Review of Episode 17, Season 2 "Disharmony" "Man, atonement's a bitch," observes Angel as he awkwardly tries to reestablish himself into the Scooby fold. Once again doing double duty, Buffy the Vampire Slayer writer, David Fury brings us back from six weeks of the rerun doldrums with an episode so hilarious that it rivals the brilliant conception of The Host. Wesley tells Angel the sitch and his new place in AI... coffee-boy! But even more enjoyable than watching Angel stumble, stutter and bribe his way back into the gang's hearts is the hilarity that is Harmony, so brilliantly portrayed by Buffy veteran, Mercedes McNab. Presumably the best performance she's had to date, Mercedes brings Harmony to un-life in the fullest degree. Her timing and physical comedy go nearly unsurpassed in this installment taking a back seat only to Fury's outstanding writing. I actually thought it was even funnier during the second viewing if that is at all possible. Can you say double-entendre? When Harmony first shows up, her banter with Cordelia is unmatched as she flits off her non-human condition like an F-14 over Cordy's head. "It seems like a lifetime ago... I'm not the same person... your hair looks better off your neck... change is good, sometimes.” Later with the addition of a crossover phone call from Sunnydale, Willow's [Alyson Hannigan] contribution totally completes the vampire/gay confusion culminating in a flooring result. Not to be outdone is Gunn's observation concerning the recent flux of vampires to pass through the Hyperion lobby, "Don't we kill ‘em anymore?" The humor never ceases! And to go as far as picking on Harmony's name, even The Host gibes while, ironically, she sings, Memories from the movie The Way We Were. Another outstanding performance, which has to be mentioned, is that of Charisma Carpenter throughout this entire episode. She pulls out all the stops and runs the emotional and psychological gamut from humor with Harmony to pain with Angel, frustration with Wesley and again showing strength against Harmony. An interesting aspect of her character dawned on me as I re-watched this episode. During the original casting of Buffy, Charisma auditioned for the lead role. I've never been able to place her in the boots of the Slayer until now. When she confronts Harm at the end, double crossbows in hand, she is her own person with the strength and determination where she is in control and her decision to let Harmony leave so mirrors the actions of Buffy, yet with Cordy's own personal flair to make it her own. "Nicely done C!" With the final scene there's room for one more laugh as Cordy and Angel revel in the passion of new clothes. Oh so enjoyable, you've got to try this on!  I give it... Special Guest Reviewer ~ Author, Christopher Golden This week's Angel was not only the funniest I think they've ever done, but it had some of my favorite moments of the series thus far. Charisma Carpenter turned in one of her best performances by showing us so deftly how Cordelia has changed since her Sunnydale days, and linking who she is now to who she was then. "We're not friends." All of the core cast members have really grown as actors. The new dynamic with Angel working for the others has brought a fresh feel to everything. David Boreanaz has been gifted by the writers with a wonderfully diverse character dynamic this season, but this turning point episode (yet another) gave him the opportunity to be bumbling, penitent, heartsick, and gleeful all in forty-odd minutes of television. For Angel, that's saying something. From the early scene when he quietly appeals to Wesley ("she said we're not friends") to the ending, in which he does a happy, almost smirkingly self-satisfied little jig with Cordelia over the new clothes he has just bought her to break down the wall of hurt between them, David B. got to give us a little more of Angel's true personality than we've seen before. And, let's face it, David being goofy always makes Angel more interesting and more lovable, whether it's posing as an obnoxious tourist or imagining the catastrophic outcome should he try to dance at a party. No review of this week's episode would be complete without acknowledging the performance by Mercedes McNab. First as a human and later as a whiny vampire, Harmony has never had room to grow beyond one note. Yet in this single episode, the character boomeranged from pitiful, even ridiculous, to menacing, to perfectly sympathetic, and McNab was able to handle even the most farcical elements of the story with a sweetness and subtlety she's never had the opportunity to show us before. I've never laughed so much in an episode of Angel, and most of the laughs in this one were thanks to McNab. Of course, none of these performances would be possible without a wonderful, charming and funny script by David Fury. The only marks in the negative column for this episode were the lack of meaningful screen time for Gunn (J. August Richards, who is always a bright spot in the show), and the absence of any mention of Joyce Summers' death, when viewers had just seen Angel visit Buffy to help assuage her grief (and when Cordelia has a much-belated phone conversation with Willow to establish some basic facts of current Sunnydale life).  I give it... CoA would like to thank Chris for his enjoyable contribution and insight to our weekly review! Be sure to check out all that's Golden at his very own web site: www.ChristopherGolden.com

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!

Cordelia: This is torture for you isn't it? Angel: Yes. Wesley: Good. Angel: Man, atonement's a bitch. Cordelia: (having a vision) Whoa. And Big Bird. Gunn: Big Bird? Cordelia: Not the muppet, dumb ass. Cordelia: Do you have a place to stay? Harmony: You offering. Cordelia: Do I have to say it? Harmony: Yeah. Cordelia: Okay, you're coming home with me. I hope you don't mind the couch. Angel: Do you think maybe that I should send her something? Like flowers maybe? Wesley: Flowers? Angel: Yeah, you know, to say thanks. Sorry about the migraines. You know, I appreciate you. Wesley: Yes and while your at it, pick me up one of those "Sorry you were shot in the gut" bouquets. Cordelia: It's hard to explain. It's like, I don't know. I had these air pockets inside of me. And the work I'm doing, we're doing, it's like the pockets keep getting filled and I'm becoming me (Harmony starts laughing) and me has had WAY too much to drink and me, shut up! Cordelia: You must be doing something right, because you look... (Harmony looks sick) crampy. Are you okay? Harmony: Yeah just, hungry I guess. Cordelia: (sitting up in bed) Harmony? I have a ghost. What are you doing in my... ? Harmony: Nothing. Cordelia: Harmony? Harmony: I'm sorry. I thought I could control myself. I thought I could resist this urges. Cordelia: Urges? Harmony: You have no idea how hard it is to stay away from you. I mean, seeing you there looking so, so luscious. Cordelia: Oh, Oh. You're a... Harmony: I should have told you. I was scared. Scared that if you found out what I was, you'd kill me. Cordelia: Oh, no, Harmony. God, you really think I'm that narrow minded? I don't care about that. Harmony: You don't? Cordelia: No, not as long as your happy. Harmony: Happy. What's that? The last time I remember being truly happy was back in school with you. Now, here I am taking advantage of you. Cordelia: No, it's just, it's just that I had no idea that, that you, you know, thought of me that way. Harmony: I don't, I swear. It's just, Well, I haven't had any for a while. Forget it. This is stupid. I'll just go back to the couch. I'm really sorry. Cordelia: Don't be. If you want to stay and talk... ? Harmony: No, I'd better go. You know, I'd appreciate it, if you didn't mention this to anyone. Cordelia: It's our secret. Cordelia: (later on the phone) How come you guys didn't tell me about Harmony? Sunnydale's that far away you couldn't afford a little phone call? Willow: Harmony? What about Harmony? Cordelia: She's here in LA. Willow: Yikes! Big Yikes! What happened? Did she come after you? Cordelia: Yeah! She practically attacked me in my bedroom last night. Willow: Your bedroom? How did she... ? Cordelia: She came in while I was sleeping. Good thing I woke up too, she was ready to jump me right there! But I think she got the message that I don't go for that sort of stuff when I shot her down. Willow: You wounded her? Cordelia: She'll get over it. I never should've invited her to stay with me. Willow: Say what?! Cordelia: Yeah, I know. Acquired much? Willow: Cordelia? Okay, we're all clear on the fact that Harmony's a vampire. Cordelia: Oh, Harmony's a vampire? That's why she... Oh, my god. I'm so embarrassed. All this time, I thought she was a great big lesbo. (listening) Oh yeah? Really? That's great! Good for you. Willow: Thanks for the affirmation. Cordelia, Harmony's very dangerous. You have to get out of there. Cordelia: Okay, yeah. I call you when I get somewhere safe. (Harmony comes in the room) Harmony: Where are you going? Wesley: I suggest someone put a stake through that woman's heart if she persists in popping her bloody chewing gum! Wesley: What are you doing?! This book is twelve centuries old!! Harmony: Okay, so it's not like I ruined a new one. Wesley: It's all right to speak freely in front of her, she's a vampire. Gunn: Don't we kill them anymore? Quotes by Council member Sasha.