Tuesday night.

[hannah]

The day began by shattering a bottle of apple cider vinegar, and it didn't get worse from there. It didn't get better, either: it was a day just to be dealt with. Tomorrow might or might not be the same - not in content, but tone, possibly. There are places I can go, but I don't need to, and there are things I could do but I don't have much wish to do them.

This should pass soon.

In the meantime, I'm wondering if I should find a way to watch Angel sometime this decade. Anyone have any thoughts on that show?

Comments

[likeadeuce]

Angel is one of the most important fandom shows to me though I will admit it has flaws and is not for everyone. Why are you thinking about watching it/ what are you looking for in a show?

[hannah]

I've heard how wonderful Gunn is for years now, and from what I've read about him, he sounds like a character I'd enjoy watching. Fred and Spike as well, to lesser extents. I'm looking for a show that takes its audience seriously, with special effects that still hold up within the fictional world - I don't want to see someone strain to pick up an empty milk carton, I want the Jim Henson Creature Shop to bring in a Rygel that can be smacked around and interact with the environment.

[likeadeuce]

Hmm, I don't know that effects are a particular strength of Angel though I don't think they'll have you recoiling in (the wrong kind of) horror.

How much of a completist are you? I think you can watch just selected season 1 eps to get to when Gunn shows up. I think I have a list that I made for a friend who was watching from the start if you're interested

[hannah]

I'm a completest with a Netflix account, a lengthy fic two to three weeks away from being finished, and the need for something to reset my brain from that particular mindset. I'm not sure if Gilmore Girls will do the trick.

[likeadeuce]

Then dive in, I say...the early eps are a bit uneven though even from the start I love the reinvention of Cordelia and when Wesley shows up it really starts to take off.

[hannah]

Not that I know who Cordelia is, having never seen Buffy. Not that I really want to see that one, either. Honestly, the thing that worries me the most is watching Angel might having me wanting to see Buffy, which parts of fandom have frustrated and annoyed me to the point of wanting to avoid the canon. Yes, even the silent and musical episodes, no matter how much I love Aimee Mann.

[likeadeuce]

Oh that makes it easier, probably, to be honest? There are a few character crossovers early on, but the regulars (Angel, Cordelia, and later on Wesley) are reinvented in pretty significant ways. Basically at the start, Angel is a morose urban fantasy hero who needs his friends to give him a mission and get over his moping/ himself. If you like that narrative & can forgive the unevenness inherent in monster of the week urban fantasy you should be fine w/ season 1 -- after that it becomes more of an ensemble show with crazy mytharcs.

Now I want to rewatch ANGEL.

[hannah]

Wait a couple of weeks and you could rewatch as I come in fresh. We could make a weekly thing of it! I assume you have some sort of chat client to make that possible, and a possible hour on Thursdays - or whatever day it was originally broadcast, to preserve the original flavor.

[likeadeuce]

Ooh lmk when you decide to do it!

[hannah]

Will do.

[poisontaster]

I spent a long time (several years ago) debating whether I wanted to buy Angel or not; whether I cared enough about it to own it. And the thing is, I don't think it's worth it for ANGEL. Though he's the titular character, I think he has the weakest and least interesting story arc across the entire series. He doesn't really change.

BUT. I do think it's worth seeing/watching for Wesley's character arc, which is deep and amazing. I also think that most of the side characters make it worth seeing.

So, don't watch it for Angel, but it's worth watching it for everyone else.

[hannah]

If I'm watching it for anyone, it's most likely going to be Gunn. Then Spike, and possibly Fred. Then the fact that years ago someone explained "Smile Time" to me and I still think that's a brilliant idea.