10 TV Episodes That Should Have Jumped the Shark (But Didn't)

Vampire detective show Angel benefitted greatly from its parent series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, as Joss Whedon was able to transfer many of their existing characters across - including the big man himself (David Boreanaz), ex-Plastic Cordelia Chase (Charisma Carpenter) and failed Watcher Wesley Wyndam-Pryce (Alexis Denisof) - and integrate seamlessly into the same universe and lore, but with a darker tone and bigger city. This familiarity meant the show could take a bolder approach from early on, including switching out main supporting cast, sharing storylines and cameos with Buffy, and throwing the action over to the hellish upside-down world of Pylea in season two.

By the fifth season, Angel was a known element, outliving Buffy and continuing on with a revamped format that balanced the monster-of-the-week with an impending apocalypse. But just because the stakes were bigger didn’t mean it couldn’t have fun.

Episode 14, “Smile Time”, arrived over halfway through the season, at a sensitive time for the show if it was going to stick its landing. And yet, rather than take it easy and pitch a few softballs, Whedon and co. had Angel turned into a puppet by a singing, murdering band of felt-form demons. There are musical numbers, puppet fights and a lighter approach throughout. Rather than tanking what was left of the show, Smile Time became a fan favourite and proved that it was still innovative this far in.

Yep: turns out everyone liked looking at the wee little puppet man.