In an attempt to save Darla, Angel must face a battery of tests, with the possibility of dying to save her.

After a series of surprises relating to Darla, we get thrown one more here, as we discover that she’s been brought back to life with the same illness that caused her original death. After seeking clarification from Wolfram & Hart, Angel sets off on a mission to save Darla, hopefully proving to her that she has a reason to live and giving her a chance to be a new person.

Redemption has long been a theme of Angel, ever since the beginning; after all, all the characters are trying to make up for past failures in some way. Darla’s won’t come as easily; she wasn’t the best person at any point in her life, but Angel’s ability to see what she could have been is particularly touching. The dialogue here is superb, as Angel shows how much he cares for her now, is reminded that he loved Darla once, only to point out that that was before he was able to love. The flashbacks also demonstrate that Angel has no real reason to try to help Darla after what she’s done to him, making his efforts all the more heroic.

The trials themselves are fairly simple. The fight is hardly tricky, the second test is painful to watch but easy enough and the final test’s outcome is obvious from the start. The butler that sees Angel through them all, however, is a great character and one I’d like to see again. The end result of the trial is also superbly handled, with the answer not coming as easily as could have been expected.

Overall, the episode is essentially average. It drags in places, there’s no sub-plot, so the rest of the Angel Investigations team are sidelined, but then it has a superb and totally unexpected ending that not only has immense ramifications for everyone involved but will lead to all manner of excitement over the course of the season (and beyond?). I’m really enjoying a chance to uncover Angel and Darla’s past, and the characterization is at its peak. If they can spring surprises like they’ve managed so far, this show is going to be even more unmissable.

****

Would you like to go to the Angel Season Two guide, head back to the main TV reviews page, read older reviews in the Reviews Archive or return to the front page?