If a casual viewer had tuned into the beginning of this episode, he might have thought he had stumbled upon a classic episode of The X-Files, i.e., when the show actually focused on "X-Files" instead of an increasingly ludicrous and irrelevant alien conspiracy.

Even the episode title and dissonant, haunting score are lifted right out of Chris Carter Land. It's 1985, and two parents are dropping off their young daughter, Gwen, at Thorpe's Academy, a special school in remote Wisconsin. It's clear from the focus on gloves and Miss Thorpe's handling that it might not be a good idea to give this Gwen a hug, or even hold her hand. Soon enough she accidentally fries both a toy car and a classmate with a jolt of electricity.

Back in present day the Fang Gang, or what's left of it, pack up Cordelia's apartment, to the dismay of Phantom Dennis. While disconnecting the TV, Gunn receives a shock (how, exactly?) in what has to be some of the most blatant foreshadowing ever.

Angel continues to view Connor's treachery as just a phase, and Fred continues to be annoying (and how did Amy Acker manage to get even skinnier? Resembling the aliens at the end of Close Encounters of the Third Kind, she must be one of the few actresses who makes Callista Flockhart look stout by comparison).

Meanwhile, Wesley has somehow assembled his own rogue demon-fighting outfit that includes loyal, generic henchmen with generic names like "Jones" (if they were bad guys, they might have been "Goon #1" and "Goon #2"). Sure, it's nice to see Wesley enjoying his work again, but many might question that he would not be willing to put the past aside when Angel offers an olive branch. It's actually a good move by the writers. The audience has already seen Wesley as the loyal companion. Now they get to enjoy Wesley as a potential competitor and true rogue plot element.

Despite his unwillingness to forgive and forget, Wesley at least turns over his file on the missing Cordelia. His tips steer Angel in the direction of a rather unpleasant demigoddess named Dinza and the Axis of Pythia, a device that enables the user to look across all dimensions. Hey, no more lost keys or socks! Maybe Ron Popeil can bring the cost down with a "Pocket Pytherman."

Alas (or is that ALIAS? Read on!). With an asking price of $33 million, the Axis is unfortunately being held for auction in a super high security auction house apparently left over from the set of ALIAS. Worse, a businessman name Elliot (a near vocal clone of ALIAS character Jack Bristow) has hired the now grown-up Gwen to steal the Axis. Hey, what show is this anyway?

With her powers Gwen may seem like she actually belongs in a superhero milieu (think X-Men). But she's so much fun and such a needed injection of whimsy that most viewers won't care. It's a foregone conclusion that she will butt heads with Angel's team as they break into the auction house (complete with the requisite and overused aerosol sprays used to reveal laser beam security). Fortunately for viewers, the results don't disappoint.

Overall the episode delivers, despite some later histrionics by Fred (who at least redeems herself somewhat with the best line of the episode: "Please let my cellmate be gentle.") The fight scenes are solid, and Gwen's banter is enjoyable. David Boreanaz also continues to show the good emotional range he showcased in the season premiere, Deep Down.

The only danger is that like The X-Files, Angel spends too much time on the main players instead of the cases being worked by Angel Investigations (no wonder they're going broke!). Some of the most memorable episodes, e.g., the old man swapping bodies with Angel, had little or nothing to do with the continuing story arc.

At least this week there was a much-needed break from Connor. Better, next week's Vegas road trip and return of Lorne promise to be a lot a lot of fun. Until then, "The Tooth Is Out There."

Chris Crotty