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| Review of Episode 2, Season 2
"Are You Now or Have You Ever Been" He’s fab, he’s a duder, he’s goo-goo baby! He’s . . . Angel in 1952! Prepare yourself for an incredible time warp. In this ‘Angel Event’ we are once again taken back into Angel’s past, but it’s not the past we’re used to. Writer and now Supervising Producer Tim Minear gives us a unique look into the soul of our lead character before he had a conscience. There are many outstanding elements in this episode, first being the writing. We are transported to the not-too-distant past, still Los Angeles, still demons feeding off innocent victims and still Angel. But not the Angel we know. Here, he is distant, removed even more from the world of the living, although he’s surrounded by it. Almost cold, he doesn’t care about the troubles brimming just outside his door. We see him smoke, and for the first time we actually see him drink blood. On many occasions he has been offered a glass to quench his thirst or need, but he has never taken a sip until now. Tim shows that Angel has evolved and may have done so you nning with the events taking place here. This may also be Angel’s first act of saving grace. He forgives, just as he longs to be forgiven. David Boreanaz does some of his best acting to date in this episode. Showing more facets and depth to both himself as well as the character with whom he comes more and more entwined. He’s dark and dangerous, but he doesn’t come through as Angelus. He’s reserved, but he can still be touched. He hurts, and yet he understands. And from start to finish you see a change in his character that you know leads to many more to come. Directing this episode is David Semel, and what a brilliant job of editing and camera angles. Segues from past to present, shot to shot and even character to character are done with perfect precision and much thought to the end product, with timely fades and slow motion techniques. The musical interpretation taking us to the period and providing an eerie feel of the mysterious surroundings is well accomplished by Rob Kral as he overcomes a singular challenge here. Shout Out time to the casting department, which continues to find amazing talent for the supporting ensemble. Melissa Marsala (Judy) does a commanding job and her final scene as an aged and dying woman is amazingly touching. Something interesting not included in the final cut: It’s emphasized just how nonaffected Angel is to the troubles around him at the end of Act One, when the salesman next door kills himself. From the original script: Angel drinks. The record next door continues to skip. Somewhere above, a thumping. Someone pounding on the floor. (man’s voice over) "Hey! Either fix that thing or shut it off!" More pounding. More record skipping. Angel reaches over, turns on his own radio, Jazz. Drowning out the world around him. And as he drinks and listens to music, not caring . . . (Black Out) I give it... |
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Angel: I, um, I.. Huh. I think its gone bad. It's starting to coagulate.
Cordelia: What, no - that's cinnamon. What, I can't try something? Bellman: Guy gives me the heebie-jeebies. Manager: Yes, I understand what the sign says, but the sign is wrong. We really have no vacancies at the moment. Angel: You're not the maid. P.I.: You won't mind if I come in and take a look around then. Angel: He's going down. Judy: Gosh, I mean that was.. Gosh. I know we got off on the wrong foot, my name is Judy. (Door slams.) Cordelia: Wesley, look who was staying here in '52. Bellman: She just started cleaning this floor when she found him. Judy: Can you imagine that wallpaper being the last thing you see before you go? Angel: It's just blood, Judy. It's all just blood. Angel: You Denver? Angel: You've got a reputation, that's why I'm here. Now, it's been a long time since I've opened a vein, but I'll do it if you pull any more of that Van Helsing Jr. crap with me. Angel: Let's do this. P.I.: What kinda maniac are you? Bellman: Yeah, swing you freak! You had that one coming! Demon: There's an entire hotel here just full of tortured souls who could really use your help. What do you say? Angel: Watch his tentacles. Demon: I don't remember ordering take-out. But I like what you brung me. Not as delectable as the last one, perhaps. But full of tasty paranoia just the same. Especially that one. Wesley: I've been accused of a great many things in my time. But paranoid has never been one of them. Unless people have been saying it behind my back. Cordelia: Seventy years of violence, mayhem and paranoia. Bad vibes. Wesley: Angel? You don't find me especially paranoid do you?
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