David Boreanaz is a revelation as Angelus (as we must call Angel when he’s bad); he is clearly having a lot of fun in his role: taunting Spike, flirting with Drusilla and being really, really mean to Buffy. The scene at his apartment when she meets him for the first time since that “one moment” is gut wrenching. SMG shows off her undoubted talent as she negotiates Buffy’s path of humiliation, shame, guilt, pain and disappointment that Joss Whedon has laid out for her.
But it may be SMG’s show, but it’s Alyson Hannigan as Willow who has the moments in the episode that are simply sublime: the look on her face as we see her discovering what Xander and Cordelia have been up to:
the pain in her voice as she realises the truth about Xander’s platonic feelings for her:
the first to realise what had occurred between Buffy and Angel (“Shut up, Giles”), and yet another awesome scene with Oz, Seth Green is marvellous here, but AH’s face says it all: “this boy is the one”: I could quote it all but here’s the best bit “It’s like, it’s like freeze frame. Willow kissage.”
We discover that Angel is the real deal baddie because he’s smokin’.
I’m starting to warm to Spike as he shows his vulnerable side as he watches helplessly as Angel and Dru rekindle their pervy past.
Xander’s eyebrow does an amazing thing when he gets a plan:
Urgh, reviewing the programme as I write this means I have to revise this to a 9/10 – I have just been reminded of the Buffy/Angel sex scene with added heavy breathing by Joss Whedon – it brings back awful memories of Where the Wild Things Are.
I feel sorry for Jenny – she did conceal her real identity from Giles and Buffy but she did that because of her loyalty to her family. It is sad to be made a scapegoat for something you couldn’t have known would happen. Buffy’s inaction at the end of the episode costs Jenny dear. While Andy is forgiving of Buffy’s leniency, the subsequent deaths that occur because of her behaviour anger me, “give me time”, she says, time that others don’t have.
The double ending with Giles in the car and Joyce and the old film are just lovely (“I got older”).
“I knew it! I knew it! Well, not ‘knew it’ in the sense of having the slightest idea, but I knew there was something I didn’t know. You two were fighting way too much. It’s not natural!”
“No. It just means that you’d rather be with someone you hate than be with me.”
“One moment of true happiness, of contentment, one moment where the soul that we restored no longer plagues his thoughts, and that soul is taken from him.” – I like sex, love it even but I’m not entirely happy with the idea of coitus as being true happiness – plus it places a terrible burden on Buffy’s loss of her virginity which is unfair (but totally dramatic!)
“But she’s so cute and helpless. Really a turn-on.” – oo, evil!
“This is great. There’s an unkillable demon in town, Angel’s joined his team, the Slayer is a basket case. I’d say we’ve hit bottom.” “I have a plan.” “Oh, no, here’s a lower place.”
Audrey - Visible Forms - I have raved before so suffice to say it’s all brilliant
Midlake - The Trials of Van Occupanther - comparisons to The Flaming Lips and Mercury Rev haven’t dampened my enthusiasm
Espers - Espers II - stand out: Mansfield And Cyclops
Tara Jane O’Neil - In Circles - tjo’s voice is oddly sexy - check this out
My albums of the year seem to equal the albums I have bought this year (except Nina Nastasia’s On Leaving - Andy is a big fan and really likes this new album but I feel it’s a bit dull lacklustre and, rather like PJ Harvey’s, I think her first two albums (Dogs and The Blackened Air) are head and shoulders better than the subsequent ones).
From the ridiculous to the sublime (actually not quite the sublime, that’s to come). Surprise is the slow build up to Innocence and it’s a good episode in many ways: though that excludes the comedy strangling by severed arm
and the Judge’s name (that’s because all I can think of is Rowan and Martin’s “here comes da judge”).
The tension between Buffy and Angel is palpable though my rational mind can’t help thinking – he has no circulation, he’ll be clammy, yuck – while my romantic mind is going ahhhh. The way they escape from Spike and Dru is a bit lame but gives them an excuse to get their clothes off and give Angel that “one minute of happiness”.
Willow is continuing her remarkable cuteness curve despite:
the big purple hat
and the jumper with the Scottie dog
Her exchange with Oz is just adorable and the way she says “I said ‘date’” is just wonderful. She has every right to be excited – Oz is so darn cool.
We discover that Jenny Calendar isn’t Jenny Calendar but “Janna, of the Kalderash people! A Gypsy!” – oh boy, there’s going to be trouble ahead – just what is she doing with Buffy and the Beetle? – it’s all so suspicious. It’s a pity Vincent Schiavelli hams this up a bit though the costume department wasn’t doing him any favours with that hat (what is it with the hats??).
Some random asides: Juliet Landau has incredible arms – all muscle and veins – I bet she has no problem giving blood. Buffy has a lot of rings on her fingers which reminds me of the incongruous collection on Abby Grant’s fingers in Survivors.
“Fish of the day?”
“You think he’s too old ’cause he’s a senior? Please. My boyfriend had a bicentennial”
“I’m gonna ask you to go out with me tomorrow night. And I’m kinda nervous about it, actually. It’s interesting.” “Oh. Well, if it helps at all, I’m gonna say yes” “Yeah, it helps. It-it creates a comfort zone. Do you wanna go out with me tomorrow night?” “Oh! I can’t!” “Well, see, I like that you’re unpredictable.”
“I know it’s hard to accept at first”. “Actually, it explains a lot.”
“Hmm, it’s sad, granted. But let’s look at the upside for a moment. I mean, what kind of a future would she’ve really had with him? She’s got two jobs - Denny’s waitress by day, Slayer by night - and Angel’s always in front of the TV with a big blood belly, and he’s dreaming of the glory days when Buffy still thought this whole creature of the night routine was a big turn on.” “You’ve thought way too much about this.” “No, no. That’s just the beginning. Have I told you the part where I fly into town in my private jet and take Buffy out for prime rib?”
Dar Williams was on World Café and was asked by the interviewer about her (wonderful) cover of Pink Floyd’s Comfortably Numb. Bizarrely, he asks her why she wanted two women (the other being Ani DiFranco) to sing the song. Umm, why not? Her fab cover of another manly song, You Won’t See Me, is here.
One of my favourite albums from this year is The Trials of Van Occupanther by Midlake. I have recently discovered the joy of NPR music and, in particular, World Café. Midlake were in performance early in September and they did three wonderful live versions of Roscoe, Van Occupanther and Head Home. I hadn’t realised the album was a concept album (I was still in the “oh what a lovely sound” stage and hadn’t read the lyrics) but luckily they don’t produce a folk-rock Tommy but is more like Aimee Mann’s The Forgotten Arm.
Adam is always sighing “Buffy, Buffy, Buffy” because he thinks we’re sad for being such fans so this is for him:
ETA: This video has been removed from YouTube because it is quite obvious that something clever like this was a threat to DVD sales or whatever. Stupid stupid attitude by TPTB.
ETA: Hooray! I have found the original at the originator’s website. He is Chuck Jones (obviously not that one) whose other work can be found at babygorilla.com. Thanks Chuck.
I have to recommend the DailyLit where you can sign up to read short chunks of public domain literature sent to you daily by e-mail. I am signed up to Bleak House (because this is the only way I’ll get through a Dickens novel), The Time Machine (because I like Wells) and Notes from (the) Underground (because it sounded strange - and it is).
A quote from Notes from Underground:
“I am forty years old now, and you know forty years is a whole lifetime; you know it is extreme old age. To live longer than forty years is bad manners, is vulgar, immoral. Who does live beyond forty? Answer that, sincerely and honestly I will tell you who do: fools and worthless fellows.”
I could quote it all but here’s the best bit “It’s like, it’s like freeze frame. Willow kissage.”
