Saturday 22 March 2014

Angel, "I Will Remember You" Review (1x08)

Brief Synopsis: “Buffy arrives in Los Angeles, furious that Angel didn’t tell her he was watching her in Sunnydale. A demon attack interrupts Buffy and Angel’s argument and some of the demon’s blood mixes with Angel’s blood, resulting in Angel becoming human.”


"The Bachelor Party" (1x07) quick link here                                                                                                                                "Hero" (1x09) quick link here


Three quick notes before we get started...

1) This review will almost definitely contain spoilers for episodes after this one.
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With that being said, let’s get started, shall we?



Can my review of this episode just be a drawing of a broken heart and a piece of paper saying “Don’t wanna! Don’t wanna!” in yellow crayon? UGH. I literally pouted at my screen at the prospect of re-living this episode again. After two relatively mediocre “Angel” episodes (“Sense & Sensitivity” and “The Bachelor Party”), “I Will Remember You” delivers what is easily the greatest episode of “Angel” thus far. None of the other seven can compare to it. Ironically, the best episode of “Angel” thus far is an episode that is entirely about a relationship and events that took place in Sunnydale on “Buffy The Vampire Slayer”.

Even though it’s absolutely gut-wrenching, this is my favourite episode of either show in relation to ‘Bangel’ (Buffy and Angel’s romantic relationship). What “I Will Remember You” does is expose what they would have been like as a couple without the added drama of Angel being a vampire and having a gypsy curse. They can have sex. They can go into the daylight together. They can eat together. In doing so, they’re fucking adorable! I’m of the opinion that Buffy has never had a good, healthy relationship. Perhaps it’s because she’s the Slayer, perhaps it’s because she’s primarily dated vampires...whatever the reason, all of Buffy’s relationships have had major flaws. Angel and Buffy could never be a real couple (this episode aside) and they were so full of angst. Riley and Buffy in season four of “Buffy The Vampire Slayer” was Buffy’s most stable, healthy relationship, but ultimately Riley was too insecure over having a girlfriend that didn’t need him or rely on him...plus Buffy was never in love with him. Buffy and Spike worked wonderfully together as friends in season five and they were a very enjoyable couple in season seven, but season six was downright unhealthy and disturbing, so I can’t get into them as a couple too much either. With that being said, I like and appreciate all three of Buffy’s major relationships. However, I don’t think that Buffy ever loved someone as much as she loved Angel, which is what makes this episode work. Even though Buffy and Angel had vast flaws as a couple, they had a deep love for one another that was unparalleled by anyone else in their lives. Even after becoming human in this episode, some of the reasons why Angel broke up with Buffy in the first place are still present. These reasons ultimately lead Angel to make his greatest sacrifice. Everything that was wonderful about their relationship and everything that was negative about their relationship is explored in just 42 minutes.

Before I start reviewing the episode itself, I have a little public service announcement regarding Buffy’s relationships...can’t we all just appreciate everyone else’s opinions? I’m not talking about this blog or my Facebook Buffyverse page (www.facebook.com/BTVSFC), as everyone is oddly open-minded on both of those, but throughout the internet there seems to be this massive ‘Bangel’ vs. ‘Spuffy’ war, where if you have a different preference to someone, they slate you for it. Can we not appreciate each relationship for what they were and what they taught Buffy (and us)? There’s no right or wrong answer to what Buffy’s best relationship is or who she should be with, there’s just opinions. Opinions can’t be wrong, they’re just opinions. People should be brought together by their love of “Buffy The Vampire Slayer” and “Angel”, not torn apart. Now, onto the episode itself! That’ll cheer us all up, right?

The episode opens with Angel winding a clock. It’s a beautifully poetic, disturbing start to an episode that is all about time and the eventual rewinding of time. Damn, this episode is perfectly written and acted, isn’t it? You know what also sucks about this episode? It’s the last complete episode where Doyle is alive. I CANNOT HANDLE ALL THESE FEELS. I swear, after “I Will Remember You” and “Hero”, I’m going to be an emotional pile of snot and tears on the floor of my bedroom, rocking gently and telling myself that at least Wesley will be arriving in “Parting Gifts”.

For anyone that watches “Angel”, but doesn’t watch “Buffy The Vampire Slayer”, this episode is part two of a story that began in the last “Buffy The Vampire Slayer” episode, “Pangs”. If you remember, Doyle had a vision at the end of the last “Angel” episode (“The Bachelor Party”) where he saw Buffy is danger. This prompted Angel to skulk back to Sunnydale and keep an eye on Buffy without her knowledge. Xander accidentally let it slip to Buffy (in comical fashion) that Angel was watching her and now Buffy has travelled to Los Angeles to confront Angel. Buffy says that she was in Los Angeles visiting her father, which I maintain was a lie. She hasn’t seen her father on-camera or off-camera in over two years. The last time he was seen on the show, he was telling Joyce that he can’t relate to Buffy anymore and doesn’t know what to say. I think Buffy was using her father as an excuse for why she cared enough that Angel was in Sunnydale without telling her to travel all the way to Los Angeles to confront him. This is actually Buffy’s third trip to the City of Angels. She first went to Los Angeles during the summer break between “Buffy The Vampire Slayer” season one and two, as she was spending the summer with her father. The second time was one year later, when Buffy ran away to Los Angeles after having to kill a newly re-ensoulled Angel.

I’ve always wondered something...for people that have watched “Angel”, but have never seen “Buffy The Vampire Slayer”, what did they think of Buffy Summers? Buffy is only on “Angel” twice and both times she’s rather bitchy. Don’t get me wrong, she’s justified in her anger and bitchiness both times, but without seeing “Buffy The Vampire Slayer”, the audience wouldn’t be aware of all of the details and might just think that Buffy is a whiny cow.

Buffy being in the headquarters of Angel Investigations feels odd, but kinda nice. It leads to an extremely awkward reunion between Buffy and Cordelia (what is with all the awkwardness between Cordelia and the Scoobies?! The same thing happened when Oz came to visit), plus Buffy gets to meet Doyle. I’m so glad that Buffy, Oz, and Spike got to meet Doyle. Even though he’s only around for nine episodes, he’s such an important part of the show and he plays a vital role in the development of Angel and Cordelia. Buffy and Angel have a conversation about Angel politely stalking her in Sunnydale. I can understand Buffy’s annoyances. Even though Angel felt like he was doing the right thing, Buffy deserved to know he was there. She’s not a helpless damsel in distress, she’s the Slayer! What is best for Buffy is not Angel’s decision (which I will rant about a little later on). Buffy tells Angel that they shouldn’t see each other anymore because it’s too hard and that Angel was right to leave Sunnydale and give them both a chance at a new start.

Buffy: “Given enough time we should be able to...”
Angel: “Forget.”

Foreshadowing! Foreshadowing alert! Get out now!



A Mohra demon attacks, Cordelia assumes that it’s just Buffy and Angel fighting out their differences, the Mohra demon’s blood mixes with Angel’s blood, the Mohra demon escapes, and Angel is human! ANGEL IS HUMAN! I won’t deny the fact that Angel is arguably my favourite Buffyverse character. I have a lot of love for Spike, Willow, Wesley, Lorne, and some other characters as well, but Angel might just top the list. For four years we’ve watched Angel brooding in misery over the crimes he committed as Angelus. We’ve watched him fight for redemption, keep fighting, and keep fighting again. He’s finally rewarded for all his sacrifices by being made human. I was so happy for Angel when I first saw this episode! I couldn’t contain my excitement! Of course, I was young and naive. Angel was smiling, Cordy was smiling, Doyle was smiling, and Buffy was smiling. We can’t have characters in the Whedonverse being happy! No, no, no! That would be against Joss’ code of conduct! I didn’t see the writing on the wall that it couldn’t last. Before we get to that, Angel gets to briefly adjust to being human again.

Angel: “I have a mortal body, and....I am so....HUNGRY!

The scene where Angel is eating everything in sight is one of my most beloved, personally. I’ve never seen Angel so happy and excited before. Having his humanity back seems to temporarily wipe away all his guilt and broodiness. He’s so carefree! Again, I didn’t see the writing on the wall that all of this excitement and love of his humanity is building up his sacrifice at the end of the episode for the greater good even more.

To ensure that his restored humanity isn’t a trick or temporary, Doyle takes Angel to visit the Oracles, whom I adore. I wish they were around for longer. They have a unique look (the glorious blue and gold), they add a new dimension to the show, and they’re interesting. Angel presents the Oracles with the gift of time...ugh, I should have noticed that time keeps popping up repeatedly. Curse you, brain! Fucking Whedon and his genius mind.

But let’s get real here. This episode works because of the restoration of Buffy and Angel’s relationship and the destruction of Buffy and Angel’s relationship once and for all. There are two scenes that make me overwhelmed with joy. The first is when Angel asks Buffy to meet him outside in the daylight. He steps out of the shadows into the sunlight and kisses her. Sarah Michelle Gellar’s facial acting during this scene was perfect. The look on Buffy’s face as Angel walked into the light was heart-warming to the point of watery eyes. No matter how depressing the end of this episode is, no matter how depressing their breakup in “The Prom” is, you can never take the scene where Angel and Buffy are kissing in the sunlight away from me, and you can never take it away from Buffy and Angel...unless you rewind time so that Buffy doesn’t remember it. CURSE YOU, WHEDON! 

The second scene that makes me giddy with happiness is when Angel is running across his apartment naked (no, not because Angel is naked!...okay, maybe a little bit...) with armfuls of food, dives into bed with Buffy, and they eat food off of each other. It’s also greatly implied that they’ve been having sex. Buffy and Angel are having their perfect day together. If only it could have lasted longer than a day...

Doyle: “Don’t you want to wake the girl?”
Angel: “Not for the world.”

The Mohra demon is still alive. Angel and Doyle sneak away to hunt and kill it. After the Mohra demon nearly kills Angel, Angel realises that him being human is a bad idea. It’ll put Buffy in danger (as she’ll constantly have to worry about him and try to protect him during fights), it’ll put him friends in danger, and it will mean that Angel can’t help the helpless anymore. Angel can’t live with his humanity if it means that other people will suffer and die as a result. He visits the Oracles again and asks them to rewind the day so that it never happened. To ensure that the same thing doesn’t happen again, Angel alone will live with the knowledge of the past 24 hours. It’s the burden he must bear for rewinding time.

I’m in two minds about Angel’s decision to become a vampire again. On the one hand, the Oracles told Angel that “a great darkness is coming” and Buffy and himself will be needed in the fight. If Angel is human, he can’t fight very well. He can’t save people. He can’t stop what is coming. Just look at this episode! Buffy was almost killed by the Mohra demon trying to protect Angel. If Angel decided to remain human and stayed with Buffy, how long would it be before one or both of them is killed? More importantly than that, who’s going to protect the people of Los Angeles if he’s unable to? Who’s going to help the helpless? Angel is sacrificing his biggest two dreams for the greater good. He’s giving up his humanity and he’s giving up a life with Buffy. It’s the moment when Angel truly becomes a hero. He makes the ultimate selfless sacrifice in order to continue his mission statement. Even deeper than that, I think that Angel feels he needs to earn his humanity. He wants to make amends for all the people he’s killed and all the heinous acts he’s committed before he feels he’s worthy of becoming human. On the other hand, damn it, Angel! You’ve been human for half a day! Take some damn time thinking about it before you give up on your two biggest dreams! I happen to agree with Angel’s decision ultimately, but who’s to say that Angel made the right decision? Was he able to have it all? Much more importantly, Angel should have discussed his decision with Buffy before acting on it. He’s not just rewinding a day of his own life, he’s rewinding the happiest day of Buffy’s life too! She’s going to forget her perfect day with Angel and she had no say in the decision! Angel decided what is best for Buffy, himself, and the world before taking to anyone about it! Before time is rewound, Buffy agrees with Angel’s decision, but it doesn’t make it hurt any less. Buffy’s gone through such a range of emotions in this episode....hurt, anger, annoyance, joyous, exhilarated, desire, depression, sadness, and heartache...and it’s all taken away from her.

Then we arrive at the best scene of “Angel” thus far. A scene that reduces me to manly tears whenever I watch it. The scene where time is about to be rewound. Sarah and David are flawless in this scene. I’ve never seen better acting from either of them up to this point. They were both so invested in the scene that after they’d finished filming, the crew had to close the set for a while so Sarah could recuperate and stop crying about what Buffy and Angel had just been through. Also, if you listen closely, you can hear David call Buffy “Sarah” once instead of calling her “Buffy”. It’s amazing to know just how invested they both were in that scene. For those few minutes Sarah was Buffy and David was Angel. They both felt the full weight of Angel’s decision. In turn, because they felt it, the audience felt it. It’s fucking heartbreaking. Oh, also, fuck you, David Greenwalt and Joss Whedon! You just had to play the ‘Bangel’ love theme during this scene, didn’t you? You weren’t content with giving us a perfect day, only to take it away. You weren’t content with heartbreaking us over Angel having to live alone with the burden of that day. You weren’t content with just giving us the heartbreaking scene where time is about to be rewound. No! You had to play the love theme as well! How I haven’t developed a complex where I burst into tears whenever that theme is played is beyond me.



Time being rewound allows Buffy to return to Sunnydale and start a new relationship with Riley. She doesn’t remember her perfect day with Angel, so in her mind she’s been single for a long time. Angel, on the other hand, has to live with what he’s done. He returns to the darkness that’s been plaguing him for decades.

To conclude, this episode is damn near perfect. The only thing I dislike is Angel’s decision to not talk to Buffy before rewinding time. Everything else is flawless. Every scene is important, every moment is a part of the story, and it all culminates perfectly. It’s filled with significant moments, it gives us some closure on Buffy and Angel’s relationship, and it gives us a huge dollop of character development and renewed focus for our lead character, Angel. You can’t ask for more than that in one episode.

Ending on a happier note...

Cordelia: “I’m good for exactly two things: international superstardom or helping a vampire with a soul to rid the world of evil. That makes for a short, but colourful résumé.”


Quote Of The Episode

Buffy:  "A minute?  No.  No, it's not enough time!" 

Angel:  "We don't have a choice.  It's done." 

Buffy:  "How am I supposed to go on with my life, knowing what we had?  What we could have had?" 

Angel:  "You won't.  No one will know but me." 

Buffy:  "Everything we did..." 

Angel:  "It never happened." 

Buffy:  "It did.  It did!  I know it did! I felt your heart beat." 

Angel:  "Buffy..." 

Buffy:  "No!  Oh, God.  It's not enough time." 

Angel: "Shh, please.  Please. Please, please." 

Buffy:  "No.  I'll never forget.  I'll never forget.  I'll never forget.  I'll never forget." 

*she forgets*


FINAL SCORE: 9.5/10


What are your thoughts on "I Will Remember You"? Did you enjoy this episode? Dislike it? Let me know all your thoughts in the comments section below!

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16 comments:

  1. btw, angel is not saying "Buffy" there. He says "Sarah".

    Sarah michelle Gellar is a huge fan of Bangel, and that kind of scenes she was really crying. And that scene David Boreanaz really trying to comfort Sarah Michelle Gellar.

    check out the video, 2.35 - 2.37

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_iehSxGnGI

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    1. Not surprise SMG recently said she prefers Angel over Spike even tough like 80% of Buffy fandom are Spuffy shippers.

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    2. Citation needed.

      Or maybe 80% of Buffy fans are hipsters with massive inferiority complexes.

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  2. This episode is just the best and at the same time the worst that could happened to any Angel/Buffy shippers. The best because I love these two being together, happy, enjoying their love and how awesome they are as a normal couple. And the worst for the mind wiped, I kind of hate Angel for this decision, he, again, is making decisions without asking anything to Buffy, doing what he believes is the best for her....unfortunately this is not out of character and this mind-rape is repeated again...whatever. The final scene gave me all the feels, SMG is just flawless and I swear if I hear DB calling her Sarah....sigh!!!!
    Good review!!!!

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  3. This is definitely my favourite Angel episode. We get to see what Angel and Buffy would be like if they were given the opportunity to be a "normal" couple, THEY ARE FUCKING ADORABLE!!! The genuine happiness on both characters faces is wonderful to watch (especially the scene where Angel meets Buffy at tbe pier for the first time in daylight OMG).
    But ultimately Angel chooses to turn back time and become vampire once more as he would forever be putting Buffy and himself in danger and he wants to EARN his humanity.
    Whilst I agree that he should have informed Buffy of his decision first, he knew that she would have disagreed as she is blinded by their love and this is a trait of Angel's (not trying to trivialise the situation).

    The scene where he tells her that time will turn back and only he will have the memories of what they did OMG SO FUCKING SAD and... I must run off and cry for like 2 days straight now.

    Flawless acting by both David Boreanaz and Sarah Michelle Gellar this episode is the best as it gives Bangel fans some form of closure on their relationship (still tragic none the Less)

    10\10 rating from me

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  4. You just had to quote that final heartbreaking scene didn't you?! I had goosebumps the whole time while reading this review. Bangel is epic and I'm glad this episode happened but ultimately I had hoped Angel would eventually tell Buffy about this day

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  5. I have to answer your question.. I've watched Angel before Buffy (even if I knew about the show). And to me, Buffy was a bratty, bitchy, angry and bitter girl.. I didn't like her :-D That changed when I watched the show, but this was my introduction to her, and it was not a good one!

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    1. wahahahahaha I watched Buffy first but still I didn't like Buffy in Angel, I thought she was being bitchier than usual too, which as Shangel said it's kind of understandable given all what had happened back in Sunnydale, specially with Faith, but still... I grew to love Angel's characters so much and I loved Faith in Angel so much that I didn't like Buffy intruding like that on their life - show - like she was the boss. I love Buffy in BTVS, I love her so much, but really, I don't know why but I felt protective over Angel, Faith and even Cordy! Like, get out B! This is not your place! Be nice or leave!! ;)

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  6. First of all, watching Buffy walk onto the "Angel" set made me all kinds of happy. When I watch this episode with people who are seeing it for the first time, I am jealous but also excited. I appreciate your comments about Doyle. He truly did help to define the characters of Cordelia and Angel. Cordelia's character development truly begins after his sacrifice. I like seeing Angel happy. It is a little off-putting because its so unexpected, but you are really cheering for these guys to be happy and be together. I agree with your thoughts on the sunlight kissing scene. Sarah's look was heart warming as she got one of the things she always wanted to have in this lifetime. The final act of this episode kills me. I knew Angel would not stay human because I started the series on DVD and..well..there were 4 more seasons. Lame, I know, but I did wonder WTH was going to happen here. I cannot watch the last minute scene and not cry. Anymore than I cannot watch the ending of Amends and not get a chill and then cry. I love Bangel together and it kills me to not see them be happy. I understand your reasoning with being upset that he didn't consult Buffy, but they both do things all the time without consulting others to save the world or a loved one. Angel does that, but to a much bigger scope, at the end of season 4 through season 5 with the secret of Connor. Buffy keeps Dawn's identity as the Key a secret for months before letting the Scoobies know even though they could've been killed for it. They just do the best they can with the information they have. Like Giles says: "I have volumes of lore, of prophecies, of predictions. But I don't have an instruction manual. We feel our way as we go along." I think that with that reasoning, Angel and Buffy feel their way to a solution and go with it. We can hardly blame them for that. Great review and nice pictures! LOL

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  7. Ughh! This is when i really knew. Life isn't fair. I have sort of lived this. I know. I feel angels pain...

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  8. OMG THIS EPISODE MAKES ME CRY SO FUCKING MUCH.
    Its like we are being teased with what could of been. I dont care about titanic, this is the most tragic love story ever. I understand Angels decision and I think Buffy does when he tells her.
    He does feel like he needs to earn his right to be a human again, and being human and being with Buffy from demon blood isnt the way things were ment to be. They can never be together and I think they both deep down knew that all along. BUT OMG ITS SO SAD.
    I do love Cordelia in this episode because shes right, you cant have the love of your life and save the world. If Angel was human and Buffy was slaying, whats he going to do? Stay home and cook dinner for when she comes home? Its one of those 'In another life' love stories, and it just breaks my heart sooo much:(
    I watched Buffy growing up and at age 7 watched Becoming Pt 2 and cried and Joss Whedon omg what a genius. Hes created such a powerfull, true love story, how amazing is that when your talking about Vampires? And I HATE IT WHEN PEOPLE COMPARE IT TO TWILIGHT-.-
    The only problem I have with Angel series is season 5, love it because of Spike and Fred ( such a great character) but Angel changes, hes no longer the mysterious dark sexy character, hes angry and loud. I just wished that old Angel came out a bit more in season 5.
    Oh and I HATE the storyline with Connor, I mean DARLA?! REALLY?!?!? Angered me. And I WISH Buffy was in Season 5:/ The two shows are connected, you cant stop that:/
    OVERALL THIS EPISODE MAKES MY HEART BREAK:(
    :'(:'(

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  9. I think this episode did more than all of BtVS S1-3 to show how well matched these two were. I was opposed to Bangel from an age difference but this episode, with Buffy all grow'd up, it felt much more comfortable.
    And Angel is cute when he's goofy. There, I said it.

    New drinking game options:
    1) A shot every time the word "soul" is used --- likely to cause cirrhosis
    2) A shot every time the word "champion" is used -- it would numb the pain but may require rehab
    3) A shot every time the word "helpless" is used -- this may be about right

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  10. I forgot that they flat out told Angel that Buffy would die sooner because he was human now... kinda puts this episode in context.

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  11. I'm a fan of the Buffy/Angel relationship, despite the sometimes-eye-roll-worthy melodrama, and this episode makes me cry like a sappy lunatic.

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  12. I ship Buffy and Spike, but I agree with the fact that Buffy ever loved someone as mush as she loved Angel. So, said that, this episode is epic, amazing and the most heartbreaking. Seeing both of them so happy, excited and finally able to be together truly warms your heart. But hey, this is Joss Whedon... happiness doesn't last so long. So we have the finale scene that always makes me cry so hard. I agree that Angel's decision not to talk to Buffy before rewinding time is pretty awful, it always breaks my heart. I think the worst thing in life is not being able to remember something, especially if it so great and special (off topic, like what happened with Donna in Doctor Who). Joss Whedon loves making us feel miserable.
    And I just watched the video when you can hear David saying "Sarah".... I mean, my poor heart.
    Thanks Shane for your review!! :)
    Clari

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  13. This episode made me sick to my stomach. I still cannot believe what Angel had done. Worse, he has never confessed to Buffy that he had sanctioned the erasure of her memories . . . against her will. And people romanticize this shit? Ugh!

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