S03.E01: Hearthrob

[Joe Hellandback]

HEARTHROB

The Good; Great stuff, once again you feel the Buffy writers are making fun of the whole endless vamp love concept (Twilight/True Blood). Also Lorne's version of 'I left my heart in San Francisco' is WONDERFUL, one of the top three Lorne songs.

The Bad; How many times can we see the same courtyard even if it is redressed?

Best line: Angel (after fighting the demon monks) "Should have gone to Vegas"

Apocalypses: 5

Angel Clichés In disguise; 8

DB get's his shirt off; 12

Cordy's tattoo; yep, when she bends over to pick up the fire extinguisher during the fight in the hotel lobby 7,

Cheap Angel; 7

Fang Gang in bondage: Cordy: 5 Angel: 10 Wes: 6 Gunn; 3 Lorne; 2

Fang gang knocked out: Cordy: 10 Angel: 13 Wes: 5 Doyle; 1 Gunn; 1 Lorne; 1

Kills: 2 vamps for Angel and one each for Wes and Gunn. Amazingly this is the first vamp Wes ever kills in four years in the Buffyverse. We don't know how many vamps/demons AI killed in the summer but I'll give them one each Cordy: 5 vamps, 3 demons Angel; 28 vamps, 38 and 1/2 demons, 3 humans Doyle; 1 vamp Wes; 7 demons+1 vamp Kate; 3 vamps Faith; 16 vamps, 6 demons, 3 humans. Gunn; 8 vamps+ 5 demons.

Fang Gang go evil: Cordy: 2 Angel: 2

Alternate Fang Gang: Cordy: 2 Angel: 6

Characters killed: the dude Darla kills and a couple of people at the party 40

Recurring characters killed; 6;

Total number of Angel Investigations: Fred not part of the gang yet, still hiding in her room 4, Angel, Cordy, Wes and Gunn

Angel Investigations shot: only Angelus by Holtz and he doesn't count Angel: 11 Wes; 1

Packing heat; Wes; 3 Doyle; 1 Angel; 1

Notches on Fang Gang bedpost: Cordy: 3(?) ?+Wilson/Hacksaw Beast+Phantom Dennis(?) Angel: 2; Buffy and Darla Wes; 2; Virginia and the bleached blonde

Kinky dinky: Gunn refers to 'doin it with the demons' but doesn't mean what we think (except for Cordy who regularly seems to 'do it' with various supernatural entities). Speaking of which she's close enough to Phantom Dennis to strip naked in front of him and get some loufa action in the bathtub with him. Cordy thinks her new necklace brings out her breasts, Gunn certainly seems to think so to judge by his expression. Nice 'screwed Darla' gag. Darla says Angelus made her pay for leaving him in an extreme S&M style. Wes says Angel doesn't need a lapdance.

Captain Subtext; Hugs all around when Angel comes back, the events of season 2 well and truly forgotten. James and Elizabeth (both regal names) are obviously a proto Spike and Dru (maybe Darla and Angelus needed another couple to make a four at bridge?).

Know the face, different character; 2

Parking garages; 5,

Buffy characters on Angel; 16 Wetherby, Collins and Smith. Angel, Cordy, Oz, Spike, Buffy, Wes, Faith, Darla, Dru, Master, Anne, Willow and Harmony

Questions and observations; Love to see more of AI in the summer without Angel, they obviously kept busy. Also would have liked to have seen how Gunn coped with a solo case whilst everyone else was at Buffy's funeral. Can't they buy Fred a whiteboard so that she doesn't have to write on the wall? Does Fred really have to invite Angel into the room she occupies in his hotel? Or is Angel just bluffing to reassure her and make her feel at home? Note Angel takes the time to put his coat on before going vamp hunting. James says that Angelus knows no poetry, well he liked Spike's. Or Angel did? Holst is referred to as the foremost vamp hunter, what about the Slayer of the age? Vamps don't really seem to have love as much as twisted obsession but not having souls they can't appreciate that. Cordy's right of course, the human thing for Angel to do is mourn Buffy but continue his life. Surely James can be killed by fire or decapitation? Nice to know that when the chips are down you can rob the handicapped guy of his crutches and it's all OK.

Marks out of 10; 8/10