Nothing Has Changed, Everything Has Changed

Well, the first of October's season premiere's have come and gone, specifically for Smallville and Angel. Maybe in order to properly enjoy television, I need to be almost falling asleep, but I quite enjoyed both first episodes.

Last season, Smallville ended on a note with Clark donning the red Kryptonite ring -- thus turning him "evil" -- and running away to Metropolis, and Lex awakening on his honeymoon jet to an empty plane and the approach of lots and lots of water. The third season open "three months later", and, honestly, I don't know if there are different writers or they've just finally come into their own, but there is a definite different feel to the show. I know that "status quo" will be reinstated in a couple episodes and we'll be back to fighting Kryptonite mutants every week, but ever since last season, there's been more of an edge and more of a continuing through line to the series.

Highlights of the first episode of season three are actually an appearance by Rutger Hauer as Morgan Edge, even though he doesn't do much more than tempt Clark and look menacing, and the decidedly surreal survival experience of Lex on a desert island talking to some "Louis" that magically appeared and has been helping him. Seems as though Lex is on the road to being a box of fruit loops or a nutbar -- maybe an Oh Henry?.

...and with Angel. Well, the past two seasons have been disappointing. It seemed as though there were some interesting plot points here and there, but the writers weren't willing to do the work in order to get to the grand revelations. With the new "scenario" being that the group are now in charge of the LA branch of the evil law firm, Wolfram & Hart, I had my reservations.

I had a nice big smile on my face when I saw James Marsters receive second billing in the credits -- guess he really is in for the long haul, this is a good thing -- and there were some really nice moments of hilarity, including the opening teaser with Angel being flanked by his firm showing up after a rescue, Fred's inability to answer a phone, Gunn's bizarre transformation, the "...then should I call you 'Wesle'?" crack, nice snide cynical remarks here and there that have been missing from the writing for a while, not to forget Harmony and her reaction at the appearance of "blondie bear". Maybe Joss is just paying attention to Angel again?