Season Two Episode Reviews

2X22    No Place Like Plrtz Glrb 
Plot: The gang stages a final attack on the castle to stop the Covenant.

Mildly entertaining action adventure, but too by the book to be anything particularly special.  Aside from Lorne turning out to be alive and the jokes entailing that, there isn't much here that's original at all.  It's an extremely generic 'join rebels storm castle save princess' fare, of course further tainted by the innate silliness of the Pylea arc.  I did like Wesley sending people to their deaths though, and that sex with Groo will steal Cordy's visions and her wanting.  Lorne's family as always is funny.  More is to be expected of this show!  At least the upbeat ending is offset by Willow's surprise cameo to tell Angel that Buffy died.

2X21    Through the Looking Glass 
Plot: Princess Cordy runs into trouble with the Covenant along with the rest of the gang.

The Pylea stuff finally gets entertaining, but it's still not enough.  Cordy living large as a Princess was very funny, but the real scream was Lorne's 'Mother' and the Dances of Joy and Sorrow.  Absolutely hilarious!  The Wolfram and Hart connection was a sorely welcome plot twist, nice to see this Pylea stuff has *some* relevance.  The Groosalug beast turning out to be a pretty guy was a typical funny and unexpected plot twist.  Angel becoming a beast was just tiresome, as was the old 'join the rebels to overthrow the bad guys' plot.  Lorne getting killed by the Covenant was a great totally unexpected and shocking cliffhanger!

2X20    Over the Rainbow 
Plot: Angel, Wesley, and the Host crossover to Pylea after Cordy.

Good gawd, why are they wasting the second season finale arc on this Pylea crap?!!  What about Darla and Dru and their evil master plan!  What about Wolfram and Hart!  What about the Senior Partners!  This whole episode is pretty much a cheesy Star Trek episode, just totally unrealistic and insulting to the general realism of the series.  Not to mention the fact that this 'alien' world is basically a medieval town with some rubber masks thrown in!  They're taking a one note joke, the Host's warrior origins, and stretching it to a ludicrous point.  All that said, the episode itself is vaguely entertaining.  There's only three particularly interesting things: Wolfram Hart threatening to buy out Angel's hotel, Angel's sheer joy at being in the sun, and the final twist with Cordy as their new Princess, which totally unexpected.

2X19    Belonging 
Plot: The Host's origins are revealed when a beast and warrior arrive from portals.

First sub par episode in awhile unfortunately, there's just too much padding and nothing important ever happens.  Cordy getting a commercial but finally realizing the futility of it was nice stuff, as was Angel defending her.  Gunn realizing he's become an outcast from his own people is good too, but the best character estrangement bit was Wesley's phone call to his overbearing abusive father.  Great stuff, even though we never hear what the father says, but it speaks volumes of the past hints.  The main plot was totally forgettable unfortunately, aside from the interest of the Host's origins.  A beast appears, a warrior appears, they kill the beast.  Who cares?  What's the point?  That said, finding out the Host (or Lorne, or Krevlornswath!) comes from another dimension of emotionless warriors is pretty funny.  And Cordy ending up in the dimension at the end was a total left-field shocker, but I fear it won't be very interesting.  Three episodes left now and we've seen *nothing* from Darla and Drusilla lately, are they the Big Bads or what!  It's worrisome, especially since the Host/demon crap will continue next episode.

2X18    Dead End 
Plot: Angel and Lindsey must team up on a Wolfram & Hart body donor program.

Good episode, though nothing particularly stellar happened.  Seeing a day in the life of Lindsey was good, and getting a new 'evil' hand was surprising and cool.  Lindsey having to team up with Angel was interesting, most especially because this is the new happier Angel.  The actual main plot of stopping the body donor program wasn't terribly interesting (didn't even fight the demons involved!).  When Angel blows the building up, he killed about a dozen humans- shouldn't he loose his soul or something?!  Why wasn't anyone concerned about this?!  The final scene in the Boardroom with Lindsey going nutso about his "evil hand" was absolutely hilarious, it was the highlight of the episode.  Hilarious and creepy at the same time, and Liliah proves herself as the new boss.  Lindsey quitting the firm was a tad abrupt for me, and what is he thinking just going back home?  Surely Wolfram & Hart would just assassinate him!  Angel saying goodbye and leaving a prank on the truck was hilarious.  Are they going somewhere with Cordy being depressed over her visions..?

2X17    Disharmony 
Plot: Harmony visits Cordy and joins the team to fight a vampire pyramid scheme.

A comedic classic!  The faux-lesbian-as-vampire bit was absolutely hilarious, and plus it got a hilarious and extremely welcome Willow cameo; I love these logical mini-crossovers they're doing this week!  Harmony tagging along with the gang was also quite funny.  The vampire pyramid scheme was also hilarious.  Angel working overtime to be sensitive for Cordy and then finally just buying her clothes to her delight was absolutely hilarious.  My only real beef with the episode is the promise of a fight with a *one hundred* vamp army turning out to be a couple dozen vamps at best, what a let down.  And once again they let a vamp escape to kill hundreds of innocents just because they knew her when she used to be human, it's quite disturbing.  It's really cool to have Wesley as the boss now (and I'm glad he's still injured!).

2X16    Epiphany 
Plot: Angel realizes the err of his ways and must save Cordy Wesley and Gunn.

Major disappointing! We go from the epic story arc of last episode to just another random demon attack.  All the cool things "Reprise" set up go to waste; the Wolfram Hart revelation, Angel giving up, Angel (not) going evil, Darla's Secret Plan, the Senior Partner, Kate killing herself, all of it!  Total cop out.  That said, Angel having an epiphany and realizing if nothing matters than everything does is truly touching, and his path back towards the light is wonderful.  It was just too easy!  The three eyed demons were pretty cool, though Lindsey in his pink 50s pickup truck and country western getup was just laughably stupid.  Kate surviving was very disappointing, though Angel redeeming himself with her made for a very touching scene.  The demon plot was a total rip off of "Happy Anniversary" even down to the demons attacking Angel's car.

2X15    Reprise 
Plot: Wolfram and Hart raises a Senior Partner which Angel attempts to kill.

Maybe the best episode yet (and it's about damn time something happened!).  There was a palpable sense of dread and foreboding to the Review that was excellently set up, and it was great to see a Senior Partner coming and all the mystical stuff with gloves and rings for battle.  Darla finally returns, unfortunately without Dru, though what exactly she was planning wasn't clearly explained.  Kate getting fired and then attempting suicide was a wonderfully moving event, you really feel for the character.  Virginia leaving Wesley was also a depressing shocker.  Angel attacking the Review ceremony was very cool, especially the out the window dive at the Senior Partner, awesome stuff.  But the absolute topper was Angel and Holland in the elevator, this is probably the best scene the show has ever done.  The look on Angel's face just sold it all, the total absence of hope, waiting for death.  Holland's speech was brilliant and the revelation of Wolfram & Hart was spectacular.  They're not out to 'win', they are the evil that is component to humanity.  Angel can't beat them because they are what he's fighting for in a way.  Also love the twist of 'Home Office' being Earth.  Angel just totally looses all hope, gives up, it's very moving.  His walk through the street, and then giving himself to Darla.  Wow.  Course, I expect Angel to keep his soul or just loose it temporarily or for it to all be a trick.

2X14    The Thin Dead Line 
Plot:  Zombie cops rough up the neighborhood.

A good standalone like this season's opening batch!  The idea of a Police Captain zombifying dead cops to protect the streets is a wonderful idea and even presents a cool moral dilemma (too bad the zombie cops seemed totally racist though).  The 'Night of the Living Dead' besieging was a cool sequence.  Wesley getting shot was an absolute shocker done to great dramatic effect.  Nice to see Angel paired up with Kate again (but man I wish they zombifying Kate's Dad!).  I'm not happy seeing Anne again since I didn't like the character much to begin with.  Glad to see they're addressing Gunn suddenly abandoning his people to work with Wesley and Cordy.  The girl with the eye in the back of her was cool!

2X13    Happy Anniversary 
Plot:  Angel and the Host must stop a scientist from freezing time.

The weakest this season, watchable, but when are we going to get back to Darla and Dru!  The 'mad' scientist plot was just totally out of place, while I appreciate what they were trying to do, and the guy's depression was even a tad well done, it's just not that hot.  The demons look great, but they're just silent thugs unfortunately.  The only really good scene was Angel bitching about his life to the Host.  I did enjoy the Angel-Host pairing though.  The Cordy-Gunn-Wesley subplot was much better, I'd rather see more of it, Wesley as Sherlock was a hoot and it's nice to see Virgina again and the gang find success.

2X12    Blood Money 
Plot: Angel helps a social worker that Wolfram & Hart helps; an old foe comes after Angel.

A surprisingly average episode.  After all the high drama of Darla and Drusilla, Angel trying to embarrass Lindsey and Lilah comes off as terribly mundane.  And all the stuff with the social worker stuff wasn't very interesting either (and it was only on a second viewing that I realized 'Anne' was from Buffy!).  Boone was slightly interesting as a bit character, an immortal with a sense of honor, in fact I would've liked to have seen more of him.  The twist that he was working with Angel was surprising, but I liked that they still fought.  Darla and Dru were sorely missed, after the break neck pace of recent episodes this was a real letdown.  But at least we learned why Wolfram & Hart won't kill Angel- because he's going to be in the Apocalypse and they want him off the side of good.

2X11    Redefinition 
Plot: Angel fights dirty against Darla and Dru raising a demon army; Wesley, Cordy, and Gunn seek direction.

Another excellent episode, though "Reunion" was more shocking.  I'm disappointed to see Angel is just fighting dirty rather than loosing his heroic determination, but it's still great.  Why doesn't he just call Buffy for help?  Him torching Darla and Dru was wonderful and shocking, especially with the aftermath of Dru crying out in pain.  I'm very interested in Darla as a Big Bad with some master plan to take power using Wolfram Hart- very cool!  Lindsey and Lilah surviving the massacre really takes from the shock of the "Reunion" ending, but it's nice to see their infighting continue.  Lilah trying to frame Lindsey was particularly funny.  Will we be seeing the Senior Partners soon now...?  The Wesley-Cordy-Gunn subplot was an absolute hoot, plus it was really touching to see them getting drunk and singing together so affectionately.  And it was great to see Virginia again, thus must make her a recurring character!  This season has gotten so exciting!

2X10    Reunion 
Plot: Angel attempts to stop the vampire duo of Darla and Drusilla.

Great action-packed shocking episode!  Darla and Drusilla make a wonderful vampire team and will be great Big Bads for the season.  Angel's fight with them was incredible.  It's great to finally have Drusilla back!  I'm curious why Darla was fighting Dru at first- is something up with that?  Nice to see Kate helping Angel.  Angel letting Darla and Dru kill the Wolfram Hart gang is absolutely shocking!  I gotta wonder if all three will actually die after all the character-building.  Angel is heading into serious darkness here, I can't wait to see more.  Firing Cordy Wesley and Gunn was just as shocking a plot twist.  Great way to end the year!

2X9    The Trial 
Plot: Angel undergoes a series of tests to cure Darla's illness.

Pretty average on the whole unfortunately.  I'm getting pretty sick of this Human Darla storyline they just keep dragging it out forever, so most of this episode was pretty dull and the whole Angel survives deadly tests thing was a big yawner (not to mention horribly unoriginal).  Darla trying to get a young vamp to turn her was funny, and Darla singing karyoke was just... weird.  The flashback of their last moments before he got a soul were interesting though I'd like to've heard more about this Holtz vampire hunter.  The whole episode was pretty forgettable until that incredible shocker ending- Drusilla shows up with Wolfram and Hart and turns Darla!!  My god!  Hell of a plot twist plus now Darla can be evil again and we can see Drusilla in current day.  While this episode wasn't too hot it certainly brilliant setup the next few eps.

2X8    The Shroud of Rahmon 
Plot: Angel and Gunn infiltrate a demon museum heist for a shroud that brings insanity.

Enjoyable episode, love the 'Usual Suspects' parody.  Angel posing as a lounge lizard was funny and the dupe with Gunn in the middle of mind alterations was cool.  A nice suspenseful break-in with cool plot twists; I was particularly shocked by Angel biting Kate (though it would have been less of a cop-out if she had DIED).  Wesley and Cordy were pretty funny drugged out (Cordy's new hair is certainly different too).  Cool to see Tony Todd as a demon.  I find Wesley's fear about Angel drinking blood for the first time in so long comical since he drank Buffy's blood about a year and a four months ago and we never saw any ill-effects from that!

2X7    Darla
Plot: Darla begins to feel remorse; the history of Angel and Darla is told in flashbacks.

The best yet this season thanks to those brilliant flashback scenes.  I especially loved seeing The Master with Angelus and Darla, and the way this episode brilliantly explains the inconsistencies between Season One vamps and vamps in the later years.  Great to see the return of The Master and Drusilla.  The sharing of scenes with the Buffy episode from different perspectives was a really cool gimmick.  I was shocked that Angel returned to Darla after getting his soul and tried to be an evil vampire again, this was the low point of Angel's history and it was wonderful to see.  The modern day plot was much more mundane but still interesting.  Darla gets a conscious and goes nuts but it happens to quickly for me.  I'm still curious to see how Wolfram Hart want this all to happen, I can't wait to see what they're planning that they need to keep Angel so distracted!  I was surprised when Darla wanted Angel to make her a vampire again, though I really think they're dragging this out.

2X6    Guise Will Be Guise
Plot: Wesley masquerades as Angel to protect a magical tycoon's daughter; Angel visits a mystic for advice.

Hilarious episode that gives Wesley some great material.  Wesley masquerading as Angel is an absolute laugh-riot, especially when he accidentally breaks all the vampire rules.  I also thought his romance with Virginia was believable and touching, and the magic company concept was pretty funny.  Angel's subplot with the swami was also interesting.  I really like how they take every aspect of him and make it mean something, especially with the car and the clothes and the hair.  Great self parody!  I was pretty shocked when it turned out the swami was an impostor, as always great plot twists.  But the funniest thing is the whole virgin ruse thing about the sacrifice.  Hilarious!

2X5    Dear Boy 
Plot: Angel discovers Darla is alive and human; Kate comes after Angel.

Pretty good, though it's a bit anti-climactic for the whole Darla arc.  Darla getting Angel in trouble with the law and Kate was very clever and cool; nice to finally see Kate again and come after the sidekicks at the hotel.  Angel's big confrontation with Darla was also very cool, and I liked how Angel told her she has a soul now and can be redeemed (I wasn't expecting this angle).  Though now I wonder where this plot will be going.  The flashback scenes with Drusilla were cool, though pretty useless to the episode as a whole; presumably this was just an audience reminder for Dru's upcoming return.  That location under the water tower looked incredibly alien and cool!

2X4    Untouched 
Plot: Angel helps a girl with telekinetic powers being manipulated by Wolfram and Hart.

A surprisingly mundane episode.  It would have been much better if the TK girl was evil.  Still, for an 'Angel helps abused girl' episode it works pretty good.  Angel's introduction to her offering help was surprisingly touching.  The TK effect was cool.  The girl rooming with Lilah was a surprising plot twist, nice to see Wolfram and Hart again.  Great to see Holland again.  I loved the way Wesley confronted the girl about the abusive father- another hint that the same happened to him.  I really liked the way Cordy confronted the girl so bravely.

2X3    First Impressions 
Plot: Cordy teams up with Gunn when a demon hunts him; Angel is visted by Darla in his dreams.

This was a surprisingly good episode.  I really liked the Cordy-Gunn partnership, Cordy really demonstrates her new caring/heroic side well.  I particularly liked it when she saved Veronica's life with quick medical care and her ending pledge to help Gunn.  The character analysis of Gunn was also interesting, nice to give him something to do.  I also liked how it kind of a linear 'long night' narrative.  The demon looked very cool, and I was surprised about the human form.  Angel and Wesley on the motorbike with the pink helmet was hilarious, as was Cordy getting the Angel mobile stolen.  The Angel-Darla subplot was very creepy and promising, the night moon-bathing was particularly creepy.  Nice to see David Nabitt again, plus he even gets to do something useful- but what was up with Cordy being so attracted to him suddenly?!

2X2    Are You or Have You Ever Been 
Plot:  Angel returns a haunted hotel he lived in during 1952.

Great to have a different kind of episode.  The flashback sequences are excellently delivered, but the episode didn't deliver on the spookiness very well.  It's great to see what Angel was like in the '50s, how uncaring he is about humanity.  It makes an interesting contrast to today, and the period piece stuff was great as well.  The whole bit with Judy was also a bit over the top in thematically connecting her to Angel.  I thought the demon had an incredibly cool look, no arms, twelve feet tall, tentacle feet, the face, the voice, it was all great.  Too bad he was killed so easily like most 'major' demons.  Angel getting lynched by a mob was also neat, especially since Judy betrayed him, so he wrote off the people and left without fighting the demon.  Also appreciated the small bit at the end about Wesley being paranoid and bickering with Gunn.

2X1    Judgement 
Plot:  Angel must protect a pregnant woman from a mystical council after accidently killing her protector.

An excellent stand-alone episode that reintroduces the show marvelously.  I particularly liked the teaser where Cordy and Wesley get the bat signal and show up at the gym to fight some demons.  This ep was filled with great location shots and action sequences; I particularly loved Angel in the jousting match in the middle of a city street with those freaky judges watching.  I also liked the twist of Angel killing a good guy and the pain he feels about it afterwards.  Fortunately they didn't spend too much time with the pregnant lady, which would be a real rehash of earlier lame episodes.  The demon karyoke bar was a hilarious concept, and Angel singing quite badly was a real hoot (he thinks it kinda pretty!).  I'm not sure if having Gunn as a regular is a good idea, but at least he isn't living with them or something.  I really wish we got more with Darla and Wolfram Hart, but at least we got a hint.  And man, that final scene with Faith just blew me away.  I was totally not expecting her to show up, and it's great to get a little check in with her like this.  I really liked the friendship that has bloomed between Angel and Faith, and that scene really tied into the episode's theme well.  Faith is learning control in prison, great.  Angel getting a little cocky over his coming mortality was also good, I thought it really humanized him as a character so to speak.