ANGEL
Season 4

Available on DVD

1. Deep Down
2. Ground State
3. The House Always Wins
4. Slouching Toward Bethlehem
5. Supersymmetry
6. Spin the Bottle
7. Apocalypse, Nowish
8. Habeas Corpses
9. Long Day’s Journey
10. Awakening
11. Soulless
12. Calvary
13. Salvage
14. Release
15. Orpheus
16. Players
17. Inside Out
18. Shiny Happy People
19. The Magic Bullet
20. Sacrifice
21. Peace Out
22. Home

Deep Down

Angel and Cordelia are still missing, but Wesley discovers the location of at least one of them.

ANGEL is back, but before we can move onto whatever dark treats lie in wait for us in this season, we have to deal with the fallout from the last. Angel himself is languishing at the bottom of the ocean and hallucinating some very bad dreams. On the surface, Gunn and Fred are trying to get through to Angel's son, not realising that he is the one who put Angel in his watery prison in the first place. It is inkeeping with the show's irony that it is Wesley, disgraced and hated, who is the one who debases himself the most to get the result that everyone needs, knowing that he won't even be thanked for it.

It's not the greatest start to a new season, but the show was left in some very dark places and those have to be dealt with. At least the sense of humour remains, grim and beneath the surface perhaps, but with some nice lines that serve to underline the drama rather than undermine it.

Ground State

Angel requires an ancient artefact to help locate Cordelia, but its held by some very bad people and he is not the only burglar out to retrieve it. When the rival turns out to have the power to control electricity, life gets complicated indeed.

This episode looks very much like the origin story for a new series regular, or at least semi-regular character and doesn't fit into the main arc of the story, except very tangentially. In fact, the episode is much more interested in its electrically-powered heroine Gwen than it is about the series regulars. Alexa Davalos makes for an interesting, and interestingly-flawed, character. She anchors this standalone episode, which could also be intended as a back-door pilot for a new spin-off show, but if that's the case it fails to set up a scenario into which the character fits.

This is the second episode in a row that underwhelms. It's not actually bad - the show's writers and cast are too talented for that to be an issue - but we have come to expect more from ANGEL than 'not bad'. Top

The House Always Wins

With no other avenue of investigation, Angel and the gang go on a road trip to Las Vegas where Lorne is wowing nightly in a hotel revue. That, though, is a front for stealing people's fates and Angel's fate as a lynchpin in the Apocalypse will bring a very pretty penny.

This is a brighter, breezier episode, as befits its location. It's also the way to bring Andy Halleck's karaoke aura reading demon back into the fold. As a result, it doesn't feed into any significant plot arc and seems somewhat flimsy and inconsequential as a result. Entertaining, amusing and fun, but without any real weight.

ANGEL fails to impress for the third episode running and with no plot arc beyond a notional search for Cordelia emerging that's a problem, although the final moments promise a change to all that.

Slouching Toward Bethlehem

Cordelia has returned with no memory of her former life. Angel and the team try to spare her the scary details, but that plan backfires spectacularly when she runs into the arms of Connor, the only one telling her the truth.

The whole lost memory thing has been done before, and not least in BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER, so it is disappointing to see it used again to such muted effect. Yes, there are some entertaining moments and fun dialogue, but the twists and turns that the plot forces the characters to go through leaves it feeling contrived and unconvincing.

It is, however, good to have Charisma Carpenter back as something more than a spectator, and she gets most of the good lines and enjoys being back to the old, snarky Cordelia, but that doesn't cover over the cracks in the plot. The increased involvement of Vinecnt Kartheiser as Connor doesn't improve matters as he proves to have precious little charisma of his own, which makes Cordelia's decisions even harder to believe.

Supersymmetry

Fred publishes a paper about the physics behind interdimensional portals and is asked to present it at her old university. Unfortunately, it seems that the portals haven't quite finished with her.

Supersymmetry is a standalone episode that fills in some of the background as to how Fred came to be in Pylea in the first place when Angel saved her. It's nice to have, but is hardly essential and doesn't advance, or even introduce, any main plotline.

What it does advance is the rivalry between Gunn and Wesley for Fred's affections, taking all three of them to darker personal places than they have been before (except Wesley).

Spin the Bottle

Lorne comes up with a memory recovery spell for Cordelia that can't fail. When it does fail, the entire gang revert to their youths, with no memory of each other or who amongst them is the vampire.

We're back in the land of the lost memories, but this time around the script and performances do the story justice. The framing device of having the story narrated by Lorne from a stage is a gimmick that we could have done without, but the cast have a complete blast going back to the characters that we first met. Charisma Carpenter is delightful as the bitch queen of high school from the early days of BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER and Alexis Denisof is fun as the pompous and and ineffective Wesley, which shows just how far the character has come. Gunn is the streetwise kid with attitude and David Boreanaz gets to have fun with his pre-vampire Liam persona, minus the dodgy irish accent.

There is lots of fun to be had in a script full of some great one liners ("Hello, Salty Goodness") and lively banter. Easily the best of the episodes of this season to date and a sign, we hope, of better things to come.

Apocalypse, Nowish

Cordelia’s fragmented memory foretells the coming of a beast to end the world (again). Fred takes a little time out from the group to figure out what she wants and Cordelia grows closer to Connor.

Finally, season 4 of ANGEL kicks into gear. There's a dark sense of foreboding about the coming danger that is reflected in the slow breakdown of Fred and Gunn's relationship and the erosion of Cordelia's mind under the effects of the visions she is having. Something very bad is coming and, surprisingly, it's coming right now.

After faffing around for six episodes, the season comes up with threat worth the name and it turns out to be rocky version of the Tim Curry character from LEGEND, all horns and contact lenses and toothy grins. Seriously, Ridley Scott could sue. The fact that the creature is unknown, scares even Wolfram and Hart and doesn't seem to have an agenda, other than bringing armageddon to the City of Angels, makes it pretty interesting. No doubt we will learn more in the episodes to come.

The dark descent is peppered with some nice jokes that underline the drama rather than undermine it. The pace rattles along and everything seems to be running smoothly in the way that ANGEL should.

Apart, that is, from the relationship between Cordelia and Connor. That makes no sense whatsoever. She declares that she loves Angel, but can't be with him and then jumps into bed with his son? Say what? The whole scene rings untrue, despite Charisma Carpenter giving the speech about why she is going to do what she is going to do far more emotional depth than it deserves. No matter how good her delivery, it never convinces for a second. Why this storyline is being pushed is a bigger mystery than the newly-arrived monster.

It looks like the end of the world has arrived at last. What are the team going to do about it?

Habeas Corpses

Relationships are strained all around and Connor goes to Wolfram and Hart to find out what his link is with the Beast, just at the point where the Beast breaks in and starts destroying the place. Angel goes in to save his son, whilst Wesley goes in to save Lilah, only hours after ending their liaisons.

This is close to filler material, the plot being solely an excuse to put the characters through the emotional wringer some more. Wesley's dark descent stalls and stutters into a more upward path, whilst Cordelia and Angel struggle with the decimation of their relationship. This part of the storyline continues to be less than convincing.

Long Day’s Journey

The Beast is assembling five magical objects to blot out the sun. Each is hidden within a magical being and the gang have to look after the remaining survivior.

Gwen, the electro-girl is back, though to little effect. This episode is run-of-the-mill and doesn't advance things very much. There's a likeably unlikeable character to be protected and not a lot else that's out of the ordinary, but even run-of-the-mill ANGEL is better than a good many other shows and there is still plenty of snappy dialogue and action beats to be getting on with.

Awakening

The Beast knew Angel, but Angel is unaware of this. The only way to get information is to bring back Angelus. When this fails, the team learn of a magical portal between the city that will lead them to a sword that can kill the creature.

As the city begins to react to the sun being turned off, the team turn to despearte measures. They need information and the only source of that appears to be Angelus, but the story takes a few loops along the way. The failure of the attempt to extract Angel's soul is believable enough, but what comes after seems a little bit too easy. There's some dungeons and dragons tests to be overcome and then, hey presto, a magic sword that can kill the the Big Bad.

And that's when the writers throw in a twist that you don't see coming, but which makes absolute sense the moment that it's revealed. That puts everything right back on track.

Soulless

Angelus starts to work his insidious mind games on the gang and they quickly start to unravel. Only a promise made by Cordelia gets him to tell the truth, but can he be trusted and will his knowledge prove useful?

One of the problems with episodes like this is that there isn't time enough for Angelus to be subtle in his taunting and provocation, so the fact that the rest of the characters fall for some pretty obvious barbs and tactics is less than believable. Cordelia's surprising offer and the response it gets is the only part of this that seems in any way real. The fact that it proves to be fruitless in the end makes the whole thing less satisfying as well.

Calvary

Lilah appears at the hotel in time to learn that the Beast is only the precursor to the main threat to Humanity. With no further use for Angelus, Cordy initiates a black magic spell to temporarily reinstate Angel's soul, but there is more going on than meets the eye.

This season has been all about the rug pulls and the final scene of this episode brings another one. Before that, there's more bitchiness than you can swing a cat at and it's not all from Angelus. The addition of Lilah to the group adds some bite to the proceedings, but the constant bickering between the heroes episode after episode is getting a bit wearing on the patience.

The revelation that the Beast is playing a long game is a new twist and explains the lack of activity from the supposed Big Bad since the switching off of the sun. The Beast has been a largely uninteresting villain since its arrival and now it has been shown to be just a sideshow. In fact, the whole episode is a little bit of a sideshow until that final rug pull.

Salvage

Wesley realises that Angelus is too powerful for the gang alone and goes in search of an ally, but this ally is determined that she is not going to kill Angelus.

The return of Eliza Dushku as Faith the Vampire Slayer gives the show a real pep, mixing up the dynamics and providing someone who is outside of the tangled webs of relationships that the characters have woven, bringing back a little focus to events. Certainly, the plot rushes headlong forwards with little of the angst that has been dogging the show this season and with a refreshed sense of purpose. It doesn't hurt that she's as kick-ass as ever, something that Connor is impressed by right away.

The revelation of the snake in the garden gets ickier in stages as Cordy first locks lips with the Beast and then gives Connor some news that is most definitely on the ickier side of icky. The whole Connor/Cordy storylines continues to be disturbing in a bad way, though less so now that it is clear that Cordelia is either not Cordelia or is Cordelia under some sort of outside control.

And then there is the dramatic and sudden end to the Beast storyline. Though the story has moved beyond the Beast itself, the abrupt conclusion of one chapter before the next has started properly is distinctly jarring.

Release

Wesley and Faith take to the streets to track down Angelus, but disagree on what they will have to do when they find him.

The focused storytelling that came in with the return of Faith to LA continues in this episode. The hunt is on and it is going to take more than brute strength to win the day. The question is whether Faith has that and the desire to win as well.

This climaxes in a full-on battle between Slayer and vampire that kicks some serious ass and is worth the wait. There has rarely been anything in either BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER to match it. Excellent choreography, exciting moves and some character work in there as well. The final outcome isn't to be sniffed at either, leaving a hell of a cliffhanger for the next episode.

Orpheus

Faith is dying and Angelus faces some of the most painful memories from Angel's past. An old friend from Sunnydale shows up to assist with the spell to put the soul back in the vampire.

Shortly after the arrival of Faith, we get Alyson Hannigan's Willow dropping by for a quick visit in this episode. The twist on the outcome of the fight between Angelus and Faith sets up an episode that works despite the lack of originality. Enemies sharing a dream state of memories? Is there a science fiction or fantasy show of any length that hasn't done something like this? It doesn't matter, though, because the characters are the thing and we are invested enough in these for us to care. The breaking of the jar holding Angel's soul and its reinstatement is the lesser of the two strands, but does have a nice face-off between the ensorcelled Cordy and the sorcerous Willow. There's also some lovely moments as Wesley and Willow compare darknesses and Willow and Cordy catch up - "How have you been? Higher Being. Ultimate evil.". You don't exchanges like that anywhere else.

Players

Cordelia is pregnant, but the question is with what?

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Inside Out

Cordelia is acting odd and is on the run. Her target would appear to be Connor.

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Shiny Happy People

Cordelia's baby is born and it is not human. What it is turns out to be a beautiful woman whose very presence is enough to make people fall to their knees in worship, including all of the gang. Except for Fred, who has a rude awakening.

Well, the audience certainly wasn't expecting that. In another clever rug-pull, the monster that the entire season has been leading up to is not a monster at all, but the exact opposite. Then, just as the audience is managing to regain its equilibrium, the rug is pulled again in the expected direction when Fred discovers the truth in one of the worst special effects that the show has yet produced.

This is all done so well, and with such delight at the tricks the makers are playing that its hard to mind that nothing much actually happens for the majority of the episode. Gina Torres is a fine choice for Jasmine, with a smile that can light up a room and the grace to go with it, but with just a hint of something not quite right underneath. This certainly sends things in another direction.

The Magic Bullet

Friendless and alone,Fred is on the run from the whole of LA, now controlled by the mysterious Jasmine, but she thinks she knows why she can see the truth that eludes everyone else and a way to make Angel see the same thing.

The loneliness of one person fighting against the system is personified in Fred's fear and paranoia. This is Amy Acker's episode and she shines as she goes from defiance to fear to surrender and back to defiance. She carries the episode easily and it doesn't matter that the rest of the cast have nothing to do other than walk around with silly grins on their faces.

Jasmine's growing influence reveals her true purpose and, for added good measure, she eats people as well, just in case mind-controlling the whole world wasn't evil enough. The little demon in a hole shows that it is business as usual even so.

Sacrifice

Cordelia, in a coma since Jasmine was born, holds the secret to freeing the rest of Angel's team from Jasmine's influence. However, they are now all on the run with no idea how to beat the threat.

Having brought the team to its knees and made it impossible for them to defeat the evil, but beloved, Jasmine, it's time for the show to reveal its Deus Ex Machina solution to the insoluble problem. It's quite an elegant one and introduced through a crab-legged killing machine.

The tension between Angel and Connor reaches its height despite the fact that it makes absolutely no sense that he was never under Jasmine's control. She's his daughter, sort of, but she treats him with the same condescending attitude as everyone else. The whole Connor situation has been the weak link of the season, even before taking in Vincent Kartheiser's limited acting range.

It's bloodier in places than the usual episode and the crab-legged beastie is a lot of fun, not least when torturing a vampire and wondering why it's not dying.

Peace Out

Angel must fight in a hell dimension for the name that will stop Jasmine's scheme, whilst the rest of his team must fight Connor and Jasmine's soldiers for their lives.

The exteriors of the hell dimension in which Angel finds himself are pretty poor special effects, but that aside the episode moves at a nice pace and has some nice dialogue along the way. Jasmine's fall is pretty rapid and spectacular, but after a pretty good smackdown involving throwing cars off bridges, her ultimate end is surprisingly simple and doesn't make that much sense.

It all goes back to the Angel/Connor dynamic that has blighted this entire season and Jasmine seems superfluous to that. Even so, it ties up matters nicely, or would do if this was the final episode. There's still one more to go, but exactly what the writers have lined up for that is the question.

Home

Connor goes on a rampage that Angel can only end by killing him or accepting a very strange offer from Wolfram and Hart.

The rug-pulling continues with this final episode that mainly sets up the next season whilst finally putting the Connor situation to bed. It's a nice twist, made all the better by bidding a less than fond farewell to Connor. The storyline never worked and there was nothing else that could be done with it. Even so, the usual lack of sense instils the last element as Connor loses his mind and becomes a suicide bomber, all to get Daddy's attention. It's a plot machination to make Angel take the deal that's on the table, but it's clunky and awkward and an appropriate send off.

The rest of the episode, though, is lots of fun with some very snarky dialogue and lovely acting from the gang as they try to deal with the plot twist. The silence with which they greet Lilah's offer is delightfully long and painful. Their reaction to the welcome that awaits them in Wolfram and Hart is funny and smart and, occasionally touching. With Connor out of the picture, the fifth season might be a big improvement.