Rating: 
Summary: amazing season
Review: angel is truly a remarkable show a true equal to buffy angels i n only its second season has powerful and suspensful storylinbe like its its final season still miss doyle though the angel darla storyline so amazing how did it not get an emmy nod for its writing and david or jhulie not nominated so evil that didnt happen gurr wolfman and hart wasa a very good evil advisioary its las hellmouth angel and buffy both hads remarkeble emmy worthy season that year angels second season buffys steller five gun is one of the greatest characters i wish there could be a black character in buffy in the credits gunns funny awsome fighter and in my opinion better sideman than wesley even doyle beatiful charisma charpender is so good and funny i love her harmonys return was awsome too i give this season100/5 yeah that good
Rating:
Summary: Great for Angel to get some darkness in him...
Review: I really got into Angel when he left Buffy in 1999. I didn't watch all of the episodes each year until the 4th season, and I just caught whatever I saw in season 1-3. Very random episodes. After getting both season 1 and 2 on DVD, the show was even better for me.This season had everything - Darla, Drusilla, Pylea, Lorne, Fred, Wolfram & Hart, and even a darker, even more brooding Angel. It was just an all-around great season and the writing was just on the mark. My fav episode was Epiphany in which Angel had to find a way back to the friends he dissed.
Rating:
Summary: Fallen/Lost Angel
Review: While the first season of Angel was very good, this season completely blew its predecessor out of the water. It starts off with Angel (David Boreanaz), Cordelia (Charisma Carpentar), and Wesley (Alexis Denisof), and eventually Gunn (J. August Richards), trying to figure out what Wolfram and Hart summoned in the box in the season 1 finale. They all think its some hell-beast, but it turns out to be Darla (Julie Benz), Angel's sire. The lawyers at W&H plan on using her to drive Angel insane and make him turn back into Angelus. This season, we are introduced to Lorne the Host (Andy Hallet) and Fred (Amy Acker), two great characters destined to end up in the opening credits. Anyway, once Angel realizes that Darla is back in human form, he makes it his mission to save her soul, for he thinks that if he takes pity on the person that made him a vampire, it will earn him big points in his mission to become human again. Unfortunately, Drusilla (Juliet Landau) comes to L.A. to turn Darla back into a vampire. Outraged, Angel fires his three companions and becomes a scary mixture of Angel and Angelus. While still retaining his soul, he begins to do anything and everything to kill Darla and destroy Wolfram and Hart. Eventually, a trip to the "Home Office" is the shock required to bring back Angel and reunite with his friends. Towards the end of the season, the gang ends up in Pylea, an alternate universe where Lorne came from. There, they meet Fred and change the way of the world.
This show has a lot more "gray" than its sister show, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, which makes for some very good plot-lines. For example, in "The Thin Dead Line", a police captain raised some cops from the dead as ruthless zombies to help fight crime. While what he did was wrong, and the cops violated many of our rights as Americans, they did their job very well. They were in a precinct with daily crime. Also, Angel's whole descent was very gray; his sacrificed principles were merely a means to an end, which would have significantly decreased the evil in the world. However, when the gang got to Pylea, things took on a whole new spin, because, according to Lorne, there is no gray in Pylea. Just black and white. This proved very true, especially in Angel's human/demon relationship. He was very human in Pylea; he had a reflection and could walk in the sunlight. However, when he fought and tried to shift to his vampire face, his entire body changed into a grotesque demon that he could barely control.
I guess that the only change that I would make is (WARNING: Spoiler) the way they returned to Los Angeles. The characters were saying that going to Pylea could have been a one-way trip. I thought that they wouldn't be able to open a portal back to L.A., but instead, they would be brought back because of the vortex opened by Glory and Doc in Sunnydale. They would end up there and see Buffy's (Sarah Michelle Gellar) body rather than a have a silent Willow (Alyson Hannigan) waiting for them at their hotel.
This was a great season, and I can't wait for the next one to come out. Some good episodes are Disharmony, Belonging, Over the Rainbow, Through the Looking Glass, There's No Place Like Plrtz Glrb, Guise Will Be Guise, Reunion, Redefinition, Reprise, and Epiphany.
Rating:
Summary: A strong Season for the revamped cast
Review: Season Two seemed to get better as the year moved along. Many of the reviewers have said that the last episodes in Pylea were their least favorite of the year. I STRONGLY DISAGREE!!!! I have watched them several times and enjoyed them more each time. THey were just plain funny--I find Angel's quiet dark moods his least interesting aspect-he is far more compelling either as Angelus (season two, BTVS), or when the action is lighter and funnier. There are so many scenes in the Pylea clips that are classics-when Angel sees his reflection for the first time, or when Fred is introduced to Wesley and Gunn for the first time ("she's been here a really long time"). And the Host--going back to see his "mother"-very funny stuff, although his family "dancing" seems borrowed directly from Monty Python. And as a healthy male, I must confess to enjoying seeing Cordelia in her royal two-piece. She is great in the episodes as well.
Also, if you are as blown away as I was by Chris Kane's (Lindsay) singing in episode 18, his band, Kane, can be seen at http://www.kanemusic.com/. The CD is very good as well.
Five stars!!
Rating: 
Summary: One of the better of the first 4 seasons
Review: I think that this one of the best of the four seasons. After First season's destruction of Angel Investigations original offices the gang moves into new headquarters, an old derelict hotel Angel once lived in(great looking set). You'll get a story or two about that, pretty good although they could've gone into some more detail (A woman Angel knew there in the 50's left a suitcase full of money, you never hear of it again).
I liked the Darla/Drusilla story segments the best, those ladies did a good job. I didn't like the Wolfram & Hart bits, very dissatisfying. Elisabeth Rohm was largely wasted this season (her second & I guess final)no wonder she's gone now. Another example of how the series can introduce something or someone an just unceremoniously dump them when it doesn't work well, this actress could do things if they'd written anything for her.
Just three guest bits this season, one with Mercedes McNabb as Harmony, that episode wasn't bad although Alyson Hannigan's appearance didn't amount to much. Alyson's end of season appearance with news of Buffy's death was way too short.
The last three (4?) episodes of the season were just plain weird, I dind't mind learning more about the Host's (later known as Lorne) homeworld but didn't care for the story arc. Fred ,Amy Acker, was just about all that was any good in that segment.
Rating:
Summary: Angel stumbles, flounders; though still essential.
Review: The overwhelmingly positive notations about the second season of Angel fail to mesh with my personal fealings. The first season was an amazing departure from Buffy, and, by its seond half, superior to Buffy's fourth seasons second half. The reasons for its sucess were, to my taste, a refreshingly dark, moody, horrific tang with a dash of irony and some gut renching emotional pathos, not to mention exciting Buffy crossovers that did not limit and muzzle the show, but intertextualized it in a way I had never experienced before. By the second season, the oppresive feelings are gone and replaced by a sloopy goofiness, with limp, and sparce, attempts at emotional resonance coinciding with monster mash style cheese and, though there are some crossovers, no intertextualization with Buffy. Cordy, Gunn, and Wesley are unfortunetly relegated into the roles of comicly daft characatures. Wesley at this point is totally without the intellectual authority and charasmatic air of a Giles; Cordy is just annoying; and Gunn becomes Mr. Token Black Actor. And the show is just sloppy. Watch the numerous crowd scenes, with the bored looking extras standing there looking innapropriate (guards, monsters with silly faces, the Wolfram and Hardt executives). The creature world, nicely expanded in the Angel season 1, showing us their world in a way Buffy had as yet not (Buffy-monster as other/Angel-monster as grey area), and second season Angel just gets silly with the goofball humor. Introduced are numerous characters that are boring to the point of criminal (Weselys girlfriend), the characters that are there are woefully under developed (what happened to cop ladys arc?), the shows tone comes crashing down from its wonderful previous season inky blackness, and the guy who plays the young Wolfram and Hart lawyer is just plain poor (and does anyone seriously believe that he would fall for Darla!?!). In the first time in the linear span of watching Joss Whedons shows (buffy 1,2,3,4 + Angel 1) I started to get the feeling that I was watching an afternoon kids show instead of the postmodern fests that stood on towering grandeous pillars of irony assembled from the rubble of contrivances and cliche blasted from television and cinema and reassembled into a pleasure that was both intellectual and emotional. Even the best episodes are marred. For instance, Redefinition. In a stab at Taxi Driver, we had Angel shown in montage sequence preparing himself for violence by training in small, claustrophobic cellars and sewers. In monologe, Angel says something like "too many days sleeping in soft beds, I'm not ready." Then, maybe the next day, maybe later that night, he kills some vampires and proclaims prophetically "I'm ready." Oh, so you only needed to train intensively for a war for, hhmmmmm, maybe two or three days? Since thats how long it had been since (spoiler) Cordy, Gunn, Wesely had been fired. It's just alot of stuff like that, that taken independently, isn't too bothersome, but in a bombardment of attrition, adds up to some gaping maws in our suspension of disbelief. Not to paint to shabby a portrait, Angel season 2 is still better than just about anything on tv (Better than Alias for sure) or cable (better than Carnival but I wouldn't say Six Feet Under or Sopranos). The season finale, with Angel and crew propelled into a parallel universe, was a desperate, and sucessful attempt to save the entire season from mediocraty; it leaves one with a pleasant taste after swallowing so much chaff. The rather too brief return of Dru had her at her best, really bumping up the amps of the episodes she was in. I also enjoyed the IDEA of Angels moral ambiguities, though the execution was a different matter. The unsurfaced details of his relationship with Darla are amazing and reveal that Buffy, instead of the love of a lifetime (200 and forty odd years) was actually just a rebound/footnote to Angels much more dynamic, destructive, addictive relationship with Darla. More could have been done with the idea that Darla had reformed and resigned herself to a peaceful human life with Angel until she sucummed to syphalis, but this potentionally heart wrending situation is just tagged onto the end of The Trial (with Darla being turned while Angel is (yeah right) supposedly being restrained by a few measly humans- come on, he could had ripped those guys up!). At Buffy's and Angel's pinnacle, I could make my case that they ARE the best things on tv, and even with this season 2 downturn, I still dig it like heck. Your always hardest on those things you love and my review is holding Angel to a standard few shows could reach, but Angel should. Not having seen seasons 3, 4, or 5 or Angel, lets hope they couldn't keep a good (well, sometimes) vampire down...
Rating:
Summary: Angel season 2 is a winner
Review: Angel is still kicking ash in season 2 still with the help of Wesley Wyndham Price(Alexis Denisof), Cordelia Chase(Charmisa Carpenter and the newest cast member Charles Gunn(J. August Richards). in the first episode Angel tries to protect a pregnant lady and he has this ultimate jousting fight in the middle of the street. in the other corner you have Darla entering back into Angel's life after he killed her in season 1 of Buffy The Vampire Slayer and she was resserected by Wolfram and Hart at the end of season 1. Cordelia still has her visions. Angel and his crew move into a hotel that was in Angel's past after the Angel Investigations blew up. still on the bad guy side is Holland Manners(Sam Anderson) who Angel lets Darla and Drusilla kill,also theres still Lilah Morgan(Stephanie Romanov) and the plastic hand Lindsey(Christian Kane)I have to note that I found out Kane auditioned for Riley Finn, which he would of did a better job at that then Marc Blucas, seriously. other guest stars are Tony Todd(Candyman Movies), Juliet Landau(Drusilla), James Marsters(Spike), MArk Metcalf(The Master), Mark Rolston(Boone), Matthew James(Merl), Faith(Eliza Dushku), Mark Lutz(Grooslaaug), Mercedes McNab(Harmony Kendall) and Alyson Hannigan(Willow Rosenberg, Willow comes at the last episode basically to tell Angel that Buffy died). we are introduced in episode one of the Carita's Host Lorne(Andy Hallet) who has Angel sing "Mandy" which is hilarious and the ever so beautiful Amy Acker(Winifred Burkle/Fred) at the last 3 or 4 episodes. Acker joins the cast in season 3 and Andy Hallet joins midway in season 4. A great view and probably one of the best show's out there right now after Buffy was done with its 7 year run. You wont be dissappointed baby.
Rating:
Summary: One of the Best Seasons Ever
Review: Angel was marvelous during its Second Season. Probably the best season of Angel to date (excluding current season). The mixture of the dramatic (Angel's quest for redemption sidetracted) with the comedic (Wesley's and Cord's relationship) was the best since the days of M.A.S.H. The show plays on the history of the Angel's character in flashback scenes and sets the seeds for his demise without reverting back to Angelus by reintroducing the Darla character (who Sired Angel and then later killed by him, talk about your Fruadian tale). Not only is Angel's quest very evident throught the season but it takes on a stronger role when Darla comes back human and is dying as well. Angel's fight for her soul in one episode is probably one of the best shows of the season. Add to this Dru's appearances after Darla is changed back into a vampire and the season explodes by the middle of the season. At one point Angel's lowest point is also his most spectacular. While this is all going on, the other members of the team (Wes, Cordy & Gunn) create a new bond. The season then ends with a great 2 parter that introduces a new character (Fred) and fully develops another (Lorn). The season is the best from the moments of Angel signing to the flashbacks (including Spike, Dru & Darla's time during the Boxer Rebellion). The season is highlighted by Angel's quest to his demise and ends up with the revelation that Angel cannot continue on his quest without his friends. The message of the season is powerful and well-written and one of the finest hours on TV.
Rating:
Summary: A great season
Review: I started watching Buffy The Vampire Slayer late into the serise and hated my self for doing it. The only way to see what I missed was to watch them on DVD. I did not think that the show Angel could have the same dry hummer and at the same time have the creative writting and interesting story lines. Still I had to see. When I watched season one I thought it was a great show. Season two steped the show up. The writting is stronger and the characters become who they realy are. Also making J. August Richards as Charles Gunn to the cast. The seasons second episode (Are You Now or Have You Ever Been) takes a trip in time to the 1950's back in that predigest period. It takes place in a hotel where a demon feeds on the predigest and paranoia of the people in the hotel. At the end of the flash backs Angel lets the demon kill everyone in the hotel with out doing anything. This to me seemed like the set up for the rest of the season. Angel explors his darker roots with out becoming evil Angelus. With the return of his sier Darla who Angel staked in season one of Buffy and Wolfram & Hart tring to drive him crazy he seems to snap. First he lets Darla and Drusilla kill a room of Wolfram & Hart lawyers then fireing Gunn, Wesley and Cordelia falling into a dark place where all his thoughts are bent on killing Darla and Drusilla and destroying the senior parters and Wolfram & Hart. The end of the season takes place in a different world called Pylea where they first meet Fred. That is all of the story I will give away. In all I thought that season two of Angel was one of it's better years.
Rating:
Summary: Great Season
Review: I thought the season was an overall great season. It was better than the first season and I have not seen any other seasons. The first half of the season I felt was better than the last half. For about the first 12 episodes, I couldn't wait to watch the next. The Angel series is my favorite show, second only to the Buffy series. If you like Buffy you will probably like Angel, but Angel is geared toward a slightly older generation than is Buffy. I would highly recommend it.
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