Review of Episode 2, Season 4 "Ground State" After the exhilarating premiere last week, "Ground State" offered a nifty change of pace by introducing a feisty new character to the show and a whole mess of plot development for the impending season. Writer Mere Smith does a fine job mixing the humor, the pathos, some drama and surprise, surprise - a whole Marvel-esque sub story which not only entertains but somehow manages to fit into the Angel-verse. Brava Mere! The tease this week provides a very cinematic introduction to young Gwen [Alexa Devalos], dressed in red against a washed out world where her parents dump their "troubled" daughter at an imposing boarding school. As directed by Michael Grossman, the opening is a bit Hitchcockian in look and very reminiscent of the X-Men movie in exposition. Flash forward to the present and we get a gander at grown-up, badass Gwen swathed in red rubber and sporting some serious 'tude. She's like Electro-Rogue (X-Men) with a dash of Sydney Bristow (Alias) and Slayer Faith mixed in to boot. Liked her a lot and by the heart pumping reaction of Angel - I'm thinking he did too. As for the rest of the gang, acts one and two get the viewers and Angel familiar again with the world as well as feeling the painful absence of Cordelia. Loyal Phantom Dennis makes a welcome cameo and he's not happy Cordy is still missing either. Fred, Gunn and Angel have some nice re-bonding moments and we get to see Amy Acker stretch her acting chops as the spitfire that's been pushed too far when Gunn gets a close-encounter of the heart stopping kind. Down in the seedier side of town, Wesley and Lilah are steaming up the screen more with their trashy, dark affair. The love scenes are off the scale hot (the WB censor has got to be blindfolded in a closet somewhere). Even more shocking is that Wes has started a new band of demon fighters sans Angel Investigations and he seems to be doing just fine by himself. I love this new Wesley; dark, tortured and obviously marching to his own lonely beat. They've reinvented the character and made him fascinating. His journey out of the dark--back to the light--is going to be amazing this season. Connor was only a sidebar this episode. There were some awesome fighting sequences and a few interesting plot twists in the last acts. And while Cordy got a great one liner at episode end with "What are you deficient? Get me out of here!" - I can't help but be as frustrated as she is with the continued delay in her return to the show. I give it... Review by CoA Contributing Writer, Phoenix

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!

Gunn: (re: Cordy’s disappearance) Well, you guys were supposed to meet up. Angel: I know why I wasn’t there. Fred: Sure, banished to the ocean depths by your snot of a son. Gunn: Not that she’s bitter. Angel: I appreciate you guys looking out for Connor all summer. It’s just that he’s confused. He needs time, that’s all. Fred: Right. Time and some corporal punishment with a large, heavy mallet. Not that I’m bitter. Elliot: Gwen, that’s a $12,000 watch. Gwen: (fries the watch with electricity) And now it’s surrealism. Thanks for the drink. Fred: (to Gunn and Angel) I’m still working on a plan, but so far it involves being sent to prison and being someone’s bitch. Angel: (re: the plan) I’m really strong if that helps. Gunn: That’s my girl, large and in charge. Okay, teensy-weensy and in charge. Fred: (softly to herself while breaking & entering) Please let my cell mate be gentle. Angel: Who are you? Gwen: Who are you? Angel: I asked you first. Gwen: What are you, 7? Angel: Tell me you’re not here for the Axis. Gwen: I’m not here for the Axis. Angel: You’re lying. Gwen: I’m fibbing. It’s lying only classier. Lilah: Look, Angel. I know you’ve been out of the loop for a while, but I’m still evil. I don’t do errands unless they’re evil errands. Angel: I think you’ll do this one. Lilah: Why? What’s in it for me? Angel: (with a wry grin) Just this once, I’ll ignore the fact that you’re within 50 yards of my son. Just this once. Angel: Get down! Now! Get low! Gwen: Ow! You jackass. You get low. Angel: I don’t need to. I don’t breathe. Gwen: Gee, must be a real turn-on for the girlfriend. Cordelia: (re: realizing Angel isn’t coming after her because he thinks she’s happy) What are you, deficient? Get me out of here! Quotes by CoA Council member, Seeker