Review of Episode 16, Season 2 "Epiphany" We all knew Angel would eventually have to come around to his true nature and abandon his wild-boy pursuits into the dark side. We didn't know what events would culminate to that point of thrusting him forward into the light, so to speak. Tim concludes this two-part episode in typical Minear fashion with the perfect blend of despair, humor, suspense, horror and trust. Several things come into play in this episode, Angel's realization of the 'perfect despair' he has been suffering through over the last several months, the independence of his now-on-their-own-and-fine-with-it crew and the reversal of Lindsey's position in relation to Angel. Pushing himself to the extreme, Angel follows his lust and sleeps with Darla challenging to either push himself over the edge (not in that 'perfect happiness' Angelus sort of way) or snap him back to reality. The latter is achieved when he realizes Darla has 'saved him' just in time for him to save Kate from her suicide attempt. Now Darla, alienated from both sides, has her own realizations to face as she decides to leave both Angel and Lindsey behind. Lindsey has a bit harder time of it to deal, though, as his jealous rage takes the better of him. In one of the most shocking displays of violence on the show, Lindsey has taken over that “I don't seem to care” attitude with Angel, of course, being the brunt of his fury. In one of the funniest interactions between Angel and The Host we get some very interesting in-sight to the Powers That Be. They are not just the subtle observers we think they are as their plans for Angel are deeper and more intertwined than he understands even in his 'moment of clarity'. They waste no time getting him back in the game by putting Cordelia, Wesley and Gunn in the deadliest of danger. Also concluded here is the three-episode long sub-plot of the Sharp family and the Skilosh demons. Unbeknownst to the viewers in the onset this storyline has brought about Angel Investigation's independence as well as Angel's return back with the gang although this transition will not be a quick one, and rightly so. But the most enlightening moment of this epiphany is Angel's quiet and sincere talk with Kate near the end of the episode. She confesses her own despair that "nothing I do means anything” and Angel agrees. “In the greater scheme nothing we do matters . . . there's no big win.” All that matters is what they do now. But Kate assures him that they aren't alone in this fight, because she never 'invited him in' proving that the PTB have intervened for a greater purpose. What I like here is that the producers have always kept true to what Buffy and Angel have been about all along. Fighting the good fight, not for gain but because its right and its what they have to do. In the BtVS season three episode, Gingerbread, Angel says to Buffy, “We never win. That's not why we fight. We do it because there are things worth fighting for.” And as Angel concludes to Kate, “All I want to do is help.” The metaphors are all there, but sometimes we have to hit rock bottom before we can pull ourselves up again into the living. Love sucks, and life is only what we make of it. But now with Angel back on course, there's no denying, our Dark Avenger is back! FYI Insider: Wesley's deocculating spell translates from the Latin as such: “Come clean. Be new. Release the grip. Return to nothingness.”  I give it...

CoA Stakes Rating Guide = Disappointing, stake it, bury it! = Not too bad, Lacking a few graves. = Typical Dark Avenger saves the day Saga. = Better still, Quality Headstones. = Outstanding! Reward it with mortality!

Darla: (confused) But we... ? Angel: Yeah. Darla: And you? Angel: I know. Darla: Then I... Angel: Three times. Darla: I don't accept that. You cannot tell me that wasn't perfect. Not only have I been around for 400 years, but I used to do this professionally, and that was perfect. We'll go again. Angel: (to Darla) You did me a favor tonight, now I'm gonna do one for you. Get dressed and get out. Because the next time I see you, I will have to kill you. The Host: (Buzzing the door open) Jeez, keep your pants on! (Angel walks through the door) Well, I see were a little late with that advice. The Host: I think I'm speaking for everyone when I say if all you're gonna do is switch back to brood mode, we'd rather have you evil. Then at least, [looking down at Angel's pants] you'd be in leather pants. Angel: [Excited] Hey, guess who stabbed me? Wesley: [Unimpressed] Darla? Angel: [Less excited] Yeah. Actually kind of a funny story, the whole reason I had this epiphany was... [Looks at Wesley, who's not interested.] All right, so why don't you just tell me about these Skilosh demons. Cordelia: [To Skilosh Demon] Listen, I've been impregnated by demon spawn before, let's just say, didn't really work out. Gunn: So what's he doing here? Angel: I went and saw the Host at Caritas, he said my friends were in danger. Gunn: [To Wesley) So what's he doing here? Wesley: He had an epiphany. Gunn: Ahhh. Gunn: Where's Cordy? Wesley: We don't know. Not here. Gunn: You check her pad? Angel: I stopped by there earlier. Gunn: You enjoying your visit to 1973? I meant her message pad. Angel: Oh right, that's a good idea. [Picks up a pencil] Oh, here. Use this you can make a rubbing of the impressions she left, see what the last thing was that she wrote. Gunn: Or we could just read the carbon. Angel: [Drops the pencil] Or you can do that. Angel: Guys, guys. Does it make sense that she would go there in the middle of the night, without calling either one of you? Wesley and Gunn: They owe us money. Angel: Let's go. Gunn: So... had an epiphany did you? Angel: Yeah. Ha. Gunn: So, what, you just wake up and 'bang'? Angel: It was sorta the other way around. Angel: [After smashing Lindsey's plastic hand] Could have been the other one. Just be glad I had an epiphany. Kate: Yikes. Sounds like you've had an epiphany. Angel: That's what I keep saying, but nobody's listening. Cordelia: [After having a vision] Why is it that I'm not on the floor this time? Angel: [Behind her] I've got you. Cordelia: [Wesley, Cordy and Gunn all look at each other] Maybe he should drive? Wesley: Let's go. Quotes by Council member Sasha.