Review of Episode 22, Season 3 "Tomorrow" Season finales carry massive expectations. The audience wants answers and yet paradoxically desires new and exciting questions. This leaves the writer with quite a difficult task; how can they satisfy this dichotomy? For the past two seasons, Angel has answered the season’s main question and offered enticing scraps of the future, such as Darla’s resurrection. However, while Tomorrow is a powerful episode, it fails to provide any resolution and thus leaves the audience unsatisfied and confused. Rather than being a conclusion, Tomorrow is the climax of the Connor/Stephen arc. Thus, the episode tends to explicitly focus on character relationships and a few pivotal actions. David Boreanaz is at his best here. It has often been said that it is easier to create pain than to create happiness. David does an excellent job portraying the ecstatic dad trying to connect with his son. It would have been refreshing if the audience did not know Stephen was deceiving Angel. Likewise, Vincent Kartheiser continues to provide a stellar performance. He is able to simultaneously portray confusion, loneliness, and hatred. His scenes with David are amazing as well. The two have an innate charisma that enhances the father/son relationship. This is especially apparent in the training scene where both actors masterfully play off each other. The betrayal scene was very well done. Both David and Vincent really pushed the limits of pain. Charisma Carpenter also shone in the episode. However, the material is so new and hard to appreciate since we do not know where the writers are taking the arc. Many criticize the obvious parallels between Cordelia and the Biblical figure Mary. However, I feel it is too early to judge. Granted, her ascending into the sky in a white light was a tad campy, but was still symbolic. We need to remember that this is a fictional world. If there are vampires and demons, why can’t Cordy ascend to a higher dimension? Also, it is sad to see the Grooselugg departing. Mark Lutz had done a great job showing Groo’s transition into Los Angeles. Seeing his relationship with Cordy deteriorate was absolutely heartbreaking. Still, his departure was inevitable. Kudos to Mark for the performance, and we can hope for a future cameo. The most significant subplot of late has been Lilah trying to recruit Wesley to Wolfram and Hart. Personally, I would like to have seen more of this. However, since the scenes were few and far between, they were more powerful. It is no surprise that Alexis Denisov’s performance was beyond words. Wesley is dabbling in the darkness, but has not crossed any lines. In his post-coital conversation with Lilah, telling her that, “I wasn’t thinking about your while you were here”, was a nice way to show that there is still hope for Wes. While I would like to see Wesley remain a “good guy,” Alexis and Stephanie Romanov have too much chemistry to terminate the conflict right away. Still, the writers have their work cut out to make the story line different from the depressed Angel/Darla arc of Season 2. As much as I have praised this episode, it is not without flaws. What struck me the most was that Fred and Gunn were sidelined for the most part. They were practically devoid of dialogue and had no major role in any of the action. In a season finale everyone should be participating in something. It made them seem secondary when they are in fact major players. Also, Lorne was taken from us. I hope this is not permanent since Andy Hallett is brilliant. Lorne has become an integral factor in the large scheme of things. Without him, it will feel as if we are missing a key element. Finally, Justine and Linwood need to go. Without Holtz the audience cares little, if at all, about Justine. Stephen’s betrayal of Angel would have been more menacing and powerful if he had done it alone. Likewise, Linwood no longer poses a serious threat. We know Angel could kidnap and kill him at anytime. Wolfram and Hart need to rethink their game plan. As of now, Lilah’s tactics are far more foreboding and interesting. I’m not trying to completely tear apart Tomorrow. It is definitely a good episode. However, with season finales, people want a sense of closure along with the cliffhangers. Tomorrow was ill placed. It would have worked as any other episode except the finale. It left the audience with too many questions. Are Lorne and Groo gone for good? What is Cordelia’s deal? Doesn’t Angel have to eat to survive, even under water? The writers have created a difficult task for themselves as well. Will next season pick up months later, or days? Without a doubt the cliffhangers in Tomorrow are intense. The problem is that they are too much. The audience has been emotionally slaughtered for half the season with harsh, intense cliffhangers and conflicts. At this point they are numb. They needed some sort of resolution, no matter how small. Ultimately, while full of great writing and acting, Tomorrow failed to give the audience what they needed: a rest. I give it... Review by CoA Staff member, BCangel

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!

Groo: (to Cordy) Might I further relieve you by at first gently and then more rapidly rubbing your shlug-tee? Angel: (on Connor) He’s going to need clothes, weekly allowance. What’s good nowadays? Fifty cents? A dollar? Cordelia: Yeah, if you’re Tom Sawyer painting a fence. Angel: See, I’m so out of touch. He’s going to hate me. Cordelia: No, he’ not. He’s going to love you. Angel: How do you know? Cordelia: Because you’re you. Angel: Me. A vampire. Cordelia: You, a vampire. Angel: Who drinks blood, keeps to the shadows, and is older than everybody he knows put together. Cordelia: You’re all those things, plus tight with a buck. But none of that matters. Angel: Why not? Cordelia: Because you have the biggest and best heart of anyone I’ve ever known. He’s a smart kid. He’ll figure it out. Cordelia: Well, what about rebuilding your club here? Lorne: Well, that’s a great idea, pixiecat, except every time I do, you all seem to destroy it. Cordelia: It was only (pauses and looks ashamed) three times. Cordelia: I’m not telling a sixteen year old boy that. Angel: Well, someone’s got to make sure he knows the facts of life. My track record with the whole man/woman thing isn’t, you know, I don’t want to use the words “tragic farce”. Lorne: (to Angel) Connor’s back, and you’re whole life’s coming together. Sometimes things do work out. Gunn: (flabbergasted) Now he’s humming. Fred: He’s really happy. (walks over and pokes Angel with a stick) But not perfectly happy I hope. Angel: Ow! No. Fred: Just checking. Wesley: (lying in bed after sex) Hmm. You know that sinking feeling you sometimes get the morning after? It arrived early. Lilah: Mmm. It’s like a little death. Several in fact. Wesley: Get out. Lilah: What, no sweet kisses, no when can I see you again? Watch the dirty looks. It’s what got me going in the first place. I’ll give you this. You sure know how to channel your rage, frustration, and hate. Always a bigger turn on than love. Wesley: You still here? Lilah: (laughs) I’m starting to like you, Wes. But don’t go making more of this than it is. I’m not one of the doey-eyed girls of Angel Investigations. Don’t be thinking about me when I’m gone. Wesley: I wasn’t thinking about you when you were here. Lilah: (pauses) So your former boss has a soul, and you’re losing yours. Why you’re just new all over, aren’t you? Cordelia: You’re Skip. You tend to remember your demon guides. What is going on? Skip: I think you know. Cordelia: I’m dying? Skip: No, no, you’re not dying. Cordelia: Not dying. Skip: No. Cordelia: (hits him) Say that part first! Skip: Sorry. It’s not the end. It’s the beginning. You’re a great warrior, Cordelia. The battle that we’re all a part of is fought on many planes and dimensions. You’ve outgrown this one. You’ve become a higher being. Connor: (to Angel) Killing is too good for you. You get to live (pauses) forever. Angel: Someday you’ll learn the truth, and you’ll hate yourself. Don’t. It’s not your fault. I don’t blame you. Connor: Liar! Angel: Listen to me. I love you. Never forget that. (shouting now as the coffin is sealed) Connor! Never forget that I’m your father, and I love you. Quotes by CoA Council member, Seeker