****NOMINEE #1****
''Betrayed''
(Buffy S3 Ep12 ~ Helpless)
~~~~
Buffy: You bastard. All this time, you saw what it was doing to me. All this time, and you didn't say a word!
Giles: I wanted to.
Buffy: Liar.
(...)
Buffy: Who are you? How could you do this to me?
~~~~
Tome's commentary: Oh, damn, I hate seeing Buffy in pain, and even more when that pain is caused by the man she looks up to. Giles, how could you do that? It is still not easy for me to accept that Giles would go along with such a scheme. I thought - and I still think - that it was out of character by that point in the story. G-man had gotten too close to Buffy. The writers do redeem him by the end of the episode, but it still bothers me that he could be so cold. I guess this was good for one thing, though: Wesley Wyndam-Pryce. 😉 Giles being fired meant bringing a new watcher in, who ended up being a central character in the Angel spin-off!
****NOMINEE #2****
''Where It All Began''
(Buffy S1 Ep2 ~ The Harvest)
~~~~
Giles: The Earth is doomed!
~~~~
Tome's commentary: It's such a wonderful moment. It's not incredibly dramatic; it's not epically awesome. No. It's just a quiet, fun scene with the original Scooby Gang! They had just met, but we could already tell that a tight bond had formed between them. Together they would face impossible odds for years to come, their friendship enduring despite the many missteps along the way! Long live the Core Four! 😀
****NOMINEE #3****
''An Unlikely Hero''
(Angel S1 Ep9 ~ Hero)
~~~~
Doyle (to Cordelia): Too bad we'll never know if this is a face you could learn to love.
~~~~
Tome's commentary: Doyle is far from being my favorite character in the 'Verse, however, I must admit that in the short time frame during which he was on the show, he had good chemistry with Angel and Cordy. Who knows, maybe I would have learned to like him more had he not died in this episode. Anyhow, personally my favorite part in *this* scene is actually after he dies and we see Cordelia watching the commercial they filmed together. Cordy, who's still quite the superficial girl, realizes the extent to which she didn't see Doyle for what he was all this time, and even something that actually angered her earlier (RATES!) now makes her smile. At least that's how I saw it.
Doyle's death would prove to be a *good* thing in the end, because it led to Wesley's arrival; Wesley, who was going to turn out to be probably the deepest character on the show. That, and in the original storyline written by Joss, Doyle was supposed to come back as an antagonist in S4, which would have been very interesting!
****NOMINEE #4****
''Shattered''
(Buffy S2 Ep17 ~ Passion)
~~~~
Giles: Hello?
Giles: Jenny?
Giles: It's me!
~~~~
Tome's commentary: I've rarely felt so bad for a character. The way Angelus planned this was overwhelmingly cruel. He got Giles' hopes really high and then totally splattered them. Whatever you might think of Angelus, you got to admit he's one twisted ass**** when he wants to be. Everything, from the bottle of champagne to the opera singer singing ''O Soave Fanciulla'' in the background, made this scene completely heartbreaking. Name me one person who didn't feel something watching it and I can name you one cold-hearted bastard. 😉 😛
****NOMINEE #5****
''Can You Fly?''
(Angel S1 Ep1 ~ City Of)
~~~~
Russell: Angel. We do things a certain way here in LA.
Angel: Well, I'm new here.
Russell: But you're a civilized man. We don't have to go around attacking each other. Look at me: I pay my taxes. I keep my name out of the paper, and I don't make waves. And in return I can do anything I want!
Angel: Really. Hmm. Can you fly?
~~~~
Tome's commentary: Ahhh, Angel, this is when I started liking you... 😛 To this day, I still love this scene so much! Such a brilliant delivery on that last line by David Boreanaz. I also loved how the writers foreshadowed his little rivalry with Lindsey during the scene. Right from the get go, Angel let Wolfram & Hart know that he was going to be a real pain in the ass.
****NOMINEE #6****
''Let's Make 'Em Memorable''
(Angel S5 Ep22 ~ Not Fade Away)
~~~~
Spike: In terms of a plan?
Angel: We fight.
Spike: Bit more specific.
Angel: Well, personally, I kind of want to slay the dragon.
Angel: Let's go to work.
~~~~
Tome's commentary: Considering I'm supposed to think back to how I reacted when I first saw this scene, I'll make it clear: I was pissed off. Yes, nowadays I've learned to love the ending of Angel; however, back then, I was fuming, disappointed that we didn't get to see if our beloved characters survived. It's not that I wanted a happy ending, I simply hoped for a conclusion. Instead, we had a tragic last episode with one of my favorite characters dying meaninglessly and a huge cliffhanger that would never be resolved (unless you count AtF). Oh yea and WE NEVER SAW the Senior Partners! What a load of bull. 😛
Ok, now that I've expressed my feelings about my first viewing of the episode, let me explain why I learned to actually appreciate the closing scene of 'Not Fade Away.' As time passed and as I watched it with a friend (and ended up seeing this scene again), I strangely wasn't bothered like the first time. Peculiar you might say. Well, not really. The thing is, when you think about it, Angel's show was never akin to BtVS in the sense that it never played like a "we'll save the day, have many babies and live happily ever after" story. Early on in the show, Angel realized that he was never going to find full redemption, nor was he going to vanquish evil once and for all. It was going to be a continuous battle to keep the balance of good and evil. It's only natural - though sad - that in the end, characters died without really achieving *anything* (Wes and Fred), because, after all, nothing really matters. 😉 😛 It's also fitting that Angel ended his show with the ''Let's go to work'' line, because that's what it was really like for them: a job. They were professional do-gooders!
Now, I'll admit that reading ''After the Fall'' helped (and gave an interesting view of what might have happened in S6) my desire for a conclusion to the characters, but still, I actually kind of love the show's ending now. It's epic and a great contrast to Buffy's happy ending. I still feel like Wesley and Cordy should have been there alongside Angel in the end, but what can you do!
****NOMINEE #7****
''Quite a Ride''
(Buffy S3 Ep21 ~ Graduation Day: Part 1)
~~~~
Faith: You did it.
Faith: You killed me.
Faith: Still won't help your boy, though. Shoulda been there, B, quite a ride.
~~~~
Tome's commentary: When it comes to fights on BtVS, in my opinion, Faith and Buffy are the reference. I always loved their rivalry, and in this scene it comes to a boil! Buffy is determined to do whatever it takes to save Angel"”which I think gave her the advantage here, because she had something to fight for. On the other hand, Faith was just enjoying herself"”well, that is until she took a knife in her stomach. 😛
I remember waiting anxiously for the next episode to find out if she had actually died! I kind of wanted her to. 🙂 Yes, I'm evil. Anyhow, I still am not certain on what that last line from her meant: "˜'Quite a ride''? Was she talking about her own life and how Buffy was missing out by being a good little Slayer? Honestly, it doesn't make that much sense, but I don't see what else could have been her point.
****NOMINEE #8****
''The Future Is Ours''
(Buffy S3 Ep22 ~ Graduation Day: Part 2)
~~~~
Oz: Guys take a moment to deal with this: we survived.
Buffy: It was a hell of a battle!
Oz: Not the battle, high school.
~~~~
Tome's commentary: ''High school is over. What will happen next?'' That's what I remember thinking, back when I first saw this scene. This was sort of a series ending for me then. Having seen the first three seasons while they were airing (in French, of course), 14-year-old me stopped watching Buffy after that for around seven years! For me, the show had ended with them finishing high school. It was simply impossible to imagine the Gang in a different place. 😛
Anyhow, back to the scene at hand. Wasn't it just right for Oz to be the one asking for a moment of silence? Hahaha! 😉 ''We survived.'' Who didn't feel relieved after graduation? I don't know a single person who thought high school was anything but a jungle! Hell? That might be pushing it, but Joss sure digged that metaphor! 😛 In retrospect, this was the last appearance of Cordy on the show and I can't help but wonder if she'd have become as awesome on further seasons of BtVS as she did on AtS. Hmm"”I guess we'll never know!
****NOMINEE #9****
''The Earth is Definitely Doomed''
(Buffy S7 Ep22 ~ Chosen)
~~~~
Buffy: So, what do you guys want to do tomorrow?
Willow: Nothing strenuous.
Xander: Well, mini-golf is always the first thing that comes to mind.
Giles: I think we can do better than that.
Buffy: I was thinking about shopping. As per usual.
Willow: Oh! There's an Arden B. in the new mall!
Xander: I could use a few items.
Giles: Well, now aren't we gonna discuss this? Save the world to go to the mall?
~~~~
Tome's commentary: Finally, an old school scene between the Core Four! The last season of BtVS was so packed with new characters that we barely got any REAL private moments between Buffy, Willow, Xander and Giles. Here, Joss made sure to remind us of how it all started in 'Welcome to the Hellmouth': three outsiders in high school teaming up with an old British librarian to stop vampires and demons from taking over their city... and the world. 🙂 From their casual attitude towards impending disaster, we are also reminded of the light-hearted nature of the show at its core. Before all the drama, BtVS was a show that meant to be cheesy and funny, and it's certainly part of why I always loved it. Then, of course, you got Giles' line: ''The earth is definitely doomed.'' 😀 Perfect!
****NOMINEE #10****
''Adios, Queen C''
(Angel S5 Ep12 ~ You're Welcome)
~~~~
Cordelia: Oh, what the hell. One for the road?
*Angel and Cordelia exchange a kiss*
*the telephone rings*
Angel: You know, um... I don't... I don't need to get that.
Cordelia: That you have to get.
Cordelia: Oh... and you're welcome.
~~~~
Tome's commentary: They finally shared a real kiss! It took five years (and Cordy going through hell), but it actually happened. And it looked so natural. I know I'll piss off a lot of Bangel fans by saying this, but Cordelia was the perfect woman for Angel. 😉 Her quick appearance in S5 had a huge impact on him and on the rest of the season as a whole. During that kiss she shared a key vision with Angel! Anyway, this scene will always be quite emotional for me because of the abruptness of its ending. Just like that, Cordy is gone. 🙁 And it hurts even more considering that Joss and David didn't think it important enough to show us the rest of the gang's reaction to her death... What a load of bull. I'm glad we got to see the Queen Bee a last time, though.
****EXTRA NOMINEE (Wildcard #4)****
''Evil White Folks Mecca''
(Angel S1 Ep21 ~ Blind Date)
~~~~
Gunn: OW! Did you just step on my foot? Is that my foot you just stepped on? Are you assaulting me - up in this haven of justice?
Gunn: Somebody get me a lawyer - because my civil rights have seriously been violated. Oh, I get it, I get it. You all can cater to the demon, cater to the dead man, but what about the black man!
~~~~
Tome's commentary: First of all, I want to thank everybody who reminded me of this awesome scene! I totally forgot about it when I made the list. What's disappointing with Gunn is that despite being an important part of AtS, he doesn't actually have more than a few scenes that stand out. This was one of them. I always laugh my ass off when I see it. 😀 Gunn's sarcasm and overblown reactions fit perfectly during this highly tense sequence of events, where he plays his part to a 'T' and allows Angel to enter the building undetected!
The one thing I always found ironic was that there was an african american W&H lawyer next to Gunn while he was doing his speech. 😉
''Betrayed''
(Buffy S3 Ep12 ~ Helpless)
~~~~
Buffy: You bastard. All this time, you saw what it was doing to me. All this time, and you didn't say a word!
Giles: I wanted to.
Buffy: Liar.
(...)
Buffy: Who are you? How could you do this to me?
~~~~
Tome's commentary: Oh, damn, I hate seeing Buffy in pain, and even more when that pain is caused by the man she looks up to. Giles, how could you do that? It is still not easy for me to accept that Giles would go along with such a scheme. I thought - and I still think - that it was out of character by that point in the story. G-man had gotten too close to Buffy. The writers do redeem him by the end of the episode, but it still bothers me that he could be so cold. I guess this was good for one thing, though: Wesley Wyndam-Pryce. 😉 Giles being fired meant bringing a new watcher in, who ended up being a central character in the Angel spin-off!
****NOMINEE #2****
''Where It All Began''
(Buffy S1 Ep2 ~ The Harvest)
~~~~
Giles: The Earth is doomed!
~~~~
Tome's commentary: It's such a wonderful moment. It's not incredibly dramatic; it's not epically awesome. No. It's just a quiet, fun scene with the original Scooby Gang! They had just met, but we could already tell that a tight bond had formed between them. Together they would face impossible odds for years to come, their friendship enduring despite the many missteps along the way! Long live the Core Four! 😀
****NOMINEE #3****
''An Unlikely Hero''
(Angel S1 Ep9 ~ Hero)
~~~~
Doyle (to Cordelia): Too bad we'll never know if this is a face you could learn to love.
~~~~
Tome's commentary: Doyle is far from being my favorite character in the 'Verse, however, I must admit that in the short time frame during which he was on the show, he had good chemistry with Angel and Cordy. Who knows, maybe I would have learned to like him more had he not died in this episode. Anyhow, personally my favorite part in *this* scene is actually after he dies and we see Cordelia watching the commercial they filmed together. Cordy, who's still quite the superficial girl, realizes the extent to which she didn't see Doyle for what he was all this time, and even something that actually angered her earlier (RATES!) now makes her smile. At least that's how I saw it.
Doyle's death would prove to be a *good* thing in the end, because it led to Wesley's arrival; Wesley, who was going to turn out to be probably the deepest character on the show. That, and in the original storyline written by Joss, Doyle was supposed to come back as an antagonist in S4, which would have been very interesting!
****NOMINEE #4****
''Shattered''
(Buffy S2 Ep17 ~ Passion)
~~~~
Giles: Hello?
Giles: Jenny?
Giles: It's me!
~~~~
Tome's commentary: I've rarely felt so bad for a character. The way Angelus planned this was overwhelmingly cruel. He got Giles' hopes really high and then totally splattered them. Whatever you might think of Angelus, you got to admit he's one twisted ass**** when he wants to be. Everything, from the bottle of champagne to the opera singer singing ''O Soave Fanciulla'' in the background, made this scene completely heartbreaking. Name me one person who didn't feel something watching it and I can name you one cold-hearted bastard. 😉 😛
****NOMINEE #5****
''Can You Fly?''
(Angel S1 Ep1 ~ City Of)
~~~~
Russell: Angel. We do things a certain way here in LA.
Angel: Well, I'm new here.
Russell: But you're a civilized man. We don't have to go around attacking each other. Look at me: I pay my taxes. I keep my name out of the paper, and I don't make waves. And in return I can do anything I want!
Angel: Really. Hmm. Can you fly?
~~~~
Tome's commentary: Ahhh, Angel, this is when I started liking you... 😛 To this day, I still love this scene so much! Such a brilliant delivery on that last line by David Boreanaz. I also loved how the writers foreshadowed his little rivalry with Lindsey during the scene. Right from the get go, Angel let Wolfram & Hart know that he was going to be a real pain in the ass.
****NOMINEE #6****
''Let's Make 'Em Memorable''
(Angel S5 Ep22 ~ Not Fade Away)
~~~~
Spike: In terms of a plan?
Angel: We fight.
Spike: Bit more specific.
Angel: Well, personally, I kind of want to slay the dragon.
Angel: Let's go to work.
~~~~
Tome's commentary: Considering I'm supposed to think back to how I reacted when I first saw this scene, I'll make it clear: I was pissed off. Yes, nowadays I've learned to love the ending of Angel; however, back then, I was fuming, disappointed that we didn't get to see if our beloved characters survived. It's not that I wanted a happy ending, I simply hoped for a conclusion. Instead, we had a tragic last episode with one of my favorite characters dying meaninglessly and a huge cliffhanger that would never be resolved (unless you count AtF). Oh yea and WE NEVER SAW the Senior Partners! What a load of bull. 😛
Ok, now that I've expressed my feelings about my first viewing of the episode, let me explain why I learned to actually appreciate the closing scene of 'Not Fade Away.' As time passed and as I watched it with a friend (and ended up seeing this scene again), I strangely wasn't bothered like the first time. Peculiar you might say. Well, not really. The thing is, when you think about it, Angel's show was never akin to BtVS in the sense that it never played like a "we'll save the day, have many babies and live happily ever after" story. Early on in the show, Angel realized that he was never going to find full redemption, nor was he going to vanquish evil once and for all. It was going to be a continuous battle to keep the balance of good and evil. It's only natural - though sad - that in the end, characters died without really achieving *anything* (Wes and Fred), because, after all, nothing really matters. 😉 😛 It's also fitting that Angel ended his show with the ''Let's go to work'' line, because that's what it was really like for them: a job. They were professional do-gooders!
Now, I'll admit that reading ''After the Fall'' helped (and gave an interesting view of what might have happened in S6) my desire for a conclusion to the characters, but still, I actually kind of love the show's ending now. It's epic and a great contrast to Buffy's happy ending. I still feel like Wesley and Cordy should have been there alongside Angel in the end, but what can you do!
****NOMINEE #7****
''Quite a Ride''
(Buffy S3 Ep21 ~ Graduation Day: Part 1)
~~~~
Faith: You did it.
Faith: You killed me.
Faith: Still won't help your boy, though. Shoulda been there, B, quite a ride.
~~~~
Tome's commentary: When it comes to fights on BtVS, in my opinion, Faith and Buffy are the reference. I always loved their rivalry, and in this scene it comes to a boil! Buffy is determined to do whatever it takes to save Angel"”which I think gave her the advantage here, because she had something to fight for. On the other hand, Faith was just enjoying herself"”well, that is until she took a knife in her stomach. 😛
I remember waiting anxiously for the next episode to find out if she had actually died! I kind of wanted her to. 🙂 Yes, I'm evil. Anyhow, I still am not certain on what that last line from her meant: "˜'Quite a ride''? Was she talking about her own life and how Buffy was missing out by being a good little Slayer? Honestly, it doesn't make that much sense, but I don't see what else could have been her point.
****NOMINEE #8****
''The Future Is Ours''
(Buffy S3 Ep22 ~ Graduation Day: Part 2)
~~~~
Oz: Guys take a moment to deal with this: we survived.
Buffy: It was a hell of a battle!
Oz: Not the battle, high school.
~~~~
Tome's commentary: ''High school is over. What will happen next?'' That's what I remember thinking, back when I first saw this scene. This was sort of a series ending for me then. Having seen the first three seasons while they were airing (in French, of course), 14-year-old me stopped watching Buffy after that for around seven years! For me, the show had ended with them finishing high school. It was simply impossible to imagine the Gang in a different place. 😛
Anyhow, back to the scene at hand. Wasn't it just right for Oz to be the one asking for a moment of silence? Hahaha! 😉 ''We survived.'' Who didn't feel relieved after graduation? I don't know a single person who thought high school was anything but a jungle! Hell? That might be pushing it, but Joss sure digged that metaphor! 😛 In retrospect, this was the last appearance of Cordy on the show and I can't help but wonder if she'd have become as awesome on further seasons of BtVS as she did on AtS. Hmm"”I guess we'll never know!
****NOMINEE #9****
''The Earth is Definitely Doomed''
(Buffy S7 Ep22 ~ Chosen)
~~~~
Buffy: So, what do you guys want to do tomorrow?
Willow: Nothing strenuous.
Xander: Well, mini-golf is always the first thing that comes to mind.
Giles: I think we can do better than that.
Buffy: I was thinking about shopping. As per usual.
Willow: Oh! There's an Arden B. in the new mall!
Xander: I could use a few items.
Giles: Well, now aren't we gonna discuss this? Save the world to go to the mall?
~~~~
Tome's commentary: Finally, an old school scene between the Core Four! The last season of BtVS was so packed with new characters that we barely got any REAL private moments between Buffy, Willow, Xander and Giles. Here, Joss made sure to remind us of how it all started in 'Welcome to the Hellmouth': three outsiders in high school teaming up with an old British librarian to stop vampires and demons from taking over their city... and the world. 🙂 From their casual attitude towards impending disaster, we are also reminded of the light-hearted nature of the show at its core. Before all the drama, BtVS was a show that meant to be cheesy and funny, and it's certainly part of why I always loved it. Then, of course, you got Giles' line: ''The earth is definitely doomed.'' 😀 Perfect!
****NOMINEE #10****
''Adios, Queen C''
(Angel S5 Ep12 ~ You're Welcome)
~~~~
Cordelia: Oh, what the hell. One for the road?
*Angel and Cordelia exchange a kiss*
*the telephone rings*
Angel: You know, um... I don't... I don't need to get that.
Cordelia: That you have to get.
Cordelia: Oh... and you're welcome.
~~~~
Tome's commentary: They finally shared a real kiss! It took five years (and Cordy going through hell), but it actually happened. And it looked so natural. I know I'll piss off a lot of Bangel fans by saying this, but Cordelia was the perfect woman for Angel. 😉 Her quick appearance in S5 had a huge impact on him and on the rest of the season as a whole. During that kiss she shared a key vision with Angel! Anyway, this scene will always be quite emotional for me because of the abruptness of its ending. Just like that, Cordy is gone. 🙁 And it hurts even more considering that Joss and David didn't think it important enough to show us the rest of the gang's reaction to her death... What a load of bull. I'm glad we got to see the Queen Bee a last time, though.
****EXTRA NOMINEE (Wildcard #4)****
''Evil White Folks Mecca''
(Angel S1 Ep21 ~ Blind Date)
~~~~
Gunn: OW! Did you just step on my foot? Is that my foot you just stepped on? Are you assaulting me - up in this haven of justice?
Gunn: Somebody get me a lawyer - because my civil rights have seriously been violated. Oh, I get it, I get it. You all can cater to the demon, cater to the dead man, but what about the black man!
~~~~
Tome's commentary: First of all, I want to thank everybody who reminded me of this awesome scene! I totally forgot about it when I made the list. What's disappointing with Gunn is that despite being an important part of AtS, he doesn't actually have more than a few scenes that stand out. This was one of them. I always laugh my ass off when I see it. 😀 Gunn's sarcasm and overblown reactions fit perfectly during this highly tense sequence of events, where he plays his part to a 'T' and allows Angel to enter the building undetected!
The one thing I always found ironic was that there was an african american W&H lawyer next to Gunn while he was doing his speech. 😉
