Review of Episode 6, Season 4 "Spin the Bottle" Woo Hoo! Party in the house - Joss came back to play! It's a rare treat nowadays when Joss Whedon comes back to write and direct an episode for of any of his various shows but this week Angel drew the lucky straw. "Dad" brings it home literally and figuratively, showing up with his distinctive grab bag of humor, pathos and superb dialogue. While the plot contrivance central to Spin the Bottle is eerily similar to the Buffy Season 6 episode: Tabula Rasa, Joss gives it enough of a "spin" to make it unique in its own right. Tabula Rasa was more grounded in the thematic question of "Who are we?" while Bottle is more interested in asking, "Who were we?" And there's no person better qualified to take us on that ride down memory lane than Joss who created these characters. In an attempt to get Cordelia's memory restored, Whedon takes the gang magically back to their teen beginnings for a hilarious and eye-opening look at just how much these people have grown and evolved. Like Rasa was for the Buffy cast, Bottle ends up being a comedic tour de force for the Angel cast who just flow effortlessly back and forth with one another. You can see the delight in the cast member's eyes at getting a chance to lighten up and just be silly for the majority of an episode. In particular, Alexis, David and Charisma get special kudos for being willing and able to revert to their past characterizations with such perfection. It was hilarious and almost disconcerting to see "Headboy" Wesley, "Queen Bitch of Sunnydale" Cordelia along with Irish hellion-in-the-making "Liam" back in their skins. Getting a look at Gunn and Fred's youths made for interesting context as well. Who knew Fred was such a pothead? Joss's affinity for Lorne is apparent as well, as the green guy serves as the lounge lizard version of Shakespeare's "Puck" from A Midsummer Night's Dream, guiding us through the tale. Connor got a bit of a creepy sub plot dealing with "rewards" or the lack thereof for his vigilante services, which I could have done without. But the third act 'mano a mano' showdown between father and son was a long time coming event worth the wait. Amidst the flying fists and frying pans, "Liam" provides Connor with the poignant and insightful knowledge that he too didn't ask for this, "I didn't ask to be a freak. I didn't even ask to be born." From the look on Connor's face, the message was heard loud and clear - maybe the apple doesn't fall too far from tree, huh kid? Of course, it wouldn't be a Joss episode if the funny weren't tempered by a melancholy coda. In the last act, our heroes are returned to their "evolved" selves with a renewed sense of history including the formerly amnesiac Cordy. But the relief lasts a millisecond, as they understand that Cordy remembers "everything" including the terrifying visions of the impending apocalypse. You know things are going to be bad with a capital "B" when even the answering of the life changing question: "Were we in love?" with a "yes" by Cordy to Angel is relegated to a footnote unworthy of exploration in the face of impending doom. So, all I have to say is - bring it on! Fun Fact: When Cordy first sees Angel after waking up from the spell, she greets him with the line: "Hello, salty goodness!" That was Cordelia's first line to Angel when she sees him at The Bronze, in Episode 5: Never Kill a Boy on the First Date on Buffy, the Vampire Slayer of Season 1. I give it... Review by CoA Staff member, 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: (sarcastically) Oh, good. Symbols on the floor. That always goes well. Lorne: OK, first of all she didn't say, "may your words please the gods", so much as she said, "may you orally please the gods". Which is a slight... inflection is very crucial in our... God bless her, it's always nice to hear the mother tongue. As long as it's not from my mother. (chuckles) Gunn: What happened to you, man? Wesley: I had my throat cut, and all my friends abandoned me. Cordelia: (re: Angel) Hello salty goodness. Cordelia: (re: Fred) Oh! We're both in school. Oh gosh! Let's be best friends, so I can lose all my cool ones. Wesley: There's no call to be snippity, miss. Cordelia: This is a Clarion call for snippity, Princess Charles. Wesley: It's Wesley, thank you. Wyndham-Price. I attend the Watcher's Academy in Southern Hampshire. In fact, I happen to be Head Boy. Cordelia: (sarcastically) Gee, I wonder how you earned that nickname. Wesley: A lot of effort I don't mind saying. Cordelia: (re: Gunn and Wesley fighting) Aren't you gonna get in there and stop them? Angel: About time the English got what's coming to them. I'm rooting for the slave. Wesley: The cross obviously doesn't affect me or our friend the pugilist. Gunn: Oh, your ass better pray I don't look that word up. Lorne: Hey, here's a funny sidebar. I'm tied to a chair, again! What the hell's going on? Wesley: We were hoping you would enlighten us, spawn of evil. Lorne: Oh dear, I'm starting to suspect my 'surefire hit' spell closed out-of-town. (groans) Did anything go right? Cordelia: (to Wesley) Is this a convenient time to point out you left me alone with him, genius? Angel: I never touched her. Cordelia: So clearly, deviant! Angel: You want a vampire then? I guess I'm your man. I guess I'll start feeding on your corpses, starting with the girls! So who's going to be the first course, hard to choose between you two girls. Cordelia: (outraged) What do you mean it's hard? (pauses) I mean, she's the tasty one! Look at her, half of her is neck. Connor: Why did he attack you? Cordelia: Well who wouldn't? Look, you're a bit chess club for my usual beat, but you kill that freak and you're getting a big reward. Connor: You mean it? Cordelia: (throaty) Hoo doggy. Connor: You're afraid to fight me? Angel: Truth to tell, I'm not much for fighting. I'd rather be satisfying my sinful urges with the Chase girl. Angel: Cordelia. Were we in love? Cordelia: We were. Quotes by CoA Council member, Seeker