(”Divided Loyalties” is, now that I come to think of it, a HoMM III map.)

And wow. A brilliant episode, stuffed with awesome character moments, some long due focus on Gunn, also some silliness. I mean, how can one not like this show?

This is perhaps one of the strongest stand-alones that I can remember. That is, to the extent that it can be defined as a stand-alone, seeing as it draws extensively on past events to create a background for the plot. Anyway, the plot really gets to me, and makes me both sick and awestruck. The pleasure-killings of Gunn’s old gang are disgusting, while they at the same time creates an ingenious climate for some character interaction and moments. The former is particularly evident in Gunn’s showdown with his old gang, as well as in his “conversations” with Angel. It really proves what a wonderful character Gunn really is. Perhaps (and I reserve against the opportunity of me forgetting quite a lot here) his strongest episode. Additionally, both Wesley and Fred have some breathtaking moments in this episode. Wesley both when he stands up to Gunn’s old crew in Lorne’s club and when he reprimands Gunn after the whole thing’s over, while Fred really tops the entire episode when she turns the crossbow on the Miami guy’s throat, and gives him a lecture on how fast he’ll bleed to death if she shoots him. A huge yayz0r for that.

And in between all of this goodness, they’ve stuck short scenes where Cordelia attempts to get some Furies to remove the sanctuary spell from Lorne’s club, creating something of a surreal atmosphere to the whole thing. Another huge yayz0r.