I liked season 4. I never had a problem with Connor or Cordelia's transformation, and I loved Gwen. I liked that it had plot twist after plot twist and it just never stopped. It was a wild roller coaster ride with an unexpected turn towards the end. I loved the ride.

electricspacegirl | June 17, 20:42 CET

angel season 4 is the best season of any show ever. only buffy season 2 could maybe compete. but they're very different animals, so can't really compare.

i wouldn't get it on dvd though, because it's not like i would just pop in Habeas Corpses and enjoy. it's all about the arc and the surprises.

narky | June 17, 21:16 CET

I saw season 4 only via the TNT reruns, so I did not have the gaps between episodes the author mentions. But I must say that s4 is my least favorite of the Angel series. Like so many other viewers, I did not like what they did to Cordy, and I never could warm up to VK and the Connor storyline. But, as is so often said at Whedonesque, even at its worst, the series beats out the other offerings on TV, so I will purchase the R1 set when it comes out -- and maybe I'll like it better in a marathon viewing. I wish the extras sounded better, though.

palehorse | June 17, 21:17 CET

The whole thing with Connor really did take up alot of.. stuff but in the end, it was worth it so I'm okay with it. They earned my forgiveness during s5. :)

What I didn't enjoy was how they handled Cordy.

Christopher | June 17, 21:31 CET

I agree that they earned my forgiveness in season 5, especially with the way they handled the return of Connor and Cordelia. Both characters finally became what they should have been all along, and it was exciting to finally enjoy Connor's presence after a year and a half of endless whining.

I'll definitely buy the R1 DVDs though. 7 different commentaries? That's a good enough extra for me right there.

MindPieces | June 17, 21:35 CET

It started off pretty slow but once it kicked in, it was as that great review cliche goes, a heck of a rollercoaster ride. Jack Bauer has nothing on what happened to the Fang Gang in that season.

My highlights:
Angel dreaming under the sea
Wes keeping Justine in the closet
Slo-mo Wes taking on the Beast
"Welcome Faith"
Angelus phoning Dawn
Cordy killing Lilah
Gwen starting up Angel's heart
Wes trying to save Lilah's soul in 'Home'
Jasmine - that whole plot arc was just mad
Willow guesting - in that one episode she was a far better character than most of Buffy season 7.

Too many other highlights to mention.

Simon | June 17, 21:46 CET

I started watching the show in season four (got caught up on the rest the traditional way, via TNT). It grabbed my attention and kept it, so even though there were storylines I didn't like, there was plenty that I did. Sure, Concorde sucked, but Wes and Lilah more than made up for that. The best? Season Three was pretty darn good, too, especially served up on a daily basis.

I'd rather rate the series by individual episodes than whole seasons anyway. Things like which scenes really stuck with you? Stuff like that.

wissxwe | June 17, 21:47 CET

I agree with MindPieces about the return of Cordy and Connor. They (Joss and the writers) fixed the big screw-ups that they manufactured in season 4 and made Connor a thoughtful, game, and optimistic young man, and Cordelia the smart, determined, yet world-weary warrior that she would've, of course, become given time.

I liked them both so much that I wanted them to be there more! To play a larger role. Alas, it wasn't to be. But what a way to go out! Just great.

Season 4 however, bored me to tears. Jasmine was contrived and disgusting. There were a few eps that held me, but not many. I don't think it was anywhere near the "penultimate" season. Five has that honor, IMO.

Willowy | June 17, 21:49 CET

Oh, when I said penultimate I actually meant that it was the second to last season of the show. As far as favorite seasons go, five rules my world. Though I did like season 4 more than 3, and it did have some excellent moments. 'Deep Down' was a fantastic opener, 'Spin The Bottle' is classic, Angel's dream episode was very intriguing, I loved the return of Faith, and anything involving Wesley is always great. But still, it does rate right behind season 3 as my least favorite year of the series.

MindPieces | June 17, 22:01 CET

"I don't think it was anywhere near the "penultimate" season. Five has that honor, IMO."

I'm pretty sure that since the show was cancelled, S4 is unquestionably the second-to-last season...

drewfidelic | June 17, 22:05 CET

and yeah, maybe i should retract my "i won't get it on dvd" thing. i just read the article- Joss and Alexis doing a SPint he Bottle commentary? oh my god, how there am I.

narky | June 17, 22:12 CET

Simon - good list. here's some additions..

Winifred Burkle, teenage potfiend
"Leave them on" which manages to freak out even Lilah
Angelus as Rock Star from 'Salvage'
Connor's soliloquy from 'Peace Out'
Willow & Fred from 'Orpheus'
Darla (or is it?) from 'Inside Out'

and so many more. Great season, second only to the fifth.

Unitas | June 17, 22:57 CET

I was kinda lukewarm on season 4 when it aired the first time, mostly because of the Connor/Cordy thread. It feels like it went on forever, long past the usual three or four story problem arc. Hopefully the box set will change my view of it.

Gwen kicked butt, it would have been cool to see her once or twice in season 5.

herb | June 17, 22:57 CET

Unitas I remember a lot of speculation that Darla was the First Evil. There were various theories knocking about that tried to tie in the events of what was happening in L.A. with what was going on in Sunnydale.

Simon | June 17, 23:07 CET

I don't think we'll see a show quite like Angel again, Whedon and everyone involved, created something amazing, and with the show over, you just appreciate it's place.

SeanValen | June 17, 23:48 CET

Yes! drewfidelic, thanks for catching me on that. For some reason I took it as "best" or "definitive". I know it means next to last, you're right, my bad.

Willowy | June 17, 23:52 CET

My wife and I watched seasons 1 through 4 in rapid succession so as to get caught up for when season 5 began. (Yes, we got to the party as the bar was starting to close.)

I was out of the country the last week of September...she watched that rest of season 4 without me, and I caught up a few days after the season 5 premiere. I was exhausted (a week at the Oktoberfest, etc. will do that to you) the day I got back...but stayed up very, very late watching about 5 episodes on VCDs that I bought on eBay (I will buy at least 2 legit DVD sets.) I have never been so swept up in anything like the way that story arc moved me. Exhausted, bleary-eyed, I would jump off the futon and slap in the next disk...astounding stuff...

[ edited by Chris in Virginia on 2004-06-17 22:20 ]

Chris in Virginia | June 18, 00:17 CET

Season 4 had the odd ability to both draw me in more than AtS ever drew me in before (though in retrospect, I'm not sure why - I think the Angel/Connor storyline made me sympathize with Angel more than I had in the past), as far as plotlines and continuing arcs go, while at the same time driving me to distraction with the whininess of Connor (could intellectually understand his angst, still wanted to whap him over the head from time to time) and everything about Cordy. Which makes me swing wildly between best season! and arggh!! The season-long plot arc was well-done and quite compelling, and the atmosphere of the show was neat. It'll probably hold up better on DVD, though at the same time, I can't see myself popping individual episodes to watch, and I don't have time to sit down and watch the whole arc.

I'm getting the DVD anyway, though. I fully intend to complete my JW collection. Got 6 seasons of BtVS, 3 seasons of AtS, and Firefly so far..only 3 more boxed sets to go!

Oh - and I wholeheartedly concur that the return of Connor in S5 completely redeemed that character for me. Like I said, I could already understand his angst, but he was so incredibly likeable when he returned, I finally loved the character. Cordy..eh.."You're Welcome" drove me nuts at the time b/c of the completely illogic of the plot of the episode so I couldn't warm to it. Probably biased my view of Cordy, though there were some truly lovely scenes with her in that episode.

teenes | June 18, 00:18 CET

Season four is what brought Angel back...did anyone watch season three with excitement and joy...I didn't. It had a lot of interesting plot twists, and had some great guest appearances. You get Angelus, Faith busts out of jail, Willow restores Angel's soul, Evil Cordy...which was kind of interesting, Connor left, they take over wolfram and hart, Lilah dies, Gwen's intro, and Jasmine which I wasn't sure about at first, but really helped out the show's finale. I can't wait for it to come out here in the U.S, I hear its due out in August...hope thats true. But this season did kick major ass, however it did suck that after that we'd only see Cordy in one guest appearance. Season three had a lot of story, but the characters involved were just horrible (Connor, Holtz, that wanna be slayer...who's name escapes me, Sahjan, I'm sure the list continues). The only thing wrong with season four was probably that icky Cordy and Connor relationship...does anyone else agree that banging your friend's son is a little sleazy?

Gio | June 18, 01:34 CET

I think i'm in a minority that actually likes Angel Just slightly more than Buffy, And season 4 is what pushed it over the top for me. I'm also think i'm in a minority that liked Connor, But I also realize that I'm a freak that enjoys it when the groups fall apart and the heroes fail. As Far as the Cordy Connor thing I loved how disturbing that was, and I understood Connors point of view, He Didn't know her as the woman that a season before was changing his diapers, he knew her as a beautiful woman that that was kind to him and was kinda lost in the world(pre- spin the bottle anyway). As far as Evil Cordy goes, I Just don't think that Charisma was up to the task of playing evil, She dose a awesome wicked bitch, but wasn't that hot a just being wicked. Other than that I thought that was fun also. And With the gang taking on the beast (Wes + Pistols = cool as hell), Angelus (That S.O.B. Telling Fred about Angel listening to her and Gunn at night just crept me out, I was happy) Faith ("Dude, you saved a puppy!") The beast, Wes and Lilah, Gwen, And the anticipation Of what the hell was Cordy going to give birth to Just had me going. And then they top it off with Jasmine, Totally unexpected, And all the shades of gray that created was just so wonderful (I'm a sucker for gray). I guess What I'm saying Is that I like season 4, Although I like 5 a little more at the moment, but that may be because of with all the doom and gloom of angel 3 and 4 and Buffy 6 and 7 It was nice to have a few lighter moments (I'm in no way saying that season 5 was all smiles) So I'm going to hold final judgment after I watch it on tnt again. And Gio, I loved season 3.

adventures in spelling | June 18, 03:36 CET

Look, I'm gonna be a pain here, but Connor & Cordy is supposed to be disturbing & wrong & all those other adjectives people throw around. I hear people over & over complaining how weird & creepy & sleazy it was like that wasn't the whole point of the plot line. I mean you weren't supposed to to hang Cordy & Connor pictures in your locker or write 'Connor & Cordy Forever' in your notebook. Say you hated. Say you were morally horrified. But can we all agree that it was supposed to give us the creeps and succeded at it.

This rant was brought to you by the letter "R"

[ edited by Unitas on 2004-06-18 04:09 ]

Unitas | June 18, 06:00 CET