"[It's] not an apocalypse. [It's] the apocalypse. What'd you think, a gong was gonna sound? Time to jump on your horses and fight the big fight? Starting pistol went off a long time ago, boys. You're playing for the bad guys. Every day you sit behind your desk and you learn a little more how to accept the world the way it is. Well, here's the rub-heroes don't do that. Heroes don't accept the world the way it is. They fight it. . . . the world keeps sliding towards entropy and degradation, and what do you do? You sit in your big chair, and you sign your checks, just like the senior partners planned. The war's here, Angel. And you're already two soldiers down." - Christian Kane as Lindsey giving Angel (David Boreanaz) a rude awakening about the nature of evil.
Angel: The Complete Fifth Season DVD Review
By Marlo Serritella
I'll be honest. When I came back to Angel for Season Five, after having abandoned it years earlier, it was really just a futile attempt to hold on to the memory of Buffy. Weak and weary from a summer spent mourning the loss of Joss Whedon's greatest creation, I hoped that Angel would help to fill the gaping void left after seven years of dedication to the Slayer. Plus, TV Guide said James Marsters would be reprising his role as Spike. So, there was pretty much nothing that was going to keep me away. And while I was optimistic and excited to see how two vampires with souls would co-exist in an evil law firm, I didn't expect to be so completely sucked back in. No pun intended. Unfortunately, just as I was finding meaning in life again, the network geniuses at the WB decided that maybe the helpless didn't need a champion anymore, maybe there wasn't so much evil in the world after all, maybe it was time that one of the greatest writers in television history take his vision and go home. Sure, and maybe someone should mess with their reason for living too. Undoubtedly, the show has had its ups and downs. Season Five, however, was definitely one of its ups. Somewhere, in the precious, last twenty-two episodes of the series, Angel once again found its humor, its style and most importantly, its meaning.
As I prepare to recap some of the highlights of the premature final season of Angel, it seems appropriate that we take a moment to remember where it all started. It was a gloomy night in March, 1997, when I decided to take a study break and give a little- known, midseason replacement a chance. The show of course was Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the brainchild of creator Joss Whedon. It was the oddly compelling story of a high-school sophomore called by a higher power as the one girl in all the world chosen to fight vampires, demons and generally all other-worldly nasties (if you've read my reviews, you know how hard it was for me to sum that up in one sentence). But she would not be completely alone in her quest to protect the world. Enter Angel-a gorgeous, centuries-old vampire who made a name for himself as a holy terror until he snacked on the wrong girl, and the victim's family cursed him with a soul. Now, this immortal man/demon with a conscience repents for his past sins by dedicating himself to the protection of humanity. In 1999, our hero left his beloved Slayer and the comfort of a well-established show to form his own band of evil-fighting superfriends on Angel. (And he's been doing a heck of job, until his destiny was cut short to make room for more 7th Heaven.) Oh-but it's so much more deliciously complicated and tragic and torturous and hysterical than my humble words can convey. In its final season, Angel resurrects a champion, saves the world and fulfills a destiny, sort of. And here's the part you'll be interested in-it also really entertains.
The fourth season, disappointing as it was, ended brilliantly with Angel and his cohorts being given control over the L.A. office of Wolfram & Hart, or Evil Incorporated, whichever you prefer. (While the reasoning behind this is less than clear, the prospects for interesting storylines are endless.) Wolfram & Hart, you will recall, is comprised of the universal symbol for sin and wickedness-lawyers. Representing the forces of hell on earth in everything from acquiring fresh bodies for warlocks to negotiating the ritual sacrifice of a infant child, Wolfram & Hart is the pretty face of the dark side. And Angel is now its CEO. Season Five opens with a trademark Whedon moment. Dressed in a sexy black designer suit, Angel gallantly saves a damsel in distress from a hungry vampire in a dark ally ("Conviction"). Rewind to Season One of Angel and you'll recall that this is pretty much where our story began (which makes me think that I should have known this season was going to be pivotal). Unfortunately, Angel is not an independent contractor for the helpless anymore. In swoops his accompanying swat team and snot-nosed assistants who need to get the press kit together and have the victim sign an indemnity release form. If Angel was fuzzy on his mission in life before, how can he possibly find purpose as a corporate lackey?
The rest of the gang is having a similarly strange time getting adjusted to the new digs (with the exception of the lounge lizard, Lorne (Andy Hallett), who fits right in with the Wolfram & Hart Entertainment Division). Fred (Amy Acker) is introduced to the formerly-evil lab she will be running. Gunn (J. August Richards) has a Harvard law education magically implanted in his hoodlum brain. Wesley (Alexis Denisof) gets acquainted with more musty books. And fresh from the steno pool and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, our favorite ditzy blond vampire, Harmony (Mercedes McNab), becomes Angel's personal secretary. Unfortunately, Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter) is still in a coma from the horror that was her ridiculous storyline last season. Thankfully, however, Angel's annoying son Connor (Vincent Kartheiser) is no longer part of the team. I guess the new season wouldn't really be new without a fresh face. That comes in the form of Eve (Sarah Thompson)-liaison for the Senior Partners. Though she might as well have "don't trust me" tattooed over her cute, button nose, she's still fun to try and figure out. And then, with the tear of an envelope (and, I can only assume, a whole bunch of black magic), my prayers are answered-Spike reappears and the season is off and running.
Actually, for the first several weeks, it's off to more of a steady, respectable jog. These initial episodes are definitely solid if somewhat insular. "Just Rewards" officially welcomes Spike back into the world after his spectacular death at the end of Buffy. It seems that Spike is a ghost and is physically unable to leave the confines of the city without magically popping back in. So, as much as Angel would like to be rid of him, it looks as if some greater power thinks that these two crazy kids belong together. The why and how of his return, however, remains a mystery. "Hellbound" wastes no time in raising the larger issues of salvation and atonement. Other than being a generally fine episode about a big, bad spirit trying to cheat hell, we are also reminded that these two heroes spent most of their lives destroying lives, not saving them. The same pesky question plagues them both-in the end, which of their deeds will matter more? And while we ponder these philosophical head-scratchers, I guess we can enjoy the lighter fare of a lady werewolf ("Unleashed"), Wolfram & Hart's kick-ass Halloween party ("Life of the Party") and the really long and complicated story that is "The Cautionary Tale of Numero Cinco." Wesley gets to battle some old demons in the form of his disapproving father ("Lineage"), and Harmony finally gets her own episode ("Harm's Way"). Sadly, in most of these episodes, Spike just kind of hangs around and makes sarcastic comments while trying to channel Patrick Swayze and get his ghostly digits to at least pick up a coffee mug. These first few episodes also attempt to the answer the question of what these do-gooders plan to do with an evil law firm. As far as I can tell, it seems that they have convinced themselves that they can do more good on the inside-a sort of fight from" within the belly of the beast" mentality. It seems like they forgot one important part of that plan-if you're fighting from within the belly of the beast, then, um, you've been swallowed whole.
With each passing week, I waited patiently for the show to reveal its chewy, painful center-the larger story arc that would inevitably cause me to weep for an inappropriate length of time. Ironically "Destiny" played its hand in the form of the eighth episode of the season. You had to know that it's not just about beating whatever big bad is coming-that's always going to come. It's about the doubt and the fear that we all share whether we admit or not. This is where the Whedon team has always excelled. Angel may be a great champion of the people, but when he looks in the mirror, there's no hero looking back at him (literally, folks-vampire, remember, no reflection). But what would the torment of penance be without the promise of some reward? Well, as the Prophecy goes, the vampire with a soul will play a pivotal role in the apocalypse (on which side, we don't know). The upshot is that when all is said and done, this vamp's prize will be to have his past washed clean and be made human. Angel has struggled with the potential of this destiny for years-never quite letting himself believe it while at the same time yearning for it to be true. But apparently, there's a footnote. You see, the Prophecy never calls Angel by name. I mean, how many vampires with souls are running around out there who have fought to save the world? Well, as of the latest headcount, there are at least two. That means that the world will be all wonky and out of balance until it can be definitively determined which of our two guys is intended to fulfill the Prophecy. This, in turn, can only be revealed by the one who drinks from the Cup of Perpetual Torment (I promise this is not as dorky as it sounds).
So off they go to be the first to reach the Cup. Now, we know Angel and Spike have a doozy of a past together. We know about the camaraderie that years of murder and the mayhem and degradation bring (good times). But we are also reminded about the competition and the betrayal and hatred. So when Angel and Spike come to blows over who gets to drink from the sacred Cup, it's the battle of their words that packs the bigger punch-whose soul is more worthy, who did Buffy actually love more and, most importantly, who deserves forgiveness. That's what they're really fighting about-that's what makes it interesting. If you believe the legend, then to reach that Cup means there is a clear winner; only one of them will earn absolution. I won't tell you who reaches the Cup first. But, it doesn't really seem to matter. Unfortunately for our champions, the Cup of Perpetual Torment turns out to be filled with less tragic fate and more Mountain Dew. And while I never quite figured out that the whole Cup thing was hoax, I knew that there was something fishy. In Whedon's world, there is no holy grail for forgiveness; everyone gets the chance to atone. But who would play such a dastardly trick on these nice boys? I'll give you a hint: he's a little bit country and little bit rock n' roll, and the show hasn't been the same since he gave up his evil law practice and left town. Yes, it's Lindsey, and he's still pissed. Now, as my mother would say, we're cooking with gas.
It's around this time that the season really takes off with a run of fantastic episodes. I was so happy to see that Lindsey was back; I didn't much care why. But it seems that he's still holding a grudge against his former employer and is hoping to convince the Senior Partners that they've "backed the wrong horse" by giving control of Wolfram & Hart to Angel. His plan is to somehow slowly tear Angel down while simultaneously building up Spike. What better way to bring Angel to ruin than to just tug at that nasty little, loose thread-his own self-doubt. "Soul Purpose," impressively directed by Boreanaz, depicts a series of Angel's mystically-induced hallucinations about his worst fears-his emptiness and irrelevance in a world where he doesn't seem to make a difference. Now I know Angel has sung this tune before-what's my purpose, how can I make a dent in all this evil, wa wa wa. But the crisis seems to have reached epic proportions in one of the best episodes of the season, "You're Welcome." Cordelia emerges from her coma, and it's as if she wakes up as the girl we used to know before the bad highlights and disturbing demon-possession. More importantly, she finds a way to finally remind Angel who he is. It's simple really: "I'm Angel. I beat the bad guys." What I love about this episode is the light bulb that went off over my head after I watched it; if heroes can't do it alone, maybe the rest of us schmucks shouldn't feel so bad. We all need a little help sometimes. Finishing up this spectacular series of episodes as we head toward the final stretch is "Damage," "Why We Fight" and "Smile Time." The payoff for the Buffy fan doesn't get much better than "Damage." Andrew (Tom Lenk) is back to capture a mentally deranged Slayer on the loose, and not even Angel can stand in his way: "I've got twelve vampire slayers behind me and not one of them dated you." The interesting plot of "Why We Fight" is not just a great story-it proves that I was right about the Initiative's relationship to the Nazis (see Buffy Season Four). And "Smile Time" is undoubtedly a highlight of the series as a whole. Spike pretty much sums it up when he discovers a transformed Angel: "you're a wee little puppet man!"
And then, suddenly, things aren't quite so funny anymore. Just as Wesley and Winifred finally profess their feelings for each other, Fred becomes infected by the mist from an ancient relic ("A Hole in the World"). And while everyone works their darndest to solve her mystical flu, it soon becomes clear: Fred is dying. I will spare you the details on the research and tell you that the ancient relic is a coffin and the mist, the essence of a powerful demon god called Illyria who will slowly hollow out Fred's insides and inhabit her body like a shell. The complexities of this situation would be beautiful if they weren't so utterly painful. You know, a cynical person might think that Joss Whedon hated love or something. I mean, come on, Wesley finally gets his Fred and the night of their first big dead is spent watching her fade away. In the meantime, Gunn is busy figuring out his unwitting role in Fred's fate. I won't even tell you about the sweet, angel-faced double-crosser who orchestrated the whole thing with a song in his heart and a smile on his face. But leave it to our faithful heroes to save the day. Just when all hope seems lost, Spike and Angel find the answer-no need to fear. Just as time is about to run out, they locate the cavernous gravesite where the spirits of the earth's original demons are eternally imprisoned (and there's a boatload of them). It's here where Illyria belongs. So, we'll just pop her back in and go on our way. But here's the rub, drawing the demon god out of Fred and back to its burial plot will infect and kill everyone in its path-tens of thousands of people. So, let's be clear about this. It's not that Angel can't save Fred. It's that he chooses not to. And you think you're having a bad day? Now, the show isn't topical. It doesn't directly comment politics or the specific horrors of the day. But as Angel and Spike peer down at the endless prison of demon graves that tunnels through the earth clear through to the other side, I'm not sure they could have made a more timely observation: "there's a hole in the world . . . seems like we ought to have known." Yeah, it sure does.
As the season winds down, I will shorthand some of the major developments leading up to the fabulous finale. I'll skip my resentment about Fred's untimely demise and simply tell you that Illyria rather convincingly becomes a part of the Angel team. Confused by a world run by humans, she is both limited in her new human body and lost as to how to make her way. The bond she shares with Wesley is somehow understandable-he was there for her rebirth and all. So, Illyria agrees to play nice and not kill people, and Wesley agrees to be a guide of sorts ("Shells"). But if Angel is going to be prepared for the big fight that he fears is brewing, he's going to need more than this questionable new ally. Hoping to get an inside scoop on the evil that fuels Wolfram & Hart, Angel decides its time to have a sit-down with Lindsey. Problem is that since his earlier little pranks, the Senior Partners have sentenced him to a hell-dimension type holding cell ("Underneath"). The commentary on the nature of horror in this episode is truly frightening. Lindsey has been condemned to the hell of all hells-the suburbs. Sun-shiny days, wife in the kitchen, skateboard in the driveway-the whole enchilada. Sure, every afternoon he goes to his basement to have his still-beating heart torn from his chest by a faceless demon. But, I told you it was the suburbs. So, Angel and the gang rescue Lindsey from his picket-fence jail so that he'll share his juicy secrets. According to Lindsey, the Senior Partners handed Angel the keys to Wolfram & Hart as a kind of elaborate distraction. What better way to keep Angel from noticing the collapse of humanity, than to distract him with shiny cars, a stylish home and a fancy office? From what I've seen (first hand in a law firm, mind you), this does seem to do the trick. What's a little suffering of your fellow man when you've got a new plasma TV? I guess it's fitting that the last distraction Spike and Angel have to get out of their system before facing the apocalypse is a little gal named Buffy ("The Girl in Question"). Since I often wonder what became of Buffy since she left Sunnydale, it was comforting to know that she's moving on. I guess it's time those of us devoted to her do the same.
And so, I can't avoid it any longer. We come to the series finale. I would argue that the finale comes in two parts. For a few, brief, frightening moments in "Power Play" it appears that Angel might be buying into the system. There's almost a whiff of Angelus in the air as Angel begins to systematically disregard his friends, isolate himself as the leader and make more than one questionable decision: "good, bad-none of it makes a difference." After a few more disturbing discoveries, the troops begin to fear that Angel is positioning himself to join the most powerful of secret, evil societies on earth known as the Black Thorn-these are the folks who "make sure man's inhumanity to man keeps rolling along." Not a nice group of folks. And, here's the kicker. Angel is being initiated into the Black Thorn. But his plans may be slightly different than his new frat buddies had anticipated. See, he's gonna kill'em all. It's truly a great television moment when the whole gang agrees to the plan even though they know that it's pretty much a death sentence. So, they each make their pledge and get their assignments. But first, they get to go out and live the day like it's their last. Lorne sings a last song; Angel visits Connor; Spike finally gets the courage to finish that poem he started back before he became a vampire. And then, they'll each take on an arm of the Black Thorn and meet back when they're done. Only, they won't all make it back. When the tattered few finish their task and find their way to the meeting place, they realize that the battle has really just begun. They just destroyed the Senior Partners' instrument on earth, and that does not come without a price. Angel and company may have struck a mighty blow at evil this day, but unfortunately, evil has more than a few soldiers left. So they wait armed and ready, cornered in an alley, wounded and outnumbered, the odds stacked squarely against them. See, that's just the thing. The fight never ends. You know who my money is on, every time.
