Season Three Episode Reviews

3X22    Tomorrow 
Plot:  Connor plots revenge on Angel; everybody leaves!

One hell of a cliffhanger, but the episode takes forever to get going.  Angel and Cordy realizing they're meant for each other is sweet, and nicely juxtaposed with the departures of Groo and Lorne.  Connor takes forever to make his move.  The Linwood helicopter attack was cool but woefully brief.  Wesley screwing Lilah was hilarious and disturbing.  The Angel-Connor fight was pretty disappointing without any superhuman feats.  Cordy's Ascension was a shocker, and she better be back next year, but wow was it great seeing Skip again!  Angel getting buried alive at sea was very cool, though it's obvious he'll be retrieved quite easily.  Great contrast of Cordy rising and Angel falling.

3X21    Benediction 
Plot: Connor/Steven bonds with Angel while Holtz plots his end.

Great episode, but not nearly as good as the ones with Sahjan in it!  Angel and Steven fighting together against the vamps made for a good action scene, but it was basically a rehash of last episode with vamps.  Their play fighting was very touching.  Lilah tempting Wesley with revenge on Justine is interesting.  Steven going after Cordy with a knife was a shocker, as was her angelic power, which is a very logical extension of her visions.  Angel's confrontation with Holtz was a very touching scene, I love that Holtz realized the err of his ways, and Angel apologizing to him.  But then it turns the whole thing was a lie?  That all along he was plotting to have himself killed to frame Angel for it?  While that's one hell of a plot twist, it kinda ruins all the great Holtz stuff that came before it.  Groo finally learned he's not for Cordy too.

3X20    A New World 
Plot: Connor returns as a warrior teenager to kill Angel and runs into some drug thugs.

The Angel/Connor stuff was great, but it's dragged down by a very lame druggie junkie/dealer crime plot.  I really loved the way Angel talked to Connor and tried to get through to him.  That opening slomo fight scene was awesome!  Mister Meerna was kinda funny.  So what about the beast's mate, is she here or not?  Old Holtz?!  Old Holtz?!  That was a hell of a cliffhanger, but what are the last two episodes going to be about?

3X19    The Price 
Plot: Other dimensional slugs infest the hotel because of Angel's dark magic spell.

Decent standalone episode, the CGI slugs besieging the darkened hotel was very atmospheric.  I like them realizing how much they need Wesley, and Wesley being pissed at them too.  Fred getting possessed was a typical shocker, but Cordy absorbing the slugs was pretty surprising, if a bit lame.  Liked the Lilah-Gavin bickering subplot, good to finally see Gavin again.  It's interesting that the whole slug thing was just an aftereffect of the Destroyer coming through.  The Destroyer turning out to be Connor was pretty predictable, but I can't wait to find out what happens next, and that monster that he killed was pretty cool!

3X18    Double Or Nothing 
Plot: Gunn owes his soul to a demon casino broker and must break up with Fred.

First not-great episode in half a season, but still decent.  The whole demon casino thing was a real missed opportunity. The tragedy of Gunn selling his soul for a truck and giving up his life for Fred was pretty wasted by the cop-out ending.  The elderly demon couple was a hilarious bit.  I liked the Repo Man and Jenoff characters and makeup though.  Gunn's perfect day of happiness with Fred can't compare to the tragedy of Angel/Buffy in "I Will Remember You".  And his breakup was yet another wasted opportunity.  Nice to have Cordy and Groo finally back!  Angel loosing the game was funny but predictable, as was just killing Jenoff, though that regenerating head was seriously freaky.

3X17    Forgiving 
Plot: Angel kidnaps Linwood to enforce Wolfram & Hart's aid in finding Sahjan.

Another excellent episode with a great focus on Sahjan!  Angel kidnapping Linwood is shocking, funny, AND logical.  Angel and Lilah's visit to the White Room with that little girl was extremely interesting, most especially to learn the origin of Sahjan.  Angel distractedly taking out Justine's attack was sweet.  The big confrontation with Sahjan was spectacular, once again he proves himself to be hilarious and dangerous at the same time.  And man, he rewrote the prophecies to screw over Wesley!  It's a shame he got trapped in the urn by Justine, it's pretty anti-climactic, he'd better return!  Angel's final scene with Wesley was very chilling, but I hope he gets over it fast.

3X16    Sleep Tight 
Plot:  Wesley kidnaps Connor as Holtz and Wolfram and Hart strike.

One of the best ever!  Wesley's dilemma is absolutely riveting.  Angel's brief turn to violence is shocking, as is the revelation that Wolfram & Hart has been feeding him his own son's blood.  Very interesting for Angel and Sahjan to meet.  Wesley having to attack Lorne was great.  Fred murders a Holtz soldier, but we don't see any consequences of this.  Justine slitting Wesley's throat to take Connor has to be one of the most shocking plot twists ever done!  He better survive!  The big finale between Angel, Holtz, Sahjan, and Lilah was spectacular stuff.  Nice to see Sahjan finally showing some power, but we had better not have to wait until next season to see him!  Holtz hopping in the demon dimension with Connor was an unexpected ending, but I knew the baby had to go.  Spectacular storyarc all around, spectacular show.

3X15    Loyalty 
Plot:  Holtz and his men surveil Angel Investigations; Sahjan plots with Lilah against Angel.

Another classic!  I'm delighted to finally see a return to the Holtz-Sahjan storyline.  Sahjan remains hilarious and fascinating, especially now that he's plotting with Lilah to manipulate Holtz.  While Lilah going against policy to kill Angel is cool, how is she going to keep this secret from the telepath checks?  I love that Holtz has this entire army of vampire slayers now, and it's very clever the way they recon Angel and test his people in recorded action.  Loa the Hamburger God is one of the most hilarious things they've ever done!  Wesley's dilemma of what to do with Angel and Connor was just stupendous.  His confrontation with Holtz is spectacular.  The ending was also really moving, when Wesley decided to abandon following the prophesy and just laughs it off, and then the earthquake hits and the portents come true, man was that creepy.  Delighted to see the Gunn-Fred romance shoved into the background, hope Cordy and Groo return next episode.

3X14    Couplet 
Plot: Groo aides the team and tempts Cordy as they deal with a tree demon.

Another good interim episode like "Provider", though they need to quit the romantic antics very soon now.  Angel's reaction to Cordy's romance with Groo exemplifies why this show is so superior to Buffy now.  He moves on and he's happy for them, end of story.  Also glad to see Wesley finalize his feelings for Fred (again, let's move on now).  Cordy remaking Groo into Angel's image was hilarious, as was their trip to the demon brothel, and the tree demon with DSL online connection.  The tree demon was a really neat monster, especially given how huge he is, and Angel's technique to defeat it by his vampire nature was very ingenious.  Let's get back to Holtz and Sahjan now... and man what a great cliffhanger!  Cordy and Groo do the deed, and Angel is prophecized to kill Connor!  Whew!

3X13    Waiting in the Wings 
Plot: The gang visits a famous ballet full of immortal performers.

Mildly classic episode, mainly on the great cinematic atmosphere.  Joss must have been in heat writing this one, it's filled with hilarious sexual innuendo.  I didn't like the soap opera antics of the various romances, but they didn't take over the story.  Beautiful location filming in a massive theater!  The Jokers were incredibly creepy bad guys, an excellent touch.  The story of the wizard and the dancer trapped in eternity for displeasing him was an excellent and moving ghost tale.  The return of Groo was one hell of a shocking plot twist!  And it also hopefully means an end to the soap opera antics for a little bit more.

3X12    Provider 
Plot: Angel lusts for money for the baby and sends the group of a number of cases.

Good interim episode, I really like having four plots running at once.  Nice to see Justine proving her worth to Holtz, and being sent to recruit more like her (and Angel learning about this!).  It's pretty shocking they never advertised before this, but I really loved the flood of business, all the little plots, and them realizing they have to take one at a time.  The zombie boyfriend plot was pretty cute, and Wesley and Gunn learn they both like Fred.  The Fred-Lorne dolphin demons plot was pretty funny.  Angel's plot with the guy getting revenge on the vamps who killed his friend managed to be pretty deep, and I'm glad to see how quickly Angel realized that money isn't everything.  One problem, shouldn't Angel be like a billionaire by now, with all the centuries of money saved?  He bought an entire hotel, didn't he?

3X11    Birthday 
Plot: Cordy faces death because of her visions and a guardian angel offers her a better life.

Very moving episode that really affirms Cordy as a character.  It's great to reach a major turning point in Cordy's Visions and TPTB, though I think having Cordy dying for a year without telling us was a bit lame.  Skip the Friendly Demon turning out as her spiritual guide was an incredibly welcome surprize that just makes the entire episode.  I love Skip!  He loves The Matrix but hates Gladiator, and gives football screen commentary on the "City Of" party!  Hilarious, plus he's really involving as a concerned guide as well.  Great to see Angel finding a way to talk with the Powers at great cost.  I really wished the events in the alternate universe weren't so rushed, I wanted to see more about Alt-Cordy and her lifestyle before remembering the truth, and also more about the alternate universe.  Great to see a big what-if back from Season One like that, involving Doyle and Angel getting visions.  One Armed Wesley was pretty lame, and Crazy Angel didn't completely work for me.  I love that the solution came at major cost, and can't wait to see more of Cordy the Half Demon!

3X10    Dad 
Plot:  Wolfram and Hart and all the evil forces in L.A. hunt after Angel and his baby.

Another great episode with a really clever twist ending.  I really love the way everybody in the city is out to get the baby, and how they're fighting each other to get to the baby, though they really could do a lot more with this by bringing back previous baddies like the Scourge.  Still, great stuff.  I absolutely love the twist that they were duping Wolfram and Hart all along, really brilliant, but Angel just threatening Linwood to protect the baby was a bit of a cop-out.  Individual life means nothing to Wolfram and Hart so how will that stop anything?  Robo Gwen in Records was a hoot.  Love Holtz poisoning the Grapplers' McDonalds sodas.  This Holtz-Justine thing should be an interesting Mayor-Faith type of relationship; I guess Holtz is after Angel still after all...  Love Wesley torching the baddies!  And it's always wonderful to see, even if briefly, a big car chase scene.  Didn't Angel just murder a ton of humans in that mine explosion?!

3X9    Lullaby 
Plot: Angel and Darla flee Holtz as the baby's arrival grows emminent.

First real classic since "Reprise" with a powerful ending.  That opening scene with Angel and Holtz was really great, though it was pretty idiotic that he didn't immediately tell him about the soul.  Lilah stumbling in was hilarious, and Angel escaping by exploding a grenade in his face was brilliant!  Holtz finding his wife dead and then having to kill his vamped daughter was very tragic.  Sahjan's demon minions turned out incredibly lame in this episode, the only real weakness.  The revelation that the baby has souled Darla was really shocking and tragic, this was really great material for Darla finally, especially when she asks Angel to protect the baby from her when she goes back to being evil.  Man.  Seems a little silly that technology would be involved in the Caritas protection spells.  Holtz firebombing Caritas was a really great plot twist, though I'm pissed Caritas is once again blown up, probably never to return.  The thing that really elevates this episode to something more is the poetic repetition of their lives with Holtz's, it really works on a lot of levels.  That final scene in the rain-drenched alley was extremely moving, one of the best scenes they've ever done, where Darla realizes she's just having justice served and stakes herself to save the baby- not only a touching sacrifice but a real shocker of a plot twist, I never thought Darla would die here.  And then Holtz watching Angel craddle his baby and let him escape while Sahjan screams in his ear, that was just spectacular.  I think that Holtz has realized Angel is good and is secretly working against Sahjan, he just needs to find a way to defeat an intangible demon...

3X8    Quickening 
Plot: Holtz, Wolfram & Hart, and a vampire cult are all after Darla's baby.

First winner of the year, but things are still building.  I really love the way everybody in the city is after Darla's baby, it's quite a mix.  Wolfram & Hart really shine this episode; they have the hotel bugged, they have a very efficient tactical squad, a paranormal OB/GYN doc, a new kinder boss, an army of psychics and mind-readers.  The vamp cult was a funny tidbit, especially when they immediately off the TK Ninja.  Holtz's origin was really interesting stuff, most especially showing him learning about the history he's missed.  The time demon Sahjan is just absolutely hilarious, the way he has these weird colloquialisms in his speech.  Holtz taking out the WF tac squad was a cool twist, as was the clifffhanger of Holtz confronting Angel while Darla goes into labor.  Can't wait to see what's next!

3X7    Offspring 
Plot: A very pregnant Darla goes to Angel with an insatiable hunger as apocalypse looms.

Just good, but heavy set-up for something spectacular.  Darla shows up... but that's about it.  The episode really failed to create any sense of apocalyptic dread like "Reprise" or "The Gift", but the stuff about Angel siring the anti-christ is very interesting.  The Troclon brings the ruin/purification of man... and it has a soul... Can't wait to see it born.  Cordy getting in a room alone with Darla was absolutely idiotic, she deserved to get bit (which was a great shocker!).  Darla as a threat just doesn't work anymore though, she's just yet another vamp albeit a strong one.  Darla's breakdown to Angel was absolutely identical to Faith's, and not in a good way.  Holtz's arrival would be completely shocking had I not been spoiled on it; Holtz is an interesting character but if he's just mortal who cares?  What are his powers?  Angel realizing he has feelings for Cordy thanks to Fred was interesting and funny, but Darla being preggers probably killed that.  Great to see Lorne back in business and happy, and the hilarious Furies again pining for Angel.

3X6    Billy 
Plot: The Hellfire prisoner Billy sends men into murderous rages against women, including Wesley against Fred.

Good but not spectacular... Given Billy's punishment in the hell dimension, his power was extremely anticlimactic, I expected something much more apocalyptic or horrible.  I'm also getting sick of these one-scene-do-nothing Gavin Park appearances, give the man something to do already!  Cordy doing combat training with Angel is good.  Cordy going out to kill Billy and enlisting Lilah's help was great, but it's a real shame she didn't get to kill Billy (having Lilah do it was a major cop out).  The political angle of Billy was a great aspect, too bad it didn't really figure into the episode at all.  Wesley having a crush on Fred was a shock for me, but a pleasant one.  Murderous Wesley hunting Fred through the hotel a la The Shining was really great, spectacular performance.  Love that Gunn shows up to the rescue only to become another attacker himself.  That final Wesley-Fred scene brought me to tears, great stuff.

3X5    Fredless 
Plot: Fred is reunited with her parents.

Lame and disappointing!  The whole episode is spent waiting for the evil/abusive parents revelations that never comes.  I can understand the purpose of misleading the audience to it so they can be surprised, and doing something different from the normal evil parents, but it just comes off as really lame.  The episode is pretty much wasted on a gimmick, Fred decides to stay but she was staying anyway!  A real shame too because I really like Fred.  The bug demons were incredibly cool looking and dangerous (what's with the amazing demons this year eh?), the highlight of the show.  Too bad there wasn't more about them, an entire clan of them besieging the hotel was another big tease.  It's especially nice that they're animalistic demons but not evil ones, that's new.  Cordy and Wesley's acting of Buffy-Angel was hilarious.  Great continuity seeing Caritas still shot up, and Lorne wanting nothing to do with Gunn.  Nice non-dealing of the Buffy/Angel reunion.  Fred's goodbye scenes with the gang were very touching (the one good thing about this plot!) as was the gang sharing bad parents history.

3X4    Carpe Noctem 
Plot: An old man swaps bodies with Angel and has a night on the town.

Some absolutely hilarious bits raise an otherwise average episode.  Marcus-in-Angel hitting on all the ladies and giving the 'I'm not gay' talk to Wesley was an absolute scream, but otherwise this body swapping plot was not done very well.  Angel in Marcus just was not believable at all, and the resolution of the story was ridiculously easy and by the numbers.  Where's the surprise, the drama?  Lilah ending up necking with Marcus-Angel was quite a shocker.  Fred's infatuation with Angel and his obviousness to it was pretty cute, and it was touching when Cordy comforted Fred, they're building quite a nice relationship there.  Nice ending when Willow calls Angel to tell him Buffy's alive!

3X3    That Old Gang of Mine 
Plot: Gunn's old gang begins killing innocent demons and targets Caritas.

Great episode with major Gunn development and an excellent examination of the ethical rules about demon innocence in the Buffyverse.  The opening bit with Merl was absolutely hilarious, and it was really sad but a great twist to kill him off.  Gunn visiting with his old gang is really great stuff, especially since they've secured their land and are now hunting innocent demons; not just the new hotshot Gio but his friend Rondell as well.  That huge gray demon with the Big Gulp was hilarious, and a great makeup job.  The gang taking Caritas hostage was a surprising twist, and made for a really suspenseful hostage situation, especially with poor Fred there too.  The Furies witches were funny.  The resolution with Gunn and Gio and the baby-killing demon adding yet more layers to the ethical question was just great.  Gotta love Fred taking a crossbow to Gio's neck!  Angel's quiet confidence in Gunn and Fred and his own safety was really impressive here.

3X2    That Vision-Thing 
Plot: Lilah strikes Cordy with harmful visions to make Angel rescue someone from a demon realm.

A decent interim episode but a little slow paced.  The mystery of Cordy's vision attacks goes on a little long, but it is very good dramatic stuff, very sympathetic for Cordy (especially with that creaky voice).  Park makes a welcome return to recurring status, no doubt that spraying in the hotel will do something nasty.  It was really sweet to see Fred slowly bonding with the gang.  Too bad the attacks weren't really from TPTB, would have made for a much more interesting story.  Angel giving into to terrorism like this poses a vast ethical dilemma leaving him totally open to manipulation by his enemies.  How did Angel get past the vampire alarm, what did Park have to do with it?  Skip the friendly demon guard was absolutely hilarious, and a stupendous makeup job.  Really curious who the evil guy Angel rescued is.  Darla is nice enough to confirm Angel as the daddy, sounds like the baby is the antichrist or something!  What's with the twenty dick jokes this ep, very weird!

3X1    Heartthrob 
Plot: An invincible vampire-son of Angel's comes after him for revenge.

Excellent season premiere!  While it was a tad repetitive to have another of Angel's 'children' coming after him, making this one temporarily invincible was a great twist, as was Cordy being in danger, and the way it dealt with love and Angel's grieving Buffy was very well done.  While the episode was pretty light on action and plot, it was still a great return to form.  Angel counseling Fred in her room was a really sweet scene, I'm glad she's become a regular.  Cordy comforting Angel was sweet too.  The flashbacks were interesting as always, it's cool that we get to see what Holtz the Vampire Hunter looks like (but what makes him so dangerous?).  Angel's brief fight with the demon monks was cool.  There was some nice location filming of a subway station.  Darla showing up very pregnant was another one of their patent totally shocking plot twists!  The new widescreen format looks beautiful, and they've started an interesting new technique of jump-cutting on vampire fist fights.  Cool.