Angel

’Angel: Season 5’

When "Buffy" ended its seven-season run, fans took solace in the fact that its spin-off, "Angel," was still going strong.

At least solace was taken for the first half of the fifth season — until the hammer was dropped and it was announced that "Angel" would be canceled. Unlike "Buffy," the announcement was unexpected, and there was a bit of an uproar. Passionate pleas, online petitions, public outcry — it all did no good.

Among those caught off guard was creator Joss Whedon. Not one to go down gracefully, he promised to make everyone watching as upset about the cancellation as he was. The result is a tightly written emotional rollercoaster that, at least in my case, was more upsetting than a television show has any business being. And I loved every minute of it.

Even before the cancellation announcement, the season set up a premise that took the show in an entirely new direction — corporate takeover. In the proverbial and literal deal with the devil, Angel and Co. take over Wolfram and Hart, a corporate lawyer firm (just bask in the symbolic pleasure of that one) that has been Angel’s greatest foe since the show’s beginning. Everyone gets their heart’s desire, but with the uncomfortable knowledge that they’d sold their soul.

The first few episodes get a little bit redundant with the characters agonizing over their decision and ultimately deciding that they can still do good work in the epicenter of evil. But it also gives fans a chance to readjust to the new direction and allows for some great comic moments; the team-building "commercial" that warns against ritual sacrifice on the job is priceless.

After establishing the central internal conflicts, the writers for "Angel" get down to business putting together what is arguably the show’s best season. The story arc is there, but not overwhelming, allowing for some fantastic stand-alone episodes. Among the most notorious of these is "Smile Time," which finds our dark hero turned into a puppet. Well-written and brilliantly executed, it may be one of my favorite 45 minutes in my long and storied television-watching history.

The show’s 100th episode, "You’re Welcome," is a bittersweet answer to the question of Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter), who’s been part of the Buffy story from its humble beginnings. And of course, the finale, "Not Fade Away," was mind-blowing and heartbreaking and an appropriately ambiguous ending for a show that was cut short in its prime.

It’s always tough to review a later season of a show, simply because I can’t recommend it unless you’re already a fan — in that case, you don’t need me telling you that you should buy it. Season 5 of "Angel" takes some shocking turns that even the most seasoned Joss Whedon fans didn’t see coming, and that alone makes it worth the watching. If you’re flirting with the idea of watching the show now that you know it’s over, go for it. Start at the beginning, stick with it, and you’ll be rewarded with a world that’s well-realized and wonderfully written and will make you laugh, cry, and think deep, philosophical thoughts — usually all in the same episode.

The Goodies:

The DVD includes cast and crew commentary on select episodes; "Hey Kids! It’s Smile Time," a featurette on the puppet episode; "Angel 100," on the 100th episode; "Angel: Choreography of a Stunt," a profile of David Boreanaz’ stunt double; "To Live and Die in L.A.: The Best of Angel;" "Halos & Horns: Recurring Villainy," a fond look at "Angel" villains past and present; and "Angel Unbound: The Gag Reels."