A good episode, albeit playing a bit to the convenience factor…
Some weeks ago, “Angel” had a “dream” episode in which our heroes fell into one thing and the next and then the next which helped them resolve their problems, and the point was–and what should have made us suspicious–was that it was too perfect. There were echoes of that this week, except this time it wasn’t a dream. Our heroes Just So Happen to run into some refugees who Just So Happen to be menaced by a creature who Just So Happens to possess knowledge that can help our heroes against Jasmine and Just So Happens to blab just enough to Wes so that Wes can figure it out. It wouldn’t have been quite so annoying if the dream episode some weeks previously hadn’t deftly lanced that style of storytelling. Contrast it to the previous episode where Fred figures out exactly what to do from the situation handed her, conceives a plan and executes it flawlessly. That makes for more satisfying storytelling: The heroes initiate rather than stumble into something.
Still, it only bothered me after the fact, and we can of course accept Wes’ summary of what’s just happened: The universe just handed them a break. Heaven knows they needed it. And while we were *in* the story, it was once again gripping and involving. One of the few shows where, when they break for a commercial, you’re shouting “Hurry up!” at the screen. Except this time I watched it on tape, but I was shouting “Hurry up!” as I was fast forwarding past the commercials.
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My favorite bit was when Gunn yelled “We’re not dead yet!” while being chased by soldiers. I was as surprised as he was. Last week’s ads implied that a lot of people might be dying this episode so of course I kept waiting for people to drop. I was so releived when the soldiers came bursting in with clubs. It must be the first time I’ve ever cheered the heroes getting beaten with blunt objects.
Hurry up! for next week….
I enjoyed watching it, something got me annoyed, but the pace was pretty good. I think it stands pretty well that, even though the rest of the story arc got spoiled for me tuesday, I still enjoyed watching it yesterday.
I am sure everyone noticed that Ben Edlund was also listed as writer of the episode in addition to his producer credit.
I can never remember the actors name, but wasn’t the demon/drider creature played by the same actor who played the Master on Buffy? He was also “the Maestro” on Seinfeld [and Neidermeyer (sp?) in Animal House]. Geez, you would think if I can remember fictional characters, I would be able to remember one real persons name!
And by the way, as an unrelated thought, the new “international” Hulk trailer is truely awesome. He must be 20 or 30 feet tall in the scene with him climbing up through a steel floor hatch! Still not quite sure how I feel about that, but the jumbing scenes are amazing. I am really hoping for the best.
I kept thinking the episode should be titled, “One name to rule them all.” with the Gollum bug tossing Wes around. Interesting how episodes like this that throw the cast into almost fantasy-like settings work on “Angel” (see also the Pylea arc) when I think they wouldn’t on “Buffy.”
Interesting to see that there were no scales over Connor’s eyes. Maybe it’s like Spider-Sense and it relies somewhat on perception. The blood allows people to see the truth but to Connor, she truly isn’t evil… or isn’t yet. Still, guess there’s a hint that Connor will come around.
I think they were setting up the further division of Gunn and Fred when he hit that kid. Too bad because if there’s any time where it would be defensible to hit a child it would be if it was the only way to save the child’s life, right? (Although that brings to mind another difference between the shows: Earlier, when they go to the gas station, Angel pretty much says, If we have to kill innocent people, then that’s what we’re going to have to do, and Gunn agrees. Can’t see Xander and Willow feeling the same way.)
The Master was played by Mark Metcalf, the classic “Doug Neidermeyer.” Sad to say, can’t find any info on spidey-boy from Wednesday. BTW, Metcalf was also in a Twisted Sister video, “We’re Not Going to Take It.” Imagine Doug Neidermeyer with children. Shudder.
The abundance of “Just So Happens”-es doesn’t bother me – this is something that the team has been facing all season. Whenever the universe has “given them a break,” the break hasn’t worked: freeing Angelus to learn about The Beast, Cordy’s “vision” about restoring Angel’s soul… all the solutions that seemed to good to be true, have been; the only solutions that have worked are they ones the team has, like Fred last week, come by on their own. So I won’t be surprised if the name thing is a red herring as well, and the team has to come up with a more creative solution.
I believe Mark Metcalf also played the Doug Neidermayer character in the “Twisted Sister” video “I Wanna Rock”…of course it couldn’t have been the real Neidermayer because he was fragged by his own troops… 🙂
I’m surprised no one mentioned my biggest complaint with the episode. The gang is on the lamb and no one attempts in the slightest to disguise themselves. If they’d have picked up something somewhere along the line to cover their faces, they could have filled up their gas tank and been out of LA without a hitch.
But then they would have missed the fortitous encounters that will inevitably lead to Jasmine’s downfall.
Loving the season. Definitely the best Angel season ever. But is it better than Buffy season 3? Only time will tell.
Hrm.. it doesn’t bother me that they were handed a break here, partially because of Scott’s note that they’ve had a lot of breaks so far all fall apart on them. I do think this is the right path, OTOH, but then I love name magics, which biases me.
The other reason it doesn’t bother me is that it wasn’t too contrived a thing to happen. The demon was probably on this plain in reaction to Jasmine being freed. Since he didn’t go up and pledge himself to her, he was specifically trying to finish his sacrifices rather than just call on her, give his card, and remind her of all the little people back home who love her. 🙂 Thus, he was hiding, probably just in case the demon-hunting population got in his way before he could finish his holy work.
Same with the kids down there. At this point, those sewers and tunnels are about the only place to hide from Jasmine, thanks to mass media. Meanwhile, the demon needed sacrifices, and did come off as fairly fast in his movement.. Hunting above ground gets Jasmine on you fast, so it’s quite reasonable that he was attacking the kids, and able to find them simply by quickly hunting through the tunnels until he picked up their trail.
The only leap of faith to me is the kids and Angel’s gang running into each other, in the tunnels that were large enough for Jasmine’s forces to leave alone til Connor could track for them. Otherwise.. well, they all met in the largest sanctuary there is left in LA. It makes sense that there’ll be a lot of refugees down there from her green glowiness.
Plane, not plain. Bleh.
So now they need to discover Jasmine’s true name. I was thinking, since the creature referred to her as “the devourer” several times, wouldn’t it be handy if that was her name? :-p
‘Fraid I don’t have as strong a liking of this episode as others seem to. The problems I had with it are; 1) No attempt, at least that we saw, to do any planning on the part of AI. Several places where various characters complained about winging it, but no attempt to actually stop and think about what to do. Rather than N hours walking around in the sewers, I would’ve prefered a scene/act of a serious, major, war conference.
And the padding feel of some previous eps was back. I liked the scene in the gas station, which emphasized both the severity/justified paranoia atmosphere and showed Jasmine’s ever growing control. And I understand that going into the sewers made sense. But when it turned into the Gunn reunion/fight a monster bit, it felt disconnected from the Jasmine plot.
Yes, as it turned out, the monster was related to Jasmine. I just don’t think we needed the 30 or so minutes (including commercials) for the set up, instead of the monster attacking AI directly, capturing Wes, and bands of Jasminites roving the tunnels. I would’ve rather that the “feel” of the situation be Invasion of the Body Snatchers paranoia, rather than a day at the monster hunting office.
The other bit I had initial problems with was when Connor and the mob confront Lorne, Gunn, and Fred. Instead of Connor being able to quickly take out first Gunn, then Lorne, then Fred (in order of physical abilities) as he should have, they get to run away successfully for a fair distance. However, I realized that they proceeded to lead Jasmine et al to Angel and Wes, so I now think the mob were under orders to let them run in the hopes that that would happen.
She’s known as “the devourer”, huh?
As in, “From beneath you it devours”?
Just food for thought…
Mark Metcalf also owns a restaurant in Mequon Wisconsin called Libby Montana where he serves the public strange wild meat pies. I only know cos I live in WI.
Did anyone else throughly enjoy Angel’s ášš kicking of Connor? I was cheering, GO ANGEL! I love it when Angel is mean and kinda evil with a soul. I was hoping that they would run Connor over with the car, but I am cruel like that. Plus the creature talking to Wes, was too funny! ‘Talking Meat’ Oh God! I also think its strange that on Buffy they never go to wierd fantasy dimensions. The closest they ever get is D’Hoffryn or Beljoxa’s eye and then its just a black room, what a let down.
I hate to say it, but right now the excitement built up on Angel is outweighing the excitement level on Buffy. Why? Because Angel has basically been shown straight through the last month. I am into it because I see it every week, instead of rerun after rerun, one new episode, and more reruns. It feels like BtVS is losing its thrill value because we never get to see it! All we get are spoilers which come out so far in advance that by the time the episode shows up its like old news. I doubt 4 weeks can build up the momentum Angel has had for the last 2 months. They are going to have to blow us away on Buffy to catch up, which hopefully they will.
‘talking meat’ signing off…
I forget the name of the actor who played the bug demon, but the IMDB mentions that he previously played Weatherby, one of the Watcher’s Council goons who pursued Faith in Buffy S4/Angel S1.
RE: Jasmine’s real name…
Twice, the demon bug said, “We loved her FIRST!”
You don’t think…
…nah
I liked the episode… or rather the plot advances in terms of the spider-acolyte etc. Now we know why there’s references to the Beast in extra-dimensional texts but not the ME Plane, and why Cordy’s blood works (yes, genetically, the mitochondrial DNA should be enough but since when did Angel become so forensically astute? Been watching CSI, have we?) and helps us accept that Connor’s bloodwork hasn’t worked- it’s more magic than genetics, and apparently Jasmine has her own blood magic at work on Connor.
I had been waiting for the name magic to show up ever since Jasmime demurred about her name and asked for others to name her. I’m a huge fan of Mike Mignola’s Hellboy comics and in several stories Mignola used the occultic fact that names are powerful, capable of binding demonic creatures. It’s used to clever effect in the mini “Box Full of Evil” (included in the RIGHT HAND OF DOOM tpb fyi)
Sorry but I’m really not enjoying Angel at the moment. Release has just aired here and I really don’t have the same joy that I used to have last season while watching. I think a major part may be Charisma Carpenter’s performance, and Angelus was only really that great in season 2, all other outings just seemed to portray him differently, just doesn’t work for me, plus having Angel/Angelus as two different entities almost just bugs me.
I’m predicting they poison the water with Jasmine blood. I noticed Angel pausing when he looked at the blood on his hands and then washing them.
Does anyone see a parallel in story lines between Los Angeles post-Jasmine’s birth and the U.S. post -9/11?
Ever since President Select Bush’s status was elevated from moron to messiah in the public eye, I’ve spent a lot of time confused, frustrated, feeling like the world may come to an end…
to sum up, I felt like Fred when she initially saw Jasmine for what s/he/it really is — evil. However, everyone around her was under a trance of false security, and Fred seemingly had nowhere to turn to find solace.
In “Sacrifice,” Lorn’s one-liner about “Media bias” while listening to the radio in the car, further fueled my theory.
Has anyone else viewed the last few eps and seen this parallel to current events here in the U.S., perhaps intentionally created by some subversive Angel writers?
F’ it, I’m just retarded, and I’m probably reading way too into the show to force it to relate to my perspective on life.
It’s probably been discussed here before, but could it be Connor doesn’t even care that Jasmine is a maggot-crawly evil thing. He killed an innocent girl even before Jasmine was born (or whatever) and he has a goofy smile as he watches her consume her worshippers. Maybe he’s under her influence and maybe he ain’t. I think Con has gone over to the Dark Side big-time and Angel will fulfil the prophecy “The Father will kill the Son.” And has anyone heard anything about next season’s renewal?
Angel killing Connor would be a surefire way to make next season an improvement over this one in at least two ways:
1.) It would give Angel something else to brood about, which is always good.
2.) We’d never have to suffer through another Connor scene again. 🙂
This is oddly similar to how much of America seems to be blindly following the White House’s every beck and call (and if we hear a reference to duct tape and plastic sheeting, we’ll know it’s intentional). But it’s also a pretty powerful commentary on blind faith of any sort — political or religious (or both in the case of the religious right).
Ben- Nope, I think it’s just you. 😛
Jason Tippitt- Don’t forget the athiest left blindly following their dogma too.
Me? I’m the agnostic not so far right. 🙂
This season of Angel has been like a good slowburning novel. Which is too bad because it’s a television program. 😛 I long for the days of no continuing plot or theme. Just good continuity. Kinda like the Tom Strong comics. That’s it! Alan Moore should write Angel.
I thought the Spider Monster was Mark Metcalf as well, but it seems that it was Jeff Ricketts who played Blue Glove #1 in Firefly and Weatherby, the dark haired watcher that was chasing Faith in “This Year’s Girl”/”Who Are You?” and the Angel episode “Sanctuary”
In regards to the speculation that Jasmine is The First, the fact that Angel will be appearing in the final episodes of “Buffy” may add some fuel to that rumors fire.
Personally though, I think that The First is the demon that is bound to the Slayers and which gives them their power. I believe that the reason The First is intangible is because the Slayers are its physical form or at least its physical representation on Earth. The First may have been freed to act on Earth’s plane of existence when Willow brought Buffy back from the dead if the demon bound to the Slayers was an aspect or a fragment of the First. Buffy’s soul may be tied to or held by the First’s conciousness (meaning its intangible astral body) which would explain why Spike was able to hit Buffy after she came back from the dead despite the fact that the chip seemed to still be functioning back then.
Is is just me or is the reaction to Conner this season (myself included) paralleling that of Wesley Crusher during the first 3 and 1/2 seasons of ST:TNG? Reading the threads here seemed to confirm that for me. Anyway — good episode, not great. I agree / disagree with a lot that was posted here this time, but it was all said – and I don’t want to rehash everything again.
For the record, Wesley Crusher never bothered me but I have to agree with Jason Tippett’s
COMMENT: 2.) We’d never have to suffer through another Connor scene again. 🙂 He just seems like a weak point to the show…
Xyon