"Angel moves to L.A., unaware of his purpose in the City of Angels. There, he meets Doyle, his half-man, half-demon spiritual advisor, who gives him direction"

Ahhhh, I love this show so much!! I'd forgotten how brilliant it all is. I was thinking "yeah, I'll start the rewatch, but will probably give up by the end of S1 as I don't have a DVD player in my room so I'll have to hijack the main tv to watch S2"......five minutes into City Of, I thought "I don't care if I have to stay up until 2:00 am to get the tv, I am rewatching every single episode that I have". I'm already looking forward to the rest of S1 and I can't wait until we get to the Darla/Dru arc in S2!

I think this is a good start to the series, even if the recapping of Buffy is rather contrived and only crowbarred in there for the new viewers. Doyle is great, I wish they'd kept him around for longer. Also, these are the good old days when Cordy wasn't annoying, and neither was Angel.

I'd forgotten that W&H was introduced in the very first ep - yay Lindsey :)

Margot

I'd originally intended just dipping in with the odd episode of the rewatch. I picked up the first couple of seasons on DVD at the weekend though. Watching City Of, I'm rather relieved that I did. As premiere's go, I always enjoy this one. Yes, the recap is rather contrived, but it gets it out of the way quickly and effectively.

Of the characters, I always liked Doyle, and agree, it's a shame he wasn't around longer :( The only positive there is that his departure signals the arrival of Wes :thumbsup: Angel, is Angel, although there's more focus on him here, it being his show and all :lol: Plenty of brooding etc. Cordelia, I must admit, I thought to be the weak link in the early days, I actually thought her character got better as the series went on.

This sets up things nicely. The introduction of W&H was quite subtle, unlike Angel's disposal of the episode's bad guy, which is still a great scene :thumbsup:

I think this is a fantastic first episode. It's the first time I'd watched it for quite a while, and I'd forgotten just how good it is, there really is a lot to like right from the off.

The teaser is brilliant: love Angel pretending to be drunk, and then the slow motion walk towards the camera as he follows the vamps out of the bar, and the fight - I think - shows that the series is aimed at an older audience than Buffy :thumbsup:

The initial scenes between Angel and Doyle are quite effective, and do a nice job of relating the story-so-far without overdoing it. I always liked Doyle. I particularly like his aside to the homeless old woman, having just implored Angel to get in touch with humanity: "Get a job you lazy sow" :lol:

They also do a good job of giving Angel a nice line in self-deprecating humour, which I think was very necessary for the character to be able to carry the series. I love his pitiful attempts to talk to Tina when he first meets her :lol:

Angel: Where's home?
Tina: Missoula, Montana. You've been to Missoula?
Angel: During the Depression. Uh, my depression. I was depressed there.

:lol: :thumbsup:

I'm always surprised when Tina gets killed, I'm not sure why - probably because in any other series Angel would save her, so it's a nice twist, very well done.

Great to see Cordy again, so sad to see the way she is living, and even sadder to hear her ask Russell what he wanted her to do :(

Cordelia: Well, I better get mingling. I really should be talking to people that are somebody. But it was fun!
Angel: It's nice that she's grown as a person.

:lol:

And, talking of Russell, Jeez, could he be any more slimy? :lol: Love the way Angel deals with him in the end, still a great effects shot as he bursts into flames in mid air :thumbsup:

Nice to see Lindsey this early on, a good, subtle introduction for Wolfram and Hart.

Got to laugh at Doyle's argument with the gate, too :lol:

A terrific start :thumbsup:

I loved this episode the first time I saw it, and rewatching it, I still love it. Cordelias use of (skewed) logic in w**king out that her host was a vamp.

"I lived on a hellmouth buster!" :rolleyes: :lmao:

Doyle? :tear: One of the best characters in the show. :tear: :tear: Just seeing him on screen made me laugh and :tear: cos I know what's coming.

Angel, taking the penitent bit a tad too far, but hey, he's a vamp with a soul, it's allowed, kind of.

A great opener, introduced the characters, covered their backgrounds (in as much as we needed at the time) and gave us a glimpse of what was to come.

All in all, a great piece of televisual delight :thumbsup:

Firstly, I'd forgotten how much I'd forgotten about this episode :lol: and also how great it was in the early years (before the disappointment of S5 :whistling:).

And who do we see as the first baddie vamp, but Sawyer from Lost. :) I love watching old programmes and seeing actors who've now made it big (or bigger, at least). Great first fight, and love the double staking. :)

Angel looks yummy..... :drool: er, sorry, where was I. :lol:

:lol:@Angel's hesitant conversation with Tina, especially the "depression" bit. Great reintroduction to Cordy, "Are you still Grr", and Angel's response, "yeah, there's not actually a cure for that". :lol:

:lol:@ Angel getting in the wrong car. And I love Angel's face when he makes tea for Tina, asks if she wants milk and sugar then says " I don't have those things". :)


And Doyle.. :tear: He's fab. :)

All, in all a very funny, very fab episode. Crap new vamp makeup though. Hope it doesn't stay for long. <_<

Edit: And yes, ditto everyone else's comments that I'm very much looking forward to rewatching the series now. I keep thinking about all the cracking episodes coming up. :thumbsup:

A fantastic opener that’s enough to keep you hooked for 5 years just about sums it up, I think :)

With this ep being 80% introductions and 20% story, it was compulsory to tie the story in with one of the main cast members, allowing the others to get involved and develop quickly to a certain level. Doyle shows us that he’s a stand-up guy by not leaving (or at least going back) for Angel at the Winters estate, and also lets slip he’s got a troubled past. We see more of Cordys human side that Buffy S3 touched on, and that she truly belongs in L.A because of her quiet sadness. Angel goes from his wasted, metaphoric older boyfriend role to a central star that can overshadow any of the Buffy verse characters. We see he’s very messed up and know he’s not gonna be able to do it alone. It’s the above reasons that make them a very tight team from the word go. Bonds are formed quickly and all falls into place with a nice victory for the AI team, but with a few catches that dampen and escalate, in true Angel style :)

Forgot to mention, we also had the first use of the c-word ;) :lol:

Margot

A great first episode, which does a good job of introducing it's core characters, Angel, Cordy and Doyle. It manages to recap Buffy for those who are untainted ;) and yet move the story along to the new big bad, Wolfram and Hart. Nice idea to have lawyers as the ultimate evil :thumbsup: and Lindsey as a character :wub: Russel's vampire make-up was dodgy though.

It works both as an interesting stand-alone and an attention-grabbing season starter. 9/10

Cordelia: So are you still...*Grrrr*?
Angel: There's not actually a cure for that.

:thumbsup: Got to love it, its a fabulous opener.

Doyle is extremely likeable from the beginning its the first mention of the PTB, and how great is Cordy, she proves that she can be a major character from the start with great dialogue so typical of her character and yet she seems perfectly in place here.

Cordy "So are you still – grrr?"

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

I love the way she deduces Russell is a vamp too

and that she obviously still respects Angel

and love Doyle trying to smash the gates - oops :lol:

Great introduction of the characters and it sets up the themes of the series nicely, Angel becoming a champion, the intro of Wolfram&hart :thumbsup:

i really like this episode too. i love doyle, definatley my favourite character in the buffy/angel verse. should have been in it longer :tear:

love emma :)

I know I will be booed and please believe me when I say I am a HUGE Angel fan but I was rther disappointed with the first episode.

I thought Tina was too cliche but did enjoy the intro to Doyle and the familiarity that Cordie was still Cordie. I preferred her as an airhead! Later on she got too 'ooohh Icare about everyone'. I still loved her though.

All in all 6/10.

I think my problem was that I was still carrying the Buffy and Angel thing around and I didn't allow Angel to move on :blush:

Fantastic Opening, great script (highlights already covered in other posts).

You know, I reckon we ought to keep a count of use of the c word :nerd:

Boooo :)

I noticed the c-word last time I watched it too! And yeah, we should definitely keep count!

Here follows my review - pretty much the same as most of you have seen before but I did rewatch it and have added a bit at the end.

This episode is incredible - a truly excellent opening episode. It introduces the characters, tells us their history by them telling it to each other, it’s dark, fast-paced and exciting, and also contains a great standalone story. And by the end of the episode, you have Angel Investigations all set up and ready to go. Great stuff!

I love the teaser: the voice-over leading into an apparently drunk Angel at the bar, telling his story to a big black guy whom he says reminds him of Buffy (a good laugh only 30 seconds in), then the slo-mo walk out, the double staking, the temptation of the blood on the girl. Showing Angel is still just as cool as he always was, but also still just as troubled.

All the scenes with Tina are great (I love Tracy Middendorf) and it’s nice to see that Angel does better at connecting with her than he expects to. The story highlights the problems he’s going to face when helping people who don’t know about vampires and demons: thinking about what he’s saying (“I was there during the depression”), stocking up on human food and drink (“Do you take milk and sugar?” “Yes” “Cos I don’t have those things”), remembering to hide the notes that tell him where to find the people to help, being unable to follow her into the sunlight.

I love the party, and the agent Oliver telling him he’s an actor, and Cordy being there too (“Are you still ‘grrr’?”). There’s a nice spark between Angel and Cordy there, reminiscent of early Buffy and the way Cordy was always after him then. I love the car chase – getting into the wrong car but still winning the fight. I love the twist when you find out Cordy’s really poor now. I love the way that Russell watching the video of Tina at the party leads him to notice Cordy at the party. I love Russell’s lackey telling Angel, “He’ll kill everyone you care about” and Angel replying, “There’s nobody left I care about”, not realising yet that there is – Cordelia.

And Cordy – I love Cordy meditating, Cordy telling Russell her story about why she’s in LA, Cordy discovering he’s a vampire and, in her usual tactless way, telling him she knows; and her “You don’t know who he is, do you? Boy, you’re gonna get your ass kicked!” – and then Angel having to quit the fight to save her from guns but getting Russell later.

I love Doyle trying to crash through the gates. I love Angel and Lindsey’s first meeting in Russell’s board meeting. And I adore Russell’s “I can do anything I want” and Angel’s “Can you fly?” And then the team setting up office, and the ending of Angel on the rooftops looking out over his city.

This truly is Angel at his coolest – he has some fantastic lines in this episode and goes through the classic superhero moments of thinking he has it sussed, discovering he doesn’t, failing to save someone, seeing off the enemy in style, and starting on a new way of doing things, with friends.

One note: Doyle actually tells him in the first few minutes of the series that it’s not about the numbers, it’s about saving souls. Pity none of us, including Angel, actually remembered this until half way through season 2! :-)

Another point: Angel on 3 computers at once at the library??? This is the guy who hardly knows what a computer is!!!

9.5/10

Notes from this rewatch:

In the teaser, after Angel’s told the black guy he reminds him of Buffy, he half-turns to look at the people playing pool behind him (who turn out to be the two vampires and their victims) and the camera hones in on the girl with long blonde hair, reinforcing the misleading idea that he’s really moping after Buffy.

Btw, DB looks incredibly gorgeous all the way through this. And that bit in the kitchen with Doyle telling him he needs to connect with people – the tears in his eyes, looking so lost – it’s just heartbreaking.

Really noticed the music this time round – it’s a beautiful, haunting, dramatic score to a fantastic episode.

I’m seriously considering raising my score to 10/10. I really can’t find anything wrong with this episode.

AF

(Boy, it's nice not having to split this into chunks of 500 words or less! :) )

"It started with a girl........."

Watching this I remember my first feelings at seeing Angel, drunk and maudlin, sitting in a bar and revealing his deepest feelings to a perfect stranger :o How could he betray Buffy like this? I should have had more faith ;)

Now I see all the things I missed the first time round. The way Angels face changes from drunk to sober as he glances over his shoulder at the people playing pool. The predatory look in his eyes, and then the feigned inebriation again as the guy/vamp moves to stand next to him at the bar.

"Girls are nice!" LOL!!

And finally, the way he straightens up and twists up from the bar stool (in slo-mo, be still my beating heart) to follow his prey. That man means business :D

The fight, the cool wrist stakes, the moment of temptation…… Brilliant!

Oh Doyle. How I’ve missed you. I didn’t realize quite so much until now. I like the Buffy recap scene, it’s fast but effective and leads to the introduction of The Powers That Be (”The powers that be what?) And the hilarious way that Doyle tells the condensed story of Angels life with such gravity and sincerity, then immediately asks if he has a beer handy. So totally Doyle :lmao:

And then our first glimpse of Cordelia. She’s truly amazing. The way that girl can pretend everything is just hunky-dory. That kind of self delusionment is just remarkable. And I’d forgotten that this was the episode that spawned one of my favourite Cordy quotes.........

"I thought I was gonna faint while barfing!"

You can’t talk about this episode with mentioning the fantastic scene where Russell gets his comeuppance. From Lindsey’s speech (doesn’t he look young!), to Angel’s tightly controlled amusement, to Russell’s fiery death. Magic!

Now Angel has a goal. He has a purpose. He has friends. A new age has started :thumbsup:

Well said - it's like what I said, but shorter :)

I really do think City Of... is going to turn out to be my favourite episode of Angel. Buffy's first episode was amazing for a first episode - but Angel's is hardly like a first episode - the show is already fully-formed.

AF

And then lamely trying to deny what she had said (I'm just wacky. And kidding!) :lmao: :lmao:

doyle: so are you game?

angel: i am game

a good (re) introduction of the characters: angel, cordie (as good as always), doyle (kind of funny), the big bad (wolfran and hart), the town, ....

cordie: you don't know who he is! oh he is so gonna kick your ass

love it

A GREAT opening.

The teaser is absolutely brilliant (although dodgy make up!) and it's the perfect set up for the series. While S1 is ultimately my least favourite season (because of the claustoaphobia and the lack of characters), this episode is brilliant.

The best bit is when he jumps into the wrong car. :D

9/10

Fantastic…. I love this episode its one I can watch and watch and not get bored.
I like the way the recap on were angels from and what he’s been through is short yet very informative. The opening with Angel in the bar pretending to be drunk is good, but out side when he stakes them vamps is fab, he is so sexy :drool: and right then I am thinking yes this guy can defiantly carry his own show, when I rewatch Buffy with Angel in, I feel like he was wasted slightly by being in the background a lot.
Liked the introduction of Cordy and her “are you still ggrr” very funny!!
The best part for me is Angel kicking Russell out of the window, I remember when I first watched that, I screamed with excitement :thumbsup:

I love City of. I love the voiceover at the start and :lol: @ ‘drunk’ Angel. “Have you seen my car? It’s big and shiny”. I prefer the Angel theme to the Buffy one, it will fit with more types of episodes, the Buffy one jarred when there was a sad ending like Becoming when it kind of spoiled the mood.
Doyle is obviously the Whistler replacement, they both have the bad dress sense and are the exposition guy. :lol: @ “It’s about reaching out to people…” followed by “Get a job you lazy sow”. I love Doyle :thumbsup:
I always love how Angel jumps into the wrong car when he is trying to save Tina and they fact that he doesn’t save her kind of mirrors the situation in WTTH when Buffy couldn’t save Jesse.
I always love this:
Angel: “You think she’s a hottie?”
Doyle: “Ah yeah, she’s a stiffener all right…but she could use a hand”
:lmao: how did that get past the censors.

It always bugs me how Fox managed to get the title of the episode wrong on the DVDs, it has “City of Angels” instead of “City Of” in the episode menu.
And apparently many Americans when they first saw this episode couldn’t understand GQ’s accent and misheard “Are you game” for “Are you gay” :lol:

I must admit, I can't see how anyone could possibly think he was saying "You gay?" - it makes no sense at all in the context!

AF

:lmao:

Margot

I also prefer the Angel theme too. In fact, I think it is one of the best out there!! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

I think the Angel theme tune is better too. It's not just a few chords on guitar played really fast, it actually has more of a tune to it.

Ems :)

Sorry if I repeat a lot of what's already been said, but I haven't read all the reviews yet.

Fantastic episode and great opener to the series. Seen it so many times that I was practically miming along to the words and I still managed to enjoy it and find new things in it. Great introduction to Doyle, and it was useful that he managed to get all the Angel backstory done in about 30secs for the non-Buffy viewers, but kept it interesting for people who already knew it. I liked Doyle's "High School’s over. It’s time to make with the grown up talk" comment and how it was a kind of not-so-subtle "this show isn't buffy" comment. Or that's how I read it at least! I give up on sentences... these were some great bits from the episode:
- "get a job you lazy sow"
- "are you still grr?" (fabulous reintroduction to Cordy)
- Angel jumping into the wrong car
- Lindsey :drool:
- Cordy finding out Russell's a vampire and that whole hilarious exchange
- Doyle driving into the gate
- Great intro to Wolfram & Hart
- "Can you fly" (awesome)

I also liked random things like how you expect Russell Winters is going to be the big bad and he gets killed in the first episode.

One critique of this episode though - terrible, terrible vamp make-up, thank god they sorted it out!

Wonderful themetune too :thumbsup:

Nicely put :thumbsup:

I watched this one last night - great ep and season opener!

Get a job you lazy sow made me LOL

I agree on the vamp make-up kicking it - it was not very good was it?
Generally good season opener, introductions to everyone, relays history in Buffy if people have not watched that (FOOLS!!!) and gives us an insight into a little known firm by the name of Wolfram and Hart who look like they may have a slightly bad side!!!!!!!!!

Great starting episode of Angel really enjoyed it, i'll give it a 8/10 :thumbsup:

I kinda agree with the implications of Rob's review on Lonely Heart to the effect that City Of is still only a pilot even if it is an effective one. There are lots of fun ideas to be sure but the exposition is sometime a little laboured. sk

This time around that was the line that really stood out - I guess it was with the hindsight of how the character pans out over the rest of the show but I just think I noticed how it was a sign of how "real world" Cordy was that we didn't know about from Buffy.

Of course noticing that made the "You have no idea who he is" and the wonderful smile 10 times better than before :thumbsup:

A brilliant season premiere to the show.I'm so glad that Angel gets his own show,it's good to see things from his point of view and he actually talks alot.I liked all the flashbacks when Doyle was explaining to Angel about Angel obviously done for the few people who haven't watched buffy. :lol:
Great way to bring Doyle into the show,him and Angel instantly bond.
Cordelia great to see her,feel a little bit sorry for her when her career isn't going to plan.
Nice ending when Angel kicks Russel out of the window and he burns,very simple but effective maneuver.

I just watched this again the other night and we see Angel in the LA Public Library looking for information on Tina's friend. He's surfing on net on 3 computers Angel never seemed all the comfortable with modern technolgy so when did learn all that?

I wonder if Margot knew what Russell was a vampire and if and what was happening to the girls that she sent him? :ponder:

maybe willow taught him (after lie to me) :unsure:

but then angelus didn't seem to know much about computer (just the way he destroyed jenny's computer <_< )

Or perhaps Willow wasn't joking and she really did have a "sleazy affair with Angel." (Flooded) :lol: and as Angel spent time with her he picked computer tips? I will admit it's a long shot :lol:

:ph43r: well angel has a kind of photographic memory but that a bit far just to have him knowing how to surf internet :ponder:

iirc spike did know how to use a computer in 'the initiative" to find buffy dorm room :unsure: