Random fan girl thoughts

[cornerofmadness]

I managed to watch some tv this week. I'm still trying to figure out how I felt about this week's Smallville. It had some nice and creepy emotions and stuff floating through it. A moment of panic as I thought Gee Lana won't go (okay I know she won't in the end but I can keep hoping). Some nice stuff with Chloe and Pete and I liked how Lex reinterpreted the prophecy as only he could. Then there were huge plot holes like how would Chloe's unemployed dad afford to buy a place that makes no money and he doesn't really want.

Then I finally caught up to the 100th episode of Angel. Since I know there's a lot who still haven't seen it, we'll go ahead and make a cut here and if you want to read more, and I warn you I say exactly what I feel good and bad, then read on.

I am still terribly disappointed in this season of Angel. The 'are we doing the right thing is getting old?'  it's pretty obvious that they are monumentally naive if they think they are. Spike, who was always my favorite character until S6-7, has not regained much of his spark and chemistry. I could live with all these things but what I can't live with is the plot holes and total destruction of character development. Gunn's deus ex machina intelligent is as dull as watching grass grow. He's not Gunn any more and I really could care less about him now which is a shame since I always liked Gunn.
Wes has lost his fire. Fred, well I've always hated her so I just tune her and Lorne out instantly. Lorne at this point is serving almost no purpose. Eve, why is she still around? Lindsey, one of the worst abuses of a character to date. He suddenly wants to control WOlfram and Hart again and is mad because Angel got his prize? Um, what? He wanted out. He had enough. Do we not remember this? Don't get me wrong. I loved seeing him again (but could they have washed his hair?). I liked the idea of the tattoos (that will be in a story or two, that was cool) but to totally reverse his character didn't work for me.
Looking at the three episodes I watched yesterday (don't know the names), we had the one where Eve put that thing on Angel. This one I actually didn't mind much. (It reminded me of my own story Drop Dead Fred, where everyone dreams Fred dies). The dreams were interesting in a surreal way. The whole setting up of Spike was vaguely (and only just) interesting.
The Dana episode. Again, interesting premise totally ruined by the inclusion of Andrew and I'm not saying that because I find it totally loathsome of ME to set up a murdering would-be rapist as a cute little geek that we're supposed to love (but I do find it loathsome, with no apologies to Andrew fans of which I know there are some on my Flist. My journal, my feelings. I hold nothing against anyone who likes him). It was like they forgot Wes did call his father and talk some to him (maybe not much, so we're to assume the only thing anyone took for the conversation was that Angel is now working for evil. Don't you think if they felt that someone would have been dispatched to stop him?). What was the point of Andrew's history lesson that lasts 5 minutes? Waste of air time. And excuse me, the last time we had a rogue Slayer they sent Special Ops to handle it. Why in the world are we to believe they'd send a half-wit with no training. Maybe the Special Ops are gone but we see a dozen Slayers at the end. WHy weren't THEY in charge? And Sorry, don't buy for a minute that Buffy doesn't trust Angel. Not after what we saw in Chosen. It doesn't play and it's cheap of them to try it. It felt like Andrew was off on his own trying to impress the home team. Awful episode. One of the worst I've seen and that's a shame since it had such potential.
Cordy's return - Other than Lindsey's piss poor motivation, this one was good. Had to wonder why Cordy's hair was perfectly coifed the moment she woke up and why we bought her clothes that couldn't button up because seeing that much boob wasn't sexy. It was just cheap but maybe that's just me and those are piddling little things. I liked the episode. I had been spoiled for the end a little (though what I heard wasn't what happened which is just odd. How did some people so misinterpret that). Am I angry they had her pass away in her coma? Yeah, actually I am. That was the easy way out, especially if Joss gets his wish and takes this to the big screen. Then again dead isn't dead in Jossverse.

Comments

[dlgood.livejournal.com]

This season has some parts that are good, and a lot that are frustrating. It's kind of difficult to explain how I feel on that.

For example, with "Damage", the Andrew stuff seems a bit forced and unecessary. I've no doubt that Angel would have sent Dana to Giles if they'd had a phone conversation, and Giles had requested it.

Gunn's deus ex machina intelligent is as dull as watching grass grow. He's not Gunn any more and I really could care less about him now which is a shame since I always liked Gunn.

I didn't like the Deus ex machina either, but it eventually takes an interesting turn when the show goes directly toward it.

Lindsey, OTOH - Ater 20 episodes I still have no idea what his plan or motivation actually is.

[mzzgoddessblue.livejournal.com]

murdering would-be rapist
I must be a bit behind - I know Andrew murdering Jonathan (and how I HATED him for that) but what was the would-be rapist?

Buffy doesn't trust Angel
I didn't get that either. Since when does B not trust Angel???? If it was because of the whole Wolfram & Hart thing, since when did Buffy find out all about W&H???? And why on earth would she suddenly decide not to trust her first love without finding out the reasons??????

clothes that couldn't button up
You know, while I really enjoyed seeing Cordy again, and I thought the ep was ok, I couldn't tear my eyes away from her bloody cleavage!!! I think I missed a bit of the ep cos all I could see were her boobs! What teh heck was going on with the wardrobe dpt there? I know she's recently had a baby, and yep, that'll make your boobs grow, but helloooooooo?? Larger shirts maybe????

Am I angry they had her pass away in her coma?
Oh man. I was SO not prepared for that. I've been keeping relativley spoiler free, so I had no idea that was going to happen. And it sucked. Why on earth couldn't Cordy have decided to go to another city, like TPTB had another job for her, and Angel had to find his own way? or something like that. Why on earth bloody kill her?????? Too many main characters have been dying in Btvs and Angel. I'm not a happy little vegemite over this show.

And as big a Spike fan as I am (although I'm still trying to come to grips with his whole trying to rape Buffy thing) I'm so bored with him in Angel. You know I haven't been an Angel fan for awhile, but I'm losing it this season. I'm only watching cos it's the last season, and with Xena's last season, we never got to see any of the eps AT ALL!! So I want to make sure I see out Angel.

[catlove.livejournal.com]

Am I angry they had her pass away in her coma? Yeah, actually I am. That was the easy way out, especially if Joss gets his wish and takes this to the big screen. Then again dead isn't dead in Jossverse.

that makes me angry too. And I'm also thinking dead isn't dead in the Jossverse, but it's actually something I wouldn't want to see happening again, because too many people have been brought back from death already and after the crappy storyline Cordelia's been through, I guess it'd be better to think that she actually got to rest in peace.

Don't get me wrong, I'd love to see Cordelia again. It was great to see her in You're Welcome and I thought that the show actually NEEDED her.

But I guess Joss should pay for his mistakes too? You can't go around bringing people back once you've done everything you could to destroy them, can you?

I'm. Not. Bitter. *g*

[dlgood.livejournal.com]

I must be a bit behind - I know Andrew murdering Jonathan (and how I HATED him for that) but what was the would-be rapist?
In Season 6, "Dead Things" - he, Warren, and Jonathan use a mind-control device on Katrina - Warren's ex-girlfriend. They plan to have their way with her sequentially. When Katrina breaks free, and declares their plan to be a rape, Warren kills her. Jonathan seems deeply ashamed. Andrew seems pretty blithe.

Since when does B not trust Angel???? If it was because of the whole Wolfram & Hart thing, since when did Buffy find out all about W&H????
It's odd because she trusted him enough in "Chosen" to take the amulet he told her came from the Evil Law Firm. Given that doing so bailed them out in the battle against the FE, it makes no sense for her to not give him at least the benefit of the doubt. Perhaps, she's run into conflict with the Rome office of W&H. Whatever the static, presuming we believe Andrew (and I don't know that I do) it all happened off screen.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

I agree. They did need her in that episode and I'm with you, I hope they don't bring her back should this get life on the big screen. It happens far too often.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

murdering would-be rapist
I must be a bit behind - I know Andrew murdering Jonathan (and how I HATED him for that) but what was the would-be rapist?

In S6 Warren, JOnathan and Andrew go hunting for a woman to make a sex slave via magic (they dont' know Warren is going to get his ex Katrina) Andrew is actively hunting women to turn into a sex slave and then bitchs when he doesn't get to screw Katrina first. THAT'S why I hate him and I am furious with ME for trying to make him into a hero afterwards. It's basically GHB date rape with magic instead of the drug. It was horrible. And then they murdered her, and tried to blame Buffy.

Buffy doesn't trust Angel
I didn't get that either. Since when does B not trust Angel???? If it was because of the whole Wolfram & Hart thing,

Yeah it bothered me. It bothered me more because it was just thrown out there with no reason and it went no where. Bad writing at its worst



You know, while I really enjoyed seeing Cordy again, and I thought the ep was ok, I couldn't tear my eyes away from her bloody cleavage!!!

Tell me about it. I'm a straight woman and all I could look at was her breasts. I could just imagine the reactions of other segments of the populace more inclined to noticing those things

Am I angry they had her pass away in her coma?

Too many main characters have been dying in Btvs and Angel. I'm not a happy little vegemite over this show.

Yep that's what's bugging me about it.


And as big a Spike fan as I am (although I'm still trying to come to grips with his whole trying to rape Buffy thing) I'm so bored with him in Angel.

Yep I think a lot of people are bored with Spike. I kow the critics are.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

For example, with "Damage", the Andrew stuff seems a bit forced and unecessary. I've no doubt that Angel would have sent Dana to Giles if they'd had a phone conversation, and Giles had requested it.

Thank you. My feelings exactly.

I didn't like the Deus ex machina either, but it eventually takes an interesting turn when the show goes directly toward it.

Well that gives me something to look forward to.

Lindsey, OTOH - Ater 20 episodes I still have no idea what his plan or motivation actually is.

He says it when he was in bed with Eve (shudder). He's mad that W&H is giving that Eurotrash Vampire (Is Ireland considered Eurotrash? I tend to think of that as mainland Europe and the UK as something separate) everything Lindsey worked for. I'm thinking um what happened to the man who gave W&H the finger with his newly attached hand? ANd since when is Lindsey a Texan? That's Fred. Lindsey's from Oklahoma.

[mzzgoddessblue.livejournal.com]

Oh of course!!! I remember that. For me, that was when Warren went from being kinda funny, to an out and out evil lowlife. I hated the fact Jonathan was involved in that - he had always been one of my faves.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

Andrew seems pretty blithe.

Yep. And having been both victim and counselor in my life, I can't forgive this.


Whatever the static, presuming we believe Andrew (and I don't know that I do) it all happened off screen.

You know that was my and SJ's reaction. It felt much more like Andrew was trying to be the 'big man' and was shooting off his mouth. It sounds more like he was listening to Xander than to Buffy (I was having a little trouble with the idea of Willow not doing her job and hanging in Rio for that matter too and I forgot to mention that did anyone else find it odd that the new, tough Wesley didn't punch Andrew in the face for all the left handed insults he was handing out)

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

Agreed. As DL said, Jonathan at least looked horrified and even before Katrina started crying rape he thought it was wrong. Andrew whined about having to wait his turn. You can't tell me that he didn't know it was WRONG to have sex with a woman who can't say no.

It truly bothers me because on campuses and in bars across America, gang rapes with GHB are becoming more and more common. You often hear about groups of guys (sports teams, frats etc) doping up a girl and the courts are saying even if you didn't actually rape them you are guilty of the crime (acting in concert). I saw that episode as a direct parallel.

[aaronlisa.livejournal.com]

Two things...
1) never thought about Andrew in that way until you brought it up. It is quite the turnaround for Buffy to completely trust him like this. I am mean she barely trusted him in Chosen so why would she trust him now? Because he felt remorse for killing Jonathon?
2) As much as I have been enjoying this season, some of the flaws you point out are very very true. Exceptiononally true. I hadn't forgotten Lindsey had wanted out but I just never really thought of it. But I have been disgusted with the whole lack of development with Lorne & Gunn. Personally I think we see a bit more of development of Wesley.

oh yeah... the reason why I think Cordy's hair was perfectly coifed in You're Welcome is remember when she yanks the curtain around the other bed and says something like "oh she's a goner." My friend suggested that perhaps that was her body. Remember Angel's told she never did really wake up by the hospital staff.

Thanks for making me look at this season in a whole new light.

[a2zmom.livejournal.com]

I loved all three episodes. So, some very quick thoughts/comments.
damage:

I don't want to like Andrew either, but the actor is very funny, I'll give him that. I think it's important to note that Andrew is a highly unreliable narrator and should never be trusted. My guess is that Giles' has stated that he doesn't trust Angel (which I can easily believe) and Andrew just translates that into meaning Buffy. Don't forget, Andrew is in England with Giles while Buffy is in Rome. That fact that Giles sends Andrew who clearly is barely competent, is a deliberate slap in the face toward Angel. As far as the line up of slayers at the end, that bothered me until I realized these girls are likely barely trained. They're competant enough to bring home a slayer but not skilled enough to track one down. Plus the bloodhound nose of a vampir is an asset in this case.

I loved this episode because we finally see Spike making big strides in admitting and understanding what his violence did not only to his victims, but the broken people left behind. Until this point, while he feels badly for what he did, he has never personalized it, has always been of the opinion the past is the past, get over it.

You're welcome:
I don't see any other way it could have been ended. If Cordy was out of her coma she wouldn't have left the AI team. She still feels strongly about the mission, after all. It was such a breath of fresh air seeing the "real" Cordelia, she's been missing for close to teo seasons now. An oddly enough, the kiss between her and Angel was the only time I any saw any sexual heat between the two of them. If they had played the relationship that way from the beginning instead of ruining Cordy's character, I might have gone for it.

The nightmare episode:
There's ben a lot written about the significance of each dream, suffice to say that it was a fascinating look at Angel's fears. And a lot of the dreams were thinly veiled references to Connor. As far as Lindsey, it's unclear to me his complete motivations, but surely one of his problems is his unwavering hatred for Angel. In their earlier encounters, Angel assumes the morally superior position - he may be a vampire but he's working for the side of good as opposed to Lindsey. The thing is, I suspect that Lindsey sees a lot of what Angel says as mere posturing. Taing over W&H confirms Lindsey's suspicions that Angel is nothing but a hyporite and refuels his hatred. You might disagree as whther or not Lindsey secretly lusts after Angel, but I do think I lot of motivations and actions are directly tied to Angel.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

think it's important to note that Andrew is a highly unreliable narrator and should never be trusted.

True but I still can't see Giles bothering with the slap in the face. His past with Angel is long buried and it was ridiculously risky to send Andrew (who I don't find the least bit funny. I find Xander funny but not Andrew.)

I loved this episode because we finally see Spike making big strides in admitting and understanding what his violence did not only to his victims, but the broken people left behind. Until this point, while he feels badly for what he did, he has never personalized it, has always been of the opinion the past is the past, get over it.

Yes I will agree to this. That's what upset me so much about throwing in Andrew. The Dana episode had so much potential to explore both Angel and Spike and their past and instead we waste time with an idiot telling us Slayer history.

You're welcome:
I don't see any other way it could have been ended. If Cordy was out of her coma she wouldn't have left the AI team. She still feels strongly about the mission, after all. It was such a breath of fresh air seeing the "real" Cordelia, she's been missing for close to teo seasons now.

Oh I do agree with that. I'm still angry she's dead but you're probably right. I just don't see her leaving any other way.

An oddly enough, the kiss between her and Angel was the only time I any saw any sexual heat between the two of them. If they had played the relationship that way from the beginning instead of ruining Cordy's character, I might have gone for it.

I'll agree with you on this too. That was the only time I ever saw any chemistry at all between them. Usually they felt horribly forced.

The nightmare episode:
There's ben a lot written about the significance of each dream, suffice to say that it was a fascinating look at Angel's fears. And a lot of the dreams were thinly veiled references to Connor.

I haven't read anything on it but I did really like what they did with the dream imagry.

You might disagree as whther or not Lindsey secretly lusts after Angel, but I do think I lot of motivations and actions are directly tied to Angel.

Yeah definitely disagree with the former but not the latter. ANgel has defined Lindsey's life for beter or worse

[dlgood.livejournal.com]

He's mad that W&H is giving that Eurotrash Vampire ... everything Lindsey worked for.

Which doesn't seem to make any sense given how Lindsey left town. There could be any number of cases where Lindsey wanted to take Angel down, but ME did a pretty half-assed job.

Also, I could see calling a 19th Century Angelus "Eurotrash" - but not this Angel. He's been rather Americanized - Spike is far more "eurotrash" than Angel anyway...

And since when is Lindsey a Texan?

Apparently, "Tiny Texan" was DB's nickname for Christian Kane. It's a lame in-joke among the writers.

[dlgood.livejournal.com]

I was having a little trouble with the idea of Willow not doing her job and hanging in Rio

Given the cultural (and one suspects mystical) melting pots that are Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires, it's not out of the question that she could be in South America for professional reasons as well as personal ones...

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

Given the cultural (and one suspects mystical) melting pots that are Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires, it's not out of the question that she could be in South America for professional reasons as well as personal ones...

True but Andrew made a point of saying she was SUPPOSED to be somewhere else in S.A. but kept running off to Rio, insinuating that she and Kennedy were busy hanging out and not working.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

Which doesn't seem to make any sense given how Lindsey left town. There could be any number of cases where Lindsey wanted to take Angel down, but ME did a pretty half-assed job.


AGREED.

Also, I could see calling a 19th Century Angelus "Eurotrash" - but not this Angel. He's been rather Americanized - Spike is far more "eurotrash" than Angel anyway...

Again no arguements from me.


Apparently, "Tiny Texan" was DB's nickname for Christian Kane. It's a lame in-joke among the writers.


I see. Heh. Still Kane's an Okie but Tiny Texan does have more of a ring.

[a2zmom.livejournal.com]

I'm not so sure about the Giles/Angel history being dead and buried. While I don't think Giles would stake Angel if he walked by him, I don't think Giles' trusts him all that much given the current evidence. Angel is in charge of evil, inc. after all. As far as Andrew giving the slayer history - it had to be done. Not everyone watches Buffy.

I also liked the ep for pointing out some fundamental differences in the way Spike and Angel work. Angel is very deliberate here, getting the facts, making sure he fully understands the situation. Spike runs off half-cocked and completely misinterprets everything. (Of course, if someone Angel cares about is in danger, then all bets are off. A mollusk has more brains at those times.)

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

I'm not so sure about the Giles/Angel history being dead and buried. While I don't think Giles would stake Angel if he walked by him, I don't think Giles' trusts him all that much given the current evidence. Angel is in charge of evil, inc. after all. As far as Andrew giving the slayer history - it had to be done. Not everyone watches Buffy.

I seriously doubt there's that many people watching Angel who didn't know Slayer history. It was a waste of time. And I still don't buy Giles sending Andrew. Yeah the Slayers are new but so is Andrew. They're being trained together. You don't send a normal human to do this job and trying to convince us otherwise is just insulting and pretty much flies in the face of everything ME has offered before. It was just bad. They could have just as easily had it focusing on SPike/Angel and brought the Slayers in at the end and who even called Giles in the first place. I'm not even sure Buffy knew W&H IS evil incorporated and even if she knew it didn't stop her from using that amulet. No, it just doesn't stand up to any kind of scrutiny at least not for me.

I also liked the ep for pointing out some fundamental differences in the way Spike and Angel work.

Now this I liked a lot. I think the compare and contrast of Angel and Spike was fantastic. That shoudl have been the focus of this story. It would have been so much stronger that way.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

) never thought about Andrew in that way until you brought it up.

A LOT of people haven't. I have a ton of friends who love Andrew (like I said, my hatred of him is my opinion. I'd never put anyone down for liking him) BUt I've always seen him that way. Maybe it's my past that made me so sensitive. I have a lot of friends from my counseling days who love Buffy and that episode really ruined the show for them NOT because it dealt with rape but because it was ignored later on because the character was funny and cute (which frankly I never saw)

It is quite the turnaround for Buffy to completely trust him like this. I am mean she barely trusted him in Chosen so why would she trust him now? Because he felt remorse for killing Jonathon?

I thought so too but as A2Z Mom (I think) pointed out in this thread, it wasn't BUffy who sent Andrew. We're to believe it's Giles. Frankly I think Andrew was the only one at home and went on his own because I just can't see anyone trusting him with something this important.


2) As much as I have been enjoying this season, some of the flaws you point out are very very true. Exceptiononally true. I hadn't forgotten Lindsey had wanted out but I just never really thought of it. But I have been disgusted with the whole lack of development with Lorne & Gunn. Personally I think we see a bit more of development of Wesley.

I'm with you here. I haven't seen Wes developing much but let's face it I'm only half way thru the season. He did have some nice development with his Dad (or should I say Robot)


oh yeah... the reason why I think Cordy's hair was perfectly coifed in You're Welcome is remember when she yanks the curtain around the other bed and says something like "oh she's a goner." My friend suggested that perhaps that was her body. Remember Angel's told she never did really wake up by the hospital staff.

Could be. I figured it was they were doing her hair and nails. Lilah actually mentioned that in Home which set me off. We have a woman in a coma for days and we send her for a manicure? How about a feeding tube and a cathether?


Thanks for making me look at this season in a whole new light.

You're welcome. It's always nice to see other sides of an issue even if you don't always agree.

[aaronlisa.livejournal.com]

first of all which episode are you refering to when you say that episode with Andrew? I missed a lot of season seven. OR are you referring to Damage itself?

Also I can't even imagine Giles sending a bumbling idoit like Andrew to deal with the nature of Dana. Perhaps you're right he was the only one home.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

Oh gos, what's the name of the rape episode. It's in S6 which I barely watched. It's the one where the trio go out and kidnap Warren's ex to make a sex slave out of her and ANdrew's whining he can't be the first to have sex with her

I think a lot of us, at least on this thread, can't imagine that Giles sent Andrew. Maybe i could believe it if a dozen Slayers hadn't shown up at the end, since there aren't many Watchers left but you have 12 half trained Slayers? ANy one of them would have been a better choice than Andrew.

[aaronlisa.livejournal.com]

Oh ok I know the episode you're speaking of... I didn't watch it either. My mom strangely enough loves Angel but she doesn't really like Buffy.

Well we all know the real reason why Andrew was in that episode... Because he was the only actor who would show up. Which is kinda sad. I would rather have seen W&H send Dana to the Council.

[aaronlisa.livejournal.com]

I didn't get that either. Since when does B not trust Angel???? If it was because of the whole Wolfram & Hart thing, since when did Buffy find out all about W&H???? And why on earth would she suddenly decide not to trust her first love without finding out the reasons??????


-- I said the exact same thing about the whole Buffy & W&H thing too. When did Buffy find out all about them and if it wasn't for Angel joining W&H would she have been able to close the Hellmouth?

[aaronlisa.livejournal.com]

The one and only reason why I would want Cordy to be brought back to life for a movie is quite simply the show might be titled Angel, but she has been the glue of the show since day one.
There have been times when Angel the character has made me sick to my stomach and I just wanted to stop watching the show. I didn't because of Cordy.
if Angel is all about redemption what I would like to know why is that every character but the title character seems to find redemption?

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

You make some good points there. I think Cordy was the glue (which is why I disliked S3. I felt they changed her character far too much). I would like to see her back but it had better be way different than any other way they've brought people back.

As for why doesn't Angel find redemption...don't know. Guess it would end the show but then again since it is ending...

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

I said the exact same thing about the whole Buffy & W&H thing too. When did Buffy find out all about them and if it wasn't for Angel joining W&H would she have been able to close the Hellmouth?

Exactly. Now Faith could have told Buffy all about it since W&H DID hire her to kill Angel. But without Angel's amulet she would have lost that final battle. I honestly think that Andrew was spouting off something XANDER said. We all know how much Xander dislikes Angel. That's the only thing that makes sense to me.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

Oddly enough as much as my parents like SF/Horror they never got into Buffy/Angel at all. Mom does think Angel is cute though.

I'm afraid you might be right. Honestly I think if Giles had asked Angel to send Dana to the Council he would have. Wes would have. They have no real reason to keep her.

[aaronlisa.livejournal.com]

Still Xander doesn't know about W&H and as much as he hates Angel, I think Xander isn't that stupid. I think Andrew was just trying to be something he is never going to be.

[aaronlisa.livejournal.com]

Precisely but Joss and ME wanted to have a BTVS crossover so they screwed up what was a good episode overall because of the character development with Spike.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

Good point and I agree

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

That was my thoughts. They had so much good stuff that Andrew was not only superfluous he was a detriment to the overall story