Sanctuary
Angel Episode Review
In which there is Faith. And Buffy.
What Happened
Angel gives Faith a place to stay, hoping to help her make amends for her actions. Hearing about what has happened, Buffy visits from Sunnydale, appalled that Angel seems to be taking Faith's side. Their reunion is interrupted, however, by men sent by the Watcher's Council, who are determined to take Faith into custody.
The Good
- "First, I need you to give me that knife." The soundtrack gets a little much at the end, but it's an effectively creepy moment.
- Faith: "I gotta be the first slayer in history to be sponsored by a vampire." Now they get to the good stuff.
- Faith turning herself in. Good way to bring her story to end, but leave open the possibility of a return.
The Bad
- The long discussion between Kate and the cop over which is Scully and which is Mulder. There are more interesting things going on elsewhere.
- Head Watcher Thug was on Highlander. He'd be getting automatic cool points, except that he's carrying around the picture of Faith in a black folder. Like Wesley needs to see a picture of her to know why they are buttering him up?
The Cliche
- Faith starts packing after one flashback? Wimp. Then again, she may have known that Angel was about to start yapping about darkness and good and evil and stuff.
- "So you decided to punish her with a severe cuddling?" Buffy showing up just as Angel is giving Faith a comforting hug is the definition of Perfect Timing.
- Faith and Buffy arguing on the rooftop. Nothing like a little gunfire to put those pesky emotional issues into perspective.
Best Lines
Cordelia: "People always get a little funny after they are sadistically tortured. Well, you'd know that."
Wesley: "I didn't do this for Faith. It's because I trust you. Well, more than three gun-toting maniacs at any rate."
What Did I Think?
"For a taciturn shadowy guy, I got a big mouth." A lot of talking going on, but the emotionally charged confrontations lead up to a fantastic ending. It also very clearly separated Angel from Buffy; never again would Angel need a ratings-grab visit from its "parent" show.