GOOD NIGHT, FOLKS - Angel Reaction - 5x22 - Not Fade Away
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- Опубліковано 10 лют 2025
- Full and early reactions on patreon: / thelexicrowd
In the series finale, Angel reveals that his questionable moral behavior has been part of a bigger plan: to destroy The Circle of the Black Thorn and show the Senior Partners that the power of good can still make a difference. Wesley struggles with helping Illyria adapt to the world, scolding her for her attempts to take on Fred's form. As Gunn continues his quest of self-discovery, Lorne becomes more aware of the lack of happiness in the world. Harmony attempts to seduce Marcus Hamilton for information, Lindsey makes an important decision regarding his alliance, and Eve continues to deal with being mortal. As Spike comes closer to understanding the nature of heroism, Angel pays a visit to the one person he truly loves. On Angel's bidding, the gang goes out and spends each day as if it were their last...
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The vampire Angel, cursed with a soul, moves to Los Angeles and aids people with supernatural-related problems while questing for his own redemption.
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#reaction #angel
I probably should say something profound but I’ve got nothing. Thank you so much for coming on this journey with me! You guys have changed my life and for that I will forever be grateful! It’s been one hell of a ride ❤
at the Lexi crowd I remember when I first saw this so many years ago on the WB when it was in the first run. I did not like the way it endedI was so disappointed in so many waysI had wanted them to survive David Boreanaz has said he thought they did but he wasn't sureso it's an open-ended question and I can't stand those kind of things. even to watch them die with Honor would better than this episode
honestly, still to this day i have nothing profound to say. this was the most cliff hanging ending ever and it was traumatic. and yes "the fight never ends". ef that. eff iiiiiit XD
@@starkraven1148I mean, spoilers. She (& others in the comments) may wish to read the comics.
You should edit the comment before it's hidden/removed.
If you want a show that is a distant cousin to the Buffyverse because it has the same creator, give Dollhouse a try. It's only two seasons and you might see an actor or two from either this world or Firefly show up.
@@Maca494 I just think these kind of endings where there is no true resolution is a cheat. I also did not like that Lindsay was killed by Lauren On the Angels orders. I felt that this out of character for the character of Angel.
“Goodnight Folks.” Poor Lorne
RIP Andy Hallett 💚
Lorne carrying out that last mission was heartbreaking for him.
In the comics, Lorne begins dying with cancer, having done something so contrary to his nature that his body rebukes itself.
I still theorize that the Lorne segments in 'spin the bottle' took place after this episode.
@@Idanuboy Ha! Never thought of that as a possibility.
@@arc7375that's even sadder than the show ending for him
The best ending ever in a TV series. The call back in Epiphany episode - "if nothing we do matters then all that matters is what we do" . The message that the fight never ends. All the episode was just perfect.
*Redemption never ends.
Agree!
Fr. As a kid, I remember hating this ending. But now as an adult, I kind of like that they left it open ended. Although, in my head cannon, Buffy and Faith show up at the last minute and save them with an army of Slayers. lol.
@@Kayoss13212The reason I dislike Angel (the show) compared to BTVS is that Angel is essentially pessimistic....the fight can never be won. BTVS is about winning the fight, it may be hard, we may have losses but in the end we can overcome. I prefer the Buffy world view.
"what's even the point?" this, this is it.
"Try not to die. You are not unpleasant to my eyes." Oh, Illyria, you flirt.
Like the dude said in Wonder Woman, I am both aroused and frightened.
My emotions, exactly.
Spike getting applause for his poetry always gets me a little teary eyed for some reason. Also, RIP Andy Hallett. He was amazing as Lorne. I’ve really enjoyed watching this with you. I’ve learned to appreciate this finale as the years have gone by.
He found the word to rhyme with efulgant
Indeed. Been a while since i've seen it but IIRC it's kind of set up in the episode _as if_ Spike, the inveterate brawler, is going to the pub to pick a fight but then we see that instead he's spending his "last day" in an act of creation, of showing the world his heart and that "Spike", who came into being as a way of hiding from the world, has finally got to a place where he can finish _William's_ unfinished business - in some ways it's the bravest thing we see him do in either show so it's kind of wonderful to see it pay off.
It’s strange because the ending arc itself seems (and I think literally was) very rushed, but the finale itself is pitch perfect.
Only two characters have been around from Buffy season one to Angel’s final episode, Angel and Harmony.
And the Grr Argh Mutant Enemy Vampire who *comic spoilers*.................................... was finally slain after 26 years in issue 16 recently of The Vampire Slayer comics.
And even Harmony was episode two unless you watched the first two episodes as a movie in it's original airing.
@@Buffy8FanI think Harmony was in the pilot, too
@@ChristmasPterodactyl Her first scene was Willow telling Cordelia "Deliver," and that's in _The Harvest._
@@Buffy8Fan yes, Mercedes McNab’s first appearance in Buffy The Vampire Slayer was in 1x2, The Harvest. But is was Cordelia that was told to “Deliver” by Willow.
When illyria said she loved Wesley, i think she genuinely meant it.
She did. She was crying even after turning back to Illirya, and also willing to do some violence
I don't know if she understood what human love was, but I believe she loved Wes in her own way.
Agree with these comments here.
I don’t think Illyria loved or was in love with Wesley, nor do I think she has any concept of what love is - so her final moments with Wesley were simply her using her memories of Fred to tell him what he wants to hear.
That said, I’m certain Illyria was fond of Wesley in a way that was new and unknown even for her. And her grief was real, even if she didn’t understand why.
Quite exactly. She was learning to respect humans, she was sad he's gone , obviously. But i don't think she can be IN love, yet. If ever @ronfehr7899
When nothing you do matters, all that matters is what you do. The end.
Gunn's conversation with Anne was a really nice call back to this core message. Like on the 'normal' level, people like Anne are fighting 'the good fight' every day.
@@caitlin329Sometimes being a hero is just putting boxes in the back of a truck.
@@anonymes2884 Exactly! And what a wonderful end for that character, who was for so long running, drifting and lacking meaning.
You missed the character arc with spike. Risking his life saving the helpless baby at the end means he is risky his life for strangers which spike never did on buffy. He became a true hero not one motivated by his own desires. He chose to do it which is exactly what you wished for.
Yep.
which only happened as it was the season finale. Spike had multiple times to prove he was selfless and never did.
@@theprodigal finale is the end of the arc. I don't have time to go over all the steps spike did that got him there. Watch the season.
The start of it is saving Angel. Someone he hates in 5x2 instead of getting a body.
@@theprodigal He gave up his chance to become corporeal to save Fred.
"Would you like me to lie to you now?" is maybe my favorite/most painful moment in the entire series. to me it shows that some of Fred does live on in blue-girl. She actually cares he's dying
So agree.
I remember reading that the writers wanted to bring Fred back on season 6, with a part of her still existing within Illyria. I like to think that's still true within these moments, and Fred's soul it's still a part of her. Energy cannot be created or destroyed, Fred's soul was transmuted into Illyria's essence, and now they are one and the same.
I think Fred has merged into Illyria's psychological framework. Fred and Illyria are basically one and the same now.
Doyle and Cordelia are running a supernatural detective agency in my head.
It was beautiful to see Anne change and grow from a weak little girl who routinely joined cults to find someone to take care of her, to an independent and powerful young woman that took care of the lost and weak as she herself once was.
Her growth and final place in Angel is a testament to both philosophies of Buffy and Angel: To grow up and become an adult, and though life is cruel and relentless, to do your best to do good and make a difference with the time you have, regardless of how futile everything ultimately is.
She’s the best recurring character on both Angel and Buffy.
Agreed. It's not until you get to the end you realise just how awesome a character she is. She learned what's out there while she barely had enough strength to take care of herself. Buffy helped her pick herself up and within 2 years she was fighting the good fight every day, in a way that no-one else in the Buffyverse did or even could, imo.
So beautifully put 🥺
And seeing how one kind gesture/bit of help (what Buffy did in 'Anne') can have such wide reaching effects.
She was in that position to help others because someone helped her.
" I wish to do more violence." Chills, every time.
I love this finale. I know it was cancelled and all, but lets be honest. The whole show is about fighting the good fight and that the fight never ends. "If nothing we do matters than all that matters is what we do". They give them a fight that they can't possibly win, a fight that won't ever finish. Im glad Angel finale is not really about the prophecy. About the taking wolfram and hart, they took down a huge part of the circle so they weakened the hell out of the senior partners. Its not a hopeful ending like buffy, and I REALLY love Buffy's message. But Angel message is sad but really good too, the "keep fighting no matter the odds"
"Chosen"was a nice ending for Buffy, but I love Angels ending because it's far more bittersweet. I know there were a few minor deaths on Buffy in the ending(with Anya being the biggest, given Spikes sacrifice was undone) , but the majority of the deaths were Rando's, the potentials(some of which I can't remember their names). Not only does this episode end with Angel giving away Shanshu, but also the death of Wesley, the mortal wounding of Gunn, an impossible to win fight against the armies of the Senior Partner and a full on assassination on Lindsey from Lorne, the gentlest of Angels group(after Fred was taken over, I mean). Buffy's ending felt good. Angels ending felt....right. Perfect.
Holland Manners told Angel in season 2 that Angel can never actually “win” this fight in the end. Evil will always exist in the world. You fight the good fight for as long as you can because if nothing you do matters, then all that matters is what you do. And team Angel will keep fighting until their last breath. A perfect ending. Let’s go to work!
Also, Holland revealed that Earth is indeed a hell dimension. A lesser-hell dimension, but a hell dimension nonetheless.
@@arc7375Well he implied it but Lindsey also said they spent half the meeting disenchanting the ring so it's up in the air if he was lying or not.
My favourite scene in the episode might just be the Anne scene.... it perfectly encapsulates the entire message of the show. It's not about winning against evil. It's about choosing to fight evil, regardless of the outcome.
I hope I'd spend my last day as Gunn did.
Anne is kind of the originator of Angel as a show. Buffy travels to LA and sees the injustices happening to the down and outs, not just by demons but by fellow humans. Then we have Anne, a wandering confused person who was inspired by Buffy and became a force for good. I'm glad she was in the last episode.
to this day, this is still one of my favorite series finales. it sticks to the convictions of the show's themes. what anne says is really important --even if the world is ending, she'll keep working to make it better. and that's what angel does here. they tried being in the belly of beast, but that was just causing everyone to compromise on their convictions. so the only way to move against wolfram and hart was to burn the whole place down. by killing the circle of the black thorn, they severed wolfram and harts connection to this world. the demons at the end were like the final boss level. but the most important thing to remember is that wolffram and hart will return, in one form or another, just as evil always persists. but what angel investgations does here is important, because for one moment, they stood up against evil, and they saved the world for a little while. the cut to black after angel says "let's go to work" is also significant because it emphasizes that there will always be work.
now, that's the show's ending.
there are season 6 comics that actually continue this storyline, so if you want to know happens, i would suggest reading those. personally, i like the thematic ending here more. but these characters do continue on in the comics, so all is not lost, in that form. !! i've loved your buffy and angel reactions (though i literally just started watching them a few weeks ago hahaha). it's sad to see the end come though!
In total agreement!!!! The comics are fun, but I adore the fact that everyone dies, dying for what they believe. I know the comics are "cannon", but I don't care.
@@Oxmustube i do think the comics also stick to the main theme, but yeah, this is a cleaner ending even though it starts off as a rushed ending.
@@katey631 The theme, sure. But if nobody dies, it takes away the stakes (no pun intented) imo.
@@Oxmustube true, true. but i understand to continue the story they have to keep them alive, and so the comics continue them in ways that are super interesting and changes them fundamentally. but i mean agreed, that's why i like the show ending better.
Totally agree. The "going out swinging" idea is completely in keeping with what the show has been telling us all along - some fights you win and some fights you just fight. And if you're doing it for some big reward at the end then you're doing it for the wrong reasons.
In her own way Anne is basically recapitulating "If nothing we do matters the only thing that matters is what we do" from back in season 2 and the finale itself is just that writ large.
So to me this actually _is_ a conclusion, nothing is left hanging, the show has said everything it needs to say and like Angel and the team, it went out swinging.
I think the most tragic end for me is Lorne's. Even though he doesn't die, he's just so utterly broken. Executing a human with no emotion and a final "Goodnight folks." So heartbreaking.
Also completely agree about Spike in S5. He's my fav character but his arc ended perfectly in Buffy.
My interpretation is that Lorne read Lindsey, saw that he would kill him and lied that Angel would.
That is why Lindsey was so hostile towards Angel in earlier season and why he was so certain that he would be killed by Angel.
@@boretrkI think it's more like Lorne knew Lindsey's character and knew he wouldn't change. So while it went against every fiber of his body, he agreed to kill him.
James Marsters’ contract with Whedon and company extended beyond BtVS. That’s why they brought him to Angel.
This ending is so perfect in line with the show's philosophy.
Angel continuing the never ending fight in the ally, without Doyle, Cordelia, Wesley, Fred and Gunn dying. The fight never ends.
Lexi, I’ve been watching your Buffyverse reactions for almost 3 years since the high school seasons, and you’ve provided so much joy in a hard time. I adored re-experiencing these life changing stories with you, all the laughs, tears and sharing similar frustrations too. It feels like another life but I actually was able to visit the set of Angel just days before it got canceled and Andy Hallet actually was our host that day, showing us around and just chilling. I still remember him laying against the wall and seeing in his sleeve where the green makeup ended. Not sure why I never left a comment ‘til now. I’ll still be watching along with your channel, excited for you to dig deeper into Lost.
“Let’s get to work,” is the best final line to a show ever. I love this show, this season, and this episode!
I knew the look when the screen cuts to black. WTF that was it?
Yes. And it was perfect. One of the biggest moments in the show was Angel refusing to be human becauase he realized the fight wasn't over. He knows he could never become human until the fight is done. Him signing away the prophecy, was him realizing the fight would never be over, and the show ending with them still fighting was...absolutely Chef's kiss. The entire theme of Angel realized. Even the title of the episode, we won't fade away, we are going to go down fighting, in a blaze of glory.
It is a very unsatisfying ending... At first. But the more you think about it, you start to realize. Yeah. Of course it ends that way. Couldn't end any other way.
Btw, contrary to Buffy were the core gang lived, the only "living" core Angel character from the beggining at the end is Angel. Cordelia, Doyle and Wesley are gone. Gun is alive but he is more of a later adition than the original core (and he seems pretty hurt so maybe he was gonna die too). These shows are like night and day
Buffy ended with the core Trio alive.
Angel ended with the core Trio dead.
Indeed. As she was wondering aloud if it'd end like 'Buffy...' with no core character deaths I was thinking "This ain't that kind of story" :).
Also, Gunn actually became a vampire (comic’s continuation). However, his brain upgrade thing allowed him to control his vampire urges.
I think Lindsey’s reaction to being killed by Lorne suggests it was a good move on Angel’s part.
Lindsey is in it for power. He has a grandiose sense of self. His ego is what gets in the way of him doing the right things. The memory of his father with that stupid grin on his face as they took their little house still haunts him.
Leaving a power vacuum that big and giving Lindsey the reins would probably be the foundation for the next Black Thorn.
Lindsey being humiliated because it was Lorne rather than Angel that killed him exposes that wounded ego that led him to dedicate his life to Wolfram & Hart in the beginning. It was why he couldn’t leave when he had an out after saving those kids. And why he came back to antagonize W&H and Angel when they installed Angel in the LA branch.
Though it’s possible it would have been different if this wasn’t the finale. Not sure. But since this was big bear poking time, I think Angel didn’t want Lindsey misbehaving if Angel didn’t survive the final battle.
Not just that. His and Angel's last conversation was likely when Angel decided to get rid of him. Angel gave the usual spiel about doing the right thing despite the odds and Lindsey's response was basically that it was the opportunity of the lifetime instead of jumping at a chance to do the right thing. That proved he was still an opportunist.
Lorne kiling Lindsey breaks my heart every time. the one member of the team who really never wanted to fight and kill, who left a dimension where that's all there was, and he's asked to commit cold-blooded murder. but I love this ending, personally. for me it goes back to s2e16, and Holland Manners' speech when Angel asks him, "why fight?" "That's really the question you should be asking yourself, isn't it? See, for us, there is no fight. Which is why winning doesn't enter into it. We...go on, no matter what. Our firm has always been here...in one form or another. " Angel isn't fighting to win the great battle; he's doing what he can, here and now, and the great battle will be what it is. Or you could go back to what he tells Faith about redemption being every day, all the time, and maybe you never get There, but you try anyway because it's right.
The fight never ends.⚔️
The incredible sadness all Buffyverse fans feel when reaching the end of Angel is palpable. The main reason being that these two shows were some of the best TV Drama ever shown, and many find it hard to find anything that compares. Its is the endless re-watches that keeps most Buffyverse fans going. This is a spectacular ending from a brilliant S5 unmatched by anything in The Buffyverse. This last episode had everything, the absolute brilliance of Angel taking revenge on Marcus Hamilton 'you know the one word you shouldn't have mentioned there', the fantastic slaying by Gunn with an axe of the evil Senator, Lorne shooting Lindsey, a shocking scene as Lorne was such a gentle character, and the most heartbreaking scene ever when Illyria says to Wesley ' would you like me to lie to you now ' and changes back in to Fred, cementing the tragedy that is Wesley's life, but at that point his is at peace, knowing that Fred loved him so much. Then we have the fantastic punch from Illyria smashing the head of Cyvus Vail, giving us all great revenge. The ending in the Alleyway in the rain (this loves alleyways in the rain) the four that are left know they are vastly outnumbered but will go down fighting to the last. David Boreanaz on being interviewed said they didn't survive, James Marsters said they did. Who really knows, but this was the greatest all all episodes in The Buffyverse. A fitting ending to two great shows, but don't you just wish at the end that Buffy and the rest of the Scoobies appeared with and army of Slayers for that ultimate final battle! Apparently SMG offered to come back for the finale but Whedon didn't want to distract from the final cast members. Now you have finished the show it is great to look at the cast reunions of both BTVS and Angel where they discuss in depth what they thought about the finales of both and other aspects of the shows. I think the character of Wesley had the greatest arc of all, from bumbling fool to hardened warrior with an intelligence unmatched in the show, and the tragic life he had with his father, and any happiness taken away from him when he just attained it with Fred. As Illyria begins to feel real human emotion, she is totally affected by Wesley's death. That scene I think is the best scene in the entire Buffyverse, heart breaking tragedy then ultimate revenge when she smashes Cyvus Vail's head with death punch. Once again have enjoyed your vids immensely and now you can to look forward to re-watches in your own time where you will notice so much more. If you cant get enough Whedon you gotta do Dollhouse, Eliza Dushku ( Faith ) is brilliant in the lead role, and you will have the connection so so many familiar faces from BTVS, Angel, and Firefly. Everybody has their own opinions and whilst I loved The Body, Fool For Love, The Gift etc from BTVS, the last two episodes of Angel S5 Power Play and Not Fade Away were the best from either show.
When Spike recited that poem and said "That one was for Cecily", there are some fans who did not figure it out about who Cecily was or who she became.
In the season 6 episode "Older and Far Away" of Buffy, Halfrek recognizes Spike and calls him by his human name, William. Spike also recognizes Halfrek, but when asked to explain this they both sheepishly deny being acquainted.
Cecily whom Spike was in love with was the Vengence Demon "Halfrek" when she was together with William before he became Spike.
They were never together. When he confessed his love in the Buffy episode Fool for Love, Cecily told William "you're beneath me," and her rejection is what sent him out to the street when he met Drusilla and got turned.
@@shaynaformity1384 Thank you (old man brain here).
"As for me, personally... I want to slay the Dragon." Yes, forever the hero. It is the fight that matters. Brought me to tears.
This is definitely one of the strongest series finales I've ever seen (tying with The Shield for having my favorite series finale), and I actually first saw it more as an introduction to the show, since I wasn't really watching the show beforehand, and I heard all the hype about this episode. I didn't know the characters, but it still left a strong impact on me, and even moreso after I watched through all the episodes and saw this as the culmination of everything that happened before. This tends to be the finale against which I measure all other finales, including those of film series.
I still think, "I want to slay a dragon" is one of the best final lines of series ever. It so perfectly sums up the series. Kind of like this famous quote.
"For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die."
"Dedicated to all the people who predicted the Babylon project would fail in it's mission. Faith manages."
And the dragon became his pet
@@aleczrike9647 That was another great series finale, and too many of the cast have passed on since then.
And Angel names the dragon “Cordelia” and they become good friends.
"You're fading, you only last 10 minutes at best"
"Well let make them memorable " that line is badass😊
Baby girl! The Universe doesn't end with this! It continues in comics and a recent audible story with the og cast returning!
Sooo much happens in the comics. I collected and read all the canon comics. Recently re read a few and these stories still hold up as much as the first time I experienced them
What a ride! 🎉
Can’t believe it’s over 😭
@@TheLexiCrowd One of the best shows ever i think. I wish the ending was more upbeat but the team went out fighting the good fight( which was the main message of Angel and Doyle from the start- keep fighting the good fight to gain redemption)
The fight goes on and on...
It was an honor to make this journey with you! Thank you for all the amazing reactions and please consider doing The Sopranos next!
"Angel: After the Fall" is something I wrestle with because it placates my need to know more, but at the same time it feels very different. With that in mind, I can't outright say "you should look it up" but I can say it's entertaining.
In any case, it was a great jouney.
"Lets go to work"-Angel
" goodnight folks"- Loren
" She"s an innocent victim ,so where we once upon a time..once upon a time"- Angel & Spike
"Ohh and your welcome, THANK YOU" -Cordelia & Angel
NUFF SAID❤️
The ending is only pessimistic if you're pessimistic. Whether or not they survive, they achieved their goal of hurting the senior partners and taking away their power for at least a while, however long it takes for them to fill the power vacuum caused by the deaths of the circle, which might be several lifetimes.
Yet they survived, as Slayers shows
The poem Spike was reciting was from Buffy Season 7, the one that got him laughed at when he was human for those who didn’t pick up on it.
You mean Season 5, where both Cecily and Buffy told him that "you're beneath me".
@@maruskaehrensdorfer oh yeah thanks that’s the episode
@@starkraven1148 "Fool for Love", if anyone wants the name.
Can I just say how much I love Anne's journey, from buffy season 2x07 where she was so lost, unable to care for her self, to this powerful strong woman helping others, she has one of my fav character journeys in the buffyverse
When I first saw this, I was furious at the ending, but over the years, I've gotten to appreciate it. Buffy was about growing up and becoming an adult, so there was an endpoint. But Angel is about _being_ and adult, and as an adult, it doesn't have an ending. You just go to work. (There's a whole comic series, "After the Fall." I'm not a comics person, but it's there.)
Remember he wrote that poem for her before he was turned
Like and share this video with everyone you can guys ❤️ It's been an incredible journey
I always think back to when Wesley came over and everyone wonders how long he'll stick around.
Lexi “the show wouldn’t kill one of the main characters in a final again.” The show “Challenge accepted.”
Lexi: "They're all just gonna die? What kind of ending is this?" .... Angel was always about the never ending fight. While Buffy (BTVS) was about becoming, growing into someone... The Earth dimension is a Hell dimension that humans fought and took it away. That war never ended... Heroes accept the world as it Should be, not as it IS.
I’ve been waiting for your reaction to “would you like me to lie to you now” since your Buffy season 3 wrap up video.
Alexis Denisof and Amy Acker gave everything in their last scene. This is one of the few tragic love story that actually make me cry. ( Only Razer & Aya from Green Lantern TAS hit me that hard )
I’m going to miss all your opening edits (this one doesn’t disappoint)! Thank you for everything, Lexi. Much love to you❤
In essence there would be no season five without Spike. It wouldn’t have been green lit. Since these are planned ahead, he probably was forced it a bit but I thought they finally found Angel’s true soulmate. Spangel forever.
Greatest series finale ever❤
17:08 along with Adam Baldwin's response, this scene is among my top ten for great lines in the Buffyverse..
"People who don't care about anything will never understand people who do."
"Yeah, but we won't care."
🤣🤣🤣
The point is that even if can’t defeat evil, good still needs to fight against it. You don’t do it for a reward, you do it because it’s right. “If nothing that we do matters, then all that matters is what we do.”
And to be fair, Spike came back as a non corporeal, ghost-like being and stayed that way for a while. And he never hesitates to sacrifice himself for a good cause. Spike made Angel heaps more interesting not only because of the humor, but also because he makes Angel question himself about being “the one” and clarifies his mission for him. Angel doesn’t fight for the reward of becoming human. He does what’s right in a world he can never truly be happy in
Such a powerful ending, drives home the point of Never Give Up Doing What’s Right.
That’s all folks!!
Lexi, discovered your channel two months ago and dipped in and out of your buffyverse reactions. These are my fav shows of all time, and it’s been great to see you enjoy them!
It’s also been great to see how you gained more confidence, and developed as a content creator, as the shows went on. Really happy you’ve had lots of success because of this.
Looking forward to future reactions, and you should defo do the Q and A!
Was disappointed when I first saw it live but it's become one of my favorite series finales
The point was to fight. The fight goes on. FYI-the series continues in comics
LEXIIIII. First of all, THANK YOU for your massive contribution to the Buffy fandom over the last three years. Watching reactions is a huge part of the modern long-term fandom and you've been one of my favourite reactors EVER. Your initiation is complete - you're one of us now, girlie.
There are no words for how good Wesley's death scene is. Alexis and Amy's delivery of those lines murders me every time - I was genuinely crying watching this and I've seen that scene dozens of times over. I know you cut it out of the UA-cam version for brevity, but one of my favourite scenes in this episode is Gunn storming into the politicians' office and taking out the vamps. Like YES. That's GUNN. I missed the real him this season, and it was such a relief to see him end the series as himself.
Finally, your perspective on this episode will change a million times, I guarantee it. It's a rite of passage. Thank you for the wonderful reaction and the amount of effort you've put into this show and the fandom. I'm so excited for the future of your reactions.
Spike had no point in this season? What season were you watching? This is the best season for the growth of his character.
There was already a dragon in California after season 5 of Buffy.
A happy ending was never in the cards for these characters.
To quote the great philospher Ramsay B.:
If you think this has a happy ending, you haven’t been paying attention.
The point of the episode is to show that the fight against evil doesn’t end and you just have to stand up and keep fighting, because lying down and letting evil win is far far worse.
Watching these reactions of yours has been a real privilege. Thanks so much for sharing them. People have differing opinions about the comic books and graphic novels but I think it helps to realize that the stories continue and never really end.
I loved this ending back when it aired and I still do. Keep fighting the good fight, guys.
Same here. I see you n the Good Omens universe quite a bit. We clearly have exceptional taste in fantasy tv shows!
@@itsreeeshaaa7560 Oh, yes, we do! And similar names, if your user name is similar to your real name. :)
“I’d get this truck packed before the new stuff gets here.”
Anne is the MVP of both Buffy and Angel. She encapsulates the core philosophies of both shows: To become an adult, and to do good even though everything is futile.
@@arc7375yes I've always thought this too, she represents the core of what Angel is about
Harmony is such an underrated character but she’s one of my favorites as a vampire!
Fred died in Wesley's arms, Wesley died in Fred's arms. Full circle moment.
If you're going to read any comic, I REALLY REALLY reccomend Angel After the Fall. As someone who was left wanting more and empty after this finale, I felt that that comic concluded the plot line in a way that was satisfying for all characters
There's a video of all the Wesley Windom Price clips in chronological order from Buffy to Angel... It's one of my favorite character arch's ever.
He has my favorite character arc of the characters in both shows. He's definitely my favorite character in Angel. Most of the mistakes he makes are ones I could see myself making, and it is is sad that he has maybe the most tragic ending of all the characters. Arguable with Fred if you go by the show but almost certainly more so if you count the comics.
I Love this ending. It's not only that the fighting never ends and there's always another fight, but that the important thing isn't even if they won or died, but that they were fighting for the right thing. Much like Anne. Fighting for the right thing, even if you don't win.
Thanks for the react journey!
Your rant on character deaths (and Spike) is spot on - completely agree.
Personally, my favorite Angel seasons are 2 and 4.
Will join you for more reacts if/when you do a show I am into 😍
What was the point ? Well as you yourself said in the reaction the point is the fight not the rewards or the outcome. The struggle for good is what matters no matter the ending. There's no such thing as happily ever after in the real world so all Angel could do was stay true to who he was. If nothing matters then all that matters is what we do.
“If nothing we do matters, then all that matters is what we do.”
One of my favorite finales ever. I love the ambiguous ending (for those of us who didn't follow on afterward with the comics.
I always comment this on these reactions, but "Lets go to work" was also the last line of the first episode
I also like to imagine in my head movies that an army of slayers show up to help about 2 minutes after it fades to black
The last line of the first episode was "I'm game."
*"Buffy the Vampire Slayer" was continued as comic books. Season 8 began in 2007, Season 9 in 2011, Season 10 in 2014, Season 11 in 2016, Season 12 in 2018. "Angel - Season 6 was also published as comic books plus additional mini-series.*
I understand it might seem abrupt, but this ending is unbelievably fantastic. It's my favorite ending to anything ever and my favorite episode of all time in any show ever.
You cannot defeat Wolfram and Hart, you cannot end Evil, you cannot stop Darkness. What you can do is fight and try, which is what Angel as a show and as a character was always about. It's not about the reward, or the glory, or the promise of some sort of payment. It's about doing what is right because it's the right thing to do. "Let's go to work" as the final line of this show perfectly encapsulates the thematic backbone of Angel and capitalizes on that premise better than any show I've ever seen.
The truth is, the result of the fight at the end of the episode is entirely irrelevant. It doesn't matter, because we know how it will end. They all die in a blaze of glory doing what was right and standing up to evil against impossible odds, they survive long enough for help to arrive because they had the guts and conviction to stand up against impossible odds and live to continue the fight, or they somehow miraculously win and survive another day to fight against impossible odds because it is what is right.
Harmony lasting from early season 1 of BTVS to the final episode of angel is so funny to me somehow. Like she literally experienced zero character growth over all those years, but aside from Angel she had the longest tenure of any BTVS-verse character. WTF!!!
She was also alive 200 years into the future in the Fray timeline per Buffy Season 12 comics.
It was an honour, every step of the way....
One of the hardest things for me is knowing Andy Hallett (Lorne) died five years later after the show ended. He was only 33 years old.
It’s taken me many years to process this finale over and over again. The grief slowly turns to loving sadness. With time I feel like most people come to find this was the only way Angel could end.
One other thing, for the Ending of the Finale I think at the last minute they should have had Andrew and Hundreds of young women show up to fight by Angel's side, that at least would have given the Ending a feeling of Hope.
When they canceled the show, Joss basically said "Fine, I'm ending it MY way." Jarring at first watch, but I've come to love it.
There is a comic book continuation of the end of this season if you want to know what happens to them all!
Fun fact: the dragon at the end is the same dragon from The Gift
Good writing keeps you thinking and guessing.
❤️🎬👍
Hamilton: "You signed away your 'Shanshu'. There's nothing in it for you anymore." (Cue Connor decking Hamilton)
I read an interview once where Joss Whedon stated that adding Spike to the lineup of Angel was part of the negotiations to get Angel renewed for season five. So yeah, he was brought back more for business than artistic reasons. I like Spike and I like his interactions with Angel, but I also wish they had done more with him to justify reversing his death in Buffy.
They did he became a genuine champion who helps the helpless not just to impress a girl but because it's what he believes in.
@@MrSupertallblackmanExactly.
While his sacrifice in Buffy wasn't as important since he was brought back, I loved him in Angel. James and David have fantastic chemistry and bring a lot of comedy to the season. Plus it was good to see Spike doing good and acting like a champion, without Buffy around. It's not just around his fixation with her, he's doing it because it's the right thing to do.
In all honesty, season 4 was(to me, hate me if you like)the weakest of the seasons of Angel. Connor derailed Cordelia and Angel and Jasmine was just too overpowered. Sure, I enjoyed the ending, but the rest, I was like "eh." Glad that they brought back Spike and kept a season 5.
I 100% agree with everything you said about spike's part on Angel. I know season 5 is almost everyone's favorite but I don't see it. I just missed Cordelia the whole time and wished she was there. I read somewhere that there was a choice if they're going to keep Cordy or bring Spike but they couldn't afford both of them. If it is true I would always choose Cordy...she made the whole show for me and that is why I could never bring myself to love season 5 when such integral part is missing.
Agree,I love Spike, but when it comes to Angel, yes, Cordy made the show.
She was the heart of the show. Spike was brought into Buffy more to fill CC role after she left to go to Angel. I don’t get why they brought him in either but I guess it made sense for the show. James admitted on a podcast too that’s what happened they couldn’t afford them both and they wanted the ratings so they brought Spike.
wesley was my favourite character in the buffy-verse, his death scene always makes me cry
I always thought this was one of the best series finales ever shown. I believe there was an Angel comic series after this finale. It continues the stories after the finale.
9:09 No Angel’s doing what he told everyone else to do. Spend the day like it’s his last.
Since Angel didn't show up until the rewritten episode 1, Mercedes McNab as Harmony is the only person to appear in both the unaired Buffy pilot and the finale of Angel. Truly spanned the entire Buffyverse.
26:00 When I first saw this finale I thought “where’s the second half of the episode?” But in retrospect I think it’s great. _Buffy_ was about coming of age. The “cookie dough” speech not withstanding, that’s a finite process, and by the end of the show Buffy is in the role of a leader and an adult. So a happily-ever-after ending makes sense. _Angel,_ however is about redemption. That’s not something you complete or finish. Angel himself said something similar to Faith in S1. No matter how much good they do, there’s always more to do. So ending the show mid-battle is perfect, imo.
27:22 Bringing Darla back from dust was fantastic. I do agree that it’s usually poor writing, though.
29:30 It’s true that removing Spike from S5 would barely change anything for anyone else or the plot. But there is some development for this own character: he’s doing good just for goodness’ sake now. On _Buffy_ it was always for her, so he’s really much more of a hero now that he was before.
31:47 Yeah, Lorne’s ending is truly tragic. 😢 No notes.
The "Ciao!" scene alone was justification enough to bring Spike back.
Yes, what you are feeling, trust me, those of us who watched Buffy and then Angel...the final episodes were intense experiences!! The only reason the final eps don't impact me as much now, is because i know i can go back and watch bith shows over again...but at the time, it was liek the end of an era, the end of a journey thay we didnt want to see end. But ultimately they went out on top...I couldnt have asked for anything more! ❤️🎬
Such a tragic but also fitting ending for the series.
"Bad people need nothing more to compass their ends, than that good people should look on and do nothing."
Lets go to work!
Buffy ends in sunlight; Angel ends in rain. Buffy reaches the end of her fight; Angel was always going to go down fighting.
U can read the official continuation in the comic Angel: After the Fall, to know how was the epic fight :) . Btw buffy continued in comic too until season12 XD.
You might like to watch 2012's Much Ado About Nothing with Acker and Denisof, directed by somebody. Just to see those actors together again in a (relatively) cheerful setting.
Best version of Much Ado About Nothing I have ever seen. Blows the other two major ones out of the water. Sorry Tate/Tennant, you got nothin on Acker/Denisof. Sorry Kenneth Brannon - I grew up with your version, but it pales in comparison. When I on occasion teach Shakespeare, I always have my students read Much Ado just so I can show them the Acker/Denisof version.
Thank you, Miss Lexi, for reacting to these shows. I've been a latecomer, only really watching along with this last season, but it was very enjoyable.
So apparently in the comics that continue after the show, Angel actually befriends the dragon and names it Cordelia.
that sounds cringey as fuck
@@theprodigalIt’s a very small detail. The Buffy and Angel comics are decent, but I feel they get a little far-fetched and silly (even considering the lore/universe).
@@theprodigal How is that cringey? PTB sent it and he named it that. No matter how people feel about their romantic side or whatever. She was his best friend and changed his life. People always look at the romantic side because that what was shown but it was more than that. The comics are okay not start to finish though.
Fun Fact: You see a lot of Buffy and Angel in the first Avengers movie, as Joss Directed. One of the most noticeable crossovers is the Fred to Illyria surprise punch, Joss uses it with Banner in to Hulk!
Plus in Thor's dream scene, there is a background shot that shows the Wolf, Ram, and Hart