S1: "Angel"
I started my marathon today, and I'm already up to episode 7 of the first season. (In my defense, I'm getting work done at the same time. I have a metric buttload of stuff to do over the next few weeks, so I have a feeling I'll be making my way through the episodes very quickly.)
So, Season One! The season of bad special effects and cheesy synthesizer music and skirts short enough that I feel like I could be SMG's gynecologist. And, of course, there's Angel.
I want to be invested in Buffy/Angel because I love Buffy to little bitty pieces. When she hurts, I hurt. But there's no getting around the fact that in S1 Boreanaz couldn't act his way out of a paper bag. SMG is doing a hell of a lot of heavy lifting in their scenes together, acting-wise, and it's entirely up to her that I care about Buffy/Angel. The thought of her mooning over this constipated-looking goof...ugh. I keep having to remind myself that she's sixteen. And, of course, she'll spend all of the next season ripping my heart out.
One thing I find really nifty in the episode Angel is watching the scene between Angel and Darla, especially knowing their long and tumultuous history together from AtS. And I have to tell you, there is more smoldering tension between Angel and Darla in that one brief scene than there is in the entire first season between Angel and Buffy. I'm really glad Joss and co. brought her back to AtS, because there's some really good chemistry there.
I love Angel so much on his own show, but the thought of three seasons of him here is absolutely wearying. S2 is the highlight, of course (and I think DB did do a good job with Angelus), but then there are the doldrums of S3 where their relationship was on life support and consisted of way too much, "Should we? No, we shouldn't! I love you! But I can't be with you!" I'm already dreading it. Just as his acting chops improve, his story drags.
Oh, also? I love the confrontation between Buffy and Angel at the end of the episode. You can really feel the fire there. I especially dig Angel's "I wanted to kill you tonight." It's a neat counterpart to Spike in S7 with his "I dreamed of killing you." Poor Buffy and her vampire guys.
So, Season One! The season of bad special effects and cheesy synthesizer music and skirts short enough that I feel like I could be SMG's gynecologist. And, of course, there's Angel.
I want to be invested in Buffy/Angel because I love Buffy to little bitty pieces. When she hurts, I hurt. But there's no getting around the fact that in S1 Boreanaz couldn't act his way out of a paper bag. SMG is doing a hell of a lot of heavy lifting in their scenes together, acting-wise, and it's entirely up to her that I care about Buffy/Angel. The thought of her mooning over this constipated-looking goof...ugh. I keep having to remind myself that she's sixteen. And, of course, she'll spend all of the next season ripping my heart out.
One thing I find really nifty in the episode Angel is watching the scene between Angel and Darla, especially knowing their long and tumultuous history together from AtS. And I have to tell you, there is more smoldering tension between Angel and Darla in that one brief scene than there is in the entire first season between Angel and Buffy. I'm really glad Joss and co. brought her back to AtS, because there's some really good chemistry there.
I love Angel so much on his own show, but the thought of three seasons of him here is absolutely wearying. S2 is the highlight, of course (and I think DB did do a good job with Angelus), but then there are the doldrums of S3 where their relationship was on life support and consisted of way too much, "Should we? No, we shouldn't! I love you! But I can't be with you!" I'm already dreading it. Just as his acting chops improve, his story drags.
Oh, also? I love the confrontation between Buffy and Angel at the end of the episode. You can really feel the fire there. I especially dig Angel's "I wanted to kill you tonight." It's a neat counterpart to Spike in S7 with his "I dreamed of killing you." Poor Buffy and her vampire guys.