Angel - 1x18 "Five by Five" FULL REACTION

see i get people saying to go to these after but actually in the episode they says its been a couple weeks since faith was in sunnydale so the watch order actually works because it makes it be a week for buffy inbetween and then these and then it goes back to buffy which follows when she gets back otherwise you would have a couple episode inbetween when she leaves and then gets back to sunnydale which doesn't flow with what happens onscreen.

TheMew

such an amazing episode. Its stunning and gripping from start to finish. I cry through those final moments every single time... god its so good. Faith is SUCH a brilliantly complex character. Awesome reaction

Holi117

sorry that you had people ruining the cross-over for you. I actually think the Slay Alive order works really well in how it has bunched episodes together. Its the correct order story wise and time-line wise for both shows. I don't want to say more on that until after you have posted a certain episode. I had doubts on the watch order UNTIL you got to this point. People are just impatient.

Holi117

If it makes Liam feel any better (probably not), we were spoiled by the promos, and you couldn't avoid them when Angel aired directly after Buffy unless you turned the TV off in between the two shows. The promo for "Five by Five" gave away a surprising amount, including Angel catching the bolt and the final shot of Wesley dropping the knife, although tbf you can't really tell what happened. Those promos are still available on Buffyworld, which is NOT FOR NEWBIES, but I enjoy checking out the shooting scripts still -- wish they had them for Angel also.

Rachael

It's too bad someone spoiled you on this episode's guest star. Good that you don't get the titles ahead of time.

David Boyd

I don't get the title of the episode beforehand, just the number

Though once you get to title episode 5x5, that should be hint enough its a faith episode. One of her favorite sayings. Angel is harder for me to rewatch the early years than buffy but this was def a full charged emotional episode

Glorie Bluestein

I've often wondered if there is more going on with Faith's character in a mystical sense. As we know, there is only meant to be one Slayer at any one time, but unlike Kendra, Faith was activated while Buffy was alive and well. Could this have somehow corrupted the power bestowed upon Faith, which in turn corrupted Faith's sense of morality?

This episode is really amazing indeed. I'm sorry you got spoiled on Faith being in the episode, though you're right, it didn't take away from it. And to be fair, I'm pretty sure people were likely spoiled on that from the title before they watched it when it originally aired too.

Jayna

It's also interesting that "Angelus" makes a brief appearance in season 3 of Buffy, when Faith and the Mayor try to strip Angel of his soul. Seeing a glimpse of Angelus again in the episode prior to this one and then seeing Faith reappear seems fitting.

Steve Quast

Faith is so broken at this point it’s heartbreaking to watch. I first watched btvs/ats when I was quite young so it was easy to view Faith as a villain and nothing more at the time. Rewatching the series now you see how damaged she really is and what a complex character Faith is.

Sarah McKinlay

Thank you for publishing this reaction, Liam. You've been making so many that I assumed we would have to wait until next week, and I've been eager get to this all season. I wish the SlayAlive order had "Eternity" right before this because the themes of that flow nicely into this. I love how Angel uses flashbacks to either inform the present or to parallel character journeys. Angelus tries to be a monster, but he can't now that he feels the horror and guilt from everything that he did -- same with Faith. This was the first time I noticed that Angelus was cursed with his soul in 1898 when Darla gave him a birthday present that was apparently something that Angelus desperately wanted but was difficult to procure. This Romani girl was special, and it is implied that Angelus raped her. Then exactly a century later, Angel loses his soul because of that curse when he makes love to another special girl on *her* birthday, Buffy, and finds perfect happiness for just a moment. Faith's breakdown in the alley is a well-worn trope, but the performances and filmmaking (and fortuitous rain) make it one of the most well-earned and moving moments of either series.

Rachael

This is such a dark and tragic episode. Faith goes so dark with the torture of poor Wes - definitely overkill when it comes to retribution for being a bad watcher! And the whole point of that was to commit suicide by Angel cos she hates herself so much. That last scene is just so tragic and heartbreaking, and brilliantly acted and directed. Very powerful. Your broken glass analogy was excellent. I also just love that shot of Faith dropping the bloody glass shard outta the window. What an episode - glad you enjoyed it so much Liam - funny when we enjoy something that makes us cry eh. Thanks for the reaction!

Bellatronics

Another episode that makes me cry!! 😭😭 Maybe it's time to count the ones that DON'T instead of the ones that DO. 🙄 During the torture scene, I love what you said about it's so hard to watch. Almost Faith is looking worse the more she hurts Wesley. 🤕🔪🥵🥶🙉

RavenSteal

Until Liam's notetaking and this, I hadn't noticed this trio had the same initials. Huh. The fun facts we don't see until the umpteenth rewatch. LOL

RavenSteal

This episode never ceases to floor me. What a performance from Dushku, and what a way to really tie her into the redemption themes in Angel.

FernWithy

Every time I see it.

Sarah Rose

Another Amazing reaction to one of my favorite episodes. I love your analogy on Faith being broken glass like 👏👏👏. Also yes Lilah was in The Ring episode.💜

Catherine Thurmond

Well, from the professional side, the title and hte previously are part of the mood-setting, not spoilers. They're literally part of the intended effect.

FernWithy

I notice that a lot with Buffy (S4+) and Veronica Mars, even down to the unfortunate hair crimping fad.

Rachael

YESSSSSSS!!!!!! Mwah!

Bellatronics

Lindsey was the lawyer in episode 1, in the board meeting, he gave Angel his card and Angel puts it back in his pocket when he leaves. xx

Great reaction. Couple of notes here, first Lyndsey was seen in the very first episode. And second for the final scene in the alley they wanted to do it with a rain machine ect but it was nearly impossible, but on the night of filming it started raining anyway.

BHillzebub

One of my favorite Angel episodes - not just of season one, but of the series overall - and well worth the wait to see your reaction to it!

Bixgirl1

As far as the W&H trio, Lindsay McDonald first appeared in City Of, Lee Mercer appeared in Sense and Sensitivity, and Lilah Morgan debuted in The Ring. And yes, they all have the same initials. I'm so glad you love Dennis and recognize that he is the best character. Not sure there's been another character in TV history with a better ratio of attitude to number of lines of dialogue. But yeah, bottom line, this is TV perfection. This episode couldn't have happened without everything this season has built up with the dynamics between Angel and Wesley and Wolfram & Hart, nor could it have happened without all the history from Buffy, or the season-long flashbacks we've gotten of Angel becoming a monster himself. And the history with Wesley and Faith especially, Wesley becoming gradually more competent all season long then confronted with his biggest failure... God, it's SO GOOD!

Rachel Espiritu

The last minute of this episode completely breaks me.

Thomas Hansen

Eliza Dushku seriously gives me the chills in this. That fight scene at the end is one of the best I've seen in either show and poor Wesley, my heart just broke for him. Brilliant episode! I'm so glad you loved it

Donna

This is a standout, no question. It also has something which for whatever reason I love, the little bit of dialogue with Angel faking his way through the conversation with the lawyer at Wolfram & Hart. Part of me wants THAT to be the story. ... I’ll still stick with the whole journey towards redemption thing, though.

Koz

Btw, you have seen Lindsey in "City of" - hence the exchange he and Angel had about Angel throwing Lindsey's client out a window. A very ... memorable exercise in dispensing justice. 😁

Bean's friend

Great reaction to my favorite episode of the season and arguably of the entire show, where it shows that even the most evil in the world can have a glimmer of hope and redemption; I'm talking, of course, about The Accent 🤣 But seriously, really good stuff.

Khanach

Faith doesn't get her own show, but Eliza Dushku does. It's called Dollhouse. 😉

Sherlyn

OMG I just realised I had that exact same outfit in the 90s that Faith is wearing in the club scene. This show is like a trip down 90s fashion memory lane. LOL. Also this episode is amazing, and now I shall return to watching one of my favourite reactors. :)

Claire Eyles

I think a lot of the spoiling happens on YouTube, but sometimes people say things that they don't realize are spoilers. I just try not to say anything...just in case.

Christine

Stop hinting at anything. How hard is that? You watch these things for reactions. Why spoil the reactors when ultimately that spoils you.

Cheyne Johnson

The episode we've been waiting for all season!!! It's a little unfortunate though, not just that the comments spoil Faith's appearance here, but that the episode title is Five By Five and the previouslies are all about Faith lol.

Rachel Espiritu

A shame that people were once again unable to control themselves re: posting obvious spoilers. Seriously people, how hard is it to understand that if you mention anything to do with future episodes, no matter how subtle you *think* you're being, you are spoiling. Just stop, seriously. >:/

ElectricMonk

Two reactions in one day! Best Saturday ever?

Rob Z

I've been checking my phone on and off all day for this - can't wait to see this reaction! Eliza Dushku brings tears to my eyes in this, but they all earned it. What a show!

Bean's friend