While there are still explosions and angst and folks trying to abduct, sacrifice and experiment on a newborn baby, Dad adds a surprisingly lighter feel to the show. I guess we're so used to Angel being relentlessly miserable that crying babies and circumcision jokes appear so jarring. This is an all-together less grand spectacle than Lullaby, which is entirely necessary -- while that episode was all about apocalyptic emoting and profound sacrifices, this allows the show some breathing room, setting up its newest narrative evolution and rolling with it.Angel, of course, is the star of the episode. Here's his latest persona, and it's admittedly fun seeing such a dour character panic about diapers and struggling to get his son to stop crying. While it's all a ruse, I also loved his relentless determination to protect baby Connor, especially in that great scene with Cordelia trying to convince him to relax a little.
The Holtz scenes unfortunately drag down the pace a little, but I'm intrigued by Justine. My memory of Angel's third season is foggy at best, and I can't entirely remember where her character goes or how she's used on the show. I kind of wish Holtz was a little more dynamic, though. I like the character, but Keith Szarabajka's tone never changes and it becomes repetitive and draining after a while. But I'll just sit in the corner by myself with that opinion. Heh.
Dad isn't hugely exciting as an episode, but it is exciting to see Angel as a series head down such a strange and fresh route. This week's script runs out of steam at times, but David Boreanaz in particular keeps you absorbed. B-
Credits
Guest stars John Rubinstein (Linwood Morrow); Andy Hallett (Lorne); Stephanie Romanov (Lilah Morgan); Daniel Dae Kim (Gavin Parks); Jack Conley (Sahjhan); Laurel Holloman (Justine Cooper); Keith Szarabajka (Daniel Holtz)
Writer David H. Goodman Director Fred Keller
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