Angel 5x15 A Hole in the World

The only episode of Angel, as far as I’m concerned, that is right up there with the very best of Buffy. (The only other that I’d probably put in the top twenty of the Buffyverse is “Five by Five”. This isn’t a slam on Angel – it’s high praise of Buffy.) It has nothing to do with f*** your feelings, it has to do with great drama, great tragedy. Amy Acker’s performance was incredible. I cry every time watching her, especially when she can’t remember who Feigenbaum is. A bonus of this tragedy, however, is the advent of Illyria (and seeing Amy Acker’s incredible range). You are quite adorable when you’re in a bad mood.

I cannot express how much I cried in this episode. Fred, was the emotional core. I can remember watching this episode in shock. Fred dying felt like a "Fuck your feelings", to me.

I get it Jules. I also felt angry when I watched this episode the first time. We have seen it all before...Giles/Jenny, Buffy/Angel, Buffy/Joyce, Willow/Tara...all got back together and then they all got brutally pulled apart. So we know this. This is what the Buffyverse do. But by now, we don't want it anymore. Not Fred/Wesley. No no no.

There are few Hills I’m willing to die on but Astronauts besting Cavemen is one of them.

Could you, if you've not already, go and probe your friends and colleagues on the whole Astronaut vs cavemen debate and come back to us with your findings? Much obliged...

Here are some trivia tidbits from the DVD commentary for this episode with Joss Whedon, Amy Acker and Alexis Denisof. Feigenbaum, the stuffed rabbit, is named after Mitchell Feigenbaum, a mathematician and developer of Chaos Theory. The song Eve sings for Lorne is the same one Lindsey sang in Caritas in the season 2 episode 'Dead End', but not nearly as well. The song titled L.A. Song was written by Christian Kane. Spike's comment about the musical 'Les Miz' reflects Joss Whedon's feelings about that show. The book Wesley was reading to Fred was 'A Little Princess'. There was another reference to this book on Buffy. In the season 5 episode, 'Tough Love', Willow complains about Buffy's attitude in scolding Dawn to Miss Minchin's Seminary for Young Girls, a strict school attended by Sara Crewe, the little princess from the book. It is just a book Joss Whedon likes. Amy and Alexis and a second unit crew spent 2 days filming the final scene's of the episode in Fred's bedroom set. Joss, who was directing, said that there were many times when everyone on set was tearing up. The scene in the "Cotswolds, England" as Angel and Spike were walking toward the Deep Well was filmed on a farm that was supposed to look like the English countryside. However, when they started filming Joss was unhappy with how it looked until a fog rolled in and made all the difference in making it look Englishy. Joss initially wanted to call the Deep Well 'The Well of Souls' but felt that was too Indiana Jones.

The book Wesley reads to Fred i believe is "A Little Princess" by Frances Hodgson Burnett. looking at the synopsis, it's a bizarre choice to be read in that moment.

I left a happy reaction of another show to watch after this because we all need a pick-me-up after this one. Amy Acker's acting in this is devastatingly good, from the finally-happy moments at the beginning, to the sick and fighting in the middle, to the moments of resignation... and that sudden twist into something else at the end. Absolutely devastating.

"Of course the cavemen win." The cavemen defeating the astronauts is a metaphor for the ancient primal power (the ancient demon Illyra) defeating the technologically advanced society, the astronauts (Angel and crew with the powers of the modern Wolfram and Hart). One of my favorite metaphors/analogies (I still struggle with the difference lol) of the whole Buffyverse.

An Heart Breaking episode. Amy Acker knows acting, you'll see in the following episodes.

Truly a devastating episode, but it also raises an important question... would cavemen or astronauts win in a fight? I'm on team astronaut myself.

I do love this season of Angel but, man, a lot of sad stuff happens.

"I walk with heroes..." "You ARE one." 😭😭😭

Heartbreaking episode, but so very well done at the same time.

“There’s a hole in the world.”

We were all waiting for this one! Welcome to the beginning of the end. From here on out, it’s a wild ride! Honestly, when I think of season 5, I think of the episodes from this one to the finale.

First Cordelia. Now Fred. Isn't anybody safe lol. I love ANGEL. Such an amazing show. However....... Its a bit depressing 😕

Saw your joy in the Smile Time reaction and just knew this was coming. We’ve all been there 😔 It’ll be okay Jules

Hey. Come on. You didn’t really think you’d make it all the way to the end of this show--- without them RIPPING OUT YOUR HEART and stepping on it, right? If-it’s-any-consolation note--- you were right. When I first watched the lead-in to the big final season switch-up, I just thought, Coo-wul, this’ll be a great concluding change of pace, more opportunities for experimentation, all that. Of course, fans of these shows are not totally naïve; we know perfectly well Wolfram & Hart are the bad guys. But you’re the only “Angel” viewer I have ever seen respond with a totally pure message of: NO. BAD IDEA. They really just SHOULDN’T do this… #JusticeForWinifred