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Angel
Fred is HOT!!
With the premier a week old memory, we journey into our second dose of Angel this season. It brings with it a return of Wolfram & Hart, a new threat to Angel Investigations, new information about Darla’s surprise, and a choice that will leave Angel’s future a little more precarious.
"That Vision Thing"
Season III, Episode 2
Written by Jeffrey Bell
Directed by Bill Norton
As the title implies, this episode deals with Cordelia’s visions, which have been gradually increasing in intensity and pain. We know that Angel’s late partner, the demon Doyle, was the first recipient of these gifts from the Powers that Be (PTB), but when his gift passed to Cordy, it brought with it an unpleasant side-effect of pain. Will her non-demon body be strong enough to withstand the assault brought on by the visions, or will they wear her away??
We begin with Gunn & Wesley discussing Cordy’s condition with Fred listening in from under the table. Their genuine yet cheesy attempt at caring is interrupted by a vision that sends Cordy to the floor. She’s rocked with pain as she sees a Chinese herbalist shop, a monster with 5 claws, and a coin with a hole in it. This, however, is no ordinary vision. Along with the pain, this one has brought a physical manifestation. Huge claw marks cross her abdomen, shoulder and back. Angel instructs Fred to take Cordelia home, while he, Gunn & Wes go to investigate.
They find what they are looking for in the last herbalist shop on their list. Best line of the night – Wes saying, “That’s one of the things about being a dick.” Meaning Private Detective of course. As they walk in, the owners tell Angel that his kind is not welcome. A mean battle ensues with Angel fighting “Grandpa” and Wes & Gunn trying to fight “Grandma”. The two human impersonating monsters are dispatched and the coin retrieved...
While the guys of the crew head off to find the shop, Fred has taken Cordy home. As Cordy is trying to shoo her out the door, another vision, this one regarding a key and bringing a green warty infection across her face and arms, besieges her. After a frantic phone conversation with Fred, Angel, Wes & Gunn head to the apartment. In their flurry to try to help Cordy, yet find out what the PTB are trying to do by scarring her, Fred comes up with an idea. Trace the call by finding the electric signals that are sent to Cordelia’s brain. Who better to look into someone’s mind than the telepathic “host”?
They bring everyone’s favorite demon from Pylea to help. He traces a new vision that leaves Cordy’s arms badly burned, and sends him flying across the room. The good news is that these visions are not from the PTB. The bad news is that they’re coming from somewhere local and they’re getting worse.
Angel is torn... Should he stay by Cordelia or act on the vision’s message. He decides to do both by going alone to find the key that she has mentioned and leaving Fred, Wes & Gunn to watch over her. He takes the drawing to a key shop and is promptly attacked by a demon that has skin that matches Cordy’s infection exactly. Angel quickly dispatches this mangy monster and returns with the key.
It turns out that the person behind the nasty visions that Cordy has been having has been none other than Wolfram & Hart’s lovely Lilah Morgan. Angel pays her a visit to find out that the only way he can save his friend is to use the coin and the key to travel to an interdimensional prison and rescue a person “wrongfully imprisoned” there. He also learns that the two old Chinese folks and the big warty monster were actually good guys, trying to protect the prison.
Angel doesn’t have much of a choice. He takes the coin and the key and opens the portal to the prison. After arriving, he meets Skip, the prison’s guard. After some nice dialogue, Angel is forced to incapacitate Skip to free the prisoner and return him to the waiting Wolfram & Hart.
This brings up HUGE questions. Who is this bad guy?? Why was he imprisoned, and why do Wolfram & Hart want him so bad? Also, how will this affect Angel Investigations? We’ll have to see what consequences this will bring.
Don’t forget the Darla sighting at the end of the episode... What does it mean? What’s going to happen?? You’ll have to watch to find out!! (I’ll bet you hate me for not telling! You’ll just have to go find out somewhere else... )
This episode truly brought out great acting by both David Boreanaz & Charisma Carpenter. The struggle that Angel has on whether he should go against the powers that be or save his friend is intense, and Cordy’s conflict about her gift is touching too. The interaction between the characters is wonderful, and Fred’s character is growing so well. Wolfram & Hart’s return has brought with it new evils. The release of the prisoner, who we still don’t know anything about, and the introduction of Gavin Park and his Building Code violations. What will happen is soon to be seen, and I’m sure that this is going to be an awesome season.
Next up, Gunn & “That Old Gang of Mine”.
Episode Rating: 8 out of 10
- The guy who wants a room in the Angel Investigations’ hotel, PunkJr
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