W O W !!
Very good episode!!
But the trailer for next week?? I never saw that coming!!
I found it kind of boring but I realize that it is advancing the story arc along so I tolerated it.
BTW, this is some of the best acting that Charisma Carpenter has done in since forever.
I may have serious trouble sleeping tonight. That was just the freakiest episode. So scary.
Man.
Man, they don’t skimp on the swerves. Lots of good stuff in this episode, but it did have a sort of Twilight Zone feeling. Next week’s episode, WOW is right.
I liked how everyone kept fairly true to their own personalities even when in the altered state.
Wow, indeed! Both in regard to tonight’s episode and the preview.
So last week I’m like, “Well they boxed themselves in. Godlike being that everyone worships on sight but some people don’t. Big freakin’ cliche, done to death.”
Of course I had forgotten Joss is the master of giving the over done new life. He played it straight from the book, all of the character reacting to Jasmine in character but sharing the fundemental creepy adoration. I can’t explain why it was so unsettling, though there is one scene that I know will never get out of my mind, but it was.
Oh and am I the only one who felt like yelling “No! I need my pain!” at the TV?
15/10
I’ve got just two words to describe my reaction to what Fred saw:
“Ewww!”
When seeing the creature for what it was, did anyone else think instantly of Salvador Dali’s “War” (IIRC)?
Also, the basic premise seemed so familar to me; yet I couldn’t place it: A False God with people worshipping her and being truly evil…
That being said, I thought it was a good episode-Angel’s been great this season…:D:D
I liked it! But then again, I’m pretty easy to please when it comes to Buffy & Angel.
What my little scientific mind is going nuts over is why is it that some people can see who Jasmine really is, but most can’t? Psyc ward guy saw her true self immediately, but it took Fred a while. I need to find a commonality for immunity.
I’ve stayed away from spoilers for after this episode (so far!), so whatever happened next week should be a surprise.
It has to be the blood, lola. It always has to be blood.
My assumption about the immunity is that it has to do with the blood. Fred gained it when she spent so long scrubbing. This is pure conjecture but I am sure we gain insight next week as the previews pretty much promise that.
Ok now a more critical post wow analysis.
First off the actress was a great choice. She isn’t knock-out beautiful but is attractive and does have a charisma, I think mostly in the smile and innate affiability of her features, that makes her convincing in the role.
Second Angel in a white shirt. Just great.
Third anyone play White Wolf’s game Hunter? Definitely think that ME picked up on the common vibe. All that was missing was a booming voice pronouncing cryptic shit in the scene with Fred.
Fourth the end of that episode is going to haunt me for a while. Not as burned into the mind as the true face scene but just the way it all unfolded was perfectly done.
Fifth and final the actors of Buffy and Angel really can do a lot with their facial expressions. They were perfect all throughout this episode. You could see the transformation on the main character’s faces and even the extras who got face shots did well.
I can’t wait for next week. Still creeped out by the episode, and I really can’t fully explain why.
Meatros I think you got the title right. You mean this right?
As usual, everybody except David Boringanaz turned in an excellent performance. Angel was typically wooden and broody, even in his adoration of Jasmine.
I loved the shots of Fred desparately scrubbing the shirt, trying to get the blood out, then showing up with the new one. I don’t think it was contact with the blood that gave her the immunity though. If that were the case, Jasmine probably would have anticipated it and not allowed her contact with it. I think it was the sense of desparation and hurt that somehow tweaked her just the right way emotionally.
At least I know Cordy’s not dead. Hope she wakes up soon. And goes out and buys a non-maternity version of that dress.
Fred and Angel get smoochy next week? WTF?
I’ll just concur with the general “Wow” theme. Two things to add…
One, whatever the reason, it was nice to see Angel and Connor acting like father and son. They finally get to be a team. Kind of touching and tragic also, that it takes a demonic brainfuck to get them to act like family.
And two, y’all realize that the actress who plays Jasmine was Zoe from Firefly, right? She was great, but I couldn’t help thinking of her as Mal’s badass second-in-command.
The thing that sorta strains my credulity here is… Fred has lost all her allies… no one to turn to… except for a certain ultra powerful witch she recently met and was all chummy with. But somehow, I don’t see another crossover.
Good ep, though their need to make it creepy made it a little slow: certainly nowhere near the slam bang ride that previous eps have been. They didn’t play up the hamminess of everything too much, which though I think was very appropriate, also made it a little dry. (of course, the start of the preview of next ep was incredibly hammy 
)
Joss is actually getting into slightly dangerous waters here, with his play on love/hate and religion. I hope it goes somewhere interesting: not just a hidden evil agenda, or even a clammy meditation on free will or “but I NEED my pain,” but something distinctly Joss. We’ll see.
—Fred and Angel get smoochy next week? WTF?—
Maybe it’s a Anya/Giles type fakeout? I’m thinking it’s not “Angel and Fred suddenly and unexpectedly fall in love, giving into feelings they’ve been concealing so deeply all season that we haven’t seen a godamn hint of it.”
The Tim, I don’t think so. There’s definately a Dali pic that is pretty much the same “rotting woman” that Jasmine was.
I also don’t buy the “blood” theory. It seems like Jasmine’s touch is, uh, not so good. So hopefully Jas’s blood wont do that to Fred’s hands.
Nah. I think it will just be comfort whatever it is. Wonder if they’ll shag. That would be interesting- Angel shags Fred and doesn’t lose his soul, so Fred is hurt because he didn’t experience True Happiness with her, but if he did, he would lose his soul, so it’s good that he didn’t but now she’s all conflicted and I hope she goes off to Sunnydale and strikes up a relationship with Spike because let’s face it Spuffy is going nowhere and even though I’m a Spillow shipper at heart, I’ve accepeted the fact that Willow is gay now, but I think Sped would make a cute couple and if anyone says Spesley or Spiles I will vomit on them.
My theory on why Fred can see her as she (apparently) really is…
Blood to blood contact. Fred said, and I paraphrase:
“I scrubbed it until my fingers bled.” (Emphasis mine. All mine. Muwahaha.)
The kid at the restaurant got slammed into by the vampire that wounded Jasmine; ample opportunity for him to get scratched, say, with the same hand.
And Thea…
Spangel.