Series Finale

When Angel signed that deal, I wondered what name would have meaning, if any? Liam, Angelus, Angel, or was just his marking the paper in his blood all that was required?

Angel says, "I don't remember what it was like being human." Uh, what about that episode where he was turned human for a day in the first season?

NNAN. Angel tells Lindsey that he is "the greatest mass murderer you've ever met." Mainly it was the word choice that got me. Mass Murderer refers to someone who kills a bunch of people at the same time, which Angelus has done, although Serial Murderer might be a better term for a vampire, especially if he's trying to impress someone with a body count.
Also we have no idea what kind of mass murdering scum Lindsey had met while working for Wolfram & Hart.

The death of Wesley might have worked better if the preview hadn't of spoiled it. (Although I did think to myself, "Major Hayes dies again." ;-)

Lorne shooting Lindsey was a surprise.

So why didn't Wolfram & Hart try to seal Angel up in the building? Letting him get away to the alley didn't seem too smart on their part. Guess they liked the symbolism of the series beginning and ending in an alley.

From a character point of view it made sense that Lorne wasn't there in the alley, but it was disappointing.

Was surprised the Grrr! Arrgh! monster didn't do or say anything different.

Rather annoyed at the WB's saying farewell to Angel's 5 year run. Gee, guys, if you hadn't of cancelled it it could have run for 6 or 7.

I think I'd have liked the ending a bit more had it gone something like:

Angel: "I'd like to slay the dragon"
Voice, off camera: "Aww, I had my eye on the dragon"
CUT TO Buffy
Buffy: (to Angel) "You didn't think you could do this without me finding out about it did you?"
CUT TO Angel's reaction (him smirking). Angel indicates they should attack. PAN OUT to a wide shot of them taking off to attack. FADE TO black.

This way the finale wouldn't have focused on a guest star (which I agree shouldn't happen), but we still would get to see that Angel and Buffy help each other out when they really need it.

It went out with a bang, and I liked it. The fact that it was cancelled early was numbed a little by the quality of the finale.

I loved Angel's last line to Eve, something like "Guess we're getting kicked out of the garden, Eve."

Gotta say, didn't see Wesley's death coming. I figured that it would be one of those "pretend like he's kicking your a**, then hit him hard" type of situation but I was glad to see that it didn't end up that way.

May not be a nit, but Illyria's bandage seemed to have a mind of its own. Shortly after Wesley put it on, part of it popped right off. When we got a closer shot of Illyria, it was back in place. Sure, she could have put it back there herself when the shot was focused on Wesley, but she didn't seem to move at all. It just looks weird.

Loved Spike's last day decision. Heh.

And the kinder, more carefree Connor again. Awesome.

KAM: The death of Wesley might have worked better if the preview hadn't of spoiled it. (Although I did think to myself, "Major Hayes dies again." ;-)

Lorne shooting Lindsey was a surprise
See, it was the opposite with me. I didn't see Wesley die in the preview but I did see Lorne shoot Lindsey. I couldn't believe that the WB showed that. I almost thought that maybe Lindsey would be the only one to die.

The series started in an alley? I thought that it (specifically) starts in a bar.

I hope that someday we get some kind of continuation.

They didn't say Wesley would die, they just said someone, hence my Major Hayes thought. However when it got to the scene with Wesley the fact I knew someone would die spoiled it.

Guess I missed the Lorne shooting Lindsey scene in the preview (or I didn't recognize who was who).

Yeah, it was funny to see William the Bloody again. Particularly when the set-up implied he was looking for a fight.

The series started in an alley? I thought that it (specifically) starts in a bar.
I thought it was an alley. Course I haven't seen it in 5 years so I must have forgotten the bar.
Well if it started in a bar then ending it in an alley makes no sense.

It started in a bar but the teaser of the first episode ended in an alley, and that is the iconic shot that has always been in the opening credits, which is why it worked for me.

I have to say, even though this episode as a series finale is less "complete" than "Chosen," I liked it a lot more! The writing was a lot better, particularly since there were no Magick Axes (oops, "scythes") or amulets!

I agree that it was much more enjoyable than Chosen, which ranks in my book as one of the worst finales to a great show... right up there with DS9's finale.

The Angel finale also suffered from the "let's introduce a last-minute physical embodiment of the bad guy for the hero to fight" syndrome that afflicted Buffy's last couple of shows. But Angel's ultimate win was much more satisfying because it didn't rely on some deus ex machina ("Let's use a spell we've pulled out of our bums") to resolve the struggle. Instead, Angel's win is due to something specific to his character, and something he could never have done had he become human.

I didn't, however, feel it was incomplete. I think it completes Angel's arc just fine, as he finally realizes that the struggle for redemption (and the fight between good and evil) are perpetual... it's not something you can win.

Ultimately, I thought the episode was much more honest to its characters and the real world (particularly Lorne's fate) than the Buffy finale.

I just saw this episode in it's entirity, and I thought it was pretty good, and much better than Chosen. It was probably the best of the whole "Let's go kill something" endings. It's message was very good, evil is something to keep on fighting now, and there is no "The End," unlike the Buffy finale which had the message of "Girl Power triumphs over evil with weapons and shiny amulets." Also, it was free of ex Firefly actors, which was an improvement.

Actually, Adam Baldwin was in it. Playing Hamilton. Though, IMO, if you're gonna have a Firefly actor on your show, it should be Adam Baldwin.

It's already been pointed out it was not free of Firefly actors, but what's wrong with Firefly actors anyway? I thought they were pretty good.

There is nothing wrong with Firefly actors per se, it's more of what happened last season, when Caleb and Jasmine were inserted into the plot for little reason other than to keep them working. Caleb didn't really add anything to Buffy, and Buffy ended poorly. Angel's ending was just so confusing, it barely made sense.

Angel's ending? The ending of Season 4 with Jasmine or this finale?

Season four: You know, where blotting out the sun, sending Angelus on a killing spree, bringing Faith and Willow to town and brainwashing all to her will, along with looking magoty were all a plan for Cordie's and Connor's child who happened to be a 30 year old black woman for no reason.

Type 40 of the online cartoon The Whovian Observer did a picture showing the Angel cast after the events of the last episode.

Not funny & he's not the best artist, but it's interesting.

As the person who drew that image, I really don't know how to respond to that...

Yes, I did draw it, and am rather proud of the image. Admittedly, the likeness isn't perfect...but I'm a cartoonist, not a realist. ;)

Then again, ANY word-of-mouth is good, so thanks!

I like it.

Had I known you would actually read that comment I would have worded it differently.

Since I described The Whovian Observer as a cartoon I felt the need to point out that this particular picture wasn't funny since it's more of an illustration than a gag.

The not the best artist comment was to let people know that they shouldn't expect perfect likenesses.

Sorry if I offended.

Meh, no offense taken. Life's too short.

And, like they say; "It doesn't matter what people say about you, as long as they're talking about you."

Or, at least I hear that's what gets Paris Hilton through the night... ;)

That said, I truly miss Angel...any news on the sequel series yet?

That said, I truly miss Angel...any news on the sequel series yet

Not likely anytime soon. Last I heard, Joss has closed down Mutant Enemy altogether to focus on films.

I hated to see this show go, especially since I thought season five was much better than season four and revitalized the series (addition of Spike, management of Wolfram & Hart's L.A. branch, new things for the characters to do). However, I applaud Joss Whedon and Co. for going out with a bang, without trying to wrap everything up all nice and tidy in the end. This show deserved a sixth season, Whedon and Co. wanted and expected a sixth season, and I think that Whedon and Co. would have betrayed their vision of the Angel saga if they had written an ending for the show in which Angel's saga ends with the last episode of the show. Instead, Whedon and Co. gave the viewers an episode which, despite the death of Wesley and apparent departure of Lorne, could have played very well as a season finale, rather than a series finale, and which left me wondering, in a good way, what would happen to these characters. As for The WB's decision to cancel the show, Angel's replacement, "The Mountain" ("One Tree Hill" at 5,000 feet above sea level), didn't last a full season.

Poor Wesley.
That sums it up, doesn't it?
Wes of all people deserved more of life. So did Fred, of course.

Other than that, I agree that it was good to end it with a big bang, and that 'Chosen' didn't deliver. (Bah. I hate Kennedy. If Willow finds love again it should not be so early and not with that clueless tart.)

Question: What about the Shanshu deal? In the unlikely even that anyone survives that last battle - and Spike is a survivor -, would that mean that the prophecy now refers to him?