This feels like the first episode which successfully employs the season one-Angel-blueprint of 'vampire detective show'. It has a squicky supernatural mystery at its heart, a helpless young woman for Angel Investigations to save, and utilizes the main cast really well. While Angel is still on his lonesome while investigating the Meltzer case, the gang seem to gel a whole lot better than they did in the previous two episodes. Doyle and Cordelia, in particular, are very funny here; bonding over their differences from Angel instead of avoiding the subject all-together.Meltzer was an interesting villain since he didn't appear to be at all supernatural. This is a guy who has learned to manipulate his limbs from his body out of pure thought and brain power. It's junk science at its most obvious, but another interesting variation on Buffyverse antagonists. The Meltzer stalker sequences are ridiculously creepy, especially the hands creeping beneath Melissa's bed covers. The flying hell-teeth! sequence was hilarious, though. And I'm not sure that's what the show was going for.
I Fall to Pieces is obviously a major monster-of-the-week episode with little in terms of 'greater meaning'. However, it's an undeniably fun depiction of what Angel started out aiming for. It's a neat little mystery with an innovative villain, creepy scares and funny dialogue. C+
Credits
Guest stars Elisabeth Rohm (Kate Lockley); Tushka Bergen (Melissa Burns); Andy Umberger (Ronald Meltzer); Carlos Carrasco (Dr. Vinpur Narpudan)
Teleplay David Greenwalt Story Joss Whedon, David Greenwalt Director Vern Gillum
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