This was all about putting things back together. After a run of episodes in which people fell apart and new allegiances were formed, Angel got the titular 'epiphany' we were all waiting for. But, being this show, things aren't as simple as they could have been. There's a lot of hurt still present throughout the ensemble, Angel's behavior having genuinely messed people up along the way. With that in mind, the most affecting moment of Epiphany is probably Cordelia's almost embarrassed declaration to her former boss: "You really hurt my feelings". It's one of the most endearing moments of human vulnerability I've seen in a long time.I loved the tone the show struck through Angel's reunion with his former employees. His frosty car ride with Wesley was as funny as it was moving, while Gunn's casual animosity felt entirely real. It's the show once again refusing to take the easy way out, even if coming back together as a team is what all the characters secretly want.
Darla and Lindsey's strange relationship reaches its tipping point, and you could totally see the unbridled jealousy Lindsey experienced when he reunited with Darla. He totally lost it, and even slipped on his kicky fightin' boots to show he meant business. At the same time, you felt for Darla. She's just been consistently screwed over this year, hasn't she? Every time she thinks she's found some kind of solace, she ends up alone and unhappy once more. It's a tragic existence, and high-tailing it out of Los Angeles is probably the best thing she could do right now.
Finally there's Kate, who clocks in her final appearance here. It does sort of feel like her story isn't totally done just yet, but it feels like an appropriate half-ending nonetheless. She's not angry anymore, which is a plus. She recognizes that there are powers out there far greater than she or Angel or anything she could imagine. Her survival was a beautiful moment, the universe aligning things just right in order to get Angel back on track. I never liked Kate, but I do like seeing her happy at this point.
While there's still a bunch of episodes left to go, Epiphany feels like the end of what has been one of the most exhilarating and boundary-pushing story arcs ever depicted in the Whedonverse. It's been brutal and shocking and a huge testament to how strong the writing team were at this point, Tim Minear in particular having an incredible vision for this show. A+
Credits
Guest stars Elisabeth Rohm (Kate Lockley); Christian Kane (Lindsey McDonald); Andy Hallett (Lorne); Julie Benz (Darla)
Writer Tim Minear Director Thomas J. Wright
I wish I were commenting more on individual episodes but everything in Angel is a bit of a blur for me. You see although I watched Buffy over the course of several years as the seasons came out, I only decided to give Angel a chance last year. So I watched all 5 seasons during the course of a few weeks. The result is that I LOVED the show, found it brilliant and was so glad I gave it a shot, BUT everything blurs together now when I try to remember it especially when it comes to individual episodes.
ReplyDeleteNevertheless the season 2 arc was SO well done and memorable. I loved Coredilia's "you hurt my feelings" moment as it's one I never really forgot! I always wanted Angel and Cordelia to be the ultimate BuffyVerse couple by the way. I know many found it forced but I always felt she suited him better than Buffy!
I just wish I had enough free time to rewatch all my favorite shows and review each episode individually but there's just so many shows on now that I can barely keep track of! Akh the world of TV. Sorry for this babbling rant!
Angel was a blur to me, too. Unlike Buffy, I never went back and re-watched old episodes until now, and it's fun seeing how much my opinion has changed since before and how much more I'm enjoying the show.
ReplyDeleteI liked Angel and Cordy too, but I thought it was better as a romantic 'concept' than as it was on-screen. But more about that next season...
that's surprising that Kate's on her way now, I feel I cheated myself out of a huge chunk when I refused to watch the episode when her dad died, I've been thinking of going back and watching it for ages but I think she's definitely left the show with a lot of resolve so it's not too bad! Her character was quite usefull in showing the ignorance of the LA police, I think the Sunnydale ones have at least some knowledge of Vampires (remember that episode when Snyder told the police to tell everybody the vampire's were drug addicts).
ReplyDeleteThis was another brilliant episode! Wesley provided so much comic relief and I really liked David's subtleties of performance- introspective broody Angel is never far away! I love these characters, they're so sweet!
I don't think anyone could not feel a bit for Darla- she must feel so sick but she can accept that her and Angel are finally done (or are they... I don't know!) there was a real shift of energy that made you just know something had changed- really well played by the actors. I guess it was also down to the moment when Angel didn't go beserk, I'm curious as to whether it was something mystical (maybe I missed something) but I think it still plays into the idea that it's not just a simple 'happy' thing that makes him soulless.
Absolutely. I never liked it when they implied that sex of any kind would turn him evil again. It really is pure happiness that does it (something that makes his night with Buffy so epic and romantic), not literally anything sexual.
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