Angel Video Box Sets
available at Blackstar.

NB. If you haven't seen season one, and don't want to be 'spoiled' then don't read on......

I enjoyed Angel season one a great deal.

All of the characters went through at lot of changes and had to face many challenges. Angel and Cordelia had to deal with the loss of a friend, and a few harsh realities of life in LA. The series gained some momentum from this point, and the addition of Wesley to the team added a familiar, yet unexplored, character who was in need of a lot of development. The writing team did not disappoint.

Angel had to face the long haul route to redemption, living amongst the "people" in order to effectively help them. He also had to deal with his feelings for Buffy, and accept that she had moved on. He developed a personality along the way and became far less "monosyllabic" and "broody".

Cordelia had to come to terms with the painfull responsability of becoming the "see'er", and the reality that she was definately no longer the "it" girl that she was in Sunnydale. Although maintaining her blunt approach, she had softened a touch by the end of the series.

Wesley had a lot to learn, and learnt his harshest leason at the hands of a psychotic Faith. He grew up a lot over the course of the second half of season one, and proved himself a worthy soldier for the "powers that be". Still room for growth, and in need of some more self confidence.

Character Crossovers ...

There are a number of crossovers between BTVS season 4 and Angel season 1.

The first is a visit to LA by Oz, to deliver the "Ring of Amara" to Angel, and a linked crossover by Spike, who is determined to aquire the ring for himself.

The next is a visit to Sunnydale by Angel when Doyle has a vision that Buffy needs his help, and a return visit to LA by Buffy, who is annoyed that he was in Sunnydale, and that he and the scoobies kept his presence a secret from her.

Faith puts in an appearance in both shows, first causing chaos in Sunnydale, and then running amok in LA. She agrees to assasinate Angel, but has her own agenda and kidnaps Wesley, torturing him, in order to provoke Angel into "playing the game".

I have to confess, I'm a "rogue demon"... "uh?" your thinking... a "rogue demon" is a Wesley fan ! :-)

The episodes that stick in my mind are mainly post Doyle, nothing against the character (or actor) it's just when Wesley joined the cast it all sort of clicked for me. The one pre-Wesley episode that I enjoyed was "In the Dark" which featured Spike and Oz. The voice over that Spike gives at the beginning of the episode is hilarious, and towards the end of the episode when he's in the warehouse alone is priceless...

I found "Parting Gifts" to be a funny episode, and thoroughly enjoyed the antics of the Rogue Demon Hunter and hapless ex-Watcher Wesley. The motorbike and leathers definately did it for me, especially the scene where he comments that they chafe.. :-) His attempts at being macho were cute, and the scene where he gets all over-protective of Cordelia and attacks Barney was kind of sweet.

"Somnambulist" was a good episode, in which Detective Lockley finally finds out that Angel is a vampire. Her problem with accepting the existence of vampires, and her fear and hatred of Angel when she discovers what he once was were played out well, and the fight scenes between Angel and Penn were excellent.

"Expecting" has some good scenes in which Wesley gets a chance to show some bravery, and challenges the demon daddy to a dual. And the dance scenes in "She" are priceless... rock on Wes and Angel.....

"I've got you under my skin" is another good episode for Wesley fans, as he attempts an exorsism, and a snippit of his past is revealed. This episode also has a very good twist to it towards the end. In "Eternity" we get to meet Angelus again when a vain actress drugs Angel so that he'll make her into a vampire, so that she can be eternally young... little did she know about what she was unleasing.

"Five by Five" and "Sanctuary" are "wicked cool" episodes, with the demented Faith causing a nightmare for the LA team. The episodes are intense and full of action as the Council of Watchers Special Ops team and the LAPD are both hot on Faiths trail and loyalties are put to the test.

And finally, the finale, "To Shanshu in LA". A lot of action, with Cordelia and Wesley getting the rough end of the stick, and Angel on a race against time to save Cordelia. And just who, or what, have Wolfram and Hart summoned into their box of tricks?