BtVS – The Pack / Angel

S1.06 – The Pack
Written by Matt Kiene & Joe Reinkemeyer
Directed by Bruce Seth Green

First and Last Frames

First and Last Frames of The Pack

Matt Kiene & Joe Reinkemeyer were story editors on the first season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. They were credited with this episode, and an episode in Season 2, which we’ll cover when we get there. Bruce Seth Green we’ve seen before, and will see again. This episode explores the group dynamics of bullies, and how they are emboldened when in a group. Also, sometimes their actions are performed for their audience of cronies.

Nicholas Brendon gets a good chance to play a different type of character. It’s the first time we see someone dangerous locked into the cage in the Library. And Giles gets knocked out for the 3rd time.

Favourite Lines

Xander: We just saw the zebras mating. Thank you. Very exciting.
Willow: It was like the Heimlich with stripes.

Willow: What are you gonna do?
Giles: Get my books… Look stuff up.

Willow: Why couldn’t Xander be possessed by a puppy? Or-Or some ducks?

Favourite Shot

Buffy is the last remaining member on 1 of the dodge ball teams, but the pack turns on their own player; picking on the weakest.

Ranking at Time of Watching

Witch just edges it out. It is 3rd from 5.

Recap Song from Buffering the Vampire Slayer by Jenny Owen Youngs & Kristin Russo


S1.07 – Angel
Written by David Greenwalt
Directed by Scott Brazil

First and Last Frames
First and Last Frames of Angel

David Greenwalt is back with a solid script, and Scott Brazil directs his only Buffy episode. A great reveal of Angel being a vampire (Spoilers) and they just begin to touch on the relationship with Darla. It seems like such a waste to kill her off in the middle of the first season, but thankfully she comes back in so many flash backs. Angel now has a lot of history we can touch on, and Darla is such a big part of it. Without looking ahead, I’m going to predict we have seen the last of happy smiley Angel, and his angst begins in earnest, now that we know (a bit of) his story.

Julie Benz is just amazing in the ep, and the story is super solid. She tries everything to get Angel to turn bad, and sets him up perfectly, to get Buffy to want to kill him. Buffy and Angel both make themselves vulnerable, literally putting their lives in the others hands. And when it becomes apparent that it’s not going to work, enter Darla with the guns.

Oh, and some solid work from Kristine Sutherland. She meets a bunch of characters in this episode, and has good scenes with all of them.

Favourite Lines

Willow: So he *is* a good vampire. I mean, on a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being someone who’s killing and maiming every night, and 1 being someone who’s… not.

Buffy: I invited you into my home, and then you attacked my family.
Angel: Why not? I killed mine. I killed their friends… and their friends’ children… For a hundred years, I offered an ugly death to everyone I met. And I did it with a song in my heart.

Angel: When you become a vampire, the demon takes your body, but it doesn’t get your soul. That’s gone. No conscience, no remorse… It’s an easy way to live. You have no idea what it’s like to have done the things I’ve done… and to care.

Favourite Shot

The end shot is a pretty cool way to end the ep.

Ranking at Time of Watching

This is a really good episode. In fact it’s the best so far. No 1 with a bullet (from Darla).

Recap Song from Buffering the Vampire Slayer by Jenny Owen Youngs & Kristin Russo

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