Angel Rewatch: 1.17 Eternity

[nightshade]

Don't drug the vampire.

 

[Taake]

Best opening scene of the whole season Poor Ibsen, what have they done to you.

Okay, so, I'm still not really sold on the happy pill - Angelus thing, however, for me that was and remains a minor complaint about this episode. I'll suspend my disbelief for the sake of the story told.

Though it's a bit obvious I first of all really like the commentary on, especially the movie business', obsession with youth.
I like Angel's connection to the actress Rebecca (though I don't like her) I think they have a fair amount of chemistry actually, and I just... I don't know, the "I'm a vampire" scenes after he's been drugged are just hilarious. When he pours blood down her throat, I don't know, it's kind of oddly satisfying in a way that maybe doesn't bring out the best in me.

I also feel like this, except for Hero and The Ring, is one of the season 1 episodes when I really start to like Cordelia as a character on the show. As opposed to mostly tolerating her.

Here I also feel like it makes sense that Cordelia was brought over from Buffy, and this is the Cordelia I miss in later seasons.
I love this Cordelia


The Cordy who's all too aware of the damage Angelus can do and is perfectly prepared to do what is necessary in regards to him (also to protect herself).
Leaving Angel chained to the bed is probably also one of the best episode endings this season. Lol.

Still a strong episode for me, I enjoyed it more than I thought I would.

 

[WillowFromBuffy]

"Of course, a time will come when Paul is not as devoted to me."

This episode is fairly good. I wish AtS had focused more on the entertainment industry. Vampires and the darker side of Hollywood go hand in hand.

Cordelia is a little too extra this episode. S1 generally does a good job of making Cordy feel like a real person, rather than a parody of herself. But we know that Cordy is desperate to turn her fortunes around, so maybe it makes sense for her to fawn as much as she does.

The best scene is easily the one where Angel is drugged. I think this may easily be David's most frightening performance as Angelus. I just wish the stakes were higher. I think the audience knows that this is just a filler episode and that nothing permanent will come of it.

This is the first time evil Angel insists on being called Angelus. I find this quite odd, and there is really no precedence for it. S2's evil Angel simply goes by Angel. I always figured Angel cut a syllable off his name, because it made it less cumbersome and slightly less pretentious, not because it sounded less evil.

It makes sense to me that an intoxicated Angel would turn evil. Intoxication brings out the lizard brain. Angel has a demon riding his lizard brain. When the parts of his brain that serve the same purpose as the soul are dormant, then it makes sense that Angel would act as though he had no soul.

And the drugs also explains Angelus's added flamboyance and how he is so easily defeated.

 

[telperion66]

This is an above average episode that embodies the unique characteristics of season one, whilst portraying a story about life in LA that I think stands up really well as a standalone episode.

The script is tastefully written and well performed by the cast.

The highlights of this episode are often subtle, but thankfully quite frequent.

A good episode, great on re-watch when re-watching the season.

7.9/10 for me

 

[DeadlyDuo]

This episode is fairly good. I wish AtS had focused more on the entertainment industry. Vampires and the darker side of Hollywood go hand in hand.

The first episode featured shades of the darker side of Hollywood, particularly where it seemed like Cordelia realised she'd might have to exchange sexual favours in order to get a decent acting role before she was saved by Angel.

I don't think the series could've gone too far down the dark side of Hollywood path because it could've been seen as biting the hand that feeds. Also given that Joss was also engaging in the sleeping with women in exchange for job opportunities, it could've been a bit too close to home.

It makes sense to me that an intoxicated Angel would turn evil. Intoxication brings out the lizard brain. Angel has a demon riding his lizard brain. When the parts of his brain that serve the same purpose as the soul are dormant, then it makes sense that Angel would act as though he had no soul.

Apparently alcohol ( which can have the same effect as drugs such as feeling of euphoria (which is why people drink to dull their pain), lowers inhibition, impairs judgement, etc) doesn't impair the moral centre of the brain so can't be blamed on bad behaviour (though it does lower empathy which can make people more aggressive). People make the same moral judgements drunk as they do sober.

Therefore Angel turning into Angelus after being given the drug has its issues. Angel's curse is that "a moment of perfect happiness" will turn him back into Angelus. So either the drug provides that (in which Angel shouldn't revert back to his normal self once the drug wears off, in which case Angelus would be kicking himself that he didn't try drugs sooner) or Angel never truly reverted to Angelus and was just being a bit of a dick.

The third option is that, even with a soul, Angel still has the Angelus urges to cause harm and suffering to others and he has to consciously choose to ignore them (with the soul making him feel guilty for having those thoughts). The drug lowers his inhibitions, thus his guilt over those urges which makes him more likely to engage in them. This means that Angelus never ever truly went away which casts Angel in a much darker light. Since the show never explored this idea, it means either Angel was just being a dick whilst under the effects of the drug or he truly was Angelus in which case he shouldn't have reverted back to Angel once the drug wore off.

 

[nightshade]

The third option is that, even with a soul, Angel still has the Angelus urges to cause harm and suffering to others and he has to consciously choose to ignore them (with the soul making him feel guilty for having those thoughts). The drug lowers his inhibitions, thus his guilt over those urges which makes him more likely to engage in them. This means that Angelus never ever truly went away which casts Angel in a much darker light

I always thought it was this.

I'm actually looking forward to watching this episode, I haven't seen it in ages but remember enjoying it.

 

[nightshade]

Just put this on, via Amazon, oh it's so weird, I think I'll stick to my dvds! However loving the call back to City Of with Cordelia and Angel talking about the party!
Cordelia needs to just be quiet sometimes, but she did manage to give Rebecca a card. Angel is so cute, and Wes is now an intern!

"It's not blood" she didn't even question how he knew that.

Wesley, being all observant with Angel liking Rebecca!

So how did Angel get in then, or was it not her house?

2 hundred and some change! Age is just a number!

Cordelia is so not subtle!

Angel's hair is not my favourite, it's gelled weirdly

I love this Cordelia, she's still a teenager (ok 18/19) and this helps to show her younger side.

I do find it amusing that Rebecca is paler than Angel!

How Wesley and Cordelia managed to drag Angel to the bed and used all those chains on him?

Yes, I still loved this episode

@Puppet and @DeadlyDuo my theory is that, she invited him over after they talked and she gave him her address then too.

 

[Btvs fan]

Enjoyable episode. Some great moments and I love Rebecca, she had great chemistry with Angel . It's a shame we never saw her again.
Cordys character is terribly written at the start but is so well written in the second half its surreal. That makes me think the writers knew she was bad st the start but didn't care because they wanted her like that rather than organically 🤓🤔
Joss says this is the episode that he gets its that they're not making anthologies but a more serialized storytelling. Which is kind of funny considering this is an anthology story 😃😎
Overall 7 out of 10. It's a fun episode but nothing spectacular

 

[Nix]

Some great moments and I love Rebecca, she had great chemistry with Angel . It's a shame we never saw her again.

Totally agree... I thought there was potential for more with this episode and character.

 

[Btvs fan]

Totally agree... I thought there was potential for more with this episode and character.

The contrast with Rebecca and Darla in S2 would've been really interesting imo
I would've much preferred her than saint Cordy or Werewolf Girl as a love interest imo