"Damage" (1/28) w/spoilers and complaints

POSTED BY: SpikeSpiegel
UPDATED: Friday, January 30, 2004 03:26
VIEWED: 3734
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SPIKESPIEGEL

Thursday, January 29, 2004 6:08 PM

Is "Angel" getting violent just for the pointless fun of it? While I loved "Firefly" for the way sudden moments of cold violence (death by jet engine, stabbing fallen enemies for laughs) had real shock (and humor) value, it seems like "Angel" is just trying to get creepier for no good reason.

Last night's ep, what was done to Spike was just ... more than I needed to see. Yes, vamps are expected to heal better'n average, but still. All that mostly for a case of mistaken identity? Since the bit about memories of slain slayers was subordinate to the Psycho Slayer's childhood trauma, it was mostly Spike got mutilated for no good reason.

Yes, I caught his line about having deserved it for a thousand OTHER crimes. But still. Ugly.

And then there's the Psycho Slayer. I didn't recall Buffy ending with the idea that all potential slayers became full, permanent slayers. I thought it was a feel-good moment that saved the world, not a permanent change that left hundreds of full slayers on the loose.

This sorta ruins the slayer myth. First it was, one born into each generation, then it was, one born the moment another falls (Buffy, Kendra and Faith are of the same generation, after all), then it was, potentials everywhere, some being trained before being called, and now it's hundreds or thousands of supergirls with bad dreams?

Not unlike the Superman comics, where an original character not much tougher than a Buffy demon kept having to top himself to impress readers, until we got stupid stories where he pushed whole planets out of orbit (sans consequences of physics).

I've got another point about slayer myth, specifically, a missing slayer, but I'll go post that under Buffyverse stuff. In general, I liked Tom Lenk's guest appearance, though I'm appalled Giles would actually train that doof. I dislike that the Buffy Gang has rejected Angel without talking to him, when they didn't even really know much about Wolfram & Hart. Should've had more faith in him.

Lookit me ramble ...

"Bang."

SOUTHERNMERC

Thursday, January 29, 2004 7:27 PM

Actually, at the end of Buffy they DID mention that this would be a permanent thing. Buffy discussed it with the other "potentials" and let them know what was going to happen. Willow let the power loose and the slayers "woke up."

As to not liking it and how it impacts the Buffyverse, I can understand. It is a major change, but then again the theme of Buffy was always "growing up." Change is to be expected, but it does have a way of souring peoples opinions about a favorite thing (BtVS in this case).

I'm kinda curious about the Scooby turn-off of Angel myself. Where they got their info is unknown to me, but ultimately it was probably done to facilitate the story. "Angel" is about Angel and not Buffy and crew, so all they could do without bringing on ALOT of new faces (to folks who have only seen Angel mind you) and a lot of backstory is give a summary of their lives. Viewers knew about Buffy, knew she was potent and her Scoobies were standing the line between this world and armageddon lots of times, but didn't really have alot of knowledge unless they had watched Buffy in the first place. To give a long description would have doubled the lenght of the show!

Why would Giles trust Andrew? If you can answer that let me know. Desperate for help? (That's FREAKIN' desperate IMO.)

Haven't seen the first 2 seasons of Angel, but it DOES seem to be getting darker and more violent. It could be because of their new situation, really have to watch to get a better idea I guess.

Now I'M rambling...someone stop us!

Jayne: "How big a room?"

KURUKAMI

Thursday, January 29, 2004 7:30 PM

Actually, I thought Andrew basically explained precisely what happened. In Buffy's final ep, Willow worked some major mojo through the Scythe that allowed each potential to instantly gain the power of a Slayer. The specific line was "Every girl who could have the power, will have the power. Who can stand up, will stand up."

I've remembered thinking since that, though that maneuver granted them a huge advantage for closing the Hellmouth and stopping the First's plan, in the long run that many super-powered young women could pose a substantial problem. It was most certainly a permanent solution that changed every potential, not just a feel-good moment.

History doesn't always repeat itself. Sometimes it merely shouts "Weren't you listening the first time?!?" and lets fly with a club.

KURUKAMI

Thursday, January 29, 2004 7:32 PM

Quote:
Why would Giles trust Andrew? If you can answer that let me know. Desperate for help? (That's FREAKIN' desperate IMO.)

That wasn't what I thought. Look at it this way -- Giles doesn't really trust Wolfram & Hart, even if Angel is at the helm now. If you're going to send someone to be your representative at W&H, specifically if all they need to really do is provide information, then are you going to send someone valuable and extremely competent in? Or are you more likely to send forward a pawn to probe Wolfram & Hart, someone who's less competent overall but is eminently expendable?

History doesn't always repeat itself. Sometimes it merely shouts "Weren't you listening the first time?!?" and lets fly with a club.

OKKAY

Thursday, January 29, 2004 7:41 PM

I actually liked that they mentioned Buffy not trusting Angel now that they're with W&H. Because that's exactly the feeling that I've been having this season, that something just isn't right about them running W&H. I'm glad that they're bringing up this point, rather than going through the season just pretending everything's okay about them trying to run one small branch of an interdimensional evil corporation.

SUCCATASH

Thursday, January 29, 2004 7:44 PM

I thought it was a GREAT episode.

SPIKESPIEGEL

Thursday, January 29, 2004 7:55 PM

Interesting comments. I'm gonna have to accept that the running theme in my posts today is stuff I didn't pay close enough attention to the first time. If the Buffy finale made clear that all the awakened slayers would be permanently awakened, not just temporarily lending, I dunno, psychic mojo to the Hellmouth battle, so be it. Not a smart move, storywise, but hell, the show was over anyway.

As to the mention of needing to avoid too much explanation on "Angel," is it just me or does every ep of "Angel" now use an unbearable amount of exposition to get people up to speed? Baggage mounts as a show wears on, yes, but is "Angel" TOO laden? After all, it's inevitable that a certain percentage of regular viewers give up on a show, and it must replace them with new viewers. Tough to do if you need to subject them to ten minutes of complex blather to catch them up each week, and you're still more likely to bore or confuse.

But, hey, Cordy next week! Yay!

"Bang."

BOOMERGOODHEART

Thursday, January 29, 2004 7:57 PM

I, too, thought it was a great episode, especially that last exchange between Spike & Angel. I think it showed a lot of character depth. I also felt that it showed how Spike--the one person/being that Angel can't stand--was the only one whom he could truly commiserate with. Nice twist.

Question: When Andrew was telling Spike where everyone was in the world, why didn't he mention Faith?

BoomerGoodheart
"I love my Captain."

KURUKAMI

Thursday, January 29, 2004 8:06 PM

Or Wood, for that matter. Maybe the two of them headed out together somewhere...? That was kind of the implication given their sort-of-there relationship at the end of Buffy.

History doesn't always repeat itself. Sometimes it merely shouts "Weren't you listening the first time?!?" and lets fly with a club.

STILLSHINY

Thursday, January 29, 2004 8:38 PM

I was all over this episode. To me it was and always is about the characters. I love the deeper & deeper issues of who Spike & Angel really are. Yes, it does require a knowledge of past shows so for us newbies it requires research, either DVD's, ripped vids, transcripts or summaries. It's all about great story-telling.

“Firefly is the source of probably more joy & pain than anything I’ve done.” - Joss

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