Review of Episode 11, Season 3 "Birthday" Mere Smith really knows how to tell a story!! It's a real treat to be reviewing this well-penned tale spotlighting Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter). Once again, her character has matured and developed so much since the early days of Buffy the Vampire Slayer (and it's fun to watch those classic episodes on FX and have a then-and-now reference for the character). Charisma is a very talented, if not underrated, actress. Of all characters, Cordy's is the most complex, growing from snobby rich girl to self-sacrificing young woman. She's come quite a long way. Could you imagine the Cordy of old giving up her dreams of being a famous actress in order to save Angel's (David Boreanaz) sanity and that innocent girl, Cynthia, as well as becoming part-demon? Me neither, she's gonna make it after all! This episode moved the series forward once again knocking the status quo on its ear as we witnessed Cordy gaining newfound powers at the end. Yet, it acknowledged previous episodes (notice the clips from the Angel pilot, 'City of...' and 'Hero'). I cannot tell you how good it was to see Doyle (Glenn Quinn) again, even in a flashback. Watching the episode, I thought it would be nice if Doyle was involved one way or another. As in answer to my thoughts, he shows up a split second later! Doyle played an integral part in the Angel mythos, especially Cordy's visions; after all, he only gave them to her. An interesting twist is learning that she wasn't meant to get them; it was a big "cosmic whoops." What is even more interesting is how Mere left it up to the viewers' imaginations that maybe (or maybe not) Doyle gave Cordy the visions because he loved her. Even though he may well be gone, it's nice to see he isn't forgotten. The alternate reality sequence was very haunting, seeing an unshaven, one-armed Wesley (Alexis Denisof) and Angel driven insane by inheriting Doyle's visions instead of Cordy. You really feel sorry for Angel when Wesley states Angel has visions of people he's killed 200 years ago and sends him and Gunn (J. August Richards) out to save them. I thought what brought the episode and the subject of Cordy's visions full-circle is when she kissed Angel and the blue light passed between them a la her and Doyle in 'Hero'. Is there more than just a platonic relationship between these two? Makes you wonder, especially the scene where Angel says he couldn't bear it if she died. Only time will tell. The little touches went a long way to making this episode an instant classic. We learned that Phantom Dennis, the ghostly roommate, is very protective of Cordy, having gone to great lengths to hide her medicine from Gunn & Fred (Amy Acker), not to mention the fact he's wearing a party hat and has a "Happy Birthday" sign hanging from the ceiling when they arrive. Did anyone notice the tongue-in-cheek spoof on a certain series creator while Cordy was in TV land? Her personal assistant kept calling someone named Josh, changing his orders on a dime at Cordy’s whim. Pretty sly, -mere-, pretty sly. And of course, a beaten, disheveled Lorne (Andy Hallett) coming in, asking for a sea breeze was priceless. In fact, it was funnier than that scene in T2 where a beaten and battered Ah-nold announced he needed a vacation. Gotta love Lorne. As I commented before in previous reviews, the show has managed to find the delicate balance between its dark elements and its comedic counterpart. Skip (David Denman), who was previously seen in 'That Vision Thing', is a funny character with a guy-next-door/tongue-in-cheek sense of humor. I'm glad he appeared again and I hope to see more of him. Of course, the Cordy! sitcom-which was very reminiscent to The Mary Tyler Moore Show - was priceless. When the show returned from commercial, I had to do a double take and wondered if I accidentally changed channels, especially since the "TV PG" box was in the upper left hand corner. I'm waiting for the next episode with bated breath. I'm very curious to see what other demonic attributes Cordy possesses besides painless visions and levitation. Michael Grossman and Robert Kral are two other people worth mentioning here as well. Michael's direction of this episode is outstanding if only for the fact that he had so much to work with: different moods, different colors, different spaces, all challenges within themselves and the added complication of editing in a comatose and ethereal Cordy. Robert's accompanying score was just as complex with the dark moods of the alternate reality and the light-hearted tones of the Cordy! sitcom period to the hauntingly poignant moments of Cordy and Angel's altered states. Take a bow, everyone; you really outdid yourselves! Fun Facts: David Greenwalt, Angel co-creator and executive producer along with Marti Noxon, Buffy executive producer and writer, sang the Cordy! theme song which was also penned by David, entitled: Baby Stay a While. Marti made a surprise cameo singing in the Buffy musical episode, 'Once More With Feeling', as the parking ticket lady. Don't be surprised if you see them singing again real soon! Skip refers to the 1999 blockbuster film, The Matrix, which is series creator Joss Whedon's favorite movie. In fact, it was also referenced in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 4 episode, 'Superstar', and was again paid homage to in that season's penultimate episode, 'Primeval'. I give it... Review by CoA Staff member, Ned Flanders

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!

Angel: Whoa! Whoa! Dirty people not touching the baby. Cordelia: But pig-drinking bloodsuckers are okay? I meant that in a nice way. Lorne: I'm pickin' up some hard-cord woo-woo vibes in the room. This ain't medical, kids. It's mystical. Angel: (to a comatose Cordy) You make me so furious. Cordelia: You're furious? I get body-jacked on my birthday and you're the one that's furious? Angel: I had this dream that Cordy was here. She was trying to tell me something. Something really important. Cordelia: Yes, and, and . . . Angel: It's weird. Cordelia: How are you a Champion? In what way are you a Champion? Wesley: Fred studied Cordy's latest CAT scan. The news isn't good. The tests show widespread neuroelectrical deterioration. Cordelia: That's just a fancy way of saying . . . Angel: She's dying. Cordelia: I think I like the fancy way better. Cordelia: You're death? You've come to take me. Skip: (demonically) Ha ha ha! (normal voice) Just kidding. I'm Skip. You're Cordelia Chase, right? Sorry it took me so long, I . . . This you? (points to Cordelia's body on the bed) Most people go astral, their spiritual shapes tend to be an idealized version of themselves you know, straighten the nose, lose the gray, sort of a self-esteem kind of thing. You're pretty confident, aren't you? Lorne: (groans, looking very disheveled with broken horn) Oh, for the love of God, somebody get me a Sea Breeze. Fred: Lorne! What happened? Lorne: I can't really talk about it. Gunn: Then how are we supposed to find them, so we can kick their asses? Lorne: No, I mean I can't talk about it. They cast a spell. I went down to the (mumbles incoherently) See? Angel: Did you get the information? Lorne: (sarcastically) Oh, why, yes, Angel. My horn should grow back in a couple of days. So kind of you to be concerned. Cordelia: This is a mall. Skip: We just figured you'd be more comfortable here. Cordelia: We? Skip: The Powers That Be. Cordelia: The Powers That Be pops me out of my body and sent me to a mall? Skip: Actually, this is more the construct of a mall. You know, like in The Matrix. Cordelia: You've seen The Matrix? Skip: Oh, I love that flick. When Trinity's all, "Dodge this!" and the agent just crumbles to . . . (pauses) and I'm not really instilling any awe anymore, am I? Cordelia: You mean, Doyle gave me the visions because he loved me? Skip: I can't answer that. What I can tell you is that is was a mistake. Cordelia: But I thought the Powers That Be knew everything? Skip: Life and death, that sort of thing, they got a handle on. Who somebody chooses to love, well that's good old free will. Tammy: (Old-English accent) We wasn't meant to have the visions, us humans. If you want my advice, you'll listen to our man Skip here. He won't steer you wrong, this one. Skip: (flattered)Oh, get out of here. (seriously)Really, get out. I've got work. Skip: Now what if the play ran a little differently? (demonstrates with highlight lines on the monitor screen) You're on the sideline, over here, talking to a couple of wanna be moguls. Angel is downfield here. Instead of cutting to the middle to meet Angel, what if you'd been forced to counter? What if this guy, who happens to be a very powerful talent agent, flanks you, drew you offsides? What would happen then? Cordelia: I'd, uh, score a touchdown? Skip: Metaphorically speaking, heck, yeah! Cordelia: (talking aloud to herself) I want something. Hypo-something. Hypothermia? Nev: (into his cell phone) Josh, let's get a large tub of ice water in Ms. Chase's dressing room, pronto. Cordelia: No, that's not it. Nev: (into his cell phone) Canceling ice water. Cordelia: Hyper . . . hyperbaric? Nev: (into his cell phone) Josh, make it an oxygen tent. Cordelia: No, that's not it either. Nev: (into his cell phone) Canceling tent. Cordelia: Hypernia! That's it. Nev: (to Cordy) The hotel. Cordelia: Yes, I want to go there. Nev: Terrific. When would you like me to – Now? Now you would like to . . . (Cordy walks away, snapping her fingers in the air) Without security? Without an entourage of me? Right, I'll give 'em a call. (into cell phone) Josh, car, side door, now! Skip: We've been over this. I respect what you're trying to do. It's noble and heroic and all that other Russell Crowe Gladiator crap. Cordelia: You've seen - Skip: Didn't love it. The fact remains that humans are not strong enough to harbor the visions. Period. Even the Powers That Be can't change that. Cordelia: Then find a loophole, Skip. I know my purpose in this world, and it includes the visions. And if the Powers That Be aren't complete dumb-asses, they know it too. Skip: (hesitantly) There may be a tiny loophole. Cordelia: I'll take it. Skip: (sharply) You may want to think about that. (gently)The only way you get to keep the visions is by becoming part demon. The process isn't easy. It will make your vision-pain seem like a stroll through Candyland. And even after the agony subsides, the effects from the transformation will be numerous and unpredictable. You may never be able to lead a human life again. Cordelia: So demonize me already. Skip: It was an honor being your guide, Cordelia Chase. Quotes by Council member, Seeker