While Angel has never been as good as Buffy (in my opinion), Season 4 is the best season I’ve seen. For the first time we burned through the discs similar to how we do with Buffy. In previous seasons, Angel seemed to take about 10x longer to get through than Buffy.

In Season 4 things were really happening and the pace was good. The ongoing story was compelling and there were a couple of Buffy character crossovers that made our day since we’ve already finished the entire Buffy series and we’re jonesing for more (that doesn’t exist).

We just started season 5 and so far it’s a big disappointment. I’m going to persevere and watch it all, but it’s looking like the show many have “”http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jump_the_shark">jumped the shark." If that’s the case I’ll end up recommending to others that they just stop at the end of Season 4 and call it good. I hope I’m wrong—stay tuned.

The darkest season so far. I didn’t think it could get much darker than season three, but it did.

Spoilers below

I loved the exploration of “what really is evil?” And how all the characters realized that everything from the start had been choreographed by the power that wanted to end the world with um, world peace. Just great stuff.

But I hope next season is a little lighter…