Review of Episode 22, Season 2 "No Place Like Plrtz Glrb" There are two things you can continually count on in the Angel-verse; Andy Hallett (The Host) bursting into magnificent song and Charisma Carpenter (Cordelia) providing impeccable comedic timing, tremendous depth and the perfect straight man. Or in this case, straight woman. Which has nothing to do with the Willow/Tara thing on the other show. ;) Andy came upon the scene this season, as an inspiration from Joss Whedon, and just stole the show, literally! As Jane Espenson [BtVS Writer and Producer] told us at the PBP, "And The Host! Oh my God, suddenly it’s the funniest show on TV!" Not only does Andy bring to the character of Lorne his own unique and personal charm but with his incredible vocal talents, the boy makes you smile to no end, you just wanna keep him around. And luckily for fans, so does Joss. The chemistry between Charisma and Andy even rivals that of Christian (Lindsey) and Stephanie (Liliah) in my opinion! I've been impressed with Charisma's expanding acting range all season. I can so totally imagine her starting in the Mary Tyler Moore Story! Come on, can't you just see it? "Oh Roooob!!" In this concluding segment of the Pylea story-arc she completes this growth to prove she is just not another pretty princess in a long-line of want-to-be actresses. Over the years we have seen her stretch, grow, and develop but not so much as we have this season. She has taken all the character traits of Cordelia and engrossed them into a surreal, emotional person who not only cares about what she does but also understands her destined purpose. Although I wouldn't put this up there with our typical, end-of-world-doom one would expect in a season finale, it does venture into the emotional bonds of our characters. Whenever David Greenwalt is at the wheel (both writing and directing here), wild and wacky things ensue. He is a unique persona of his own with just a left-of-center in-sight of the path he places our LA Scoobys! There are a multitude of humorous lines in this episode! Mostly delivered by Cordy. The physical comedy, Cordy accidentally hitting Lorne's head into the wall, is just brilliant from a directorial perspective. Angel, Gunn and the newly acquired Fred [Amy Acker], who I think will be a nice addition to the cast next season, all arrive at self-exploration and awareness for their futures. It's a good place to leave our characters, but things come to a grinding halt with the realization that Buffy has committed the ultimate sacrifice. It's going to be a long summer! I give it...   In the month ahead, look for our 'End of Season Review', as we view the entire Second Season of ANGEL as a whole. We'll look at the triumphs, the flaws, the horror and the humor and see just how successful it really was!

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: (Crying over the host's severed head) Oh god. Please forgive me. This is all my fault. Cuz, I pardoned you and, and they wanted to teach me a lesson. You didn't do anything wrong. You didn't do anything. I don't like it here it anymore. I just want to go home. The Host: (opens his eyes) Oh honey. I'm right there with ya. (Cordelia screams and passes out.) The Host: (Cordelia Screams in one long note.) I realize this is a bit of a shock. But I can explain. Take it easy. Okay get it out of your system. (Laughs) That's good. You have to breath sometime. Good lord, (shouts) shut up woman. It's not like I have hands to cover my ears here ya know. Angel: (After they take his coat) No wire hanger cause that's leather. (They put him in Warriors clothes) Oh. Hey. Wow, this isn't really...nice. Markalla: Kaldar, remove the traitor's filthy head from our lady's august presence. Cordelia: No, no, no no. No. I like the filthy head. Uh, that is, I uh, I want to defile it more. (She spits on the Host's head.) I'll just keep it to spit upon and when I grow tired of that I, I, I will make it uh, a planter. A traitor planter for all to see. Or maybe a candy dish. You may leave me. Markalla: As you wish noble mistress. Cordelia: I'm sorry about the spittle. I just had to think fast. This is just pretty unsettling for me. The Host: Oh. I'm sure it must be. And after all, I ONLY LOST MY HEAD! Technically, my body. (About to get their heads cut off) Wesley: Forgive me Gunn. I should have never opened my mouth. Gunn: I got a plan. Wesley: Oh thank god. What is it? Rebel: 1. Gunn: We die horribly and painfully, you go to hell and I spend eternity in the arms of baby Jesus. Wesley: Oh. Fred: I hope the skins are comfortable. I seem to remember when there were beds; you could sleep for hours at a time. Angel: Oh yeah, I slept. It was a, it was fine. Fred: Hmm. Angel: What? Did I snore? Fred: Umm. I don't remember any snoring. Angel: Good. Fred: I remember caterwauling (Fred screams, Angel jumps) Angel: Sorry. Fred: Does it taste like Oatmeal? I forget how things are supposed to taste. Angel: (mumbling through a mouth of food) It's good. Fred: TACOS! (Angel jumps a little) Sorry. I didn't mean to holler at you. I love tacos. Do they still have em, you know, back… Angel: Home? Fred: Hmm. Angel: Yeah. They didn't outlaw tacos. Fred: (giggles) No, of course not. I've been trying to make an enchilada out of tree bark. Angel: Bark enchiladas. How's that going? Fred: There's work to be done. Cordelia: I'm very fond of you Lamara. Servant Girl: Marelda. Cordelia: I knew that. Marelda: Of course you did exalted one. You know all. You must cut my tongue from my worthless skull. Cordelia: No. No cutting. What is it with you people and mutilation? Marelda: We don't have a lot of entertainment mum. Cordelia: Can you keep a secret Geraldo? (Marelda looks up interested and nods) I want you to take me to the mutilation chamber. Rebel: Five cheers for the other worlders. All Rebels: Brave Warriors. Brave Warriors. Brave Warriors. Wesley: Oh. In this world you get five. Rebels: Brave Warriors. Brave Warriors. Gunn: So our first job is to find Angel. Wesley: Yes. Gunn: Last time we saw him he had a funny look on his face. A rip out your guts now ask questions later kinda look. Wesley: What do you suggest? Gunn: I'm thinking these guys got a cause worth fighting for. Isn't that what we do? Fred: (to Angel) You're not a beast. Demon Guard: (laughing) We'll write that on your bones, once he tears you to pieces. Fred: (To Angel) I'll just roll him over the cliff into the Drokken gully like I did the others. The Host: Oh God. Oh no. Cordelia: What? Boy, that looks like your suite. The Host: It is my suit. You think they have French Viscose in this hellhole. Why am I still alive? Once they chop me up its over. I'm looking at pieces of myself. Oh it's over. Wait a second. Since when do I have five toes? Cordelia: Shhh. Somebody's coming. Do you mind if I hit 'em over the head with you? The Host: Yes! (Cordelia hugs Groo and the Host's head falls upon Groo's backside) The Host: (mumbles) Feels like somebody works out. (Cordelia brings him back around to face Groo) Hi, and thank you from the bottom of my neck on down. Wesley: Why do people keep putting me in charge of things? Gunn: (stunned) I have no idea. Fred: You're a good man. (Angel leaves and Fred sulks.) (Angel coming back) Angel: I don't actually know how to get there. Fred: Oh. I can show you. Groo: I've disobeyed the covenants. I shall spend eternity burning in Tarkna for my sins. Cordelia: Oh, who believes in literal Tarkna nowadays? Groo: It was worth it for one moment of your intimate touch. Cordelia: That was an accident. It was kinda dark and oh, you mean the hug. When I hugged you. (laughs) That was nice. Groo: I am unworthy of lifting your burden highness. Cordelia: Nonsense you're way worthy. What burden is that again? Groo: When you receive me. On the night we are wed. Cordelia: Receive? Oh. Receive. When I and you, on the wedding night. I imagine there will be some burden lifting on both sides. Not that I have a lot of experience or anything. Wesley: (calling off the rebels) It's all right. It's all right. He's a friend. Rebel: (to one of his friends) Glad we were keeping watch. Gunn: He's Angel, he does that. How'd she do that? Angel: She's Fred. She does that too. (Looking at The Host's head) Angel: He was... Gunn: Yeah. Wesley: Mmm. The Host: That's it. (they all jump) Where's the praising and extolling of my virtues? Where's the love? Priest: Good. I see that we are progressing towards mating. Let's get on with it. Cordelia: (laughs) What about the wedding? Priest: I tire of waiting. Do it! Cordelia: With you guys just standing around? I don't think so. Angel: I challenge the Groosalug to mortal combat. Come out and face me you spineless coward. Fred: (hiding behind something) Oh. Why'd you add that coward thing? That's really going to piss him off. Silas: You're a little late. Wesley: (to the rebels) Stand down. (to Silas) You don't have to do this. Silas: I don't have to have. But I'm going to. And you and your filthy cow princess can go... (Cordelia cuts his head off) Cordelia: Your cow princess is tired of hearing you yak! Padre! Gunn: Nice going. Cordelia: These guys stay dead without a head? Rebel: Oh yeah. Cordelia: Good. Cordelia: Stop the fight. Don't hurt him. Stop. I love him. I love him. Angel: You love me? Cordelia: Not you dumbass, him. I love him. Angel: Oh. Angel: But you love me too right? Cordelia: Are you okay? (hugs Groo) Did he hurt you? Angel: As a friend and co-worker? Cordelia: Can we get some medical attention around here people? Angel: Maybe love is too strong a term. The Host: My psychic friend told me I had to come back here. I didn't believe her. Then I realized I did have to come back here because I really always thought I had to come back here, deep down inside, ya know. I had to come back here to find out I didn't have to come back here. I don't belong here. I hate it here. You know where I belong? LA. You know why? Nobody belongs there. It's the perfect place for guys like us. Angel: That's kinda beautiful. The Host: Ain't it. I'm very moved if I do say so myself. Angel: Please do. The Host: Ya know. I feel a song coming on. Angel: I thought you might. The Host: (sings) "Somewhere, Over the Rainbow. Way up high." Cordelia: (To Groosalug) You're in charge now. And you've got a long road ahead. Slavery has ended but reconstruction has just begun. Groo: What is this "Reconstruction?" Cordelia: Gunn, you wanna field this? Gunn: It means. Saying people are free, don't make em free. You've got races that hate each other. You got some folks getting work they don't want. Others losing the little they had. You're looking at social confusion, economic depression and probably some riots. Good luck. Cordelia: (reassuring) You'll do fine. Groo: It worries me… But not as much as... Do you have to go majesty? Cordelia: I don't want to. I'm really gonna miss your eyes, and the "majesty" thing. But I have a job to do back home. It was really fun being your princess. (she kisses him) Crowd: (bowing as Cordelia walks by) Your majesty. Wesley: Should people be bowing in a free society? Cordelia: These things take time. Fred: Are you sure about that? Cordelia: Trust me. Tacos everywhere. And… soap. Gunn: Yo. That portal jumping is a fun ride. We sell it to a theme park we could get paid. Angel: Okay, can I say it? I wanna say it. Wesley: Say what? Angel: (opening the doors of the hotel) There's no place like... (Cordelia laughs, they see Willow sitting on the couch) Willow? Cordelia: What's... Angel: (Angel looks at the troubled Willow) It's Buffy. Quotes by Council member Sasha.