This was so by far the best episode of the first season - well, with a title like that, how can it really go wrong?! I guess I would have liked it better if I didn't know what was going to happen (damn episode summaries!), but it kept me on my toes all the same.

Angel's fitting into that adorable angsty role wonderfully: the intense expressions, the hesitant smile, the wary glances - sigh! I was watching this with Becoming in mind, with the knowledge that in 'Angel', he is already in love with Buffy. I don't know if I'm looking for signs that aren't posted, but all I can say is, Oh my God you're lucky, Joss! Angel looked exactly like he had always been in love with her, and his uncertainty of how to behave not only highlighted this fact, but also forms for a good background to his later character development, in Season 2 when he becomes more sure of her love, and season 3 when his life becomes her.

Nice to know that from day one, Angel has been the maimed pawn guy! Yup, some things just never change. And neither do Angel's clothes, I might add! C'mon, get rid of that white shirt, Angy - hey, wait a minute, you did, hehehe. Was anyone else counting down for that full bodied naked torso shot as our man unveiled for our viewing pleasure? ;0) That tattoo makes me melt, I swear: guess we'll find out more about it in the Angel series, right?

Can you believe that Angel was supposed to leave the show after this episode?! I can't believe Joss would be such an idiot in stopping our honey from sweeting the screens, with all that scope for building Angel's character. What, did he think that Xander's oh so knee-weakening teenage-boyness would seduce us into staying tuned?!!?

Speaking of, Xander wasn't annoying me too much this ep. In fact, he played the jealous wannabe-boyfriend-cuz-he-can't-be-and=if-he-were,-wouldn't-wanna-be-anymore role pretty well, I thought. Nice interaction with Cordy at the beginning - Oh, how *so* were they going to end up together!

Poor Will, again! To thnk that she's in so want of male inspiration that she dreams of the geek man! Wait a season and a half, dear, and we'll show you want a real guy can do for you.

Baddies: what's with the Annointed One's voice? I know it's supposed to sound scary, but the depth is a bit on the weird side. Anyone getting and Emperor/Annikain Skywallker parallel with the Master and boy here? Darla's bimbo voice really bugs me, but I thought there was some fiery chemistry between her and Angel. Wow, when he pushed her agaist the wall! Roar! I'd love to have seen those two as lovers in the old days, doing evil and eachother. I can't *believe* they killed her off though - I bet Joss has a dent in his leg from kicking himself so many times for that boo-boo. An amazing anvenue for storyline staked into in a heap of dust. Maybe now that Angel's going solo, the writers will find a way to re-intro Darla?...

Woah baby, the first B/A kiss was pretty hot and heavy, while the one at the end was more tender and angsty. Kinda like their whole relationship, that huh? Nice touch with the cross searing into his heart, even if the position was of the inaccurate. OK, but really not understanding *why* Angel was actually trying to kill our Buff. Was he just trying to provoke her into killing him? But then he actually said that he came to kill her. So was he just possessed by his vampirishness? But he's controlled that side for so long, why would he unleash it now, especially on the girl he's always loved? Help!