My favourite thing about Angel had to be the way Wesley's character has grown and changed from the Wesley Wyndam-Price fresh from Buffy (only wearing leather trousers) to grieving dirty Wesley *growl* of Season 5. This transition has been gradual and 100% believable.

I've never warmed to Angel as much as I had Buffy and I think this was largely due to the Cordelia character. I never bought into the way her character changed and I stopped watching for a while when they started on making her Angel's love interest. This is the guy that said he'd only ever loved one girl in 200 years... then a year or two after he leaves Sunnydale he's in love with someone else?!?

Ive certainly enjoyed Angel very much, but I always felt the creators had a very schizophrenic view of the show and never quite knew what it wanted to be, whilst buffy was well defined within a few episodes Angel has changed tack almost every season, and often within a season, this includes the badly fitting 'miniarcs' and characters that disappear without any real resolution.

Also whilst the standard of writing is well ahead of most TV youll see, it never delivered a Passion, a Hush or a Becoming when it mattered (personally I think A Hole in the world managed this, but was made once the writing was on the wall).

Having said that Angel did far more right than wrong and will always be great fun to go back to but it will remain the slightly poorer cousin.

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by Sydney
This is the guy that said he'd only ever loved one girl in 200 years... then a year or two after he leaves Sunnydale he's in love with someone else?!?

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Didn't he spend most/all of this time in the gutter eating rats? Probably the the best of lifestyles if trying to get laid!

I'll miss Angel loads. Whist I agree it never quite reached the heights of Buffy I like the fact that it is far darker. I've thoroughly enjoyed this season and the change in Gunn has been superb.

How can a show like this be cancelled when there is so much rubbish on TV?

I've been avoiding spoilers like the plague these last few weeks, though my local newspaper in the episode description revealed something that happens that probably will pertain to what's going to happen in a major spoilerly way and i'm not happy about that!

I've loved the evolution of Wesley. He just is about the polar opposite to the bumbling Watcher of S3 Buffy. Watching him now, i'm amazed at the transformation.

I liked the introduction of Connor, i like the possibility of Angel having a son though by rights he shouldn't. What i didn't like was the Connor-Cordelia story line, it was horrible. It gave birth (figuratively and literally) to the Jasmine storyline which i wasn't a fan of.

There have been some absolutely amazing episodes of this show, too numerous to mention, though for me "Eternity", "Lullaby", are just two, there are tons more.

I've loved the inclusion of Lindsay in this season too.

I'm very sad that this show, that has been such a huge part of my life for the last five years is coming to an end now. It just beggars belief that the WB have sacrificed this show for cheaper reality tv, i really hope they rue this decision, i really do. It also beggars belief that "Charmed" inexplicably got another season (I mean, how many times can those witches wear skimpy outfits?) and Angel got the boot?... where is the logic in that?, because someone screwed up somewhere...

Anyway, rant over. I just want to thank the actors, the writers and most of all Joss Whedon for making Fridays, then Thursdays and finally Tuesday nights worth staying in for. And i wish David Boreanaz et al every success in their future careers.

I think that Angel was a really really good show. But the quality definitely dipped and (I don't care what anyone says) seasons 1 and 2 were way better than any of the later seasons.
I dunno what they were playing at though for the last 3 seasons. They ruined Cordelia's character, got rid of most of the interesting characters (Kate, Anne, Lindsey, Lilah, Cordy, Fred, Gwen), I know some of these were brought back, but they really should have got more outta these amazing characters.
I mean, for instance in the case of Gwen, she just disappeared for no apparent reason. And she was such a great character! Lilah was developed really well, but it was still a shame to lose her. And Fred was replaced by someone very cool, but it was still sad to lose her 'cause I love love love Fred.
But yeah it was an amazing show, seasons 1+2 being way better than Buffy s4-7, but then not being as good further on. But still really good! Just not AS good.

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by Acker
I think that Angel was a really really good show. But the quality definitely dipped and (I don't care what anyone says) seasons 1 and 2 were way better than any of the later seasons.

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Each to their own, seasons 3 and 5 were my favourite.

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by Wobag
(quotes)Each to their own, seasons 3 and 5 were my favourite.

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Anything *but* the later half of season 4 - the only thing I liked about that was Connor when he first arrived with the whole cave boy thing, and I like the way his character has paralleled now. But echoing Keeny euuuwwww at the whole wacky Cordelia and Jasmine thing.

I always liked Wesley, the demon hunter arrival with him all bikerboyed up in season 1 was disturbing but a very amusing introduction. He was very suited to the way he developed (better than the way Giles went all moody after the death of Jenny and him losing his job at the school) The most surprising thing was the way he was with Lilah, dirty, naughty - like a posh schoolboy enjoying things he shouldn't (and Mistress Spankable will be a phrase I'll never forget now .. but no more finale talk here )

Gunn worried me for sometime with the way he was blended into the back. But the James Bond type ep was too freaky for words and I shuddered "noooooo cheese" at that! But being smart and dressed in a black suit is even cuter - and the boy came through in season 5 and spurted lawyergeek speak (kinda like space techietalk )

Cordelia went seriously downhill, although I suspect they tried to make her character all grown up a little too fast ..

The introduction of Fred was brilliant and she really developed from scared little lost girl scrawling on walls to a little fighter.

As much as I was worried originally about Spike joining the show, I love his stirring and sarcasm, and he's been a great addition this season. He never made a good love-sick puppy and thankfully he hasn't talked too much about Buffy this season

Angel was always Angel. He did his thing and moved with the flow. (how come I can't think of anything to say on his character development!! )

Anyhow, the puppet ruled! Bring back the puppet

If you think about it by the end Wesley pretty much was a Watcher...just not for a Slayer.

loved Angel and its sad to see it go...this may sound a bit blasphamous but i prefer Angel to Buffy...(buffy in my opion went poop after season 3 and never really picked up again). Angels only down fall was the cordy story arc was a bit lame really, but meh i can forgive.

ok they were some characters that should have been developed further, i.e kate. but the development of the main gang was great. i mena Wes turned into a great character and believably too, Angels stint with Darla was fab, plus who can forget Faiths great appearance!?

ultimately its sad to see Angel go , more so than Buffy for me, but hey most of my fave tv shows have come n gone, and the sci -fi cult tv market is shrinking with no adequate replacements. its a sad time

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by Wobag
Ive certainly enjoyed Angel very much, but I always felt the creators had a very schizophrenic view of the show and never quite knew what it wanted to be, whilst buffy was well defined within a few episodes Angel has changed tack almost every season, and often within a season, this includes the badly fitting 'miniarcs' and characters that disappear without any real resolution.

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Sums it up pretty darned well. Angel had the potential, but season after season followed the pattern of great builup, ending damper than a very soggy squib. By the end of season five it had become a self-parody, albeit a hugely entertaining one. It wasn't going anywhere, and cancelling it was the right decision.

But back to happier times, season one and two are my favourites. I liked the taut feel of season one, before the bloated ensemble showed up, and the whole Dark Angel arc from season two was a blast. Shame we couldn't get more like that.

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by Byron
(quotes)
Sums it up pretty darned well. Angel had the potential, but season after season followed the pattern of great builup, ending damper than a very soggy squib. By the end of season five it had become a self-parody, albeit a hugely entertaining one. It wasn't going anywhere, and cancelling it was the right decision.

But back to happier times, season one and two are my favourites. I liked the taut feel of season one, before the bloated ensemble showed up, and the whole Dark Angel arc from season two was a blast. Shame we couldn't get more like that.

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I couldn't disagree more! I thought Season 5 was one of the stonger seasons and that the show was on the up. Even at it's worst Angel was better than most shows on Sky.

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by Kneon Light
(quotes)I couldn't disagree more! I thought Season 5 was one of the stonger seasons and that the show was on the up.

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It was definitely starting to shape up being in the W&H building with far more things at the teams disposal and seeing them back as individuals with their own strengths.

If it hadn't been cut short with filming in progress (as the season seemed to be) then I think the stories could have panned out over a sixth season to an end better - with more use of Ilyaria, Spike and Lyndsey. They definitely should have bought back Gwen to fight the fight (her and Ilyaria side by side would have been something )

It almost had that Dark Angel ending where it just looked like it'd keep on going forever

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by Kneon Light
(quotes)

I couldn't disagree more! I thought Season 5 was one of the stonger seasons and that the show was on the up. Even at it's worst Angel was better than most shows on Sky.

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That's rather like applauding Hear'say for bettering Gemini.

That's no comparison, Gemini only ever managed one song

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by Byron
(quotes)
That's rather like applauding Hear'say for bettering Gemini.

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OK - I'll put it another way. Even at it's worst I thought Angel was hugely entertaining.

(And I'm proud to say I've never heard of Gemini!)

With the exception of the Camp Mexican Wrestler epp (Stu takes controlling shares in WB shocker) I agree, but Angel was a polished self-parody kept alfoat by snappy dialogue by the end. No direction. If it had got another season the rot would really have set in. (See Buffy;s final two years, or rather, don't.)

And you've never heard of Gemini? You indescribably lucky sod!

Personally I think it would have gone the other way - if it had another season I think it could have explored a number of issues that weren't tied up because of the cancellation. I actually think the premise of taking over at Wolfram and Hart gave the show more of a direction than previous seasons.

In terms of Buffy's final 2 years I loved them. I thought season 7 especially good and the way the show ended superb. It was probably my second favourite season sfter season 2.

With regard to Gemini - I will consider myself lucky!

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by Kneon Light
Personally I think it would have gone the other way - if it had another season I think it could have explored a number of issues that weren't tied up because of the cancellation. I actually think the premise of taking over at Wolfram and Hart gave the show more of a direction than previous seasons.

In terms of Buffy's final 2 years I loved them. I thought season 7 especially good and the way the show ended superb. It was probably my second favourite season sfter season 2.

With regard to Gemini - I will consider myself lucky!

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The change of scene had the potential in spades, but I just found what little arc plot there was confusing and threadbare. If Joss didn't go anywhere this season, I don't see any reason he would have next year.

Buffy we're obviously agreeing to disagree on! I actually enjoyed the seasons when I was watching them cos I've got good at self-denial, but on a second viewing their faults felt more glaring than an Elton John fancy dress party. With the exception of "Once More, With Feeling" which is the mut's nuts.

Funnily enough I wasn't that keen on Buffy season 6 the first time I saw it but when I saw it for a second time thought it ws excellent (maybe my expectations were lower?). Loved season 7 both times though.

Fully agree with you about "Once more with feeling" - I tend to listen to the CD of that in the car rather than Gemini!