Epiphany

Angel Episode Review

In which Angel saves his friends.

What Happened

After Angel and Darla's encounter, she expects that he's experienced perfect happiness and lost his soul again. He corrects that assumption and kicks her out, more concerned with the fact that he thinks Kate may be about to commit suicide. He saves Kate, then goes to Lorne for help figuring out what happened. Never mind about that, Lorne warns: Cordelia, Wesley and Gunn will be killed by Skilosh demons if Angel doesn't act fast.

Angel rescues Wesley and finds Gunn, but as they are on their way to the house where the Skilosh demons are holding Cordelia, they run into Lindsey. Pissed about what happened with Darla, Lindsey picks a fight with Angel, who beats him up and steals his truck. Saving Cordelia, Angel offers to take orders from Wesley and the others if he is able to rejoin his friends.

The Good

• So, what did Darla tell Lindsey, anyway? I imagine truth or lies would leave him equally messed up.
• Impregnating Cordi with the demon spawn was effectively scary: "No really, no more 'must rise'."
• Love Angel and Wes' rather strained conversation describing the Skilosh demons; Wes all clinical guy, with Angel trying to make small talk.
• Back when Wes and Gunn had a secret handshake.

The Bad

• I think, Lindsey, that if Wolfram and Hart thought that you were hiding Darla, they'd search the whole apartment, not just the living room. Moving her clothes into the bedroom wouldn't help much.
• How come Cordi's "gestation" is so short when the little girl had it for a day or two?
• Nice sledgehammer, Lindsey. I'm not sure if getting that close to Angel was a good idea, however, and you really should have had your stake on you, not rattling around the truck-bed.

The Cliche

• Sidekicks in danger. Because near-death experiences will always bring people closer. But did Angel really just run the truck into the living room picture window, even though any number of people who were his friends could have been sitting in front of it?

Best Lines

Darla: "Not only was I around for 400 years, but I used to do this professionally. That was perfect... all right, we're going again."

Lorne: "Keep your pants on... well, I see we're a little late with that advice."

Angel: "Doesn't mean anything. In the big picture, nothing we do matters. If there's no great glorious end to this, then that's all there is: what we do today. I fought for so long, for redemption, for reward, finally just to beat the other guy, but I never got it. If there's no bigger meaning, then the smallest act of kindness is the greatest thing in the world."
Kate: "Sounds as if you've had an epiphany."
Angel: "I keep saying that, but nobody believes me."
Kate: "I got cut a huge break and I believe. I think maybe we're not alone in this."
Angel: "Why?"
Kate: "Because I never invited you in."

What Did I Think?

I love how they built conflict between Angel and his friends without taking his soul away.