yet, he just doesn't WORK for me. And I have all sorts of theories about why that is. Is it because of the acting? I definitely think that Boreanaz is a poor actor for the vast majority of the show. But that feels too easy - a lot of people DO love his acting, after all. And even I must say that by the later seasons Boreanaz became a pretty great actor, and yet even then he didn't REALLY work for me as a character. So it must be a problem with the character, not the actor. Another theory is that the problem is that Boreanaz just isn't LIKE Angel. If you've ever seen interviews with Boreanaz, you'll see that he's a pretty goofy, fun-loving person, which doesn't fit with Angel. But that still falls into the acting problem, which, as I said, can't be the real reason. Another theory is the Whedon explanation - Angel is too unrelatable, as the tall, dark and handsome uber-man that can't be sympathized with. But I have to disagree with Whedon here - Batman is ALSO very similiar to Angel in his un-reachability, and yet he definitely works for me as a character. Also, as I said, Angel DOES have a lot of relatable traits (loneliness, social awkwardness, guilt, etc...). One of my leading theories for "the Angel problem" is the fact that his defining trait, guilt, is based on bullshit - he feels guilt for all the crimes he's done in the past, and yet those crimes were really not his fault. He didn't CHOOSE to become a mass murderer, he was just a victim of Darla. So, if he's not actually guilty, then why should I give a crap about his guilt? A major part of his character is built on shaky ground, so of course he wouldn't work, right? I have some counter-arguments here: Other characters, like Bucky Barnes from the Captain America movies, DO work despite having this same problem. Still, Bucky is not really one of my favorite characters, so I think that this problem still holds. It's still one of my leading theories for why Angel sucks. Another leading theory is the lack of ORIGINALITY in Angel's character. As I said, Angel is essentially Batman. We see it clearly in the opening sequence here, as he saves the damsel in distress and stalks off to the night ("To the Angelmobile, Away!"). And maybe that rip-off-ness is the problem? I certainly have that same problem with Daredevil, another Batman rip-off. There ARE other Batman-like characters that I love, but those characters bring something new to the table - Wesley turns into Batman in the later seasons, but he's different in that his journey toward Batman-dom began very differently (he started off as a goofy nerd, after all). And the same is true of later-seasons Faith, and later-seasons Buffy, etc... Then again, Angel and Daredevil DO bring something different to the Batman trope - unlike Batman, they're not motivated by pain (the death of his parents), but instead are mainly motivate by guilt (Angel) or by an inner darkness that wants to be let out (Daredevil. Although Angel kinda has that too). Still, maybe that's not different enough to distract me from that nagging feeling of "I've seen this story already"... At the moment, I lean toward THIS theory (Although in 30 seconds, I'll probably lean more toward a different theory) - I don't like Angel because he's *pretentious*. This is a trait that Angel shares with Daredevil, so maybe that's my problem with Daredevil too. I definitely tend to gravitate toward the self-depracating, insecure, unpretentious characters (or the characters who hide that faithless-ness and insecurity with bravado): Buffy ("I have all this power. I didn't ask for it. I *don't* deserve it"), Spike ("I may be love's bitch, but at least I'm man enough to admit it"), Xander ("I laugh in the face of danger!... And then I hide until it goes away"), Faith ("You disgusting, murderous bitch! You're nothing! You're disgusting!" She screams while essentially punching her own face) Willow ("Wil, there's nothing wrong with you. You don't need magic to be special" "Don't I?... Buffy, who was I? Just some girl. Tara didn't even know that girl..."), Jessica Jones ("I'm an asshole"), etc... Angel, meanwhile, usually seems to be full of purpose and self-importance - This first episode starts with him on a routine mission to save people, while the first episode of Buffy started with her saying she's retired and "why can't you people just leave me alone?" And when Angel DOES have moments in which he loses that sense of mission and importance, like the ending of 'Reprise', I do feel for him, and his character DOES work... But then, when he regains the sense of mission ('Epiphany'), he becomes a flat block of wood again. Which is weird, because when Buffy or Xander gain a sense of mission (Like in, say, 'Becoming'), they DON'T lose my interest... So, what the hell, Angel? WHY DO YOU SUCK? Yeah, I'm still not sure why Angel doesn't work for me. Maybe it's all those reasons combined? I don't know. At least he works as a villain... (and even that's not all the time) Anyway, on to this episode: My main problem with this episode (and with the early seasons of the show as a whole), other than the fact that Angel himself sucks, is that it's so DERIVATIVE. It's Batman, and that's it. The opening scene demonstrates this problem clearly - where the premise of 'Buffy' was subversive (by having the damsel in distress be the powerful hero), the premise of Angel is cliched. It's completely formulaic - the damsel in distress goes into a dark alley with dangerous men, and the dark masculine hero saves her and stalks off to the night. It's Batman, it's James Bond, it's John Wayne, it's every classic dark masculine hero ever. And there's no subversion, no innovation. The only kinda new thing is that Angel pretends to be a dumb drunk at the beginning, to spy on the bar, but even that is just the classic Bruce Wayne playboy act. I'VE SEE ALL THIS BEFORE A MILLION TIMES, WHY ARE YOU SHOWING ME THIS AGAIN?! And this isn't just one scene, IT'S THE PREMISE OF THE SHOW!!! The very premise of the show is based on an ancient, tired (and sexist) cliche. This entire show is, therefore, kinda pointless. Isn't it? Why watch 'Angel', if I can just watch 'The Searchers'? Or 'The Dark Knight'? Or any of a MILLION noir films? These movies did the same things that 'Angel' does, and they did it first, and they did it better. And it's not just that old scenario of saving the damsel in distress, it's EVERYTHING - the struggle with inner darkness, and the existential themes, and the inherent injustice of the world... it was all done already, and it was done in pretty much the same way. Where's the innovation here? Why should I care about this? Why did the world need 'Angel'? I really don't know. The world kinda *didn't* need it. 'Buffy', for all of its use of old ideas and genres, always tried to do something NEW with them: If it used an old trope, it deconstructed it (the damsel in distress in the dark alley is an old idea, but having the damsel save herself is not). If it explored an old theme, it did it in a new way (there are a lot of stories that were written about suicidal tendencies... But I don't think I've ever seen a MUSICAL about suicidal tendencies, which is what 'Buffy' did). Angel doesn't offer anything new there - it does the same old tropes and themes, and it does them in the same way they were always done. And therefore, When Angel saves the damsel in distress in the dark alley, it's not interesting or exciting - it's just dull and boring and predictable. Does that mean that 'Angel' is a worthless show that you shouldn't watch?... NOPE. 'Angel' is actually a pretty great show, overall. And I'll explain why later...
While I don't necessarily agree with everything you said (I can definitely see where you're coming from though and you're completely right in your facts), I loved reading your essay! :)
Personally I never liked Angel as a character either, I thought his romance with Buffy in early seasons of that show were sometimes Twilight levels of bad. For that reason I didn't watch Angel for a long time, and when I did, it was not because I wanted to see angel again, it was because I wanted to see more of the Buffyverse, with its complex characters and interesting world. And after watching all of Angel I can say that Angel himself may be the weakest character of the main cast (excluding Connor, of course). Your comment is kind of rambly, but I see your point and even agree with it. Whedon flat-out said that he didn't know how to write Angel early on, and Boreannez honestly wasn't really good at acting the part early on, and while Boreannez definitely got good at portraying the part, I'm not sure if the writers ever completely got ahold of how to write his character. That being said, this show has a far stronger supporting cast than Buffy, and THEY, along with the excellent world-building, are the reason I find this show so enjoyable, even possibly better than Buffy. Each member of the Angel team (again, excluding Connor) is a complex and nuanced character, often independent from Angel and his story (as I mentioned in my response to your positive comment). They are the glue that holds the show together through its rough patches (Season 4), and oftentimes they are far better characters than the lead. Spike for example remains my favorite character in the entire Buffyverse, and is honestly so complex that comparing him to Angel often makes Angel look completely one-dimensional by comparison. This may sound like I'm just ragging on Angel the character, but I'm not; there are times where his character works perfectly, and by the end of the show I did love him as much as the rest of the cast, but he's not the reason to watch the show, and I don't think a dislike for his character automatically means a dislike for his show.
Just have to say regarding the "Daredevil is a Batman rip off thing." The reason so many people think that is that Frank Miller worked on both characters. originally Daredevil was much more of a swashbuckling hero, but when Miller got a hold of him he took a dark and gritty approached that resonated with fans. As a result, that's the approach they went with when adapting the netflix show. Then he went on to work on Batman and basically introduced a lot of the same elements. Part of the reason Mark Waid's recent run was so well received was because he tried to reintroduce the swashbuckling superhero elements, so we get moments like Daredevil riding the Silver Surfer's board, and him fighting villains like the mole man. And you are right. Several of the same themes and plot details Angel has can be found in countless works of fiction, but I feel like you can really make that claim with pretty much any genre or story. You could make the argument that Angel and Buffy are the same because they can be broken down according to Joseph Campbell's mono myth. Think of it like music. Every song is made up of notes but it's not like some day somebody is going to go out and discover a brand new note. What matters isn't necessarily whether you have heard the sounds before. What matters is how the sounds are arranged, and the way Angel explores and utilizes these themes can be far superior to something like "The Dark Knight." Maybe it's just my personality, but I have yet to read a superhero comic or watch a superhero movie that have hit me as hard as 'Reprise" and "Epiphany." In most fiction you either know that the hero will ultimately defy all odds and win in the end (Buffy won't fail to stop the apocalypse), or you get stuck with the cynical view that evil is unbeatable, there are no truly good people, there is no point to doing any thing good, etc. (Watchmen, Punisher, etc.) Angel is the only show I can think of that has told people even if the battle against evil is unwinnable doing the right thing still has value. In terms of what makes it special compared to something like "The Dark Knight" I would say the same thing that TPN mentoned in his "Why You Should Watch Angel" video. Buffy is about growing up, Angel is about being an adult. It addresses why the philosophical questions it posses to viewers are important to consider as we live out our lives, and the impact our choices can have.
Thanks for doing this ! Angel was always my favourite character and I watched his show religiously. Must admit after he left series 3 Buffy was never the same for me. Can't wait to see you dissect the Angel series as we go on. Do you ever just watch the shows and enjoy them or have you always broke them down to there metaphors and such ?
I'm so happy that this is finally here, my favourite show switched from Buffy to Angel after I'd watched Angel all the way through, having already watched Buffy through several times.
Loved this when it 1st aired I did the back and forth I am glad you put this review up today since I just re-watched the whole 1st season these last 2 days on NetFlix (was at my brother house for the holidays he only had the netflix hooked upped) in the middle of re-watching season 2.
idkmybffjill730 yeah, I guess 'Angel was the first to do that as live-action TV. The one thing that REALLY made go "seen that before" is when Karen becomes the secretary at the end, just like Cordy. That's just TOO similiar.
I've got to say, I LOVE the opening credits, they look wonderful! My first impression of the Angel Pilot was very positive - I feel like the first episode is fantastic for setting the tone of the show, and clearly differentiates it from Buffy in terms of how it's filmed, the theme, and plot. When introduced to the shows, I watched all of Buffy from start to finish, then waited a year (honestly idk why), and watched all of Angel from start to finish. Personally, I had a great experience doing it that way, since I thought the tones in both shows are so very different, they might clash a bit if you try to watch them running alongside each other. It might also be a bit confusing for someone watching the shows for the first time, as they might lose track of the different plots, and like you said, I imagine it would be jarring to keep switching between the two. Anyway, thanks for the video, I look forward to the rest of the Angel guide :)
great video, Ian!!! I'm so excited you're reaching this point in your guide series :D For my own part, I watch Buffy season 4 and Angel season 1 in tandem, but in chunks. Not back and forth and back and forth. Someday I should find the time to write out what my favorite sequence is. XD
I feel that with S1 of Angel, if I had to give the audience one word of advice, it would be: PERSEVERE! I recently rewatched Angel (for the first time in around 8 years) and I really struggled with the first season. I feel like the only reason I was able to continue is because I knew how GOOOOOOD it gets in the upcoming seasons. My biggest problem was that it seemed to lack direction, and with you mentioning how Joss stated that he struggled at first on what to do with this show, it makes a lot of sense that I felt a lack of direction
I love the opening to Angel. He's almost like the Batman of the Buffy verse.
AngelProductions so Wesley Is the punisher?
The810kid Yes! xD
More like the Daredevil of the Buffy verse.
AngelProductions The cello in the music just *kills*. Mournful and soulful and can't make up its mind where it sits on the dark/light spectrum. Just perfect for Angel.
Jaycie Victory Yes!
Aw, you didn't play the whole thing.
"I don't want to share my feelings. I want to find the guy who did this and look him in the eye."
"And then what?"
"And then I'm going to share my feelings."
I love Angel and it makes me sad when people dismiss it as not being as good as Buffy. The shows are very different and Angel gives me something that Buffy doesn't and vice versa
Exactly
In honesty, though I watched both of these shows as they aired, I prefer Angel overall.
Well series 1 and 5 are great
I don't think Angel is as good, but I don't think it should be dismissed, either.
i like them both, alot, angel was funnier though, but buffy is buffy
There is another thing I noticed that was different between the shows. The victims. I always felt so much sadness for all the victims in Angel more so then Buffy. In this episode Angel couldn't save Tina...Just like Buffy couldn't save Eddie in Freshmen. But you felt the tragedy of Tina's Death more because this show really takes time to make the viewer appreciate the victims. We got to know Tina..we understood her struggle and rooted for her to get out of there. Then Russel killed her. It was heartbreaking. And Because BTVS revolves around Buffy's growth it doesn't take time to analyze its victims or make you feel sorry for them in the way Angel does.
Cleapatra25 I disagree there are a few victims that Buffy couldn't save that you felt something for Ford and Kathy I think her name was in season 7. I also felt bad for Eddie because he was the one guy Buffy connected with but yeah his death was an after thought in the episode.
The810kid Case and point you felt bad for Eddie because it revolved around her. Angel victims were different to me. Ford is different because that was a unique episode. Im speaking in a general sense.
My favorite victims (or I should say survivors) are the woman from "I fall to pieces" and Bethany, the telekinetic girl from "Untouched". I think I've never seen a tv show victim standing up for herself the way they did
Because of the visions, Angel is much more about saving the victim while Buffy sometimes get's to skirt them as collateral damage.
Thank You. I couldn't put it into words. It's like collateral Damage......thats how Buffy Victims feel. Even Angel revisits his guilt about not saving certain people but Buffy just skips through it and keeps trucking on. There is nothing wrong with that but it definitely puts a difference between the shows.
i remember when I started by first run-through of _Angel_. I wanted to get the complete boxset of _Buffy_ for Christmas, but I couldn't afford it so I settled with _Angel_. I must confess: it was one of the most powerful viewing experiences for me. Whenever I finished an episode, I always had a strong urge to watch another even though I didn't want to exhaust all my DVDs too quickly. Not many shows have thay effect on me. Even shows I enjoy I will look at the episode length so I can now when to move onto something different. For me, Angel wasn't a show. It was a journey.
OMG that opening is bloody AMAZING! Just as good, if not better than the Buffy one!
I like it more :D
Farhat C Just like the actual shows opening, Angel always literally had the best opening sequence and theme song and its no different on Passion of The Nerd
2Good2BeTrue45 I love the Angel theme "Sanctuary" by Darling Violetta. That Cello sound is awesome and hauntingly beautiful
Personally I preferred the visuals of Buffy's opening but the 'Sanctuary' music of Angel's opening although I will air guitar to Buffy's one, every. Time. The Angel visual opening always feels 'primary school' to me. Like a 6th grade kid came up with it lol.
I agree, the opening of Angel and the music is one of he best TV show openings of all time.
On the topic of crossovers, if there's one crossover you *must* see in sequence, it's the Faith 4-parter coming up in Buffy season 4 and Angel season 1. Her story arc spread across both shows was astounding.
jmwild1 Faith has that badass persona by the start and you see how much of s threat she can be without the mayor. By the end of the first Angel episode, everything broke down. It is beautiful.
And then later, the difficult redemption.
My son fell instantly in love with Doyle, laughed like crazy at Cordy's "hey, you're a vampire!!" and repeated the scene several times, and adored Angel's "can you fly?" quote before his big superhero moment. Yes, this show was love at first sight for him. Can you imagine his outrage at certain characters' deaths?
He wasn't the only one. I went through all the stages of grief with that death (I was 12 or 13 at the time it aired) and that episode still gets me right in the feels every single re-watch.
I had read spoilers about it (I didn't expect anything to happen, much less that early), and after reading them I didn't want to finish the rest of the show, so that character would stay alive
I understand your feelings. I can only tell you that if you stop watching you're going to miss the introduction of 4 more fantastic characters (one of them you already know if you've watched Buffy) who are also bound to find their way to your heart
tsukigalleta I watched it. Once I knew it would happen, I could pretend it didnt happen. And yeah, I love Angel's Wesley
Oh, I see! My mistake, glad you watched :)
I have been waiting so long for this. I adore Buffy but I think I might like Angel more as a show, I definitely adore the main characters more.
I am beyond excited for when you get to talk about Gunn, Fred, Lorne and Wesley.
Four words- Hole In The World :D
thunder1soldier That's my all time favourite episode of either show. Especially because it most revolves around my two favourite characters from either show.
Why is Angel season 5 so perfect?
Yeah me too, I mean, it breaks my heart because I love Fred so much that I wish she was a real person so I could marry her haha, but that episode hits all the right heart breaking notes that you cant help but love it.
I also love Wesley's death scene, heartbreaking, but so beautifully done
thunder1soldier Hard to believe Hole In The World is the episode directly after Smile Time. Damn you Joss, don't make me switch emotions so quickly. The end of Smile Time was something I waited 2 and a half seasons for and then we get that.
HOLY SHIT IT IS TOO!
Joss is a bastard coated bastard triple dipped in bastard... but we keep coming back for more lol
Oh, and I love Illyria as a character too, but its just soooo brutal what happens to Fred. And I mean, death isnt always final in the Buffyverse, we know this... but her soul was literally destroyed... no coming back from that.
I do remember hearing though, that if the show werent cancelled, there was going to be a storyline in which Fred and Illyria occupy the same body. I havent heard that from any official sources though
I always love how genuinely happy Angel is to see Cordelia. In a new place after a heartbreak and feeling lost, even hella broody Angel is comforted by familiarity.He was never really close to Cordy, but she reminds him of a happier time.
Well done you beautiful bastard, so excited for whats to come.
So, I had no idea the vampire falling out of the window was a practical effect, Im extremely impressed. I think with something that "stunning" these days we automatically assume a computer had something to do with it.
And yeah, Angel is kinda rough going at first, but unlike Buffy I dont think its first season is the roughest. We'll get to that though. I saw quite a bit of Angel when I was younger, and I guess more immature on these kinds of things but I always felt kinda frustrated that things very rarely go as they should so to speak. Theres always hiccups, someone dies, a couple doesnt get to be together etc and I just felt like Angel never "won"
But years later, and after seeing the entire show, I came to realise that its that theme of atonement, and more so that its not something you achieve through a single act, and its an ongoing, arduous sort of thing. I came to realise that theme is strewn throughout the entire show.
Ultimately its what made me fall in love with Joss Whedon, because at the end of the day you just never know what he's going to do.
One last thing, I love Doyle too, but part of me kinda wishes Whistler was in the show, I just really liked that character
Like Angel said, "If nothing we do matters, then all that matters is what we do." I agree that when I was younger I got frustrated by the show because he never seemed to win. But now I'm older I can see that was the point. Angel could never truly win, so only the fight mattered to him, not the victories. I think that whole metaphor fits in perfectly with real life. Totally agree with you.
And my heart is still broken from losing Doyle the very first time :'(
yep, and admittedly, that cliffhanger REALLY pissed me off the first time I saw it only a few years ago now as an adult, I was just like "that's it? but what happens?"
But as you said, that was the whole point, there is no grand victory, no single battle to end it, life is a struggle and always will be.
and I got so much love for "Epiphany"
I think I read somewhere that Whistler was the intended aide to Angel but the actor wasn't available, hence Doyle.
I always love seeing Angel's dark side. Kicking Russel out the window, locking the vampires in with Wolfram and Heart, those scenes really stick in your mind.
thank u i been angel and buffy fan for years im 21 now and still watch. can't never get bored. you the only person made a video like this! i was very sad that people didn't care much about angel , it really had great story line. thank you again for bringing back good childhood for us angel fans.
My pleasure.
I originally tried to watch Angel season 1 at the same time as Buffy and gave up on it. But then when I started Angel on its own, I LOVED season 1. I think it works best viewed on its own.
In that scene where Angel found Tina dead, in the original script he was meant to taste her blood but the network thought it was too dark.
Yeah. In Season 1 they had a theme going where Angel was still struggling with his thirst after drinking Buffy's blood to cure himself of the Mayor and Faith's poison in Buffy Season 3.
damn boreanaz was in his prime here
*(kisses fingers and spreads them outwards)*
Matthew Galloway looks. though david's ability definitely amped up on his years on Angel.
Matthew Gallowey I swooned a lot. He actually made the first two seasons too distracting at times.
Skullexandria Gloomelda He was so sexy the first 2 seasons. I would definitely made him lose his soul. Damn a curse
@@Cleapatra25 This turned fairly gross.
He is still good looking on SEAL Team and now I'm old enough that our age difference wouldn't be hugely inappropriate haha
I actually weirdly saw Angel before ever watching a single episode of Buffy, so it will always have the higher spot in my heart. I am so excited for these.
SonicRulez me too! Finally someone haha, Angel is still my favorite series
What did you think when Buffy characters popped up? I watched both as they aired so I can't really imagine what seeing some of those crossovers and flashbacks would feel like without knowing who people like Spike and Faith were
Me too! The crossover episodes are what eventually brought me to Buffy, probably around the time of the Faith crossover because I needed to know more about what she had to atone for.
@@milas3907 Buffy let Faith walk so she could run on Angel
Same still barely have watched Buffy
"If you give it some space..... and some time to discover itself, it will find a place in your heart. It certainly did for me"I love that those words are laced over those images of Cordy and Angel. Thank you for the gift of your channel and the deep conversations you evoke. Buffy and Angel are timeless masterpieces that I hold dear and resonate with- as many do and will do for years to come.
Finally!!!!! The show that surpassed Buffy and is one of the greatest of tv shows of all time.
The vampire with a soul and the guy the beats the bad guys.
Been waiting so long for this!
Angel's my favourite TV Show!
i clicked on this video as fast as а human being possibly can
Vlad Tolstov lol same! I've waited so long for the Angel season guides😆
And so begins my absolute favorite show of all time. Damn that intro was neat, this is going to be fun. Really appreciate the effort dude.
HEEEEEERE WE GO, been dying for this!
finally, a Angel guide I love it so much I think I will watch the series again, can't wait for your next video
Yay! I'm so happy you're doing an Angel guide!!! I love Angel so much! I actually started watching Angel before Buffy because I was in 7th grade when I saw the episode Somnambulist. I really liked it and was hooked. After the 1st season I realized that it was a spinoff and started watching Buffy. I couldn't really get into Buffy after Angel left because he was the reason I started watching in the first place. I still liked it, but I just started it for a different reason. So I am so happy to hear your thoughts and insights about this show!!
A really underrated pilot and a great review from you. When I first saw "City of" I was kind of meh about it. There was some good characters and funny moments sure, but it didn't grab me. Until Angel kicked Russell out of the window. Then I was hooked.
YESSSS! Angel reviews are here! I got the complete box set for Christmas, but I've been waiting to start watching them again until your reviews started. I'm so freaking excited for Wes to be back in my life again!
I am so hyped for you doing both Angel and Buffy guides from now on.
Also, your opening graphics game is fucking strong, man.
You're making me want to rewatch Angel in black and white.
The intro is AMAZING!!
It is. AM and Wil Hughes did an amazing job with it.
I'm such a proponent of watching all of one show and then the other, that I realize I even feel that way about your guides. Of course, please keep making them back and forth like how the show was created, I'm still gonna watch them when they come out, but I've found so far that I get the most enjoyment out of watching through the ones you have on Buffy, and THEN the ones you have on Angel.
I love the intro. I'm excited for these Angel reviews. I was always a lot more into BtVS than Angel, so this will be a good refresher for the series.
I've missed you so much TPN
Just as I prefer the music in Angel's intro, I much prefer the intro you made for this reviews. Outstanding work as always!!! PS: I love the fact that the police force feels a lot more real here than in Buffy, somehow the show is able to include more fantasy and yet feel more real at times. Nice start, nice start.
Angel does not break into Wolfram & Hart. He breaks into Russel's office building.
I find your point about Cordy feeling "more at home" on Angel than on Buffy interesting, because that's exactly how I felt about Faith. For all of my issues with Angel season 4, the three episodes in which Faith appeared were fantastic, and I thought Angel as a show treated her character far better than Buffy did -- because in a way, after season 3, Buffy as a show seemed to look at Faith and ask "Well, now what do we do with her?"
But, to stop me from getting too much farther ahead of myself, I was so looking forward to the start of the Angel guide, and you have not disappointed. Well done, sir!
I never had trouble relating to Angel. This despite the broody batman routine, hell I related to even that. I took to it really easily.and had no issue finding a place for this show in my heart. And who don't worry not even Noir experts can properly define Noir.
YESSS!!! I am so pumped for Angel Guide, and this was a fantastic start! :D
Yay! I'm so excited for you to beautifully dissect this show like you have Buffy.
I'm glad you've started this series. I've been looking forward to this. I do think it's somewhat important to mention the music, especially the intro, because it's so different from Buffy's theme song...it's more grown up, and more melancholy setting the stage for a different kind of show.
loved, loved, loved, this show, but what they did to Cordy's character in season 4 was absolute BS!
Jennifer Chambers and her departure from the show in season five.
You did it Ian. Drink in the success.
"Look like we MADE iiiiiiiiit....."
Glad you're starting the Angel guide. Love your Buffy videos! Keep up the awesome work!
I've never been much of an Angel fan, I could just never get quite into it, although I've seen probably more than half of the show.
I'm really excited for this because I love your Buffy videos, so maybe these will help me appreciate Angel a little bit more.
Love the intro, btw!
Angel is my favorite tv show of all time and can't wait to get into it more. There isn't enough conversation about this show which does deserve it. You said it right Passion of the Nerd, patience is key. Though I do often wonder what if the original plan for Angel had played out, having whistler being the Doyle part instead of having to create a whole new character. Whistler being that Doyle part was part of the original plan and the fall out was scheduling (I believe, definitely check me on that though). I can't wait for this journey of Angel we have now started!!! SO HYPED!!!!!
YES! So glad you're back!!!
Ian, I haven't even WATCHED it yet, and I'm ALREADY PLOTZING with JOY!!!!
It's okay. I've seen better reviewers.
Hey, don't be so modest! :-)
4:57-5:10 - love it. Laughed a lot and enjoyed the comparison. Maybe they should have shot Angel in B&W. Thanks so much for all the work you put into these reviews.
Love love LOVE the introduction to the Angel Guides!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Am rewatching all of your Angel and Buffy videos at the moment 😍😍
Your Buffy and Angel videos really bring out the best of both series and I enjoy watching all of them time and again! Brilliant work!
My only recommendation for watching Angel and Buffy is don't watch Angel first. There are a few spoilers for Angel in Buffy, but there are some major spoilers for Buffy in Angel. Switch or don't switch, make sure you watch Buffy first. I can't vouch from if switching is a good idea because I just watched Buffy straight through and then Angel straight through. But I will say that worked out well for me.
Also, two reviews in four days? I can die happy!
THE GEEK CLUB I would say the only spoilers that come from watching angel first that are big are in Angel's season 2 finale and Angel season 5 premiere.
The first time I watched both shows I'd watch a season of one, then a season of the other. So, I think I watched 1, 2, 3 of Buffy, started 4, didn't like it and watched Angel s1 instead, then went back to Buffy S4, and pretty much just alternated back and forth from there on. So, there was switching, but less frequently, and I didn't feel like I was missing anything or being spoiled, AND I didn't have to jump out of one story arc and into a different one (Angel S4 and Buffy S7 in particular read a lot better IMO if you don't jump in and out of them).
THE GEEK CLUB I’ve done both ways!!! Although switching can get time consuming if you use DVD’s it is actually better that way
Just when I thought I couldn't love this channel more. I'm currently re-watching Angel with a friend (it's her first time) and I look forward to your reviews as they come out.
So excited! I can't thank you enough for doing these. I have already watched the entirety of both shows and gone back to them periodically over the years, but even though I am not watching them currently your guides make me think about the shows in such a different and deeper light. I has also changed the way I watch tv and movies in general. Changed in a good way. Thank you. Really.
Thank you so much for this!! I watched Angel for the first time this summer, and have since rewatched it (playing in the background as comfort noise, or just before bed) three times. It's a hard choice on which show has the better ensemble cast, but luckily we don't need to make that choice :)
There are a ton of shows like Buffy or Angel, in terms of supernatural creatures dealing with overwhelming odds, etc. But none, so far, have resonated with me the way these two shows did. And I think it's because Whedon and Co. were conscious of the limits of even superheroes, and that consequences, while hard on the characters, makes for a tenser, better story.
Of course, Xander is the exception. That kid gets away with murder.
Love when you say "it certainly did for me" and show cordy and angel lol
I love this show so much and your channel is one of my favorites. Can't wait to see you dig into the existential themes of Angel as the show goes on
Thanks for your advice on watching this series sequentially or not I was curious about that. Also as always thanks for not dumbing down these vids in anyway. You speak to your viewers like adults and aren't afraid to use big words like Zeitgeist in articulating a point of interest. Appreciate it. Only seeing this series for the first time now and loving it. Interesting how Doyle is Irish, I cant help but remember Angels past whenever they converse. I cant help but feel like the accent is a little infectious, maybe its just me but I swear theres a slight irish tone to some of the things David Boreanaz says when they are talking, maybe inadvertently recalling some of his time on Buffy.
I love it! Angel is my favourite TV show, so I'm really looking forward to your take on it. Great stuff so far!
For me this series gets good when Wes comes in. He's probably my favorite of all characters in both series alongside Giles.
OHHHHH I've been looking forward to this for so long!!!
For the question of how to watch the two series, my recommendation is to watch all of Buffy, then watch Angel, but keep track of where you are in the Buffy timeline as you go through Angel episodes (mainly in the first two seasons). That way, you'll get the references when the crossovers happen.
Oh, and when you get to "Darla" (2x7), you MUST rewatch "Fool for Love" (BtVS 5x7) immediately before. That particular crossover isn't one about characters visiting each other's cities, it's about intertwined history, and it's beautifully filmed.
i've waited so long for this.. welcome back sir!
And a Happy New Year!!
so awesome that you're doing both of the shows!!
never thought about the deconstrction vs reconstruction of the main characters. need to think about it.
:)
That opener gave me chills! Hollywood should hire you.
Credit where credit is due. The opener was by a very talented guy who contacted me last year. He did the Buffy opener (and future movie review and Firefly openers) as well. His info is in the description. But yes, Hollywood should hire him.
This was such a great review!! So pumped for the next one! Angel can be rough but it is SO worth it. 🤗👍🏻
There was a lot of setup here. The rest of the Season 1 reviews will probably be a little shorter and more to the point. Less to say.
I love this episode. It's one of the best episodes of season 1. Really looking forward to the rest of the guides!
As for watching order, I'm very much in favor of watching the 2 series side-by-side. Seeing these 2 stories go along side by side makes the Buffyverse feel more alive and some of the crossovers are really neat. Also there's the balancing factor - Sometimes you have to go through a bunch of bad Buffy episodes and sticking a good Angel episode between them can help (and vise-versa, of course)
Oh and also, love the opening!
Awesome, been looking forward to some Angel reviews. Loved it! James :-)
I'm so excited for these. Cordelia's arc is incredible.
Yes! I've waited so long for this!
I really like your opening title sequence. When I watched Angel the first time around, I watched it alongside Buffy, which was fun. But I agree that I enjoyed it more when I watched Angel again, by itself. The 2 shows are so different in tone and philosophy, and what you get out of them speaks to you on such different levels.
The double stakes are Woo too.
RIP Glenn Quinn.
i'm sooooooo excited!!!!! keep up the amazing work!
I literally screamed with joy when I saw this review up! Really looking forward to seeing your Angel reviews every week. And I agree with you that Angel should be watched sequentially on its own. Yes it is a spin off, but it really is it's own show. It has a much different feel than Buffy. Yes there are some duds in its first season, but even so -- season 1 of Angel is much better than season 1 of Buffy. Angel is definitely a show that should be watched from beginning to end. It only gets better with each season, so I hope new viewers stick with it 'til the end :)
Yes! Finally! An angel review from this channel :D
I've alway claimed that Buffy was a better show overall, but I find myself enjoying rewatches of Angel more. So excited to watch these guides. It may mean another rewatch in my near future.
yessss! i did my waiting!!!!!! excellent guide! i have to agree about watching them seperately because i first watched them seperate not knowing that angel aired at the same time as season 4 until after i was done, but when o decided to rewatch them alongside the buffy episodes it became daunting, sure thete are some things here and there that would be understood better having watched them that way, but i dont think those were too important. (honestly everytime buffy shows up on angel i just get really tired of it because i dont really like angel when he is around buffy)
Revisiting ians videos and I still love the bit when Angel jumps in the wrong car... Honestly I don't think that will ever get old.
I’m here now
You're my hero.
Love the new intro for 'Angel'!
How dare you not mention the theme song! That's mah shat!! Best TV show theme ever!
I agree
Super excited to hear your take on Wesley. His character arc, in my opinion, is one of the best in the Buffyverse (perhaps second to only Buffy herself?). I still remember the slow mo edit you did in the buffy episode where he gets introduced. *heart snaps in two*
This is so exciting! I can't wait to see more Angel reviews!
Oddly enough, i'm now re-watching season 1 of Angel. Angel is the Batman of the Buffy-verse. I like Buffy but i've always been more of an Angel fan. I like David Boreanaz no matter what role he plays but Angel is the one i favor the most.
Yay welcome back!!!!!
Buffy came on when I was a child and Angel when I was a teen. I think the latter had a more profound impact on me than Buffy growing up in that confusing time of life. I just loved the style and the themes. It really spoke to me. I do love both though. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts of later episodes! Great job!
I am soooo excited for this!! I can't wait to watch all of these. Eeeeee!!
unbelievably excited for this guide!!!
Your Buffy Guide is one of the finest things on TH-cam (up there with The Lizzie Bennet Diaries, CrashCourse, Craftversations, Poe Party) quality in-depth audio visual essays of the world's best TV program. Naturally perhaps these Angel Guides are going to be of a similar quality, the first definitely is.
Why am I watching? I'm not into Angel (yet?) and I think for the reasons you mentioned: as I initially watched the original broadcasts interlaced with Buffy season 4's "liquid joy" and also as the writing didn't have it's footing. Although I often found episodes left me thrilled, the show just didn't resonate the way Buffy 3&4 did. Thus I watched all of seasons 1, but my viewing rapidly diminished as the seasons progressed. However, due to several Buffy storyline links appearing in several Angel series I did buy the Angel DVD boxset years ago for completeness, but I only rewatched all of season 1 once.
However, I suspect by regularly watching this Angel Guide (should these be watched interlaced?:-), especially once you get to season 2 and beyond I will start to both watch and appreciate all of Angel at last.
Great video!! I love this show i'm re watching the series and right now i'm about to watch episode 8 I Will Remember You
Yes!!! Was waiting for this!!!
Amazing video, Ian! And holy CRAP that opening sequence! Whoever made that is my hero :)
Argh, I'm conflicted here! On the one hand, I know that this guide is here to help people enjoy the show more, and I want to add constructive thoughts to that if I can. On the other hand... I have so many problems with this show, and this main character, and this pilot, and I want to talk about them. So this is what I'm gonna do: This comment is gonna be NEGATIVE. I'm gonna talk here about problems I have with the show. Then, later, I'll post another comment that's all about the positive things. So, if you don't want to wallow in negativity (God knows negativity is too common on the internet...), you should stop reading this comment right now. There'll be a more constructive one later.
If you're all about the negativity, though, or if you just want to debate or defend the show, here goes:
I don't really like Angel. That's a fact that bothered me since episode 1 of 'Buffy', all the way up to the last episode of 'Angel'. I don't HATE him or anything like that, but I also don't have any warm fuzzy feelings for him, and I don't sympathize with him, and I don't feel for him when he's happy or sad or whatever. The words "block of wood" describe him pretty well for me. In a lot of ways, even RILEY is a better character than Angel for me, and that's just wrong, right?
And the annoying thing is that I'm not really sure WHY I don't like Angel. On the surface, there's a lot of great stuff about his character: He's a morally ambiguous character (which is always great for storytelling, in my opinion), and he has a lot of trouble with socializing (which I can definitely relate to), and he's a lot like Batman (whom I love), and he's not very talkative (again, relatable. I may blab on and on in these comments, but in real life I'm mostly a listener), and he constantly struggles with philosophical questions (philosophy is awesome!), and so on.
And yet, he just doesn't WORK for me. And I have all sorts of theories about why that is. Is it because of the acting? I definitely think that Boreanaz is a poor actor for the vast majority of the show. But that feels too easy - a lot of people DO love his acting, after all. And even I must say that by the later seasons Boreanaz became a pretty great actor, and yet even then he didn't REALLY work for me as a character. So it must be a problem with the character, not the actor.
Another theory is that the problem is that Boreanaz just isn't LIKE Angel. If you've ever seen interviews with Boreanaz, you'll see that he's a pretty goofy, fun-loving person, which doesn't fit with Angel. But that still falls into the acting problem, which, as I said, can't be the real reason.
Another theory is the Whedon explanation - Angel is too unrelatable, as the tall, dark and handsome uber-man that can't be sympathized with. But I have to disagree with Whedon here - Batman is ALSO very similiar to Angel in his un-reachability, and yet he definitely works for me as a character. Also, as I said, Angel DOES have a lot of relatable traits (loneliness, social awkwardness, guilt, etc...).
One of my leading theories for "the Angel problem" is the fact that his defining trait, guilt, is based on bullshit - he feels guilt for all the crimes he's done in the past, and yet those crimes were really not his fault. He didn't CHOOSE to become a mass murderer, he was just a victim of Darla. So, if he's not actually guilty, then why should I give a crap about his guilt? A major part of his character is built on shaky ground, so of course he wouldn't work, right? I have some counter-arguments here: Other characters, like Bucky Barnes from the Captain America movies, DO work despite having this same problem. Still, Bucky is not really one of my favorite characters, so I think that this problem still holds. It's still one of my leading theories for why Angel sucks.
Another leading theory is the lack of ORIGINALITY in Angel's character. As I said, Angel is essentially Batman. We see it clearly in the opening sequence here, as he saves the damsel in distress and stalks off to the night ("To the Angelmobile, Away!"). And maybe that rip-off-ness is the problem? I certainly have that same problem with Daredevil, another Batman rip-off.
There ARE other Batman-like characters that I love, but those characters bring something new to the table - Wesley turns into Batman in the later seasons, but he's different in that his journey toward Batman-dom began very differently (he started off as a goofy nerd, after all). And the same is true of later-seasons Faith, and later-seasons Buffy, etc...
Then again, Angel and Daredevil DO bring something different to the Batman trope - unlike Batman, they're not motivated by pain (the death of his parents), but instead are mainly motivate by guilt (Angel) or by an inner darkness that wants to be let out (Daredevil. Although Angel kinda has that too). Still, maybe that's not different enough to distract me from that nagging feeling of "I've seen this story already"...
At the moment, I lean toward THIS theory (Although in 30 seconds, I'll probably lean more toward a different theory) - I don't like Angel because he's *pretentious*. This is a trait that Angel shares with Daredevil, so maybe that's my problem with Daredevil too. I definitely tend to gravitate toward the self-depracating, insecure, unpretentious characters (or the characters who hide that faithless-ness and insecurity with bravado): Buffy ("I have all this power. I didn't ask for it. I *don't* deserve it"), Spike ("I may be love's bitch, but at least I'm man enough to admit it"), Xander ("I laugh in the face of danger!... And then I hide until it goes away"), Faith ("You disgusting, murderous bitch! You're nothing! You're disgusting!" She screams while essentially punching her own face) Willow ("Wil, there's nothing wrong with you. You don't need magic to be special" "Don't I?... Buffy, who was I? Just some girl. Tara didn't even know that girl..."), Jessica Jones ("I'm an asshole"), etc... Angel, meanwhile, usually seems to be full of purpose and self-importance - This first episode starts with him on a routine mission to save people, while the first episode of Buffy started with her saying she's retired and "why can't you people just leave me alone?"
And when Angel DOES have moments in which he loses that sense of mission and importance, like the ending of 'Reprise', I do feel for him, and his character DOES work... But then, when he regains the sense of mission ('Epiphany'), he becomes a flat block of wood again. Which is weird, because when Buffy or Xander gain a sense of mission (Like in, say, 'Becoming'), they DON'T lose my interest... So, what the hell, Angel? WHY DO YOU SUCK?
Yeah, I'm still not sure why Angel doesn't work for me. Maybe it's all those reasons combined? I don't know. At least he works as a villain... (and even that's not all the time)
Anyway, on to this episode: My main problem with this episode (and with the early seasons of the show as a whole), other than the fact that Angel himself sucks, is that it's so DERIVATIVE. It's Batman, and that's it. The opening scene demonstrates this problem clearly - where the premise of 'Buffy' was subversive (by having the damsel in distress be the powerful hero), the premise of Angel is cliched. It's completely formulaic - the damsel in distress goes into a dark alley with dangerous men, and the dark masculine hero saves her and stalks off to the night. It's Batman, it's James Bond, it's John Wayne, it's every classic dark masculine hero ever. And there's no subversion, no innovation. The only kinda new thing is that Angel pretends to be a dumb drunk at the beginning, to spy on the bar, but even that is just the classic Bruce Wayne playboy act. I'VE SEE ALL THIS BEFORE A MILLION TIMES, WHY ARE YOU SHOWING ME THIS AGAIN?!
And this isn't just one scene, IT'S THE PREMISE OF THE SHOW!!! The very premise of the show is based on an ancient, tired (and sexist) cliche. This entire show is, therefore, kinda pointless. Isn't it? Why watch 'Angel', if I can just watch 'The Searchers'? Or 'The Dark Knight'? Or any of a MILLION noir films? These movies did the same things that 'Angel' does, and they did it first, and they did it better. And it's not just that old scenario of saving the damsel in distress, it's EVERYTHING - the struggle with inner darkness, and the existential themes, and the inherent injustice of the world... it was all done already, and it was done in pretty much the same way. Where's the innovation here? Why should I care about this? Why did the world need 'Angel'? I really don't know. The world kinda *didn't* need it.
'Buffy', for all of its use of old ideas and genres, always tried to do something NEW with them: If it used an old trope, it deconstructed it (the damsel in distress in the dark alley is an old idea, but having the damsel save herself is not). If it explored an old theme, it did it in a new way (there are a lot of stories that were written about suicidal tendencies... But I don't think I've ever seen a MUSICAL about suicidal tendencies, which is what 'Buffy' did). Angel doesn't offer anything new there - it does the same old tropes and themes, and it does them in the same way they were always done. And therefore, When Angel saves the damsel in distress in the dark alley, it's not interesting or exciting - it's just dull and boring and predictable.
Does that mean that 'Angel' is a worthless show that you shouldn't watch?... NOPE. 'Angel' is actually a pretty great show, overall. And I'll explain why later...
While I don't necessarily agree with everything you said (I can definitely see where you're coming from though and you're completely right in your facts), I loved reading your essay! :)
Personally I never liked Angel as a character either, I thought his romance with Buffy in early seasons of that show were sometimes Twilight levels of bad. For that reason I didn't watch Angel for a long time, and when I did, it was not because I wanted to see angel again, it was because I wanted to see more of the Buffyverse, with its complex characters and interesting world. And after watching all of Angel I can say that Angel himself may be the weakest character of the main cast (excluding Connor, of course). Your comment is kind of rambly, but I see your point and even agree with it. Whedon flat-out said that he didn't know how to write Angel early on, and Boreannez honestly wasn't really good at acting the part early on, and while Boreannez definitely got good at portraying the part, I'm not sure if the writers ever completely got ahold of how to write his character. That being said, this show has a far stronger supporting cast than Buffy, and THEY, along with the excellent world-building, are the reason I find this show so enjoyable, even possibly better than Buffy. Each member of the Angel team (again, excluding Connor) is a complex and nuanced character, often independent from Angel and his story (as I mentioned in my response to your positive comment). They are the glue that holds the show together through its rough patches (Season 4), and oftentimes they are far better characters than the lead. Spike for example remains my favorite character in the entire Buffyverse, and is honestly so complex that comparing him to Angel often makes Angel look completely one-dimensional by comparison. This may sound like I'm just ragging on Angel the character, but I'm not; there are times where his character works perfectly, and by the end of the show I did love him as much as the rest of the cast, but he's not the reason to watch the show, and I don't think a dislike for his character automatically means a dislike for his show.
Just have to say regarding the "Daredevil is a Batman rip off thing." The reason so many people think that is that Frank Miller worked on both characters. originally Daredevil was much more of a swashbuckling hero, but when Miller got a hold of him he took a dark and gritty approached that resonated with fans. As a result, that's the approach they went with when adapting the netflix show. Then he went on to work on Batman and basically introduced a lot of the same elements. Part of the reason Mark Waid's recent run was so well received was because he tried to reintroduce the swashbuckling superhero elements, so we get moments like Daredevil riding the Silver Surfer's board, and him fighting villains like the mole man.
And you are right. Several of the same themes and plot details Angel has can be found in countless works of fiction, but I feel like you can really make that claim with pretty much any genre or story. You could make the argument that Angel and Buffy are the same because they can be broken down according to Joseph Campbell's mono myth. Think of it like music. Every song is made up of notes but it's not like some day somebody is going to go out and discover a brand new note. What matters isn't necessarily whether you have heard the sounds before. What matters is how the sounds are arranged, and the way Angel explores and utilizes these themes can be far superior to something like "The Dark Knight." Maybe it's just my personality, but I have yet to read a superhero comic or watch a superhero movie that have hit me as hard as 'Reprise" and "Epiphany." In most fiction you either know that the hero will ultimately defy all odds and win in the end (Buffy won't fail to stop the apocalypse), or you get stuck with the cynical view that evil is unbeatable, there are no truly good people, there is no point to doing any thing good, etc. (Watchmen, Punisher, etc.) Angel is the only show I can think of that has told people even if the battle against evil is unwinnable doing the right thing still has value.
In terms of what makes it special compared to something like "The Dark Knight" I would say the same thing that TPN mentoned in his "Why You Should Watch Angel" video. Buffy is about growing up, Angel is about being an adult. It addresses why the philosophical questions it posses to viewers are important to consider as we live out our lives, and the impact our choices can have.
well, i pretty much disagree with all of that...
I like Angel, I feel like I can relate to him a whole lot and I feel sorry for him at times.
Thanks for doing this !
Angel was always my favourite character and I watched his show religiously. Must admit after he left series 3 Buffy was never the same for me.
Can't wait to see you dissect the Angel series as we go on.
Do you ever just watch the shows and enjoy them or have you always broke them down to there metaphors and such ?
I'm so happy that this is finally here, my favourite show switched from Buffy to Angel after I'd watched Angel all the way through, having already watched Buffy through several times.
Loved this when it 1st aired I did the back and forth I am glad you put this review up today since I just re-watched the whole 1st season these last 2 days on NetFlix (was at my brother house for the holidays he only had the netflix hooked upped) in the middle of re-watching season 2.
15 years later, Daredevil will cut and paste this entire pilot...
Totally.
To be fair, 'Angel' was just a cut-and-paste job too... In fact, didn't 'Angel' borrow a lot from old Daredevil comics?
Guy R yes, but Angel was first in the television medium, plus, Drew Goddard worked in the buffyverse beforehand so it's even harder to ignore
idkmybffjill730 ayyy I watch your buffyverse comic vids
Nathan Jerome wootwoot!
idkmybffjill730 yeah, I guess 'Angel was the first to do that as live-action TV.
The one thing that REALLY made go "seen that before" is when Karen becomes the secretary at the end, just like Cordy. That's just TOO similiar.
I've got to say, I LOVE the opening credits, they look wonderful!
My first impression of the Angel Pilot was very positive - I feel like the first episode is fantastic for setting the tone of the show, and clearly differentiates it from Buffy in terms of how it's filmed, the theme, and plot.
When introduced to the shows, I watched all of Buffy from start to finish, then waited a year (honestly idk why), and watched all of Angel from start to finish. Personally, I had a great experience doing it that way, since I thought the tones in both shows are so very different, they might clash a bit if you try to watch them running alongside each other. It might also be a bit confusing for someone watching the shows for the first time, as they might lose track of the different plots, and like you said, I imagine it would be jarring to keep switching between the two.
Anyway, thanks for the video, I look forward to the rest of the Angel guide :)
Angel kicking Russell out of the building is definitely a comic book hero moment.
great video, Ian!!! I'm so excited you're reaching this point in your guide series :D
For my own part, I watch Buffy season 4 and Angel season 1 in tandem, but in chunks. Not back and forth and back and forth. Someday I should find the time to write out what my favorite sequence is. XD
I feel that with S1 of Angel, if I had to give the audience one word of advice, it would be:
PERSEVERE!
I recently rewatched Angel (for the first time in around 8 years) and I really struggled with the first season. I feel like the only reason I was able to continue is because I knew how GOOOOOOD it gets in the upcoming seasons.
My biggest problem was that it seemed to lack direction, and with you mentioning how Joss stated that he struggled at first on what to do with this show, it makes a lot of sense that I felt a lack of direction
I like Angel better than Buffy, mostly because I love noir.
Agreed, however Buffy had noir elements in Season 2, that's why it's my favorite season.