Okay, seen it at last
I can't wax rhapsodic like I2. There are actually episodes this season I have enjoyed as much (or possibly even better...) but I did find it HUGELY enjoyable, and it was indeed well directed and cut. And yes, the characters behaved and spoke believably, which I admit hasn't always been the case this season.
The episode has been well dissected by now every damn where (curse my Englishness and dial-up status!) so I shall just remark upon the things I liked or struck me, starting at the very beginning *PK trills a la Julie Andrews* It's a very good place to start. What?! Everyone was singing in this episode... well, not EVERYone, but almost!
- Fred's room at her parents' was very.... pink and fluffy. Was glad to see her apartment in the now was more appealing!
- loved Angel walking about with the sword stuck through him, bickering with Spike from the start. Their squabbles are so much more affectionate now, bless them!
- and I thought the bugs themselves were cute
- Illyria's sarcophagus was very purdy.
- Gunn singing Three Little Maids was.... HOT!! Hoo boy *swoon*
- Wes is such a plank up the ass that he
deserves to be cruelly teased
- Gunn's line... "No secrets in the House of Pain" was kinda chilling, and was sorta echoed by Fred later, calling it the "House of Death"
- Angel and Spike's argument about the caveman and the astronaut was the highlight of the episode for me, beautifully directed and acted. I thought Spike made a strong case and I go with the caveman too (like Fred and the guys from accounting) for what it's worth. Yeah, agree with I2 that this wasn't just a flip argument for comic effect, it was the key. But they were so terrific performing this - they are so in love! LMAO. Beatrice and Benedict.
-"namby pamby self analysing wankers!" - quite!
- So how come Spike can't say astronaut?
How funny! ;D Astonaut... hmmm, we should get James to say it properly in May....
- it was quite alarming to see Wes wearing a high neck Sweater of Doom!
Its evil influence is spreading! JM on chat shows, Jon Bon Jovi on Graham Norton - er, the show, people, the show! - last night...
- Spike climbing over the chair in Angel's office rather than walk round it, and then the sprawl.... Dear god, they manipulate us so mercilessly! *faints*
- Spike talking about the poker game and the conversations he'd been having with the accounts guys... Angel is right when he says he has become attached to the place. He socialises, mingles, has chats and hobbies, things to do, never mind people he cares about. I used to feel so sad for him, flopping about in his crypt on his own watching endless
shows, or in a succession of basements, waiting to be used
- His fingers were jumping when he said he WASN'T attached, just had nowhere else to go... very edgy and threatened. Thankfully short-lived as he pondered the prospect of being a roving agent. How glorious it would be if this was a set-up for a mini-series *sigh*
- Lorne's face as he whips round, when Fred sings and then collapses. And calling her Freddles.
- Aw, Spike and the pretty mummies line. And the sweet look Wes gave him for it.
- Angel is always SO out of the loop; even when everyone else knows the latest gossip (Wes and Fred in this case), he never does
- the revolving camerawork in the lobby with all Fred's boys made me queasy.
- I've never liked Wes... Okay, that's true, but what I meant to say is I have never liked Wes as psycho fucktard. It is not big and not clever to be so obsessed with firearms as he is, and to use them so casually...
- ConduitGunn scared the bejayzus out of me, and we do know now that "Deals are for the devil".
- Eve, who knew?! So much more convincing when frightened and dishevelled. It had to be Lorne that threw the punch because if one of our guys with super-strength had done it, so not sympathetic to them. Instead we could be shocked, surprised and giggle at Lorne hurting his hand. Although he does menacing quite well.
- Fred's impassioned speech in the lab (when she should have been erupting and vomiting in bed) about not being the damsel in distress... She's had to cause to say this before, in an earlier season... actually, I think she is a great host for Illyria, and if there is some of Fredikins still lurking in her I hope she gets to enjoy it a little bit!
- Spike fiddling with his seat belt buckle on the plane and both of them being nervous about flying. And scared of losing. And Angel mourning Cordy.
- Apparently, misty woods = England. Joss needs to get over his LOTR fixation though, although the sword fighting was cool and Drogyn was hot (he was so Aragorn!)
- Jean-Luc has the Picard Manouevre on ST: TNG. Our boys have the St Petersburg Manouevre. They were very cute with the handholding, especially before Spike even remembered what it was about!
- Knox's expression when he was caught out "Oops!" Excellent!
- the not even grudging "He's even right sometimes" about Spike, and the unhesitating aknowledgement of him being a champion too. Progress!
- for some reason Spike's hole-in-the-world lines were very affecting. I think it was the delivery as much as the actual words and context. I started to sniffle. As did Angel. Spike's immobility and words kept him on the right path; but it looked like he already knew he couldn't rush after Drogyn. His "Spike?" may have been a desperate hope for Spike to do the rushing into things routine like he has been shown to do often this season, so he could be caught up in that with him. Almost an excuse. But Spike was right. And he knew it.
- Fred's death was nicely done by Amy, but then I became distracted by the transformation scene which kinda reminded me of hokey Dr Jeckyll and Mr Hyde movies. You know, where he disappears down behind a lb bench or some such, gurgles and thrashes a bit, and then claws his way back up looking an absolute fright ;D
I have to say it, I'm not upset about Fred. I like her well enough these days but it is about time she was given something interesting to do, and a wacky outfit! I like the Illyria look, btw, although I won't be emulating it anytime soon ;D And I'm sure not getting the tragic poignancy of Fred and Wes having just found their way only for Fate to intervene. Wes has indeed always obsessed over her. But she has always backed off from his simmering love. They rushed through her change of heart without convincing me so I don't care about that. It's just an excuse for Wes to go even more psycho fucktard, as far as I can see.