New to Angel the Show by BCoat89

ANGELUS ARCANUM

New to Angel the Show

POSTED BY: BCOAT89
UPDATED: Saturday, August 4, 2007 16:01
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VIEWED: 5752
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Thursday, June 21, 2007 11:26 AM

So I've of course watched Firefly (multiple times just as the rest of you) and I've watched the first 3 seasons of Buffy so far. And now I'm wondering about Angel. Of course I believe anything Joss Whedon touches turns to gold, but how would you rate it compared to Buffy?

Also, can anyone tell me briefy what the basis of the show is without giving away any of the plot?

thanks :)

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Thursday, June 21, 2007 12:09 PM

GROUNDED

Quote:
Originally posted by BCoat89:
So I've of course watched Firefly (multiple times just as the rest of you) and I've watched the first 3 seasons of Buffy so far. And now I'm wondering about Angel. Of course I believe anything Joss Whedon touches turns to gold, but how would you rate it compared to Buffy?

Also, can anyone tell me briefy what the basis of the show is without giving away any of the plot?

thanks :)

Personally I prefer it to Buffy, but they're both very much cut from the same cloth. Angel is probably a bit more serious and a little bit more violent, but it's heritage as a Buffy spinoff is plainly apparent ;)

The basis for the show is that Angel has left Sunnydale for LA, looking to leave Buffy behind, and ends up finding himself pretty isolated. After making a couple of friends in the city, they establish a private investigation firm in order to both do good and help keep Angel connected to other people (and therefore make sure he doesn't go crazy Angelus again!).

I'm not sure that adequately describes the series, but it's a basic encapsulation of the first few episodes...

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Friday, June 22, 2007 3:55 AM

DEEPGIRL187

I tend to lean more towards Angel than Buffy, for most of the reasons Grounded states. The idea of "helping the helpless" is a better mission statement to me than "high school (and later, life) is hell". I'll add though, that you should keep watching Buffy. Angel is its own series, but it's also nice to have Buffy there as a comparison (not to mention it's a great show in the first place).

And for those that fail to see the glory that is Angel, I have two words for you: "Smile Time".

*****************************************************

"Right! Because teenage pranks are fun when you're about to die!"

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Friday, June 22, 2007 5:10 AM

CYBERSNARK

Quote:
Originally posted by Grounded:
After making a couple of friends in the city, they establish a private investigation firm in order to both do good and help keep Angel connected to other people (and therefore make sure he doesn't go crazy Angelus again!).

And also to make money. Which doesn't work out as well as might be hoped.

Hilarity ensues.

-----
We applied the cortical electrodes but were unable to get a neural reaction from either patient.

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Friday, June 22, 2007 5:15 AM

MALBADINLATIN

Quote:
Originally posted by BCoat89:
So I've of course watched Firefly (multiple times just as the rest of you) and I've watched the first 3 seasons of Buffy so far. And now I'm wondering about Angel. Of course I believe anything Joss Whedon touches turns to gold, but how would you rate it compared to Buffy?

Cool. I'm in just about the same boat as you. When Buffy and Angel were airing I hadn't watched them. A few months ago I picked up Serenity, then the Firefly set, and became hopelessly hooked, saw every episode 10 times. Anyway, I started watching 3rd and now 4th season reruns of Angel on TNT, and I can't get off that habit. This was a mistake. I also just bought the first 3 seasons of Buffy and am on the 2nd. This is only my opinion and I know you didn't ask for advice...but if I had it to do over, I would finish all seasons of Buffy, then start in on Angel, for continuity and character development sake, plus that whole ruining the ending thing.

"How drunk was I last night?"
"I don't know I passed out"

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Friday, June 22, 2007 6:33 AM

ECGORDON

There's no place I can be since I found Serenity.

Firefly is Joss' best show, followed by Angel and then Buffy, imo. I love Buffy, make no mistake about that, but I liked the more serious tone of Angel a bit more.

It is my opinion that you should watch one episode of Buffy Season 4 followed by one ep of Angel Season 1, or at least alternate the full discs. There are quite a few crossover storylines in the first year of Angel, less so in subsequent seasons. Don't forget that when Angel first aired it followed Buffy on Tuesday nights on the WB's schedule.

wo men ren ran zai fei xing.

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Friday, June 22, 2007 6:40 AM

CHRISISALL

Quote:
Originally posted by BCoat89:
Of course I believe anything Joss Whedon touches turns to gold, but how would you rate it compared to Buffy?

Let me chime in her with a big "HUH????"
Buffy is B U F F Y !!!! Angel, however good it is, is a spinoff- and therefore not as epic-ly awesome!!! Definitely give it a try, but don't expect Buffy-greatness, or a final season that ties things up, for that matter.

Yeah, I said it Chrisisall

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Friday, June 22, 2007 6:43 AM

DEEPGIRL187

Don't listen to Chrisisall, BCoat89. He's a fanatic (much like the rest of us, just moreso). And when he gets to talking about season seven being the best, just plug your ears and hum.

I found this in one of my old threads. I had just started watching Angel, and Groosalugg was kind enough to provide it for me.

Quote:
--edit-- Now that you're watching both shows, if you're looking for a guide on how best to watch them to make the x-overs match up, here ya go: (This may be tough to stick to if you're Netflixing it.)

- Buffy S4 and Angel S1: Watch Episode #1 of Buffy, then #1 of Angel; #2 of Buffy, #2 of Angel, etc., right thru to the end of the season.
- Buffy S5, Angel S2: Same as above.
- Buffy S6, Angel S3: Watch Angel episode #4 ("Carpe Noctem") before Buffy episode #4 ("Flooded"); other than that, it doesn't matter.
- Buffy S7, Angel S4: Watch Buffy episode #17 ("Lies My Parents Told Me") before Angel episode #15 ("Orpheus"), and Angel #15 before Buffy #18 ("Dirty Girls"); watch Angel #22 ("Home") before Buffy #21 ("End of Days").

***************************************************

"Right! Because teenage pranks are fun when you're about to die!"

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Friday, June 22, 2007 6:54 AM

CHRISISALL

Quote:
Originally posted by deepgirl187:
Don't listen to Chrisisall, BCoat89. He's a fanatic (much like the rest of us, just moreso). And when he gets to talking about season seven being the best, just plug your ears and hum.

Don't make me angry, you wouldn't like me when I'm angry...

I didn't say seven was the best; three is! Seven is just my favourite!
And Buffy is nicer to look at than Angel, so there!!!

Not a fanatic Chrisisall

well...in some ways...

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Friday, June 22, 2007 7:08 AM

MALBADINLATIN

Quote:
Originally posted by chrisisall:
Buffy is nicer to look at than Angel, so there!!!

(Butting into conversation) Buffy nice............Buffy pretty............................my interruption is over. Poooof!!!!

"How drunk was I last night?"
"I don't know I passed out"

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Friday, June 22, 2007 7:51 AM

DAVESHAYNE

Quote:
Originally posted by chrisisall:
And Buffy is nicer to look at than Angel, so there!!!

But Cordelia is easy on they eyes as well.

Select to view spoiler:

And Lila dressed as Fred? Hu-ot! With a capital Hu.

David

"Not completely as well as the series of Firefly..." - From a review of Serenity at amazon.de

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Friday, June 22, 2007 8:12 AM

DEEPGIRL187

Quote:
Originally posted by daveshayne:
Quote:
Originally posted by chrisisall:
And Buffy is nicer to look at than Angel, so there!!!

But Cordelia is easy on they eyes as well.

Select to view spoiler:
And Lila dressed as Fred? Hu-ot! With a capital Hu.

I'll agree about about Cordy, but:

Select to view spoiler:

the whole Lilah dressed as Fred gave me the serious wiggins. I mean, they were going into Buffy and Spike territory there. No thanks.

*****************************************************

"Right! Because teenage pranks are fun when you're about to die!"

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Sunday, June 24, 2007 6:25 AM

JWHEDONADDICT

Not really what you asked for, but here it is...

I've been a faithful viewer of Joss's shows for ten years now. I started with Ep. 1 of BUFFY the very night it first aired. Since them I've come to adore his other creations, ANGEL and FIREFLY, and of course SERENITY.

Honestly, I love them all equally, but it's BUFFY and ANGEL I could not live without. If you think that means I love FIREFLY less, think again. Without those two, I probably never would have tried out FIREFLY, not being a fan of westerns or sci-fi, and would likely never paid much attention to Joss's critical acclaim. So that just simply adds to the reasons I already have to love BUFFY and ANGEL.

As for those who said ANGEL and FIREFLY are more "serious" than BUFFY's theme of "High School/Life is Hell" should've tried my life out for awhile.

**************************************
"What if you could have the power? Now? In every generation, one Slayer is born...because a bunch of men who died thousands of years ago made up that rule...
So I say we change the rule. I say my power should be our power...
Every girl who could have the power, will have the power. Can stand up, will stand up...
Make your choice. Are you ready to be strong?"--Buffy Summers, May 20, 2003

"In Joss We Trust."

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Sunday, June 24, 2007 11:00 AM

DEEPGIRL187

Quote:
Originally posted by jwhedonaddict:
As for those who said ANGEL and FIREFLY are more "serious" than BUFFY's theme of "High School/Life is Hell" should've tried my life out for awhile.

I didn't mean that Buffy was less serious, not at all. If anything, some of the most gut-wrenching, heart-breaking episodes were on Buffy. I guess what I was trying to get at was that the series as a whole had a less mature feeling to me. But then, that was really the point, that they were in the process of growing up. For me though, watching Team Angel react to their situations in a (mostly) adult manner held a little more appeal to me. And the theme of redemption was even more fascinating.

***************************************************

"Right! Because teenage pranks are fun when you're about to die!"

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Sunday, June 24, 2007 11:36 AM

JWHEDONADDICT

Well, I'm 31, and I still relate to the "Life is Hell" theme (I've got the depression to prove it), and have related in the past to a lot of the high school stuff.

I have a soft spot for the feminist themes more than anything though, I think.

If only it had existed when I was actually in high school...

**************************************
"What if you could have the power? Now? In every generation, one Slayer is born...because a bunch of men who died thousands of years ago made up that rule...
So I say we change the rule. I say my power should be our power...
Every girl who could have the power, will have the power. Can stand up, will stand up...
Make your choice. Are you ready to be strong?"--Buffy Summers, May 20, 2003

"In Joss We Trust."

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Sunday, June 24, 2007 4:29 PM

DEEPGIRL187

Quote:
Originally posted by jwhedonaddict:
Well, I'm 31, and I still relate to the "Life is Hell" theme (I've got the depression to prove it), and have related in the past to a lot of the high school stuff.

Me too likewise also. I've dealt with depression since I was a child. Being able to immerse myself in stories like these ones has always helped. It's too bad I wasn't smart enough to watch Buffy when it was actually on (it aired when I in middle school and high school).

It's not that I don't relate to Buffy, I guess I just feel more attached to Angel as a whole. But hey, to each his (or her) own, right?

*****************************************************

"Right! Because teenage pranks are fun when you're about to die!"

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Saturday, August 4, 2007 4:01 PM

EMBERS

Quote:
Originally posted by BCoat89:
I'm wondering about Angel. Of course I believe anything Joss Whedon touches turns to gold, but how would you rate it compared to Buffy?

well you must have noticed, people feel passionately about both...
and both are well worth watching!
Joss Whedon really knows what he is doing,
and what he is doing is entertaining all of us.
All we need to do is watch.

Quote:

Also, can anyone tell me briefy what the basis of the show is without giving away any of the plot?

so I guess you got the fact that Angel was a character on Buffy's show who left after Buffy's S3 to spin off into his own show...
ie Angel left Sunnydale for Los Angeles.

No reason to decide which is better, watch them both!
I guarantee BIG fun!

I FINALLY bought all my Angel DVDs (they were on sale at Costco for $16.99/each)

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