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Angel
Angel Fans UNITE!!
Well, the new season has started with an excellent episode. Not too beefy, but just enough to sink your teeth into and hunger for more... Kinda like New York Strip Steak. *grin*
"Heartthrob"
Season III, Episode I
Written & Directed by David Greenwalt
When it comes down to it, you can't beat a flashback episode. You know the ones with random flashes back to the past... David Boreanaz with that HORRID Scottish accent, Darla hanging on his arm. I dig the way that they develop the characters by delving into their past and showing why they do what they do today, or how things in the past affect things in the present. This is one of those episodes. But we'll get to that in a second.
We start out with Angel on a "Vision Quest" of sorts, trying to deal with the emotional blow he was dealt by the death of Buffy Summers. His one true love was taken, and he travels to a monastery in what looks like the Tibetan mountains. Perhaps Nepal or China. After some time with the monks and a totally gratuitous fight scene with a gang of "Demon Monks," Angel decides that he is needed back home more than he needs to continue to grieve.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Gunn, Wesley and Cordelia have been taking on the duties of Angel Investigations by themselves while a timid (and oh so beautiful) Fred has holed up in one of the rooms of the hotel. After one an eventful evening fighting evil, the crew returns to the hotel, check on Fred and discover that Angel has returned.
Hellos are said, hugs and gifts presented all around. One of the best quotes of the episode came when Gunn thanked Angel for the shrunken head he received. "Thanks for the head!" *grin* Angel goes up to see Fred, and finds that she has literally covered the walls in her small room with equations, sayings, poetry, and general ravings. When he walks in she is frantically scribbling the word "LISTEN" over and over and over. They talk; he tries to connect with her a bit, but is interrupted by a scream from downstairs.
Cordy has had another of her visions, each one growing worse and worse. She sees a frat party wrecked by vamps, and hostages taken. Wes, Gunn & Angel mount up, while telling Cordy to rest. She goes home, and is pampered by the Phantom Dennis while the guys go out for the seemingly routine sweep and clear.
It turns out that one of the vamps that Angel stakes is none other than one of his partying pals from the "old days". Cue flashback - Angel and Darla are hanging with a different duo. While Spike and Dru have been replaced with James and his love whose name I cannot remember, the relationship seems pretty much the same. The women get along like two peas in a pod, and the two guys butt heads constantly.
Long story short, James is PISSED that Angel dusted his love, and makes a deal with a demon doctor to get revenge. He tracks Angel to the hotel and can't seem to be killed. Wes & Gunn head out to find out what the word on the street is, while Angel and Cordy are faced with a seemingly invincible foe.
I'm not going to give away the ending. I'm not into giving away spoilers, so you'll have to wait for the re-run if you missed it... Just watch out for Darla at the end. Now THERE'S a surprise...
This episode was a wonderful re-introduction to the characters. People new to the show can catch on pretty easily, and the old regulars will pick up right where they left off. Continuity has been kept pretty well with the exception of the replacement of Spike & Dru with James & his girl. While they wrote it in a way that fits, I still missed the dynamic duo. Fred's character has LOTS of room for character development, and the Cordy vision problem is still a constant threat to her health. Lots to look forward to in the next episode on October 1, 2001, That Vision Thing.
Episode Rating: 8 out of 10
- That one guy who likes Angel but LOVES Fred, PunkJr
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