I’m totally spoiler free and intend to stay that way. Of course, I picked up some buzz around mid summer, but all so vague that it doesn’t matter.
Last season of Angel was one of the best things on tv ever. That mega long arc, and how well it was all tied together. It was beautiful, in the same way Bab5 was beautiful. I really enjoy it when writers, directors and producers expect the audience to have half a brain, and being able to follow a plot longer than the next commercial break.
Buzz about this year, is that they’re not going to do one long arc, but stick with stand alone episodes. I’m a bit wary, but will of course keep my eyes peeled at the regular places I can d/l the show.
So I’m looking forward to it, but I’m not hyped, yet.
As a bonus, here is a letter from Joss about this upcoming season. There are minor spoilers, e.g. Spike is coming to the show :p, but nothing major.
I loved last season but this coming season the show will be completely different. No more season-long arcs, Cordelia, or Connor. Lighter tone and more stand alone episodes. Plus Spike and Harmony.
What I liked about Angel the series has been basically wiped away and adding Spike to the cast is not winning points with me. The character should have stayed dead. So have fun with a show called Angel that will become All About Spike (don’t believe me? Check out Buffy seasons 6 and 7). He of the head tilts, sucked in cheeks, bleached hair. YAWN.
If the show becomes All About Spike and thrives, then making it All About Spike was the right move. If it becomes All About Spike and founders, then it was thr wrong move and can be corrected. I think it’s bizarre to make assumptions based on nothing more than the fact that an actor is joining the cast.
Well, I’m excited and spoiler-free. I somehow doubt Angel will become All About Spike and since I don’t particularly have a problem with Spike I don’t think I’ll be bothered so much if it does. I think it’s important for Angel to have a connection to his past to balance or add more dimensions to his good-guy actions now (Cordy and Wesley filled that role before, in addition to various other Buffy guest spots), and based on Angel and Spike’s relationship I think interesting things have the potential to develop between them and the others.
I may be naive, but I honestly like the show and want to enjoy watching it this season.
I believe the WB is going to start running old Angel episodes starting sometime this week, but I’m not certain when.
My FOX affiliate started running Angel from the first episode this weekend at midnight on Saturday night/Sunday morning. It’ll be good to catch up since I didn’t start watching it until season before last.
I can’t wait for the new season. I’ll wait until a few episodes have aired to pass judgement.
I’m psyched, and very curious. I disliked the Connor and Cordy arcs and am glad they’re gone.
I have no idea how they’re going to put Spike into the show, but I’ll be interested to find out. He’ll have to be the anti-Angel to have enough contrast. And Angel needs somebody who knows him–his best interactions were with early Cordy, Drusilla, and Darla.
Harmony–meh. For me, Cordy lost a lot when she looked into Harm’s eyes at the end of DISHARMONY and said “Get out of here” instead of pulling the crossbow trigger and putting at end to her old friend’s unlife. Harmony had been dead for two years and Cordy is partly responsible for every victim she’s killed since. I find the actress annoying in large doses. Oh well.
Fred and Gunn should be interesting, and I think Wes is going to start…remembering…things. I never really liked Lilah but Nearly Headless Lilah is OK.
I agree I am not getting a “All About Spike vibe” from this season either. But the show became great when it evolved into a true ensemble show- so hopefully they will keep it that way. Given that the scene time for Connor and Cordy is now available, Spike should fit in nicely.
Although, it does load them up a bit on male champion types: Angel, Spike, Gunn and Wesley. Still having a powerful outsider may be quite important with the boys now “controlling” the L.A. office of W&H. But I am unspoiled so that’s mere speculation.
I’m just pissed that it’s opposite West Wing and I have to figure out how to watch one program and tape another. Grrr. Argh.
Somewhat high hopes for this season. I wasn’t nearly as happy as The Gaspode with last season. Instead of an all-encompassing arc I saw a bunch of ideas that were pushed into a single storyline but never meshed. Some ideas seemed completely forgotten or never explained. The story was interesting, but not very internally consistent.
I was never much a fan of Spike except in his early appearences. I hate the puppy dog with fangs that he became and hope the writers use this as a chance to redo the character. He shouldn’t revert to old Spike, that would make no sense, but a new, powerful, but different Spike would be my wish.
I’m very interested to see how they use W&H in the new storylines. Some season-spanning arc is needed, I don’t want a mystical version of “Barnaby Jones”, solving every problem neatly in 42 minutes.
Beware, there are mild teaser type spoilers there- but its clear that the first episode of the season for Angel and Smallville are in fact on Wednesday.
I’m excited, but I’ve got to delay gratification a little bit. I came to Buffy late (just about a year ago) and so far have only seen the first Season of Angel. My S2 DVD’s are winging their way to my house as we speak (I’ll get them today if I’m lucky) and then I have to watch seasons 3 and 4. Fortunately, they’re being syndicated on TBS (at 5:00 PM). So I’ll watch S2 on DVD, I’ve got my TiVo set to record the syndie version starting with S3, and my VCR set to tape the new episodes weekly – which I won’t watch until I get caught up. So I’ll catch you guys in about 4 months!
What I hope, is that it doesn’t revert back to a show with Monster of the Week™. I’m also hoping for a nice new female, since the show is quite studly. I wish they could work Alyson Hannigan in there some way. Harmony is vapid and Fred is anemic, so not much eye candy for me.
I am excited but wary about the new season, because of the “too much Spike didn’t quite ruin, but didn’t improve the quality of Buffy’s show either” factor. I’m looking forward to seeing good ol’ Krevlornswath of the Deathwok clan again.
Now Angel is going to be on TNT at 5pm PST weekdays starting today as well as on the local UPN affiliate (at least here in L.A.) at 5pm and 11:30pm on Sunday nights.
I can’t wait. For some reason, I never got as hooked on Angel as I was on Buffy until now. (I’m currently tearing through S1 and S2 on DVD). I’m looking forward to Spike’s return, as well as seeing Fred. Yum.
I don’t mind the monster of the week, as long as the characters grow. S1 was pretty much monster of the week, and I enjoyed that thoroughly.
Can not wait for the new season of Angel.
Seeing as this season will have to make up for both Buffy and Firefly, it had better be good 'cause the monkey on my back is given my trouble an I really need my Whedonverse fix!
Well, it is true that consistency of the story arc was not last season’s strong point. But what it lacked in coherence it made up for in intensity! The plot twists and action kept me on the edge of my seat, the acting and special effects were superb, the action was great with plenty of wire-foo and slow-motion (hey; it may be cheesy but it makes me happy), the monsters were above average and as far as I am concerned Angelus is the ultimate Angel villain.
I hope that Angel does not become too light and silly – I often find Angel to be at it’s most compelling when it is at it’s darkest. I also love shows with big story arcs; Babylon 5, Buffy, etc, so even if the season is not as arc intensive as last season, hopefully it will have at least a little story arc to it. That and lots of slow-motion effects.
