Steven Paul
May 8, 2004, 12:46 am
Reviewer: Steven Paul Watson vipereyes_2000@yahoo.com
Quick Rating: Above Average
Story Title: 'The Girl In Question'
“Really can’t get drunk off of these things…”
Writer: Drew Goddard & Steven S. DeKnight
Director: David Greenwalt
Cast: David Boreanaz, Alexis Denisof, J. August Richards, Amy Acker, James Marsters, Andy Hallett, and Mercedes McNab.
Guest Starring: Julie Benz, Tom Lenk, and Juliet Landau.
Warning: Some Spoilers Ahead!
When Angel was in danger of being cancelled at the end of its fourth season I was worried, but it got picked up with a semi new format (though some seem to forget that season 1 and 2 was a lot more like this season than 3 and especially 4). The new format was for each episode of the fifth season to be stand alone without out being part of a season long story line. And I jumped for joy, the season long story line is what made the fourth season my least favorite of all. Even though most of the season has been this way, with a similar theme that makes it more of a season long arch without slapping the viewer in the face. 'The Girl In Question' is where my enthusiasm for this style comes back to bite me (don’t believe I need to say where).
'The Girl In Question' alone is well-written, well-acted, fun to watch, and we cannot forget funny (though not ’Smile Time’ funny). But looking at it as one of only three remaining episodes makes you wonder why. With the exception of the Wesley and Illyria subplot this episode could have fit in just about anywhere within this season.
When the episode begun, I expected something different than what we got. 'The Girl In Question' is funny, one could say one of the funniest of this series. After all whenever Angel and Spike share the screen together it isn’t hard for a rather serious situation to become funny. Both actors seem to play very well off of one another. And for the most part that is what this episode is, two characters who hate each other, forced into a situation where they have to deal with their past, a girl they both love, and an old foe (and for those wondering we neither see Buffy or the villain the Immortal in this episode). And that is the bulk of the episode.
If you remember my review from last weeks Angel, you’ll remember I said one of my least favorite story ideas was time travel; well this week we get one of my favorite story ideas. The flashback, for as long as I can remember it has been one of those things that can add so much too a show like this.
I was happy with last week’s episode, but not this week. Not entirely anyways. I hate misleading previews, the previews made it seem like we’d get a lot of back-story, a lot of two of the more interesting characters to appear in the Buffyverse, Drusilla and Darla. Instead we get only a handful of flashbacks and only a few comedic moments with Dru and Darla (something you usually won’t find in the same sentence with the extremely creepy Drusilla and serious Darla).
Maybe I’m just disappointed in the break in the build up to the final episode, it could also explain why my favorite part of this episode was Illyria and Wesley and their interactions with the Burkles. It was strange to watch Amy Acker slide back into Fred mode after the past few episodes of playing Illyria. Even the change in her voice from one to another was just creepy. But it begs the question, how much of Fred is still in there? Even last week’s conclusion is only touched upon by a few moments animosity between Angel and Gunn.
Julie Benz as Darla, to me she’ll never be anyone else. She has appeared in at least one episode per season since the beginning of Angel, and it was only fair that she would get one this season. I’m just disappointed it was such a short appearance (in fairness, her only appearance in season one was at the end of the final episode).
Though the character has been somewhat hated by a lot of the fandom, I may be one of the few who has enjoyed Nina. The young woman who has appeared in two episodes of this series till now, though she does not appear here her name is mentioned often. She is even referred to as Angel’s girlfriend by Spike.
With only two episodes remaining, 'The Girl In Question' was a fun watch for the average viewer and fans alike. But it only delays what is sure to be an extreme final two episodes.
OVERALL:
http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/dhfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/dhfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/dhfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/dhnone.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/dhnone.jpg
Quick Rating: Above Average
Story Title: 'The Girl In Question'
“Really can’t get drunk off of these things…”
Writer: Drew Goddard & Steven S. DeKnight
Director: David Greenwalt
Cast: David Boreanaz, Alexis Denisof, J. August Richards, Amy Acker, James Marsters, Andy Hallett, and Mercedes McNab.
Guest Starring: Julie Benz, Tom Lenk, and Juliet Landau.
Warning: Some Spoilers Ahead!
When Angel was in danger of being cancelled at the end of its fourth season I was worried, but it got picked up with a semi new format (though some seem to forget that season 1 and 2 was a lot more like this season than 3 and especially 4). The new format was for each episode of the fifth season to be stand alone without out being part of a season long story line. And I jumped for joy, the season long story line is what made the fourth season my least favorite of all. Even though most of the season has been this way, with a similar theme that makes it more of a season long arch without slapping the viewer in the face. 'The Girl In Question' is where my enthusiasm for this style comes back to bite me (don’t believe I need to say where).
'The Girl In Question' alone is well-written, well-acted, fun to watch, and we cannot forget funny (though not ’Smile Time’ funny). But looking at it as one of only three remaining episodes makes you wonder why. With the exception of the Wesley and Illyria subplot this episode could have fit in just about anywhere within this season.
When the episode begun, I expected something different than what we got. 'The Girl In Question' is funny, one could say one of the funniest of this series. After all whenever Angel and Spike share the screen together it isn’t hard for a rather serious situation to become funny. Both actors seem to play very well off of one another. And for the most part that is what this episode is, two characters who hate each other, forced into a situation where they have to deal with their past, a girl they both love, and an old foe (and for those wondering we neither see Buffy or the villain the Immortal in this episode). And that is the bulk of the episode.
If you remember my review from last weeks Angel, you’ll remember I said one of my least favorite story ideas was time travel; well this week we get one of my favorite story ideas. The flashback, for as long as I can remember it has been one of those things that can add so much too a show like this.
I was happy with last week’s episode, but not this week. Not entirely anyways. I hate misleading previews, the previews made it seem like we’d get a lot of back-story, a lot of two of the more interesting characters to appear in the Buffyverse, Drusilla and Darla. Instead we get only a handful of flashbacks and only a few comedic moments with Dru and Darla (something you usually won’t find in the same sentence with the extremely creepy Drusilla and serious Darla).
Maybe I’m just disappointed in the break in the build up to the final episode, it could also explain why my favorite part of this episode was Illyria and Wesley and their interactions with the Burkles. It was strange to watch Amy Acker slide back into Fred mode after the past few episodes of playing Illyria. Even the change in her voice from one to another was just creepy. But it begs the question, how much of Fred is still in there? Even last week’s conclusion is only touched upon by a few moments animosity between Angel and Gunn.
Julie Benz as Darla, to me she’ll never be anyone else. She has appeared in at least one episode per season since the beginning of Angel, and it was only fair that she would get one this season. I’m just disappointed it was such a short appearance (in fairness, her only appearance in season one was at the end of the final episode).
Though the character has been somewhat hated by a lot of the fandom, I may be one of the few who has enjoyed Nina. The young woman who has appeared in two episodes of this series till now, though she does not appear here her name is mentioned often. She is even referred to as Angel’s girlfriend by Spike.
With only two episodes remaining, 'The Girl In Question' was a fun watch for the average viewer and fans alike. But it only delays what is sure to be an extreme final two episodes.
OVERALL:
http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/dhfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/dhfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/dhfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/dhnone.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/dhnone.jpg