Angel decides the gang needs some relaxation time, so he takes them on a road trip to Las Vegas to see how Lorne is getting on. However, instead they find a casino where futures are being very literally traded.

Angel and casinos really don't mix. Double or Nothing last season was a bit of a mess, and this is something of a variation on a theme and, indeed, the first iffy episode of the season so far. It's a nice little premise based on a very familiar Angel and Buffy theme of an aspect of modern life taken totally literally, but all it allows is a lot of people wandering about like zombies. I'm not quite clear on what happens to these people; surely they can't all be still around the casino playing the slot machines? Okay, so the average punter would quickly realize he was never going to win anything and leave, but surely the place's reputation would precede it and make people stay away.

There are a whole bunch of problems with this story. Firstly, how come Angel is affected by the destiny-drainer in the first place? He's not usually vulnerable to such things. Secondly, what exactly is Cordelia mean to be doing in her new role? No one seems to know, as none of them have told us yet. And as she herself points out, what is the point in sitting about overseeing things when she can't do any good? Then there's her plan. How come the best help she can give is moving a wheel on a slot machine, making Angel go back into a room. But why? It doesn't set Angel back to himself, that just seems to happen for no reason, and while he's still out of it, he seems to have no desire to fight, assist or generally save his friends.

It's all a bit odd. Clayton Rohner's evil owner is a caricature and very little threat, as it seems fairly easy to rescue Lorne, and the only bits worth checking out are those featuring Angel's interest in the development of his son, Fred's costume and Wesley on the phone with Lilah. The casino idea has been done to death now, and when the whole episode ends on the return of Cordelia, only with no idea who her friends are, there's the added worry that yet another show has played the dreaded amnesia card. On top of this, the writers were having trouble finding a purpose for Lorne last season; now he's back, can they sort out a reason for him to stick around this year? Let's hope so, or this could get messy...

**

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