Angel 5x03 Unleashed

[oyceter]

And I have no idea of the title... what has become of my fannish self? ;)

Anyhow, I liked. I'm feeling particularly vindicated over all the Angel naysayers who were complaining about Spike on Angel, be they Spike fans or Angel fans, but then, I am rather impartial and I think they're doing a pretty good job with Spike on the show. Course... this is only episode 3, so we'll see. But I like how his return isn't just matter of fact and is a plot point. I have a feeling that it'll turn out to be the crux of the season, like Buffy's return from the dead in S6. I also think this is not going to mean Spike is the star of the show, because so far, he really isn't.

Which leads me to why I liked this episode... no, not because of the non-Spikeness, but because I liked that they hadn't forgotten the family part of AI, even though two core members are still missing. It's weird... I've almost forgotten how to watch these episodes for the plot of the week. Yeah, Angel saves the blonde werewolf (was anyone else expecting a comment referring to Oz?), but I was noticing little things like Gunn's defensiveness around the group. Perhaps he'll be the Dark Wes type of this season. I was annoyed that Wes is still harping on about Fred and Knox. Get over it, Wes! Fred, luckily, is handling it pretty well. I like Action Fred who pulls giant ass guns out of her handbag. I also like how everyone is annoyed with Spike or just doesn't give. I also like (and am afraid of) scary Angel, who will give people a werewolf to eat alive because said werewolf betrayed him. That feels like S2 Angel to me. I think W&H is already getting to him.

Oh, and I really liked the opening shot showing everyone with their cars. I wonder what Lorne drives? Plus, it was nice just having AI being AI.

So so far, I am greatly enjoying this, and next week's episode looks absolutely awesome and scary and creepy.

Comments

[angeyja.livejournal.com]

I liked that they hadn't forgotten the family part.

Ironic no? Connor! He brings Nina back to "her" family.

That feels like S2 Angel to me. I think W&H is already getting to him.

Heh! I've been waiting for someone else to mention this! Whhohoo!

And here's my weird tarot parallel. Season #3 was the Empress Cordy/Jasmine? and #4 is the Emperor...

[oyceter]

Oh so very ironic. I feel part of Angel's almost instinctive rejection of Spike is he's displacing his mixed up feeling about Connor onto this other wayward "son."

Really? Is no one saying anything about the reappearance of beige Angel? I find it all the more creepy because he's doing it and not being rejected utterly by his adopted family. Because when you think about what he left werewolf scientist guy in for, it's really creepy. (and it makes me quite happy)

Hrm. Would S4 be Empress/Jasmine? Or S3? Although the final, rather paternalistic choice of Angel in Home really speaks to the Emperor. Hrm... now trying to match up all the seasons. Maybe the Devil for S2, being chained to worldly things and the darkness within? S1 feels harder to pin down, too new, still finding its way.

[angeyja.livejournal.com]

Oh so very ironic. I feel part of Angel's almost instinctive rejection of Spike is he's displacing his mixed up feeling about Connor onto this other wayward "son."

And Spike was witness to Angelus in the last long arc they had together. Joss seemed to indicate that Spike is the spanner in the works, in this case the "works" are pretty ugly.

Really? Is no one saying anything about the reappearance of beige Angel? I find it all the more creepy because he's doing it and not being rejected utterly by his adopted family. Because when you think about what he left werewolf scientist guy in for, it's really creepy. (and it makes me quite happy)

I flashed on this in "Conviction" but it was more intuitive than fact based, so of course I thought about the lawyers and Darla and Dru here. But he already sent one minion to probable death last week in "Just Rewards" and now this week, as evil as the man was, handed him right over.

Hrm. Would S4 be Empress/Jasmine? Or S3? Although the final, rather paternalistic choice of Angel in Home really speaks to the Emperor. Hrm... now trying to match up all the seasons. Maybe the Devil for S2, being chained to worldly things and the darkness within? S1 feels harder to pin down, too new, still finding its way.

Last season reminded me of the Empress Reversed in Cordy and then Jasmine the card of the mother. The Emperor is the father in the sense of living "in" the world or making a place in it, and dealing with authority, power and structures. You know I have this thing for archetypes. :grin:

[oyceter]

Definitely agree with Cordy and Jasmine as Empress reversed. Maybe this season is the season of the Emperor then, and the Emperor reversed, because Angel doesn't seem to be doing so well in dealing with al this power and authority in the much more structured environment of W&H. And for some reason, I keep having the tower in my head. Hee! I wonder what it'd be like to do a reading for a TV show?