- Bottom to Top: The Angel Episode Countdown
by Matt -12.07.04
[ mlee@blkswan.com ]

  The time has come to reveal the number one episode of all-time, but before we do that, let's look back at our countdown thus far....

110. Blind Date
109. I Fall To Pieces
108. The Prodigal
107. Happy Anniversary
106. Slouching Towards Bethlehem
105. Sense and Sensitivity
104. I've Got You Under My Skin
103. Untouched
102. Blood Money
101. Eternity
100. Lonely Hearts
99. She
98. Carpe Noctem
97. The Thin Dead Line
96. The Ring
95. Unleashed
94. Supersymmetry
93. The Cautionary Tale of Numero Cinco
92. The House Always Wins
91. The Trial
90. Bachelor Party
89. Redefinition
88. Disharmony
87. Hell Bound
86. Quickening
85. That Old Gang of Mine
84. Apocalypse, Nowish (Rain of Fire)
83. Players
82. Life of the Party
81. Somnambulist
80. Harm's Way
79. Long Day's Journey
78. Soul Purpose
77. Reprise
76. Expecting
75. Heartthrob
74. City Of...
73. Guise will be Guise
72. War Zone
71. Epiphany
70. Judgement
69. Benediction
68. The Price
67. Dad
66. Habeas Corpses
65. Belonging
64. Loyalty
63. Dear Boy
62. First Impressions
61. Inside Out
60. Shiny Happy People
59. Offspring
58. Provider
57. Double or Nothing
56. A New World
55. Ground State
54. Awakening
53. The Magic Bullet
52. Why We Fight
51. Through The Looking Glass
50. Over The Rainbow
49. Tomorrow
48. There's No Place Like Plrz Glrb
47. Just Rewards
46. Couplet
45. Release
44. Soulless
43. Sacrifice
42. Calvary
41. Salvage
40. Dead End
39. Deep Down
38. Power Play
37. That Vision Thing
36. Billy
35. Peace Out
34. Underneath
33. Forgiving
32. Shroud of Rahmon
31. Birthday
30. Reunion
29. Lullaby
28. Time Bomb
27. Home
26. Conviction
25. Spin The Bottle
24. The Girl In Question
23. I Will Remember You
22. In The Dark
21. Shells
20. Smile Time
19. Sleep Tight
18. Destiny
17. Orpheus
16. Parting Gifts
15. Sanctuary
14. Darla
13. Rm W/a VU
12. Origin
11. Damage
10. Five By Five
9. Waiting in the Wings
8. To Shanshu In L.A.
7. Are You Now, Or Have Ever Been
6. You're Welcome

It's taken us a long time, but without further ado....the top 5!

#5 - Hero
[episode 1.9]

Even though the character of Doyle lasted 9 episodes, he certainly made an impact. He gave his visions to Cordelia -- the visions that would play a pivotal role in many, many episodes throughout the show's run. This episode was about going all-out, doing whatever it takes for the mission. The question Joss and others may have in their head is -- if we wouldn't have killed off Doyle, would Glenn Quinn still be alive today? Well, that's not fair to them. They made an entire series from the character's death, and they should be proud in the fact that it was a brilliant idea, and that Glenn had problems when it was happening. We miss Glenn and we miss Doyle, and that's why Hero is #5.

#4 - Not Fade Away
[episode 5.22]

This is the highest a finale has ever been on a list of mine. "Not Fade Away" is brilliant in every way. It sticks by the credo of the show -- "Going out fighting". Doyle did it, Cordelia did it, Fred did it, and now Angel and the rest of the gang did it in this episode. Buffy's finale left something to be desired, this episode did not. It was the perfect way to end the series, regardless of what one or two people say because they want the mega-happy-unrealistic version. Like I said in my first line, I have ZERO finales of all other shows in my top 5's. This then must be ranked the best finale of all-time.

#3 - Lineage
[episode 5.7]

This episode can be argued by some as being a little weaker than I have it, because of the ninja robots. Sure, it sounds funny, but the idea of the "two Wesleys" is really why this is as high as it is. Wesley had become the most interesting character on the show, and this is the milestone of it. We see him as the clutzy head boy with his "father", and then as he shoots his "father" for threatening Fred, we see what he had become. The character had made it full circle.

#2 - Fredless
[episode 3.5]

I love the concept of family. In "Fredless", we get the concept two-fold. Fred's blood family, and then Fred's new family. Her parents are so awesome. They remind me a lot of my own. The way the two families merge to destroy the spider-looking demons in this episode is where it truly got me. Some may argue that this episode is too high up on the list, that it should be in the 20's or so, but I say that's crap. If you went away without a smile on your face from this one, then I wish you could have a day with your folks where you don't fight. One where you relax and understand each other. Maybe then you'll get why this is so far up the ladder for me.

And finally we reach the end.....

#1 - A Hole In The World
[episode 5.15]

When I started the list, I knew exactly which episode would be #1. There was no doubt. The sadness, the grief, the pain, the anger, the happiness, the brilliance of this episode can not be denied. We go from Fred and Wes being happy and in love, to the moment of sheer terror as Fred gets the disease that will soon rush through her at a rapid speed and eventually kill her. The moments in bed, as we see Wesley taking care of his greatest love, as he watches her die and the demon takes over. We see Angel and Spike do everything they can to save her, only to understand that if they try to, they'll be killing untold millions. We see Gunn struggle with his grief as he finds out that he allowed this to happen. We see the gang 'man-up' to help Fred -- "Not this girl, not this time", only to find out it's an unsolvable problem. It is perhaps, the best episode Joss Whedon has ever written, and quite possibly the best episode of the two shows combined. There is not one weak moment on camera, there is not one weak moment on the script. It is absolutely crushing to view, but all the while brilliant. That's why "A Hole in the World" is #1.

Parts -> [21]   [20]   [19]   [18]   [17]   [16]   [15]   [14]   [13]   [12]   [11]   [10]   [9]   [8]   [7]   [6]   [5]   [4]   [3]   [2]   [1]

 

mr_HaPPy: I would also put A Hole In The World as my number aswell and i would also probably rate it as number one from both Buffy and Angel.
(25.07.2005, 09:33)

AngelusSpike: i agree. hole in the world brought tears to my eyes, and that rarely happens. it was the mosty incredable episode ever
(01.06.2005, 11:00)

Atalanta: The only one of them I agreed with was A Hole in the World, it's brilliant. The other four, okay all really good eps, I love Fredless, but not top-five quality. Maybe top-20 or something.
(07.05.2005, 09:45)

Lurker: your angel list is better - only The Trial is tooo low - good that you have Hero on 1 - I like your list, let the other people Wine
(20.04.2005, 16:26)

Spikes_love_slave: omg i think not fade away shouldve been #1, then hero...that ep made me cry with the tape of doyle *tear*. and i think fredless is awesome and you people should keep those kind of opinions to yourself or go suck a....well you know...lmao. i got your back matt
(12.04.2005, 17:27)

bandeley: its "not this girl, not this day." i have tried to forget that cringe+major seizure inducing dialogue, but its burned in my brain. i hate that ep, joss' worst one.
(31.03.2005, 20:42)

WHAT????????: go read the televisionwithoutpity.com review of A hole in the world, my reaction to the ep and it being #1 on this list. i can't believe its even in the top 80.
(30.03.2005, 11:49)

The Demon Al Franken: After reading your review, I went and spent a day with my folks. We didn't fight, we relaxed and understood each other, and we all agreed that "Fredless" pretty much blew.
(08.03.2005, 17:34)

marian: Also are you a fan of Fred? just read the top of your list. It's a shame (and not honest) that your feelings for a character forced episode that didn't deserve be there make it on top
(04.03.2005, 09:23)

Marian: That's1? Cheap sentimental episode. Acker:total overacted.The"When Mary Sue Dies,The Universe Mourns" plotline,Wes reading The Little Princess...that episode was written by a man who worships Fred/AA himself,it wasn't the gang's feelings,but JW feelings.Borderline soap opera. The little Nell death scene made me laugh.I liked Fred, but dying like a victorian heroine wasn'tnot for her. All Wesley needed was to have gone off and joined the foreign legion to make the whole melodrama complete.
(04.03.2005, 09:20)