Angel - Season 1 (Box Set 1) [VHS] [2000]

Of course, "Angel" has the added bonus of benefitting from Whedon's genius. "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" has long been aimed at a younger audience, despite managing to tackle some more adult themes. With "Angel", Whedon has been able to tackle adult themes on a regular basis, as well as basing the series more in the real world in real-world-city Los Angeles. The joke is probably lost on few, though the younger audience of "Buffy" may find that a number of jokes go over their head, and that little is familiar in this spin-off series. Of course, vampires and demons bound across the city, feasting on the human race, but sadly this is not the only enemy, and the shades of black and white that only rarely fade to grey in "Buffy" are only that dull colour in "Angel"; nothing is ever as easy as it is in the parent-series. Humans are frequently the enemies of episodes, and comments of society are more complex and common in "Angel".

Common in the way that "Buffy" characters are too. Angel, of course, but also Cordelia - who had no role to play in Season Four Of "Buffy", but was too good a character to lose - and guest appearances from the best of the rest. "Buffy", of course, to show the more realistic and darker side of break-ups - whereas "Buffy" always showed them to be more amicable, "Angel" shows them to be more distant, and at one point even coming to blows and raising voices. Spike also appears on 'In The Dark' to support the programme in it's early days, with a hand from Oz. Spike of course, is the best of the two, and can be shown to be more evil on the more adult "Angel". Doyle, the only new regular to be seen, is a welcome and humorous addition, but sadly does not last long. A striking difference when compared with "Buffy", a place where even normal, non-combatant civilians can survive countless armageddons.

Sometimes a little directionless, dark and gothic, with an amazing theme far better than that of it's parent, Angel is a must for the more mature Buffy fans, and something everyone should watch at least once

After the first episode, I was already blown away. Angel himself appears to have developed a bit of humour, and David Boreanz shows us that he is actually a very good actor, as he shows us at numerous occassions throughout the series.

But what makes the show is the ensemble cast that is better than in any series I have ever seen (even the A-Team!). Cordellia Chase, the nastiest girl in Sunnydale comes to LA having to face up to a dramatic change in her life, and she soon has to cope with an even more bizarre life as Angels assistant. The new cast member we meet is Doyle, a half demon Irishman who was sent to Angel by the all-knowing powers that be to guide him in his quest for redemption. It may sound a bit serious, but it's not. I've never laughed so much at a show that most thought would be so dark. Okay, the darkness is there, but the hard stuff doesn't really start until the second series.

The three main characters are supported by the evil lawyers from Law Firm Wolfram and Hart, who develop into something more nasty than Skeletor in the long run, and Cordellia's very own ghost, the phantom Dennis. And just wait until Episode ten (I think) and the appearance of a character who was merely a bumbling fool in Buffy. Be warned, this 'bufoon' becomes the greatest character in this show, you'll soon begin to doubt the parent show for it's portrayal of characters, especially when Buffy turns up, she comes over as such an annoying moaner!

Basically, if I was a forceful man, I'd merely exclaim 'Buy This!", but I'm not. But what the hey- Buy This!