Mark Watches ‘Angel’: S03E04 – Carpe Noctem

In the fourth episode of the third season of Angel, ummmmm? If you’re intrigued by that, then it’s time for Mark to watch Angel.

Everything I liked in “Carpe Noctem”

• oh my GOD the Nuart Theater is one of the greatest places in the universe. That’s where I saw my first midnight showing of Rocky Horror Picture Show. LOVE LOVE LOVE.
• Cordelia. Just every second of her in this episode is lovely and wonderful. The fact that she cares so much about Fred is so beautiful to me.
• Gavin, you are getting feisty! I like it. More of you, please.
• “Angel’s” forced conversation with his lover, Wesley. Oh, how I loved that dynamic.
• Watching David Boreanaz act like Marcus Roscoe. That was an entertaining thing about this body swap episode.
• As uncomfortable as the Fred subplot was for this story, I did like to see her face her feelings for Angel and to take control of the conversation at the end of the episode. I’m really starting to like Fred and the dynamic she brings to the group.
• I’m really trying quite hard here.
• Buffy is alive! Yes, that’s good.
• Um.
• All right.

Everything I disliked about “Carpe Noctem”

• “Who Are You” did the exact same thing so much better. Well, okay, it’s not the same thing, as the person who swaps with Angel is an absolute stranger, but the Buffyverse has already had a body swap episode, and that one is BRILLIANT. Eliza Dushku and Sarah Michelle Gellar perfect each other’s physical mannerisms and behavior. This one? Not so much.
• I simply didn’t believe that Angel was in the body of Marcus. There was no behavior there that suggested someone else was there.
• We’ve had plenty of jokes about how Angel is the worst vampire ever, so this episode felt like it was just recycling them.
• So, I did like the scene of “Angel” telling Wesley that they had to remain friends, but the entire gay subplot was just so boring. I mean, the writers will explore this, but not an actual gay character? No, thank you.
• Would Lilah really entertain the notion of having sex with Angel? I know she’s kind of attracted to him, but… what? What?
• Okay, I know this is silly, but SO MUCH AWFUL has happened to Fred, so can horrific things stop happening to her? Thanks.
• Oh my god, I swear, I tried REALLY HARD to like this episode, but it was just so boring! Why should I care about any of this? What is it telling me about the characters? What are they learning? Are they growing at all? Aside from Fred’s heartbreaking monologue about not knowing love, why does this episode exist?

Without a doubt, this is my least favorite episode of the show so far. The acting isn’t terrible or anything, but the writers just don’t give the actors anything to really work with. Well, aside from Angel being Marcus. But after “Who Are You,” the Buffyverse really set the bar for a body swap story. That was about Faith’s growth as a person, and her coming to understand Buffy’s life. This is about… Angel possibly hurting someone again? I don’t even know if it’s about that.

Meh. Onwards to Buffy!

Mark Links Stuff

– You can follow me on Twitter and Facebook for any updates and live commentary on upcoming reviews I’m writing.
– If you’d like to support what I’m doing, you can click the little Donate button in the right sidebar, buy eBooks on MarkDoesStuff, or purchase physical books on Lulu.com.
- Mark Reads Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is now on sale for just $3.99!!!
– The third volume of Mark Tells Stories, “1337,” is now out and available for just $1.00!
- You can purchase your very own Mark Reads video for just $25, and I will read ANYTHING you want.
– Mark Reads is now on YouTube, and you can watch all my videos right here!