Reading Angel: The TV Spin-off with a Soul

by Stacey Abbott (Editor), Phil Colvin (Contributor), Sarah Swan (Contributor)

In 1999, Joss Whedon spun-off the vampire with a soul from Buffy the Vampire Slayer into his own Angel. Recast in L.A., Angel developed its own preoccupations, exploring a darker vision of alienation, atonement and the fight for redemption. The series ended in 2004, but its legion of loyal fans continues to petition the WB network for a new spin-off or motion picture on the "Save Angel" website and other online fansites. This book covers all five seasons, discussing the cinematic aesthetics of Angel, its music, shifting portrayals of masculinity, the noir Los Angeles setting, the superhero, and horror. A complete episode guide is included.

Genres: Nonfiction, Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Pop Culture, Vampires, Tv, Media Tie In, Paranormal

256 pages, Paperback

First published October 14, 2005

About the author

Stacey Abbott is Reader in Film and TV at Roehampton University

Reviews

[Lauren Stoolfire · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm so glad I just stumbled upon Reading Angel: The TV Spin-off with a Soul edited by Stacey Abbott at a thrift shop. This collection of essays about Angel, which was one of my favorite tv shows, is great. I especially appreciated the ones about music, Lorne, cinematography, and gender.

[Pamster · Rating 4 out of 5]

An essay about the music gave the show all-new layers for me.

[Jill Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brief, but insightful analysis of the TV show Angel, a spin off of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Abbott effectively supports her contention that Angel is more than a second tier version of Buffy.

[يوسف عبداللطيف · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stacey Abbott in Reading Angel: The TV Spin-off with a Soul argues that most of what we call "talent" is really just a ridiculous amount of boring repetition. I felt like it was half-baked in a few places, since some of the research gets stretched further than it should. But the chapter about the kid who practiced the same three chords for a year got me thinking about everything I quit the second it got hard. You won't buy every claim, but it definitely forces you to rethink the whole "naturally gifted" idea.

[Claire Hennessy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Neat collection of essays.