Spike seems to be stepping right into his little role, he’s being played well, but I think he’d be much more suspicious and wary. It’s a little Doyle and Angel show from season 1. I loved Spike’s comments to the first damsel he saved.
The dream sequences were a little over the top, but that’s fine. The Jaws reference was priceless.
Eve has finally been exposed to the gang, and they just let he walk out?!
Now they’re begining to put a storyline together that I can (pardon the pun) sink my teeth into. The scenes from the next two weeks looked interesting as well.
Was that really SMG’s voice during one of the dreams? Was it recorded just for this show or was it a reuse from Buffy?
The script was okay, and I liked the plot development, but the direction was bad. Awful, in fact. The actors’ deliveries were noticeably off and the pacing was terrible. The dream sequences particularly stood out as amateurish.
It bothered me throughout the episode. I kept thinking that in different hands, this could have been a good episode, but the direction was just obtrusively bad.
I don’t think Lindsay and Doyle interacted. I just wanted the first half of S1, though granted, I missed a few eps (stupid basketball).
Though Spike did interact with Doyle and scared the shit out of him and Cordy. I guess I’m not surprised he didn’t remember—I don’t remember people I met 4 years ago either. But still…
I liked the episode a lot. I’ve liked this whole season though. I’m looking foward to seeing Andrew next week—I almost didn’t recognize him because of his hair! I’m really excited about the upcoming episodes…I haven’t been excited about a series for awhile. I think it’s nice to watch a show where I actually like and care about all the characters.
Right now, my gut feeling is that Spike and Angel will eventually have a better relationship and start to work with each other and not against (I repeat, this is just my gut feeling. I’m not a spoilerwhore this year, I don’t know anything…) I really hope this is the case, because I love them both now, and if I have to choose beteen who is “better” or “more deserving” or any kind of shit like that, I’ll just stop watching…which will make me sad.
Lindsey was pretty up-to-date on Angel’s situation when he was still working at W&H, so I expect he’d know who Doyle was.
I found the episode pretty dull, although with a few good moments. I think it suffered due to pacing, all the dream sequences dragged and everything should have been moved up an act, with the final act actually involving some actions taken by Angel as a result of his dreams.
Good moments:
Angel as Numero Cinco, in his ill-fitting clothes, pushing the mailcart sadly. Aw. Hugs.
Spike: Up there is Sunshine, although I’m fairly sure that’s not her real name.
Angel: You were big with the heckling.
Gunn: … sorry?
The dream sequences would have benefited more, I think, from some more symbolism. For example, why is Lorne “Honkytonk”? Does Angel think of Lorne as outdated, a creature of his past, or perhaps the one who calls the tune when it comes to Angel’s situation these days? Or did the writers just think it would be cute?
I loved “Restless” because it was so delightful to pick apart the meanings in all of the sequences. This episode, I’m not sure the writers bothered to put them in.
When Fred pulled the liscense plate out of Angel’s stomach and said, “Looks like you came up the Gulf Stream.”
S’alright. The dream sequences were a little forced, although the bear made me laugh out loud. Interesting developments on the arc. This could still turn out cool. Lindsey calling himself “Doyle” was a dumb move, though, because if Spike lets slip that he knows a guy named Doyle who gets psychic visions, Angel’s going to know something’s up.
I actually think its a good move. Given the number of times characters on these shows have come back from the dead I think its likely that if angel hears about “doyle” giving out visions, hes gonna think more ‘ooh brought back by the powers that be’ and less ‘evil plot by evil hand guy’.
Its also not likely spikes ever going to figure out hes not the ‘real’ doyle, having never heard that name mentioned in connection with ‘the mick’ he met in “in the dark”. yes im sad enough that i actually watch the ep to confirm this.
I really liked it. The dream sequences were a bit slow at times, but they had to be. They recalled the Buffy episodes with the cheese man. I was almost hoping to see him. But the Bear and Jaws reference gave us the needed goofyness.
I think the choice of the name “Doyle” was deliberate, and it was meant to provoke Angel with thoughts of the first season and his original mission in LA. Also it reminds he of Doyle’s death, which he blamed himself for.
I thought it was good that the finally called out Eve, but wasn’t sure why they let her walk away. They better do something with this plot point, I guess we will see next week.
I am glad to see the main plot pick up steam, but am still clueless as to what Lindsey’s game is. Is he good, bad or none of the above?
Spike actually had a couple really good lines as well.
I loved it. I think it’s great that the arc has now begun. Can’t wait to see Andrew again, he’s hilarious.
After this episode, I think Angel’s the one who’s “destined” for Shanshu. But I don’t know why Lindsey and Eve want the Senior Parnters to think it’s Spike. I don’t care either…we’ll (hopefully) find out as the season goes. I’m just glad to be excited about a show again.
I’ve only watched it once, so I havn’t figured out if the wierdness in the dream sequences mean anything, but my sister pointed out that Angel did show up in the office sans-shoes. Interesting.
Now that was what confused me. I thought it was Lindsey, and kept looking at his hands. It was not him. Or, at least, they owed us an explanation. Sloppy storytelling.
He’s in an interesting position. He wants to help people, but he wants to do it on his own terms, and he’s very unsure about who he can trust. I like the deliberate replay of the first season of the show. And the scene with Gunn and Wesley was great- “Your moral compass is spinning until you can’t cross the street without tripping the proverbial old lady.” Just wondering how long it’s going to be before he figures out what Lindsey is up to.
I thought it was a good episode. DB’s effort was not bad for a beginner.
Fred’s dissection of Angel was priceless- especially when she pulled the fishbowl with the dead goldfish out “Here’s your soul- it’ll have to be flushed”. Probably the most powerful line in the show.
Loved Harmony in this one, too- "Hey, down front, you’re blocking the apocalypse!’ “Act like we care- good plan”.
I thought the end dream scene was a bit stilted, though. The way Fred said “All you have to do is quit caring” was a bit overdone, but the line may have been calculated as the thing that brought Angel out of the dream state. Looks like Peaches still had some fight in him after all.
I’m pretty sure we’ll be getting an explanation before the season’s over. Joss wouldn’t allow such an obvious plot hole to slip by unexplained (or at least, I hope not).
Who knew that Wolfram & Hart have a 1920’s-style Death Ray?
Proof that the writers read the SDMB!
I agree that Tall, Dark and Forehead should have practiced on some other show first, cuz the pacing was all off.
I was completely pissed when Lindsay went and introduced himself as Doyle … possibly because I had just watched Doyle die on TNT about four hours earlier. But I really enjoyed the “replay” of the first episode that went on with Spike, down to the stakes-up-the-sleeves.
It occurred to me that possibly Eve and Lindsay are trying to manipulate the Shanshu prophecy somehow … have we ever been “treated” to the full text? Maybe there’s something in there saying that the true champion has to fight evil assisted by a guy with visions … and they’re deliberately trying to stuff Spike into the role?
I totally didn’t explain that very well, but hopefully someone will understand what I just tried to say.
I liked the episode more than last week’s, but then I like the brown slimy hairy clot you find in a clogged bathroom sink drainpipe more than last week’s episode. The dream sequences were kind of corny, and security around Angel’s bedroom must be nonexistent, and nobody thought to check for slimestains on the carpet of his bedroom from Junior, or hair/clothing fibers from Eve in the room?
