Mixing fanfictions with actual episodes

I'm watching all of Buffy and Angel again (of course), and it surprises me, saddens me, and worries me, that I've mixed up things I've read on a fanfiction as actual canon. The fanfiction is a parallel universe version, where Angel doesn't leave Sunnydale and stays with Buffy. The thing is, my memory of the fanfiction is so vivid, that I honestly thought it was an actual episode. I could recall some of the scenes and dialogue. The fake-episode that I remembered most was the parallel universe version of the Halloween episode "Fear, Itself" from season 4. I could have sworn that there's a Buffy Halloween episode in which Angel used his vamp-face as a fake costume. It would have been this episode; Angel was there with them and helped them fight. Alas, it was all a fake. A very good fake, as it stuck with me after all this time. It just bothers me because there are some very nice scenes in the fic that I would have loved to see in the show. And I was actually expecting it until I made this realization!

Anyways...

The last episode I watched was "Hush." It's such an amazing episode that I got excited seeing its title being next on my list. The Gentlemen always give me the creeps, but it's the good, thrilling kind of creeps. The way they gracefully float around, always well-dressed, and how they're always smiling that freaky smile.

And I am even more excited when I found out that the episode after "Hush" would be Angel's "Parting Gifts," which is Wesley's first appearance in the show. Alexis Denisof is the main reason I'm doing this rewatch, and I'm just so excited that I'm watching the start of Wesley's journey to extreme badassery!

Angel vs. Spike

Obviously, the ultimate question of the Buffy series. Or not -- I mean, there's the whole saving the world (again), sharing power, not being alone anymore thing. Maybe the ultimate question is supposed to be "what happens next?" But right now, just after finishing all 7 seasons of Buffy, I'm all about Angel and/or Spike.

I've mentioned in my previous post that in Buffy, we didn't actually see enough of Angel (pre-Angelus revival). Sure, I was attracted to his mysteriousness and his brooding, but we weren't let in on his character. Not that Spike did any better in the earlier seasons, especially since he wasn't supposed to last too long in the show.

After Angel branched out to Angel and Spike became a more permanent fixture in Buffy, things got more interesting. We get to see who Angel(us) is and how much he's willing to give to help the helpless. We also get to see how adorable Spike is when he's in love with Buffy. Spike is definitely the breakout character in the universe, so if we're just talking about character development, Spike is the runaway winner. However, I'm very interested in the fact that pre-chip, soulless Spike is very tame compared to Angelus; this makes me think that character-wise, we can dig much deeper into Angel(us).

We can't really compare their relationships with Buffy, since it was more about Buffy growing up than Angel or Spike themselves. Angel's relationship was all about romance. It was both of their first loves. It was very romantic and innocent -- well up until Angel achieved that moment of true happiness and lost his soul and turned evil and tried to kill everyone. Spike's relationship was definitely not about innocence or romance. It was physical and maybe even a little toxic to both of them. Buffy admitted it herself, she was using him. Not that he minded.

Tall, dark, and forehead.

I have to say, I was very disappointed of how small Angel's part was in the final battle. I expected him to stick around until the end, but Buffy had to kick him back out to Los Angeles. I would have loved to see an Angel and Spike scene (or, even better, multiple scenes) with Buffy caught in the middle of it all. I absolutely loved it that the hundreds of years old vampires turned into jealous preteens; they're just so adorable. Both of these relationships were given a great ending, in my opinion. Sure we don't know what happens to Buffy next (except for the comic books -- I should look into it after I'm done with Angel), but it was just so them, the way it ended: Angel telling Buffy that he'd wait until she's ready, and Spike telling Buffy that he knows she doesn't love him, and still thanked her for saying so.

So, Angel or Spike? I really can't choose. I agree with Buffy. Have them wrestle it out, with oil of some kind involved. I'm sure there are fanfictions on this...right? (To Google I go!)

Angel: Good or Evil

I've gotten to the part where Angel lost his soul and I honestly can't decide which Angel I like more, the good one or the evil one.

Obviously, a good-looking guy lurking in the dark being all mysterious is just irresistible, which is why I was attracted to Angel since the first time he appeared. It was quite frustrating how little of Angel we were shown in season 1; I was expecting so much more of him. With all the mysteriousness surrounding his character, I thought we would regularly see him throughout the season, learning a tiny more about him each time. But we didn't get any of those.

And then, just when I thought we were getting a bit more Angel in the middle of season 2, Buffy had to step up her game and slept with Angel, which then made him soulless again. While we're on the subject, "one moment of true happiness" after how long? There's no way the poor thing never got laid. I mean, look at him!

If I'm being honest, I'd probably say that I like Evil Angel more than Good Angel. He just seems more alive now. Well, he's definitely getting a much bigger part in the show now that he's evil. His cockiness and that mischief in his eyes are definitely turn-ons. How could you not love a guy (vampire) who gives a girl a fresh, warm human heart for Valentine's Day? Can't get any more romantic than that, right? Also, I love it when he turns vampire-face and growls. Then again, Good Angel showed a lot more of his brooding skills, which he's honed for 100 years. Why do I find brooding attractive? There must be something wrong with me.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

From the title, I thought it would be about Buffy and a bunch of vampires. I was wrong. They have a lot of other creatures too!

Not quite sure why I even started watching Buffy seeing how I'm running out of time for my Doctor Who re-watch; but I can't stop now! I'm only 5 episodes in so I have a long way to go.

Buffy actually somewhat reminds me of Doctor Who –– the crappy special effects, cheesy dialogue/plot-line, the monsters. It also reminds me of Power Rangers.

It's quite interesting so far. Yes, I'm once again attracted to the dark, handsome, and incredibly mysterious character, this time in Angel (David Boreanaz). I'm pretty sure, after I'm done with Buffy (and hopefully my Doctor Who re-watch), I'm gonna start watching Angel and Bones.