Jun
17
Whenever I write opinion pieces for the website, it usually relates back to whatever I happen to be writing for the magazine, that usually being the subject that’s on my mind at the time. This morning, I found myself writing about Angel in a fairly comprehensive way. I was reminded, in a fit of nostalgia, of how good that show was in its five-year run, and the extent to which I preferred it over mother show Buffy The Vampire Slayer.
I also realised I haven’t found a show that has truly succeeded it – since it finished in 2004, I’ve sought out dramas like The Wire, Mad Men, Life On Mars, House, Battlestar Galactica and Caprica. They’re all good in their own way, but I now believe the reason I like Angel was that, in spite of the campier elements like demon prosthetics and fictional incantations, it was a pretty sophisticated drama. Not The Sopranos sophisticated, as such, but engaging in that it challenged me, in some way, despite being easy viewing.
The number of shows that have subsequently done the same thing is quite low. They’re either too densely serialised, too procedural or too caught up in their own mythology – I think Angel balanced all three elements quite well, and that it was key to the show’s success.
Supernatural is certainly an Angel type of show, and despite its flaws, Dollhouse was too. My hunt for a spiritual successor to Angel goes on – in terms of pacing, I think Whedon and company had it just right. There was rarely a point in that show’s lifespan where I wasn’t enjoying the experience of watching it.
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Loved this show and I just was writing about it today. How strange. This show made me laugh, cry and think about the episodes long after they aired.
Love this show and just wrote about it today! How strange. I do not think it was as good as buffy but it was wonderful
Agreed.
While Buffy deteriorated after they lost the high school dynamic (with a few obvious exceptions of course), Angel got progressively better (When you erase season 4 from your memory and forget the name *ehem* ‘Connor’ *ehem*), climaxing in an astounding final season with a real fresh dynamic and perfect finale.
Another two sublime shows – Chuck and the cancelled-before-its-time Firefly! :)
Angel was definitely a better show than Buffy, and remains one of my favourite genre shows of the last 10 years. The only show around at the moment that I enjoy as much is Supernatural. Despite being a very different kind of show, it has a similar balance of drama and humour, as well as a good mix of serialised and stand alone stories.
I feel the shows were different for me; Angel was an all over darker show, & Buffy had much more humour. Although in the end, Buffy had the deaper connection for me, those few episodes that make you “really” feel something… The only 2 shows i have found that makes me feel as much as either of these two shows are Firefly & Sarah Connor Chronicles. Both shows that make me feel something, and pull me into the fantasy & have my mind running wild weeks after watching each episode.
I know these shows are good, because strangely, they all help me to write music!!! Inspiration shows with deep emotion that positively effect my life as a whole. We all need more of them!!!