Review of Episode 5, Season 3 "FREDLESS" Let's hear it for the Ladies! As Mere Smith is quickly becoming one of my favorite writers of the show I've been waiting with much anticipation for her first episode this season, and she certainly does not disappoint! Also, we have Marita Grabiak, although her first stint here on Angel, she comes to us from ER, a formidable groundbreaker when it comes to outstanding direction! And then of course, this episode focuses on Fred where Amy Acker does her most dazzling performance to date, finally getting a gritting amount of screen time to successfully display her acting capabilities. Finally, Marti Noxon also joined in to do some consultant producing. Mere has grasped the unique knack for mixing humor and drama with flawless intent. Not only does she have me in tears of laughter at Cordy and Wesley's reenactment of the tragic Buffy/Angel angst but 30-minutes later I am in tears of sadness as Fred says her farewell's to the gang. The misdirection is perfect as we wondered if Fred's parents are good or truly evil. The second and third act break is the ideal place to expose the truth, as a savvy audience most likely wouldn't have bought it much longer. When the show pokes fun at itself I tend to fall all over it and making Angel a special effects prop maker, well, let's just say I was laughing for a few people! Mere is also a big Mob Movie fan so her gibe at The Godfather III was an inside funny that had me laughing as well. The interaction between Lorne and Gunn was very interesting to see, showing more depth than I expected and I was pleasantly surprised. And it is nice to see that at last one character has normal, supportive and loving parents. I continue the directorial praise for the Gladiator style fight scenes and the now classic ‘bus kill' with the unexpected twist of mom driving the bus. Who needs a doctor in the family! And props once again go out to Robert Hall of Almost Human for the Giant Bug, "Can we say Eww!" I really enjoyed this episode - not only for the dramatics and the comedic energy nor the way that a simple character such as Fred can be brought forward with as much depth and emotion as any of our leads (Fred's breakdown was heart wrenching) but it's the subtle undercutting dialogue that earns the viewers respect as when Cordy comments on Angel's happy-to-be-stitched-up attitude, "What a dork." Brilliant stuff, ‘cause you know we were all thinking it! Fun Note: -mere- topped the cake with her Aliens reference; "Except that last one they made, I think he dozed off." For those of you who don't know, Joss Whedon wrote Alien: Resurrection! I give it Review by CoA Council member, Swoop

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: Let me break it down for you, Fred. (as Buffy) Oh! Angel... I know that I am a Slayer and... you're a vampire... (feigning tears) And it would be impossible for us to be together, but - Wesley: (getting into the act) But . . . my Gypsy curse sometimes prevents me from seeing the truth. Oh, Buffy. Cordelia: Yes, Angel? Wesley: (getting dramatic) I love you so much, I almost forgot to brood! Cordelia: And just because I sent you to hell that one time doesn't mean we can't just be friends. Oh! Wesley: Or possibly more. Cordelia: (gasps) Gasp! No! We mustn't! (Wesley grabs her in his arms) Oh! Wesley: Kiss me. Cordelia: Bite me. Angel: (surprising them off camera) How about you both bite me. Angel: Durslar beasts are pretty Faulknerian. Lotta sound, no fury. Cordelia: (on Fred's invention) God, I really wish she wouldn't leave her toys laying around. Gunn: Ooh, pretty wicked looking toy. Wesley: I'll say. It almost looks like a spring-loaded decapitation device. Cordelia: Or it makes toast. With her you never know. Lorne: Yeah, you are in a bad place, aren't you, doll? You thought you could outrun them. And maybe you were free, but those old monsters hunted you down. I know why you're running away, Fred. And you know what your problem is? Fred: I'm not strong enough to stay and face my fear? Lorne: No, you haven't run far enough. Mrs. Burkle: She used to love the little community library back home. Every afternoon I'd pick her up there after my rounds. Cordelia: Oh, a doctor. No wonder Fred's so smart. Mrs. Burkle: I drive a school bus. Cordelia: Oh. Well, I've actually never ridden in one of those, but I hear they're very nice. Lorne: (wearing just a robe) Well, isn't this a lovely surprise? Cordelia: He's surprised? I didn't even think he owned terry cloth. Lorne: Hmm. Such a small entourage tonight. Hey Gunn. Why didn't you bring your other friends? Because they make a party. Gunn: Maybe I should wait outside. Lorne: You know, I'm not entirely uncomfortable with that suggestion. Wesley: Lonre, I'd like you to meet Fred's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Burkle. They're here visiting (pauses) from the country. Mr. Burkle: Yeah, you'll have to forgive us hicks. Down in Texas, we don't get a lot of guys who wear eyeliner. Not for long anyway. Fred: No, you're not here. Go away! Mrs. Burkle: Fred, honey, it's us. Fred: You're not them. You can't be them. You're not them because they don't know. Mr. Burkle: Sweetie, it's Mom and Dad. Fred: Ssh. Stop saying that. You can't be. Mrs. Burkle: Honey, don't you remember us? Fred: I was - - I was five years and - - and so lost, and at night I would - - I was all by myself, and you weren't there! Mr. Burkle: Fred, I don't understand. Fred: I got lost. I got lost and they did terrible things to me, but it was just a storybook. It was just a story with monsters. Not real. Not in the world, but if you're here and you see me, then - - then it's real! And it did happen! If you see what they made of me - - I didn't mean to get so lost! (breaks down crying and hugs her mother) Mr. Burkle: And to think, we were wondering when to call the police on a bunch of superheroes. Angel: (abashed) Oh, I'm not really a hero. Gunn: More like a blood-sucking fiend. Mr. Burkle: Well frankly, Angel, I don't care if you drink pig's blood, cow's blood, or those froofy little imported beers. You saved my little girl. Angel: Well, I wouldn't have had to if she hadn't gone all Amazonian and whacked that thing with a golf club. Mr. Burkle: Well, I'll tell you. I haven't seen a stroke like that since Nicklaus took on Gary Player in the '63 - - Angel and Mr. Burkle: (in unison) Bob Hope Desert Classic (laugh together like old friends) Fred: (telling the story of the writing on her wall) Once upon a time, there was a girl who lived all alone in a horrible cave so far from home that it made her chest hurt. And every day in that horrible cave, the girl tried to figure out a way to escape. None of her plans ever succeeded of course, and she'd almost given up hoping. When one day, just like in a fairy tale, a handsome man rode up on a horse and saved her. And took her back to his castle. Now you'd think that was the end, wouldn't you? Dumb old fairy tales and their happily ever afters. But see, the minute they got back to the castle, the handsome man went away again. And even though she didn't mean to, didn't want to, high up in that castle, the girl just built herself another cave, hoping that he would save her again. But you can't save me this time, can you? (silence) Wesley: (on Fred's parents) They loved her, supported her. They didn't grind her down into a tiny self-conscious nub with their constant berating. Their neverending tirade of debasement and scorn and - - (pauses then looks down uncomfortably) Gunn: (after Fred's invention launches an axe through the Durslar beast's head) So. Not a toaster. Quotes by Council member Seeker.