Angel - Season Three

Rating:
Summary: Angel season 3, a season well worth watching
Review: WARNING: SPOILERS for those who haven't seen this season

This is an awesome season of Angel, the sound isn't the best, but its a magnificent show just the same. An introduction to Connor, a less geeky Fred as the show progresses, a re-appearence of Groo, who takes off with Cordelia for 3 whole episodes, I have to admit, I did miss them, it felt empty without them there, mostly Cordy, but hey, I like Groo too. &, Angel partially turns evil again, cause of losing his son.

Heartthrob: 4.5/5 Great starting episode, well-done, Angel kills a female vampire he used to know back in the 1700's, her boyfriend is pissed off at Angelus. We get some flashbacks too with those 2 vamps, Angelus & Darla. At the end of the episode, we see that Darla is back & pregnant

That Vision-Thing: 4/5 Cordelia experiences major pain cause of W&H. They hire a demon to work magics on Cordy, while Angel has to rescue a guy named Billy, who is very dangerous from Skip(a fairly friendly demon, scary, but light-hearted.) then Angel proceeds to kill the demon working for W&H

That Old Gang of Mine: 4.5/5 Gunn's old pals are no longer working their mission, they just killed any demon they see now

Carpe Noctem: 5/5 Angel is trapped in a body of a 76 year old man, while the old man gets to live in Angel's body & try to murder a bunch of people. David Boreanaz is awesome!

Fredless: 5/5 Fred's parents return, she is frightened to see them. She realizes she belongs with Angel & the crew, she stays to help them with their battles, I like Fred, she's cute

Billy: 4.5/5 Yep, that's right, the guy Angel freed is back, he can make guys go insane by just touching them, he infects Wesley & Gunn, but Angel is safe cause he isn't a he, he is an it

Offspring: 4.5/5 Darla visits LA, Angel has to help her

Quickening: 4.5/5 W&H try to find Darla, to get the kid, some flashbacks show Angelus & Darla killing Holtz's family, Holtz is brought back to life by a demon

Lullaby: 4.5/5 Darla stakes herself to let lose Angel's son, Holtz lets Angel live & decides that a more vengeful thing to do is take away Connor from Angel

Dad: 4.5/5 Angel tries to save his kid as Holtz/W&H & a bunch of demons want his son dead, or alive(in Holtz's case)

Birthday: 5/5 Cordelia passes out from a vision on her birthday, meanwhile, she is offered a chance to be famous & live the dream she always wanted to have

Provider: 4.5/5 Angel realizes he is in love with Cordelia

Waiting in the Wings: 3/5 Nothing has changed from a dance Angel & the gang visit. Be sure to watch the deleted scene, you get to see Wesley dancing again

Couplet: 4.5/5 Groo is back to help Angel fight demons again

Loyalty: 5/5 Wesley gets nightmares of Angel killing Connor, over & over again, Wesley decifers a prophecy which reveals that the father will kill the son

Sleep Tight: 5/5 Wesley tries to take Connor away from Angel, only fails & pays a dramatic price for it. Holtz escapes with Connor into the Quor-toth dimension, the worst of hells

Forgiving: 4.5/5 Angel tries to open up a portal to save Connor

double or Nothing: 4.5/5 Gunn made a deal a few years before, to become a demon, Wesley realizes that he has no more alliance with Angel & the gang, Angel offers his soul for Gunn's

The Price: 2.5/5 Slug demons arrive as a consequence of Angel trying to open that portal. Connor is back, only 18 years old now

A New World/Benediction/Tomorrow: 4.5/5 Lilah tries to get Wesley with W&H, Connor is lost, but has an old version of Holtz, Holtz gets the girl to kill him, Cordy is unable to tell Angel that she loves him, she is now a higher being, Angel is captured by Connor & sent to the bottom of the ocean

Special Features: 4/5 Darla featurette, a screen test for Connor & Fred, a deleted scene for Birthday & Waiting in the Wings, season overview, selected audio commentary, outtakes & more.

Great season, buy it!!

Rating:
Summary: One of the best Seaons of this Show!!
Review: This was the best start to an amazing season for Angel. Angel returns from seeking peace in a demon-haunted monastery to find the L.A. Angel Investigations team fighting supernatural crime in his absence. Fred is still haunted by the nightmare dimension from which they rescued her; Cordelia's visions get ever more painful and debilitating. This collection is well worth the money. There really are no bad episodes in this collection. If you love Angel than this season is one not to be missed!!

Rating:
Summary: VERY IMPORTANT ABOUT ANGEL PLEASE READ
Review: All Angel seasons are worth buying but Angel is in danger of being CANCELLED!!! Though ratings are higher than ever the WB has decided to cut Angel loose. FOX makes Angel but for FOX to sell it to another network another network needs to want it, or If enough people write the WB maybe we can keep it. Complete the following steps

1-Sign this petition to save this show: http://www.petitiononline.com/ai5d0162/petition.html 2-Email the WB and tell them it's a mistake: [e-mail], [e-mail] 3-Email fox and tell them we want Angel no matter who airs it: [e-mail], [e-mail] 4-Send mail to the executive producer: Joss Whedon c/o Mutant Enemy Productions PO Box 900 Beverly Hills, CA 90213 5-Contact J August Richards and tell him how you feel: http://www.jaugustrichards.com/contact.htm 6-Read the James Marters suggestions: http://www.buffy.nu/article.php3?id_article=3258

James Marsters suggests the following:
If you want to actually do something that actually might--MIGHT--help to get another season for Angel...

DO THIS TOMORROW

1. Go and buy some postcards that show scenes from your city. Tourist postcards. Postcards that have the name of your town or city or area of the country on them. You don't need anything fancy, just something that will show immediately where you are located so they know this is coming from all over.

2. Write a short message on the postcard in your own words saying that you want Angel to be renewed and support the show. Keep it positive. Don't be insulting. Don't be abusive.

3. Address the postcard to one of the people on the list of addresses in this message. Levin may ignore the cards coming into the WB, but the media outlets will see there's a story in this and publicize it. The names on the list are in order of importance so start at the top and send as many postcards as you want to (or can afford to send).

4. Go and get at least six friends who probably aren't reading this on the internet but would be willing to send postcards, and get them to do the same thing.

5. DO IT TOMORROW! Speed of response is what counts along with the size of the response. Don't wait for instructions from some group. Just DO IT.

Here are the addresses to mail your cards to:

Matt Roush
TV Guide
Box 500
Radnor, PA 19088-0500

The Hollywood Reporter
Attn: Cynthia Littleton
5055 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90036-4396

Entertainment Tonight,
Paramount Pictures Domestic TV
Roddenberry Building
5555 Melrose Avenue
Hollywood, CA 90038

Extra
Warner Bros
4000 Warner Blvd.
Triangle Building, 4th Floor
Burbank, CA 91522

Entertainment Weekly
1675 Broadway New York
NY 10019

TNT is the best possibility to pick up Angel since they've gotten good ratings with the reruns and do some original programming.

Turner Network Television
Attn: Robert DeBitetto (pres, original programming)
1888 Century Park East, 14th Fl.
Los Angeles, CA 90067

Turner Network Television
Attn: Julie Wietz (exec vp. original programming)
1888 Century Park East, 14th Fl.
Los Angeles, CA 90067

Turner Network Television
Attn: Attn: Mr. Jamie Kellner, Chairman and CEO
1050 Techwood Dr. NW
Atlanta, GA 30318

Turner Network Television
Attn: Garth Ancier, Executive Vice-President, Programming
1050 Techwood Dr. NW
Atlanta, GA 30318

Rumor is that Levin doesn't accept cards or letters and they get returned, but a flood of mail might make news even if it doesn't get through

Warner Brothers Network
Attn: Jordan Levin, CEO
4000 Warner Blvd., Building 34R
Burbank, CA 91522
[phone]

*

And, if you want to send cards to Joss to express support and let him know the level of interest, here's where to send them:

Joss Whedon
C/o Mutant Enemy Productions
PO Box 900
Beverly Hills, CA 90213

And to send cards supporting the cast and crew:

Angel Productions
20th Century Fox
PO Box, 900
Beverly Hills
CA, 90213-0900

Now, if you actually want to accomplish something, make some news, and maybe, just maybe, get a sixth season for Angel...

DO THIS TOMORROW AND DON'T PUT IT OFF!

Rating:
Summary: Absolute Brilliance
Review: Angel's third season is when the show really hit it's stride. The third season is pure perfection. This show just keeps getting better and better.

Rating:
Summary: good season
Review: This is a very good season, and shouldn't be missed. This is the middle of the three season epic (2 being the intro, and 4 being the climax). All the events formt he first 2 seasons comeinto play, and new plot twists are introduced. This was a great season with good charater development, and better action. I wasn't a fan of the whole baby thing, but it played out nicely and in season 4 (the best one so far) connor was very important. I really like cordelia's character change (except her new hair) and thinks it makes sense for her character. Holtz was a good bad guy (he had some complex issues) but i really like sijhan. I'm glad that they are bringing him back into the current 5th season (his story was never wraped up). I was a good season, good acting and good writing. Don't complaine about it.(the dvd extras were pretty good, but i think they're saving the best ones for seasons 4 & 5) Please help renew angel for a sixth season (go to www.tvtome.com/Angel and click on the link to sign the pitition (it's under the catogory "news").

Rating:
Summary: Get Ready for an emotional Roller Coaster!!
Review: The writers and story creators of Angel have a knack for taking the viewers on an emotional roller coaster thoughout a season. I'm not prone to handing out spoilers so I won't ruin any of the season for people who haven't seen it yet, but season three is one of the best seasons of Angel because of these highs and lows that you experience with the characters. One minute you are laughing harder than you've ever laughed with them, the next minute you are mad at them, and then the next minute you find yourself crying for or with them.

Season three is also one of the greater seasons because of the addition of Fred into the cast. She is a terrific character that has benefited the show very much. It is amazing to see how the characters all have developed through-out this show. It is almost hilarious to watch season one of Buffy and compare the Angel and Cordelia from then to the Angel and Cordelia in season three of Angel. Or to go to season three of Buffy where we are first introduced to Wesley. He has changed more than any other character.

Well, hats off to Joss Whedon, David Greenwalt, Tim Minear, and company as they again have pulled off a terrific season of a great television show. If you watch this, you'll agree. If you don't watch it, you will miss a masterpiece.

Rating:
Summary: Welcome to ANGEL - THE SOAP OPERA
Review: For those of you who have seen the first two seasons of the show, please prepare yourself for a dramatic departure from the characters you knew, and also the quality storylines that surrounded them.

This season has disintegrated into vague nonsensical love-triangles (Gunn - Fred - Wesley), forced unbelievable relationships (Angel - Cordelia), and boring boring boring storylines (Holtz). The most dissapointing part of this whole season was the character development of Saint Cordelia. The woman with some sense of comic relief and strength now becomes MY MOM. This is most evident in the last conversation of the first episode, "Heartthrob" when she becomes the trusted counselor who helps Angel pour his heart out about Buffy. And it only gets worse from there.

In terms of a "big bad", let's just put Holtz at the bottom of the list. I snooze every time he's on the screen. A 45 year old man kills 10 heavily-armed soldiers of Wolfram and Hart with a single axe in episode "Lullaby"?

Even Angel's development is regressive, not progressive. He becomes paranoid, uncertain, and a babbling fool with his new baby. At one point his character descends to such stupidity that a woman (who is infected and becoming a demon when she sings - episode "Loyalty") is talking about her horrific situation as Angel ignores her and theorizes about why the Flying Nun is called the Flying Nun. where were the high-priced writers at that moment? where were the editors? Where was Joss?

I would say that the only saving grace about the season would be Wesley's development into a strong power figure. That is, until he contradicts everything about being a noble being and clubs Lorne over the head, and gives Angel's kid to his sworn enemy.

Darla's character played excellently by Julie Benz is the strongest part of this season. If you're going to watch it, I suggest you enjoy her performance while it lasts. Her last moments during this season are spectacular and heart-wrenching.

To sum up, this season becomes more about personal relationships, and less about Angel's mission, his purpose. The show is more concerned whether Angel is getting a crush on Cordy and less about helping those in need. What about Buffy? His true love!!!!! Did this love interest between he and Cordy seem as awful and unreal as it did to me?

I await Season 4 on DVD. It redeems the Series by getting rid of the soap opera, and bringing the characters back into focus.

Rating:
Summary: very good season....though not the best
Review: The third season, although not the best takes fans on a very interesting journey where it is more about the group, human relationships in general and how they deal with them. It seems as if the theme was to promote the idea that we become the people we are...through the experiences and decisions (also the outcome) we make in life.

We see angel moving away from the buffy influence.."the love of his life" and his mission. He finally seems to understand that there are other people in his life and influence. He moves on to relate with others such as the concept of having a son and the chance of a new love in Cordy(but of course (in my perception) he realizes that he has some of same insecurites from the buffy relationship..he can't go into the light or really "love?" in the physical sense). A new character Fred joins the group...she is not a completely strong entity yet as she feels somewhat superficial...like the cute little girl next day that everyone loves. As for the other characters... in this season, gun is forced to choose sides between his past and present peers, trips into a love triangle with fred and wesley , he also questions his new found relationship with fred and how it fits with the work place.Wesley(my favorite character), has grown so much....this season he becomes dark and more complex - he becomes the character he is at present time (season 5?) where he proves that he is no longer the know-it-all court jester and that sometimes he has to do the difficult things in order to do the right thing(in his perception) and damn the consequences? He goes through a crush...triangle..heart break, a struggle of right/wrong and betrayal on his part. I think that perhaps the experiences of that 3rd season has ironed out much of his romanticism to life ...so much that his disposition as well as his appearence takes on a harsh and somewhat jaded edge. Cordy has grown very much too. She has a little of that sunny dale(the buffy series?) edge to her yet she has matured into a very strong woman with good character. She almost enters a coupling with angel and some of the stories between the two were a bit sweet and humorous((Side note: the actress charisma is no longer with the series..for what it's worth?...I'm glad she moved on....the series angel seems to feel a little exhausted..especially with the old characters...angel too. I hope she finds other great projects to excercise her talents.))

I have to say that even though the series was enjoyable....the writing was a bit of a turn off(a teeny bit). For me, it was the way that most of the demon charcters were humanized (like the "skip" demon who commutes to hell, the wife beater super human with women issues and the time traveler demon who takes smoke breaks and left england due to warm beer, boiled meat and bad teeth). Also much of the cute american slang language seems borrowed from "Buffy". Though?.... it's only a TV show and I think the creater, producers, directors, artisans, writers and actors all did a good job on the show...so I shan't complain?..except for the terrible packaging and dvd. I think another reviewer offered good advice when they said that the dvds should not be kept in the case(that is if they don't arrive scratched(this is the 3rd time I've had this problem with angel dvds..by mail and store...get a clue people!!..it's so annoying that I don't want to buy the rest of the seasons anymore). Also the dvd navigation is terrible and almost useless without a dvd remote when used in a player...please do not reuse a menu system without testing it properly!

The season get a 4.5 the dvd gets 2.

Rating:
Summary: S3 is Godly! Help out Angel!
Review: This is such an amazing season, and such an amazing show!! Don't let it get cancelled- there is a petition to help keep it going- if we get enough sigs, a new network might pick it up!
Season three is one of the best by far, if you loved S1 and S2, you'll devour this DVD! Even if your new to Angel, S3 is an amazing collection.
Go Sign the petition!- http://www.petitiononline.com/angels6/

Rating:
Summary: "In All Those Years - Noone Ever Mattered. Not like she did"
Review: "Angel" hits the third season with a much grimmer atmosphere than previously, especially after the hilarity of the four-part finale of season two. However, it ended on a note of tragedy: as the gang push through the doors of their home Angel spots a solumn Willow seated in the foyer. Two words said it all: "It's Buffy."

Yet as temporary as the vampire-with-a-soul's beloved's death was, Buffy's death shook things up in L.A. for a while. After spending the summer in Tibet, Angel returns to find that somehow he still has the strength to go on fighting the good fight. This he needs, as a few shocking revelations are about to come his way. As you all remember (how could anyone forget?), last season Angel slept with his vampiric sire Darla in a state of despair, and now the consequences are back to haunt him. Despite the fact that vampires cannot reproduce, Darla is several months pregnant, and of course the evil law firm Wolfram and Hart are eagar to sink their teeth into this mystical/scientific impossibility. In the ashes of Darla's death comes the birth of Conner, who's destiny is a dangerous and tricky path.

Meanwhile, Cordelia (who has come a long way since the selfish Queen C. of the first three "Buffy" seasons) has established herself fully as Angel's link to the Powers That Be, suffering increasingly painful visions in order to be of service to Angel - even going so far as to become part demon so that she might survive the painful ordeals.

Wesley on the other hand becomes more and more enstranged from his family - after translating a horrifying prophesy concerning Angel's son he takes it upon himself to protect the newborn baby from harm. Hiding everything from his friends, he makes an uneasy alliance with Daniel Holtz, a mortal man transported through time with one heck of a vendetta against Angel. After Wesley's betrayal, Conner is taken through a portal only to emerge several days later as a fully grown teenager - with a bitter grudge against his father.

Season Three of Angel brought in a new style of storytelling: when previously each episode had been made up of a singular mystery, Three began to meld each one into the other, making a long season-length arc. With this inevitably came the good and the bad.

The good is that here begins a deep and complex storyline, drawing on many mythical and morale components, deepening our main characters, and taking them into realms we probably never saw coming. I mean, Angel as a father? Wesley and Lilah as a couple? Cordelia as an angelic figure? The fact that the creators can pull this all off in an interesting and realistic(!) way makes for evocative watching. I know many are not fond of the Conner storyline, or indeed of Conner himself, but I actually had a soft spot for Angel-Junior. It's not his fault that no one had the brains to sit him down and simply tell him that *Angel has a soul*. The closest he gets is Angel muttering: "They're [other vampires] aren't like me." Whether you love him or hate him (and by the time Season Four rolls around, I admit you'll probably hate him), he certainly shook things up a bit. And I have to say it, but does anyone else think he and Dawn would make the perfect couple? Corny, I know, but think about it: both the "children" of superheroes, both with false memories, and both annoying as heck!

As exciting and eventful as Three was, there were some things I didn't like, and I have to compare to its sister-show "Buffy". There, the friendships of the main characters (Buffy, Xander, Willow) are the core of the show, and the affection between characters in "Angel" are also tangible in their sincerity. But in Three, things began to drift a little. What started as a sweet, almost father-daughter relationship between Angel and Fred is quickly neglected, and Wesley's refusal to share his troubles with his friends is baffling to say the least. I was never the least bit won over by the Cordelia/Angel love match (he left Buffy because of his curse and the fact they could never truly be together - what made him think he could do any better with Cordy?) and Wesley and Cordy's friendship also suffers: why did she never go to see him in hospital? I feel that Fred's visit when she tells him to "never come back" would have been ten times more powerful had it been Cordy saying these words, plus given a reason as to why she completely ignores Wes.

But, despite these faults, Season Three is riveting stuff, filled with familiar reappearences, and ends on a note of both despair and strange hope, with everyone crying out for Season Four.