Customer Reviews

Angel: The Casefiles, Volume 1

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The equivalent of the Watcher's Guides has come out for Angel and how does it stack up? Casefiles is much more well organized than the Watcher's Guides, while at the same time it is more streamlined.

Unlike the Watcher's Guides, the Casefiles is basically only 2 sections: a character guide and bio, and an episode guide. There are actor bios in the back, but they are small and seem somewhat unimportant.

While it, like the Watcher's Guides, includes interviews with the cast and crew, it includes the relevant portions of each interview with the episode it relates to. This means that the interviews no longer go quite in depth about the general process of making an Angel episode, and instead focus on the difficulty in making each episode.

The episode guide, however, goes in far greater depth than in the Watcher's Guide, often devoting 2 to 3 pages to each episode description. Like the Watcher's Guide, it also includes a few interesting facts about each episode.

The character bios, also like the Watcher's Guide, are simply recaps of what that character has been through. While nice to read, if you've seen the episodes, they don't provide any new information.

If you're interested in a lot of behind the scene information about the show, this probably isn't your book. It does have some, but by and large it is simply an expanded and comprehensive episode guide of the first two seasons. This doesn't mean that it isn't worthwhile. Any Angel fan who wishes to relive memories of the uneven first season and interesting second season will relish this guide.

Despite top notch acting and a fair share of interesting plots and story arcs 'Angel' is often treated as BTVS's poor cousin. Of course, the network shift hasn't helped either. Every year I'm surprised and delighted that the show is continued, and I keep hoping that Angel too will eventually come out on DVD. In the meantime, the team of Nancy Holder, Jeff Mariotte, and Maryelizabeth Hart have managed to produce the ultimate Angel memory aid, aptly called 'The Casefiles.'

Ostensibly, the book is comprised of the episode synopses for the first two seasons. But it offers far more than just the story line. Action and resolution are there, of course, but there are also short descriptions of new characters, some info in how each episode relates to others in BTVS and Angel, and expense repost, lists of weapons used, quotes, vampire rules, location details, scenes that were cut, interviewlets and.... You get the idea, enough detailed info to help you become the closest thing to an Angel trivia maven. Did I mention a character guide and actor profiles and scads of pictures?

Yes, it is possible to overdose on Angel info, but this book is a mine of data with many surprises. For one inch of shelf space, I can check on the episodes I missed and look things up when I'm indulging my compulsion to read and review Angel books. If you are a fan, this book is almost everything you ever wanted to know about the show. The writing team has done a super job of creating and enjoyable, well-organized and designed reference book about Los Angeles' oddest detective team. I only my college textbooks were half this much fun.

After countless books on it's sister show "Buffy The Vampire Slayer", including two 'Watcher's Guides' by the author of this very book, the show 'Angel' finally gets it's own due. Anyone who calls themselves a fan will snatch this book up and devour every page. It's well written and nicely designed. Like the Buffy guide books, this one has two sections of colored pictures that have some real good pictures. Although this book doesn't delve into the day to day making of an episode like Buffy's last guide book, it's still good. Every episode for the first two seasons of the show are here in great detail. The sections seem even longer than they were in "The Watcher's Guide". Each section also comes with little categories like quotes and all that stuff that you have come to expect. The book is designed like, hence the title, a casefile. Every episode summary comes with a section telling you who the clients were in a particular episode and what became of them. It tells you if the Angel team received outside help from anyone. It also gives you the expenses that were used in every episode. The weapons they used, and the music heard in the episode. At the end of every summary, it tells you if the case was closed or not. The beginning of the books goes into great detail for every character on the show or has been on the show at one time or another. The end of the book deals with the bios of the actual actors themselves. If you are a fan, you probably pretty much already know their bios and history and all that. The book and it's designs inside are well done. More than the Buffy guides. The show has proven itself to be it's own being from "Buffy". It is a little darker and seedier than Buffy. Writer/Director/Producer/Creator Joss Whedon did the impossible when he spun off an incredibly successful show from another show. That doesn't happen too often. While Buffy continued to beat this show in it's first 2 seasons, this show has definitley found it's footing and it's strength this past year and was better than the Buffster. Author Nancy Holder, along with Jeff Marionette and Maryelizabeth Hart, are great writers who really pack everything in here. What more could a fan ask for?. Not much. Not much at all. I still don't think that this guide is as close to being as great as the two previous Buffy guides, especially the second one, but it does a good job anyways. This is essential for fans.

First off, "Angel: The Casefiles, Volume 1" is a bit different from the two volumes of "The Watcher's Guide" that serve as the Official Companion volumes to "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." Over 90% of the book is structured around the specific episodes from the first two seasons of "Angel." There is an introductory Character Guide that tries to provide a bit of background on the main characters as well as the recurring villains and supporting characters (Fred is listen high up, which clearly indicates they knew she was going to be joining the cast for Season 3). In the back of the book you will find actor profiles that includes even more familiar faces.

Each episode includes a detailed synopsis ("Action Taken"), which includes choice dialogue and quotes (e.g., the "How can I thank you, you mysterious black-clad hunk of a night thing?" commentary provided by Spike in the prologue of "In the Dark"), with a specific section working out the "Resolution." Then you will find "Dossiers" on things like Clients, Civilian Support, Informants, and Suspects; "Continuity" on significant ways in which this particular episode fits into the overall series; "Quote of the Week"; "The Devil Is In the Details," which covers things like Expenses, Weaponry, and The Plan appearing in the episode; "Demons, Demons, Demons" covers the rules of the Angel mythos, such as Vampire Rules or The Powers That Be, ; "As Scene in L.A." details locations for the show; "The Pen Is Mightier" includes Final Cut, humorous stage directions from the actual scripts, and an explanation for all those Pop Culture references; "Our Heroes" offers interview comments from David Boreanaz and the other cast members; "Six Degrees Of..." relates where actors pop up from; and "Tracks" lets you know who wrote the music in the episode (e.g., Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's "Symphony No. 41" or "Para Lennon y McCartney" by A Friend from Rio). Obviously, not all of these sections will appear for every episode, but you get the idea of what you can expect.

So, there is not as much additional information outside the context of the episodes as you had in "The Watcher's Guide," but there is more behind the scenes insights and commentary from the cast and crew. I would call that an acceptable tradeoff. This is where you go to find out whether Angel invoices Kate Lockley when she wants to be a client (it is unclear, sorry), what the Host's gift is called (Loren is anagogic), and where was the last place Winifred Burke was seen (the Stewart Branch Public Library on May 7, 1996). There is a 32-page section of full-color photographs as well as black & white shots from the show on every spread. The trio responsible for this book--Nancy Holder, Jeff Mariotte, and Maryelizabeth Hart--did Volume 2 of "The Watcher's Guide," so they know the show and where it came from. Of course, Holder and Mariotte have proven this with their various "Buffy" and "Angel" novels, which includes the "Unseen" crossover series. I still think that all of the Official Companion volumes for these two television shows, including "The Monster Book," have set the standard for how these things should be done. Next year we should expect the third "Watcher's Guide" and then the year after that Volume 2 of "Angel: The Casefiles," and then...

This is the must-have reference book for Angel fans, on a par with the Buffy Watcher's Guides. Every episode is covered, with comprehensive plot summaries, quotes, edited scenes, technical details, cast lists. All of the major characters and the actors who play them are profiled, and there are numerous pictures, many in color. A few small mistakes can be found, however. For example, in the section on Lindsey, one of the episodes he appeared in was omitted. However, it can be invaluable for answering all those questions fans, both serious and casual, may ask. I highly recommend this book.

Grrr! Aargh! What initially looks like a glorified ep guide is surprisingly engrossing. The episode summaries are well written, and feature some of the best dialogue from each show.

Best of all are the brief interviews with the cast and crew following each plot summary: they comment on each specific show, so you get much more revealing and interesting tidbits about the making-of than in the standard magazine interview. The actors offer interpretations of their characters' actions, the directors describe challenges in staging various scenes, etc. Best of all are the gabfests with writer-producers like Tim Minear; the only major bummer is that there are no interviews with the man himself, creator/exec producer Joss Whedon.

The format works well; I found the Watchers Guides to be occasionally padded, with info about makeup and special effects galore, but not enough about the writing and directing. The "Casefiles" goes those books one better in that department.

Oh yeah, a few more photos wouldn't have hurt ..., and unfortunately this book only covers the first 2 seasons. ... Let's hope for a Volume II ...sometime in the future.

After devouring the two Watcher's Guides, as well as the Monster Book for Buffy the Vampire Slayer, I was thrilled that Angel would be getting a similar treatment. I was glad to see that it was written mostly by the same folks who did such a top notch job on the Buffy guides. This is a terrific book, with loads of background info and interviews, as well as an in-depth look at each of the episodes of Angel's first two seasons. Some of the quotes are laugh out loud funny.

If you are a fan of Buffy and/or Angel, you can't go wrong with this book.

Enjoy it! I sure did!

I got this book and I'm glad I did. It's hard to find Angel information, but the website 'Two Demons and a Girl' has much more information. Get this if your a hard-core fan otherwise I wouldn't suggest it. Heres a list of the features that might interest you.

- 32 Pages of color photo's
- Episode Guide
. - Action Taken
. - Dossiers
. - Continuity
. - Quote of the Week
. - Expenses
. - Weaponry
. - The Plan
. - (of course)Demons, Demons, Demons
. - As Scene in L.A
. - Final Cut
. - Pop Culture
. - Our Heroes
. - Six Degree's of
. - Tracks
- Character Files
- Notable Quotes
- Actor Guide

Unfortunately it's just not as interesting as the Watchers Guide, but I did learn a few new things from this book. If you have the time, or money go ahead and pick up this book. It passes the time.

For any true Angel fan you will find this book a great addition to your collection. It is a must have. It's filled with lots of information about the charactors and the actors or actresses that portray them. It is really hard to find any good information in regards to the episodes and what they entale. I was please that I puchased this book.

I had a really good time going through this book. Lots of interesting tidbits and behind the scenes info. Loved all the pictures. If you're a fan of the show, you'll more than likely enjoy this.