I watch Smallville because it is before Angel and it is okay but the great thing about Buffy still is that the more often you watch an episode the more you get out of it. Sadly one viewing of an episode of Smallville gives you all it has to offer.

[ edited by Linda on 2003-10-24 19:37 ]

Linda | October 24, 21:35 CET

Regardless, hardcore fans are probably going through a crisis of conscious right now, trying to figure out if the new "Angel" will stay true to its dark and moody roots, or sell out to a soulless industry.

Aye.

Simon | October 24, 21:51 CET

"In what may be the most contrived plot turn since "The Golden Girls" sold their house and opened a hotel, Angel and company have snuggled up with their arch-nemeses, Wolfram & Hart."

Dude, why do you even KNOW that the Golden Girls sold their house and opened a hotel? I know more about that damn show than I can ever get rid of because it's ALWAYS on Lifetime and my wife loves watching it, and I didn't even know that. What's your excuse?

brother_grady | October 24, 22:25 CET

Golden Girls is a Whedon show, darn it all.

Okay, it's a TOM Whedon show, but Joss says it's cool.

weds | October 24, 23:45 CET

"I always found it insanely lame that the best Joss Whedon could do for Angel was to pit him against an evil law firm."

I always thought it was perfect. It's always been a sub-theme of the show, after the redemption theme, the question of what's your place in the world? What part do you play, what kind of cog in the machinery of society are you? To have an evil corporation as the main bad-guy of the show is perfect, thematically, not just in Season 5 but through the whole series. It could probably be any kind of corporation but a law-firm works out really well for a number of reasons. For one thing, similar to the Hellmouth, it can bring in all sorts of baddies, in this case in the form of the firm's clients, without having to work too hard to explain why they're there. One could also make a case that the constant presence of an entity that deals with the law also gives the show's writers lots of material to play with the show's themes with. Justice, doing the right thing, manipulating the law for loop-holes, etc.

forcorreo | October 25, 15:17 CET

"I always thought it was perfect. It's always been a sub-theme of the show, after the redemption theme, the question of what's your place in the world? What part do you play, what kind of cog in the machinery of society are you?"

I agree, Wolfram and Hart seems to be a refreshing change from just your everyday band of baddies (The first ep of Angel is still one of my favorites), though I must admit it does sound silly on paper "And evil law firm, ooooooooo." But it works on screen, especially as they expand the HUGE scope of it...Like the "Wolf" "Ram" and "Hart" symbols in Pylea, the conduits and the White Room, the mysterious Senior Partners. The more we know of the firm, the more we don't, it's great.

protector | October 25, 17:07 CET

Agree with forcorreo and protector...the concept of an "evil law firm" is for many people nearly a tautology, but to make it a really and truly evil law firm was, I think, brilliant.

And the theological implications are wonderful, as well...the contract that extends beyond death...Lilah's amazing and chilling observation that if the flames (of Hell) actually consumed things, they wouldn't really matter (or something like that)...and when Holland tempts, successfully, at first, Lindsay away from righteousness by offering him...The World...well, that is truly Satanic at the most basic level...great stuff, Wolfram & Hart, and I love the way it is proving to have been, a la The Devil, around pretty much forever.

In short, it's not just an "evil law firm"...it's Evil...period.

Chris inVirginia | October 25, 22:33 CET

"In short, it's not just an "evil law firm"...it's Evil...period. "

I wonder what ties W&H have with The First...

protector | October 26, 00:39 CET

I wonder in what capacity The First cares about W&H? Would be interesting if Morphy made an appearance, no?

Willowy | October 26, 02:36 CET

Who's to say Morphy hasn't made a return. I mean Spike can't touch anything. I'm just kidding.

Hembie | October 27, 21:32 CET

Who's to say Morphy hasn't made a return. I mean Spike can't touch anything. I'm just kidding.

Actually, I've been wondering about that. Obviously it's Spike and not The First; but has Spike ended up, ummm, posessing the First after the dust-up in The Community That Was Formerly Sunnydale?

Oh, well, one possibility. I think it may have been shot down by Hellbound.

bookrats | October 27, 22:05 CET

Smallville the new Buffy?? Normally I would be confused by this thought and try to figure out what made the person make such an observation... but given the last two episodes and the preview for next week, maybe they're right. At least where story is concerned.

- May contain Smallville spoilers -

I think someone else pointed out that the October 22 episode resembled Nightmares from season one, having a comatose person suck people into their world through dreams. This past week reminded me of Helpless where Clark is forced to save the day without the use of his powers, as the sun has caused them to go all wonky. And next week reminds me of I Only Have Eyes For You, where it appears that Clark and Lana are experiencing the lives of a couple from the past.
Having not seen the episode yet, I could be completely wrong on that part. We all know how deceptive promos can be anymore.

Then again... give me a second and I can find a way to link anything to Buffy.

Greyflowers | November 02, 22:13 CET