Angel really did go out on a high with this fantastic 5th season; if you only buy one season of Angel, then make it this one, but you really should buy the whole lot!

The 4th season of Angel was quite a dissappointment - the bizarre storyline of Jasmine never really worked, and the series had started to become somewhat tedious. It's pleasing to note then, that season 5 gets things right back on track; a major reason for this is the introduction of Spike as a main character in Angel. Spike was always one of the best characters in Buffy, and he really adds a new dimension to Angel - the tension and rivalry between him and Angel is priceless. In an unexpected twist, this season begins with the team rellocating operations from their hotel to the HQ of their enemies Wolfram and Hart; this is a strange step, but it works in the end, and it allows us to know more about WR&H, and lets us find out what Angel and co. are really fighting against. Elsewhere Amy Acker finally gets her… more »

Angel really did go out on a high with this fantastic 5th season; if you only buy one season of Angel, then make it this one, but you really should buy the whole lot!

The 4th season of Angel was quite a dissappointment - the bizarre storyline of Jasmine never really worked, and the series had started to become somewhat tedious. It's pleasing to note then, that season 5 gets things right back on track; a major reason for this is the introduction of Spike as a main character in Angel. Spike was always one of the best characters in Buffy, and he really adds a new dimension to Angel - the tension and rivalry between him and Angel is priceless. In an unexpected twist, this season begins with the team rellocating operations from their hotel to the HQ of their enemies Wolfram and Hart; this is a strange step, but it works in the end, and it allows us to know more about WR&H, and lets us find out what Angel and co. are really fighting against. Elsewhere Amy Acker finally gets her chance to shine, as she moves from dorky Fred to leather-bound god queen Illyria. This season also introduces several excellent characters, including the devious Eve, and the superhuman (but well dressed!) mean machine Marcus Hamiton.

If this season has a fault, then it's blatantly the sixth episode - The Cautionary Tale Of Numero Cinco, this is a stand alone episode with no relation to the rest of season, it's boring, stupid and painful to watch. However, practically every other episode in this season is absolutely cracking - stand outs including Cordelia's tragic return in Your Welcome, Lorne's nightmare of a Halloween ball in Life Of The Party, Illyria power becoming out of control in Time Bomb, and of course the blistering finale, Not Fade Away. One episode that deserves a special mention is Smile Time, here Angel investigates a sinister kids TV show, and winds up being turn into a toy puppet! It's bizarre, but it's an absolutely hilarious episode that works brilliantly.

Even with the unfortunate blip of Numero Cinco, this is still a 5 star season - the best season of one of the best series' ever.