DVD review - Angel season 3 / Buffy season 6 episode 6

Continuing my viewing and reviewing of Angel season 3 and Buffy the Vampire Slayer season 6...

*** SPOILERS ***


A3-6: Billy (written by Tim Minear and Jeffrey Bell, airdate 10/29/01)

I loved the scenes with Angel training Cordelia. She wants to become more self-sufficient and be able to handle herself when need be. She does need some of that later in the episode when she tracks down Billy Blim, the guy Angel was forced into rescuing from the Powers by W&H. Cordelia feels responsible, and this gives her purpose, focus and strength. Billy's touch causes problems all over: with Gavin Park attacking Lilah Morgan, one cop killing another, a cabby killing his female fare, and causing Wes and then later Gunn to turn on Fred. Alexis played the stalking Wes very well, and this episodes puts some tension between Wes and Fred (more on his end and not on hers - she forgave him). That could lead to some interesting dynamics down the road. All in all, a good episode with suspense and character interaction.


B3-6: All The Way (written by Steven S. DeKnight, airdate 10/30/01)

Halloween episodes on Buffy tend to be very good. This one was no exception. The show seemed to be getting back into the old groove with this one. We have great Anya moments (her dressed as a skating Angel for the sale - complete with Farrah hair, her dance of Capitalist Superiority and all her excitment over the upcoming wedding), great Xander moments (for all his bravery, marriage is the one thing that scares him - interesting), tension mounting between Tara and Willow over the laters over use of magic for simple things (and the concern is well-founded as Willow does a "forget spell" at the end - not a good sign), and of course Dawn's first kiss (and first staking too). Oh, and once again Buffy leaves it to Giles to handle things she should be doing (i.e. talking to Dawn about sneaking out, etc.). Definitely a good episode.