Lullaby is on some days my favourite AtS episode -- which is not to say that I'm actually sure that Darla's arc should have ended there, but it's so well done. The (fallen female) death generating life is a cliche that should be dispensed with, but hot damn if it isn't one of the series' most passionately written and directed and acted (holy cow!) scenes.
Very much agreed. That whole scene is blatantly emotional porn and symbolism all over the place (Fred's really just in the shot to be Mary to Angel's Joseph, isn't she?), but it works. Holy crap, it works. And then there's Darla's monologue, essentially undercutting everything Angel has spent the last 2 1/2 seasons doing and setting up the remaining Holtz arc at the same time. And, of course, Julie Benz doing what she does.
And I'd argue that Connor's spending most of the next season and a half angry at Angel and then turning out to be the tool of a higher power trying to enslave the world actually do undermine the story in a somewhat pleasing way, too
Not quite as much agreed, but that's probably more because I'm not really a fan of Connor at all - especially in s4. But interesting, I never really made that connection (and I'm not convinced the writers did, either).
I have a fanwank that is satisfactory to me that ties in with the thematics though:
Works for me. Though most of the time, personally I just ascribe it to the MST3K mantra: "It's just a show, I should really just relax." When I watch it, I get too caught up in it to pick it apart. When I pick it apart, I usually find myself stuck in other questions than just how it happened.
I think that the writing obviously *could* have set it up better, and while relatively minor, having the monks give that info might have helped
Oh yes. And interestingly, to stretch the comparison with Darla a little further, the shooting script actually has Buffy refer to Dawn as her daughter.
We don't "get" to retire at 20 from the trials and tribulations of our life. Buffy certainly earned sweet release, but I much prefer the story where she gets to the point where life is once again preferable to, well, sweet release.
no subject
Very much agreed. That whole scene is blatantly emotional porn and symbolism all over the place (Fred's really just in the shot to be Mary to Angel's Joseph, isn't she?), but it works. Holy crap, it works. And then there's Darla's monologue, essentially undercutting everything Angel has spent the last 2 1/2 seasons doing and setting up the remaining Holtz arc at the same time. And, of course, Julie Benz doing what she does.
And I'd argue that Connor's spending most of the next season and a half angry at Angel and then turning out to be the tool of a higher power trying to enslave the world actually do undermine the story in a somewhat pleasing way, too
Not quite as much agreed, but that's probably more because I'm not really a fan of Connor at all - especially in s4. But interesting, I never really made that connection (and I'm not convinced the writers did, either).
I have a fanwank that is satisfactory to me that ties in with the thematics though:
Works for me. Though most of the time, personally I just ascribe it to the MST3K mantra: "It's just a show, I should really just relax." When I watch it, I get too caught up in it to pick it apart. When I pick it apart, I usually find myself stuck in other questions than just how it happened.
I think that the writing obviously *could* have set it up better, and while relatively minor, having the monks give that info might have helped
Oh yes. And interestingly, to stretch the comparison with Darla a little further, the shooting script actually has Buffy refer to Dawn as her daughter.
We don't "get" to retire at 20 from the trials and tribulations of our life. Buffy certainly earned sweet release, but I much prefer the story where she gets to the point where life is once again preferable to, well, sweet release.
+ Infinity. Well, not infinity. But yeah.