Buffy & Angel Chronicles Gift Set [VHS] - Region 0

Episodes "Surprise" and "Innocence" chart the events of Buffy's 17th birthday, when evil vamps Drusilla (Juliet Landau, Martin's daughter) and Spike (drolly wicked James Marsters) plan a nefarious surprise party for the slayer, and Buffy wakes up the morning after to find her beloved Angel transformed into (literally) the boyfriend from hell. "Passion" and "I Only Have Eyes for You" chronicle the evil Angel's ascent to power and the love-hate relationship that grows between him and the emotionally wracked Buffy. And the series' ostensible high point, "Becoming, Part 1" and "Part 2," finds Buffy going up against Angel as she fights to save the world from being sucked into hell. It all sounds like horror-action mayhem (and there are great ass-kicking fight scenes), but Buffy grapples with its themes of good and evil with amazing depth and intelligence, not to mention prentention-deflating humor. And oh man, the love story! Buffy and Angel's tragic relationship is one of the most heartbreaking you'll ever find. Buffy's final dilemma finds her having to save the world at Angel's expense, and Gellar (who deserves a passel of Emmys for her work) is phenomenal at telegraphing Buffy's swirling conflicts between love and duty. Fans of the series, as well as newbies to the world of Buffy, will find this outstanding video set indispensable--it's some of the best TV ever made, period. --Mark Englehart