Review of Episode 13, Season 4 "Salvage" Cleaning up where we left off, "Salvage" starts right up with the repercussions of the last episode ("Calvary"). Lilah Morgan is dead, Cordy is acting like she had nothing to do with it and the remainder of A.I. Inc. still has no clue how to stop Angelus or The Beast. Well, have some Faith guys - literally. After languishing in a Northern California prison for two seasons, Faith (Eliza Dushku) makes her much anticipated return to the Whedon-verse as the former bad-girl, now reformed, Slayer. While not up to the wild ride of the previous installment, "Salvage" serves as an excellent re-introduction to our girl Faith while laying the foundation for her arc to come. As written by Buffy vet David Fury, there's a respectful inclusion of Faith's history with the clever turn of fleshing out her personality through her interactions with the rest of the gang, most of whom don't know her at all. First time Angel director, Jefferson Kibbee also does a fine job handling an action-heavy episode framing some gruesome and intense fight scenes with excellent energy. Props there go to stunt-coordinator, Mike Massa! Alexis Denisof's Wesley was a particular treat this episode. Shaken by the murder of his former lover Lilah, we get a chance to explore just what Wesley was thinking when he got involved with the evil lawyer. As his inner turmoil manifested itself in an imagined last dialogue with Lilah in the basement of the Hyperion, it's finally understood that while her darkness was an initial attraction, Wesley was equally inspired by her potential for redemption at his hands. Denisof plays this scene pitch perfect including his heartbreaking hitch in breathe right before he chops off Lilah's head. It's his failure with Lilah that reminds and leads him to his and Angel's success - Faith. Re-uniting with Faith and their subsequent conversations showed a sparkling chemistry and his smiling reply of Faith's trademark of "5x5" was my favorite moment of the show. On the weaker side, there were a few glaring disappointments in this outing. Just make Connor a villain, please! His incessant whining, complaining and now drooling over Faith is making me want to pass some serious tough love on to Angel's lad. I don't even want to talk about the various kisses in the episode. Another quibble is with Cordelia or Charisma Carpenter in particular. Goodness knows, the show has an overflow of over-the-top villainy right now with Angelus stalking about but if evil Cordy is pulling all the strings, could we get Charisma a bit more involved with the performance? I'm not feeling the evil so much. Lastly, the killing of The Beast was under whelming considering the build-up (guess that's par for the course with lackeys). Overall, I'm thrilled to see Faith back in action. Her clobbering at the hands of The Beast and Angelus was a mighty surprise but her re-match with Angelus is something to look forward to. 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!

Connor: Magic again. You people rely way too much on that junk. Angelus: (to a crowd) But, hey, I'm no different than the next guy. I put my victim's skin on one leg at a time. Fat Demon: (to Angelus) Whoa, you're him. Talking to me. Not usually impressed by vampires, but this is such a, such an honor. Hey, could you sign a little something for my hell-spawn? Connor: I don't give a flying sluk what Wesley says. He's not my boss. Where the hell is he, anyway? How long does it take to chop off Lilah's head? Connor: I know what we have to do. Angel told me. If something goes wrong, I kill him. Lorne: (sarcastically) Oh, and now you listen to him? Lilah: Let's just get it over with. That body's not going to dismember itself, you know. The Beast: We were never friends, Angelus. Angelus: I know, but calling you a "big, dumb hunk of rock" seemed a little on the nose. Angelus: Tell your boss I'm grateful for the attention, but I don't take grocery lists from the messenger boy. The Beast: I will teach you respect! Angelus: Look, you may have played those suckers at Angel, Inc., but I don't like having my strings yanked. And I don't like being kept in the dark. (pauses) Figuratively, anyway. And if your boss was half as smart as he thinks he is, he knows I won't take orders from a lackey. What? You don't like lackey? Hmm... How about, uh, toadie? Or lick spittle? C'mon, lick spittle's nice. Oh, wait, I got it. Flunkey! That's it. You're just a big, stupid, butt-ugly, (dodges a swing from the Beast) slow-moving flunky! (dodges another set of swings) Ah, c'mon Rocky, if that's all you've got, you better throw in the towel and call it a night. (jumps clear) When the Beast Master's ready to peek out from behind your skirt, have him give me a call. Faith: (after jumping from a 3-story window and smashing a car rooftop) You okay? Wesley: Five by five. Faith: I'm not gonna kill him, Wesley. Angelus. Don't care what you thought you sprung me for, Angel's the only one in my life that never gave up on me. There's no way I'm giving up on... Wesley: I know. That's why it had to be you. Wesley: (re: staking a couple vampires) I thought you could us a release. Feel natural? Faith: Eh, just like riding a biker. Cordelia: (incredulous) Faith? What the hell is she doing here? Faith: (flatly) Nice to see you too, Cor. Faith: Gunn, right? Gunn: Yeah. Faith: Love the name. Hear you're a good fighter. Gunn: I hold my own. Faith: That's a shame. Faith: (to Connor) Listen up, junior. I need a bloodhound, I'll call you. If Angelus needs putting down, I'll be the one to do it, not you. So is there anything else you're not okay with? Good, show me the weapons. Connor: So, vampire slayers. I was told about them. How come you're always girls? Faith: I don't know. Better at it I guess. Connor: You haven't seen what I can do. Faith: Let's not. Faith: He'll do what I tell him. Connor: (sarcastically) Yeah, sure I will. Faith: (after an exchange of blows) I get it, you're a super-being. (another flurry ensues ending with Faith's crossbow at Connor's throat) Are you a murderer? Cause I am. And if it comes down to you or Angelus, you haven't shown me a thing to want to take your side. (Connor reluctantly leaves) Gunn: (admiringly) I like her. Angelus: (guiding Faith along) Warmer. Warmer. You're smoking hot. But then, you probably knew that. Angelus: Smile, Faith. Thought you'd enjoy a threesome. Faith: (delivering a spin kick) Sure, let's get it on. Angelus: Aw, crap! You mean killing the Beast really does bring back the sun? I thought that was just Angel's retarded fantasy. Connor: I had no idea what a slayer could do. Cordelia: (sardonically) A weakness for slayers. You're definitely his son. Quotes by CoA Council member, Seeker