Review of Episode 20, Season 2 "OVER THE RAINBOW" Sometimes you just want to go home. I mean, what's a good travel agent worth these days if you end up some place like Pylea. Take Steve, my travel-guy, for instance. He's really cool. Books me at a moment's notice off to LA on the red-eye and then back again to New York the following day, and for only a fraction of my yearly salary! But he always manages to get me seated by the really annoying guy! You know the one, 'Excuse me, yes, those are MY peanuts!' But I digress.... Andy Hallett and Charisma Carpenter could not have had a better stage to perform upon this week. I couldn't decide if it was the writing or the acting that made it so enjoyable. I mean, with lines like, 'I was there, I came here, I like it here, I don't want to go there.' Ya gotta love Meredyth Smith. For a new, young, yet highly talented writer, she can mix it up with the big boys pretty well! The best inside joke of this ep is where Angel and the gang arrival outside a studio to locate the portal . . which is actually the Paramount Lot, 'Melrose Gate' where Angel is filmed! Totally enjoyable. Classic comedy. The dungeon scene was priceless. There wasn't anything unpredictable, you knew Cordy would end up being the princess of this lost land and that the boys would be captured, but you didn't care. It was the journey getting there that was fun. And watching The Host get flustered and Angel frolic in the sun was brilliant! Sometimes you just want to sit back and enjoy the show. Who said you could never go home again.   I give it... Special Guest Reviewer ~ Seeker Cordelia's trapped in a demon dimension?. The gang is poised to go save her if they can find a means to create a portal and if The Host, aka Lorne, can get over his absolute terror at the prospect of returning home?. In this other dimension, demons are the normal society and humans are considered to be nothing more than property?. It sounds like the makings of another amazing episode for one of the most smartly written, well -acted shows on television. Unfortunately, what surfaces is a rather blas?, mostly predictable fare, that in the long run serves only as an introduction vehicle for the two part season finale. The episode began with promise as Cordy was hunted down in the woods, all the while spouting her usual litany of amusing phrases. "You're a lazy hell beast aren't you? Yes you are?." Meanwhile back in LA, Angel showed a rare emotional side, almost frantic with the need to go rescue his missing friend. A potentially nice addition to the recurring guest cast appeared a few minutes later in the form of Aggie, a psychic acquaintance of The Host. She matched Lorne, quip for quip, and even managed to turn the tables on him by doling out the type of advice he usually gives, not receives. From this point forward though, the show leveled off, never really living up to it's early potential. After a very difficult decision to remain in LA and get back to his neighborhood roots, Gunn inexplicably did an about face and joined the gang just in time to enter the portal. Upon entering a world made up entirely of demons, and one that Lorne knew was decidedly anti-human, our four heroes were almost instantly set upon and captured. Finally, after the obligatory dungeon scene, I have to believe almost nobody was shocked by Cordelia's predictable prisoner to queen transformation. This is a commonly reused theme throughout the science fiction genre, and as regular viewers, we have grown accustomed to far more original plots from the "Angel" writing staff. Overall, this wasn't really a bad episode. It was a little rushed and not particularly eventful, but it did carry the usual witty dialogue and strong acting performances. The problem is that it just screamed "filler episode", which after a string of very strong shows, and before the greatly anticipated two part finale, managed to come across as sub-par. With regret . . .  I give it... CoA would like to thank Seeker

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: Angel? (Yelling) Wesley? (Normal) Mr. Green Mojo Guys Cousin? (Yelling) HELP!!!! Right. Good one Cor. Scream very loudly so the hell beasts come to you. Cordelia: (clicks her heels three times) Worth a shot. Angel: But then, who opened the portal? The Host: Gift Horse. Mouth. (Looks to the side.) Wesley: It's cold. Angel: What? Put on a sweater. Wesley: No. No. No. The hot spot is cold. Wesley: Suppose I could try a binding spell of some kind. Something that would fuse us together as we enter the portal. Angel: Good let's do that. That's... Wesley: However, we could emerge on the other side as a freakishly hybridized Siamese twin. Angel: Keep looking? Wesley: You know this is the third reference I've seen to Iron or Metal. It could be a clue as to prevent us from scattering. Angel: What we handcuff are selves together? Who do we know that has handcuffs? Wesley: (Excited) Well I... wouldn't know. Besides I don't think handcuffs would work. Cordelia: I wanna go home. I wanna be in my bed. I wanna order some Tai food. I wanna read the latest issue of Marie Claire. I wanna be doing anything but shoveling demon horse poo. (Screams) Woman has ears like a bat! The Host: How you holding up? Angel: Oh, I want to go bad. I'm just waiting for Wes to have that Eureka moment. Wesley: (from the other room) EUREKA! Angel: Jeez. Oh, thank god. The Host. You mean he actually says Eureka? Angel: Ah... Sun. The Daylight. Quick someone hand me a blanket, I'm gonna catch on fire. Hand me a blanket. I'm gonna catch on fire. Why am I not on fire? Angel: (laughing) I'm not on fire. Wesley: And we're together. And we didn't merge into a freakish four man Siamese twin. Gunn: That was risk? How come no one told me that was a risk? Angel: Can everyone notice how much fire I'm not on. Angel: Let's starting gathering some branches, some brush. Anything that'll cover up the car. Oh, hey look. There's some over in that patch of sun. I'll get em. (Runs over to the sun patch) The Host: (sighs) Ya know, ordinarily I handle bad news really well. I just drown my sorrows in an iced cold gin and tonic little squeeze of lime, except THEY DON'T HAVE THEM HERE! The Host: All right, just remember. Xenophobia is kind of a watchword where I'm from. Gunn: I don't get it. Why are they afraid of Xena? I mean think she's kinda fly. Wesley: Xenophobia. Fear of foreigners. Gunn: Oh. Then can we pretend I didn't just say that? Wesley: No. No these impenetrable stonewalls are proving... (Gunn interrupts) Gunn: You say impenetrable and I will kick your ass. Cordelia: (clearing her throat to get the guys attention, they all look up at her - confused) Hi guys. Quotes by Council member Sasha.