He was showrunner for year 3, and it would be easier to list what I did like about that season after about episode 6 or so. Though the most horrible thing was what was done to Cordelia's characterization in the name of making her more "heroic"/a suitable love interest for Angel, and I think that was a Joss & David Greenwalt decision (Greenie was the loudest voice talking about how great the changes were). Overall I thought the season didn't hold together cohesively and descended into melodrama without the layers and, well, somewhat sensical plots that made the similarly melodramatic Buffy season 3 enjoyable.

I think what galls me the most (aside from the rudeness) is that while Joss is brilliant and Marti is fabulous, they are allowed to write downright crap every once in a while. They are human. Not every single episode of Buffy, Angel, or Firefly was up there with "Innocence", [insert really great Angel episode], and "Out of Gas". And nor should they be.

Fans that get pissy and rude for some bullshit reason drive me bugfuck.

Also? WhyTF isn't SMG in any of the extra stuff on the DVD's? And was she NOT at the Buffy wrap party? I must admit, that kind of bugs me. But not enough that I'm gonna go onto a board where she reads and say, "EFF HER."

And that's Strega's favorite season, hee!

Season 3 has a great beginning and a great end, but an unfortunate middle. (Likewise, Season 2 has a great beginning and a great middle, but an unfortunate end. Season 4 is awesome from start to finish.) I don't know much about Tim's contribution to that middle, but I get the impression he was responsible for most of the great stuff in the beginning and end (given the episodes he had a direct hand in), so I'm cool with that.

And, Aims, yeah. Shit happens. It's kind of surprising when you look at writers' IMDb bios and you realize some of the crap they were responsible for at some point.

the most horrible thing was what was done to Cordelia's characterization in the name of making her more "heroic"/a suitable love interest for Angel

a million times this.

And was she NOT at the Buffy wrap party? I must admit, that kind of bugs me.

no, she wasn't. charming, huh?

no, she wasn't. charming, huh?

That's just shitty. Seriously.

a million times this.

sits next to Tiggy

Season 3 has a great beginning and a great end, but an unfortunate middle.

Huh. I thought some of the middle patch was the best of S3, specifically the run from "Loyalty" -- burger loa! -- to "Forgiving," but then, the whole Wes-going-dark arc was the only reason I didn't give up the show in disgust at that point, so I may be biased. The last few episodes of S3 had Gunn selling his soul for a freakin' truck, glowy!Cordy, and of course, the Crapture (tm Matt, I think), which I don't consider a high point of the show.

I need to rewatch Angel. Haven't seen most of it since it originally aired.

I thought some of the middle patch was the best of S3, specifically the run from "Loyalty" -- burger loa! -- to "Forgiving," but then, the whole Wes-going-dark arc was the only reason I didn't give up the show in disgust at that point, so I may be biased.

Oh, I'm counting that. The middle for me is the bridge between the Darla arc and the Wesley arc, which includes all the Baby Connor stuff, mostly. And the stuff I like at the end is the Grown Connor stuff with Holtz.

The middle for me is the bridge between the Darla arc and the Wesley arc, which includes all the Baby Connor stuff, mostly.

Ahh, got you. You meant the part that included "Dad" and "Provider" (ick). Yeap, that section was a veritable festival of the suck.