Where to begin? This is yet another good episode. Not that any of them are particularly bad — practically every episode in this season is pretty damn impressive — I just feel like mentioning it. Even if I have to do it in every episode commentary I write. (Speaking of episode commentaries, I read in the latest SFX that a complete episode companion to Angel is just released. Apparently, it’s written by the same people who wrote the episode companion to Buffy, and while it supposedly lacks some of the uffy companion’s wit, it’s said to be a great read. Let’s see if I can dig up some stats…yeah, here it is: It’s called “Redeemed — The Unauthorised Guide To Angel”, and it’s written by the same people who wrote “Dusted”, the ditto to Buffy. Just in case anyone’s interested in this stuff. I’m considering it, myself, actually. But then again, I consider just about anything, don’t I? :P )

Anyway, after the previous episode’s cliffhanger revelation, this one sees the beginning of Cordelia manipulation of Connor. Seemingly very subtly, she’s letting him know that she’s the only one that cares for her, and that he now has a purpose: to protect their small “family”. As anyone who’s seen the final episodes of this season knows, Connor behaves rather strange during Jasmine’s reign — like, he serves her despite the fact that he sees her “true” face, and such things. Now, I was wondering how much of this was caused by Cordelia’s manipulation, and how much came from the way he’s been shut out from and shutting himself out of the Angelettes. It’ll be fun to have a look at that in the next seven episodes.

Another interesting thing in this one was Wes’ speech to Faith. I thought it really showed how much he’s changed since the comic sidekick he was in season 1 and 2. But at the same time it shows that he hasn’t changed all that much, as he’s still willing to do whatever it takes to do what’s right, no matter the risks to himself. We saw it as early as in “Parting Gifts”, when he threw himself headfirst into the fight to save Cordelia, and not to mention his “career” as “rogue demon hunter”; he must have know for himself that he was somewhat… um… incompetent at fighting, and yet he didn’t flinch, he just ran into harms way in order to do what he perceived to be right. Naturally, it could be that I’m just reading too much into this, but hey. Where’s the fun in reading too little into it?

As for Angelus, I’ve noticed that I at times tend to think that the show’s lost something by not utilising him more often than they have. But then, luckily, I remember that too much of a good thing can make it less good, and in the end I’m glad that they’re not overusing him. Because that would have reduced the pleasure it is to watch him. After all, the familiar is boring.

And I gotta stop drinking beer while watching; it jus makes me tired, and thus reduced the number of episodes I manage to watch each night.