Amazon, Funko, EE live from Wed.

Long time coming! I love that all these years later we are still getting new products

I find it interesting that out of all four members of the Whirlwind, Drusilla is the only one who never got any kind of redemption arc, especially considering she probably had the most tragic backstory.

Angel spent centuries trying to make up for everything he did as Angelus. Spike eventually got his soul back and became a champion. Even Darla got something of a redemption arc when she became pregnant with Connor and sacrificed herself so he could live.

Meanwhile, Drusilla remained the same murderous and insane vampire we met in season 2 of Buffy.

What makes it even sadder to me is that Liam, William and Darla all willingly became vampires. Drusilla was the only one who never had a choice. She was an innocent young woman who wanted to become a nun before Angelus became obsessed with her, murdered her entire family, drove her insane and then turned her into a vampire after slaughtering the nuns at her convent.

So basically, the only member of the Whirlwind who never wanted to become a vampire was also the only one who never got a chance at redemption.

And I think it's kind of sad how the rest of her vampire family eventually moved on from their old lives while Drusilla was still trying to hold onto the Whirlwind. Angel and Spike became champions, Darla found some humanity through Connor, and Drusilla was still stuck being the person Angelus turned her into.

I don't necessarily think Drusilla needed to be redeemed. I actually like that she remained evil because not every villain needs to become a hero. But I do wish the writers had explored her more, especially on Angel, considering how much of that show dealt with Angelus and his past.

I think this episode is quite underrated and not talked about enough. But anyway, in this episode, we learn a bit more about Angel's relationship with his father and I think this explain why Angel is so... approval seeking personality wise. When he fed on for the first time, he looks at Darla, like he's looking at her to make sure he's doing it right. You could argue that it's because she's his sire and naturally, she's like his commander but then you go back to Angel with a soul and it's more and more obvious on rewatch how much Angel gets off on the approval of other people. In Buffy, his sole source of approval was Buffy, he was inspired by her to do good and part of his feelings for her were built on that.

Another thing is how Angelus is sooo different from Angel. I think as a human, Liam (the initial human template) had nothing to thrive for in his life. He was pretty much a deadbeat, a womanizer and devoid of puprose, so the demon that took possession of him had so much place to take. Angelus himself is kinda void outside of the vile pain he inflict on other people which give him an edge, something to thrive for, literally.

To be clear, I do like Spike as a character. It's just...I'm in my 30s now. The hair and the coat and the knowledge of his backstory makes it painfully obvious that this guy is overcompensating so incredibly hard. He was a simpering ninny in life, and a simpering ninny when he was first changed. Everything we see of him in more modern times or in the show is him trying desperately to cover up for the fact he's a complete and utter dork on the inside. An evil dork, of course, but still very much a dork.

And I think that's why people love him. if he had just remained S2 Spike forever instead of being revealed to be a hopeless Romantic, I doubt we'd still be talking about him as much today. Him trying so hard to be cool is way more endearing than him actually being cool.

Bangel fans, it's time to sign up for another year of
the I Will Remember You Marathon!

We're just 2 weeks away from November, when we will be publishing one new Buffy/Angel fanfic every day in honor of the Ange episode "I Will Remember You," which originally aired on November 23, 1999.

Along with fanfiction, the marathon has grown to welcome submissions of artwork, including fan art, edits, and gifs.

This marathon first got its start in 2004, more than twenty years ago, and we need both new and returning participants to keep it alive.

To join in the 2026 IWRY Marathon:

Writers sign up: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeitH5nLWTGiT6Ncnk3tSW3mBUMwSxsA2fIb4PXa41drGP4KQ/viewform

Artists sign up here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdyELfa2Wq1ohxu3blgB7Lx-wKJsDnLKZ15rUJgOKu093sLJw/viewform

What kind of stories are accepted?

We will accept any piece of fanfiction, of any rating, that is 500 or more words long and focused on the relationship of Buffy/Angel (and/or Buffy/Angelus). Your story must also be complete and can't be a crossover with a non-Buffyverse fandom. We don't accept stories that have been previously published.

Where will the stories be posted?

The stories will be posted to the 2026 collection on the I Will Remember You Marathon Archive on AO3. We will provide instructions about how to post your story to the AO3 collection closer to the event.

Can I help out?
We would love to have you join in whatever capacity is best for you. Some roles to consider include:
• Beta reading
• Supporting the writers with reviews and comments on fics
• Promoting the marathon on your platform of choice

(Edit: No Smile Time fans in here, I see)

Courage & Pluck
Puppets & Stuff
Angel & Buff
Wolfram & Hart
Pepper & Salt
Sneakers & Socks
Planets & Stars

My spouse and I are unable to stop ourselves from doing this with any pair of nouns, one with two syllables and the other with one syllable.

Are we alone?

THE LAST KING OF FAERIE Excerpt | By Cassandra Clare | Read by James Marsters

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFjQlN9jZN8

https://jm-news.link/LastKingOfFaerie

Ilona - We have received a ransom note, we need to hurry because the exchange is scheduled to take place in less than an hour.

Angel - OK, we need a helicopter and an assault squad

Spike - And weapons. MANY, MANY WEAPONS

Ilona - No, No, No, No. You two are adorable, but this is a civilized country, things like this happen every day, someone gets kidnapped, the other pays the ransom, and everyone goes home happy. We already have the cash ready

WE'RE USED TO SEEING ANGEL AND SPIKE AS INVINCIBLE WARRIORS WHO SOLVE PROBLEMS BY FIGHTING, SEEING THEM GO ON A DATE AND PAY A RANSOM WAS A DIFFERENT STORY. THE TWO OF THEM WERE COMPLETELY OUT OF THEIR ELEMENT IN ROME, IT WAS HILARIOUS.

I have a retrospective video on Smile Time and Angel. It’s less than 30 minutes. I would really appreciate if anybody wanted to watch it and comment because I feel like I made it for people who are fans. YTC is called Slow Blinks TV. This is a hobby channel, I make no money from it and I only talk about things I am passionate about. There will be no monetary gain if you check it out I just want people who love this show like I do to watch it and have a discussion here or there it doesn’t matter.This isn’t self promotion because I want it to be community discussion and these videos are my artwork.

I'm rewatching as it's on ITV player in the uk

Wow the pilot feels like a commentary on Weinstein/similar!

I forgot what happened and really thought angel was going to drink Tina's blood there. Wasn't that where it was going to go at one point?

https://www.musixmatch.com/lyrics/Heather-Alexander/Tomorrow-I-Leave-for-Battle

Just saw this last night on a rewatch after 20 years, and as fun as the episode is, and as immense as Boreanaz is as Angelus, I can’t help feeling the premise was very silly.

A drug should not be enough to bring out Angelus’ true homicidal self because unlike Angelus, Angel in this episode still has a soul completely intact so the curse isn’t actually broken at all.

Even high, Angel should not logically become a homicidal maniac again. Now it’s clear the writers wanted to showcase Boreanaz as Angelus, but I think they could have been so much smarter. The drug could have brought up the tormenting, mocking side of Angelus where he threatens murder but holds back because he still has a soul. A sort of Angel/Angelus hybrid. This makes far more sense as we know the demon is still within him and a drug is known to greatly lower inhibitions. The fact that Angel with a soul and centuries of homicidal regret would still consciously resort to being that thing he despises just didn’t add up to me. Immensely fun though…

I'm referring to Happy Anniversary when he teams up with Angel to stop demons from freezing the world in time. I don't think he ever brings it up again. In fact I don't think Angel or any character for that matter ever brings this up again. I wonder if he ever even told anyone about it.

James Marsters & Juliet Landau Son of Monsterpalooza 2026 Reports, Pics & Videos

Check back for updates!

https://jm-news.link/Monsterpalooza2026rpv

Doyle may have only been in 9 episodes, but he was such a good character. I know Wesley had one of the best character developments in Angel/Buffy world, but the chemistry was totally different with him there. Obviously. I think Angel and Doyle were better together. They had more heart to heart talks and I think Doyle understood Angel better, being a half demon himself and not knowing where he fits in.

Do you think Doyle gets the love he deserves?

I like to imagine Cordelia and Willow still talk on the phone like when Harmony first showed up. Not really like friends. Mostly just Cordy complaining until she says something that offends Willow so she quickly changes topic and asks about Willow.

Mid to late season 3 Ats

Cordelia: "And when Darla showed up she did not look great. I'm talking total junkie with the ratty hair and sunken eyes. Like eurgh. I know she's a demon but c'mon."

"Oh? Really?"

"Well, uh, how's Tara?"

"Oh..."