Episode Guide: 2ADH01 Judgment

Overview

The end of season 1 brought about an obvious change in the friendship between Angel and Cordelia. After nearly losing Cordy to the machinations of Vocah in To Shanshu in L.A, Angel realised that Cordelia was much more important to him that he realised - so much so that he probably could not have done without her.

And so we see at the beginning of Judgment how familiar they have become - not just Angel and Cordelia, but the Angel Investigations team as a whole. There is an air of domestic felicity as Angel plays with Cordelia's glass figurines while toying with the idea of going to a gym. They are still working out of Cordelia's apartment but there is an obvious camaraderie between the three that is highlighted by the obvious system they have developed in solving their cases; the whiteboard, the brainstorming, the absolute team work.

In this episode we are treated to a glimpse of the new closeness that has arisen between Angel and Cordelia by a few key scenes, the most important of which is the scene where Cordelia reassures Angel of her friendship by stating unequivocally that she will stay with him until he works his way out of "the tunnel".

This is significant particularly as she reaffirms to him that far from being involuntarily tied to him through her (initially unwanted) visions, she will stay with him until he shanshus - not because she has to, but because she wants to. This is a far cry from the Cordelia who so desperately wanted to get rid of her visions in Parting Gifts. She has accepted them as part of who she is, but more importantly here she goes beyond this acceptance - she seems to be as much dedicated to Angel himself and their growing friendship by vowing to stay with him until he shanshus. Angel and Cordelia are now close friends, and her affirmation of her friendship to Angel in Judgment provides a solid foundation for future growth in their relationship.

C/A Highlights

1.The way that Angel immediately (and literally) drops everything when he thought that Cordelia was having a vision in the beginning scenes. He shows so much concern for her!

2.The scene where Cordelia comforts and supports Angel when he gets discouraged about being able to help the pregnant woman. Not only does she make the effort to understand him when she doesn't immediately get what he's upset about:

Sure you did... because the tunnel is - you know, it's something we all... Are we talking real tunnel or symbolic? Just give me that much."

She also deftly makes his personal guilt about killing the Prio Motu a little less by immediately sharing the blame on all three of them, not just Angel:

"Yeah. We all got a little cocky, didn't we?"

And of course, that gentle assurance from the formerly selfish, self-centred Sunnydale High cheerleader about sticking with Angel until the very end:

Cordelia: "It's gonna be a long while - until you work your way out - but I know you well enough to know you *will*. And I'll be with you until you do."

Angel: "What about your inevitable stardom?"

Cordelia: "I'm not saying I won't have a day job."

Which is what deep friendship, trust and loyalty is about, isn't it?

C/A Goodness Rating

8/10: Not that many C/A scenes, but the ones that were there were all good! The episode really shows that Angel cares for Cordelia as a trusted, treasured friend.