Angel
Release
original air-date: 03-12-03
Last week's episode set the
bar high, and this week's offering not surprisingly misses
that mark.
The underlying problem is that
it's really half an episode stretch into an hour. For example,
does the audience need or want to see essentially the same
Cordelia-Connor scene replayed multiple times? Probably not,
especially when those scenes are relatively flat and chemistry
free.
Charisma Carpenter has done an
overall good job with the Cordelia character. But now the
audience can see that playing a seductive mastermind is not
her forte. (She's no threat to Teri Hatcher in Tomorrow
Never Dies for the "sexiest acting while pregnant")
The episode
opens with Wes bringing the wounded Faith back to his apartment
for recovery. There are several dull dripping blood scenes
(more of that episode stretching at work) followed by a high
impact climax of Faith slaying the shower time (at the least
Wes' water pressure is still 5x5).
This and
subsequent scenes with Wes and Faith work very well. Alexis
Denisof, who is steadily solid, is especially strong here.
Meanwhile,
Angelus celebrates his defeat of The Beast at a demon bar.
At least, until the voice of The Beast's Master (Cordelia-but-not-Cordelia,
using the mystic equivalent of a phone voice changer) shows
up in his head. Here David Boreanaz does a particularly good
job showing Angelus's mix of bravado, curiosity, annoyance,
and even a tinge of worry.
Back at
hotel HQ, Connor and the expectant Cordy hole up in her room
while the rest of the Fang Gang loads up with tranquilizer
pistols. (Again, why haven't vamp fighters used these in the
past?)
The complete
lack of awkwardness between Gunn and Fred since their break-up
seems unbelievable. Perhaps the audience is just supposed
to assume that they are putting aside their emotions due to
the crisis at hand. But then later on the episode, there is
an abrupt reversal when Fred and Gunn suddenly try to address
their feelings. It's all a bit choppy.
The climax
of the episode is a satisfying fight between Faith and Angelus.
Leading up to that there are a few fun moments, e.g., scholarly
Angelus in glasses is priceless, but overall, the plot feels
a bit dragged out.
Even Angelus
wants The Master's voice "to get on with it" (was
anyone else in the "over-30 and weaned on Bugs Bunny"
set hoping The Master would say "Kind of outsmarted you,
eh little chum?") Maybe the writers purposely slowed
the pace of the rest of the episode to make that scene seem
more exciting.
Excitement
should be a plenty next week when Willow comes to visit. No
doubt there will be a showdown between her and Cordelia-but-not-Cordelia.
And since
the audience probably won't get to see Willow making out with
Cordelia or Faith, then perhaps a good cat fight will do just
fine.
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