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snick_backupYes. Really. My viewing of Angel was not so much linear as idiosyncratic (I'll finish S4 one of these days), and I've been saving NFA all this time largely because it was the last new Spike footage ever. *sob*
In most ways I found it quite satisfying. The "last day alive" shtick meant lots of good character moments all down the line: Angel and Connor, Gunn and Anne (I will never not love that "Chanterelle" stuck around so long, nor that Buffy's namesake appeared in the final ep), Wes and Illyria, Spike (who apparently bothered to remember that atrocious poem all this time, but hey, at least now we know that someone writing for Ats watched at least part of one ep of Buffy). Lorne's stage exit felt not happy, but bitterly appropriate: it's what happens to folks who hang around Angel too long.
I was ticked about Lindsey, though. It's the only time I can think of that the "free will" question was raised with respect to Lorne's empath abilities, and it was effective, and yet Angel's decision to have Lindsey executed was just plain wrong, not to mention strategically unfortunate. Every time Lindsey tried to cross over, Angel shoved him back.
Harmony was an interesting echo of the same failing on Angel's part. She arguably had more excuse for evil-doing than Lindsey had - soulless vampire, here - but I can't help but think she might have been redeemable. Then again, Disharmony suggests perhaps not. Still, if she's person enough to pay to answer your phone and do your typing, then she's person enough to treat like a person.
Overall, I was pleased. In fact, as a final nod to the characters and the universe, I liked it a whole lot better than Chosen.
In most ways I found it quite satisfying. The "last day alive" shtick meant lots of good character moments all down the line: Angel and Connor, Gunn and Anne (I will never not love that "Chanterelle" stuck around so long, nor that Buffy's namesake appeared in the final ep), Wes and Illyria, Spike (who apparently bothered to remember that atrocious poem all this time, but hey, at least now we know that someone writing for Ats watched at least part of one ep of Buffy). Lorne's stage exit felt not happy, but bitterly appropriate: it's what happens to folks who hang around Angel too long.
I was ticked about Lindsey, though. It's the only time I can think of that the "free will" question was raised with respect to Lorne's empath abilities, and it was effective, and yet Angel's decision to have Lindsey executed was just plain wrong, not to mention strategically unfortunate. Every time Lindsey tried to cross over, Angel shoved him back.
Harmony was an interesting echo of the same failing on Angel's part. She arguably had more excuse for evil-doing than Lindsey had - soulless vampire, here - but I can't help but think she might have been redeemable. Then again, Disharmony suggests perhaps not. Still, if she's person enough to pay to answer your phone and do your typing, then she's person enough to treat like a person.
Overall, I was pleased. In fact, as a final nod to the characters and the universe, I liked it a whole lot better than Chosen.
