Angel (Season 1)

Spin-off shows are fascinating creatures, existing only due to the inventive minds behind another show dreaming up the character(s) first, allowing them life in their own show. Angel is one such show, following the titular character who was first featured on the Joss Whedon show Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Whedon is responsible for Angel too, creating the show when Angel no longer was needed as a love interest for Buffy. While the two shows deal with supernatural forces, Angel is more grounded in a private eye/procedural structure. Angel is hired for cases and solves them, all with the help of his friends. Like Buffy, Angel is nothing without the supporting cast. Cordelia, a Buffy alum, and Doyle are just as important as Angel himself. And when Wesley Wyndam-Pryce, who also comes from Buffy, arrives part way through the first season, he too becomes integral. The first season is much lighter than what eventually follows, much like Buffy, which found darker story lines in its third season, when Angel was just beginning. But most of the writing staff had connections to both shows, so that only makes sense. There is much to love about Angel, especially in the different directions both the show itself and its characters (the transformation of Cordelia and Wesley being key). Another Whedon hit.

Genre - Supernatural (3.25)

Screenplay (3)
Acting (4)
Production (3)
Directing (3)

Buffy The Vampire Slayer (Season 1)

Buffy the Vampire Slayer was and continues to be one of my favorite television series of all time. It was influential, not only because it was a bad ass supernatural show, but because it also was the beginning of creator Joss Whedon's long and, at times, frustrating career. Bringing Buffy to television was a way for Whedon to fix what went wrong with the film version from the early nineties. Season one of Buffy the Vampire Slayer is by no means perfect, in fact it is a little stilted, but maybe it's the series quirky charm, or the irresistible pull of nostalgia, that makes me care so little. I assume that if I'm watching a Joss Whedon show, especially one so young, that there will be complications (from the studio or otherwise) and rocky episodes. Kinks will be worked out, so I have little to fear. The scripting on a number of episodes is outstanding, and so is the directing, but neither are consistent enough to make the first season perfect. Same with the acting, but each of the series leads grow into their parts by the finale to make the journey worthwhile. Luckily, six more seasons would follow, most of them exceptional. But, all said and done, season one of Buffy the Vampire Slayer was what hooked me, so that is all the praise it needs.

Genre - Supernatural (3)

Screenplay (2)
Acting (4)
Production (3)
Directing (3)