Review of Episode 7, Season 2 "Darla" This marks Tim Minear’s directorial début on Angel, allowing him to add the distinctive title of Director along with his writing and producing credits thus proving there is no shortage of talent & imagination on the Angel team. Not only did Tim direct this episode, he wrote it as well, showing us his amazing grasp on the depths of emotion these characters can experience. His ability to take us into their past lives and unlives without a feeling of detachment has made the historical elements of the series a hit with fans and critics alike. Here as well, we don’t experience key moments of an integral timeline as if they are thrust upon us in confusion as to where we are and what is happening. But rather, we are placed within a place and time enraptured with feeling and emotion and the sensations around us are so ardently brought to life. Part of this experience is the captivating performances by an array of players that bring key elements of the episode to the forefront. Tying in from the preceding hour on Buffy the Vampire Slayer (written by Doug Petrie) we continue to absorb the knowledge of our characters beginnings. Darla (Julie Benz), the once mortal prostitute becomes the immortal Noblewoman via the Nosforatu imagery of the Master, wonderfully recaptured by Mark Metcalf. Not since "The Wish" in Season Three of Buffy has he been seen, but here not a nerve is left unsevered when he appears on screen. Drusilla’s (Juliet Landau) embracing of William the Bloody, ‘Spike’ (James Marsters), who brilliantly portrays a weak and mild man so turned by his bloodlust, and Angel, with a soul, wanting back into the vampiric fold, is haunting. But most riveting are the performances with Darla confronting a love stricken Lindsey and a soul salvaging Angel where she comes to terms with her human self and its ramifications only to shockingly choose what we would least imagine. Two things on the technical end stand out. Tim’s directing where William does his bump & run into Angelus and our four immortal warriors as they saunter through the streets in the midst of the Boxer Rebellion. Both scenes appear within both episodes but with totally different perspectives of the characters, but not until you view both episodes do you understand this. Quite an accomplishment for both Tim and Buffy director Nick Marak. Greatness in the slow motion effect! "Working with the rockin' Doug Petrie big with the fun," says Tim on the writing end of the two hour event.   Another unique observation in the ‘saunter’ scene is the music. Throughout both episodes the feel of a theatrical presentation is overpowering. The evident efforts of both Angel’s Rob Kral and Buffy’s Thomas Wanker stand out here. Rob brings an amazing sense of epic proportions with his use of strings and horns along with his skill of knowing when to punch things up and when not. "We deliberately didn't collaborate on these two episodes to maintain a different perspective," admits Rob. Tim also had some requests for Rob as he asked, " . . . something epochy. Something with horns, you know. I need something Wagnerish." I give it... Special VIP Guest Reviewer: This week, Writer Meloney Chadwick So, love, love, love, tyrannical and torturous, was the theme of the evening. As the fake sensei pointed out last week to Angel, his obsession with Darla was-- in part-- behind his doomed romance with Buffy. ("What you need to do is find some pretty little blonde thing, bed her, treat her like hell and break her heart…") Even at the final scene, we know that they've been tied with karmic chains for centuries and they're not freed yet. With young Lindsey added to the equation, I foresee fangs in his future... I mean, how else to compete? And it's not like he's currently putting his soul to much use, anyway. To give credit where credit's due, my friend Chris Cavett noted that when Darla was fussing with Dru over calling her "grandma". Dru mused, "and I shall be mother..." which he takes as a portent that when Dru returns, she'll be the one who turns Darla yet again... which would be poetic justice, indeed.

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!

Lindsey: You're bleeding. Darla: I guess I am. Lindsey: Something happened. Darla: Oh God yes, so many things. I remember them all. Which one were you thinking of. Lindsey: It was too soon, shouldn't have sent you to him. Shoud've waited. Darla: Oh Lindsey, you never talk about yourself Lindsey. About a girlfriend, boyfriend, someone special? Lindsey: There's no one. Darla: No, no there really isn't is there. You can be with someone 150 years, think you know him. Still doesn't work out. Angelus... you should've seen us together. Lindsey: He was a different person then. Darla: And so was I. Now do you know what we've become? Lindsey: Enemies. Darla: Oh no, much worse! Now we're soul mates. Darla: Someone close the shutters, it seems wrong that I should die while the sun is still so bright. Master: You will not see it again. Before it sets you will have left this life. Darla: I didn't ask for a priest. Who invited you? Darla: I'm a whore. Master: Well, yes that too. You should have asked for a priest long ago, child. Your life may have been the better for it. Darla: God never did anything for me. Master: I'm your savior, God never did anything for you. But I will. Cordelia: And this would be the same woman that you didn't notice was in your bedroom every night for like three weeks straight. Angel: That was different. Cordelia: Different in the sitting right on top of you sense, YEAH! Cordelia: She could be sitting on top of anybody. Cordelia: Let's face it, unless there is a website called "www.ohbythewaywehavedarlastashedhere.com" we're pretty much out of luck. Master: We stalk the surface to feed and grow our ranks. We do not live amongst the human pestilence. Angelus: I'll be honest. You really couldn't with that face, now could you. Angelus: I'm not gonna get a bat nose like that, am I? Angelus: You belong by my side, out in the world feeding as we like, taking what we need. I'll give you that view you crave, Darla. I'll give you everything. (Laughing) Tell the truth! Whose face do you want to look at for eternity, his or mine? Master: Idiot, I made her!... (to Darla) You're leaving with the stallion, aren't you. Master: I give it a century, tops. Dru: When I bit into him, I could hear the ocean... Darla: Of course you could. Dru: I'm full and warm, yet all alone. Angelus: That's not true, Precious. You've got us! Dru: Not in the least! You won't even hurt me a just little bit. Darla: All you have to is ask... Dru: No, his heads too full of you, Grandmother. (Angelus laughs) Dru: Don't be cross. I could be your mommy. Angelus: Well, If you're lonely, Dru, why don't you make yourself a playmate? Dru: I could! I could pick the wisest and bravest knight in all the land and I make him mine forever with a kiss. William the Bloody: Watch where you're going! Darla: Or you just take the first drooling idiot that comes along. Angelus: Think she'll find a good one? Darla: I found you. Angel: Keep looking. Cordelia: And my sister is living in unit 319. Angel: You don't have a sister. Cordelia: Sure I do... my older, way older, like 400 years old, blonde sister. Darla. No last name. I've been desperately trying to find her cause mom and dad are in the coma. Sue the property manager was very helpful. She even cried. Angel: Sun. Cordelia: Actually I was thinking Valley. I mean, why go there if you don't have to. Lindsey: Darla. Darla: Say that again Lindsey: I just uh, said your name, Darla Darla: Sounds so odd doesn't it? Lindsey: I don't know what you mean. Darla: It wasn't my name when I was human. First time I was human, I mean. Lindsey: What was your name? Darla: I don't remember. I'm not her, whoever she was. I was darla for so long. Then I wasn't, I wasn't anything. I just stopped. He killed me. I was dead. Then you brought me back. Lindsey: Yes. Darla: What did you bring back, Lindsey? What am I? did you bring back that girl who's name I can't remember or did you bring back something else, the other thing? Lindsey: Both. Neither. You're just you... whatever that is. Darla: Why haven't you kissed me. You've been dying for it haven't you? Lindsey: I didn't know if you wanted me to. Darla: Why should that matter? Do you think I ever hesitated when I wanted something? Life's too short. Believe me I know. 400 years and still too short. Darla: It's not me you wanna screw. Lindsey: What? Darla: It's him. You all think you can use me to get to Angel. Dru: (Singing) They call out for mercy. They call out for mercy. Darla: Show none. Angel: Spike and Dru? Darla: They're here. Out in the fights. Maybe starting a few. Dru: My little Spike just killed himself a slayer! Darla: Did you hear that? Angel: Congratulations. I guess that makes you one of us. Spike: Don't be so glum, mate! Way you tell it, one slayer snuffs another one rises. I figure there's another chosen one getting all chosen as we speak. I tell you what, when and if this new bird shows up, I'll give you first crack at her. Darla: Don't lie to me. Angel: Look, I've killed men, you've seen it. Darla: Rapists and murders. thieves and scoundrels! Did you think I wouldn't notice? Only evil doers, that's all you hunt now. You swore to me! You said if I took you back you'd prove yourself! Angel: I will. Darla: Good. Here's your chance. Darla: While Spike, Spike, was out killing a slayer, you were saving missionaries. From me! Cordelia: Um, sorry. I know you're concussion gal and all, but around here its Angel. Just Angel - okay? Darla: Thought I was dead. Angel: You're not dead. Darla: I'm not sure how I feel about that. Angel: I know what you mean. Darla: I knew you'd help me. knew if i could only get to you. Funny that's why they brought me back. To get to you. Now I find I need you, just as I've always needed you. You'll make the pain stop won't you? Angel: Takes time. Darla: Takes moments. Do it. Now. Angel: What...? Darla: Make me what I was again. Angel: Darla... Darla: You said you'd help me. Angel: I will. I want to, but not like this. Darla: Turn me back. God, I can't stand this pounding in my chest for another second! Angel: It's a gift... to feel that heartbeat. To know, really and for once, that you're alive. You're human again Darla. Do you know what that means? Darla: Of course I do. It means pain, suffering and disease and death! I released you from this world once. I gave you eternal life. Now its time for you to return the favor. Angel: Favor? Is that what you think? You think you did me a favor?... You damned me. Darla: Fine! Fine, then if its such a punishment then take out your revenge pay me back!... Please...? Angel: I can't. Angel: Darla, wait... Darla: No, don't look for me again!