Once Bitten: An Unofficial Guide to the World of Angel [Paperback]

Another year, and another companion book to the Buffy/Angel/Joss Whedon universe. But when they are as good, fun, and interesting as Nikki Stafford's book on the subject are, they are a most welcomed treat. When she released the Buffy book, "Bite Me", a few years back, it was a refreshing read since it was from a fan. It was well written and researched, and although I had some questions with some of her ongoing nitpicks, it was a fantastic book. The problems I had with it?. Basically, season 4. Most fans were turned off and grossed out with the Cordelia/Connor thing, and the stuff Cordelia did. And Stafford even keeps referring to it as being Cordelia. The thing is, it is not Cordelia. She isn't doing these things. Charisma didn't change everything she built for the character as Stafford writes, because this is a whole other person using her. People didn't distiguish the two, and I think it made for some of the fabulous, brilliant stuff that season 4 had going for it to be overlooked and not given the proper treatment. This wasn't Cordelia. If the real Cordelia had heard of what happened, she would of been just as grossed out as everyone else. Probably even more so. Stafford keeps up the momentum with this latest release on the history and series run of Buffy's sister show, "Angel". Stafford keeps the fun and interest high all through the well made book, and her own personal thoughts and nitpicks are still there, and while some may annoy some people, are still interesting and fun to read. They are also not important enough to give a low grade to this book. That's forgetting the great stuff inside and giving it a low mark because you don't like the cover. The recent "Watcher's Guide Vol. 3" was such a disappointing affair, that it makes one happy for a Whedonverse book like this one to come along. Stafford keeps things fresh and makes it very clear in the beginning that she is not going to re-hash what she had already written about Angel in the "Bite Me" book, and she doesn't. Her writing is well rounded and easy to read, where some more scholary type publications can get a little over done. To please even more readers and fans, and to tie up loose ends, she has also included the seventh and final season of "Buffy" at the end of book as well. What also makes this book a better deal is that she includes season 5 of "Angel". The recently released "Angel Casefiles Vol. 2" only goes to season 4. What's that about?. The book has very long, in detail synopses and thoughts of all 110 episodes of the show over it's 5 season run. Every section comes with a few little different categories too. Just like the "Bite Me" book. She has "Highlight", which as you probably know, tells what she thought was the high point of that particular episode. There is "Interesting Facts", which you can pretty much guess on your own. "Did You Notice?" is a section where she tells things that one may have not noticed or really picked up on. The infamous "Nitpick" section I already mentioned. "The Buffy Connection" is a section that tells if a certain episode or moment or part of a story in that episode has ties with something from "Buffy". There is also a "Woops" part that details bloopers and all that. It's all very well researched and startingly crafted. If that isn't enough, she has sections on the 2003 Posting Board party, "Angel" and "Buffy" on the web, some trivia, an interview with Alexis Denisoff(Wesley), the story of Angel, some nice color photos, and a section on Buffy in the academia world. Stafford delivers another fine book on the subject that is nothing but pure fun and enjoyment from start to finish. Even though it's not "Buffy", it is everything that "Watcher's Guide 3" should have been. The world and stories of "Angel" was a marvelous, brilliant place, and Stafford keeps the glory of the show alive with this fine book. One wonders what she will give us next, while at the time it's sad that the Buffy/Angel world is over and we won't get another fine book on the two from her. Oh well. Read and enjoy, because the book is every bit as good as "Bite Me". Well done.

While this episode guide isn't terrible, it is often quite irritating. Whereas in Stafford's Buffy guide, Bite Me, her nitpicks are often justified and her commentary is insightful and eloquent, most of the commentary and nitpicks in this guide are not. For example, in her nitpicks about the season one episode "Parting Gifts," Stafford goes off on a tirade about how Barney is an empath demon but does not look like Lorne. This complaint was completely mind-boggling to me, since it seems really naive to assume that all demons with empathic abilities must be from Pylea. Another one of her inane nitpicks based on assumptions about demons is in the season one episode "The Bachelor Party" where she complains that divorce would not have been part of ancient rituals since it was not common a long time ago. I thought we established a long time ago that humans and demons have different rituals. <rolling eyes> Nevertheless, this guide isn't horrible and can at times be very entertaining. Just don't expect it be as good as Bite Me.

While I don't really enjoy criticizing another's work when I can't write a book myself, this book deserves reviewing. I have not read the book "Bite Me" also by this author, but judging by this volume, I won't.

If you enjoy being irritated with a book you, as a reader, spent roughly $15.00- $20.00 on, please, go forth and buy this book; if not, spend your hard earned cash elsewhere ("Angel: The Casefiles" might be a better choice).

The first irritation of this book is although it is "supposed" to be about "Angel," Stafford seems to be writing a sequel to "Bite Me;" she talks about Buffy more than Angel. Don't get me wrong, I'm personally an avid fan of both shows. However, "Angel," whilst being a spin-off, stood on it's own two feet, following "Buffy"s storyline minimally, and Stafford attempts to make parallels between the two shows that just aren't there. It becomes a fly in the reader's ear after a while.

The second major irritation in this book are the menial episode summaries. Having seen every "Angel" episode, at least once, I know the basic plot of each episode and only need a refresher. However, Stafford leaves out MAJOR plot points. If one was trying to find a certain episode he/she missed, one may get a "ballpark" idea of which episode he/she i looking for, especially in Season 4, when the season is basically one long story arc, and if you miss one episode, you're clueless and confused. In my opinion, a plot summary should be like a Cliff's Notes version of the episode, and Stafford only writes about PART of an episode, usually the part I'm figuring that she find pleasing.

And finally, the last bit of annoyance... Nitpicks. Almost anyone who has read this book does not like the "Nitpick" section. I honestly don't want to know someone else's opinion of an episode, or a character's outfit in a certain episode, or any other gripe the author may have about the show; If Stafford like the show so much that she wrote about about it, why does she feel the need to gripe about it? And I apologize, but some of the comments she makes are crude, tactless, and seem uneducated, case in point sayin that Cordelia's outfit at the end of "Orpheus" (Season 4, episode 15) looks like it was bought at, and I quote, "Bondage Maternity Clothes R Us" is absolutely tasteless.

Of course the are a few shining lights within this dreary book: there is a humorous interveiw with Alexis Denisof (Wesley Wyndam-Pryce), It's humorous because the actor is witty, not the author; and there are a few little "jewels" throughout the book: a chronology of appearances by Phantom Dennis, and a Complete "Angel" timeline, pre and post Buffy. These few random lights are the only reason why this book gets ANY stars, in my opinion.

Stafford's sophomore effort just falls flat in this reader's eyes. If you MUST read it, rent it from your Library.