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Angel - Season Two Customer Reviews (16 - 18 of 27 Reviews)
The worst of Angel, but still better than most TV around
Reviewing Angel's second season is very hard indeed. As a big fan of everything Joss Whedon's done (particularly Buffy, but also the late, lamented Firefly), it's all too easy to give this boxset 5 stars. However, to be honest this is the one season of either Buffy or Angel that didn't really gel for me. After a much more episodic structure in its first season, Angel moves into its second season with a few carefully constructed plot arcs involving the return of Angel's sire Darla, as well as the gloriously insane Drusilla. Unfortunately this doesn't work nearly as well as it does on its sister show here, and its much more a case of individual episodes shining rather than how any one story arc is dealt with as a whole.
In particular, the story involving Angel losing his faith in humanity and himself could have been so much more resonant than it is here and, although comparisons with Buffy seem unfair, her breakdown in series 6 was a lot better than Angel's here. In addition, after Darla is 'vamped' again, her character becomes little more than a conventional villain, which is an insult to the history her and Angel have. Yet to be fair, their history is treated with a remarkable amount of detail and respect in the earlier episodes. By far the most infuriating aspect of this season though is the long-awaited return of fan favourite Drusilla. Gone are the Victorian outfits and poetic language and in come pink polo necks and often silly turns of phrase. These come off as somebody writing Drusilla who doesn't know her character very well, which is a shame considering just how good she was in season 2 of Buffy. For me though, the most aggravating part of the season was its end, where the gang travel to Lorne's homeland of Pylea to rescue lost librarian (and future cast member) Fred. Though there are a few laughs to be had here - notable Angel's response to the sunlight that doesn't burn, and Joss Whedon's cameo as a dancing demon - it's just too hokey for the most part.
Don't get me wrong though, I didn't hate the series, all I'm saying is that it had its faults. There were some great points to it, and if the story arcs didn't work together quite as well as they might have done you are at least safe in the knowledge that they were essential to the later series and retrospectively were crucial to the overall story. In particular, the character development of Wesley and Cordelia here proved big stepping stones for what they'd have to face in series 3. There was also the addition of a few new faces, namely Fred and karaoke bar owner Lorne. Whilst both were yet to find their feet on the show, it was nice to see them branching out with an ensemble cast. A few stand-alone episodes are also good, in particularly Darla (companion piece to Buffy's Fool For Love), which tells a good dose of backstory on everyone's favourite vamp-turned-human. Drawing a strong performance from Julie Benz, it stands as one of the best Angel episodes even now. Other instant classics include the opener Heartthrob, 20's pastiche Are You Now Or Have You Ever Been?, Wesley stand-out Guise Will Be Guise and social commentary The Thin Dead Line. It's these that lift the series above nearly everything else on TV. Unfortunately, that's not always enough to feed a fan with already high expectations of a series that delivered last time around and, after this shaky second season, really delivered some of the best entertainment around in its next 3 seasons.
To sum up, Angel is a fantastic, classic piece of programming, of which season 2 isn't a very good example. To complete anyone's collection it's a must, but for any first time viewers, any of the other series of the show are a better introduction to why this is so critically acclaimed. The extras are also much better than those on most TV boxsets, and the commentaries and documentaries are genuinely insightful. All in all, better than most you'll find out there, but compared to what Joss Whedon can normally pull off, it doesn't quite cut it.
Season 2: The Dark Ride of a Champion
With the second season, "Angel" began to lose the episodic nature that effected the first season. Story arc's began to take over the show, letting all the charaters grow. The fundemental reason this show got better -and what genre shows like Voyager and Enterprise have forgotten - is by letting the characters grow from each situtaion to the next, makes the show more enjoyable and believeable. The Temporal Reset Button that currently exists in the Star Trek universe will be it's undoing.
But this season, "Angel" also seemed to grow away from "Buffy" -despite the crossover episode "Darla"/"Fool For Love." Still, the whole Darla arc was well done and one can't say enough about the final arc of the season, and the wacky journey to The Host's universe.
The Host, or Lorne, was one of the best characters introduced, and I have to admit, even to this day, I'm not a big Fred fan. But, Amy Acker does a good job. But its Andy Hallett's obvious joy of playing Lorne that makes him enjoyable to watch.
And it's one of the funniest seasons, also. I've always thought this series balanced the horror and the humor better than Buffy.
Still, the second season set up so much that would come in season three and four -which is perhaps the series most creative year.
Note: Interesting blooper (?) in the episode "Are Youn Now or Have You Ever Been?". During one of those flashes between scenes, if you "step" through an early one, you can see two production people preparing the 50's style room for filming. There is a man at the out, working on the outside frame, and a women in a white shirt (her back to the camera) standing.
Even Better then the first
I was blow away by this season the story lines got better and it showed a darker side to angel. Not angelus but angel. This is allso the last season the cop is in and she not in it that much which made me happy. if i had more then 5 stars tro give I would give this season 100 stars
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