Angel: Reunion (2.10)

There seems to have been a concerted effort this season to explore the darker fringes of Angel's mindset, blurring the line between Angel as we know him now and the Angelus of the past. So much greatness occurs in Reunion, but the shot that truly sticks with you long after the hour wraps is that moment when he locks the door on Wolfram & Hart, allowing them to be killed by Darla and Dru. It's a sucker punch scene, thrusting the series into that gray area where the hero of the show does something that is morally so wrong yet something that on a personal level feels right. The lawyers in that room are all guilty of creating death and destruction without doing the dirty work themselves, and you don't care if they live or die. But allowing them to be horrifically murdered is just too much, right? It's a really strong moral dilemma and raises the bar for the entire show.

Reunion is wall-to-wall awesomeness, with Darla and Drusilla's rampage one of the most effective storylines in the Whedonverse. They're terrifying, messy, chaotic, throwing themselves around Los Angeles and wreaking havoc in their path. I don't think Juliet Landau has ever been better than she is here, increasing the nuttiness and clearly having a ball. Dru's discovery that she's 'ringing' and later her animal-like movements behind Holland rank up there among the best scenes in the episode. The show also doesn't shy away from depicting the two of them as complete psychopaths, especially in the scene in the clothing store. It's kind of funny to see them acting so casual about the terrified assistant, before the pain she's experiencing fully hits you. They're fun, but remain complete monsters.

Elsewhere, there are some entertaining moments with the core group of Angel Investigations, but it's pretty evident that the villains have totally stolen their thunder. Julie Benz and Juliet Landau are really spectacular together, exuding a long-lasting friendship despite barely working together in the past. David Boreanaz is also really great here. His interaction with Holland and Lindsey is particularly memorable, and I loved that little aside about Lindsey's missing hand. As a side note, I liked that Kate let Angel go. She's proven to be a moron at times, but she knows that the police would be in over their heads dealing with Darla and Dru. It's some welcome character development.

Reunion is a whirlwind that thrives on the unpredictability that has become season two's mission statement. Twists arrive at every juncture, and the general sense that this is a show with a clear vision can't be ignored at this point. A+

Credits
Guest stars Elisabeth Rohm (Kate Lockley); Christian Kane (Lindsey McDonald); Stephanie Romanov (Lilah Morgan); Sam Anderson (Holland Manners); Julie Benz (Darla); Juliet Landau (Drusilla)
Writers Tim Minear, Shawn Ryan Director James A. Contner