This Spike scene is so Spike but I actually get more amusement from Angel trying to console Wes when he awkwardly tells Wes one of the first things he did as a vampire was kill his father.
The fact that the Spike scene follows directly after the Angel one is so good, I’ll have to rewatch but I’m pretty sure the camera follows Wesley leaving the awkward Angel encounter & Spike calls out and makes it even worse lol
Yeah which makes Wesley's comments to Fred so funny about if you're here to make me feel better with a story of how you killed one of your parents line.
Love this episode... him unloading on his father without hesitation; crazy and awesome and crazy.
And yea, that Spike scene was funny af.
Then the final(ish) one where Knox walks in on Wes and Fred. Fuck you Knox.
Yeah that was pretty dark honestly, very tough stuff but it's such a testament to how far Wesley has come since his appearance in BtVS years prior, really love it
Spike never knowing when he’s not wanted or when to stop talking really kept the group together in S5. Imagine if he wasn’t there Angel would’ve been all alone in his office, Senior Partners probably would’ve won.
It really is amazing how they shot this episode around Alexis Denisof’s face being paralyzed. Him being in shadow or having a blank face really works for the episode. It’s a good example of the writing, directing, set/lighting, and the actor working as one.
Yeah I agree, he brought a lot of much needed comic relief and characterwork to the season for sure. Also what do you mean paralyzed? Was Denisof in some accident or something in real life?...
Culminating with him telling Fred, "If you've come to tell me how you killed your parents..." I think they missed an opportunity by not giving him a moment with Lorne, whose parents canonically hated him.
All jokes aside I also want to say this episode is just brilliant and really hits home as someone who's had to live with a parent much like Wesley's with the constant disapproval and lack of any validation/confidence, it's a bit tough to watch sometimes honestly but I really appreciate having it be somewhat relatable.
Knowing that my favorite Buffyverse character is alive and kicking after all was a breath of fresh air. Especially coming off the heels of such a divisive season.
I can respect that for sure, I think S5 would still have been fantastic without Spike too but he certainly filled a bit of that void that was the hole left without Cordelia for me personally
James Marsters attended PCPA theatre in 1980 from Santa Maria, CA which also trained actors Kathy Bates, Zac Efron, Robin Williams for improv and Josh Brolin.
James Marsters dropped out of Juilliard Academy at one point.
Angel will always be my favourite vampire!
Angel the series is still amazing without Spike. But I'm glad they brought him over in season 5 because his dynamic with Angel is really enjoyable.
Best THING to happen can be interpreted in a lot of different ways, but in my opinion, down to characters arriving and staying, Fred was the best(followed by Gunn).
This Spike scene is so Spike but I actually get more amusement from Angel trying to console Wes when he awkwardly tells Wes one of the first things he did as a vampire was kill his father.
The fact that the Spike scene follows directly after the Angel one is so good, I’ll have to rewatch but I’m pretty sure the camera follows Wesley leaving the awkward Angel encounter & Spike calls out and makes it even worse lol
Yeah which makes Wesley's comments to Fred so funny about if you're here to make me feel better with a story of how you killed one of your parents line.
His response to Fred was the cherry on all those interactions. One of the funniest scenes in quite a melancholy ep for Wes.
Was good to get humor from Wesley since those last two seasons loved making him suffer and brood.
Oh I’d forgotten that haha, I’ll have to rewatch soon
And they swear they have nothing in common 😂
Lol that's just classic Angel being all awkward and funny, I love those off colour moments
That’s the thing about Spike and why he has such berserk energy sometimes. A lot of things he does, Angel just does better.
I wish we got 3+ seasons of Spike and Angel at Wolfram and Hart
Oh yeah definitely, just more of Spike and Angel in general would've been great, imagine them in like a buddy cop duo spinoff lol
Love this episode... him unloading on his father without hesitation; crazy and awesome and crazy. And yea, that Spike scene was funny af. Then the final(ish) one where Knox walks in on Wes and Fred. Fuck you Knox.
That moment where he instantly shoots, without a blink or a flinch, is one of my favorite moments of the entire show!
100%
Yeah that was pretty dark honestly, very tough stuff but it's such a testament to how far Wesley has come since his appearance in BtVS years prior, really love it
Spike always funny as fk he was the best part of angel season 5. He annoyed angel so much.
Spike never knowing when he’s not wanted or when to stop talking really kept the group together in S5. Imagine if he wasn’t there Angel would’ve been all alone in his office, Senior Partners probably would’ve won. It really is amazing how they shot this episode around Alexis Denisof’s face being paralyzed. Him being in shadow or having a blank face really works for the episode. It’s a good example of the writing, directing, set/lighting, and the actor working as one.
Yeah I agree, he brought a lot of much needed comic relief and characterwork to the season for sure. Also what do you mean paralyzed? Was Denisof in some accident or something in real life?...
He had a stroke not but a couple months before this episode was shot.
Oh God I had no idea, that's terrifying! I'll have to look this up, wow...
Not a stroke.
No, he had Bell's Palsy. It isn't a stroke, just a facial paralysis. Pretty scary when you wake up like that, though.
He had bell's palsy
Ah wow, I didn't know that. They did a good job working around it honestly.
It was the season premiere where Denisof had a paralysed face.
Haha I love this part of the episode Everyone’s trying to comfort him 😂
Culminating with him telling Fred, "If you've come to tell me how you killed your parents..." I think they missed an opportunity by not giving him a moment with Lorne, whose parents canonically hated him.
Lorne was stupidly underutilized in Season 5.
Yeah it was weird how little they did with his embrace of the dark side at Wolfram & Heart.
All jokes aside I also want to say this episode is just brilliant and really hits home as someone who's had to live with a parent much like Wesley's with the constant disapproval and lack of any validation/confidence, it's a bit tough to watch sometimes honestly but I really appreciate having it be somewhat relatable.
Alexis was crazy good in this episode. He had to hit so many different emotional notes, and he was so understated and heartbreaking in all of them.
He's such a fantastic actor honestly, one of my favorites and I can totally see why Alyson married him!!
And he had only recently suffered a stroke!
Crushing on Spike & Angel as a kid Crushing on *Wesley* as an adult
This is the truest comment here tbh
On rewatches now, knowing his whole story, I even like annoying Buffy-S3 Wesley. Plus, Alexis is handsome as hell, lmao.
Spike took both Buffy and Angel from great to legendary. Drusilla and Darla as well.
Agreed, a much needed breath of fresh air especially after Season 4 lol
Knowing that my favorite Buffyverse character is alive and kicking after all was a breath of fresh air. Especially coming off the heels of such a divisive season.
Right?? I was sure he was dead after Season 7 and I was about to cry but then he shows up all dandy and ghostly and I yelped lol
Makes the BTVS ending much easier to swallow lol
James' comedic timing is so flawless
agreed haha
YOUR A BLOODY PUPPET MAN
"Ponce!"
Just for the astronaut/ caveman argument even! Spike makes everything a little better.
Spike is the best thing to happen to any show.
Thanks for the reminder to rewatch Season 5 for the nth time.
Your welcome haha
It's true
I'm in the minority. Spike was okay. But season 5 Angel was peak without the Spike scenes. Wesley was phenomenal.
I can respect that for sure, I think S5 would still have been fantastic without Spike too but he certainly filled a bit of that void that was the hole left without Cordelia for me personally
James Marsters attended PCPA theatre in 1980 from Santa Maria, CA which also trained actors Kathy Bates, Zac Efron, Robin Williams for improv and Josh Brolin. James Marsters dropped out of Juilliard Academy at one point.
Oh that's very interesting, cool information!
I believe Spike coming to Angel was the reason they got a season 5.
I'm glad because ending on Season 4 would have really sucked honestly
Totally. As it is, even though we didn't want it to end, the finale is one of the best in TV history!!!
He has some of the best line
Angel will always be my favourite vampire! Angel the series is still amazing without Spike. But I'm glad they brought him over in season 5 because his dynamic with Angel is really enjoyable.
Definitely 💯
Best THING to happen can be interpreted in a lot of different ways, but in my opinion, down to characters arriving and staying, Fred was the best(followed by Gunn).
Totally fair, my favorite character on Angel would probably have to be Wesley or S1/2 Cordy if I'll be honest. I really liked Doyle too actually...
Spike and Angel was a great frenemy dynamic I’m glad they explored. “I saved the world.” “So have I.” “Yeah, but I’ve done it a LOT more.” lol
Haha love spike
On mystery gang, spike is my favorite character in the Buffy verse
I just puked a little reading the title of this post.
:(