Sanctuary: Angel 1x19 Reaction

[@MrDWinter]

Eliza’s performance in this episode and “Five by Five” should have won her all kinds of awards. She’s always been great, especially as Faith, but over this whole four-episode arc she just brought it to a whole new level. Watching her break down in the alley and ask Buffy how she can make it better - just heartbreaking.

[@CJ77777]

What's interesting is people have a reaction to Angel punching Buffy, but she hit him first. And like he says, she's naturally stronger than him. When Buffy hears something she doesn't like she always lashes out physically; with Angel, Spike, Faith etc. She only does it with people she knows can take it, but it is a habit. I think it's interesting if you compare this impulse to what these four episodes show, really well in my opinion, with Faith; when we see these violent flashes in her head, with Willow she's pretending to be Buffy so she can't act on it, with Angel she is choosing not to because she's trying to be better. Either way, those violent thoughts matched with violent impulses is what we have seen from Faith from the beginning. There is a darkness inside her that she struggles to control, whereas on the other side we have Buffy who, like Faith says, struggles to let go of control.

[@angelus1738]

To add context to that within the show, Buffy wasn't upset that Angel hit her. She was upset that he did it for Faith. As she says "you did it for her"

[@TheMacerica]

I think Angel is so intense at the end when Buffy is talking about Riley because he still remembers everything from I Will Remember You. He knows what it was like when they could just be a more regular couple. She has no memory of that. For him, the wounds of breaking up with her are a lot fresher.

[@samanthas8340]

One thing I thought when watching this reaction is when Angel days "that was you're idea remember?" Except it was Angel's idea to leave Sunnydale. Now it makes more sense that he was probably referring to I Will Remember You.

[@Logan_Baron]

"Help me" "Well that's what he's been trying to do". But it's an important step that she's finally willing to ask for help or even admit that she needs help. That she finally dropped the barriers.

[@A_Planner_and_a_Dreamer]

I love how Angel layed down the law on Buffy. "Not in my city" is such a great conversation ender. Like what are you supposed to say to that lol…like conversation over period 😂. Yes yes, you can argue that Angel was acting a bit on emotions and jealousy because of the Riley thing but he’s 100% right about Faith. Love this episode.

[@williamkirkland2222]

to be fair, she punched him first.

[@troikas3353]

I always read it as a completely instinctual reaction to be honest.

[@Smido83]

Yup... sadly in our society women hitting men is treated differently then men hitting women.

[@sebrussell]

Absolutely, Angel was right on both counts. She hit first, and she's a fair bit stronger than he is. Being surprised that a warrior hits back when hit is kinda silly (specifying warrior because as an experienced fighter, Angel's Fight/Flight/Freeze/Fawn response is basically only Fight).

[@sebrussell]

@@Smido83 I think that's somewhat understandable. Even in a gay relationship, the instinct is going to be to worry more if a bigger partner strikes a smaller one. P.S. I'm explaining rather than excusing, just because something is understandable, doesn't mean it's right.

[@ghostdrop136]

She hit first and was about to hit him again too.

[@ceceliam9014]

I laughed out loud with your "you wish you had" after she said she screwed Buffy 🤣 Eliza Dushku has said in an interview that she actually played Faith as bisexual and believes she has a thing for Buffy. Not actually officially written that way, but Eliza was playing it. The character of Faith is so well done. Eliza rocks this role, especially considering how layered she is in spite of how sporadic her appearances on the show are.

[@yesie8375]

We can all understand why Buffy reacted the way she did when she saw Angel hugging Faith after everything she did to Buffy and the people in her life.

[@HerHollyness]

Smoking ban in the UK was July 2007. I remember it well - I turned 18 that year and I loved being able to walk into pubs and restaurants without choking on stale smoky air!

[@AustinSamson1999]

I’m always down anywhere, anytime to give praise to Eliza Dushkus performance as Faith but in this episode it’s a particular standout, the acting is just SO. GOOD. 👏 the subtleties Eliza does with her face and body language is amazing no matter how many times you watch it, I love how incredibly complex the writers allowed this arc to be. Buffy’s pain is valid but Angels actions here solidify why he’s one of the best characters, when he tells her it’s not about her feelings it’s “about saving somebody’s soul” I get goosebumps every time 😭 Faith obviously deserves consequences for her actions but considering how sad her backstory really is that Angel being the one person to ever truly stick up for her and care especially against Buffy is SO POWERFUL. Buffy’s revenge wasn’t important, and I love that the writers emphasized that.

[@killianlpc]

Sanctuary, and the preceding episode Five By Five, were two brilliant back to back episodes. Buffy coming back into the show again was a major surprise at the time, and Faith letting slip that she had had sex with Riley, who unbeknown to Angel was a major shock finding out that Buffy now had a new lover, you can see how hurt he is. Standout moment was actually Wesley's dart shot with the syringe. Along with the previous episode Five By Five, Sanctuary was one the best episodes of the entire show. The Faith Centric episodes are really what many fans think Angel took off as a spectacular show. When Buffy appears you can see her pure anger at not just Faith, but Angel too. It is understandable how Wesley and Cordelia would feel towards Faith considering her behaviour. However, Buffy knows at the end that she has to save Faith from the Council Hit Squad. Wesley as well changes here and shows his worth in how clever and brave he is as well. It's such a bitter farewell here between Angel and Buffy in the police station, but Faith knows she has to atone for her sins by giving herself up, knowing deep down that Angel is possibly the only person to help her, as he has been through similar torment. A great episode indeed. These two back to back episodes are as good as anything from BTVS. Great X-Files reference again with Detective accusing Kate of being Scully, it was Scully of course who was the sceptic and Mulder the believer.

[@TheGoodLad89]

Welcome back D.J, hope you're feeling better. 👍

[@feudist]

Only someone who had lived as the monstrous Angelus could have reached the rogue Slayer and turned her to the path of redemption. Yet another consequence of Buffy's defiance of destiny in "Prophecy Girl" and her love of Angel undermining Whistler's plans. Buffy's desire for vengeance on Faith is well justified. At this point, Faith has committed at least one cold blooded murder, aided the Mayor in killing numerous students and parents at graduation, attempted to turn Angel into Angelus TWICE and tried to kill him with poison, assaulted Willow, attempted to murder Xander and Joyce, raped both Riley and Buffy, stole her life and tried to leave her to rot in a Council prison. A thorough asswhipping was called for, at least. Honestly, Buffy would have been within her rights as the Slayer to summarily execute Faith. A Slayer is the most dangerous human on Earth, and Faith was ROGUE. What a fabulous arc of intertwined stories and superb work by Eliza.

[@DmGray]

Real Daria vibes with those glasses... < inappropriate youtuber crush intensifies > Very powerful episode. And Buffy saying things to Angel that her boyfriend could really use hearing :P I always liked that fact that everyone's motivation is totally understandable. Even Faith finally comes back down to earth after trying to escape her trauma by making herself into the villain. Really wish Dushku had been a bigger star. She deserved way better and I haven't seen her in anything new for years. (she was ALSO amazing in Tru Calling and Dollhouse)

[@Alex_9652]

Looking stunning😍 good reaction too🙂

[@jzchillin]

Great reaction to the end of a great character arc of the Rogue/Dark Slayer who is Faith and the beginning of the struggle that she will have to face for the rest of her life. Such great/powerful moments by all in the ep, and some really great scenes between Faith/Angel, Faith/Buffy, Angel/Buffy, and Angel/Wesley... just some great writing and execution that makes this one of the best arcs in the Buffy/Angelverse..... Fun as always, D and this gets you a CTU, now onto your Buffy reaction you released today! Keep em coming!

[@johnblackmore430]

Good rule of thumb for both Angel and Buffy - never look at the credits. There are lots of episodes which have spoiler "guest star" credits. Cover the bottom half of the screen until the episode proper gets going.

[@magic713m]

Occasionally, though, the producers have the foresight to bury a late appearance credit in the end of the episode

[@veronicamars4124]

YES - THIS....^^

[@shercahn]

There wasn't a federal ban in the US until 1997 (in federal buildings/property). The rest are state laws. Here in NC, it was 2010 for restaurants and bars. For California (where the show is based), it was 1995 for restaurants.

[@ace360]

"Not in my city" 💯 With Angel on the hole episode I remember that episode, I think the smokening law at least for us in USA was put into place in 2007, Stay awesome Darkara

[@user-knightoftherealms]

The writers are pretty good at arcs. We're seeing Westleys' transformation from clown to more self worth. It only gets better for him. The same is true for Faith. She; begun a road to redemption. While she can never undo what she's done, she can make her future actions matter.

[@ghostdrop136]

12:00 So Buffy can punch Angel in the face but Angel can't defend himself?🤨 Buffy backhanded him so hard he had a bruise on his face the next day and she was about to hit him again before he blocked it.

[@Junejane4]

She is into slaying vampires so much that it's so easy for her to just hit someone in such cases. It works automatically for her already. Which is sad.

[@cyberleadr]

I'm a big fan of Eliza's work. There are two shows she's in that you should check out after Buffy and Angel are over. Dollhouse (2009) is Joss' most underrated show and Eliza really gets to shine as its star. It was treated almost as poorly by fox as Firefly but they were at least allowed to get to a (rushed) ending. The other show is Banshee (2013) starring Antony Starr (Homelander - The Boys). Eliza is only in the 4th/final season, but she's fantastic. The show itself is pretty graphic and would need some editing for YT but it's petty fun and unique, with some pretty great fight choreography.

[@joeypotter6051]

Oh I forgot she was in Banshee!

[@Logan_Baron]

You asked about the smoking ban. In America California (where they are) started smoking bans in many places, before the rest of the country. I'm pretty sure it wasn't countrywide at the point this episode was made. Now most shows don't even allow smoking to be shown. While back then we had Spike (along with many other characters on shows) smoking freely.

[@kalandkarazor-el3088]

Those glasses make you look like Lynda Carter from the 70's Wonder Woman show😊 Oh and it's a good episode lol. Faith is always fun to watch and crossovers are usually awesome no matter what

[@lilywong9672]

He punched her in the face because she punched him in the face and was gearing for a second one. Come on, girl!

[@joeypotter6051]

Logically yes but idk it still always makes me recoil when we see him hit her. It's hard to remember in the moment that she's stronger when he's so much bigger (I know that's the point etc but visually it's still hard to watch).

[@Madbandit77]

12:00 That's an interesting thought. Angel and Buffy both agreed to break up, but there are still feelings between them.

[@fanmagicks]

Actually, Angel made the choice for them. He broke Buffy's heart "for her own good" twice! Only she doesn't remember the 2nd time. She's still clearly so in love with him it hurts to see. Angel knows how Faith pushes Buffy's buttons. She asked him to pose as Angelus to get info from Faith so he knows how much just seeing them together makes Buffy go back to that dark place. Buffy hitting Angel (tho wrong) was slayer instinct because he grabbed her arm to hold her at bay. You don't go grabbing a fighter's arm unless you want to get hit. Angel hitting back (also wrong) was to keep her from her target NOT good when a slayer is pissed. I get Buffy wanting revenge but she did come to LA to make sure Angel was ok. The only info she had to go on was the call to Giles that Faith just tried to kill Angel the day before. And she does say that Faith belongs in jail so that was her plan...get her to the cops. I don't get ppl being down on Buffy being OOC. She's completely in character...a very brassedoff slayer. People always get on her for not trying to help Faith more. Everyone seems to forget that while still in high school (age 17) she did her best. She repeatedly told Giles "The girl needs help." We don't know if they tried to get Faith out of the motel - she probably said "no" because she liked her independence (we never saw that scene, doesn't mean it didn't happen). And Buffy repeatedly tells both watchers that Faith goes on undisclosed "walkabouts" leaving Buffy to the slaying alone. Later she tries to kill Xander & Buffy AGAIN goes out of her way to help by getting Angel to talk to Faith. Buffy was right when she tells Faith that she spat on her...stole her body, almost her life, beat her mom, SA'd both Riley & Buffy (probably would have done Spike in another day or so). For all Buffy knew, Angel WAS in serious danger. Though a slayer, Buffy is still a young woman. She's got some righteous anger & I don't blame her. Yeah she was mean to Angel...boo hoo. He's an adult that treats her like a child. When he says "Go home" it's like he's saying "Go to your room". He tries to make her feel guilty about moving on with a new guy when that's EXACTLY what he told her she needed to do before Prom. It's not her fault he can't have a normal life. So her tossing it in his face about Riley tho hurtful and yes petty I think is driven by her broken heart. He's the one who broke it! Ok rant over. Happy holidays everyone! 😁❤

[@haddow777]

It's an interesting question about using magic to clear her out of her evil. Actually in a way, the shows have dealt on that. Back in Buffy season 2, in that episode where Xander tries to put a love spell on Cordy, the show made a pretty big statement about magic. First, love spells are amongst the most dangerous magic there is. Secondly, that using magic to change the way a person thinks or feels is at its foundation wrong. Add to that how the show really likes to deep dive characters, to have events in their pasts that motivate the actions they make today. In Faith's case, they don't really come right out and explain her history, but it's there, and it is complicated. She's probably one of the most damaged of all the characters in the show. A really good example of this is in the scene just as Faith in Buffy's gets told by Riley that he loves her. If you look really closely at the editting while the camera is on her face, you will see it cut quickly to a number of slightly offset angle shots of her face. This is an old school film technique to signify a mental breakdown. A schism in her mind. Most likley it was to signify her being made to relive an old trauma she had stuff down and hidden within herself. Listen to her voice right afterwards. It's sounds analog younger, as of mentally she's a younger version of herself. Faith's going bad wasn't just evil taking her over, but is tied up with the various traumas of her past. Unfortunately, magic can't really help with those problems. I'm sure many of us would like it if it could help with that. Still, the show does actually have quite a bit to say on the subject. One of the really fun things about these shows is seeing all these details on rewatches.

[@MrSupertallblackman]

Tha kind of takes personal choice out of it. Angel said it himself she choose to go out into the dark just. Using magic to fix it takes away from the point of personal choice and accountability.

[@randycooper3428]

That shirt is 🔥

[@rayjulien4739]

In the 'post break up' underlying theme of B4/A1; since 'Remember me' when our characters separated fully and started to explore their own lives; they now come to 'Blows' and look into each others eye as completely new people...

[@Lraine93]

Faith has a soul and chooses to be evil. She is evil. Even if she feels bad eventually, she needed to face the consequences of her action if she is ever going to get redemption.

[@wyterabitt2149]

I think it shows the difference in the perspective of the shows, and a clear line for the universe for the place Buffy actually has. Initially there was just the "chosen one" with Buffy the show, a vampire slayer who is the centre of everything and most important person. This was always quite insular and never made sense for the world really. Angel expanded the universe, and Buffy was relegated to a small cog who is no more or less important than countless different warriors fighting the fight in different ways across the planet and dimensions. Buffy remains that insular show though which is fine for the stories it tells, she is still the important chosen one in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. But here she came to the real world where she is not the most important, or even special, and tried to act like she does in Sunnydale. I think Angel putting her in her place helps cement Angel (the show, the universe represented in that show, and Angel himself) as equally important, and just as big of a deal as the vampire slayer and their part in the universe. And helps solidify that no part of Buffy the show is needed for Angel, or has to be referenced/acknowledged going forward if they don't want to. The only issue I have is how they try and soften this to some extent in the next episode of Buffy, for the Buffy only fans who might not like this idea.

[@DaDunge]

16:00 I mean I would like to see that confession. "I've committed 5 counts of murder, probably somewhere around 50 counts of assault, numerous counts of breaking and entry and theft"

[@MrSupertallblackman]

Ok first let's get this out of the way before anyone says anything. NO BUFFY IS NOT OUT OF CHARACTER SHE DOES STUFF LIKE THIS ALL THE TIME! Second you literally just ignored tht Buffy hit him first and was going to do it a second time. Third I don't think Faith and Angelus are a good point of comparison.

[@SweeranSwift]

Buffy was totally Out of her character in this épisode. Sorry

[@MrSupertallblackman]

​@@SweeranSwiftIn what way was she out of character?

[@Mister_Skar]

Hopefully this isn't the last we see of her

[@godmagnus]

Imagine if there was a spell that just made people not evil or mentally ill.

[@arc7375]

12:13 “He just punched her in the face.” Incorrect. She punched him first, completely unprovoked. Then went to punch him again. If we put aside the momentarily trivial fact that slayers are, by design, stronger than vampires (and more resilient) - there’s an _enormous_ double standard when it comes to abuse between the sexes. While male-on-female violence is (correctly) monstrous, female-on-male violence is often ignored and laughed at. Especially when it’s sexual violence. It’s a disgusting double standard.

[@gentleheart7107]

Buffy punched Angel first. But let's lose a crap he hit her back.

[@arronscott7286]

Once again we see Buffy’s propensity to lash out when things don’t go her way. One of her few character flaws.

[@godmagnus]

Faith's not his person and he's not trying to make her his person. He said he can't have a person. Because of the curse.

[@joeypotter6051]

Wonder if he'll stick to that throughout the entire show hmmm

[@Buffy8Fan]

SPOILERS FOR THE NEXT BtVS EPISODE Buffy nearly ruins Faith's progression by showing up in LA. If she wanted to put Faith in jail, or even give her back to the watchers, she missed her chance in Sunnydale. She also told Angel they should stay away from each other in her last crossover moment _I Will Remember You,_ so saying she thought he was in danger was a bad excuse when she wanted vengeance (saying she has a right to it and trying to carry it out also counters commands telling off Anya for vengeance in my opinion, as well). And that doesn't even take into account Buffy hitting Angel and then trying to play victim to his retaliation. Good thing he knew that a vampire against a slayer allows schoolyard "you did it to me first" rules to apply. Angel counterbalances everything Buffy tries to say to him in this episode. She waited until Faith was out of Sunnydale, didn't call Angel to see if he was OK, and stated specifically that vengeance is what she wanted. When she realized she had nothing to argue back in the last scene, she threw Riley in his face and said "Faith wins again" like a petulant child in order to hurt him. Buffy even agreed she shouldn't have gone down there in the next Buffy episode when Angel came up there to apologize for what he didn't do wrong. And even in this episode Buffy agrees with Wesley that she was getting that it wasn't a good idea to be in LA. I also think it says a lot about Giles and Wesley that Giles left the council, but was willing to help them to capture Faith (knowing what they would do to her as he's the one who explained it), while Wesley was just tortured by Faith is willing to help her.

[@Logan_Baron]

Though I think it's also important that Wesley didn't really do it to help Faith, but for his trust in Angel.

[@Buffy8Fan]

@@Logan_Baron But the point is it says a lot that he'd be willing to even go that far to help (on behalf of Angel or not) when Giles expressed such low disappointment in The Council, knew what they would do to Faith, and as a byproduct anyone who got in their way (he knew they were a wet-works team), thus clinging to the idea that she was not someone who could be helped. I have another opinion stating a theory of the OG 4 being the only members of the Scoobies. This (whether Wesley was doing it to help Faith or because he trusted Angel) seems to be a reason to support the theory.

[@jonreese7066]

To be fair. Faith did attack Buffy again and Giles doesnt know Angel's hope

[@Buffy8Fan]

@@jonreese7066 But that's also a small part of the point. The Council did horrible things to Giles and Buffy, and this is a wet-works team on top of that. To Giles, Faith's horrible is considered not only worse, but something bad enough to not be able to come back from, even if both Faith and The Council were done months ago. He would have time to reflect on possible why's with both. Whereas with Wesley it's been days since Faith tortured him, and he considers trusting Angel and helping Faith more important than working with a council that fired him, he and Giles know to be patriarchal, and knows what they'll do to Faith.

[@joeypotter6051]

I really don't like Buffy in this episode, which is unusual for me given that she's my fave character on the show (aside from Faith). I think she was written too adversarial, I get her being pissed at Faith but she's unnecessarily mean to Angel. For that reason I prefer Five by Five, this one is not on the same tier for me. Faith is amazing in this ep though, as always Eliza slays.

[@zemoxian]

Faith really did make that guy look bad. Not really complaining though.

[@SweeranSwift]

I hated Buffy in This épisode. She's totally Out of her character. She's mad about Angel because of faith And She IS jealous. No relate with Riley sorry. And She hurt him like she never do AT the end. I just dont reconize the character

[@DJZ64X]

Bruh she hit him first, but it's his fault?,🤦‍♂️