Conversations With Dead People

What initially seemed like a pretty vague thematic grouping of episodes to discuss winds up proving to have some metaphorical meat on its bones. Returning friend Melanie Scala helps me find the significance of episodes 217, “Disharmony” and 218, “Dead End” beyond just the twin sides of the “where do we go from here” coin. In the former, a typically vacuous Harmony reconnects with Cordelia, somehow managing to conceal her newfound vampirism, and along the way maybe(?) helps the gang begin the process of figuring out what the new group dynamic will be. In the latter, Lindsey gets an evil hand and teams up with Angel to blow up the body shop, and along the way maybe(?) helps the gang continue the process of figuring out what the new group dynamic will be.   And then episode 219, “Belonging,” nominally just a prologue to the three episode finale arc we’re discussing next time, actually ramps up the “what IS our new dynamic” angst, and gives us our first tentative introduction to our beloved Winifred “Fred” Burkle

“If nothing we do matters, then all that matters is what we do.”   Reunited, and it feels so good. Mimesis author and Deli Counter of Justice co-creator Eric Sipple is back with me, this time discussing two of the very best episodes of the show, “Reprise” and “Epiphany.” We bid farewell, mostly fondly, to Virginia Bryce, Holland Manners, and Kate Lockley, welcome a contrite and humbled Angel back into the fold, and gush unapologetically about the beautiful thesis statement of the entire damned series!   Bonus: we bond over our shared love of inspirational inner arm tattoos.   NEXT: Melanie Scala joins me to talk about 217, “Disharmony,” 218, “Dead End,” and 219, “Belonging.”     BREAKDOWN 00:00:55  -  Intro / Guest 00:03:48  -  Main Topic 01:08:38  -  Outro / Next     LIBRARY Mimesis by Eric Sipple The Deli Counter of Justice by Eric Sipple, Paul Smith, and Arlo Wiley     LINKS Eric’s website     MUSIC “Conversations (feat. Wesley Mead)” by Azura (2017) “Reunited” by Peaches & Herb, 2 Hot (1978)

“It’ll wash.”   NEXT: episodes 215, “Reprise” and 216, “Epiphany.”      BREAKDOWN 00:00:55  -  Intro / Guest 00:04:09  -  Main Topic 01:11:11  -  Outro / Next     MUSIC “Conversations (feat. Wesley Mead)” by Azura (2017) “Smooth Criminal” by Michael Jackson, Bad (1988)

Welcome back, Dead People! [Insert excuses for another delay between episodes here] Friend and fellow genre nerd Sarah Kosheff joins me for the first time on the ‘cast, and she brought a couple of her very favorite Angel episodes with her. 210, “Reunion” shows us the aftermath of last episode’s shocking cliffhanger; the darkness that has been threatening to settle over our hero all season finally takes root; Angel makes a truly horrifying choice; and I do my very best to mire us in the ephemera of Whedonverse Vampire Cosmology. Again. Then, in 211, “Redefinition,” a line of demarcation is drawn in the status quo of the series, beginning and ending in fire; Angel smokes a cigarette; we say goodbye to Drusilla; and I question if the voice-over was really necessary.   And by the way, I agree with Cordy: Tequila is the REAL evil.   NEXT: 212, “Blood Money, 213, “Happy Anniversary,” and 214, “The Thin Dead Line.”     BREAKDOWN 00:00:55  -  Intro / Guest 00:08:50  -  Main Topic 01:29:46  -  Outro / Next     MUSIC “

“Darla” is an absolutely brilliant directorial debut by Tim Minear, which acts as a companion piece to Buffy’s “Fool for Love,” but also stands flawlessly on its own to deepen our understanding of the Fearsome Foursome vampire coterie. “The Shroud of Rahmon” is equal parts engaging (noir homages; character death misdirects; foreshadowing Angel’s coming darkness) and forgettable (the McGuffin itself; stock, cliche goons).  And “The Trial” showcases some genuinely heartbreaking performances in the midst of one of the most shocking, jaw-dropping final scenes of the series.   Joining me to talk about it all, he’s flown in from England for literally every episode of this podcast since the very beginning just to read the intro, but this time I decide to let him stay on mic and chat, the voice of the “Listeners Council” himself, Wesley “Wezzo” Mead.   NEXT: fan and friend Sarah Kosheff makes her premiere on the podcast, discussing episodes 210, “Reunion” and 211, “Redefinition.”     BREAKDOWN 00:00:55  -  In

Conversations with Dead People is back, and with hardly any time at all between episodes! Seriously, for all you could tell I recorded this episode the same night as our last one. Seamless!   Hollywood hotshot Michael Holland is here and we share a few words about the Apple TV+ series The Afterparty, which debuted recently and for which Michael served as Post-Production Supervisor, before continuing our journey through Angel Season 2. “Untouched” introduces us to writer Mere Smith, who will go on to pen some of the finest episodes of the series, and here considers sexual agency and trauma from the angle of two different Wolfram & Hart “special projects.” Then, in “Dear Boy,” the Boreanaz and Benz chemistry boils through the subterranean convent roof. And lastly, “Guise Will Be Guise” as Angel goes to therapy and Wesley bluffs his way into Virginia.   NEXT: our very own voice of the Watcher Council, the exceedingly British Wesley “Wezzo” Mead joins me to talk about episodes 207, “Darla,” 208, “The Shro

Melanie Scala joins me for her first Angel outing, picking up the pieces left in the aftermath of the Season 1 finale as we discuss a slightly uneven but ultimately pretty great three-episode launch for Season 2. Episode 201, titled (appropriately) “Judgment,” and episode 203, titled (also appropriately) “First Impressions,” lay down the important themes of recognizing our prejudices and not making assumptions about people, or demons. The former also introduces two of the most important things in all of the Angel canon: the yet-to-be-named Lorne, known as The Host, and the song “Mandy.” The latter introduces… not really much of consequence.   But of course the REAL treasure here is episode 202, “Are You Now or Have You Ever Been,” with its homages to Classic Hollywood, and the truly haunting evocation of HUAC and the McCarthy era.   BONUS: Your humble host is mercilessly called out for his hypocrisy. Good times.   NEXT: Speaking of Classic Hollywood, Michael Holland is back! We’ll be discussing episodes

“Don’t believe everything you’re foretold.”  ~Angel   The prophecy is finally fulfilled as author, scholar, and friend Elizabeth Rambo makes her Angel conversations debut, just in time for the explosive final episodes of the first season. While the previous two Faith-centric episodes are a hard act to follow, “War Zone” steps up to the plate big time with the introduction of Charles Gunn. It also gives us the fantastic David Nabbitt, and it’s not this episode’s fault that the series going forward fumbles the ball with that character. Next up, “Blind Date” looks like (see what I did there?) it totally wastes it’s monster-of-the-week antagonist, the blind assassin Vanessa, but it’s not really about that. (Hello, Holland Manners!) And the season goes out with a literal bang in “To Shanshu in L.A.,” where we are introduced to the multi-tool of ancient relics in the Scroll of Aberjian, the fiery death of the Angel Investigations offices, and the return of...the thing in the box!   NEXT: Melanie Scala joins me

“Help me.”  ~Faith   After a good-not-great season one so far, Angel finds its feet properly, giving one of the best characters from across the Whedonverse one of the best moments of character development from across the Whedonverse. Or that’s my opinion at least. Fortunately, my good friend, Broken Magic author Eric Sipple agrees with me, so I let him come back on the show. Together we discuss the blossoming of the Angel/Lindsey rivalry, the overwhelming power of THAT rain-soaked alley scene, and how it’s not about you, Buffy!    NEXT: Author, scholar, and friend of the show Elizabeth Rambo makes her triumphant return, her first time joining me since we wrapped up Buffy the Vampire Slayer, to lead us through the final three episodes of Angel season one. We’ll be discussing 120, “War Zone,” 121, “Blind Date,” and 122, “To Shanshu in L.A.”     BREAKDOWN 00:00:55  -  Intro / Guest 00:05:13  -  Main Topic 01:39:35  -  Outro / Next     LIBRARY Broken Magic, by Eric Sipple The Deli Counter of Justic

Two episodes that likely don’t feature on anyone’s Top 10 lists. “The Ring” features our heroes releasing a bunch of murderous demons into the city. “Eternity” posits that anyone could have roofied Angel at any time to release Angelus. Both setups draw a fair amount of fan criticism. But Classic Hollywood connoisseur and CWDP repeat offender Michael Holland joins me to find the positives hidden deep within the two texts. For example, “The Ring” introduces the divinely sinister Lilah Morgan, who makes a very significant offer to our vampire with a soul that will prove prescient to the series as a whole. And “Eternity” raises genuinely interesting questions of the metaphysics of drug-induced happiness. And perhaps most importantly, to me at least, both episodes feature further hints of the depths of Wesley Wyndam-Pryce’s seemingly still waters.   NEXT: my good friend and Deli Counter of Justice co-author Eric Sipple is back, baby! Best of all, he’s back to share my love of the next two episodes of Angel, argu

“Cagey little brutes, aren’t they?”   The Mother of Angel Studies, author and vampire queen Stacey Abbott is back! This week we discuss the somewhat strained metaphor and textual subtext of episode 113, “She,” which for years I’ve remembered as unutterably terrible, but on this rewatch I find myself being a bit kinder to. If nothing else, the episode gives us some of the greatest comedic moments from all of this first season, possibly the series. Alexis Denisof deserves a pratfall Oscar!   Also on tap, 114, “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” makes good use of a classic Hollywood horror trope, as well as providing the first tantalizing hint at darker depths to Wesley. And 115, “The Prodigal,” where the Whedonverse continues its focused, brutal assault on the notions of fatherhood.   NEXT: Post-Production Supervisor and Hollywood man-about-town Michael Holland is back to help me look over episodes 116, “The Ring” and 117, “Eternity.”     BREAKDOWN 00:00:55  -  Intro / Guest 00:02:40  -  Main Topic 01:11:1

“Wherever evil lurks, wherever the forces of darkness threaten humanity, that’s where I’ll be.”   Johny Ho is back! Wesley Wyndam-Pryce is back! Johny Ho is back to talk to me about how awesome it is that Wesley Wyndam-Pryce is back! In 110, “Parting Gifts,” Angel Investigations get their very own rogue demon hunter, as well as a shiny new tagline. 111, “Somnambulist” gives us Baby Hawkeye as a vampire, and Kate is finally in on the big secret. And 112, “Expecting” features the first of many mystical pregnancies, plus Ken freaking Marino!   Seriously though, all that matters is Wesley Wyndam-Pryce is here and everything will be okay from now on.    NEXT: the saint of Angel studies, author Stacey Abbott joins me to discuss what some may or may not consider to be the low point of Season One, episodes 113, “She,” 114, “I’ve Got You Under My Skin,” and 115, “The Prodigal.”     BREAKDOWN 00:00:55  -  Intro / Guest 00:06:27  -  Main Topic 01:10:48  -  Outro / Next     MUSIC “Conversations (feat. Wes

“Is that it? Am I done?”   It’s taken much longer than I would’ve liked to get this episode edited and out to y’all, and I was way off what I will laughingly refer to as my game, but hey...our rats are low at least. This time around I’m joined by America’s favorite philosophizing Frenchman Matthieu Cravatte as we discuss the pain and heartbreak of network-mandated crossovers, the inspirational value of heroes, the lack of Nazi subtelty, and the first of many genuinely traumatic sacrifices made by characters on this series as we sob our way through episodes 108, “I Will Remember You” and 109, “Hero.”   NEXT: a rogue demon hunter joins the cast and we get some momentary relief from the pain (Cordy doesn’t, but we do) with episodes 110, “Parting Gifts,” 111, “Somnambulist,” and 112, “Expecting.”     BREAKDOWN 00:00:55  -  Intro / Guest 00:05:00  -  Main Topic 01:13:55  -  Outro / Next     MUSIC “Conversations (feat. Wesley Mead)” by Azura (2017) “Hero” by Lissie, My Wild West (2016)

Hollywood bigshot and industry insider Michael Holland welcomes us to HIS turf as we continue our transition from the cemeteries of Sunnydale to the morgues of LA. The conversation this time covers two episodes often dismissed as early-series filler, but which we argue actually have important things to say about the characters and the developing themes of the show. In 106, “Sense & Sensitivity,” we get some needed background on Det. Kate Lockley, including a genuinely marvelous emotional performance by Elisabeth Röhm, and insight into the interpersonal dynamics between our heroes. (Bonus: Angel as Magnum P.I.!) And in 107, “Bachelor Party,” Allen Francis Doyle gets a powerfully humanizing (or rather half-humanizing) storyline that makes the most of what will turn out to be the very limited time we get with the character, fleshing him out more in one episode than many shows give their cast in a full season.   NEXT: philosopher Frenchman Matthieu Cravatte joins me to probably get really sad as we discuss

Can we get back to Angel? Please?! *sobs*   My dear friend, author, and hot chick with superpowers Dale Guffey has stayed over from last week to help me get back into the swing of things. As avowed and unapologetic Spike fans, we bask in the glorious, bleach blonde silver lining that is that opening voiceover of the otherwise basic 103, “In the Dark.” As avowed and unapologetic Doyle fans, we savor every single hilarious and touching moment we get with him in 104, “I Fall to Pieces.” And in 105, “Rm w/a Vu” I mourn the Phantom Dennis spin-off we never got.   NEXT: recurring guest and friend of the show Michael Holland is back, and with the move from Sunnydale to LA we’re finally on HIS turf. He joins me to speak with Angelino authority on episodes 106, “Sense & Sensitivity” and 107, “Bachelor Party.”     BREAKDOWN 00:00:55  -  Intro / Guest 00:04:00  -  Main Topic 01:50:12  -  Outro / Next     LIBRARY Faith and Choice in the Works of Joss Whedon, by K. Dale Koontz Reading Joss Whedon, edite

Where do we go from here? That question has perhaps never been as relevant or as painful within the Whedony community as it is right now. It’s a difficult time to be a fan, as the recent and continuing alegations and revelations about the man that has, so far, given this entire fandom its name, force us to reckon with some hard truths. I thought this podcast could continue with perhaps just a passing mention of the controversy, but it quickly became clear that I, and thankfully some much smarter people than myself, would have to address this head on. And so I welcome you to this Very Special Episode of Conversations with Dead People. I ramble on uselessly, as usual, but two of my very favoritest people in the world, let alone the field of Whedon Studies, Nikki Stafford and Dale Guffey join me to talk about how and why all of this feels so much more personal than similar fallen pop culture icons; what, if anything, I should do with this podcast going forward; and what we think this might all mean for the Whedo

The sun has set on Sunnydale, and so now we leave behind the hell of the small town and head into the Big Bad City. Stacey Abbott, Lecturer in Film and Television Studies at Roehampton University, editor of Reading Angel: The TV Spin-Off With a Soul, and author of Celluloid Vampires: Life After Death In The Modern World and Near Dark (BFI Film Classics) joins me to usher in the era of Angel, the/a vampire with a soul. We talk for a bit about how she was, for years, a shining beacon of Angel Studies at many, many of the Slayage Conferences, being the only person willing and eager to present on the spinoff series, before FINALLY diving into our discussion of the first two episodes.   “City Of” introduces the new paradigm of the film noir Los Angeles setting, with it’s dark alleys, buzzing neon, and rapid-edit transitions. We’re also introduced to a new player in half-demon “sidekick” Doyle, sent by the Powers That Be (“Powers that be what?”) to be Angel’s sponsor on his quest for redemption. And we get the ve

With Buffy the Vampire Slayer in our review mirror and its amazing spin-off series Angel looming on the horizon, we’re going to take this limbo-like space in between to explore some comics. One comic in particular, Joss Whedon’s 2001-2003 four-color debut Fray. Joining me for this discussion 200 years in the making are returning guests Dale Guffey and Vickie Willis Navarra. Together we look at the trauma of being incomplete; female rage; Vickie blows my mind with talk of the control of a woman’s reproduction in the final battle; Dale blows my mind with definitions of the word ‘fray’; and I gush over the artwork of Karl Moline and Andy Owens (including my beloved fight choreography obsession).   NEXT: maybe Angel, maybe more comics. Who knows?     BREAKDOWN 00:00:55  -  Intro / Guest 00:18:53  -  Let’s Go to Work 01:52:30  -  Outro / Next     LIBRARY Faith and Choice in the Works of Joss Whedon, by K. Dale Koontz     LINKS V.E.W. Navarra: Writing All The Things  Call For Papers: LAWYERS AND TH

“What are we gonna do now?”   All good things, as the saying goes. It’s been quite a journey, this rewatch and analysis of a show I’ve had a mostly-love-but-just-a-little-bit-hate relationship with for the past 20+ years, and I’d like to think we’ve all learned some things. For example, in this very episode I learn how to stop worrying and love the flawed metaphor at the end of the series, and you all have learned that I’m an insufferable twit. But fortunately I keep pulling y’all back in with wonderful guest hosts who are always more intelligent than myself, and this discussion of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer finale “Chosen” is no different as I welcome back a panel of fan-favorites. Original guest Nikki Stafford, most frequent guest Elizabeth Rambo, and most barely tolerated guest Arlo Wiley are here to pay their respects to a pop culture phenomenon that has spoken to and shaped each of us in immeasurable ways.   NEXT: As we leave the smoking crater of Sunnydale behind us, we head to the City of Angels,

“Thank God we’re hot chicks with superpowers.”   Returning hot chick with superpowers Dale Guffey, recently crowned Area Chair of "Lawyers and the Legal System in Popular Culture" for the Southwest Popular/American Culture Association, continues her award-winning guest stint in the graveyard as we talk about sex with all the pre-Apocalypse hookups of 720, “Touched.” And in the penultimate episode of the entire series, 721, “End of Days,” we discuss deus ex machinas and swords in stones. There’s some amazing cross-cut fight choreography; Spike shows Buffy how to speechify; and wheelchair fight!   BONUS: Dale pitches Miss Kitty Fantastico: Vampire Slayer!   NEXT: All good things must come to an end. Nikki Stafford, Elizabeth Rambo, and Arlo Wiley join me to discuss the series finale “Chosen” as we eulogize Buffy the Vampire Slayer.      BREAKDOWN 00:00:55  -  Intro / Guest 00:10:07  -  Main Topic 01:52:16  -  Outro / Next   LIBRARY Faith and Choice in the Works of Joss Whedon, by K. Dale Koontz