Angel

The Good;
Spike mocking Angel is excellent, lovely to see Oz and a great rescue and final battle at the pier. Nice end coda too. The Cordy/Oz/Angel scenes are hysterical, as Willow observes both she and Buffy know the love of 2 taciturn men.

The Bad;
Very little, strong ep. Boy Spike is dumb but funnily so. Everyone at the pier seems to take the 2 guys jumping off the end on fire very calmly.

Best line:
Doyle (to Angel); Long time between sunsets huh?

Jeez, how did they get away with that?
Well, Angel get's tortured to nearly death for the majority of the episode. Spike also hints that Marcus has an interest in the kids beyond just eating them. Reputedly this is the ep that got the Angel season 1 dvd boxset an 18 rating in the UK. I don't disagree but what makes this worse than 'Hellbound' which only got a 15 rating?

Apocalypses: 4

Angel Cliches
Damsel in distress; yep, that makes 2
Inverting the Hollywood cliche; rather than play the unbreakable tough guy Angel admits that with a little more torture he'd have told Marcus everything. Cordy notes the Gem isn't in the freezer or toilet tank as it would be in the movies.
In disguise; no
DB get's his shirt off; no but we get some torso action, Marcus commenting he has 'little external damage'.

Fang Gang in bondage: yep, Angel for virtually the whole ep
Cordy: 5
Angel: 5
Wes: 1

Fang gang knocked out:
Cordy: 6
Angel: 6
Wes: 1

Kills:
Cordy: none this ep. 3 vamps, a demon from her time in Sunnydale
Angel: Another vamp for Angel. So that gives Angel 8 vamps, 2 demons, 1 human.

Fang Gang go evil:
Cordy: 1
Angel: 1

Alternate Fang Gang:
Cordy: 1
Angel: 3

Characters killed: only Marcus
9;

Total number of Angel Investigations:
3, Angel, Doyle and Cordy

Angel Investigations shot: no
Angel: 4,

Notches on Fang Gang bedpost:
Cordy: 1?
Angel: 1;Buffy

Kinky dinky:
Spike refers to Buffy as 'slutty the vampire slayer' and teases Angel over Buffy's affair with Parker.

Captain Subtext;
Spike's speech on Angel is full of ***phobia. He also asks if Angel and Marcus would like to be alone when running his hands over Angel's naked torso. Spike comments that Buffy is 'cute when she's hurting', you wonder did he always have a thing for her? Such a shame we never get to meet Doyle's wonderfully named friend 'Frankie Tripod'.

Buffy characters appearing in Angel; (unless someone can correct me no original Angel character ever appears on Buffy?)
4; Angel, Cordy, Oz, Spike

Questions and observations;
Why does Angel grab his neck when Marcus puts the chain around it? Surely he doesn't breathe? Marcus wears glasses which presumably like Dalton in Buffy are for sentimental reasons. Doyle has read Angela's Ashes and it reduces him to tears (the novel focuses on the shiftless father so it may appeal to Doyle who never knew his). Angel once again beats his way to what he wants, without Buffy's influence he tends to be a lot more brutal. It's a great performance from Kevin West who is a very familar face on TV (although I thought he was in Scrubs and Ally McBeal but he isn't, that's Robert Clendenin another actor with a similar look). Marcus wears a Bond style Nehru jacket. Angel knows Doyle's mother. This is Angel investigations first walk-in client and her problem for once is just a very human jerk ex-boyfriend rather than anything supernatural. Ok so the ring makes vamps unkillable, even if you cut their heads' off?
Marks out of 5; 3/5

The second part of a storyline started in the Buffy episode The Harsh Light of Day, In the Dark begins with Spike crashing into LA searching for the mystical Gem of Amarra, a ring which renders the vampire wearer invincible and able to walk in sunlight. Spike previously got hold of the ring but Buffy managed to retrieve it, asking Oz, who was heading to LA for a gig, to give it to Angel.



As with the two episodes before it, In the Dark is another mix of comedy and gruesome horror. The opening scene, in which Spike narrates what Angel and his latest damsel in distress Rachel are saying is absolutely hilarious. His various quips, "off to the Angelmobile, away!" "I'm almost out of that nancy-boy hair gel I love so much" are so funny.



Oz and Spike fit into the LA setting well and it only takes another 4 years for the latter to become a regular.



Marcus is also a very creepy villain. A silent torturer with a thing for children, he eventually gets hold of the Gem and goes to a beach, planning to prey on little kids.



There are also some hilarious scenes where Oz tells Angel how pale he is when he's in the sunlight and one where Spike's hair accidentally catches on fire.



All the cast give brilliant performances and the final scene, in which Angel smashes the Gem, is heartbreaking. A stand-out episode and a real Angel classic.



Director: Bruce Seth Green

Writer: Douglas Petrie

Rating: B+

Episodes like this intrigue me.



They make me ask questions like "How much did who know and when?"



In the entire course of the episode, no one introduced Doyle to Spike as "Doyle."



Fast forward to S5, when Lindsey is presenting himself to Spike as a connection to the PTB, he calls himself "Doyle" and of course Spike has no reference on the name.



Is it even possible that in the third episode of "Angel," Joss actually had S5 storylines in mind?



Or was Spike never catching Doyle's name just a strange coincidence?



These are questions one asks oneself in a review of a mighty fine episode.



I'd not remembered this one being this good. I enjoyed, as did everyone, Spike's rooftop color commentary on Angel and Rachel. And with everything going on in this episode, it's amazing they had the time they did to follow up with her, to talk about her addiction to the abusive relationship.



"Addiction. Everyone's got one," Spike said to Angel as part of a strangely introspective episode, which raised the very good question: "You're a detective?" I loved that exchange. "What's next? Vampire cowboy? Vampire dentist? Vampire ballerina?"



Which was blocked very badly because Angel saying he liked working with his legs too broadly telegraphed his next move in the fight. But beyond that one crappy lapse, most of the fight scenes were pretty intense. Certainly the torture scene was. And how contextually Angel was played on his way into that trap -- the "slip of the tongue" by one of Doyle's contacts, and then from there.



I know Spike is the only one who knows where they've got Angel. But that needed to be said out loud once. There were too many good opportunities for someone to stake Spike and no one did.



I hate that I got all the way to this paragraph before mentioning Oz, but thus has it shaken out. I loved Oz in this eppy. I think if they'd sent the ring with just about anyone else, Cordy and [whoever else] would have more to say to each other. But that was a good awkward point of illustration saying "Hey -- living some independent lives here on independent shows."



That and Oz got to burst in and save the day. And then Angel, still in daylight, still recovering from soul-searing torture, saves the children from Marcus.



Spike was very well written in this episode. His writing was much better than his makeup, which reminded me of the Insane Clown Posse. But y'know what? Damn' decent performance all the same. His itchiness with Marcus and his break-in at Angel's were some very cool scenes.



No bothersome visions to overanalyze -- Rachel was a walk-in -- and Doyle's suggestion that they're not always going to be paid for the help they provide is an interesting point. But it's cool that they've tracked down enough of a small business loan for Cordy to have a computer on her desk and a printer. Go Cordy -- get that office set up with yo' bad self.



I wish Angel hadn't smashed the ring. There's situations where it would've come in handy. But then, when your main character is entirely invulnerable, that can get boring to write and really boring to watch. All the same, which his rationalization was reasonably good storywise, I'm afraid the fact remains that Angel had a powerful weapon in his arsenal and he destroyed it.



But then, that went in the direction of who he was, who he was going to be. He wasn't going to be Superman. He was going to earn his redemption the hard way. And part of that "forgiveness" he said he wanted, part of that redemption, was living the guilt and pain and experiencing the limitations of vampire existence as well as the benefits. Like I said -- nice bit of introspection.



All in all, for all of my kvetching, I truly enjoyed this episode. Lots going on, good writing, nice ties to Sunnydale and good to see Spike and Oz on the soundstage.



Well done, everyone. :)

‘In The Dark’ continues the gem storyline that began in ‘The Harsh Light Of Day’, the episode is certainly not as good as the past two but is still better than the Buffy version.



The intro was extremely fun to watch, a girl named Rachel is being chased by her abusive boyfriend but saved by Angel. While he and Rachel talk, Spike is watching them and imitates to be them. ‘Up, to the Angel mobile. Away!’



Meanwhile Oz comes to visit LA. If Spike were smart, he’d attack Oz but he really isn’t. Anyway, Oz sees Cordy again and it’s so fun to see them together. He also meets Doyle and they make such a good team, too bad Oz never joined the cast because they would have been so much fun. But anyway, Oz gives Angel the ring but Angel reacts a bit strange. He stays alone behind and hides the ring in the sewers.



After Angel gets a call from Rachel, he decides to save her but then gets a visit from his buddy Spike. They fight along and Spike meets Angel’s followers. But then Spike leaves after he realise he doesn’t stand a chance, while Angel goes to talk to Rachel, Doyle Takes Cordy over to his place. He asks Cordy if Spike is really someone to sweat over and she says that he really is.



While Angel goes to clubs to find Spike, when he finally does someone captures Angel from behind. His name is Marcus, a torturer who loves children. He plays some bloody Mozart and bores Angel to death while he’s not poking him with hot pokers.



Spike is tired of it and goes to find his ring, there he sees Doyle and Cordy. He tells them to give him the ring or he will kill Angel, they find it because of Doyle turning into the demon and Cordy says she could hug him, but he’s not lucky enough to be hugged.



But what we learn about Angel and why he wants it the hard way, is that he really wants to atone for his crimes in the past, he wants forgiveness but not the hard way. Then he tries to kill Marcus and promises it but Spike comes along and saves Marcus, then they work together and torturing Angel.



After Doyle and Cordelia go to save Angel, they make Spike fetch the ring and Oz comes in his van to save Angel, they escape but when spike goes to find his ring, it’s gone. Marcus took it to some kids. In the van, Angel tells Oz to turn back because he knows that Marcus likes little children. They go back and Angel jumps out of the car and becomes a vampire torch, he pushes Marcus into the water. They fight and then Angel puts Marcus on a stake, then takes off his ring and Marcus dusts.



At the end of the day, Doyle and Angel are talking when the sun goes down. Angel says he doesn’t want the ring because he wants to save people at night, when it’s dark. And the ring just seems like it helps but it doesn’t, it’s too easy. Angel then destroys the ring.



‘In The Dark’ was a good episode, we learn a lot more about Angel’s feelings and it was a blast to see Oz in L.A. I wasn’t crazy about Spike however, but I did enjoy watching his hair on fire.

Spike makes his first appearance on the show after losing the Ring of Amorra he chases after it, the episode starts off with some fantastic voice over from Spike after Angel saves some random girl (I notice they're always beautiful women, what about the ugly ones?)



After a fight scene between Spike and Angel, Angel is captured and is being tortured until Spike gets the ring back, ultimately Spike loses the ring, his prisoner and his torturer and decides to leave. Angel gets the ring off of the other vampire and wears it and see's daylight for the first time in a long time. He watches the sun set and decides that the ring is just a fabrication of what he is fighting for and destroys it.



I think it's one of the best episodes in the series mainly because of the fact that Spike and Angel collide.

I love this episode my favourite part of it is when Spike is making fun of Angel at the start I just couldn't stop laughing it still does everytime I watch it. I am also very happy that Oz was in this episode. I thought that they could of had him in it for a bit longer though. :)

Spike is in LA to get a ring back from Angel. The ring will allow any vampire to become unharmed in any way.

Oz comes for a quick visit. I love Oz LOL. He is so cool and down to earth.

This is a great conclusion to the BTVS episode "The Harsh Light of Day".

I really enjoyed this episode. Spike (James Marsters) makes a successful debut in the show which he would later become a part of.

There are some great moments in the episode. The funniest has to be the opening scene when Spike is making fun of Angel. This is Spike at his best and I laughed out loud so many times during this scene!

I really enjoyed the fight scenes which followed with Spike and Angel. They have great chemistry together and fight was so much fun to watch especially when Angel finally vamps out.

Another of my favourite moments was at the end when Angel and Doyle are talking about the ring. The writing is so sweet here and you really get the sense of where Angel is coming from when he makes his final decision to destroy the ring.



This episode is the second of Angel that I have ever watched and I really enjoyed the way in which the show flows. The storyline of the blond girl that Angel saved, is nicely intertwined with Angel's personal story. The interaction between Doyle and Cordy is also well scripted and plotted.



Despite how good the supporting and guest cast are, David Boreanaz, really shines in the lead role of Angel. His performance in this epsidoe is brilliant and he plays brooding so well. He was wonderful in the torture scene

but the best scene was undoubtedly when he is wearing the ring for the first time and steps in to the daylight. The look on his face completely portrays how much this means to him, to step into the light for the first time in 200+ years. The sheer joy and disbelief really comes across in this one small scene.



Overall, a brilliant and very enjoyable episode. The crossover with Buffy really works and gives all the actors some great material with which to shine!

Spike shows up to get his ring back. Spike makes fun of Angel. Marsters has his character down. I'm not sure half the time if it's the way Angel is written or Boreanaz' acting ability, but he just seems dull. I thought the ring was an interesting item, giving a vampire invulnerability to sunlight etc. It's only point was to allow Angel and the other vamp to roll around in the waves, until one gets deep fried. Then, instead of Angel keeping the ring because it's abilities are tempting to him...he crushes it...yep that's it...ok, he keeps it to have a teary sunrise scene, but then he destroys it without thinking twice...ok, I guess that's one way to resolve it.



Rating: 10 - Angel is sooooo dreamy!

-1 - Angel is a chunkhead.

-1 - Cordelia

-1 - Doyle has a vision.

+1 - Spike.

+1 - Spike makes fun of Angel.



Final Rating: 9

This episode was extremely well written, with humour in all the right places. it was interesting seeing spike on Angel. i was glad to see that he had become a regular in angel season 5 as spike brought a lot of humourand conflict to the show.



i don't really have any compliants about this episode apart from the that werid guy marcus. it would have been a lot more fun to see spike tourchring Angel instead as he probably would have done a better good.



i also think this episode should have been a two part episode with spike and angel having one massive fight.

This was an exciting episode, to say in the least. It started off with Spike coming to town searching for the Gem of Amarra (How do you spell it again?). This episode contained a very special moment between Angel and Doyle as Angel saw his last sunset. The main villain, Mark, was very creepy (He had a thing for little kids for crying out loud!) and the fight between him and Angel at the end was awesome! This is the first, and last, episode we see Oz, although he comes back and directs many more. All in all, I would recommend this episode.

Just the scene when spike is talking like angel and the girl makes this episode great.

quotes:whoa whoa watch the hair gel

well i do need some more of my nancy boy hairgel.



I tjought it was stupid that he couldn't keep the ring. he shouldve saved it in case something happened and he NEEDED to go out in the sun.

the worst episode of the first season because spike sucked and was horrible and ruined the episode.



but what makes this episode watchable is oz coming in town and doyle and cordy and angel were funny and had good scenes. the worst moment was the scenes with spike and torture moments were horrible and annoying but the end was good and the episode is not so bad.

Yay! Even though Spike was the bad guy in this episode, you gotta admire his attitude - and the hair! Oz comes to town with a ring for Angel from Buffy. Basically Spike comes back for this ring that will make a Vampire imortal. Pretty cool if you think about it from his P.O.V. But, when he captures Angel and torutures him, I got a little peeved. I mean, poor Angel :( But hey, he made it through. And he was so daring, he ran out of a truck - in the daylight - to get the ring of the bad vampire who tortured him. In the end, the vamp gets dusted, and Angel gets to wear the ring. At the end though I was kind of upset, because Angel destroyed the ring, and even though he did the right thing, it must have taken alot. At least he got to watch another sunset.

Oz comes to town to give Angel the gem of Amarra, courtesy of Buffy. The ring makes any vampire impervious to stakes, sunlight, etc... You would think Angel would like having this gem, but he ends up hiding it. Enter Spike. Seems Spike followed Oz to town and wants to get the ring back. (he did all the work for it, right?) Spike makes his presence known pretty quickly and ends up having Angel tortured by a VERY strange and sadistic vamp so Angel will give up the whereabouts of the ring. Cordy and Doyle search for the ring and Doyle finds it. They cut a deal with Spike to return the ring to him and get Angel back. With some help from Oz, they get Angel away from Spike and the weirdo Vamp. Spike aint happy, but is even LESS so when he sees the ring is gone. The psycho vamp took it. Angel ends up retrieving the ring and he does take one turn wearing it so he can experience being out in the sun and also watching the sunset. Then he destroys it, knowing no good can come from him having it.

Well this is the first crossover episode between buffy and Angel and one of the best. Oz comes to town to give angel the gem of amara- that gem can make angel unstoppable. Spike is also in town for the gem. But he does not get it. This is my favorite episode out of season 1. It is also a really good crossover to. Seth green did an awesome job playing Oz on angel. I wish that they had brought him back though. Spike is just very funny in this episode. i really like the line at the end when Angel has the ring on and oz says "Is it just me or does he look pale?". Later...

Fun words to learn and know: Spike as Angel: “Say no more! Evil's still afoot. And I'm almost out of that Nancy-boy hair gel I like SO much.”



Dialogue to lose inside the sofa in Hell: Spike: “It's called addiction, Angel. We all have them. I believe yours is named Slutty the Vampire Slayer.”



Well, that was a fun episode! I think Douglas Petrie is my favorite JossVerse writer -- after Joss himself, that is. His episodes are usually well written and highly entertaining, and this is certainly no exception. There are so many great lines in this episode, it’s almost impossible to narrow it down enough to choose *the* best line. With the all too notable exception of the line above, Spike is a riot. His parody of Angel and Rachel’s conversation in the teaser is absolutely priceless!



I do have one eentsy (intsy?) problem with the episode, that being Marcus’ overt infatuation with children. Was this aspect of his personality absolutely necessary? He’s a vampire who derives great pleasure out of torturing our hero -- it’s abundantly clear to us that he’s a bad guy; we don’t need that information pounded into our heads like a railroad spike -- or a fiery anvil of death, if you prefer. And what’s with the fugly, fugly sunglasses? All else aside, anyone wearing an accessory that ugly deserves to die.



Another aspect of the episode I don’t really get is this new ability of Doyle’s: *Doyle uses enhanced demon senses to smell out clues!* I’m not sure it makes a lot of sense for Doyle’s sense of smell to improve in demon face, plus, what kind of scent is that ring putting off? Never mind, on second thought I don’t really want to know. Curiosity occasionally leads to very bad places.



Hmmm, it seems I do have a couple of issues with this episode, but, as I mentioned previously, they’re minor annoyances. The incredibly nice exchange between Angel and Doyle at the end and the witty, amusing dialogue throughout the show more than make up for them. Overall, I’d have to say “Hooray for Douglas Petrie!” Thanks for such an enjoyable episode.

Angel and gang recieve a couple of visitors from Sunydale. Oz bearing the gem of amara, a gift from Buffy, that makes any vampire immune to all that can hurt him. I.e. sunlight, crosses, stakes, and everything else. Spike, coming after the gem of amara which he himself had dug up back in Sunnydale. In the end though, after some serious torture and insane running aruond, Angel decides to destroy the ring. Doyle: So what, you don't get the ring because your period of self-flagellation isn't over yet? I mean think of all the daytime people you could help between nine and five.

Angel: They have help. The whole world is designed for them, so much that they have no idea what goes on around them after dark. They don't see the weak ones lost in the night or the things that prey on them. If I joined them, maybe I'd stop seeing too.



Seeing Angel and Spike reunited, being that they have a long standing history with one another long before Buffy was ever even born, is great. David (Angel) and James (Spike) really know how to feed off eachother's feelings and bring hilarity and intensity to their scenes with one another.

I like to have Spike back on the show, because he is funny even if he`s evil at this time.



At this time of season 1 there are several visits from characters of Buffy on the show for promotion I guess, but I think Angel didn't need it. It is a show of its own and the actor were doing just fine.



It`s a very sad moment when Angel destroys the ring so that nobody else can ever wear it again.



Doyle is funny as always, but also caring about the others and really good in protecting Cordelia in front of Spike.



I love that episode and enjoy watching it over and over again!

This episode was a crossover from the Buffy episode "The Harsh Light Of Day", with both Spike and Oz coming from Sunnydale, Oz came to give Angel the gem of Amara, and Spike came to get the gem of amara, which made for a great episode! Let's start with Oz, he fitted in well in Angel, with some hilarious lines, and Spike was great in this episode too! The creepy vampire helping Spike wasn't the typical bad guy, as he was very weird, and doesn't talk, and likes children... Anyway, the interogation scenes were well... weird, but interesting to watch anyway. I loved that Cordy and Doyle saved the day, and Angel's first moments of sunlight in about 200 years made for one of the best scenes of the episode, with some really great acting by David Boreanaz. Overall this was a nicely written, interesting and humourous episode, I hope the season continues to be this good!

Spike, love of my life, you rock, you silly little Vampire. I love the first scene with him. Lol, I back tracked my DVD player and watched that scene again, it was so funny. "You're really pale." "He's pale, anyone else notice that?" Oz is such a man with words. Yikes, that Torture guy is freaking creepy. And those sunglasses, were doing nothing to hide anything. Angel looked so adorable when he was in the sunlight. Probably just as well that he's not the type to be tempted by that sort of thing. And Spike, you twit. You should know already that Vampires are relatively solitary creatures. And blue denim does not look good on you, mate.

Spikes found the ring of emura in sunnydale only for buffy to get it to Oz to give to Angel.spike is determined to get the ring back knowingg Spike would show Angel hid the ring After desperate searching,a run in with Cordelia and Doyle,and a hilarious mocking of Angel in an alley. he hires a vampire who will torture him until he reveils the rings hiding spot.I loved this episode because 1}David Boreanaz shirtless and sweaty lol and 2}SPIKE= hilarious. in the end angel is victorious and receives the ring but destroys it knowing that scary things that go bump in the night should stay in the dark where they belong and not in the sunshine.

In The Dark-Oz visits L.A. with a present for Angel from Buffy. It’s the Gem of Amarra, a ring which has been a vampire myth for millennia. While wearing it, a vampire is immune to crosses, stakes, and can even walk in daylight. It isn’t long before Spike arrives in town, searching for the ring. And he has no plans of leaving until he gets it.



One thing that always worked on Angel, like another fantasy show Xena Warrior Princess, is that it's main characters had dark pasts that brought a lot of backstory and characters from that past. Spike, who is an infamous villian on Buffy, makes his appearence on Angel and brings some torment to his old teacher. James Masters is a pro at playing the badass vamp from Angel's past and the new setting doesn't change that. The continuing story from Buffy with the Gem of Amara is good here and Oz gets to stop bywhich his very mellow personality brings some hilarious moments between him and Cordelia. The episode also has somce creepy moments with Angel being tortured by the even more creepy vampire Marcus, in which guest start Kevin West gives a creepy performance. This episode also brings some great questions about Angel and what his all about. Angel could have kept the ring and be invincible but he choses to find redemption the right way, which is played out well. All and All, a great episode which has great guest stars and plot.

I really do love this episode. James Marsters delivers Spike's witty commentary beautifully and I love the attitude of Spike towards everyone. Cordelia and Doyle are also brillaintly played by Charisma Carpenter and Glenn Quinn. The writing is amazing all through-out the entire Angel series but I believe this episode is particularly entertaining. David Boreanaz plays the dark and brooding Angel extremely well and I always enjoy watching him. He's an excellent actor and is amazing in Bones as well but I perfer the work he does in Angel. Especially this episode, which throws light on just some of the many reasons I love watching this show.

After Spikes fight with Buffy, he goes to LA searching for the ring knowing that Buffy got the ring to Angel. The Only Oz appearance on Angel. Seeing Oz in LA is great! Oz was already going to LA for a gig with his band so he agrees to give Angel the ring for Buffy. Spike torture Angel to try to get him to reveal the location of the ring. Its a great crossover because first of all its the first crossover and Spike and Oz both come to LA. My fav quote from this episode is:



Spike: ... (About Buffy) She is cute when she's hurting, isn't she? Angel: I think she's cuter when she's kicking your ass\



All together great episode!

"In the Dark" continues the story about the Gem of Amarra that was started in the Buffy episode "The Harsh Light of Day".



The teaser must be among the funniest things ever to be seen on television - we see Angel rescue a girl and being commented on by Spike - "Quickly, to the Angelmobile! Away!" It's all in the delivery. It's Spike versus Angel in this episode and they battle for a ring that makes a vampire unkillable. But in the end Angel decides that the ring must be destroyed and that he has to keep on fighting without it.



One of the best of Season 1.

Great, great episode. Spike is hilarious as usual and brings a great dynamic to the show.



First things first: Spikes opening monologue is absolutely hilarious. "To the Angel mobile!". Classic. Spike is such a rich character, he adds positively to every episode he's in. The story follows on from Buffy "The Harsh Light of Day" with Spike and Angel duking it out for the Gem of Amara, a ring which makes vampires invincible. Sort of reminds me of 5.08 "Destiny" where they fight for Shanshu.



Angel's torturer is suitably creepy and sadistic, especially his thing for kids, which is horrible. I agree with Spike though- that music is annoying. The final battle is excellent also, especially the setting. A beach before sunset, underneath a walkway, drenched in water. Oh yes. I hate that Angel destroyed the ring though. A great, fun episode with fantastic re-watch value. Lines of the episode:



Spikes monologue



Spike: Whats next? Vampire Ballerina?



Oz: We're usually lurconic.



Annoying character of the episode:



None!

The first crossover episode, following Buffy the Vampire Slayer's 'Harsh Light of Day', I thought was a really great episode.

It was really great to see Oz in an episode of Angel, and to see how Angel reacts with news of how Buffy is doing.

Spike provided a great 'villain' for this episode, especially considering his and Angel's history together. For all those who are Buffy followers, this episode provides closure as to what happens with the Gem of Amarra, which is nice.

The torture element was great! It was so gruesome, and showed us how tough Angel really is.

This episode was also able to show us classic brooding Angel at the end, making the tough choices on how he should use the Gem.

Overall a great episode, definitely one to watch.

Much better than Buffy's "Harsh Light of Day", "In the Dark..." is the first real corker from the show. It was a good decision to inject a bit of history into the story in the form of Spike and Oz as it gave the proceedings some much needed weight. The torture scenes felt a bit OTT and the moment Spike mentions his partner in pain likes to eat children "and other nasty things" felt like yet another haphazard attempt at making the show more "adult" in tone when it really doesn't need to be. There's some great one-liners to be had by all, and Oz settles perfectly into the L.A. scene - pity he never moved on to Angel after he buggered off on Willow. Oh, and look, another helpless Blond...just sayin'.

I absolutely loved this episode. Could be cause I'm a BIG Buffy fan and was real happy to see Oz and Spike, or just the fact that this episode was hilarious. Most likely it's both. Whenever James (Spike) and David (Angel) are on the screen it's pure gold in my opinion. Their performances are great in this episode along with everyone else's. Also has too many great lines to list. One of the best of course anyone who knows this episode knows is in the beginning. In my opinion I wasn't to much for the first season (same goes for Buffy) although I can say the episodes that I did like in that season I ended up loving. For that season in my opinion the good episodes were great and the rest were really just there.