| Review of Episode 7, Season 4
"Apocalypse, Nowish"
This last regular Angel episode before the break has me in a quandary. On one hand, former Buffy scribe Steve DeKnight pulls out all the stops penning an episode chock-a-block full of exhilarating action, biting humor, and genuine menace. Yet on the other hand, DeKnight also throws in a doozy of a freakish plot twist by literally coupling Cordelia and Connor. For all the good in this particular episode (and there's a lot of it), I'm rendered speechless by the sordid and soapish turn of events in the last act by our "heroine" and Angel's son. So, let's get back to the good of the episode, shall we?
The much alluded to apocalypse finally hits L.A. complete with biblically prophesized harbingers (i.e. rats, birds, snakes), ample paranormal activity and a Tim Curry-esque ala Legend inspired "Beast" figure rising from the bowels of hell. Director Vern Gillum does an admirable job infusing the episode with a palpable sense of doom as the Angel Investigations Team (including Lorne) spend the bulk of the episode dealing with personal relationship meltdowns amongst a slew of house calls involving the assorted rampant mucus and creepy crawlies.
All of the actors get face time this episode, as their characters adjust positions and alliances in preparation for the rest of the seasonal arc. Lorne gets to crack some classic one-liners and badger Angel about getting Cordy to spill about the apocalyptic specifics Wolfram & Hart stole from his head. David Boreanaz gets an episode to flex his acting range shifting from tender to menacing and back within the hour. And Stephanie Romanov's Lilah just continues to prove what a complicated and outstanding villain she is. Her affair with Wes has provided fertile ground in exposing her as a more multidimensional character. Dressing up like Fred and baiting Wes about his unresolved feelings for "The Texas Twig" was not only hilarious but extremely telling of Lilah's growing feelings for the conflicted Wesley. Lastly, Fred and Gunn are in a bad place since the murder of Fred's professor and the turmoil is adding some interesting depth to a relationship that has remained surprisingly angst free.
All of this adds up to one thrilling action heavy showdown between the A.I. men and the newly risen "Beast." Gillum rips a page from the John Woo action book, right down to the slow motion combat and the double-fisted guns blazing action. It's one of the best-choreographed and most exciting action sequences ever done on the show. All the effort still isn't enough to best "The Beast" who makes short work of the entire team before disappearing into a funnel of fire. Welcome hell on earth!
As for Cordelia, I'm not sure what happened to her this episode. Yes, she may have her memory back but her attitude and actions are a far cry from the higher being and "champion in training" we've come to know. She admits her undying love to Angel but puts the breaks on a relationship due to her "new" intimate knowledge of his past as Angelus. She then scurries back to Connor and enters into a perplexing as well as unconscionable affair with him made all the more troubling when considering these facts: a) Cordelia was a quasi-mother to the whippersnapper last season; b) the age difference between the two; c) the lack of a "real" reason for Cordy to even consider seducing the kid; and d) why, oh why would Cordelia sleep with the son of the man she proclaimed to "always love' in the very same episode? A weak way to end such a strong outing.
I give it...
Review by CoA Staff member, Phoenix
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