DVD review - Buffy season 5/Angel season 2 episodes 11

Continuing my viewing and reviewing of Buffy the Vampire Slayer season 5 and Angel season 2...

*** SPOILERS ***

B5-11: Triangle (written by Jane Espenson, airdate 1/16/01)

While Giles is away consulting with the Watchers Council about Glory, Anya is left to run the Magic Box. Naturally, when Willow starts playing with spells while to two are continually bickering, chaos ensues in the form of the summoning of a troll named Olaf that Anya once dated. I love seeing the tug of war between Willow (the best friend) and Anya (the girl friend) over Xander. It plays out nicely here - even to the point when Xander puts his own life on the line to keep the two from being killed by crazy Olaf. He won't choose which one gets to be killed when Olaf gives him the ultimatum. Buffy's rage over Olaf's suggestion that Anya and Xander won't last is enough to detain him until Willow can banish him again. Definitely a lot of inter-character dynamics going here which made it fun. I even liked Spike and Xander hanging at the Bronze briefly. A nice standalone episode from the season long plot.


A2-11: Redefinition (written by Mere Smith, airdate 1/16/01)

Gunn, Cordelia and Wesley have to figure out where to go from being fired, and they turn to the demon karoake bar. Great interplay between the three as they get drunk and then sing. The Host won't give them a reading because he knows Cordelia will get a vision - which means they have to help someone. This gives them direction and guidance, realizing they have to fight the good fight. It really shows how much they gel as a team. Angel, meanwhile, is training for a war - a war that Dru and Darla plan to start by raising an army of demons to cause chaos in LA. The big surprise is they kept Lindsey and Lilah alive (while killing Holland and the others). Darla sees that Wolfram and Hart might be able to offer them connections, money and power. Of course, Angel shows how bad he can be - taking out vamps and demons alike. By setting a trap for Dru and Darla and nearly burning them alive, he shows his former vamp-gals that this is an all-new Angel they are about to face. Things are about to get seriously ugly. Oh, and don't count Lindsey and Lilah out - being made co-VPs is likely to lead to some serious competition and a lot of fallout damage before the season is through.