Buffy The Vampire Slayer

Article Published : Monday, October 06, 2003 ’Angel’ rises Creative uplift resurrects near-dead series

WB James Marsters as Spike, left, settles in for the new season with Angel, played by David Boreanaz, center.

Blondy Bear is back, and so is Joss. This week Spike (James Marsters), the droll blond vampire, shakes off his meltdown at the Hellmouth that ended "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and settles in for the season on the WB’s "Angel."

Wednesday’s hour, at 8 p.m. on KWGN-Channel 2, cements the hunch that "Angel" is not to be overlooked this year.

Thank goodness we’re in for a fresh hell at the lavish downtown Los Angeles law offices of Wolfram & Hart where Angel (David Boreanaz) is the recently installed boss. His plan is to fight the forces of evil from inside the belly of the beast, even though he doesn’t yet know the identities of the bad-to-the- bone senior partners.

No matter if you’ve missed the intricate mythology surrounding "Angel" up to this point - I admit to drifting away from the too-brooding crusader. As the series makes a fresh, funny start, it’s time to buy in again. The humor is bolder, the tone lighter and the satire richer, thanks to the presence of Joss Whedon.

Judging by the first two episodes, "Angel" is undergoing a creative resurgence, thanks not only to Spike but to his maker. Co-creator and executive producer Whedon is back at the helm devoting full time to the series. He directed the two-part season premiere and it shows.

"Angel" won a renewal from the WB after barely escaping cancellation last spring. Now the "Buffy" spinoff is not only back from the near-dead, it has officially outlived the series that begat it.

While "Buffy" specialized in adolescent angst, "Angel" moves on to corporate and bureaucratic infighting with lawyer jokes, L.A. jokes and the usual anguish over fighting for good or evil. Each can feel like a drag if that’s all you do 24/7.

Whedon was preoccupied with bringing "Buffy" to a satisfying close last year, as well as overseeing his ill-fated space Western, "Firefly." Now he’s focused on "Angel," bringing along writer-producers from "Buffy," who also were sidetracked by "Firefly," and filling the void left by "Angel" writers who departed for UPN’s "Jake 2.0" and Fox’s midseason drama "Wonderfalls."

A central dilemma as the series shifts gears is whether Angel and his band of do-gooders will be corrupted by the ritzy surroundings, the wealth, the fleet of muscle cars and the very bad, very upscale clients. In wide shots of the fancy firm, a mix of demons, humans, vamps and others of uncertain lineage go about their business in a stunning new environment. The flamboyant Lorne (Andy Hallett), the demon with horns on his green head, has found a new purpose as an entertainment lawyer, deliciously babbling on about pitches and package deals.

Those represented by Wolfram & Hart, a "multi-dimensional law firm," are said to be the worst forms of evil in the universe. Now that Angel’s in charge, he hopes to change the client list. One of his first acts is to shut down the "internment acquisitions division," getting W&H out of the grave-robbing business.

That’s not going to sit well with a longstanding client, a necromancer named Hainsley (Victor Raider-Wexler).

Meanwhile, antagonist Spike, long ago turned into a vamp by Angel, is now also in possession of a soul. Not only is Spike back among the living, he’s a ghost. He spends much of the first hour walking through furniture and complaining about his bad incorporeal self. Angel refers to Spike as "Casper," Spike refers to Angel as "Captain Forehead," and on it goes.

Both Spike and Angel miss Buffy, with whom they were romantically involved. The Slayer is far, far away ("Europe, last I heard from her," Angel says), but Sarah Michelle Gellar is tentatively slated to guest star during the February or May 2004 sweeps.

The hilarious Harmony (Mercedes McNab) is on board for more than half the season’s episodes as Angel’s new secretary (she’s also Spike’s ex). For now, Spike’s more intrigued by the ditzy Fred (Amy Acker), the science queen. Demon fighter Wesley (Alexis Denisof) is Angel’s confidante as they figure out how to deal with the devious Spike. Denisof’s real-life fiancee Alyson Hannigan, who played the bewitching Willow on "Buffy," is expected to drop in for further guest appearances on "Angel."

Even before Marsters utters his first line it’s clear this fifth season of "Angel" is veering in welcome new directions. The feel is more upbeat. For now, the writers are more concerned with knocking big business and big money than with depicting personal torment and unfulfilled romantic entanglements.

Perhaps it’s another sign of "Angel’s" maturity that the spinoff is able to refer to "Buffy" with increasing ease.

Joanne Ostrow’s column appears Sunday in Arts & Entertainment as well as Mondays and Thursdays in The Denver Post’s Scene section.