Season 5

Finally, the Spike season! First episode and he already gets second billing. Abbott to Angel's Costello, the two bicker and fight their way through the season. Cordelia only returns for one episode (yai!). Wesley keeps the rough look but stays good. Gunn gets an lawyer upload that also seems to erase his affections for Fred. Considering the intensity of their relationship last season, I find it strange there aren't even jealous looks now and then. Fred gets a turn at being the cool baddie when her body is taken over by the goddess Ilyria (complete with coloured hair and body-hugging metal suit for all those teenage fantasies). Even Harmony receives an eventual place in the opening credits.

Best episode was Smile Time. How cute was puppet Angel fighting with Spike!?!

As a conclusion of a series, the last few episodes were actually quite disappointing. The Circle of the Black Thorn read like the Stonecutters of the Simpsons, but with less surprises and introduced too late. There was no suspense surrounding their dealings nor preliminary confrontations. A better foe would have be the expansion of Lindsey and Eve, both of whom had already established connection and animosity to the good guys, allowing for a more satisfying defeat. Or perhaps a final showdown with the senior partners, whom have been mentioned all throughout the series, yet have never been personified.

Season 4

Twists at every turn, Season 4 aims to be even more exciting than the one before. It starts by resolving the clifhangers from the previous sesason- Angel trapped at the bottom of the sea, Cordelia becoming a higher being and Wesley's exile from the group. (seems that glasses and razors are not allowed when one goes to the dark side.)

Connor is your usual angst-ridden teenager, complete with an paternal issues and mrs robinson dreams. Talk about an oedipus complex. And did I not express my dislike of Cordelia? How presumptous of her to declare "You've never had anything real." to Connor. taking advantage of his feelings for her and disregarding how much this would affect Angel. Just flay the bitch already.

A much better villainous performance was Lilah. She makes no excuses for her treachery but shows a humanity in her deepening affections for Wes.

Season 3- Overview

A jam-packed season where Darla gets pregnant, Fred and Gunn get together, Wes falls from grace and Angel falls in love with Cordelia. Notable guest was Skip, the demon security/messenger who commutes to work.

I'm not sure why but the pairing of Angel and Cordelia makes me uncomfortable. No doubt Cordy has grown from the bitchy princess from Buffy, but on some level I believe she's not good enough for Angel. She's too self-righteous. She thinks she's better than everyone else.
She doesn't deserve the humble, bumbling affections of Angel.

As a series, I still prefer Buffy. Despite all the excitement, as a collective, I find the characters less likeable. In Buffy, I liked Spike, Giles, Willow, Tara. In Angel I don't really like any of them besids Lorne and Fred. Wesley is only becoming less boring through his mistakes. Cordelia- see above. Gunn is a stereotypical young black man. Angel, you'd think 200+ years is long enough to develop a personality.

Season 3- Ep 2 That vision thing

it's Kumar! (from Harold and Kumar go White Castle)
he's the guy giving Cordy the detrimental visions.

karaoke prompt:
someday somebody's gonna make you wanna turn around and say goodbye
(say goodbye)
till then baby, are you gonna let them hold you down and make you cry?
don't you know (don't you know)
things will change (change)
things will go your way
if you hold~ on for one more day
things will go your way~
hold on for one more day

speaking of karaoke- episode in Season 2 where nerd tries to stop time cos he got dumped, the song he sings at Caritas is All by myself :)
which should have been sung as follows:
when I was young I never needed anyone
and making love was just for fun
those days are gone
ALL~ BY~ MYSELF~
don't wanna be ALL~ BY~ MYSELF~
anymore

repeat as necessary until everyone has left the room :)

Season 2

I actually enjoyed this season. (The Wong girls were right- I am grateful for their strict guidance.) There were stronger narratives and interesting character developments. The reintroduction of Darla and Druscilla was refreshing. Angel's path to the dark side brought tension and ambiguity. The lawyers at Wolfram and Hart, though, remained simple. Kate also got little action, perhaps she was too busy auditioning for Law and Order.

(anyone else notice that Anne, who ran the homeless shelter, was the girl befriended by Buffy in the 1st episode of Buffy Season 2?)

The third act, set in Pylea, Lorne's home dimension, was original and amusing with role reversals and Angel's awe at the loss of his vampiric disadvantages.

As for Fred- a possible non-blonde love interest for Angel??? Did I already hear a theme each time they were together?

Season 1

At the end of Buffy Season 3, Angel leaves Sunnydale and moves to LA. To carryover the fan base, the eye candy and english comic relief, namely Cordelia and Wesley, were also transferrred. This season was not that exciting with the first few episodes following a typical evil fighting hero formula. I knew that Angel would never lose or die (there were 9 more box sets waiting for me!) making it rather predictable. Honestly, I cheated and skipped to the crossover episodes with Faith and gave up on watching the rest of the series.

Meanwhile I reach the end of Buffy. Still mourning the loss of Spike, my life is given new hope when I hear that he moves to the last season of Angel. However, everything has it's price- prohibited to fast forward to Angel Season 5, I was forced to live through the other seasons first.