tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-620417008960069715.post7366467385410785426..comments2024-01-20T10:19:12.985-05:00Comments on Martin's View: DVD review - Buffy season 4/Angel season 1 episodes 2Martin Maenzahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08640466353011569116noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-620417008960069715.post-82074495594996265702009-05-01T06:21:00.000-04:002009-05-01T06:21:00.000-04:00The formula - that's exactly it. I love the formu...The formula - that's exactly it. I love the formula because that's kind of what Buffy was built on in the beginning - take common premises we all can relate to in life and throw in some demons/vamps/etc. That's what makes it work. Marti scored well with this episode. And, as I said, it was spot on about the whole first-roommate-thing. Add to it that Buffy is an only child and never had to really "share" just makes it more interesting as it explores that aspect about her character as well.<br /><br />The formula sort of pops up in this Angel too. Take something we all have dealt with (the single bar scene trying to make a "connection") and add a demon/vamp/etc. While I did a lot of the bar/club nights when I was single in college and the year after, I don't miss it at all. It was a brutal, brutal process that ended up with too many drunken nights home alone (and the hangover next day). Yuck.Martin Maenzahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08640466353011569116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-620417008960069715.post-48665153071559700122009-04-30T21:33:00.000-04:002009-04-30T21:33:00.000-04:00BUFFY (LIVING CONDITIONS): Know what made this an...BUFFY (LIVING CONDITIONS): Know what made this an awesome ep? Because they went to the formula! Remember the formula for Buffy success in the first three seasons - take a concept from high school we all remember, then somehow involve a demon and make it a metaphor? Now we're in college, and I can just picture the scene in the Whedon Pals Writing Room. They're brainstorming college ideas, and someone brings up getting stuck with the roommate from hell. Then Joss rubs his chin and says, "What if the roommate from hell...actually WAS from Hell...?" <br /><br />Me, I never went away to college, so never had the college roommate situation. And while I had a number of roommates thereafter, luckily for me, all of them were friends, whose quirks I generally already knew. Well...most of them. You never really know someone until you live with them. So we all had our moments of having to find patience with one another. Luckily - no clothes-stealing or Cher! Thumbs-up to Marti Noxon for this one, as who else would you want writing an episode like this, with girls living together unable to get along? Hilarious bits all around. The passive-aggressive milk thing ("I know, it's fine. I was just wondering if it was you"), leading to the name-on-the-egg thing (I loved that). And everyone having to put up with Buffy's increasingly aggressive ranting about the roommie. Creepiness with the dream stuff, though. What COULD be going on? We find out soon enough. And it's roommie fight! Which was probably a nicely cathartic moment for anyone watching who ever dreamed of doing that with their own college roommie... Finally, Buffy and Willow room together (as it should have been from the start!). Perfect ending, too ("You going to eat that?"). Thumbs-up, with the fun returning to the show after a mildly depressing start.<br /><br />ANGEL (LONELY HEART) - Okay, clear theme - a whole episode about "connecting", and the problems people have doing it. Cool. What better way than an ep surrounding a singles bar? And unlike the pilot, we get to see, this time, how Doyle gets his visions (ouch!). Loved the business cards thing, too ("An owl?"). Lots of fun bits with Angel trying, once more, to fit in with normal people (and really, is a singles bar in L.A. the best representation of "real" people?). But more importantly, it gave us a chance to meet Kate. LOVE HER!! She's awful purty. And a cop! Jinkies! Like her as a character a lot. And I bet, too, that this isn't the last time she appears. She does appear to be a good NPC to have around (did he pay points for a contact, or get points for a DNPC? Hmm...). Nice metaphor with the demon...one who's just out there trying to find the right "connection" (in his case, right body) and having no luck. He was a creepy one. Oh, and loved all the Cordy/Doyle stuff in this one. Forced to research together, so getting to know each other a little more. Doyle finding out how she feels about demons. The bar fight moment (a good Irish head-butt! Excellent!) with him defending her honor when she doesn't need it defended. Glad they're getting a chance to bond a little. I will say this, regarding the "somber" aspect...again, give it some time. It does start to find the mix as we go. It'll start feeling more "Whedon", you'll see...Michael O'Connellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08025339925056909540noreply@blogger.com