The Girl in Question

[shapinglight]

Finished my brief BtVS rewatch with another episode about which the current fandom consensus seems to be that we're not supposed to enjoy it, The Girl in Question.



Have to say, I don't care what anyone else thinks. I love it, not least because, though Angel and Spike both come across as pretty stupid, just for once, Angel is definitely stupider. Most of all, though, I love it for the vespa/car chase and the 'I signalled her with my eyes' scenes. ROFL.

Not going to say any more. I wrote a proper review of this ep back in 2007, and I haven't changed my mind about anything since (except for thinking the comics are even worse than I thought then).

Great stuff.

Comments

[norwie2010.livejournal.com]

Never let your love be soured by what others say! :)

[tx-cronopio.livejournal.com]

It's ok -- I agree with what I assume the consensus to be, which is that the timing of a silly slapstick episode at this point in S5 was just weird.

[kathyh]

I love "The Girl in Question". It's very funny, very silly and a welcome relief from the darkness all around it.

[norwie2010.livejournal.com]

Just read your review from way back when (which i hadn't done up until now) and i must say i'm astonished: I came away with the exact opposite impression of Angel and Spike moving on. I always thought that the episode's main connection to the overall arc was that it frees Angel and Spike of their human ties to go on (get off? ;-) to their suicide mission.

[willowgreen.livejournal.com]

Exactly. There are so many great moments in the episode, but the combination of the bizarre timing and the infuriating message made it hard to enjoy at the time.

[shadowkat67.livejournal.com]

You aren't alone. I loved the episode. Wrote extensively on it, and still find moments to be hilarious. My favorite bits are the Spike/Angel banter. And oh...the bit where Angel repeats Buffy's cookie dough speech weepy eyed to Spike and Andrew...the look on Spike's face? Priceless.

But me and fandom aren't always in agreement...;-)

[deborahw37.livejournal.com]

I watched that yesterday! I love it! Always have and always will and adored the live commentary JM and DB did for it at the Halloween event a few yesrs back

Hop on little mama!

[whichclothes.livejournal.com]

I really like that episode. I thought it was one of the funniest Angel epis and that some comedy was needed at that point.

[molly_may]

I'm with you, I think this episode is delightful, and "I signaled her with my eyes" is probably one of my favorite Angel lines ever. And while I know lots of people don't like it because of its placement in the series, one of the reasons I love it is because the end of S5 is so doom-and-gloom filled that an episode that makes me laugh, and lets me actually enjoy the characters of Angel and Spike in all their petty rivalry one last time is a welcome respite.

[infinitewhale.livejournal.com]

I liked it. Can't say as I loved it because the style of humor isn't my thing, but I liked it overall. The Italian-Gypsy stuff was a little eyeroll-inducing, though. It was an odd time for a quirky episode. I don't usually go for ship-mocking, but since both got, it seemed OK. Have to say, though, that while Bangel got it worse in the episode, a lot of Spuffy fans had a more childish reaction.

I liked the message that both of them should get over their issues. I liked the Buffy-Immortal stuff. Certainly had some flaws, but I don't think it deserves the hate it gets. Not nearly.

[rebcake.livejournal.com]

I love this episode, for a certain value of love. It's certainly one of my favorites from AtS S5, because I'm powerless to resist the ones with flashbacks. I also love the introduction of Ilona Costa Bianchi, who I like to think would have been an excellent foil if there had been another season. We need more HBICs! Plus, she likes Spike, so clearly she's a woman of excellent taste. ;-)

Since I don't really care about AtS, I am not bothered by the "inappropriate for its place in the season" comedy. Whatever. We get Darla, Dru, Fred & her folks, and ridiculous Andrew one last time. And Angel riding bitch again for the first time since S1. I call it a win.

[tx-cronopio.livejournal.com]

Agreed! Since we are apparently alone here :) --

I'll also add that the whole "it's so clear that this is not SMG" thing kind of disrupted the whole Buffy effect for me.

[elisi]

It's daft, but wonderful. And everything makes sense if Captain Jack is The Immortal. :)

Also it is of course the shippiest Spangel episode ever. ♥

[rahirah]

While I think that the episode has flaws, I still love it. (Which would apply to AtS S5 as a whole, really.)

[shapinglight]

I'm trying my very best to stop letting what Joss says in the comics sour my love of the show at any rate.

[shapinglight]

I don't actually disagree with that. It would probably have worked better if it could have come before AHiTW. Just after Smile Time would have been best. But even though the timing is off, I would hate to have missed it completely.

[shapinglight]

I agree. Plus I, for one, appreciated at last the two vampire 'ships were put on equal footing. "Buffy loves both of you," Andrew says. Fine by me.

[shapinglight]

I always thought that the episode's main connection to the overall arc was that it frees Angel and Spike of their human ties to go on (get off? ;-) to their suicide mission.

Not IMO. They very definitely aren't moving on, no matter what they say. That's why when they say it, they're sitting still, not moving.

Angel does some letting go of his human ties, though, notably sending Nina and her family away.

[shapinglight]

My favorite bits are the Spike/Angel banter. And oh...the bit where Angel repeats Buffy's cookie dough speech weepy eyed to Spike and Andrew...the look on Spike's face? Priceless.

Hee! Yes, that's very funny.

Andrew: Is Angel crying yet?
Spike: No. :looks at Angel: Not yet.

[shapinglight]

and adored the live commentary JM and DB did for it at the Halloween event a few yesrs back

Wish I'd been at that one, but it was way too expensive for me. :(

Yes, it's lots of fun, even though DB and JM look a little rough around the edges.

[shapinglight]

I thought it was one of the funniest Angel epis and that some comedy was needed at that point.

I do think the timing is a bit off, given that the daft Angel/Spike scenes are intercut with the horribly angsty Wes/Illyria/Burkles scenes, but I would hate to have missed it altogether.

[shapinglight]

and "I signaled her with my eyes" is probably one of my favorite Angel lines ever

Agreed. The look Spike gives him is absolutely priceless. Petty Angel is so funny.

[shapinglight]

I liked the message that both of them should get over their issues. I liked the Buffy-Immortal stuff. Certainly had some flaws, but I don't think it deserves the hate it gets. Not nearly.

I agree. I liked the message too, from the fact that both 'ships were put on equal footing, if only to make fun of them, to the end of Chosen actually meaning that Buffy was free to enjoy herself and party on down for a little while if she wanted to.

I can't really remember the fan reaction at the time. I do remember being rather surprised by how many people hated the episode, probably because I was a big Spangel 'shipper at the time and of course all the Spangel fans loved it.

[sueworld2003.livejournal.com]

As you know I absolutely adore this story and always defend it to the death! *g*

Sometimes you just have to sit back and enjoy the silly. :D

[shapinglight]

I love our last look at the Fanged Four too. They are, and always will be, my favourite TV vampire family. I was so glad we got to see the four of them together again before the show ended.