Angel Investigated - 2.3 First Impressions
Posted by Jason Chamberlain on 11.03.2009
Darla begins to appear in Angel's dreams, while Cordy sets out to save Gunn from himself!
2.3 First Impressions
Writer: Shawn Ryan
Director: James A. Contner
Whedon Speak
Cordelia: Maybe we can help. Gunn: You two? I find Deevak I’m gonna need more than C3PO and stick figure Barbie backin’ me up!
Angel: Well, it – it’s, you know. The whole visibility issue, not to mention the hat head thing. You know, when you really think about it, how come I have to wear the ladies’ helmet? Wesley: Stop being such a wanker and put it on!
(Angel puts it on) Wesley: Looks good! Hop on gorgeous. Angel: You’ll pay for this.
Case Files
The writer of this episode, Shawn Ryan, went on to create the hit series “The Shield”.
Shawn S. Lealos has the full review!
When J. August Richards was added to the main cast list this season it was only a matter of time before he got his own episode. In that regard, First Impressions is a good start in setting up the overall character arc of Charles Gunn. Gunn had been a side character up to this time but this episode not only brings him to the forefront but also forces him to open up to the team. While he has always been only an ally of Angel, he partially lets Cordelia into his life here as well.
The episode goes into Gunn’s world of the streets and there is no one better to write that sort of episode than this episode’s screenwriter Shawn Ryan, the creator of The Shield. When Cordelia has a vision that Gunn is in danger, she races to save him herself. The scenes with Cordelia and Gunn are well done as no one fits in worse in an urban landscape than the spoiled (former) rich girl. Through her determined refusal to quit, she earns a level of Gunn’s trust. This starts the long, strange relationship between the two as Cordelia declares herself, at the end of the episode, as Gunn’s savior, determined to save him from himself.
In the background of the episode, we start to see the season’s overall arc as Angel starts to be influenced and changed by Darla. Through the workings of Wolfram and Hart, they are able to infiltrate Angel’s dreams, thereby changing his perceptions of those closest to him. We see much of the change in his fighting skills, his momentary lapse when he begins to choke out Wesley and the end when Darla reminds him that no one ever thanks him for his hard work. It is a good start to the main storyline.
I have some minor problems with the episode. While the building of Gunn as a major player and the start of Angel’s disenfranchised attitude are important, the rest of the episode seems like a one-and-done deal and nothing memorable really happens out of the main storyline. I also feel that Charisma Carpenter was a little off at the end when she gave Gunn her ultimatum and she seemed fake the entire dialogue. Also a bad point is David Boreanaz’s “ah shucks” acting when he is around Darla. Both of those were major distractions from the episode. Luckily Boreanaz’s acting is offset by a half naked Julie Benz and that is always a good thing.
Ronny Sarnecky
How many times am I going to say this about an episode of “Angel,” but here is yet another great episode. From the first time Gunn was introduced to the audience, his character was always guarded. It even took him time to warm up to Angel. That was probably because he respected the fight in Angel. While he would help Angel on some cases, Gunn had no use for Cordelia or Wesley. In “First Impressions,” Cordelia had a vision that Gunn was in danger. With Angel and Wesley not being around, Cordelia took it upon herself to help Gunn. The problem was that Gunn didn’t want her help. What was interesting to see in all of this was how much the Cordelia character had grown. Cordelia was always self-centered. She viewed helping people as a chore. However, not only does she help people as part of Angel Investigations, but now she was helping Gunn without Angel or Wesley’s back-up. By the end of the episode, Gunn had grown some as a person as well. He realized that he could trust Cordelia as much as he does Angel.
This episode showed us that Angel was having sexual dreams about Darla, a vampire who should be dead. However, at the end, we learned that Angel wasn’t just fantasizing about her. She was controlling him during his dreams about her. It will be interesting to see what happens when Angel realizes that she isn’t dead.
8.5
Jason Chamberlain
This is the episode where the Darla interaction really starts to ramp up, with Angel being ‘haunted’ by his old flame in his dreams. Those scenes are all really cool, eerie and effective. The story with Gunn is a little less interesting, but it helps his continuing integration with the group. There’s also some classic humour. Angel with the ladies helmet!
8
Mike Gorman
"First Impressions" is a well crafted episode filled with humorous moments and purpose. What purpose is that you ask? In my opinion it serves to bring the audience closer to Gunn, cementing his position in the main cast, and also bringing Gunn closer to the members of Angel Investigations. Cordy's desire to protect Gunn due to her vision is a great device to accomplish these goals. Toss in some good laughs thanks to Cordelia's hi jinks and the pink helmet moment between Angel and Wesley, and you have a pretty good episode. We also see Darla's plans for Angel develop this week. She's getting into his dreams and it seems, his pants. He'll soon learn that she is not just a figment of his imagination and that will kick off one of the series more interesting through lines.
8.5
Jeremy Thomas
I always appreciate the character-growth specific episodes of the Buffy and Angel shows, and "First Impressions" is a great example of that. This one provides growth for both Gunn and Cordelia, and J. August Richards and Charisma Carpenter do an excellent job of bringing that forth. You have to appreciate the way they play off of each other, and the dynamic they have will be an important part of bringing Gunn into the fold. At the same time, Cordelia's selfless nature is coming more and more to the front, eclipsing her "all about me" attitude of old. For those character pieces, I really liked this.
As far as the metaplot, we only have one element, but it's an important one. As much as I mentioned the strong dynamic between Carpenter and Richards, the one between Julie Benz and David Boreanaz is absolutely electric. That dynamic was good before, but it really picked up here and their scenes are fantastic together. I do think the last one was a bit strange the first time I watched it...the waking part, not the dream itself. Was that supposed to be a symbolic thing, was her spirit there, or was Darla physically there? It's covered in the next episode, but here it left me confused. In retrospect I don't mind it at all though, and while this isn't my favorite of the season, it's a good one.
8
GRR!!! ARGH!!!
The 411: From a series standpoint, there are two important things being built here: Gunn’s integration into the group and Angel’s character arc for the entire second season. However, if you are only a casual viewer, there is nothing in this episode worth watching. It is a fun, little story but is overly forgettable. Both Charisma Carpenter and David Boreanaz are a little off throughout the episode acting-wise as well. It is a decent episode for Angel fanatics but nothing special.
The episode goes into Gunn’s world of the streets and there is no one better to write that sort of episode than this episode’s screenwriter Shawn Ryan, the creator of The Shield. When Cordelia has a vision that Gunn is in danger, she races to save him herself. The scenes with Cordelia and Gunn are well done as no one fits in worse in an urban landscape than the spoiled (former) rich girl. Through her determined refusal to quit, she earns a level of Gunn’s trust. This starts the long, strange relationship between the two as Cordelia declares herself, at the end of the episode, as Gunn’s savior, determined to save him from himself.
I have some minor problems with the episode. While the building of Gunn as a major player and the start of Angel’s disenfranchised attitude are important, the rest of the episode seems like a one-and-done deal and nothing memorable really happens out of the main storyline. I also feel that Charisma Carpenter was a little off at the end when she gave Gunn her ultimatum and she seemed fake the entire dialogue. Also a bad point is David Boreanaz’s “ah shucks” acting when he is around Darla. Both of those were major distractions from the episode. Luckily Boreanaz’s acting is offset by a half naked Julie Benz and that is always a good thing.
