Angel - 3x03 “That Old Gang of Mine” FULL REACTION

Well now that you've met Warren and seen what he did to Tara, is Gio still the worst?

Prue

I always see Gio is the person Gunn could have become if he lost himself in his grief instead of keeping with the mission. Both "lost" someone who trusted them. However Gunn had the opportunity to step back from his old group and find a new way to channel his focus that didn't force him to get lost in his grief for his sister.

Quantoto

OMG I didnt notice the leather pants that's so funny

KT

Liam I hope you see this. I recently discovered a new show and I’m begging you to PLEASE react to it. It’s the new Harley Quinn show on DC Universe. It is hands down the best DC animated TV show that has ever been made. Watch 4 episodes and you will be hooked! Heck, you will probably be hooked in the first 5 minutes. Please give it a shot. You will not regret it.

Richard Lucas

I feel like there was a lot of jealousy on Xander’s part too. He wanted Buffy to love him but instead she loved this ‘monster’. And by the time he was starting to get over his feelings for Buffy, Angelus came along. But I always thought Xander should have been more sympathetic. If not for Buffy and luck, he himself would have been a canabalistuc monster chowing down on Principal Flutie.

Richard Lucas

Wow. Great reaction. I was feeling all that rage. With the exception of the (presumably) inadvertent racism, I really like this episode. The teaser was a roller coaster of emotions. Angel wasn’t casting his eyes down in shame. He was reading his “apology.” Merle spent three months in therapy? Omg, Merle is such a sweetie. There was so much information and hilarity, and then Angel is such a jerk to him. “Right. I went dark and killed Merle.” Both Wesley and Cordelia pointedly looked at Angel’s pants, which are LEATHER. Angel only wears the Leather Pants of Evil when he’s Angelus. (Unfortunately, cuz he looks good in them.) That was an interesting costuming choice. I like that Gunn is still traumatized by what happened with Alonna, and he’s been grappling with divided loyalties and this grayer morality for a while. Gio went really dark there, and I don’t know if Gio was projecting his own guilt, but prior to that, he was definitely pushing Gunn’s buttons. Fred is awesome. She is still traumatized, but she’s so brave, and she didn’t survive in Pylea by being a dummy. Girl is cunning. And I like Cordelia awkwardly trying to befriend Fred, even if Angel had to cajole her into it with his puppy smile. I want Cordy and Fred to become friends because Cordelia has never had a genuine female friendship, and we finally have a second female main character. I love the contrast between Angel and Wesley in the final scene with Gunn. Wesley was absolutely correct, but he was so brutal and cold that I think that his feelings were hurt, so there was the personal mixed in with the professional. A realistic touch. Angel, OTOH, was understanding and philosophical, as usual. Angel, like with Judy in AYNOHYEB, identifies with people who are caught between two worlds.

Rachael

Ironically, this is the episode that Minear regrets most, but AFAIK he didn't elaborate why. I hope it's because of the criticism that I have for it: it was cool to have a group of disenfranchised POC fighting vampires to protect their community, but this episode turns them into "thugs" -- actually worse because they're willing to murder humans, which is the opposite of how they were introduced. Gio is the most OTT of that stereotype. Rondell was a good character (and actor), so his heel turn was especially disappointing. Other than the uncomfortable social commentary that springs from one marginalized group persecuting another, with the black guys being the bad guys on a very white show, I like everything else about this episode.

Rachael

Gio is insufferable, and this episode felt too repetitive of other episodes from season 2.

S144

and ANOTHER exceptional episode thanks to Tim Minear-

Mark Judge

I enjoy this one but your pure rage just made this a million times better

Inseriousity

RIP Merle. Liam, I was worried that you were going to break up with Season 3. Just know, that if you ever do break up with Season 3, we won't pick sides. We'll stay friends with both of you.

UTU49

This episode is kind of excruciating. There's such a big difference between killing demons to protect your community... and hunting down harmless demons... simply because you just feel like killing something.

UTU49

😂😂 Liam.. the man with the wicked song one-liners 🎶 He missed a good one in episode 2 though, i was even waiting for him to sing it. 🙄😂

CeNedra

Fred singing crazy is just one of my favourite things to ever come out of this show! 😂 she's utterly adorable, but she's a hidden badass as well. This episode is a great social commentary on where one draws the line. The world isn't black and white, and sometimes navigating through the grey can feel like a personal compromise. I understand Gunn's pov, and the feeling of being caught between a rock and a hard place. He's started to see the different shades of grey, but with that comes the acceptance that he's no longer the same person he was. And the subsequent guilt about his sister and probably feeling a bit hypocritical about his relationship with Angel. And all that came to a head. The conversation between Gunn and Angel in the alley afterwards is one of my favourites of the show. In essence: "I know we're not friends, but I trust and respect you." Also, Angel needs someone to be willing to take him out if he becomes Angelus again. Cordelia is the only one who's actually seen it, and know just how terrifying that side of him is. And while she's willing to "kill him dead", Angel likely feels more comfortable in the knowledge that someone like Gunn is also.

Signe (Seena) Stewart

Gunn's perspective on Angel is very similar to Xander's, except he's mature enough to realize his feelings aren't really fair and even feels guilty about it, and he doesn't take it out on Angel. Not to compare traumas, but that really says a lot about his integrity and groundedness, since a large portion of his adolescent development was centered around hating/fearing vampires and he had to intentionally kill his sister on the principle of vampires = irredeemable. As opposed to Xander, who only recently found out about vampires when he accidentally killed his friend, and then spent the next 3 seasons looking for every excuse to hate Angel to the point of enabling his death.

KT

"nuthin's fine, Gunn's torn." - lol! nice one. :D

Hef

Agreed, lol. Well, maybe not favourite. But one of my favourite parts for sure.

Dana

After watching the reaction i have only one thing to say... OMG look at the credits.. 😂😂😂 That was always my fave part of a new season 🙄😁

CeNedra

This episode makes me furious too. So I skipped to the end. Love Fred taking control of the situation and the conversations in the alley afterwards.

Bruce Trogdon

Everyone: Where's Buffy? Me: ...she ded

Well my day just got 100% better!! Thanks Liam ❤

CeNedra

And Sadie rules, this all makes perfect sense

Loving your RDR2 Gio/Micah comparison. To continue the theme, I was so ready for Fred to go full-blown Mrs Adler when she had that crossbow.

Shandler