Angel: 2x4 Full Reaction
Added 2024-06-25 01:15:24 +0000 UTC
Comments
wow you weren't kidding about the face blindness. Literally 0 recognition that was Lilah Bethany is staying with. Convinced that's not Darla in Angel's dream he's having sex with and feeding off each other. She's literally in vamp face "just another victim" lol what?
Nathan Conarroe
2025-01-31 07:58:14 +0000 UTCand about his past, we've seen that in 'I've got you under my skin" in Season 1
Einar SigurΓ°sson
2024-08-22 08:11:31 +0000 UTCIt is SO JUICY to me that between Lilah and Lindsey, Wolfram & Hart seems to overwhelmingly recruit people from poverty/poorer areas. The people who have most to gain from selling their souls, you know? It's so predatory. I bet they have a great scholarship program that requires you to go work for them after you graduate.
doctrfaustus
2024-06-26 13:21:12 +0000 UTCThat's what happened in the movie, Carrie. Being abused by her crazy mother and bullied at school. But it still could be something genetic that has to be triggered and brought out by some trauma.
Gung Ho
2024-06-26 02:06:20 +0000 UTCA really good, interesting episode that expands on the type of powers we can expect to see, not just from demons. It also expands on our characters: Angel sees his own conflict with power and control reflected in Bethany and he's struggling mentally because of the dreams. Meanwhile Cordy is focused on protecting her friends, even at the expense of their "customers", and the girl that used to care about her own paycheck is now asking for Gunn to join in on their wealth! Gunn is now a little more receptive to AI - maybe because of his newfound friendship with Cordy? Wesley also catches onto the fact that Beth was abused by her father before anyone else does, possibly from his own experience... Heck, even Lilah gets some character-building! She wasn't intending to deal with Angel at all, but Cordy's visions interfered. It's put her in a rough spot at work, but she's also cruel to Bethany once she realizes she can't control her. She insults her and tries to make her insecure again. Really enjoyed your insights and I'm excited for you to react to the rest of the season!
nataly
2024-06-25 19:48:56 +0000 UTCI always suspected this episode was a bit of "inside Hollywood" because as we now know sexual abuse and coercion in general was rampant in the TV and Movie industry. To shine a little light on the subject in the comfort of supernatural fantasy, so not to have the censors axe the whole idea, was one of the features of this show. X files touched on some of these subjects as well, but aired at a later time slot, and skewed more to an adult audience. While it is too harsh to ignore -- this episode is more about "the killer in me" than it is about the sex crimes, which are just explanatory for the out of control behavior. Exploiting others talents in the worst way is part of it, but it was about her urge to kill, and how to temper it with will and turn it to her advantage. They made what use they had in the short time of talking it out and training a bit, but the final acts of not killing her father, and then showing off her powers and control to Lilah was to show you her growth. In Steven Kings "Firestarter" the girl goes full rampage on everyone, but they wanted to show that Bethany wasn't "ruined" by what happened to her -- that there was a way out. She, like Angel, can control the killer inside, and let it out a little bit when needed. Darla is bringing Angelus out through desire, the pleasures of evil, but Angel is getting hip to it, and its not really working other than to make him work harder to reign it in in waking life. Wesely suspects that Angel is grappling with inner conflict, and like the watcher he is is not interfering, just guiding Angel in his thoughtful way through it. An interesting aspect is that Angel spent a long time in Demon hierarchical group dynamics, where the biggest baddest demon was the dictator, not cooperative relationships with give and take. He occasionally tries to bully the group, and they basically mock him for it and it is hilarious and he realizes he is off track. I feel tho that it will come down to Angel insisting he be obeyed in some crisis and that will severely hurt the group. It almost happened this time. Cordy knows that Angel is sexually vulnerable, which is interesting, and she was very protective in telling Bethany to back off. If she knew about Darla and what she was up to she would be going nuts.
spikeysnack
2024-06-25 16:57:00 +0000 UTCi understand why you're doing it but I hate that you miss some really, REALLY important reaction shots off-dialogue when you're looking down taking notes. I'm always yelling at the screen, "Look up!" lol On a more positive note: It's generally accepted, even in our universe, that things like telekinesis would develop as a result of trauma.
Brandon Scott
2024-06-25 16:35:58 +0000 UTC*Angel falling through a door* Gunn: 'You're a very graceful man, have I ever told you that?' π I think I appreciate this episode more and more upon each rewatch. The actor who played Bethany did an amazing job with such heavy subject matter. Bethany's abuse juxtaposed against Darla sneaking into Angel's room are clear parallels of sexual assault. In other words, the show is telling us that what Darla's doing to Angel is sexual assault. Apparently, Joss Whedon rewrote most of the original script which was by Mere Smith. He also directed this episode and it shows!
Rebecca
2024-06-25 10:35:47 +0000 UTCOne detail that pops out to me on rewatch is the fact that Wesley was so quick to cotton on to Bethany's issues. I think it says something about Wesley as a character.
Raymond Simon
2024-06-25 05:44:17 +0000 UTCFrom my experience it's hard for most people to understand the mindset and actions of someone who has been through significant abuse. I personally have too many times and in too many ways, and I'll tell you it can mentally cripple you, as well as numb you at the same time. It's easy to get used to abuse, to not care about yourself cuz of it, to accept it in order to receive attention or gain approval. It causes you to just go along without thinking rationally about circumstances. Even when you want to care, and go about things the right way the instability is hard to come out from under when the toll of abuse lingers. Eliminate the bad one step at a time and keep foward for the better and you'll get there and be stronger for it.
Morgan Williams
2024-06-25 05:36:48 +0000 UTCYea that was Darla and Angel biting each other.
Morgan Williams
2024-06-25 03:46:08 +0000 UTCJames is right about the tattoo. I call these types of things "Guest Star Scars". When a body feature is specifically established within the show, but doesn't always show up when it really should (Like a recurring character who realistically should be in an episode, but doesn't appear because they couldn't get the actor to make an appearance). Scars from previous action scenes, wounds, etc. are the most common example. Despite being shown in other episodes, sometimes they don't appear because this time the crew didn't want to go through the half-hour of makeup prep for the 1/2 a second they would appear on-screen. Angel's tattoo is something of an odd example because it was plot-relevant instead of just being random body art (It's how Giles and Buffy confirmed him as Angelus when they first learned he was a vampire). But since then it's just been popping up occasionally when his shirt is off and they remember to put it on before shooting the scene.
JBK405
2024-06-25 03:01:16 +0000 UTCI really enjoyed this reaction; this is an episode that isn't a favorite of mine, but I enjoyed it more than usual with your perspective. Regarding Angel's tattoo, it was first introduced in Buffy S1E7 'Angel'. It shows up occasionally but there are a few moments where Angel's back is shown without the tattoo (like in Angel S1E17 'Eternity' when the actress accidently on purpose spilled champagne on his shirt, Angel's back can be seen w/o the tattoo when he puts on a new shirt)
James Smith
2024-06-25 02:22:32 +0000 UTC
