Angel 1.01 "City Of"

[Angel's vision]

Thought I'd take Lyri's suggestion and start with season one's 1st eppy.
City Of....(hope she doesn't mind..)

I rather liked the voice over it was good intro for the bar scene and the
first time he meets Doyle was nicely put.
BUT the best bit was when he threw the W&H client out the window...

"we do things differently in L.A..."
"Really..?
question is can you fly..?"

Lol!
The irony was that Angel's first "client" died as he tried to help her,
and Darla's first efforts to save someone (Conner) failed, too.

[Lyri]

the first scene of 'City of' is one of my faves from the entire show...that opening monlouge(sp?) was totally Angel, and the bar scene was as funny as hell 'You know, you kinda remind me of her' lol. 'Girl's are nice.@ they crack me up everytime.
the alley was just pure brilliance. DB played it perfectly, without over acting. the fact that his walking away remained in the opening credits for the rest f the shows run proves how good it was. yes, there was a 'slight' blooper in the alley scene that was present in every ep thereafter (you could see Angel's reflection in the puddle) but i don't think it detracted from the ep at all.

[Jenny]

Fantastic start to a fantastic show. I loved that they managed to make the series it's own individual entity right from the start while staying true to the Angel character.

So sad seeing what Cordelia's life was like now..though it hasn't really humbled her yet!

I loved when she came to the realization that she was in a vampire's house lol

---------------
Cordelia: Oh god. I'm sorry. I'm getting all weepy in front of you. I probably look really scary. I finally get invited to a nice place with... no mirrors... and .... lots of curtains.... Hey, you're a vampire!

Russell: What? No I'm not.

Cordelia: Are too!
---------------

Or when Cordy meets Angel again for the first time since Sunnydale:

---------------
Cordelia: So, um, are you still.... "GRRR"?

Angel: Yeah, there's not actually a cure for that.
---------------

Oh man..so many funny moments in this eppy!

My ranking on it: :sun0: :sun0: :sun0: :sun0: :sun0: (Ok I know those are suns but they look kinda like stars! Or Sheriff's badges.) :D

[Joamna]

I agree, it's a good start for the show.. The way they mentioned Buffy to show Angels background and where he's coming from, but still they made it clear that this is his own series.. eh.

One of my favorite scenes is the one with Cordelia in her bed trying to convince herself: "I am somebody. I matter. People will be attracted to my positive energy and help me achieve my goals. I am right where I'm supposed to be, and not dying for something to eat!"

[Lyri]

i thought showing what Coredlia's life was like then, and how different it was to her life in Sunnydale, was a good way to show that, maybe, Cordy wouldn't be that bitchy girl we all knew...or at least, she wouldn't always be that way.
i thought i was so touching when she unwrapped the little sandwiches from the party.

[Kryptonite]

I loved when she came to the realization that she was in a vampire's house lol

---------------
Cordelia: Oh god. I'm sorry. I'm getting all weepy in front of you. I probably look really scary. I finally get invited to a nice place with... no mirrors... and .... lots of curtains.... Hey, you're a vampire!

Russell: What? No I'm not.

Cordelia: Are too!
---------------



haha yeah, when she's like "I'm from Sunnydale, we have our own Hellmouth!"

[Mulder22]

so many good moments in this episode. I think my favorite is when Angel jumps into the wrong car....hahaha. Freakin Hilarious!!!!!!!

[buffetofsporks]

Compared to the rest of the series ... this wasn't my favorite episode. It wasn't even a memorable one for me. I gotta say, I was a tad bored through bits in this episode. I'd say Lonely Hearts is what really got the season started for me.

[SpikedBuffy]

I'm opening this thread back up so that we can continue our discussion of this Episode. Feel free to post about this episode.

Discussion start and end dates: 2/10/08 to 2/17/08

[LittleMissLikesToFight]

i LOVE when angel jumps into the wrong car. its SO funny and was so the humor we all know and love.

[SpikedBuffy]

I know...with the music and the dramatics of it all...and then he looks over and sees his car. That's just great!

I do like the powerful ending, with Angel pushing Russell out the window on his rolly chair. That was pretty cool.

Did you think that Cordelia was going to be a good fit for the show? I was very apprehensive about it, because she seemed so out of character from what we were used to. I admit that I did start to like her (even though I liked her better on Buffy) but her first appearance on Angel was iffy in my book.

[wiccianslayer]

ok great scenes laughable diologe and i love the whole angel revenge thing

[justanotherjen]

I loved most of the episode. The opening was hilarious with Angel pretending to be drunk. And then Angel in all his awkwardness trying to talk to the waitress. The Cordy scenes were my favorite. "I'm from Sunnydale, we have our own hellmouth." She was a lot less scared then a normal person would have been. And I liked how Angel just kind of let her sneak into his life. She pretty much started the business and gave herself a job. Angel had very little say in any of it and you can tell he was glad to have her around.

The only part that bugs me is when they have to do the whole history of Angel thing so people who never watched Buffy know what is going on. I know why they have to do it but I hate when shows/movies do that. As a writer the one thing that was drilled into my head was "show, don't tell" and that scene with him and Doyle is all "tell". I get why they do it and I usually just skip over the scene because it is kind of boring.

But otherwise I loved the episode.

[thegifting]

You're all missing the important information about the very begining-

JJ Abrams is a big fan of a lot of the Angel writers, which is why he hired a number of them when they went on the market, and he wrote something into LOST, that ties in with Angel.
Sawyer gets off the island, goes back to LA, but then gets vamped. Then, with the flash-forwards on that show, Angel has one, with him killing Sawyer before the opening credits.

I mean, this is quality chronography people!

[benboy606]

1.01 "City Of..."

An amazing series premiere, leaves you begging for more!

The teaser is a great one, and the line, “It started with a girl” explains his whole story. I loved drunk Angel and the fight was well choreographed. I loved his description of L.A and how he smelled the blood on the girls head. It just set up all of Angel, which impresses me greatly. And then the credits. How we will see you. How you will bore us. But, how oh so we love you.

Angel’s crib (yes, I did say that) is a great set piece and the way they introduced it to us was very good. Doyle’s entrance was awesome, and his retelling of Angel’s life was really boring. I know it needed to be done, but it felt very forced. They could’ve found another way to do it. But, Doyle shows himself to be very witty from the start with his “Have you looked in a mirror lately? Well, uh, no, I guess you haven’t.” line. Doyle will be staying awhile, you can tell. Or so you think. Also, his sneezing as showing that he’s a demon? Perfect!

Angel’s attempt at flirting with Tina is great, and funny. Tina’s a great character, and we think she’ll last through this whole thing. Eh. Not so much. But I love how they bound, and I love her story of an acting career gone wrong. Foreshadowing for Cordy, anyone? The introduction of Russell was nicely done, and those goons are freaky. My only question: are they human? I think so, since they’re afraid of bullets. But, you never know. Also, Tina happens to have a dress at her work as a waitress? Um….

Cordy is perfect. Cordelia coming to L.A because of her parents financial life is good and her lines are so Cordelia, and hilarious. I love her so much. The chase scene is exciting and very fun! I loved how he didn’t pull the trigger haha!

I love Tina, officially. Her line about saying that Angel did all this to have some sex really defines her life so far. It’s very sad, her friends dying, her being taken advantage of. All very sad. I feel for Tina, and its unfortunate she died. I really like her speech about pain. It’s terrifying, and her acting is amazing. Her dreaming and jumping up into Angel’s arms is touching. She was a love interest, at first. Then….I can’t bear to think of it. Maybe this is what Doyle meant, about how you have to get to know your “client” or “helpless” to really save them. You have to understand them.

Angel’s reveal as a vampire is terrifying, and unfortunate for Tina, once again. Does anything GOOD happen in her life? Hmm. Her packing and running away is great and her pulling a gun on Russell was awesome! He’s scary, him manipulating Tina is freaky and the score is beautiful and chilling. And then, it happens. Angel’s mission: failed. Angel can’t always win. He couldn’t save the one person that he became attached too, which is heartbreaking. We want payback.

His “war” is great! And Cordelia’s positive energy thing is a kick! It’s shot very well, everything is in this show. The score is great, and Cordelia is amazing! Who could NOT love this woman? And her whole bit about noticing the vampire sign is priceless. Also, lost Angel is fabulous and hilarious. And it’s really exciting, too! Also, Cordy opening up is great. I love both sides of her, and she’s starting to change from her Sunnydale self. And Angel coming out of the darkness, and Cordy being happy. Everything is awesome. And Doyle’s loyalty to Angel is nice but hilarious when he crashes the car. “It’s a good gate.”

The Wolfram and Hart set up is a great one for the whole series, and very well done. And the office scene is great. Lindsey is a joy to watch, even from the first episode. They’re obviously in the business with demons. And Russell compromising with Angel was awesome, and then Angel kicking Russell out the window? Love it. Plus, the “I’m Game” scene is iconic, and the score for that moment is mind bending.

Overall: a great premiere with amazing writing and a fantastic story. Great characters set up, Cordelia and Doyle. And showing that this show will be going far. Unfortunately, it’s brought down a little by some minor plot errors (only one or two) and a very, very long montage about how Angel is a vampire, yadda, yadda, yadda. Went on way too long for my tastes. And those vampire costumes? Those special effects? Lame, lame, lame, lame, lame! So, I give this amazing premiere a 9.5.

9.5/10

Quotes:

Angel: It all started with a girl.



Doyle: Have you looked in the mirror lately? Well, uh, no, I guess not.



Angel: I don’t want to share my feeling. I don’t want to open up. I want to find the guy that murdered Tina, and I want to look him in the eye.

Doyle: And then what?

Angel: Then, I'm gonna share my feelings.



Cordelia: So, are you still, ya know, GRR?!



Angel: There’s nobody left I care about.



Cordelia: No mirrors, lots of curtains. Hey, you’re a vampire!

Russell: What? No, I'm not.

Cordelia: Are too!

Russell: I don’t know what you’re talking about.

Cordelia: I grew up in Sunnydale! We had our own hellmouth! I think I know a vampire when I…am alone with him in his fortress like home.



Cordelia: Oh, boy. You’re about to get your ass kicked.



Russell: And I can do whatever I want.

Angel: Oh, yeah? Can you fly?