!General thoughts and ratings for Angel 5.4, "Hellbound"

Meh. This episode was a whole lotta nothin'.

[Begin Spoiler for Hellbound — Highlight to view]

I was fascinated by Fred's hair in the beginning. It's like her hair is better than mine; non-curly, but complete over all the head. So she can leave it to go kind of wavy as well as to straighten it, or enhance the curl.

I've been really groggy and irritable all day for no real reason, and I'm not citing that as a reason, but I didn't understand half of this damn episode. I'll give it a 5 because I'm being nice. All the pseudo-science and black magic made no sense at all, which is okay, because I didn't care.

The episode was Spike-centric, and I still don't care, and they also threw in Eve as a bonus, who still can't act, still is useless, and still annoys me. However, I have found that since season 4, I've been liking Angel more and more. Well, it is his show. And I was almost warmed to Spike given their interaction in this episode.

But then ... NO! No, you stupid, stupid bitches. No. No. Spike calling Angel "Liam" is not continuity. It's just stupid . There is no reason he should know Angel's name, other than Angel. Seriously. I could only except this if they showed the bad-hair flashback of this bonding session.
"So, you're William, huh? Me too, actually. I went by Liam, though. More ethnic."
"Wow, we have so much in common! Also ... you're kind of attractive."
"Hey, you too!"
"Let's make out!"

Sorry. ... Sorry. Valerie has this profile pic (or, as the journal set call it, an "icon") of Spike and Angel sitting on the couch, with the caption "Subsequent mansex is axiomatic." For almost, seriously, the entire episode, that was the only thing I could think about. Subsequent mansex is axiomatic.

But, yeah, apparently the Mutant Enemy writers are still misguided on the concept of wit. Also, I don't really know that much about drinking games, but I hope the ones out there have some stipulation about whenever a character gives completely unecessary backstory. It bothered me more than usual for some reason. Probably because we're only 4 episodes into the season, and yet in every single one the characters have had to explain to each other that they except an evil law firm's offer to run its LA branch and now they're trying to run it and help the helpless like they used to do when they ran a detective agency without being corrupted by said evil law firm. Oh, and Angel is a vampire. But he has a soul.

Speaking of that, I hope they don't try to pull this "Spike will Shanshu" crap like I can already tell they're thinking about. I also hope they don't pull in with Angel, because (and I honestly hope I am not the first person to point this out) -- but Angel already Shanshued. The episode was called "I Will Remember You." Angel became human. The Powers That Be Released him from their service. A while later, Wesley read a prophecy, announcing that the vampire with the soul would become human. Now, I know that episode took place after IWRY, but the prophecy was written before that! It's over!

Speaking of the writers disappointing me, I was starting to wonder when we needed to see Spike with his shirt off again. I think, contractually, it needs to be in a fourth of all episodes, so we need to see it at least six more times. But, oh, I underestimated them, he was pant-less too. Good job, writers.

I don't really even care about discussing the rest of the episode. It was, like, really close to being interesting.

[End Spoiler]