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Angel: The Ring

Wesley: "These Octavian matches date back to the Roman Empire. I'd heard rumors of a revival."
Cordelia: "Couldn't they have just done West Side Story?"

Maybe they should have done West Side Story. I kept flashing back to Seven of Nine with The Rock a few weeks ago. So Angel brings peace and love to the demon fight slaves? I liked looking at David Boreanaz sweating in a tank top, and I liked Angel's determination not to kill again, but that was about it for me.

The best part was Wesley and Cordelia and their interactions. They've always played well off each other and it's getting better. I've always liked Cordelia, and I like Wesley now. Who knew that would happen? I like that you never know if he's going to kick butt, like with the bookie, or screw up, like when he and Cordy were acting very convincingly at first like detectives. He's not a goofball, but he's not perfect, either. He's really beginning to work for me as a character.


Bits and pieces:

— I thought they actually had a paying customer for about a minute.

— Wolfram and Hart was back. I liked the lady lawyer. Maybe she'll be back, too. (Note from much later: Yay for the introduction of the wonderful Stephanie Romanov as Lilah Morgan! It deserves a bigger mention than what I initially wrote.)


— I said in one of my Buffy reviews long ago that what Giles really needed was an online Demon Database. The Angel Powers That Be must have come to the same conclusion.

— The bloodstains on Angel's white tee-shirt moved from one side to the other during those last fight scenes. Bad continuity, no biscuit.

— How could the fight promoters afford to lose two fighters a night? How can they "recruit" that fast? And how could they go that long without someone turning them in?

Quotes:

Cordelia: "Demons, Demons, Demons. Wow. They put a lot of thought into that title."
Wesley: "It's a demon database. What would you call it?"
Cordelia: "I don't know. How about... Demon Database?"
Wesley: "Ah. A name rife with single entendre."
Cordelia: "Why isn't Wolfram and Hart in here?"
Wesley: "Because they are lawyers, not demons?"
Cordelia: "Fine line, if you ask me."

Wesley: "For your information, I lead a rich and varied social life."
Cordelia: "Oh, I know. Every night it's Jeopardy, followed by Wheel of Fortune and a cup of hot cocoa. Look out girls, this one can't be tamed."
Wesley: "I'll admit it may not be as intoxicating as a life erected on high fashion pumps and a push-up bra."
Cordelia: "Hey, if anyone is wearing a push-up bra around here it's (sees Angel coming in) Angel."
Angel: "Did you two need to see a counselor?"

Cordelia: "Add a Porsche and hair-plugs and I've dated this guy. A lot. Other distinguishing characteristics?"
Wesley: "An eerie high-pitched howl or wail. I'm assuming that's when it's preparing to fight or mate."
Cordelia: "Okay, first I say 'yuck' and then I hit search."

Lilah: "How do you feel?"
Angel: "Like I was hit by lightning after the truck ran me over."

Cordelia: "You'd think people get enough gratuitous violence watching Jerry Springer."

Wesley: "We need something supple enough to thread the locking mechanism, but strong enough to spring the release."
Cordelia: "Horsehair."
Wesley: "Horsehair?"
Cordelia: "From Keanu, my palomino. Before the IRS took him away."

Cordelia: "We weren't going to let anything happen to you."
Wesley: "No."
Cordelia: "Well, I mean, beyond the slavery and the severe beatings and stuff."

I'm giving this one a three for Wesley/Cordy interaction and a one for the main plot. Two out of four stakes,

Billie
---
Billie Doux reviewed all of Buffy and Angel, so she knows the plural of apocalypse.

6 comments:

  1. I didn't really like the plot, but it still kind of hit a nerve with me and I was seriously hoping for a lot of particularly violent justice to be meted out at the end. I found it rather hard to believe that there was a well-attended underground demon fighting ring, since most people don't believe in demons. If that many people knew about demons, wouldn't there be a little less shock involved when someone met one for the first time?

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  2. Not the greatest of episodes, but it does continue the first season's excellent character development. I agree that Wesley and Cordelia together are a hoot.

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  3. You've gotta take Angel's shirt off now and then, so that seems as much reason for the plot as any. I enjoyed it for pretty much the same reasons as you, Billie, Cordelia and Wesley are fun together.

    I did think the ending beat of the demons they had saved taking off to make trouble was a nice one. It made me think of that old folk song about the snake biting his rescuer because that was his nature.

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  4. I haven't caught up with the rewatch yet (bad bunny!) but I just wanted to drop by and say that this episode is the one where Wes really becomes part of the group, imo. The episodes before, it seemed like he was just along for the ride, but here I feel like he's an equal partner. And he and Cordelia trying to break the magic cuff is hilarious.

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  5. What everyone else said. I especially agree with the Cordelia/Wesley bit although neither of them will become my favourite characters they still play off each other well. My favourites are still to come but I do like Lilah. Thanks again Billie for the review.

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  6. ^Who IS your favourite character(s)? From this show

    "I thought they actually had a paying customer for about a minute."
    Hahaha. Yeah I've only noticed the one so far... the stalking target of that guy who could disembody himself.
    So yeah, not a great episode even though I'm generally a fan of gladiator stuff... well, I liked Trepkos's physical design. I couldn't get enough of him and glad he wasn't killed in the end. "I'll make it quick."
    And finally, LILAH!!! I couldn't remember her first appearance and I thought it would be with Lindsey.

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