"Angel" Episode-by-Episode: Season 5, Episode 22: Not Fade Away

Season 5, Episode 13: Why We Fight
Writer: Drew Goddard, Steven S. DeKnight
Director: Terrence O'Hara

Angel's past comes to haunt him. An ally from World War II takes Fred, Gunn, and Wes hostage while seeking Angel. This is the only vampire Angel sired after he got his soul back. Angel relives the past and must determine his future.

I think a lot of people dislike this one because it comes after the excellent "You're Welcome" and doesn't once address Cordelia's death. I agree with that but think that viewed as a standalone it's actually a fairly entertaining episode that holds my interest from start to finish once I get past the fact that Spike should've sensed Angel's soul since he obviously does when they first meet on BtVS. That and I don't really like the idea of the U.S. government knowing all about Angel. I prefer him staying below the radar. It was kinda cool to see the predecessor to the Initiative though. I like all the stuff once Angel gets on the sub, especially him having to make the choice to sire Lawson. And the ending scenes with Lawson genuinely curious if he has a soul and then the little Spike/Angel bonding moment are nice.

Random Episode Fact: During the episode, Angel says, "I'm not getting trapped at the bottom of the sea," and Spike says, "I'm not getting experimented on by his (the American) government." In "The Initiative", the Initiative place a chip in Spike's brain, and in "Tomorrow", Connor traps Angel in a box and sinks him in the Pacific Ocean

My Rating: B+

Lawson: Aren't ya gonna ask me how I got in here?
Angel: No. You'd be amazed at how many people break into this building on a regular basis.

Spike: Bloody Brilliant! Turn the poor sod to save the ship and then make him dash for dry land before Mr. Sunshine scorches him a new one. You're still a dick.
Angel: Yeah, I am.
[looks up at the hatch]
Spike: Bollocks.
[climbs ladder]

Lawson: Go on Chief. Give me a mission.

Spike: Really oughta do somethin' about security. They'll let anybody in here, won't they? Fred gave me the Cliff Notes. So sailor boy finally came back for a yo-ho-ho, did he?
Angel: Finally came back.
Spike: Took him long enough. Know revenge is best served cold and all, but his must've been frozen solid.
Angel: I don't think that's what he was after.
Spike: No? Then what was he looking for?
Angel: A reason.

 

513: Why We Fight

- Good teaser. The submarine stuff is creepy and the hint of Gunn?s lawyer skills slipping is intriguing.
- The Initiative! Awesome!
- Nazis! Awesome!
- Love the reveal of Spike on the submarine-
- ?We?re underwater?? ? hee; the Prince of Lies is hilarious.
- The guy playing Lawson is pretty good. I?m usually not a big fan of an outside character taing screen time away from the people I really care about, but it works here.
- I always love it when my stories go to the Nazis? infatuation with the supernatural. Makes sense that they would be into vampires.
- Angel killing and turning Lawson to save the rest of the crew is a chilling moment.
- Wow, those dusting effects are looking good by now.
- I didn?t remember this one as fondly as I actually experienced it on this rewatch. Great episode.

A -

 

Season 5, Episode 14: Smile Time
Writer: Joss Whedon, Ben Edlund
Director: Ben Edlund

Angel and the gang set out to foil an evil puppet show that is sucking the brain power of all the children who watch. During their fight, Angel is turned into a puppet himself and must rely upon his friends in order to reverse the spell which holds him at one foot tall.

This has got to be one of the strangest episodes in the Buffyverse. Did the writers seriously just sit down one day and say, "I know. Let's turn Angel into a Muppet?" And then there's the fact that the idea actually works and we get 45 min of hilariously awesome television. It's great seeing as how this is really the last time the Fang Gang is happy for the rest of the series. Almost everything about this episode is perfect: The self-esteem song, Angel takes steps to actually connect with someone, the "power walk" that pans down on Angel being all bad ass even though he's only a foot tall, the final battle with the puppets (I LOVE when Angel vamps out in puppet mode. Cracks me up every time.), Gunn gets his implant renewed which will have a big impact next episode, and of course Wes and Fred FINALLY get together. And unlike Fred and Gunn, they actually belong together. My only nitpick is that I wish Spike had more screen time so his one scene doesn't seem forced, but his fight with Angel is so funny that I'll overlook it.

Random Episode Fact: Framkin, the puppeteer of "Smile Time," is played by David Fury, who is a producer on the show.

My Rating: A+

Fred: Oh, my God! Angel, you're... Cute!
Angel: Fred, don't...
Fred: But the little hands! And the hair! [scratches his head]
Angel: Hey! You're fired.

Lorne: Maybe it's some kind of... puppet cancer?
Angel: [teeth gritted] I do not have puppet cancer!

Spike: Hey, big guy. Need another car. 'Fraid this last one ended up in the drink.
[pause]
Angel: Spike...
Spike: Look at you.
Angel: Spike, just turn around and walk away.
Spike: You're a...
Angel: Spike!
Spike: You're a bloody puppet!

Puppet Angel: What's everybody looking at? Well?!
Spike: They're looking at the wee little puppet man.

Polo: After all, it's "Smile Time"!
Angel: No, it's not... it's time to kick your ass all the way back to hell!

 

This might be one of my favorite episodes of the show. Angel puppet is awesome.

 

514: Smile Time

- Puppets! Creepy evil muppet-like puppets! Awesome! Good teaser. Some very creepy subtext here though: the puppet saying ?Get over here and touch it!? and proceeding to moan doesn?t leave much to the imagination?
- Here we got the first return of Nina, the Hot Werewolf Chick. I liked her the first time and like her again here.
- I love how the show is obviously gearing up towards a development in the Fred/Wesley department. And the irony of Wesley pointing out how obvious it is that Nina is sending Angel the love signals as he?s completely oblivious to Fred?s changed feelings for him is both amusing and a little frustrating at the same time.
- I LOVE the Angel puppet! So perfect and so incredibly awesome. The scowl is genius.
- Speaking of perfect: everybody?s reaction to PuppetAngel is great. I especially love Fred pointing out how cute the puppet is with the little hands and the hair.
- That self-esteem song is really catchy.
- Oh look, it?s David Fury?
- Love the various puppets that make up the Smile Time gang.
- The big hero shot of PuppetAngel leading the gang to battle is fantastic.
- And the ending fight stuff is both exciting and hilarious.
- Fred with a gun! I love Amy Acker?
- PuppetAngel just vamped out!! This episode just earned itself an A +! Not just for that, but it is really awesome.
- And Jenny Mollen continues where she left off 11 episodes ago and shows off more skin than anyone else on this show ever have. And I love her for it.
- Fred and Wesley!! Kissing!! Finally!! So happy for them!! So happy for Wesley!!
- Yup, one of my favorite episodes of the season, this one.

A +

 

Season 5, Episode 15: A Whole in the World
Writer: Joss Whedon
Director: Joss Whedon

When an ancient sarcophagus arrives in the laboratory at Wolfram & Hart, Fred opens a small compartment and is infected by an ancient disease that slowly begins to kill her. As Angel and Spike travel across the world in order to help her, Wesley slowly begins to realize that there may be no stopping this disease.

Why Joss?! Why?! I'm split on this one. On the one hand, it's a brilliantly well done episode. On the other hand, Fred dies. I think her death is even worse than Tara's, because even though Tara's death had horrible consequences, Fred actually suffers while Tara goes quickly. I found myself tearing up around the time Fred asked for her stuff bunny and was full on crying by the time we got to "Why can't I stay." Powerfully tragic scene. This is only the second time I've seen this episode (usually I don't watch it 'cause of Fred's death) but I think it's better on the rewatch. The first time I saw it, I thought the Caveman/Astronaut thing was just really funny, but now I see how it parallel's Fred--the scientific evolved one--struggling against Illyra--the primal force. And suddenly Fred's line about the cavemen always winning makes sense. I thought the Angel/Spike interaction was top notch in this episode. I loved it all--the ridiculous arguing, the team up to behead the minions, and standing on the bridge as Spike waxes philosophical. Good stuff. Also liked Gunn getting kicked around by the Senior Partners. Up until now they hadn't seemed that bad this season. I mean so far all they'd really done is helped Team Angel try and make Spike flesh, stabilized reality after Spike showed up, and got really pissed off at Lindsey. It's good to be reminded that they're freaking evil.

Random Episode Facts: This is not the first time that the Deeper Well has been brought up. The Watchers had their annual retreat in the Cotswolds, where the Deeper Well is located, according to Giles.

Joss Whedon's original plan for this episode was to have Angel and Spike go to see Giles in England for answers on their problem. However, this was nixed when they couldn't come up with the money in the budget to fly in Anthony Stewart Head.

My Rating: A+

Spike: Fuss, fuss. The thing was about to strike. It was on your back. What was I supposed to do?
Angel: Ask me to turn around.
Spike: Heat of battle. There wasn't time.
Angel: You just like stabbing me.
Spike: I?I'm shocked? shocked that you'd say that. I much prefer hitting you with blunt instruments.

Spike: It's bollocks, Angel! It's your brand of bollocks from first to last.
Angel: No, you can't ever see the big picture. You can't see any picture!
Spike: I am talking about something primal. Right? Savagery. Brutal animal instinct.
Angel: And that wins out every time with you. You know, the human race has evolved, Spike!
Spike: Oh, into a bunch of namby-pamby, self-analyzing ****ers who could never hope to...
Angel: We're bigger. We're smarter. Plus, there's a thing called teamwork, not to mention the superstitious terror of your pure aggressors!
Spike: You just want it to be the way you want it to be.
Angel: It's not about what I want!
Wesley: Sorry. Is this something we should all be discussing?
Angel: No.
Wesley: It just sounds a little serious.
Angel: It was mostly... theoretical. We...
Spike: We were just working out a - Look, if cavemen and astronauts got into a fight, who would win?
Wesley: Ah. You've been yelling at each other for 40 minutes about this.
[pause]
Wesley: Do the astronauts have weapons?
Spike, Angel: No.

Spike: Harmony just pulled me out of a very promising poker game down in Accounts Receivable, so this better be good. Oh, and, by the way, all the guys down there agree that astronauts don't stand a chance against cavemen, so don't even start.

Fred: But that doesn't make any sense.
Lorne: I just call it like I see it.
Fred: But the cavemen have fire. That's what they live with in their caves. The astronauts should at least hav

 

515: A Hole In The World

- Very bittersweet opening flashback here. knowing what happens in this episode, I?m already getting emotional. The rest of the teaser is nice too: both the Wesley/Fred stuff and the Angel/Spike interplay are good.
- Love that first Gunn and Wesley scene. Both the singing and ?tasteless and horrible? joke is great.
- All the Spike and Angel interactions in this episode are the main reason why I love Spike on this show. I love their huge angry fight over the cavemen/astronauts issue. They?re just consistently hilarious throughout the entire episode, except when it?s all sad of course?
- Genius moment number 1: Lorne sensing Fred?s collapse moments before it actually happens. Wesley scream for medical gives me chills.
- Genius moment number 2: All the guys standing around Fred in her sickbed. From here on out, I?m pretty much crying.
- ?Winifred Burkle.? ?
- I?m pretty sure this episode got the best scene we?ve had with Eve yet. I love what song she sings here by the way. And I love how Lorne describes his immense affection and love for Fred to Eve.
- Fred breaking down = Me breaking down.
- The idea of a hole in the world got a nice mythical feel to it. the Drogyn guy is good too.
- Have I mentioned yet in this thread that I love Amy Acker? Because I do. A lot.
- Alexis Denisof is pretty awesome as well.
-
- So, about Fred and Wesley not being given a single episode of happiness together before Fred is killed off. My feelings are somewhat torn on the issue. There?s no doubt I love this episode and that it affects me greatly, but I do think it?s incredibly manipulative and very much has the feel of the writer?s hand messing with my story. I realize there?s some universal Rule of Law saying that Wesley cannot be allowed a minute of joy, but that doesn?t change the fact that I want to see Winifred Burkle and Wesley Wyndham Pryce grow old together and have lots of smart adorable kids. I want it dammit! Now, despite my annoyances, I can?t fault the drama and incredible quality of the episode itself. It?s truly an amazing piece of television and one of my favorite episodes ever. ( I?ll save my comments about Illyria for the next episode)

A +

 

I dunno, I don't see it as Wes not being allowed a minute's happiness so much as no relationship in the Whedonverse being allowed to end happily. I mean lets take a look. Relationships that are still going on at the end: Kennedy/Willow, Simon/Kaylee. That's it. Two of them. And most people don't like the first one. Relationships that end badly: Buffy/Riley, Xander/Cordelia, Willow/Oz, Gunn/Fred, Mal/Inara (ok, never actually in a relationship, but she leaves him as he admits his feelings.) Relationships that end in death: Giles/Jenny, Buffy/Angel, Buffy/Spike, Cordelia/Angel, Wes/Lilah, Wes/Fred Xander/Anya, Willow/Tara, Billy(Dr. Horrible)/Penny, Zoe/Wash. I think Joss has some relationship issues...


Season 5, Episode 16: Shells
Writer: Steven S. DeKnight
Director: Steven S. DeKnight

As Angel and the gang try desperately to bring Fred back, Wesley begins to understand that the ancient demon Illyria, now fused with Fred's body, is here to stay. Exhausting all options for saving Fred, the gang switches gears to stop Illyria and her plan for global domination.

My favorite part of this episode is Wes just hurting anyone he sees as causing Fred's death. (Though a close second is just the amazing job Amy Acker does in portraying Illyra.) Not because I like seeing people in pain or because I think Wes is right to stab Gunn or anything but because I think he's the one with the reaction I most understand. Wes is in so much pain and he's not able to take the moral high ground and play the champion like Angel. He just wants to make other people feel that pain. I dunno, it's just very human of him. Also think Spike's pretty awesome in this one. He's utterly optimistic about getting Fred back and is a nice change from everyone's angst. Lorne starts distancing himself from the rest of the team and Harmony gets closer. Also, props to this show for creating a Big bad scary evil, quite possibly more powerful than anything seen on the series (anyone else wondering who'd win in a match up between Illyra and Dark Willow?) who just killed an extremely lovable character, and making her somewhat sympathetic. Actually kind of feel bad for Illyra as she realizes she has no place in this world. Though not enough to you know, forgive her for destroying Fred. WTH is up with Fred's soul being destroyed? I guess they wanted to put to rest any idea of Fred coming back, but it's so sad to think of Fred not getting to rest. And that flashback at the end.

My Rating: A

Gunn: I know how you feel.
Wes: You know- You didn't feel her die.
[He begins to cry]
Wes: She was shaking with pain and terrified and so brave. She was better than anyone I've known. Better than... She's gone.

Harmony: The girl of your dreams loved you. That's more than most people ever get.
Wes: I know. But it isn't enough.

Wes: You tied Knox up.
Harmony: We're gonna torture him!
Wes: Good. Why?

Spike: Back in the lab, she was standin' right there in front of me, but there was no scent, nothin'. It's like she wasn't even there.
Angel: I know.
Spike: Look, I want Fred back as much as any of us, but seeing her there, like that, maybe she really is-
Angel: No. I lost Cordelia because some thing violated her. It crawled inside, used her up. No way in hell am I lettin' that happen again.

Angel: What the hell did you do?
Wes: What I had to.
Angel: I don't remember seeing "stab Gunn" on the agenda this morning.
Wes: I avoided the major organs. He'll probably live.
Angel: That's supposed to make it all right?
Wes: Nothing is all right! Nothing will ever be all right.

Knox: Showtime.
Spike: Any seats left?
Angel: If not, we can just stand in the back.
Knox: Guys, you should scan the headlines here. You-you can't win this.
Wesley Wyndam-Pryce: Then we all die trying.
Illyria: Why?
Angel: You want the short version? Let's start with you walkin' around lookin' like the woman you murdered.
Illyria: You think your actions will restore her.
Angel: No.
Illyria: Yet you seek a confrontation you cannot win.
Angel: What you're tryi

 

Well, but that's different. I'm perfectly fine with relationships not working out and eventually ending. That's perfectly normal and, honestly, even supposed to happen. I don't want teenagers and young adults (which would be most of them at least) to get locked in a relationship for too long anyway. My compaint is that Wesley and Fred didn't even get to have a relationship, while Buffy/Riley were together for a year, Xander/Cordelia had a year, Willow/Oz had two years, Willow/Tara had two years and so on and so forth. Anyway...

516: Shells

- So, about Illyria. If we had to kill off the adorable Winifred, I am very happy that this did not mean we also had to lose the gorgeous and very talented Amy Acker. I do appreciate how this role gives her the chance to do something very different from what she?s been doing on the show and it also allows us the opportunity to occasionally revisit the Fred character in some form. I also like the idea of Wesley (and other characters) having to deal with the grief of losing Fred as this person looking and sounding very much like her is still around. So overall; I approve.
- Good teaser by the way, but I wonder why they didn?t change the main title sequence until the next episode.
- Ugh, Gunn didn?t kill Knox. That?s annoying?
- Hmm, Lorne says Knox sang for him, but I?m pretty sure he didn?t. I?m gonna label that as Lorne misremembering.
- I?m glad the show acknowledges how valuable Willow could be in potentially bringing back Fred.
- Lots of great performances here, especially Alexis Denisof. Really not a weak link in this cast.
- Illyria and Knox escaping while everything else is in slow motion is pretty cool.
- ?The girl of your dreams loved you. That?s more than most people get:? ?
- HA! Love Wesley shooting Knox as Angel?s making his big hero speech.
- And we end the episode on some amazing scenes. The Angel/Spike one is good and the Wesley/Illyria one is heartbreaking.
- I?d completely forgotten about that final flashback of Fred leaving for LA. That kills me?
- Another fantastic episode. The show is probably in its best run ever at this point.

A

 

Alright, I'll concede the point about Wes' relationships. And I too enjoy the fact that not everyone in the series finds their "one true love" at age 15/16/17/whatever. Heck, I loved Buffy telling Angel in Chosen that she didn't need a guy at this point in her life. I just wish that when the relationships ended it wasn't because someone got impaled on a piece of rebar, or stabbed with a sword and sent to hell, or pierced with a giant spike by a spaceship. Actually, come to think of it, Wes had the most "normal" breakups out of every character. He lost that rich girl b/c she couldn't adjust to his job, he lost Lilah because he was in love with someone else, and his infatuation with Cordelia ended because the physical chemistry just wasn't right. I wanted more of that kind of relationship enders instead of the doom, death, and destruction ones.


Season 5, Episode 17: Underneath
Writer: Sarah Fain, Elizabeth Craft
Director: Skip Schoolnik

Angel, Spike and Gunn travel to a surprisingly unusual hell dimension to free Lindsey and find out what he knows of the Senior Partners' ultimate plans. With Illyria's army defunct and her plans averted, the gang accepts her as a dubious ally. Wesley, volunteering to be her guide and mentor, falls slowly into depression and self-destruction. Meanwhile, the Senior Partners send a new, unstoppable force, a new liaison and businessman, named Marcus Hamilton, to find Eve, and Gunn makes an important decision in an attempt to protect his friends... and save his soul.

I think this is the episode where everything changes. Team Angel has realized that Fred's not coming back and they all start to change because of it. Our three Season One guys have all regressed in some shape or form. Angel's got his spiky hair back while Gunn shaves his head again. Wes becomes the bitter loner he was in Season Four. And Lorne really starts to distance himself from the rest of the team. The only guy who I don't think changes is Spike. Because W&H never changed him in the first place? It's a very somber episode overall. Our heroes are splitting up. And the Wes/Illyra scenes are depressingly sad. As for the plot, it's cool to see Lindsey back and it makes sense why they needed him. Adam Baldwin is a welcome addition to the cast (his entrance was pretty awesome) and Mercedes McNab finally makes the opening credits. The Hell dimension wasn't anything special imo, but I did like when everyone suddenly busted out machine guns and started shooting.

Random Episode Facts:This was the episode that was filming when the cast and crew received word from WB that the series would not go on for another season.

Joss Whedon wrote all of the scenes between Illyria and Wesley.

My Rating: B

Lorne: Where's Gunn?
[pause]
Lorne: Angel?
Angel: He, uh, he stayed behind.
Lorne: Stayed behind? But you never leave a...
[Angel gives him a look]
Lorne: Or I guess we do. That's what we do now.

Illyria: I lived seven lives at once. I was power in the ecstasy of death. I was god to a god. Now... I'm trapped on a roof... just one roof, in this time and this place with an unstable human who drinks too much whiskey and called me a Smurf.

Lindsey McDonald: Look, it's the hero of the hour.
Angel: I'm not your hero. I'm your warden.
Lindsey McDonald: It's all how you look at the glass.
Angel: I'd have thought a few months of torture at the hands of the Senior Partners would've dug a little deeper.
Lindsey McDonald: Just scratched the surface. Turns out they can only undo you as far as you think you deserve to be undone. I wonder how Gunn's gonna make it out.
Angel: The Senior Partners - I wanna know everything you know about them. About the Apocalypse. About their plans for me.
Spike: And for me. The guy with the pen said, "welcome to the team." Must've ment something.
Lindsey McDonald: You know what I know. Look around. The world's a cesspool, filled with selfish and greedy beasts. We live. We die.
[to Eve]
Lindsey McDonald: Even you, babe.
Eve: Lindsey, don't.
Lindsey McDonald:

 

517: Underneath

- Spike got a suitcase! Hee!! Good teaser.
- Adam Baldwin! This will be the third time Joss brings in a Firefly alum to be a villain towards the end of a season. The next one will obviously be Alan Tudyk. I?m enjoying this tradition?
- Mercedes McNab is now a regular cast member! Awesome!
- Poor Lorne. So sad and so tired. Andy Hallett is great here.
- Fred! Aww, now I?m getting all emotional again? I love how Amy Acker pitches her voice differently for Fred and Illyria.
- I really like how we once again bring in Lindsey (even though we could have left him where we last saw him) as we nears the end of the series. The hell dimension we find him in here is genius.
- More cool back to the beginning type stuff: Gunn in his sweats rather than the suit.
- Isn?t that the same tunnel that leads to Toontown?
- Good action here. The kid coming down the stairs with the gun is hilarious.
- Gunn staying behind makes sense. He feels guilty for Fred?s death and this is what he feels he deserves. I like it.
- Adam Baldwin makes a great adversary. Marcus Hamilton got a great physical presence. Oh, and he?s funny too.
- Hee; Wesley called Illyria a smurf. The Wesley and Illyria scenes in this one have been brief, but very effective
- The show continues its great run.

A -

 

Season 5, Episode 18: Origin
Writer: Drew Goddard
Director: Terrence O'Hara

Parents bring their son to Wolfram and Hart to try to make sense of their son's superhuman abilities. Team Angel wants their assistance, but Angel refuses, because it's his son Connor. A demon is after Connor, but without his memories of his old life, he doesn't have much of a chance against the demon.

This episode gets props for doing the seemingly impossible and actually making me care about Connor. I like the fact that the writers brought Connor back instead of just writing him out of the show and as a normal, well adjusted kid he's pretty cool. Also liked how we get closure on the whole Connor/Sahjhan deal and how it's left just ambiguous enough at the end that we can't be 100% sure if Connor remembers or not. Gunn also finally starts to redeem himself in my eyes when he doesn't even listen to what the deal would be. Cyvus is also sufficiently creepy and menacing. My favorite parts though were the Illyra bits. She and Spike are a funny pair and her relationship with Wesley keeps getting more and more complex. She seems to respect him when she tells Angel that Wes isn't his man anymore.

My Rating: A-

Wesley: She doesn't understand our world. She needs someone to guide her. She needs...
Angel: When was the last time you slept? You're not her savior. I need you here, working, not off drinking yourself into a coma, chasing ghosts. Fred's dead, Wes. You're still alive. Start acting like it.

Spike: [while trying to 'study' Illyria] Right, we need to set some ground rules. First off, no more punching me in the face! Secondly, when I punch YOU in the face, you tell me how you feel, so I can write it down on my clipboard.
[picks up his clipboard, gets defensive]
Spike: Third - no touching my clipboard.
Illyria: I enjoy hurting you.
Spike: Well we're gonna have to fix that, 'cause-
[Illyria kicks Spike in the face. Spike punches her. Illyria punches him across the room]
Wesley: How goes it?
Illyria: I've been hitting the half-breed. He makes noise.
Spike: We're off to a bit of a rough start, but don't worry. I'll break her.
Wesley: She's not a horse, Spike. You know, this room is equipped with automated training devices, and you don't have to test her by just... allowing her to pummel you.
Spike: We're working on the basics. But don't worry -- I'm writing it all down.
Wesley: Ok. Fine.
Illyria: You reek of frustration. Curls off of you like smoke.
Spike: Actually, love, we call that scotch. 12-year Lagavulin, if I'm not mistaken. Good choice.
Wesley: It's nothing. I'm just, uh... I had a... slight disagreement with Angel.
Spike: Oh, old broody-pants got you wound up, eh? Keep in mind, he can't get laid without maybe going crazy. Makes it funny.
Illyria: In my time, a leader would punish your insolence with death.
Wesley: We're not being insolent, Illyria.
Spike: I am.

Illyria: I'd like to keep Spike as my pet.

Illyria: Your body warms. This one is lusting after me.
Connor: Oh, no. I - It's - It's just, uh - it's the outfit. I-I guess I've always had a thing for older women.
Angel: They were supposed to fix that.
Connor: What?
Angel: Nothing.

Connor: [about Illyria] So, does she have any special powers or anything?
Spike: Glad you asked. So far I've established that she can hit like a Mack truck, selectively alter the flow of time and, uh,
[looks through clipboard]
Spike: ... possibly talk to plants.

Connor: You gotta do what you can to protect your family. I learned that from my father.

 

518: Origin

- Okay teaser. The reveal of Connor is great.
- Hee; Spike got a clipboard. The Spike/Illyria stuff is good.
- Oh look, it?s a not messed up and actually likable Connor. That?s awesome. I hate to be repetitive, but I love that we revisit Connor before we?re done. More than anything I love that this is a version of Connor I can actually stand to watch.
- ?I?d like to keep Spike as my pet.? ? hee
- The big exposition scene with Vail really drags. His voice is pretty grating as well.
- I like seeing Wesley trying to figure everything out.
- I love that we revisit the Sahjhan/Connor prophecy.
- As I said last season, Vincent Kartheiser was never what was wrong with Connor. And he continues being very good here.
- I love that brief flashback montage of Connor?s past and all that happened in seasons 3 and four. Very effective and compelling. The look on Wesley?s face afterwards as he remembers what he did is great.
- Decapitation! Gotta love that!
- ?I learned that from my father.? ? Aww!
- I have to say this one more time: I love this well adjusted Connor.
- Solid episode.

B +

 

Season 5, Episode 19: Time Bomb
Writer: Ben Edlund
Director: Vern Gillum

Illyria begins acting more strangely than usual. After she rescues Gunn from the suburban hell dimension, she begins displaying more power. After a hint from Hamilton, Wesley discovers that Fred's body is insufficient to contain Illyria's power, and she is about to explode. Meanwhile, Angel discovers that she is unintentionally leapfrogging through time, and uses it as possibly the only way to stop her. Also, Gunn begins to have suspicions about Angel being corrupted when he allows a demonic brethren to accept a pregnant young woman's baby as an upcoming sacrificial item.

I feel this is just an alright episode although that could just be because the last eight episodes have been so strong that this one just seems week in comparison. From a storytelling point of view it makes sense that Illyria had to be powered down because otherwise the big battle scenes wouldn't have very much dramatic tension if she could just wipe everyone out. I loved at the beginning though how she just went and rescued Gunn without breaking a sweat. It was pretty funny/awesome. Lorne with the walky-talky was also pretty good. The coming unstuck in time bit was visually interesting but I would've liked to see more of it. Maybe have our guys die again and again as they unsuccessfully try and stop it. And why did Angel get to go back in time with Illyria? The B-plot was less intriguing but I continue to love Adam Baldwin. Angel's about face comes out of nowhere and I would've liked to see more buildup to him going dark (even if he was just pretending) sorta like we got back in Season Two.

My Rating: B-

Angel: If this is our chance to get into a better grace with the head office, I have to say it's not my priority.
Marcus: Oh, no, don't think about us, Angel. Think about profits. It's profits that let you keep this plucky little boat-load of good above water. It's a business, boys, not a Batcave.
Lorne: Well, I'll tell you what--still like him better than Eve.

Illyria: This shell...you had affection for it. For Fred.
Spike: Tons. Loved the bird.
Illyria: Yet you strike at her form without sentiment.
Spike: You ain't her. I can see it. Lord knows I can smell it. And I got no problem hittin' it.

Illyria: When the world met me, it shuddered, groaned. It knelt at my feet.
Spike: "Dear Penthouse, I don't normally write letters like this, but-"

Lorne: I repeat, bluebird got wise. Secret Demon's cover is blown. Over. Hel-hello?! Is this on? Hey, Leery, now, when did you catch on to me? In the elevator? That was a tough one.

 

519: Time Bomb

- Okay teaser. I?m starting to like Illyria, and the way she rescues Gunn is reasonably clever.
- Kind of a slow opening to this one. This episode doesn?t really manage to grab my attention until that first obvious time bump at the eighteen minute mark
- Really not much to say about this one?
- The baby plot is fine, but nothing special.
- I prefer the last third of this episode where things are actually happening and Angel and Illyria are bouncing around the timeline. The big confrontation is good as well.
- Mostly a forgettable episode. It ended on a high note though.

B -

 

I really liked this episode.

 

Season 5, Episode 20: The Girl in Question
Writer: Steven S. DeKnight, Drew Goddard
Director: David Greenwalt

When Angel and Spike go to Italy after hearing that Buffy is in trouble, they discover she is dating their long-time nemesis The Immortal. While searching for Buffy - and the head of a demon which must be brought back to L.A. to prevent a demon war - they reminisce about their history with The Immortal and finally accept that they can't control who Buffy dates.

Before I go into everything I find wrong with this episode, I'd like to say what was wonderfully brilliant in my opinion. Two words: Amy Acker. I've pretty much loved her since she first appeared on the show, but I was absolutely blown away by how utterly convincingly she could switch between Fred and Illyria without the costume and makeup changes she normally has. Not even just the voice either. The way she held herself and the subtle shifting of her expression made it so easy to know who she was at the moment. Absolutely top notch. That whole subplot was actually pretty well done. I liked Illyria offering the possibility to Wes and his absolute refusal of it. As for the Angel/Spike plot...I thought it as pretty horrible. This episode just comes at the wrong time in the season to begin with. We've only got three episodes of the series left, we're ramping up for the Apocalypse, Angel's been showing signs of going dark, and suddenly Spike and Angel are traipsing off to Rome after Buffy and are made to look like fools repeatedly? I don't really like the Immortal either. Buffy shacking up with him just feels...wrong. Totally understand Angel's rant about the whole "cookie" speech. Though I guess it has been around a year since then in the show's world. Plus I don't like how he made Angelus look like an idiot in the flashbacks. I don't mind Angelus being beaten like how he was captured by Holtz, but this Angelus didn't seem like the cunningly evil guy we all know and love. And I still think Andrew's all wrong for the tone of the series. I did like the idea of seeing other branches of W&H, and even if it's an over played stereotype I laughed when "the American resorted to violence." (And since Mercedes McNab and Julie Benz were both in this episode, does that mean we had a Mercedes Benz...)

Random Episode Fact: In the original script Dawn was supposed to open the door of Buffy's look-a-like Roman appartment and welcome Angel and Spike. (This would have marked the first appearance of Dawn ever appearing on Angel.) But due to other projects Michelle Trachtenberg wasn't able to portray her character. It was later decided to give Andrew the scenes which were originally planned for Dawn.

My Rating: C

Angel: But she's not finished baking yet! I gotta wait 'til she's done baking. You know, 'til she finds herself. 'Cause that's the drill. Fine. I'm waitin' patiently, and meanwhile,
[shouting]
Angel: The Immortal's eatin' cookie dough!
Andrew: Uh, Spike, is Angel crying?
Spike: No.
[pause]
Spike: Not yet.

Ilona: And you, what an honor. The great Angelus.
Angel: Actually, it's just Angel.
Ilona: Ah, yes, of course. The Gypsies, they gave you your soul. The Gypsies are filthy people. [spits] And we shall speak of them no more.

Demon Bouncer: [Angel and Spike start fighting his bodyguards] Oh, look, the Americans are relying on violence to solve their problems. What a surprise.

 

520: The Girl In Question

- Decent, but exposition heavy teaser.
- This episode is great based on all the awesome Spike/angel interaction alone. Yes, it?s very silly, but to me it feels like a goodbye to all the fun these two characters can be together before we delve into the final two episodes.
- The Burkle parents!
- Andrew! This time I?m actually happy to see him.
- Flashbacks! Drusilla! Darla!! Love that we get a final appearance by those two. Especially Darla.
- I should be bothered by the massive retcon that is The Immortal supposedly being Angel?s arch nemesis. But somehow I love it. The show manages to present it to me with just the right combination of gravity and cheese.
- Seeing Fred again is heartbreaking, even if it is Illyria impersonating Fred. I?m tearing up?
- So BtVS Season 8 revealed that this isn?t the real Buffy. It has no bearing or impact on my enjoyment on this episode, but I did like that reveal, mostly because of the accompanied Andrew comment.
- The Roman offices of Wolfram & Hart are genius. I love Illona: ?The gypsies are filthy people!? love the spitting.
- Wesley?s voice breaking as he says? Everything?s fine? kills me.
- Love the ?who saved the world the most? discussion. The Acathla related part of it is the best.
- ?Buffy ran you through with a sword!? ? hee
- Angel?s new jacket is comedy gold!
- And a pretty good ending as well.
- Solid episode. Lots of silly and a little bit of heartbreak.

B +

 

Season 5, Episode 21: Power Play
Writer: David Fury
Director: James A. Contner

The Team have reason to believe that Angel has been utterly corrupted with power when they find evidence that he has joined the Circle of the Black Thorn, the most evil of secret societies. Wesley, Gunn, Spike, and even Illyria discover some surprises when they urge Angel to side with the forces of Good again.

I'm kinda curious how this season would've ended if they knew they were going to get another season. Because the whole "oh no, Angel's evil again!" plot seems rushed as if it was thrown together at the last minute. So that's my main problem with this episode, while it does a good job at setting up the finale, it just seems forced. The Circle of the Black Thorn is a good idea and was needed as the Fang Gang can't actually fight the Senior Partners much like the Scoobies couldn't fight the First directly. Thus, they're given earthly targets. Also liked how this brought Lindsey back into the mix again. Drogyn was a good addition as well since the whole "he can't lie" thing means we don't doubt that Angel attacked him. Angel loses points though for killing him. I can't help but draw the comparison to Buffy. She refuses to kill even one innocent to save the world whereas Angel is more a "ends justify the means" type of guy. The Drogyn/Illyria is pretty funny and yet oddly touching and it establishes just how crazy powerful Hamilton is since he takes down Illyria so easily (wonder if Eve was that powerful.) And the ending scene was surprisingly emotional for me as our heroes decide to take a final stand.

Angel's human death toll now stands at 28.

Random Episode Fact: Mention is made of a Boretz Demon; this is a reference to Michael Boretz, assistant to Joss Whedon.

My Rating:B

Illyria: I've grown wary of this world since my powers were depleted. Strange? though I've been made more human, this place remains disconcerting.
Spike: Yeah, well, I'm afraid that never goes away. Anyhow, I thought Wesley was giving you a primer on all things human.
Illyria: He and I are no longer having intercourse.
Spike: Yeah, I? you what? What?
Illyria: He has ceased communication with me.
pike: Oh! Oh. Communi?
Illyria: My recent reversion to the Burkle persona disturbed him. And he will not tell me why.
Spike: You don't know? You may not think you're as powerful as you were, Highness, but looking like Fred, for some of us? it's the most devastating power you have.

Illyria: You'll have proof soon enough. A corrupted ruler on such a path sees treachery and betrayal all around him. He cannot suffer intimates and will eventually turn against them.
Spike: Guess I don't have to worry about that, 'cause Angel and me have never been intimate. Except that once...

Drogyn: Old one... you have no right to walk this Earth. Your time is past. You belong to the well. Illyria: Truly. I wish now I had never been brought out of it.
Drogyn: Do You?
Illyria: I don't know. I play this game... it's pointless and annoys me... and yet, I'm compelled to play on.

Angel: The powerful control everything, except our will to choose.

Angel: This isn't a "keep fightin' the good fight" kind of deal. Let's be clear. I'm talkin' about killing every... single... member... of the Black Thorn. We don't walk away from that.
Lorne: Do we crawl away at least?
Angel: We do this, the senior partners will rain their full wrath. They'll make an example of us. I'm talkin' full-on hell, not the basic fire-and-brimstone kind that we're used to.
Gunn: We know the drill.
Angel: No, you don't. Ten to one, we're gone when the smoke clears. They will do everything in their power to destroy us. So... I need you to be sure. Power endures. We can't bring down the senior partners, but for one bright shiny moment we can show them that they don't own us. You need to decide for yourselves if that's worth dying for. I can't order you to do this. Can't do it without you. So we'll vote... as a team. Think about what I'm asking you to do. Think about what I'm asking you to give

 

521: Power Play

- Teaser?s nothing special.
- I like seeing Angel and Nina all happy together. It?s nice that he has a relationship that?s essentially free of any big angst and anguish.
- Spike and Illyria make a good team.
- ?Angel and me have never been intimate. Except that once.? ? hee
- I like the return of Drogyn here.
- It?s fairly obvious throughout this episode that Angel?s up to something, but it?s still enjoyable to watch the show try to fool me. it is a little rushed though.
- ?Young Guns 3?!! Oh, I would love that.
- The scene where Angel sends Nina and her family away is good and it pretty much makes it completely obvious that Angel has a plan.
- The final big scene with Angel and the team is great. I like the idea that Cordelia gave Angel her visions and I love the team uniting and being willing to die for their cause.
- Another solid episode. It sets us up for the finale reasonably well.

B +

 

And the last one...

Season 5, Episode 22: Not Fade Away
Writer: Jeffrey Bell, Joss Whedon
Director: Jeffrey Bell

Angel, having regained the confidence and trust of his team, continues feigning loyalty to the Circle of the Black Thorn. When he announces that the time has come to strike back, he tells his team to make the most of what may be their last day on Earth. When night falls, they move to divide and conquer the demons that wield Wolfram and Hart's power on earth, incurring the wrath of the armies of Hell.

I wouldn't have minded another season of Angel, I think it still had stories to tell, but even if we had gotten more seasons, I don't think they could've ended the series any better than they did here. I think this is the perfect final episode. There's so much I love about it. Angel bringing Lindsey into the fight is great. He deserved to be there. And who could've seen him being shot by Lorne? That just blew me away. Makes Lindsey a very unique character because out of everyone who's been on the dark side (Angel, Faith, Willow, Andrew etc), he's the only one who wasn't given a chance at redemption. And the shot of poor Eve standing there when she learns Lindsey isn't coming back to her... The Fang Gang spending their last day was excellent. Lorne's day was no surprise and Wes' day was heartbreaking but it's Gunn's and Spike's that I really enjoyed. Spike's was just hilarious and I liked getting to hear his whole poem finally and I think Anne's reply to Gunn asking what she would do if she knew she wasn't helping any, was absolutely great. Now for thoughts on the big fights. No problem whatsoever with Spike, Lorne/Lindsey,Angel,or Illyria. I think Gunn taking out all those vamps by himself is pushing it a little but I'll give it to him. Connor coming back to help Angel is good and though that fight is a little cheezy, I like how Angel beats him by drinking his blood. Now We was the wink link in the plan as they sent him up against a magic man. But except for Illyria, I dunno if anyone else would've fared any better than Wes so... And since when can Wes do magic? I would've preferred him busting out the shotgun one last time. His death scene makes me cry as he asks Illyria to lie to him and then I can't help but cheer as she punches in the demon's face. The final scene in the alley is absolutely perfect. I love that final shot of out heroes about to go into battle for the final time. What a way to end the series.

Joss Whedon says of this episode, "This was not the final grace note after a symphony, the way the Buffy finale was. We are definitely still in the thick of it. But the point of the show is that you're never done; no matter who goes down, the fight goes on."[1] Whedon says that Angel is about redemption, "something you fight for every day, so I wanted him to go out fighting. People kept calling it a cliffhanger. I was like, 'Are you mad, sir? Don't you see that that is the final statement?'"

Random Episode Fact: Joss Whedon originally intended to direct this episode as well as co-write it, but he was tied up in his responsibilities for Serenity, the Firefly feature film that he wrote and directed.

My Rating:A+

Lindsey: Believe it or not, I was actually talking about you. You don't care about being squashed like a bug?
Angel: You haven't heard a word I've said. For, like, years back.
Lindsey: Well, you get a little speechy, all right? And I breeze out. I got the Cliff Notes?honor and humanity. Absolute good. I heard it. So here's the plot twist?I'm in.
Angel: Why?
Lindsey: Everybody goes on about your soul. A vampire with a soul. Nobody ever mentions the fact that you're really a vampire with big brass testes. This is gonna be a circus. I mean, win or lose, you're about to pick the nastiest fight since mankind drop-kicked the last demon out of this dimension. And that you don't do without me. If you want me, I'm on your team.
Angel: I want you, Lindsey. [pause] Thinking about rephrasing that.
Lindsey: Yeah, I think I'd be more comfortable if you

 

522: Not Fade Away

- Good teaser. Love that it starts exactly where we left off.
- Angel signing away his potential to fulfill the Shanshu prophecy is a good moment... It?s really a great symbol of how important the fight is to him.
- For the last time: Harmony looks great. Sorry, but it had to be said. Also, her first scene here with Angel is great. It?s the first time the episode really clicks for me as a series finale. I love hearing her talk about how it was to be human.
- I?m convinced Lorne?s bad mood throughout this entire episode is linked to him being fully aware of what he will have to do before Angel even tells it to him.
- What everybody chooses to do on their final day is perfect. Of course Lorne is singing. Angel and Connor having a real mature, non angsty conversation is great. It makes sense that Gunn would go back to the old neighborhood where he originally came from (Oh, and a final Buffyverse appearance by Anne! Yay!). Spike getting drunk and performing that old poem is hilarious and so wonderful. And of course, Wesley would only want to be with Fred, but knows better than to try to fool himself into thinking he can. Everything is just so perfect and so? final.
- ?A very strange, and violent, at times inappropriately erotic... dream.? ? hee
- Spike doesn?t want any jewelry! HA! Love that.
- A mention of Hyperion! Yay! I miss that hotel.
- Some great final battles here. It all continues being perfect for each character. I especially love that Gunn gets to dust vampires and that Connor comes back to help out Angel.
- Lorne shooting and killing Lindsey is where I start breaking down. Lindsey ranting about how he?s supposed to be killed by Angel as he dies is another one of those perfect moments by the way. Lindsey always thought he was a bigger villain than he really was. Lorne really kills me in that scene.
- Favorite scene in the episode: Wesley finally letting Illyria take the guise of Fred before he dies. Amy Acker and Alexis Denisof are so awesome in that scene and it never fails to move me.
- I love how Angel defeats Marcus Hamilton. It?s nice how the fact that he?s a vampire ends up being essential to winning the fight.
- So, here we are at that final scene. Much like the show (almost) started in an alley it ends in an alley and it couldn?t be more perfect. The atmosphere with the rain and the impending doom in that scene is great.
- I LOVE that the episode ends with the team still fighting. I can?t even say that it?s a heartbreaking ending, because it?s so truly perfect. This show was always about the fight, not the reward and this ending symbolizes that perfectly.
- So yeah, this is absolutely one of my favorite series finales ever. There?s not really anything here I can call a flaw. It ties up the show and fits thematically with the whole in the best way possible. Awesome.

A

------------

Looking at all my reviews for this season, the average grade is exactly between a B + and an A -.

Highest rated episode: 514 & 515
Lowest rated episodes: 506

Looking at my average grade for all seasons, they rank like this:

Season 5: B +/A -
Season 2: Strong B +
Season 1: Strong B +
Season 4: B (+)
Season 3: Almost B

That ranking seems mostly fine, though I?d probably put season 4 below season 3 on most days.

Favorite episode: Only five episodes got the A +. My favorites are probably the two Faith episodes from season 1.

Least favorite episodes: 113: She and 420: Sacrifice are what I consider the worst episodes this show ever produced.

About Season 6: I skimmed through the first issue and I?m sure I?ll read it all at some point, but at this point I?m so happy with how this ended that I don?t really have any need for any continuation beyond it.

-------------

Thanks to Soloknight for doing a very good job hosting. I?ve really enjoyed your (and some others?) comments on this great television show. It?s been lots of fun.

Grr! Argh!

 

Figured I'd do an overview for the series:

Season Rank: 5,1,2,3,4
Favorite Episode: Five by Five/Sanctuary
Least Favorite Episode: Shiny Happy People, Sacrifice, She
Favorite Character: Wes

Thanks hansen (and everyone else who chimed in once in a while) for all the comments. Been fun reading your opinions on the episodes. If you ever get around to reading ATF, let me know and maybe we'll do an issue by issue discussion. I collect the trades so I haven't read every issue yet but am enjoying it so far. Definitely think it's worth shelling out the extra money for the hardcovers as they have comments and notes by Brian Lynch at the end and he's a funny funny guy.

 

I thought it was a great last episode. My favourite part was Harmony bugging Angel throughout the fight of his life - very funny, and unexpectedly wonderful to see Harmony continue to be as shallow and self-centered in death as in life. Wes' fatal confrontation with the wizard was gripping, and possibly the best death in the Whedonverse. Lorne shooting Lindsey was a jaw-dropping moment for me, brilliantly played. Also, all the fight choreography throughout was well done, with the little we saw of the sword-fights looking very impressive.

Two things I was less keen on in the episode: Connor, or more specifically his dialogue - just cringe-making for me. Also, like SoloKnight, I, too, thought Gunn taking on all those vampires was very unlikely - they're all supposed to be super-humanly strong and fast, and Gunn isn't. I understand they wanted to give him a big send-off, but I hate normal humans matching physical strength and speed against vampires, and succeeding.

Overall, though, a terrific finale.

My favourite seasons were 1 and 5.

My favourite episodes were Five by Five & Sanctuary.