Alley Box : Angel || 1x02 || Full Reaction

please please please, remove the subtitles, definitely not as the show is designed to be watched.

EDDS

2021-01-03 17:29:32 +0000 UTC

Wow Andrew what a resource! I've been doing a weekly watch through with some friends, some of whom haven't watched before. We're currently in early season 3 of Buffy and trying to figure out what to do when we get to BS4/AS1. Would you mind if I shared this with my group?

Nobody Deserves Mime

2020-12-21 11:55:09 +0000 UTC

Volume improved version posted above by Alley

Superfan Giovanni

2020-12-20 21:13:04 +0000 UTC

The new mic will, with some tweaking, be an improvement in time, I'm sure. But I'm another no-voter on the subtitles, I'm afraid - very distracting. But I still enjoyed the reaction and I'm sure that won't change.

Ged Kelly

2020-12-20 18:47:14 +0000 UTC

Sorry Alley, no audio on Mac/Apple TV again without a 3rd-party app. If you still have your Mac laptop, you can easily test by playing it in QuickTime. I suppose it might take a few episodes before you get all the kinks worked out. Still loving the reactions!

Robert Westlund

2020-12-20 01:59:19 +0000 UTC

Have you experienced that problem where the sound in Audacity records at a slightly different speed than the video does, and when you sync up them up in post, they slowly drift out of sync? If so, how did you solve it? I finally gave up on recording my audio in Audacity and started recording it on a second audio track in OBS, instead. But I'm curious if you found a different fix?

Nicholas Bogroff Ganssle

2020-12-19 05:53:41 +0000 UTC

The 'proper' way to watch anything is however the hell you want to watch it. If she wants to follow a guide to get maximum enjoyment out of crossovers then it is the correct way to watch it for her. You have no right to tell anyone how to do anything.

Tekkarath

2020-12-18 20:38:02 +0000 UTC

I hope you continue using the captions because it's so much easier watching with you without having to watch it on hulu for captions side by side (I'm hard of hearing). I was wondering if it's possible to have captions for what you say also like some of your Youtube videos have auto-captions. I had a great time watching you react to this show as well as the Buffy shows. I haven't watched these since they aired so I've forgotten a lot especially Angel. Looking forward to more episodes of both whatever your comfortable watching them.

Samantha Hecker

2020-12-18 20:06:59 +0000 UTC

I hope you continue using the captions because it's so much easier watching with you without having to watch it on hulu for captions side by side (I'm hard of hearing). I was wondering if it's possible to have captions for what you say also like some of your Youtube videos have auto-captions. I had a great time watching you react to this show as well as the Buffy shows. I haven't watched these since they aired so I've forgotten a lot especially Angel. Looking forward to more episodes of both whatever your comfortable watching them.

Samantha Hecker

2020-12-18 20:06:48 +0000 UTC

The reason it began to deteriorate faster than usual was because the body had already opened up when he tried to enter Kate(this song gross and weird taken out of context) I’m sure I heard angel say that because as soon as the demon reentered the bartender it started falling apart

Nichole Hutchison

2020-12-18 18:40:06 +0000 UTC

It's an interesting take. However, if Whedon's history of attempted racial commentaries is anything to go by, I highly doubt the show would have been that subtle. (I don't want to mention specifics, because that would venture into spoiler territory).

Paddy H-K

2020-12-18 12:36:31 +0000 UTC

That few ad breaks? Psshaw!

AlyAdmirer

2020-12-18 07:59:17 +0000 UTC

He didn't get anyone because he looked a mess and was falling apart not because he was black.

Jaren

2020-12-18 00:50:19 +0000 UTC

I'm sorry that's silly, Angel aired right after Buffy, The “real” way to watch Buffy would be to watch it with 2+ ad breaks, then wait 7 days to watch another. With the option to watch angel the same way in addition.

Tobijah

2020-12-18 00:16:24 +0000 UTC

I liked it, as half demon Doyle says not all demons are fully evil all the time. The demon here needed to die but I wonder if it believed it's own bullshit and genuinely thought one day it could find the right body that it didn't have to leave, and is compelled to find a connection it's kind of a victim of its own horrific nature. Look wasp Rick in Rick and Morty... Adds an extra layer of drama for me the writers probably never intended lol.

Tobijah

2020-12-18 00:00:41 +0000 UTC

Oh shit that's really sad about the bar tenders family. My headcanon is angel went to the funeral and told any parents or siblings he was innocent.

Tobijah

2020-12-17 23:57:28 +0000 UTC

Yeah she need a job and is bored and lonely and she's literally qualified having been a scooby so it just makes sense, she still wants to be an actor as well so there's no sudden change in character. It feels fine to me.

Tobijah

2020-12-17 23:55:28 +0000 UTC

Lol I never caught that damn I'm dumb. I guess I'd figure he conducts a lot of business and has so many staff it might be borderline public but you are actually correct.

Tobijah

2020-12-17 23:52:17 +0000 UTC

Yeah I mean he straight up failed to save the girl in E1. I like that he's well intentioned but success is never guranteed. People also forget he's physically weaker then Buffy. S2 made it look closer but that was mostly Buffy's conflicting feelings towards angel holding her back, he's weaker then the master and Buffy owned him. I like that they tangibly have angel struggle with fights and well everything in his life. If they have Buffy fail too much they risk undermining the female empowerment message, with Angel they are much more free in that regard I feel.

Tobijah

2020-12-17 23:50:37 +0000 UTC

I'm an idiot and never picked up on that. I thought she was genuinely sad and lonely. I thought she was only in cop mode after the first death in the show. She had been going long enough to be on a first name basis with the bar keep. I guess it's not mutually exclusive....

Tobijah

2020-12-17 23:46:13 +0000 UTC

Lol under rated comment. Have us, the camera, look away at something and when it turns back Alley is gone.

Tobijah

2020-12-17 23:41:35 +0000 UTC

Allan sometimes it's not a literal part 1 part 2 thing but like even after a crossover if something happens literally the same day to a character or after a slight cliffhanger we know it must take place before the others shows next episode even if we don't know exactly how much time has passed before the previous episode of that show. Also if you only change the order for explicit crossover you ironically get spoiled that a crossover is about to happen which is a bigger issue anyway.

Tobijah

2020-12-17 23:36:52 +0000 UTC

Yeah subs allow you to freely talk and react out loud without missing anything. Sometimes you'll like laugh at a punchline and miss a tag and stuff which is an unavoidable problem normally and the alternative is to just be silent and not react audibly at all... Subs is a good compromise, it slightly spoils the timing sometimes but more often it allows you to catch soemthing you otherwise would miss entirely or mishear. It also means we can still see what was said as well when you react so you never end up resenting an audible reaction. So yeah do what feels best to you obvs but that's my 2 cents.

Tobijah

2020-12-17 23:29:40 +0000 UTC

What I meant was, this is the first time that we know of that the Burrower did not manage to get a new host before things getting hairy. It seemed to follow a routine of seduction-intercourse-bodyswitch and had a pretty good awareness about how long a body would last. That evening however it was already desperate by the time we met it, meaning that all its seduction attempts since taking over the bartender's body had been declined by the regulars of the bar.

keldarien

2020-12-17 23:28:45 +0000 UTC

The parasite was frantic and desperate at that point, and was clearly not nearly as charming, and more rushed and rattled. And for any that took more than a second to react he had a gnarly chunk of skin hanging off his face before it started falling apart completely.

Loves Bitca

2020-12-17 23:11:52 +0000 UTC

A lot of us watched both at the same time. I still love both shows and never lost anything by not watching all of one and all of another...

Holi117

2020-12-17 21:27:28 +0000 UTC

My 2cents on the SlayAlive guide. Personally, its my fav in general. The order is done in a way to ensure that both individual shows are viewed in the best order in terms of grouping 2-parters together, mini-arcs together, ensuring any cross-over moments happen in the right order, AND in keeping the timelines for each show in order. Just because you see 2 or 3 buffy eps or angel eps together doesnt automatically mean that they flow as a mini arc or double episode, (sometimes it does mean that), but sometimes it works better for the continuity of the other show. Sometimes one episode starts right where you left off in the previous episode, other times you can assume its a week later or a month later, or whatever. So in some cases, episodes are grouped for the purpose of timelines in the shows (which don't always run simultaneously). Anyways, personally, I think this watch order works great - and I say that as somebody who binged watched videos season by season first as a pre-teen; then watched live on tv back to back, and who has now seen both shows all the way through easily more times than I can remember. Objectively, knowing it back to front lol, thats why i personally like this order. It means when im watching reactions, i know the reactor isnt going to lose the flow and emotion of a mini arc or accidentaly skip a double or whatever, and means I get to enjoy episodes i naturally group together 9/10 together lol.

Holi117

2020-12-17 21:22:37 +0000 UTC

There's something at the end of this episode that I had never noticed before. The parasite does not seem to have any problems "making a connection" in the bar, that is until it decides to use the bartender as a host. One big difference that this guy has from everyone else is his skin color - all of the regulars are what is usually referred to as "white". I wonder whether there's a clever commentary on racism hidden there.

keldarien

2020-12-17 21:21:38 +0000 UTC

Alley, since we're watching this to see your reaction, and if subtitles help you to understand better, I think you should stick with them. They're not my fav personally, but you're the star of the show here, so what works for you is cool with me. Also, if they help those of us with hearing difficulties, all the better IMO. :) I love your reactions regardless.

Sika6061

2020-12-17 20:42:10 +0000 UTC

Lol, so far the fight scenes 8n Angel are making me appreciate those in Supernatural. Hopefully they will get better as time goes on.

AdoptDontShopPets

2020-12-17 20:02:03 +0000 UTC

there's i think like 5 angel eps in a row for season 3

Vincent Valentin

2020-12-17 19:05:49 +0000 UTC

The SA order is fine. But in my experience, fans overhype how crucial it is to follow the SA order exactly as is or everything will be ruined forever. There's some stuff that should be grouped together, or watched in a certain order, for Important Reasons. But the bulk of the order is about preference/flow. Alley, if you find that you're not enjoying the SA order -- eg, if you find that you'd rather watch the shows more in an alternating fashion, rather than 2-3 of one, then 2-3 of the other as the SA order does -- I'm sure any number of us on the Discord could put together an alternative order that preserved the crucial bits while tweaking it to be more to your taste. The SA order wasn't handed down by Chuck. Unfortunately, following the SA order, you will get some entitled Buffy-only fans who gripe about going weeks without a Buffy episode. And following anything but the SA order, you will get some fans freaking out about how you're going to ruin it by not following that particular guide. As Inseriousity said above, please just keep in mind that whatever you choose, the vast silent majority will be happy either way!

escalator_dropdown

2020-12-17 18:24:40 +0000 UTC

I watched Buffy hundreds of times before I even attempted Angel so I always feel super bad for reactors when they get to this point. You end up with more reaction about the guide/viewing order than the actual episode! The vast majority of reactors use the Slay Alive guide, it does its job. There are certain sections but won't say where to avoid spoilers where the tone between the two shows is so wildly different that it'd a) either be a welcome change of pace or b) incredibly distracting and I feel that the Slay Alive guide was set up in a way to avoid those tonal shifts for the B camp. Or to put it the way the author wrote it: "I made sure some episodes stayed together to be watched in a row because it's just more enjoyable, and the chronology is still intact. And I looked at the way each episode ends, to find how it would flow better" If you're in the A camp then watching side by side won't cause too many problems I feel. Whatever you choose, the vast silent majority will be happy to watch alongside :)

Inseriousity

2020-12-17 18:07:21 +0000 UTC

I figured I'd throw in this ring cause everyone has an opinion. I think both Buffy and Angel are better viewed together. However I never thought about a "proper" viewing order in anyway. I just alternate between the two shows watching them together pretty much in the way Alley is already doing so far. Over all it really isn't a big deal I just think the shows go well together to the point I no longer even consider them separate shows anymore. Just my two cents.

Rockworm

2020-12-17 16:50:43 +0000 UTC

lol right? I'm over here like I just alternate between shows and people are writing entire thesises on what is the "proper way" as if its this big deal.

Rockworm

2020-12-17 16:46:32 +0000 UTC

Reading through all these comments I didn't realize the watch order was such a controversial subject. You should probably just quit watching the show(s) and focus on your studies.

Eric Bushee

2020-12-17 16:17:49 +0000 UTC

ahem The "proper" way to watch Buffy and Angel for the first time should be to watch Buffy all the way through, then go back and watch Angel. Otherwise you get all these convoluted "guides" that tell you the right way to watch to avoid spoilers, hanging cliffs, etc. I'm a bit of a purist when it comes to Buffy, and I don't understand how a first-time viewer is supposed to have that same unsullied experience of watching the greatest show of all time when they have to sort through a stack of websites and Internet comments that all claim to have the "best" viewing order. They are two completely different shows that exist in the same universe. Crossovers occur, yes, but they are so few and far between that they don't ruin the experience. The telephone call in episode 1? Why do I have to interrupt the flow of Buffy's journey to watch 40-minutes of another character's brand-new journey to discover that, ah, ANGEL made the phone call! I love Angel the Series, but - I'm going to be blunt here - it kind of ticks me off that it tends to share the spotlight with Buffy, and I do put most of the blame on Joss for running them at the same time. You can say they "expand the universe" and complement each other, but this guy here thinks that the Buffy-viewing experience is diluted when the two shows are forced to coincide.

Joey Tucker

2020-12-17 16:10:22 +0000 UTC

Yeah, I get that. I used to feel that way too, until I got hearing loss after experiencing vertigo.

Kirby

2020-12-17 15:24:00 +0000 UTC

PC builder? welcome to the varsity! This is an underrated episode. Creative monster design, and cleverly related to a clear theme of loneliness, which in turn was well-designed to really hammer on some of the aesthetic differences between the LA setting and the old Sunnydale setting. Great introduction to Kate, and they really make the reveal work well with her being a detective. The grappling hook joke is great. Like the "leap into a car" moment in 1x01, clearly they wanted to hang a lantern on the Batmanism of "Angel" as a show and take the piss out of it all at once, and that moment is hilarious. Maybe doesn't fit the rest of the episode, but worth it. If you haven't seen the '89 Batman, it's definitely meant as an homage to that film (only 10 years gone at the time). The thing where the bartender essentially takes the wrap as a serial killer never sat right with me. You aren't really meant to think too long on it but... I mean, that guy has parents, maybe siblings, maybe a steady partner, and they all IRL would carry the weight of that.

Dan H

2020-12-17 14:26:13 +0000 UTC

I'm not familiar with the guide myself, but it sounds like it is means you can enjoy the show without having to think or worry about spoilers, so it's probably a good idea even if it means this happens.

Nikolai5

2020-12-17 14:19:40 +0000 UTC

Subtitles break the immersion for me and put me in more of an analytical mode instead of just experiencing the story.

Nebraska

2020-12-17 14:03:20 +0000 UTC

I voted for the SlayAlive guide, looked closely at the order of the guide, then went back and voted for air date.

Nebraska

2020-12-17 13:53:18 +0000 UTC

Audio quality is less to do with the mic, and more with how you use it. You want the mic to be within close proximity to the sound source (your mouth), so you can lower the gain and not pick up the room noise. It doesn't matter if the mic is in shot, there's no need to hide the mic in this situation :)

Chris Hanley

2020-12-17 13:47:40 +0000 UTC

@Andrew Early That's fair, and your watch order looks like a perfectly fine alternative to Slayalive to me.

ElectricMonk

2020-12-17 12:19:58 +0000 UTC

I love Kate honestly the one blonde that doesn't take Angel's shit (no offense Buffy and Darla). Season 1 is pretty weak to me but still enjoyable. I can't wait till your crush on Cordy takes over your crush of Angel, not that I'm saying she is better than him, well actually that is exactly what I'm saying. As for the audio it was a lot quieter for me this episode though the balance between the show and your audio isn't too bad :).

Valkyrie

2020-12-17 12:13:22 +0000 UTC

Reducing continuity errors is a measurable benefit, therefore out of the choices of Slayalive, 1B1A or air date, Slayalive is most certainly objectively the best option. Subjective arguments can be made for whether other spoiler/continuity error avoiding watch orders are better.

ElectricMonk

2020-12-17 11:58:31 +0000 UTC

This has already been covered in the earlier comments. She was talking into the back side of the microphone, it was a try out. Alley has the info to get it perfect the next time.

Superfan Giovanni

2020-12-17 11:46:26 +0000 UTC

The guide makes crossovers pretty obvious.

Bodertz

2020-12-17 10:34:24 +0000 UTC

Your audio is pretty low for me in this episode, I had to turn the volume on my computer way up to hear it.

Nicole Iannone

2020-12-17 09:59:03 +0000 UTC

I like the contrasts between the 2 shows, it's not just the difference between young adult & mature adult but also the difference in settings, relatively small town vs. big city, that lets them explore very different issues & approaches to them; eg. The Master using the same approach from Buffy S1 would be laughable in the big city where it's already been shown that supernatural types have been semi-openly operating at high levels - that vampire in angel's 1st episode would probably just pull some legal strings, buy up the derelict building the master was operating out of & have human contractors bulldoze it to the ground then pump cement into the basement to improve the foundations. The big constant in Whedon's work is putting the characters first & for main characters especially there's pretty much always a reason for what they do, though it's often set up as a number of small moments that become far more apparent when rewatching things later. Letting the characters we already know get more development is really nice & lets the cast really show off their skills. Angel's social anxiety is very relatable & it's played excellently. Still very much enjoying your reactions as always & hopefully it's not too spoilery to say that whatever you're expecting & hoping for, you're probably going to be wrong, but not disappointed :D

Stewart Denew

2020-12-17 09:47:48 +0000 UTC

Also just to clarify, I LOVE Angel, so am not opposed to watching multiple episodes of it in a row. I only bring this up because I sense it doesn't seem to be the most enjoyable way to watch for first-timers, like Alley. As she herself has said she's unsure of it, and the aim here is to have her enjoy the viewing experience and react in a way that likes

Allie

2020-12-17 09:31:42 +0000 UTC

The shows only cross over barely a handful of times during the entire run, watching the entire season to cater to these small instances, when it may be less enjoyable seems silly. Going back and forth, one Buffy one Angel, is the most enjoyable way to watch, and then doubling up on episodes if/when it needs be. For example, there was literally no point having Angel 1x1 and 1x2 doubled up next to each other. This could have easily been an episode of Buffy instead

Allie

2020-12-17 09:24:22 +0000 UTC

Hi Alley - great reaction. I'm not going to worry about the episode order -you do what you prefer. I would ask one thing though - the volume of this video is (subjectively, to me) about half the volume of any of your previous ones. It was a struggle to hear parts on my chrome book with the volume on everything up to 100%. Partly this is due to my own hearing, I'd admit, and also I can't overdrive the volume to, say, 110% on that particular device - so it's not crippling, but was an unwelcome change from your previous videos. I'd also say that the microphone isn't actually making it better - even with the volume change, you don't sound as clear - like you're talking much further away from the mic as you were before. It's almost like you've removed a lavel mic.

Dave Ford

2020-12-17 08:43:57 +0000 UTC

It's a terrible episode.

Kirby

2020-12-17 08:00:31 +0000 UTC

It's not objectively the best. That's just your subjective opinion.

Kirby

2020-12-17 07:48:54 +0000 UTC

Actually I appreciated the subtitles for the Angel episode, since I don't have the episodes memorized like I do with Buffy.

Kirby

2020-12-17 07:47:14 +0000 UTC

I love subtitles, but then I'm old with hearing loss.

Kirby

2020-12-17 07:45:42 +0000 UTC

I agree so very much. For the vast majority of episodes it's perfectly fine to alternate Buffy/Angel episodes. Not super excited about having four in a row of Angel.

Kirby

2020-12-17 07:45:03 +0000 UTC

That ancient web browser, omg, brings back memories.

Kirby

2020-12-17 07:16:00 +0000 UTC

OK, first of all great reaction as always. 👍 Now, on to "The Guide"..... There are quite a few guides out there. None of them are truly "bad" but they all have different goals. The one on Reddit for example tries to stay as close to the original broadcast order as possible...unfortunately because of this it misses places where episodes should be grouped together. Slay Alive is a perfectly good guide...for what it is trying to accomplish. Positives: You definitely don't want to watch the shows in the exact order they were broadcast in. There are times when the events of as many as four episodes of a series happen over a one or two day period while the episodes in the other series might be spread out over a month or more. Also two parters/cliffhangers are better if watched consecutively. The Slay Alive guide doesn't miss any of these. If you WANT to watch the two series in blocks of episodes while still following the in-universe timeline then this is the guide for you. Negatives: In spite of what it says Slay Alive really does appear to be primarily focused on avoiding disc switching as it NEVER groups blocks of less than two episodes from each series (often three or four). I can't think of another reason to do this other than maybe just personal preference...which is fine but it JUST ISN'T NECESSARY! Yes it follows the in-universe timeline but there are huge swathes of episodes where you can go back and forth between series and still accomplish this. (especially in season B6/A3) Because of this it is my least favorite guide. Angel eps 2/3 and Buffy eps 2/3 should be watched as the guide lists....but then it isn't necessary again until Angel Episode 12. You may not have seen it but I sent you a link to the guide I put together (which also lists the comics and novels according to the in-universe timeline). I started with the broadcast order and then grouped episodes as needed. ALWAYS as needed but ONLY as needed. I think this works much better. Check it out here: https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=1B2bdgdr_Rk6lFk4ko35bORMdEIDyusGx I will always watch you Alley so use whatever watch order YOU prefer. However unless you prefer watching each series in blocks Slay Alive is not the one to use.

palisade

2020-12-17 07:04:00 +0000 UTC

You definitely don't want to watch the shows in the broadcast order for the reasons you mentioned but Slayalive goes way to far and groups episodes together for no reason (you will notice that it NEVER groups less than 2 episodes together before switching...serious overkill) Kind of the opposite of the guide on Reddit which stays so close to the broadcast schedule that it misses things. Check my guide out. It groups when necessary but only when necessary. https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=1B2bdgdr_Rk6lFk4ko35bORMdEIDyusGx

palisade

2020-12-17 07:00:38 +0000 UTC

The chosen watch order (rather than 1to 1) isn't about spoilers, so much as sticking to story arcs on each series, one episode blending into the other, while still lining up any connected episodes. Rather than breaking up one shows story arc to see an episode of the other series.

Loves Bitca

2020-12-17 06:47:27 +0000 UTC

I remember Forever Knight, where half of every episode was flashbacks.

Loves Bitca

2020-12-17 06:43:51 +0000 UTC

Hey how about spinning in the chair for the dab replacement

Fasda

2020-12-17 06:04:41 +0000 UTC

If the viewing order argument is still going on, has anyone looked at the Watcher's Council order? link text

Kenetic

2020-12-17 05:52:10 +0000 UTC

That whole grappling hook moment with her saying, “Who ARE you?” Followed by him tearing the beam down with it is low key one of the funniest scenes I’ve ever watched of anything.

Alexis Cardarella

2020-12-17 05:49:55 +0000 UTC

... and actually, that just reminded me of a con I went to in 1998. Nick Brendon and Anthony Stewart Head were both supposed to appear, but ASH cancelled late to take advantage of the Thanksgiving break to go home and see family. So the panel that the two were scheduled to do together got changed to Nick Brendon and Nigel Bennett, who was also a guest at the con. Nick had never seen FOREVER KNIGHT, and Nigel had never seen BUFFY, so the panel essentially became the two of them explaining their shows to each other, and occasionally pausing to take shots at KINDRED: THE EMBRACED. :-)

AlyAdmirer

2020-12-17 05:41:22 +0000 UTC

Thanks so much! I'm thoroughly enjoying watching your reactions to something I experienced over a decade ago. I hope you like it as much as I did. :-)

Robert Westlund

2020-12-17 05:33:21 +0000 UTC

Oh, when the rumors were flying around before the launch that James and Juliet would also be regulars, I was fearing it was gonna go FULL FOREVER KNIGHT, with flashbacks to a parallel plotline each episode and Marsters and Landau filling the LaCroix and Jeanette roles. :-)

AlyAdmirer

2020-12-17 05:31:54 +0000 UTC

It sorta retroactively makes his tenure on Buffy more enjoyable, since you can now think of all his dramatic antics not as the show trying to frame him as super cool, but as a legitimate and hilarious component of his character. A melodramatic emo soft boi that doesn't know how to relate to people so sneaks up on Buffy in a dark alley the first time they meet. Seriously, him giving Buffy his coat in Teacher's Pet and then being like "I gotta go" and swooping out like Tuxedo Mask cracks me up because I can't see it as anything but Angel just being super socially awkward.

KT

2020-12-17 05:17:43 +0000 UTC

Nitpicky, but Röhm spells her first name with an 's,' not a 'z.' And to get the umlaut o you hold down 'ALT' while typing '0246' on the number pad. Sorry smartphone users, you'll have to find some other way.

Tim St. Croix

2020-12-17 05:11:46 +0000 UTC

How much you enjoyed the grappling hook joke was pretty dang delightful, it always gets me too.

KT

2020-12-17 05:09:37 +0000 UTC

I can perfectly imagine either of them in Angel's place in the scenes with him and Kate. "I'm looking for someone to, uh, rescue? Are you maybe in need of some rescuing?" "You shouldn't go in there... I don't think it's safe." "Where are you going?" "...In there." "Been there. Done that."

KT

2020-12-17 05:06:22 +0000 UTC

When I was first watching this and the police officer was introduced I was so sure it was going to be riffing on Forever Knight (which is an obscure 90s era vampire cop tv show)

Iarna

2020-12-17 04:54:59 +0000 UTC

Yea I've unfortunately suffered the same fate...

Elizabeth Wilson

2020-12-17 04:48:15 +0000 UTC

Poor bartender, his reputation has been ruined, he’ll be forever known as a serial killer when in reality, he was just another victim.

Keenan White

2020-12-17 04:47:40 +0000 UTC

I recommend not using subtitles, cos they be TRASH hahahah. For one thing the song lyrics in the montage were ALL wrong, it's 'The razors and the dying roses, Plead I don't leave you alone', NOT 'The lizards and the dying rose, is proof I don't need you along' WTF were they auto created or something?

HuntingSwan

2020-12-17 04:03:16 +0000 UTC

Elisabeth Röhm! To avoid spoilers I won't reveal how I feel about her character in this show, but I will say she's also in my favorite 'Hallmark' style Christmas movie. Xmas is only 9 days away so now I have to watch it again, for the umpteenth time.

Tim St. Croix

2020-12-17 04:00:18 +0000 UTC

I hope you used proper cable management. The rest of your build can be the crappiest ever but as long as you made the cables all pretty people in r/pcmasterrace will forgive you. Also, rgb makes computers go faster... it's SCIENCE.

Tim St. Croix

2020-12-17 03:46:24 +0000 UTC

I, also, have terrible hearing (left 50% loss, right 25% loss) and always use subtitles whenever they're available. If timing becomes an issue I just delay them by 1 or 2 seconds. Beside 'pause,' 'stop,' and 'rewind' subtitle activation and timing are some of the first hotkeys I learn whenever I start using a new video player.

Tim St. Croix

2020-12-17 03:39:37 +0000 UTC

oh i am so sorry! im using windows now, i used to use apple, so i mightve used a different file format that doesnt work on apple. i will fix that next time :)

Alley Box

2020-12-17 03:29:52 +0000 UTC

Same honestly. The air date order makes way more sense.

OliveJus

2020-12-17 03:25:56 +0000 UTC

I'm not sure we're talking about the same thing. I'm looking at it from the perspective of going into a writer's room at the beginning of S3 knowing you've got to set Cordie up for switching shows. First priority would be breaking her up with Xander. Then someone says "Hey, wouldn't it be cool if Cordie was pissed and made a wish?" Then someone else says "Hey, what if we brought vamp Willow back" and on and on until they work out the season's plot. Once they have the season's plot, then they realize that they have nothing for Cordie to do in the back half. But everything that flowed around all that came from the initial realization that they had to break up Cordie and Xander.

matt

2020-12-17 03:15:15 +0000 UTC

I'm surprised Alley even knew what he was doing. I was waiting for her to comment.

matt

2020-12-17 03:05:15 +0000 UTC

The background of this episode is fascinating. They actually already had a script ready to go for a much darker subject matter, but two days before shooting the WB Network told them they couldn't go ahead with it. As a result, this episode was written at the very last minute. The script for the other episode is out there - the title is "Corrupt". I wouldn't advise looking at it though, as some of the scenes from it are repurposed for later episodes in s1.

Shandler

2020-12-17 02:56:31 +0000 UTC

I meant if their reason was to split them for the next seasons rather than for the S3 arc.

Dan

2020-12-17 02:47:20 +0000 UTC

I think the grappling hook is lampshading/making fun of the similarity to Batman.

Dan

2020-12-17 02:45:18 +0000 UTC

Not for nothing, but Rohm has the most perfectly arched eyebrows I've ever seen. They are the aurora borealis of eyebrows.

L-o-l-a

2020-12-17 02:45:15 +0000 UTC

This episode just doesn’t work for me. The theme of lonely people looking for connection is so heavy handed here. Also paralleling that with a parasite looking for the right host: wtf. Some of the dialogue was funny, but the pace was really slow. I did like Kate. Cordelia and Doyle both had a few good moments but felt sidelined from the main story. Definitely a step down from the first episode which had a lot more charm.

Shashank

2020-12-17 02:39:25 +0000 UTC

This is a weaker ep IMO. The show has a great pilot then has some ups and downs. Still excellent TV!

Mary Kate

2020-12-17 02:36:08 +0000 UTC

The guide works well both for avoiding spoilers and for having a bit of flow with the episodes. While digital copies and streaming have reduced the hassle of switching discs every time you switch shows, if you went one to one with episodes(Angel aired right after Buffy in a 2hr block for 2 whole seasons, so they assumed viewers were all caught up when watching) most of the time, it would stand out more/be an obvious spoiler when it did change up for a 2 parter or story arc(it’s not just to avoid spoilers, but to avoid being obvious when there ARE spoilers).

Todd “Canuck” Schmuck

2020-12-17 02:34:27 +0000 UTC

It’s def the worst so far (not that there’s much to compare it to 🤣) for me it’s a C and is one of the weakest of the entire series. I agree about the bartender, his family are going to be told he’s a serial killer that’s always bugged me.

Flora Smith

2020-12-17 02:28:54 +0000 UTC

In regards to the theme tune, it took a few episodes for it to grow on me when I first watched Angel but now I actually prefer it to the Buffy theme. And the 'dab' moment - for me at least - isn't at the end, but towards the beginning when the percussion comes in. I can't help but clap and do a little mosh when that beat drops! In regards to the watch order, I don't really mind how you watch them. The Guide is definitely more beneficial if you want to experience 'the Buffyverse' as a single entity, but there's nothing wrong with just alternating episodes if that's what you want to do.

Jamie Morgan

2020-12-17 02:25:03 +0000 UTC

I love how cool Angel is but half the time he is super extra and the show fully embraces that and I love it ahaha

Phoenix Dawn

2020-12-17 02:20:02 +0000 UTC

99% of the comments I have seen on the guide talk about preventing spoilers. Now the goalpost is that it better for the narrative. The only time I accept not watching Buffy then Angel is if one of the shows has a two parter. That being said , Alley posts in such a timely manner that I will still watch her reactions.

Allan Cornett

2020-12-17 02:10:38 +0000 UTC

This might be a controversial statement but this is definitely the worst episode of Angel so far. I’m going to put a bit of the blame on myself though because just about every time I cringed while watching, Alley laughed. So uh, maybe I watched it wrong. On a separate note; I actually feel bad for the bartender. He seemed like a decent guy, but now, on top of being dead and all he’ll be remembered as a serial killer. It’s kind of a subtly twisted ending how everything is able to make sense to Kate and the police without knowledge of the demon who was actually responsible.

tc3

2020-12-17 02:08:26 +0000 UTC

Hi Alley. I've been downloading your reactions and watching on my television through my Apple TV box since you started without any issues. However, with this download, neither QuickTime nor the Apple TV can play the audio track. Are you using a new CODEC? VLC plays it just fine, but I would love to watch on my TV instead of my computer. Any chance you can look into this before your next upload? Thanks for listening.

Robert Westlund

2020-12-17 02:07:12 +0000 UTC

I don't think so. Cordelia's character development always felt organic to me. She was desperate for money and food, and this provides a job. She suggested (with her idea getting implemented) getting paid to do what every other hero in every other show feels an obligation to do for free.

Leenis

2020-12-17 01:57:44 +0000 UTC

Makes you wonder what broke the gypsy curse before "Batman v. Superman..."

FernWithy

2020-12-17 01:57:30 +0000 UTC

I haven't watched the first few eps of Angel in so long I was surprised the thing that stood out most to me was using the phone book to find an address. Like remember when everyone's number and most addresses were just in a book attached to phone booths on the street? It feels so foreign today. Silly thing to pay so much attention to in a show like this, but the nature and process of investigating is so interesting to think about after a couple decades.

Launa

2020-12-17 01:55:59 +0000 UTC

How is air date worse than an order that spoils the shows on several occasions?

Bodertz

2020-12-17 01:54:59 +0000 UTC

My issue with Cordelia is she went from hater to helper back to hater after almost dying, then kind of helper again just for the finale, now she's like "we need to help everyone! Angel let's start A HELP PEOPLE BUSINESS"

Dusty

2020-12-17 01:49:01 +0000 UTC

I agree with CeNedra as she makes a great point and also I went to elementary school with a CeNedra.

Superfan Giovanni

2020-12-17 01:47:30 +0000 UTC

Involving a police officer reminded me of the discussion in "What's My Line" about Buffy going into law enforcement. It seems intuitive... but what on earth would she have told her superiors if she was undercover tracking a serial killer, and ended up burning a burrowing parasite demon out of a bartender?

FernWithy

2020-12-17 01:34:39 +0000 UTC

You guys must not realize the chaos of the original release schedule for this show ESPECIALLY after Buffy left the “WB” for what was UPN. Without spoilers, even in this first/forth season there is a cross over that will make little sense if viewed the way your talking about seeing as it would have the reactions/consequences on one show happening BEFORE the actions were committed on the other. It only makes sense to stick to the guide if you’re going to watch both shows concurrently.

Brandon Scott

2020-12-17 01:32:34 +0000 UTC

The problem with stepping away from the guide is explaining why sometimes you can't... "Oh, yeah, you can go back and forth here here and here, but, you know, episodes X and Y are connected so... oops, spoiler." I think the guide is fine. Most of the time first season, it's fine to just go back and forth (Buffy, then Angel), but even giving the warning of when it's not could qualify as a spoiler.

FernWithy

2020-12-17 01:28:49 +0000 UTC

Angel is Batman and Buffy is Spiderman.

Allan Cornett

2020-12-17 01:28:25 +0000 UTC

Going by the guild isn’t so much to protect against spoilers as it is to help line up the crossovers correct,y.

Brandon Scott

2020-12-17 01:23:18 +0000 UTC

How you feel about the watch order you use is more important than how the audience feels because, ultimately, it’ll be more fun to watch you enjoy yourself. Still, it would not be unwise to give it a little time to evaluate. ... This episode works well enough, I think, but I really like season one as a whole.

Koz

2020-12-17 01:22:06 +0000 UTC

Like Bruce Wayne, Angel sits in the dark and broods.

Bryce Carlson

2020-12-17 01:20:45 +0000 UTC

Trust the guide, it knows what it’s doing.

Ryan

2020-12-17 01:17:42 +0000 UTC

It isn't one big story. They are separate stories with occasional crossovers.

Bodertz

2020-12-17 01:17:27 +0000 UTC

"OK music cue, I see you!" Actually, Allie, that's not how that works.

Kenetic

2020-12-17 01:14:39 +0000 UTC

YES THIS REACTION WAS EVERYTHING! Also, vote YES for Slayalive, and ditto other comments about the audio. Otherwise, chef kiss. Thank you!

Joshua Gosdin

2020-12-17 01:13:30 +0000 UTC

Hey Alley - A feedback on the new setup (audio and computer - congrats, by the way) I am feeling nostalgic for the shot of your computer syncs, but I support you doing what's easier for you to work with, and recording your screen probably saves time in editing. I personally use subtitles too, it was just a habit at first, since I live in a non English speaking country and all our TV is subbed but have grown to seek it even when I can understand the accents well (meaning when I'm not watching "Torchwood" for instance ... ) so I enjoyed it. The audio was a bit low for me, I maxed it out but still heard the episode louder than your comments and that was a bit disappointing, I know the episode, it's your reaction I came for. I think that's an easy editing fix, so if it's not just me - shouldn't be a problem. In terms of Visual, you may want to do something abut the framing of the room and the video, Angel is a very dark show (lighting style) - Buffy can get that way too sometimes, but Angel is so maybe more, I gather you had to shift your camera to accommodate the different position of the screen now, but it aligned with the background of your wardrobe, which was today also dark in color and at times it was hard to distinguish where the two pictures ended - maybe a light frame for the Angel embedded video? not a biggy, just something I thought to point out. All in all - I would watch your reactions if you made them on an Ipad, so do what feels comfortable for you, and thank you for the extra effort, you spoil us and we love you <3

Ashtara Levin

2020-12-17 01:09:58 +0000 UTC

Well, I doubt you'll stop using the guide given how popular it seems to be, but I'll take the opportunity to say I would prefer you watch them in the order they aired. That way, you aren't spoiled on when crossovers happen.

Bodertz

2020-12-17 01:07:45 +0000 UTC

Gotta disagree. If they waited, the entire Xander/Willow would have had to have been stretched out, then they would have short-changed Willow/Oz getting back together. And they definitely wanted to do The Wish and Dopplegangland, which couldn't have happened without the breakup. Where could they have put those end of season and not completely disrupt the narrative flow?

matt

2020-12-17 01:04:09 +0000 UTC

I thought it was because of Doyle's accent 🤣🤣😂🤣😳

CeNedra

2020-12-17 01:04:01 +0000 UTC

The key which first-time watchers may miss is that he just crashed through a door and as a vampire, he ought not to have been able to cross the threshold uninvited if the rightful owner was alive (hence the reason he was able to break into Russell's mansion).

Bryce Carlson

2020-12-17 01:01:53 +0000 UTC

Love it! Trust the guide. It’s designed to not spoil anything. ❤️

Stephen Mintac

2020-12-17 00:57:06 +0000 UTC

I like how in the first episode Angel got in the wrong car when he was in a hurry, then in this episode he tried to use a grappling hook only to pull part of the ceiling down. by themselves they are funny moments, but upon closer inspection it is like a metaphor for life's ups and downs, he's trying his best and it doesn't always work out and then feel silly but you don't just give up you keep going and fighting harder.

Cameron Rayburn

2020-12-17 00:56:45 +0000 UTC

They could (if they wanted) have had her break up with Xander much later in the season, though.

Dan

2020-12-17 00:54:28 +0000 UTC

Minor point about subtitles (having seen some other reactors use them) - occasionally they can spoil the timing of a line or surprise a little as the subtitle appears before the actual event on screen or spoken line. It's not critical and I guess it doesn't matter so much if you're only glancing at them for clarification but just something to be aware of.

Dan

2020-12-17 00:51:13 +0000 UTC

There are really very few cases where Buffy/Angel shouldn't be watched 1:1. I voted for the SlayAlive guide because I had assumed that the guide was to alert viewers to those instances and maybe put a few short arcs together (mostly 2-part stories) but after looking at the guide I am not in favor of following it.

Tom Tattershall

2020-12-17 00:47:17 +0000 UTC

Thank you, Alley. I needed this. I just learned that my principal randomly pulled my name out of a hat to move me to our District's virtual academy...meaning that the students I have spent the first half of the year with will be split into my partners' classrooms and I will have brand new 5th graders after the New Year. Not very happy right now. So, this helps.

aeronitz

2020-12-17 00:44:33 +0000 UTC

I haven't watched this episode in a while, it's so interesting to look at the first scene between Angel and Kate at the bar with the foreknowledge that she is a detective on the hunt for a predator - everything she says to Angel is meant to goad him and bait him into taking her as his prey for the night. I love Elizabeth Rohm (Kate) and what she does with her eyes when Angel says he can't go with her - you can actually see annoyance and anger rather than hurt (which is what you'd normally feel when acting so vulnerable and then being rejected) and I love that

Ashtara Levin

2020-12-17 00:44:11 +0000 UTC

Yep, you can definitely see the growing pains with this episode, but it's just so entertaining to watch! The fight choreography was straight up slapstick. Funny af lol

Blain H Granado

2020-12-17 00:34:20 +0000 UTC

I agree 200 percent.

Allan Cornett

2020-12-17 00:32:55 +0000 UTC

I agree with Allie. I do think some have put too much stock into the Slay Alive guide, to the point that a first time viewer might think that this is one interconnected story being told and that’s not the case. These are two separate shows that run more or less parallel with one another. They do talk with one another from time to time and hit on some of the same themes and there are certainly some points where you should see episode A of one show before watching episode B of the other show to get the full scope, but each show was created to be able to stand on its own. Having said that, I think Alley should feel free to do whatever she chooses, whether that’s sticking with the guide or simply choosing to watch one show at the beginning of the week and the other show at the end of the week and then doubling up on episodes of a particular show once she reaches a point where the next episode shouldn’t be seen until after watching a certain episode of the other show.

tc3

2020-12-17 00:30:31 +0000 UTC

I kind of feel for the Buffy writers, because they really had their hands tied with Cordelia. They knew she was switching to Angel, so they had to break her up with Xander so she wouldn't have any reason to stay. But once they broke them up, there's really no way to have her keep hanging out with the scoobies and still be honest about the character. So Cordie was pretty much stuck doing walk on's for the back half of S3. At least they were able to give her that torrid romance with Wesley :p

matt

2020-12-17 00:28:07 +0000 UTC

For Angel instead of dabbing perhaps you should just turn out the light and awkwardly slide out of shot.

Dan

2020-12-17 00:27:34 +0000 UTC

This episode could easily star Sam and Dean. I always thought in general Supernatural had a lot of Angel vibes

Calvin Allen

2020-12-17 00:22:35 +0000 UTC

I think that's the big takeaway - a guide is useful after the two shows break away and are airing on different networks (Bs6/As3). At this point, they work on a strict 1:1 basis, and switching back and forth one episode at a time will not only feel balanced, but the spoilers just won't be an issue. That's four full seasons of television Alley can enjoy before worrying about "the order of things".

Ed Badalucca

2020-12-17 00:22:35 +0000 UTC

The guide is overrated for sure. I love that you're going into this show loving Cordelia so much. Can't wait to see what you think of everyone by the end of the season.

Calvin Allen

2020-12-17 00:20:23 +0000 UTC

I'm not a fan, either, but I've accepted that I'm in the minority. I get smacked down every time there's a poll.

matt

2020-12-17 00:18:41 +0000 UTC

Cant wait.

Collinson

2020-12-17 00:17:40 +0000 UTC

The slayalive guide is the way to go. Instead of thinking of it as two separate shows think of it as one big story.

Eric Bushee

2020-12-17 00:11:49 +0000 UTC

I'm really glad you're enjoying Angel. I've always liked Buffy more in general, but I love Angel too. There are times in the Buffyverse when I'm more interested in what's happening on Angel.

UTU49

2020-12-17 00:04:09 +0000 UTC

Great reaction. I think this is a bit of an underrated episode personally, as you say it is setting the tone and seeing how 'Angel Investigations' operate. Regarding Doyle possibly being older, unlike Angel he has at least retained his Irish accent (Glenn Quinn's own - he was born in Dublin.)

Ross Nolan

2020-12-17 00:01:29 +0000 UTC

The first two seasons of ANGEL, you're pretty safe going Buffy-Angel-Buffy-Angel, because as others have noted, that's how they aired. Even after the network split, I can't really think of any examples where one show spoiled something for the other--after all, they were still being made by the same production company, even though they started airing on different networks, so they knew what they were planning. Then again, I've always been mystified by the whole concept of spoilerphobia anyway, so maybe there are examples I just never noticed. = but yes, deliberately spoiling something for someone you know definitely cares about such things is definitely a dick move, I totally agree with that position.

AlyAdmirer

2020-12-17 00:01:22 +0000 UTC

I think there's only two times ever where we get five episodes of one show back to back. So people's complaining is overrated. Do what you enjoy most but slayalive order is the way to go, it's a vocal minority of mostly people who only like one of the two shows that rage against it. It's easy for people who have seen the show already to downplay the reasons to follow the order, as they no longer remember why it was good in that order.

Tobijah

2020-12-16 23:59:44 +0000 UTC

I agree. Angel is so much better on his show. He's much more fun, it's crazy...who'da thought that from the broody Angel on Buffy.

Val

2020-12-16 23:58:44 +0000 UTC

You're gonna grow to realize Angel the show is more dramatic than Buffy in general, and as it pertains to the theme song and credits, you're gonna feel silly for mocking how dramatic Angel was at his send off in Buffy season 3 Graduation episodes when you look back at it. That's what's so good about it though, Angel is a character rife with history and circumstances where not all that you see on the surface is all that there actually is. He's been through some stuff, even before he first showed up on Buffy.

Cameron Rayburn

2020-12-16 23:56:58 +0000 UTC

As much as I miss Buffy tonight, I have to vote for the SlayAlive order. What is Buffy wearing?

Jeffrey

2020-12-16 23:56:00 +0000 UTC

Alley's reaction to Angel's facedown reverse scissor kick was hilarious

Superfan Giovanni

2020-12-16 23:52:38 +0000 UTC

This episode totally gives me Supernatural vibes. Like a mixture of Shapeshifters and Demons... with a bit of season 5 "there's only one true body I can stay in".

Bisibia

2020-12-16 23:50:37 +0000 UTC

I agree, it’s always frustrating going 2-3 weeks w/out one of the shows and I don’t think much if anything is spoiled.

Meredith

2020-12-16 23:42:19 +0000 UTC

I was just going to post that she sounded further away.

aeronitz

2020-12-16 23:40:42 +0000 UTC

Aw I like Kate! And ye as others have said see what you feel like order wise. I understand what some say about flow - in terms of spoilers and crossovers.....you're fine if you do at least the Buffy episode first. The guides fine but it's not essential 🤷🏼‍♂️ x

Kyle Jordan Ashley Brown

2020-12-16 23:40:28 +0000 UTC

I have watched Buffy/Angel countless times in the order of Buffy Angel Buffy Angel. The guide may lead to a better flow of the stories but I'm not aware of any spoilers by watching them the way I have.

Allan Cornett

2020-12-16 23:32:49 +0000 UTC

What I love about this show, and Angel. is how they changed him, but not to much. He's much funnier and Davids acting improves so much

brian quinn

2020-12-16 23:30:58 +0000 UTC

I agree tbh, there are some moments that is important to watch them in a certain order but I feel like most of the time it’s not needed. I watch a lot of buffy reactors so it can get a bit stale seeing the same viewing order but I’ll be watching regardless

Nichole Hutchison

2020-12-16 23:28:03 +0000 UTC

I think the slayalive guide is great for arcs so you get more deep into it without cutting it up to keep switching between shows. Also if you accidentally watched a certain episode of one show before the other they can contain spoilers for plots that are happening or certain things you haven't seen yet. In the end it is up to you, especially since you watch only twice a week so with bigger batches of a certain show it can take awhile to get back to the other. I'd say stick with the guide for at least awhile and see how it goes. If you do however decide to switch it up I would ask one of us first to make sure you're not going to watch an episode that spoils something!

Jenn Rose

2020-12-16 23:24:44 +0000 UTC

sometimes the grouping of episodes for a show on one side of the guide is done for the benefit of the other. It's not always necessary, meaning there isn't a whole bunch of two parters coming along, but it makes for a more flowing narrative to watch and so is loved by fans (plus it groups the episodes with continuity in mind, considering events that take place in one show and influence the other and puts them in chronological order in the world's own timeline - so it is good on both of these fronts).

Ashtara Levin

2020-12-16 23:24:24 +0000 UTC

Exactly, it's not just an arbitrary order just to be awkward. There are real reasons to not just watch according to airdate.

Dollface

2020-12-16 23:23:51 +0000 UTC

i will be posting a little video soon about my journey with making it :) i will have all the parts i used in that video!

Alley Box

2020-12-16 23:22:33 +0000 UTC

it is!! if its annoying, i can go back to how i did it before :)

Alley Box

2020-12-16 23:21:55 +0000 UTC

Mic audio is much clearer with less peaking, Alley sounds slightly distant due to the register, it's a side register so after she moves the mic sideways her vocals will be more present, I also sent her a good normalization setting to test out that I swear by for all of my audio recording and restoration. I can't wait to hear the results.

Superfan Giovanni

2020-12-16 23:21:42 +0000 UTC

Wait you built your own PC? Gotta give us specs! Also yay for the Doyle’s of the world.

Collinson

2020-12-16 23:20:08 +0000 UTC

The Slayalive guide is objectively the best way to watch the shows. Switching back and forth results in one show spoiling the other on several occasions, air date is even worse especially once the shows reach the point that they began to air on different networks. Ultimately though, do what you feel works best for you - that you do what you feel you'll enjoy the most is what's important.

ElectricMonk

2020-12-16 23:18:34 +0000 UTC

Is it possible to go back to not having subtitles on in the video that we see?

Nebraska

2020-12-16 23:15:24 +0000 UTC

yes! i have terrible hearing so subtitles help me :)

Alley Box

2020-12-16 23:14:48 +0000 UTC

Alley to the rescue! I'm watching this while I'm on a zoom call at work.

matt

2020-12-16 23:12:34 +0000 UTC

subtitles? that's new and interesting, is that for you?

mr_chillington

2020-12-16 23:12:18 +0000 UTC

My main problem with the slayalive guide is that most/all reactors are following it and I find it a bit boring now 🤣 I prefer to watch alternate episodes as they aired so we don't get big chunks of one particular show. I agree about the 2 partners though, it's nice to watch those together and maybe any crossovers but other than that I'd prefer alternate 🙂 just my unpopular opinion 😂

CeNedra

2020-12-16 23:11:42 +0000 UTC

The back and forth way works great for storytelling and all ARCs in my opinion and I even think with two-parters and cliffhangers, watching them back to back isn't essential. After all - having a week to guess at what's going to happen and be excited (as I certainly did when first watching) is kinda fun. And it stops you getting fatigued with one show, especially if the show is still new and you're adjusting to it. Definitely up to Alley though and I'll be happy with whatever viewing order she chooses! I love both the Buffy and the Angel reactions!

Allie

2020-12-16 23:10:42 +0000 UTC

The guide is cool... but not always necessary. There's only a few times in the series where it's very important, but outside of that, you can just go back and forth. Follow it til you need a break from a show, then just ask someone if it's cool to switch it up for the week... the answer will be yes 95% of the time.

Bisibia

2020-12-16 23:08:00 +0000 UTC

If you don't want to follow the guide, that's fine, but please make sure to follow the air dates. If you don't, you'll end up getting spoiled on some things. It wasn't always one Buffy, then one Angel. Sometimes one show premiered a week early, or came back two weeks late after the Winter hiatus. Both shows used to air on Tuesday nights, first Buffy, then Angel. But then Buffy switched networks, and Angel moved to Monday nights, so it was before Buffy...it gets messy.

Christine

2020-12-16 23:07:24 +0000 UTC

The slayalive guide, along with most guides, is great if you're looking to continue watching certain arcs and storylines of each show and can definitely make the show better on a watch but it's also great switching between episodes! Whichever you keep going with will be great regardless! Can't wait to see you react to more Angel and Buffy S4!

Francis Lee

2020-12-16 23:05:38 +0000 UTC

Alley has said if things don't seem to fit she'll change it up so lets trust her judgement.

Collinson

2020-12-16 23:05:14 +0000 UTC

I should have expected the quote of the day to be a cordelia one ^^

MagnusVD

2020-12-16 23:05:10 +0000 UTC

Seconded, with gusto! There are times when you have to watch episodes in groups to get the proper flow, but this aint the time. Buff S4/Ang S1 should be watched in a back and forth manner, as they aired.

Ed Badalucca

2020-12-16 23:03:54 +0000 UTC

But a lot of how it was originally aired was not "as intended", the order they were originally aired in wasn't anything to do with artistic vision. The underlined episodes in the guide make the most sense in that order. Also the order for minimising disc switching is different and that's not the point of the guide.

Dollface

2020-12-16 23:02:33 +0000 UTC

Re: Slay Alive guide, I'm the least excited about it however it is the people's choice, worst case scenario of 2.5 weeks of only Angel uploads doesn't bug me at all, maybe the slayalive guide will be fun and turn out to be as great as all of the enthusiasm suggests. Don't feel pressure from old grumps like me to bail on the guide. I'm here for the long haul regardless of how you watch it.

Superfan Giovanni

2020-12-16 23:00:32 +0000 UTC

To be honest, I'm not a fan of the guide. It's overrated and really just minimises disk switching for DVDs, but overall it combines a lot of episodes together that don't need to be. I'm all for watching two-parters back to back, so having double Buffy or double Angel for those weeks, but the way Stay Alive groups so many episodes together doesn't always make sense. I think watching one Buffy, one Angel, as it originally was intended and aired, is the way to go

Allie

2020-12-16 22:59:15 +0000 UTC

Yay! I was literally just checking for this

Brandon Ross

2020-12-16 22:57:26 +0000 UTC

I was just going to post another refresh gang, yes!

Superfan Giovanni

2020-12-16 22:57:14 +0000 UTC

Angel || 1x02 || Full Reaction

Comments

please please please, remove the subtitles, definitely not as the show is designed to be watched.

Wow Andrew what a resource! I've been doing a weekly watch through with some friends, some of whom haven't watched before. We're currently in early season 3 of Buffy and trying to figure out what to do when we get to BS4/AS1. Would you mind if I shared this with my group?

Volume improved version posted above by Alley

The new mic will, with some tweaking, be an improvement in time, I'm sure. But I'm another no-voter on the subtitles, I'm afraid - very distracting. But I still enjoyed the reaction and I'm sure that won't change.

Sorry Alley, no audio on Mac/Apple TV again without a 3rd-party app. If you still have your Mac laptop, you can easily test by playing it in QuickTime. I suppose it might take a few episodes before you get all the kinks worked out. Still loving the reactions!

The 'proper' way to watch anything is however the hell you want to watch it. If she wants to follow a guide to get maximum enjoyment out of crossovers then it is the correct way to watch it for her. You have no right to tell anyone how to do anything.

The reason it began to deteriorate faster than usual was because the body had already opened up when he tried to enter Kate(this song gross and weird taken out of context) I’m sure I heard angel say that because as soon as the demon reentered the bartender it started falling apart

It's an interesting take. However, if Whedon's history of attempted racial commentaries is anything to go by, I highly doubt the show would have been that subtle. (I don't want to mention specifics, because that would venture into spoiler territory).

That few ad breaks? Psshaw!

He didn't get anyone because he looked a mess and was falling apart not because he was black.

I'm sorry that's silly, Angel aired right after Buffy, The “real” way to watch Buffy would be to watch it with 2+ ad breaks, then wait 7 days to watch another. With the option to watch angel the same way in addition.

Oh shit that's really sad about the bar tenders family. My headcanon is angel went to the funeral and told any parents or siblings he was innocent.

Yeah she need a job and is bored and lonely and she's literally qualified having been a scooby so it just makes sense, she still wants to be an actor as well so there's no sudden change in character. It feels fine to me.

Lol I never caught that damn I'm dumb. I guess I'd figure he conducts a lot of business and has so many staff it might be borderline public but you are actually correct.

I'm an idiot and never picked up on that. I thought she was genuinely sad and lonely. I thought she was only in cop mode after the first death in the show. She had been going long enough to be on a first name basis with the bar keep. I guess it's not mutually exclusive....

Lol under rated comment. Have us, the camera, look away at something and when it turns back Alley is gone.

The parasite was frantic and desperate at that point, and was clearly not nearly as charming, and more rushed and rattled. And for any that took more than a second to react he had a gnarly chunk of skin hanging off his face before it started falling apart completely.

A lot of us watched both at the same time. I still love both shows and never lost anything by not watching all of one and all of another...

Lol, so far the fight scenes 8n Angel are making me appreciate those in Supernatural. Hopefully they will get better as time goes on.

there's i think like 5 angel eps in a row for season 3

lol right? I'm over here like I just alternate between shows and people are writing entire thesises on what is the "proper way" as if its this big deal.

Reading through all these comments I didn't realize the watch order was such a controversial subject. You should probably just quit watching the show(s) and focus on your studies.

Yeah, I get that. I used to feel that way too, until I got hearing loss after experiencing vertigo.

I'm not familiar with the guide myself, but it sounds like it is means you can enjoy the show without having to think or worry about spoilers, so it's probably a good idea even if it means this happens.

Subtitles break the immersion for me and put me in more of an analytical mode instead of just experiencing the story.

I voted for the SlayAlive guide, looked closely at the order of the guide, then went back and voted for air date.

@Andrew Early That's fair, and your watch order looks like a perfectly fine alternative to Slayalive to me.

Reducing continuity errors is a measurable benefit, therefore out of the choices of Slayalive, 1B1A or air date, Slayalive is most certainly *objectively* the best option. *Subjective* arguments can be made for whether other spoiler/continuity error avoiding watch orders are better.

This has already been covered in the earlier comments. She was talking into the back side of the microphone, it was a try out. Alley has the info to get it perfect the next time.

The guide makes crossovers pretty obvious.

Your audio is pretty low for me in this episode, I had to turn the volume on my computer way up to hear it.

It's a terrible episode.

It's not objectively the best. That's just your subjective opinion.

Actually I appreciated the subtitles for the Angel episode, since I don't have the episodes memorized like I do with Buffy.

I love subtitles, but then I'm old with hearing loss.

I agree so very much. For the vast majority of episodes it's perfectly fine to alternate Buffy/Angel episodes. Not super excited about having four in a row of Angel.

That ancient web browser, omg, brings back memories.

The chosen watch order (rather than 1to 1) isn't about spoilers, so much as sticking to story arcs on each series, one episode blending into the other, while still lining up any connected episodes. Rather than breaking up one shows story arc to see an episode of the other series.

I remember Forever Knight, where half of every episode was flashbacks.

Hey how about spinning in the chair for the dab replacement

If the viewing order argument is still going on, has anyone looked at the Watcher's Council order? link text

That whole grappling hook moment with her saying, “Who ARE you?” Followed by him tearing the beam down with it is low key one of the funniest scenes I’ve ever watched of anything.

Thanks so much! I'm thoroughly enjoying watching your reactions to something I experienced over a decade ago. I hope you like it as much as I did. :-)

Oh, when the rumors were flying around before the launch that James and Juliet would also be regulars, I was fearing it was gonna go *FULL* FOREVER KNIGHT, with flashbacks to a parallel plotline each episode and Marsters and Landau filling the LaCroix and Jeanette roles. :-)

Nitpicky, but Röhm spells her first name with an 's,' not a 'z.' And to get the umlaut o you hold down 'ALT' while typing '0246' on the number pad. Sorry smartphone users, you'll have to find some other way.

How much you enjoyed the grappling hook joke was pretty dang delightful, it always gets me too.

I can perfectly imagine either of them in Angel's place in the scenes with him and Kate. "I'm looking for someone to, uh, rescue? Are you maybe in need of some rescuing?" "You shouldn't go in there... I don't think it's safe." "Where are you going?" "...In there." "Been there. Done that."

When I was first watching this and the police officer was introduced I was so sure it was going to be riffing on Forever Knight (which is an obscure 90s era vampire cop tv show)

Yea I've unfortunately suffered the same fate...

Poor bartender, his reputation has been ruined, he’ll be forever known as a serial killer when in reality, he was just another victim.

Elisabeth Röhm! To avoid spoilers I won't reveal how I feel about her character in this show, but I will say she's also in my favorite 'Hallmark' style Christmas movie. Xmas is only 9 days away so now I have to watch it again, for the umpteenth time.

I hope you used proper cable management. The rest of your build can be the crappiest ever but as long as you made the cables all pretty people in r/pcmasterrace will forgive you. Also, rgb makes computers go faster... it's SCIENCE.

oh i am so sorry! im using windows now, i used to use apple, so i mightve used a different file format that doesnt work on apple. i will fix that next time :)

Same honestly. The air date order makes way more sense.

I'm surprised Alley even knew what he was doing. I was waiting for her to comment.

I meant if their reason was to split them for the next seasons rather than for the S3 arc.

I think the grappling hook is lampshading/making fun of the similarity to Batman.

Not for nothing, but Rohm has the most perfectly arched eyebrows I've ever seen. They are the aurora borealis of eyebrows.

This is a weaker ep IMO. The show has a great pilot then has some ups and downs. Still excellent TV!

It’s def the worst so far (not that there’s much to compare it to 🤣) for me it’s a C and is one of the weakest of the entire series. I agree about the bartender, his family are going to be told he’s a serial killer that’s always bugged me.

I love how cool Angel is but half the time he is super extra and the show fully embraces that and I love it ahaha

I don't think so. Cordelia's character development always felt organic to me. She was desperate for money and food, and this provides a job. She suggested (with her idea getting implemented) getting paid to do what every other hero in every other show feels an obligation to do for free.

Makes you wonder what broke the gypsy curse before "Batman v. Superman..."

How is air date worse than an order that spoils the shows on several occasions?

My issue with Cordelia is she went from hater to helper back to hater after almost dying, then kind of helper again just for the finale, now she's like "we need to help everyone! Angel let's start A HELP PEOPLE BUSINESS"

I agree with CeNedra as she makes a great point and also I went to elementary school with a CeNedra.

Angel is Batman and Buffy is Spiderman.

Going by the guild isn’t so much to protect against spoilers as it is to help line up the crossovers correct,y.

Like Bruce Wayne, Angel sits in the dark and broods.

Trust the guide, it knows what it’s doing.

It isn't one big story. They are separate stories with occasional crossovers.

"OK music cue, I see you!" Actually, Allie, that's not how that works.

YES THIS REACTION WAS EVERYTHING! Also, vote YES for Slayalive, and ditto other comments about the audio. Otherwise, *chef kiss*. Thank you!

Well, I doubt you'll stop using the guide given how popular it seems to be, but I'll take the opportunity to say I would prefer you watch them in the order they aired. That way, you aren't spoiled on when crossovers happen.

I thought it was because of Doyle's accent 🤣🤣😂🤣😳

The key which first-time watchers may miss is that he just crashed through a door and as a vampire, he ought not to have been able to cross the threshold uninvited if the rightful owner was alive (hence the reason he was able to break into Russell's mansion).

Love it! Trust the guide. It’s designed to not spoil anything. ❤️

They could (if they wanted) have had her break up with Xander much later in the season, though.

Reducing continuity errors is a measurable benefit, therefore out of the choices of Slayalive, 1B1A or air date, Slayalive is most certainly objectively the best option. Subjective arguments can be made for whether other spoiler/continuity error avoiding watch orders are better.

Oh, when the rumors were flying around before the launch that James and Juliet would also be regulars, I was fearing it was gonna go FULL FOREVER KNIGHT, with flashbacks to a parallel plotline each episode and Marsters and Landau filling the LaCroix and Jeanette roles. :-)

YES THIS REACTION WAS EVERYTHING! Also, vote YES for Slayalive, and ditto other comments about the audio. Otherwise, chef kiss. Thank you!

Yep, you can definitely see the growing pains with this episode, but it's just so entertaining to watch! The fight choreography was straight up slapstick. Funny af lol