For the record, the episodes just get better and better, and tonight's is no exception. There were revelations, and double crossings, and what we thought we knew turns out not to be the case. It's days like these that I'm glad that I'm relatively spoiler free. For now that is. Three weeks is a long time to wait.
Wesley He looked unconfortable this episode. He still has feelings for Lilah, yet there's Fred who is now single. They did have a few touching moments. I wonder how he will react when he finds out what happened to Lilah. I'm thinking a little guilt trip is in order.
Fred and Gunn They are finally over. Not that I'm happy about it. I knew things would end when he killed the professor. That plot device always leads to break up. I'm just sorry it had to end this way. Though Fred and Wesley are perfect for each other, poor Gunn needs someone who appreciates him.
Connor Did he get a haircut? It looked shorter. And he was a bit less annoying. One thing I noticed about Connor is that he's more comfortable with the Fang Gang. It's like he's finally found his little niche, for now. For a second I was afraid he was going to get seriously hurt by that demon. I'm glad that didn't happen.
Lilah "Evil doesn't have to mean sloppy." I actually felt sorry for her. Everything she worked for, aspired to, was ripped away from her by the Beast. Now she's left with nothing, and it's apparent how unnerving it is to her. How lost she is. Her fight with Angelus was sweet. The directors now how to use slow motion well, and it's very effective how it was used this time around. I admit, I read spoilers about I'm really going to miss this character.
Lorne Yay, they used him for something more this episode. The "suckubitch" comment made me crack up. He was mostly comic relief, but it was very effective. How is it that he was unable to detect that Angelus was faking Angel? Unless the spell was extremely temporary? What if that wasn't the purpose of the spell.
Cordelia I noticed something was up with her from the very beginning. She seemed more demanding, more in control, and not in a good way. It seemed very convenient the way she just suddenly had a vision, and notice how when that happened Lilah said "It's you." Does this mean Cordy is controlling the Beast, or is her little surprise a means to an end (reference to spoiler that I don't want to spoil)? The spell obviously didn't work. Did she know this? And if this is the case, did she send Gunn and Connor on purpose in the hope that one of them would get killed? I think we're dealing with a Cordelia who has either been posessed, or is working for the people upstairs who think all of her actions might lead to some greater good. I'm thinking the former, since she did kill Lilah. I thought Angelus was going to kill her, but it was Cordy.
Angelus "I'll sprout some wings and flutter away." I love how he mocks Angel. I love how he knows how to push all the right buttons. Again, I missed him. It's curious how in the last episode he was less than willing to divulge information about the Beast, yet here he calls them morons and tells them that the thing has a boss. Why tell them so freely, unless Angelus has an agenda of his own other than escaping. I can't imagine anything worse than the Beast, unless... unless it's the First Evil??? Now wouldn't that be masterful.
Then there's the way he gets Gunn to admit to his actions and Fred's. It makes me wonder how everyone will react to Angel once he is back. Will there be a cool period similar to season 3 on Buffy where no one really trusted him? And then there's Angel himself. I can already see the angst.
Other interesting things to note: It's interesting that all mention of the Beast was erased from the books and Angel's mind. My only problem is, if everything about him was erased, how is it that the priestesses remembered what to do?
The spell was interesting as well. That and Angelus acting as Angel. He seemed too noble, too take charge. And once Angelus was released, I flashbacked to season 2. The same dread I felt when Angelus was chasing Jenny Calendar was felt here. What really made me like the chase scene though was that Lilah was fighting back. I keep forgetting that in Whedon's universe there are hardly no females suffering from the damsel in distress syndrome.
"Is there no fast food left in Los Angeles."
One last bit, notice how everyone suddenley became determined to kill Angelus? No thought was given to the fact that if they kill him Angel is gone. Nothing. Poor Angel.
Now we have to sit and wait for three whole weeks to see some Faith action. It's just not fair. I don't want to wait three weeks. I just hope the episodes keep getting better.

Angel review tomorrow. Damnit, 3 weeks is too damn long.

It was a close match, but we didn't make it to finals. Yes, I'm disappointed.

US Patriot Act II part 2
I mentioned this last week thinking it was maybe a hoax but still something to keep an eye on in the near future. Unfortuneatly, the article confirms it's not a hoax.
I realize that national security is important, especially since Americans are not used to being attacked on their own soil. Measures are needed to insure our safety, but this need not be at the risk of giving up our civil liberties. The first Patriot Act has already lead to some abhorent circumstances. Immigrants detained with no due process rights. Many of them jailed for months without being properly charged. The government has given law enforcement more powers to listen in on conversations, and a 'suspected' terrorist has no attorney - client privilege. What ever happened to the whole innocent until proven guilty.
The new act proposes to eat away at more of our constitutional rights. Secret arrests? Basically you can be whisked away and no one will know where you went because the arrest was secret. Kind of like the secret tribunals that are in existance now where no one is certain that the people on trial are having a fair trial.
Is this what America stands for?

Y tu mam� tambi�n was nominated for best screenplay, and El crimen del padre Amaro was nominated for best foreign film. That's two oscar nominations for Mexico!! I don't know if Amaro will win because I've heard that Hero is really good. But who knows.
I like that Queen Latifah was nominated. And hell yeah. Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers was nominated for best picture.
I need to go and see what songs were nominated.

Miracles is freaky. I'm addicted to a new show and they're going to cancel it. Just you wait and see. Bastards!

I am in lust. I want Skeet Ulrich. I have wanted him since Scream and he is positively absolutely fuckable in Miracles. Seriously, he's just adorable. I haven't had it this bad since I saw Brad Pitt in IWTV. Finally, my obsession with blondes has gone away.
Ok, that's a lie. I can't forget Spike.

Thank you, thank you, thank you. The ABA has decided to step in and contest those policies dealing with 'enemy combatants' and government surveilance.

Seems my migraine has finally gone away, which is a huge relief. I still consider tension headaches worse, but this one was getting on my nerves.
I admit, I've been lucky. I catch the migraines really quickly, so I rarely feel pain, but the sensitivity to light and sound sticks around for a while. And that part of the brain just goes numb. This time I still can't deal with light too much. When the lights are dim or off I feel relief. Like nothing is putting pressure on that part of the brain. It's the pressure that drives me nuts too. That and the random sparks of pain that accompany it. Kind of what I'm still feeling now. In my teeth or behind my eye.
It's been two days. Granted, yesterday was worse, but can it please go away now.
I just hope I never get them like my mother does.
Which is why tension headaches are worse. The pounding just never goes away until you fall asleep (in my case). It gets worse and worse until you can't really do anything because you feel your brain will explode.
You know what. Headaches just suck. And this was a pointless post.

Lookie at what I found courtesy of slayage.com. Concept art for the animated series.
http://www.ericwight.com/portfolio/buffy001.html
The sad thing is, I could totally watch this. Not just that, but some of the drawings are really nifty. Giles looks strange. And the one of Angel cracked me up!