the angel s3 post, for myhappyface

[thecarlysutra]

myhappyface wanted to know what I liked about Angel S3. I'm only about halfway through my rewatching, so a lot of it's memory, but I hope it's helpful. Also, you guys feel free to chime in and discuss; I want to know what you love and hate about the season.

1. Family    From Cordelia talking Angel through his grief after Buffy's death, to Lorne explaining that Connor is "more than a mission," to the trial after Wesley's betrayal, the AI family is shown in brilliant spectrum in season three. Found family is always an important issue in Jossverse shows, in every season, but it goes deep and wide AtS S3, given lots and lots of ground by the arrival of a child for Angel.

(As an aside, check out Cordy's ass in that picture. Um . . . wow. Wow wow.)

2. Fred    Fred! I love Fred. And Fred is at her wacky best in season three, before she gets homicidal, before she turns mysteriously jack-of-all-hey-I-can-do-anything-because-I'm-a-scientist. She's funny and dorky and a little crazy, and she makes a wonderful addition to the team.

3. Cordelia and Angel: BFF OTP    Cordelia and Angel, star-crossed lovers? Not buying it. Cordelia and Angel, best friends forever, totally family, so much love zomigod? I am so there.

A close second is the goofy dorkout bff-ness of Wesley and Gunn before Wes goes off the reservation. Because . . . hee.

4. Flashbacks    I truly believe that the purpose of flashbacks on Angel is -- and always has been -- to get Julie Benz in a corset. And, of course, this is something that I highly approve of. Since I also like the Holtz storyline (*cough*alotmoreinthepastandnotoldandwrinklyorkinkywithJustine*cough*) the flashbacks from S3 are . . . well, pretty kickass.

5. Darla    I don't think it's a secret that I love Darla. Anything that gets me more Darla is a great thing. And Julie Benz has some fucking excellent performances in season three.

6. Daddy Angel    He's conflicted, he's over his head, he's trying really hard . . . he's adorable. I defy you to not love Daddy Angel.

7. Heartthrob    This is far from being a perfect episode. But it's got so much of the things I love going for it: family, C/A BFF OTP, flashbacks, Darla. You gotta love "Heartthrob."

8. Carpe Noctem    How can you not love "Carpe Noctem?" This is one of the funniest episodes in the franchise; DB gets to play loose without doing the Rat Pack thing, and he TRIES TO SEX LILAH ON WESLEY'S DESK!!! Love it. Love it, love it, love it.

9. Fredless    Did I mention that I love Fred? I also like her parents. That's really the only reason that "Fredless" makes the list, except for the supreme awesomeness that is Cordelia and Wesley acting out the Buffy/Angel saga. *ZOMIGODDIESANDISDEAD*

10. Birthday    I love "Birthday;" it was the first episode I watched when I got my set. Cordelia is one of my favorite characters of the franchise, and this is such a brilliant episode for her. She shines; Charisma shines. Plus, I love Skip, and I love when we get glimpses into parallel universes -- and this one is especially interesting/disturbing, with crazy Angel and one-armed Wes.

11. Waiting in the Wings    I love AI family -- I believe I've already mentioned -- and AI family outings. I love ballet. I love, so much, that Gunn loves ballet. And I love Summer Glau. (Who gives a dynamite performance, by the way.) And I love that even though Angel and Cordelia are making the sex, they're still getting really flustered and embarrassed . . . like you would if you sexed your BFF. Still in the realm of my love, here.

12. Shpeedboat    At the end of "Provider," when Cordelia and Angel are in bed together -- get your minds out of the gutter! -- talking about buying a boat. "College fund. And pay our bills. And put a down payment on a boat." "I'm not buying a boat." "They're fun!" "And expensive. I'm not buying a boat." Awesome. I love them so much.

13. The Man. Is. Sex.    My single biggest sex moment on this show? Is not actually a sex moment. It's a kink! moment, and it's in "Forgiving." During Angel's I'm-all-crazy-with-grief fight, Sajan pins him to this table and is about to stake him . . . and I'm gone. Buttery in all the right places. I mean, I like him dark, and I like him on top, but -- apparently -- I like him on the bottom, too. Who'da thunk?

14. A Terrible Sinking Feeling    What Connor does to Angel at the end of "Tomorrow?" Jesus, the end of that episode kills me dead. That is so terrible and perfect and terrible, and it just kills me. Every time.

So, that's me! Obviously, things I don't like about S3 include: the Groosalug, creepy Justine, Lilah/Wesley sex, and Gavin Park. But now, you guys go! I want to know what you love and hate about season three! I'll even make the post public so you can bring your friends!

Comments

[carlyinrome.livejournal.com]

Oh my God, you're right! I love that -- one, because I, too, love hockey -- but because Gunn and Angel play a little game on the Hyperion's super slippery, extra-wide floor with the tiny baby hockey equipment! I totally forgot about that because I'm not there yet in my rewatching, and because I usually place ANGEL AND HOCKEY to S5, when Lorne busts him watching a game instead of attending his party. Thanks for reminding me! That should be on the list.

[dlgood.livejournal.com]

And also, from my Meta perspective, it totally makes sense that Angel would be connecting Hockey with Baby Connor. Every other sport, you'd rather play out in the sun -- but you cannot possibly play hockey outside in LA.