The Return of Angel (and Spike)!
Before I begin my review of the Season 5 premiere of Angel, I'd like to make one thing clear. The only reason I even started watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer was because within the first hour of the two-hour premiere movie, Buffy suddenly encountered a tall, dark, handsome, mysterious stranger in an alley, who called himself a friend, though not necessarily her friend. That was my first introduction to Angel, and eight years later, I'm still hooked. There's very little they can do to make me not enjoy an episode…even when they kill off a main character (Season 1).

That being said, the real season of Angel will on October 8th. What the WB called the season premiere of Angel was merely an introduction to all the new viewers the station and the producers were hoping to rope in with the combined forces of the Buffy series demise, the Smallville lead in, and the addition of James Marsters to the cast.

James Mmmmmmmmarsters
I understand and applaud what they did if only because new viewers mean higher ratings and higher ratings mean that I won't have to go through the same trauma I went through last spring, waiting to see if the show was going to be renewed for another season. Besides, it wasn't a bad episode. Even to a regular viewer, new things were brought to light defining the upcoming season: Gunn's new lawyer-brain, and Eve, an interesting addition to the cast in the we-don't-know-if-she's-good-or-evil role. I liked the character, so I'm intrigued now. Is she good? Is she evil?

I also liked how they reintroduced Harmony. Buffy fans will remember her from Buffy and if they don't remember how she became undead, go back and watch the graduation episode. She'll be a constant source of funny angst to Angel as his assistant.

Despite my enjoyment of this episode, I can't hide the fact that the best part was the final minute (Spike? Spike. Blondie bear?) and the scenes for next week. There lies the true heart of an Angel episode. If you were disappointed or confused by the introductory nature of the season premiere, give it another week. I promise you…the best is yet to come.