Angel (TV Series) I Fall to Pieces (1999) User Reviews

A refreshing break from the story-arc

[dungbug58 · 8/10 · 18 September 2009]

First off, I should say that I love Angel as a series; the balance of comedy, drama, and fantasy, and Whedon's Buffyverse as a whole. However, like The X-Files (my other current early-morning viewing favorite), there were times when I found the non-mythology-related episodes such as this one more interesting.

This episode came like a sucker-punch-- completely unexpected, and-- yes, I'll admit-- it creeped me out. I don't think I've ever had to shut my eyes while watching a TV show, but I did when the doctor's hands were crawling onto Melissa's bed. This episode took the already-unsettling subject of stalking, and took it one step further.

My one grumble was the ending. It seemed a little rushed, as if the script was originally intended for a longer episode, and cut down. I've seen longer, more intense showdowns with lesser villains (at least in my opinion). Also, the decapitation at the end seemed a bit implausible, even by Buffyverse standards! I didn't even see what weapon Angel used...

The One With The Creepy Doctor...

[taylorkingston · 8/10 · 27 September 2014]

I really like this episode of Angel, but it kind of freaks me out as well. In this episode, a woman is being stalked by her former doctor. He seems to know everything about her, including where she is at all times. But how is he doing this? Well, turns out that he can detach and reattach his limbs, eyes, everything. It's really creepy. At one point, his eyes are floating about the poor girls bed, whilst she's asleep. And another time, he cuts off his hand, and makes it start touching and groping her, once again, whilst she's asleep. He is just so creepy. This episode is very imaginative.

Overall, I give this episode an 8 out of 10.

You're a lot smarter than you look. Of course, you look like a retard

[SleepTight666 · 7/10 · 3 February 2007]

You're a lot smarter than you look. Of course, you look like a retard - The average fan of the show consider this to be one of the weakest episodes of the series, and I can see why, but still, it has to be one of my most re-watched episodes, I wouldn't be surprised if i've seen it more than 20 times. The thing that fans usually complain about is the floating eyeball, sure, it's impossible but this whole show is fiction so why would a floating eyeball be much more impossible than tall dark and handsome brooding vampire who helps the helpless for example? I really dig the idea of a doctor who can reattach his limbs, quite creepy, especially when his hands went under 'Melissa's covers - At least it was just his hands down there. I wish I hadn't even thought that. What mostly worked for me was the great dialog, the countless of memorable lines, and the constantly great chemistry between 'Angel', 'Cordelia' and 'Doyle'. I also love the teaser where 'Doyle' admits that he finds 'Angel' at least a little attractive. The episode also has a more serious storyline, stalking and how much it can affect the victim, I bet that stalked women or men feel exactly like 'Melissa' did, like they are constantly watched and like they can't control their lives anymore. I also embraced 'Kate's second appearance (Elisabeth Rohm is gorgeous). I find the episode to be an excellent horror episode, I really enjoy it both horror-wise and comedy-wise. It's truly under-appreciated. CORDELIA: What is stalking nowadays, like the third most popular sport among men? ANGEL: Fourth, after luge.(9.0 out of 10)

Creepy Crawly Doc

[ossie85 · 7/10 · 4 January 2023]

Doyle has a vision of a girl named Melissa and Angel must help her. Melissa is being stalked by a former doctor, and this doctor has the ability to disassemble himself and terrorise other people.

Why It's So Good - A person in a trusted position that attacks the vulnerable is creepy enough, but detachable body parts really up the 'ick' factor. Underrated episode in my opinion, and Andy Umberger does some great work.

Watch Out For - Doyle complimenting Angel's handsomeness.

Quote - "Don't worry. When Angel's finished with this case, I guarantee you'll be wanting to jump off a bridge again." - Doyle.

Classic ep of season 1

[Joxerlives · 8/10 · 28 December 2011]

The Good; Great horror concept, you could almost imagine a feature film based upon it, some excellent emotional stuff too and as always Cordy brings the funny. My favourite scene is where Meltzer throws his teeth at Angel and then recoils in pain as Angel smashes them against the wall.

The Bad; The severed limbs scenes don't really convince, when you see Thing in The Adams Family it's much better

Best line: Cordy; "Here's this poor girl, she hooks up with a doctor. That's supposed to be a good thing!"

Jeez, how did they get away with that? Virtually all of the Beast with Five Fingers stuff

Apocalypses: 4

Angel Clichés

Damsel in distress; yep, making 2. However, Doyle says there's 4 in total and 3 very much alive. Presumably the girl from City of Angels is the dead one and the girl from In the Dark is another making 2 more we don't see.

In disguise; 1. Angel poses as a successful businessman but no disguise

DB get's his shirt off; not this ep so still 1

Fang Gang in bondage: no Cordy: 5 Angel: 4 Wes: 1

Fang gang knocked out: all of them Cordy: 7 Angel: 7 Wes: 1 Doyle; 1

Kills: Cordy: none this ep. 3 vamps, ½ a demon from her time in Sunnydale Angel: 1 human for Angel. So that gives Angel 8 vamps, 2 demons, 2 humans.

Fang Gang go evil: Cordy: 1 Angel: 1

Alternate Fang Gang: Cordy: 1 Angel: 3

Characters killed: the poor cop Kate sends to guard the building 10

Total number of Angel Investigations: 3, Angel, Doyle and Cordy

Angel Investigations shot: Angel with the tranquiliser gun (as with Dopplegangland in Buffy why not use that to knock vamps out then cut their heads off?) Angel: 5,

Notches on Fang Gang bedpost: Cordy: 1? Angel: 1;Buffy

Kinky dinky: What the heck do Meltzer's hands do under the sheets?

Captain Subtext; Doyle admits that Angel holds a certain attraction to him

Know the face, different character; 1 Andy Umberger who plays Dr Meltzer is a Whedon hattrick who is also D'Hoffryn on Buffy and plays the Captain of the Dortmunder in Firefly.

Parking garages; seemingly a staple of the series, one here and in COA 2

Questions and observations; This is the 4th ep of the series and we're told that Cordy has been working for him for a month so this suggests the series is in real time, one ep per week. Angel drinks coffee now, presumably to keep him up for his cases as he told Joyce he didn't drink it in The Prom. Isn't it a bit unpatriotic for Doyle to drink Scotch, shouldn't he drink whiskey with an e? Cordy gives the Angel Investigations motto 'We help the hopeless'. Oddly here Cordy 'Scullys' Angel, suggesting a non-supernatural solution. He's actually open to the idea but points out correctly that Doyle has a vision. Angel just appears to be able to walk into Kate's police station no problem at all. Meltzer actually shows a lot of compassion for Angel's story of his wife. I don't know if it's deliberate but Scrubs has a character called Dr Zeltzer who's also a major weirdo and even looks quite like Dr Meltzer. It's noticeable that at this stage of Angel the supernatural underworld is just that, it's not out in the open as it will be later, we're still dealing with the everyday clashing with the incredible.

Marks out of 10; 8, one of the classic eps of season 1

One of the weakest episodes of the show

[katierose295 · 4/10 · 15 September 2006]

This isn't my favorite "Angel" episode. It kind of heavy handed and really it doesn't contribute a lot to the over all story arc or the development of the characters. If you're watching the season on DVD, you could probably skip "I Fall to Pieces" and not miss much.

Stalking is the theme of this episode. Only, it's done without the show's usual subtly. Instead, it's literally about a crazy stalker. Doyle gets a vision that sends Angel off to help a woman named Melissa. She's being stalked by her crazy ex-boyfriend. (They only had one date, actually.) He's a doctor and he somehow knows every move Melissa makes. She's becoming more and more panicked and she agrees to hire Angel Inc. to help her. Angel begins to suspect that there's something supernatural going on with the doctor.

Angel asks Kate to have a police officer watch Melissa's apartment. Then he goes to the doctor's office for a little re-con. While there, Angel steals a book about "mind over matter" new age philosophy. Getting in touch with the author, he discovers that the doctor has developed a way to control all the nerve ending in his body. Basically, the doctor can disconnect all his parts then reconnect them again. Back at Melissa's apartment, the doctor's arms have strangled a police officer. His eyes float around spying at her. And now, with Angel hot on his tail, he goes after Angel. Tricking Angel into coming to his office, he the drugs Angel and goes after Melissa. Melissa is hiding at Angel's house with Cordy and Doyle. All his creepy little parts slide into Angel's house and attack Melissa. Angel gets there just in time to knock his head off once and for all.

There are some good parts to this episode. I like that the show drew some comparisons between the creepy doctor and Angelus. Angelus always stalked his victims. For instance, Drusilla, who he drove insane back in the 1860s, and Buffy, who he taunted through out the second season of BTVS. Angels' memories and guilt play a big part in his disgust for stalking. Also, I like that this episode dealt with the subject of money. Angel is uncomfortable asking for payment. He wants to be heroic and mysterious, and like most vampires, he doesn't worry a lot about bills. It's up to Cordy and Doyle to remind him of the financial realities of life (or unlife.) Plus, they make a good point. By saving someone Angel is putting them in a position of "victim." They need someone else to solve their problems. By paying for Angel's help, though, they become proactive. They have to power to reclaim control of their lives. It's a nice message.

On the down side, this episode can sometimes seem like a public service announcement. It's constantly stopping the story so it can give, "Stalking is bad" speeches. It gets old. Also, the doctor's body parts popping off is kind of cheese-y.

My favorite part of the episode: Melissa getting her co-worker a birthday cake. The bakery's spelled the other woman's name wrong, so Melissa tries to rearrange the icing without much success. It's just a cute little moment.

Not a fan.

[Whitneywest10 · 1/10 · 7 November 2020]

I've only recently started watching Buffy and Angel in order for the first time. I am watching both season 4 of Buffy and season one of Angel concurrently and alternating each episode. I'm loving Buffy and think I'll love Angel too. That being said, this was a garbage episode for me. I pretty much hated every minute of it. I'm loving the main storyline but the episode in this case was so cheesy and cringe inducing. Fingers are crossed that the smaller storylines get better over time.

Cordelia: What is stalking nowadays, like, the third most popular sport among men? Angel: Fourth, after luge.

[bombersflyup · 5/10 · 13 December 2019]

I Fall to Pieces is about a woman being stalked by a psychopathic surgeon, capable of detaching his own body parts.

Not the most exciting episode, possibly the weakest of the entire series. There isn't a lot going on and it works out a bit too well. The guest actor's character's and their dialogue well below the show's standards. Melissa didn't give one iota of consideration towards the welfare of the cop, she just ran and then said to Angel that he's already dead. What gratitude's that, it's just two hands, could have saved his life. They could have made the payment optional, since he's already doing it for free.