Review of Episode 6, Season 2 "Guise Will Be Guise" Ever since I knew Jane Espenson would be writing another episode of ANGEL, I’d been looking forward to it. (penning last season’s ‘Room w/ a Vu’) Now I’m at a quandary at reviewing it! I hold such high expectations of Jane. Kind of like when you see that ‘Written by Joss Whedon’ title scroll across the screen, you just know it’s going to be a great addition to your viewing pleasure. For those of you ‘out of the loopie,’ Jane is a Buffy the Vampire Slayer writer/producer lending her awesome talents to our favorite undead-boy. Somewhere along the way, this episode just fell flat for me. Maybe it’s that Jane just doesn’t have the best Wesley voice, or maybe the story concept was a bit too light after the last episode's dramatic set up with Darla’s discovery of being human, but this just didn’t seem to have that Espenson punch and drive. Although I will press, that upon second viewing I enjoyed it a bit more. One thing I did find very interesting was the conversations between Angel and the faux Swami. Although we don’t discover until the end of Act II that he is an imposter, all that he says is completely valid to Angel’s present situation, however ironic or brilliant as the case may be! Perhaps the writers are poking fun at themselves as well. "Yeah, what’s with Angel driving a convertible anyway?" and more than a number of fans have questioned his use of hair gel and his ability to shave properly. But all the inner perspectives that the T’ish Magev brings to light have grounding. Angel is reflected in the people around him, there are two entities struggling to surface. And now, his inner demons are being brought forth by Darla as Angel is fighting who and what he is and thus the crux of his destiny. Also, very entertaining performances by Brigid Brannagh as Virginia and Todd Susman as Magnus Bryce as well as Art LaFleur who portrayed the Swami. Alexis Denisof is brilliant in this piece as he intertwines himself with the ‘Demon with a Soul’ role. This could have come off campy and cliché in many ways, but Alexis has a true gift of physical comedy that few can master. (Not since Dick Van Dyke, in my opinion.) This is ‘The Jane’ after all and with the Jane comes ‘The Funny’! I give it... Yet in this case... Wesley saves the girl!

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!

Guy: What about you? You got any special abilities? Wesley: A few, I dare say. Guy: Are you a creature of the night? Wesley: No, but I was a rogue demon hunter, so I know how to handle myself when things get rough. [He falls] Guy: Yeah, you're scary. Cordelia: What are you doing? Wesley: Oh, knocking things over, driving away business, ya' know -- the usual. Cordelia: Well, I found him and we have to stop him before it's too late. We have to change our... do you have any clothes a man would wear? Cordelia: Hello! Lawyer! Angel: Maybe I am a little angry. Gunn: OK, what I want to know is, how I live in LA all my life and never know weird-ass stuff was going on. Cordelia: Oh the ass is even weirder than you think. Gunn: Wait, are you saying… is he gonna sing? Oh God, is Angel gonna sing? Angel: We're going, I don't have to sing. Cordelia: Oh Thank GOD! Oh, I mean for your sake, because I know you don't like to do that. Cordelia: [Pretending to be Angel] Oh no, I can't do anything fun tonight. I have to count my past sins, then alphabetize them -- oh by the way, I'm thinking of snapping on Friday. Swami: Probably a chick magnet, right? Angel: What? No! Swami: If you say so. Swami: Vampire living in a city known for its sun, driving a convertible... Why do you hate yourself? Angel: [Referring to his black clothes] It's just... this way, I don't have to worry about matching. Wesley: Blood. I don't... usually drink in front of humans. Mr. Bryce: Don't insult me, go on. It's fresh. Wesley: Dear God. That's... nummy. Wesley: You want me to say that I'll act as her bodyguard. Mr. Bryce: No, you don't really get to say anything. I'm going to pay you a lot of money to protect her. You'll do it and get paid and we'll both be very happy. Swami: How many warriors slated for the coming apocalypse do you think are going to be using that hair gel. Don't get me wrong, you’re out there, fighting ultimate evil, you're gonna want something with hold. Virginia: Well, Daddy knows how to send out for just about anything. Virginia: You think you’re the vampire for the job? Wesley: Well, I want to try. You gonna fight me? Virginia: Let's go shopping. Wesley: What? Now? It’s the middle of the night. Wouldn't you rather wait till morning… when I can't reasonably leave the house. Yes, as your bodyguard, I insist we go at once. Gunn: At gunpoint. Cordelia: Yes, the point of a gun. He just walked Wesley out of here and this whole "I'm Angel" thing is a very, very bad idea. I mean if I thought that would work, I could have been Angel cuz guess what? Pretty much a girlie name. Virginia: Doesn't that hurt? Wesley: Oh, hot! [Puts his hand in a bucket of ice] Oh, cold! Guy: You're Angel, the vampire? Wesley: Yes, I'm Angel, the vampire with a soul. Fighting for my redemption with, with killing evil demons. That's right. Scourge of the demon world. Don't worry boys, I don't kill humans… unless I'm angry. Virginia: You were amazing. Wesley: I was, a bit. Virginia: You don't go all… [mocks a vamp face]. Like a regular… Wesley: I suppose I'm not like a regular vampire. Swami: What hard, you’re obsessed. Angel: I guess I am, a little. Swami: You go out and you find yourself some small blonde thing. You bed her, you love her, you treat her like crap. You break her heart. You and your inner demon will thank me, I'm telling you. Angel: Well, that's part of what makes me special. Swami: Oh no, that's real special. Cordelia: What is wrong with you? You've got like, delusions of Angel. You're not him. You can't do stuff on your own. Wesley: Oh, no no no. Not the sun, for I am a vampire. Oh no, it burns. Oh, oh, oh, oh no... Cordelia: Wow, you kinda screwed her over, huh? Angel: What's going on. Were you in Virginia? Wesley: Release her or die. Angel: Don't I say that? Cordelia: She slept with him? Bryce: You were supposed to be Angel, this wouldn't have happened. That's why I hired him. He's a eunuch. Cordelia: You slept with her? Angel: A eunuch? Wesley: Things happen, two young people, danger. Virginia: What are you talking about? Bryce: She was a virgin before you got here. Virginia: I was not a virgin. Bryce: What? Wesley: Oh thank goodness. Gunn: Yo, I could've told you she wasn't no virgin. Angel: Not a eunuch. Cordelia: One day as Angel - ONE DAY and he's getting some. Bryce: What? How could you? I kept you away from all men. Angel: The curse isn't even all that clear. Virginia: Daddy you remember that chauffeur from when I was 16, and the one at 18? I haven't been a virgin for a very long time. I even dated Rick. Bryce: Ginny don't this, don't make me angry. Virginia: Right because then you might do something bad. You were going to kill me! (She punches him.) You are not my father anymore. Angel: I'm not a eunuch. Cordelia: Look. Angel: Virginia Bryce, squired by Mr. Wesley Windam Price, private detective and bodyguard to the stars. Huh, squired, who says squired? Cordelia: Look at him, all over her. Angel: Cordelia, you’re just jealous that he's getting some attention. Cordelia: Damn skippy! He's getting famous off this. Reflected glory, that's my thing. Angel: Get a little perspective. Bodyguard to the stars, yeah right. There's no Windam Price agency.