It's taken me long enough.

R

Relic

Darth Zeppo
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It's taken me long enough, but the past week or so I've been watching Angel on DVD when time permits.

The first few episodes were good, but to be frank the only reason why I watched was that it was bought allready, and it had Angel and Cordy in it. I always wanted to see what her fans saw in her. It took a few episodes to deliver; and when it did I noticed what I knew all along, Cordy is Anya on steroids and she brought a lot of charm to Buffy, even more so when her character was allowed to develop. There is now a time when i wish that series would have kept her, when before I could care less.

If not for the relationship I brought from Buffy, I would not have gotten past the first disc of Angel as far as a classification of 'must see disc-TV' goes. Eventually the humor and human-ness of the show went from 'sporadic' to 'very evident' to me

They laid the groundwork (I was intrested in Ddoyl after he seemed to have a history worth giving an arse about...but it took them long enough!) Poked an intrest at W&H, and had Spike show up to relate it to the universe I loved, but it took episode 5 with cordy fighting the ghost, some much appreciated humor, and an insight that Angel gives a toss about Doyle and his mysterious past (built up further in episode 6) for me to say...thats it, thats the void thats been missing.

I actually think the Dollhouse netted me quicker, but with it there is an element of mystery and the unkown, while with Angel I expected epicness from the get go and found it riding Buffys coat tails...at least till the second disc.

I promise to update this thread as I watch more of season 1 angel for the first time. fell free to comment on anything i posted here, ypur own feelings, whatever, just keep it spoiler free or I will hunt you down, disembowel you, tie your innards to a tree, and lure all sorts of wildlife to you to consume you, from insect to avion.

With that gentle warning stated, and a song in my head "say what you need to say.'

I'll post more, like things I really loved about the early sub-par (to me) episodes. But for now I've talked enough.
 
To be honest, Angel s1 was kinda a drag for me first time I watched it. I wanted to see the whole show, mainly because of Cordy, but when I watched from the beginning I never got past episode one (well, except the crossovers, cos I really wanted those to fill out the blanks) really. In my opinion the show just had a bit of a rough start. I actually found it much easier to start watching in s2 and then go back to s1 at some point when I could appreciate it more. And it's not the whole season, because I think there are some great episodes, just the beginning.
 
R
Relic
I'll keep that in consideration as i watch the rest of disc two.
I agree, I found the first few episodes (1-4) lacking something. Even the cross over of episode 3 was a let down. better said, especially the crossover of episode 3 was a let down. In the dark disappointed me because Angel seemed downright 'wrong' in it at the end....destroying immortality without consequence and all. hell, give it back to Buffy or something

I had high hopes. it started with my favorite big bad, Spike, and ended with a good fight and a safe, predictable decision about the gem of ammara. I'll detail that latter, if curiosity of others warrant further explanation.

(and as this has likely been discussed the hell out of, i doubt.)
 
I forced myself to watch Angel, simply for the BtVS connection. Made it to end of Season 2 before I gave up and switched to Veronica Mars. I'll probably eventually finish Ats, but only after catching up on Dollhouse, and seeing Breaking Bad.
 
R
Relic
sounds sort of familiar
Airam
Airam
VM karma.... BUT Angel really does get good!
I'll admit, the first time I started watching Angel season 1, I was seriously disappointed too. I had watched Buffy all the way through before I started it, and, since I'd heard so many great things about it, I expected it to be as good as Buffy was right from the start. So basically, I was thinking, "Ooooh, this is gonna be so great!" as I put in the first disc, and by the time I'd finished, I was thinking, "THAT'S what all the hubbub was about?!"

Even though season 1 isn't all that great overall, there are a few really outstanding episodes sprinkled in (I Will Remember You, Five by Five, and Sanctuary are all wonderful...yes, I am, in fact, a sucker for crossovers), so like everyone else has said, just hang in there! Also, don't watch it and expect it to be as good as Buffy...in my opinion, the only season that really comes close to Buffy is season 5, and even its high points fall just short of Buffy and Firefly at their best.
 
I completely disagree with all of those who have posted so far, I just don't have the energy, the inclination or the time to explain why. Maybe later.
 
Re:

Relic said:
I agree, I found the first few episodes (1-4) lacking something. Even the cross over of episode 3 was a let down. better said, especially the crossover of episode 3 was a let down. In the dark disappointed me because Angel seemed downright 'wrong' in it at the end....destroying immortality without consequence and all. hell, give it back to Buffy or something
Click to expand...

I couldn't see Buffy wanting to be immortal. We all saw how distraught she was when she was pulled out of heaven. She was happy there. And where Angels actions may be fairly predictable in most cases, I think Buffy would have made the same decision. Can't have something like that falling into the wrong hands.

Damn, did I use spell check?!
 
If it wasn't for the first few episodes of Angel, I never would have watched BUffy, Firefly, Dollhouse.. half the shows I watch now and hive watched since I got into Angel. I really don't get the dislike for Angel season 1, I think it had soime fantastic standalones, we finally got to meet Angel, properly out of Buffys shadow. PLus the Doyle - Angel - Cordelia - Doyle dynamic was awesome.
 
I don't get the dislike for season 1 either. It wiped the floor with season 4 of Buffy. It was much better. It had some of the best Buffy-verse episodes ever. I thought it was great. It could do without "I fall to pieces" and "she", but I enjoyed all the rest.
 
Season one of Angel was brilliant! Ok, the first disk isn't choc full of wow but City Of is a great ep, personally I thought In the Dark was pure genuis. A show literally still in its infancy and it felt confident enough to mock itself already. That takes balls. Angel breaking the ring was the only thing he could have done. If he had kepted it that would have been out of character. You'll love episode 8 Rel, I garuntee it. Just hang in there till the end.

There really are some fantastic episodes in this season...especially later on when the mythology starts to be built.
 
I absolutely agree with Kean. I love Angel. It's certainly one of my top favorite shows. It's a good show on it's own - I'd have probobly watchhd it even it hadn't been related to Buffy. The crossovers are quite deelightful.
 
I felt the exact same way until I saw I Will Remember You. After that, it got much better with episodes like Hero... now I'm on disc 5 and am actually excited to watch! Can't say the same for Dollhouse, but I'm trying to make it at least through the first season.
 
I adore Angel S1-S5... now. To be honest while it was originally airing I wasn't all that devoted, I'd watch a couple of episodes here and there and missed A LOT in between, and really wasn't all that worried by it. Recently, maybe about about a year ago when I got a DVR, began recording the eps on TNT from the start and I got absolutely obsesssively hooked. I'd missed so much the first time around that it was almost like a brand new show for me and i LOVED it! It aired really early like 6-8 am or something and I'd wake up a couple hours before I had to work each morning just to watch it cause I was jonesing for it so bad, lol. So I definately recommend it and it definately gets better after S1 (much like Buffy) although S1 is good too, just getting through all the Kate parts was a drag for me.
 
I loved Angel when it first came out, and now that I own the whole series on DVD, I find myself going back to watch the really good episodes. It may have started off slowly, but believe me when I say that it picks up steam and keeps on building. Hang in there.
 
I'll just throw something out there that is sure to be an unpopular opinion, but I stand by it: Angel started off pretty well, and was at it's best in season 2. Even though I really enjoy the seasons that followed, I can't say I agree hugely with, "it gets so much better as it goes along" theory. In my opinion, season 3 was a step below season 2, season 4 has no outright bad episodes but is brought down almost every time either Conor or Cordelia are on screen, and season 5 has more outright bad episodes than any other season of Buffy or Angel.
 
B
BillyidolwannaB
Agreed. I think the first 2 seasons were the best by FAR. Easy.
Season two is definatly the best series. And five, for the stand-alones.

I watched Angel season 5 before I watched any other JossVerse things, and it's my favourite of them all (Firefly/Serenity/Buffy).
 
Revolver said:
I'll just throw something out there that is sure to be an unpopular opinion, but I stand by it: Angel started off pretty well, and was at it's best in season 2. Even though I really enjoy the seasons that followed, I can't say I agree hugely with, "it gets so much better as it goes along" theory. In my opinion, season 3 was a step below season 2, season 4 has no outright bad episodes but is brought down almost every time either Conor or Cordelia are on screen, and season 5 has more outright bad episodes than any other season of Buffy or Angel.
Click to expand...


Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and we encourage you to challenge us when you feel it's appropriate. Except, of course, in this instance, when we are clearly right and you are clearly wrong. :biggrin2:

I thought that the first season started off slowly, and picked up very well in a big way.

Season 2 carried that momentum and I thought that it was probably the best of the five.

Season 3 was very good and really introduced us to Fred, who became one of my favorite characters.

Honestly, I didn't care for season 4. Without getting into specifics, I didn't like the "big bad" and Connor was (to me) very irritating. In fact, I like the season so little that the show started to lose me.

Season 5 was different from all of the others, what with the change of scenery and different type of story lines. While it wasn't up to par with the first few seasons, it was good enough to bring me back.
 
I'm right there with you. I started season 1 of Angel, and got a fair way into it (ep 12) and still I couldn't get into the show. I really didn't like it. I felt it was lacking something; I can't say what that something is, but it was there (or wasn't, if you catch my drift). Anyway, your tread has inspired me. I'm off to pick up where I left off in Angel. Hopefully it gets better, and if it doesn't it makes me feel better that there's another person out there taking one for the team.
 
Airam
Airam
OMG I LOVE Ginger Snaps!
Angel Season One is GREAT!

I'm surprised a lot of people don't like season 1. It started off great with City of, Lonley Hearts and In the Dark all been episodes with either exiciting storylines or thematic value and metaphors. There are so many great episodes in s1- I Will Remember You, Somnambulist, I've Got You Under My Skin, The Faith two parter and Blinde Date just to name a few. There are no bad episodes (except for She), compared to other seasons where there are periods of nothing but this. The only thing it lacks is a season-long arc, but that is not really a fair critque considering at this point in time Angel was an anthology show. Although it would have helped to pack more of a punch.
 
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