Review of Episode 14, Season 4 "Release" "Release" is one of those episodes that had me in a quandary. A fair amount of elements had me considerably irritated but just as I was ready to give up on it; the writers pulled out scenes so brilliant I couldn't help but be won over. As written by Steve DeKnight, Elizabeth Craft and Sarah Fain, "Release" continues with the pursuit of Angelus by both the A.I. team and Evil Cordy from her 'nest' in the Hyperion. Faith took a major beating last week and the ramifications of her failure aren't sitting well with her or the rest of the gang. The Slayer, who was supposed to make short work of Angelus, has shaped up to be about as useful as the rest of them - that is to say "not much." And to make matters worse, the once maverick Faith is now so redeemed; she's lost the chops to take it the level needed to stop Angelus. But leave it to Wesley, former watcher and new bad-ass to snap some reality into this year's girl when he incites an amazing confrontation with her about their ugly past and her reluctance to revert to what she was in order to save the day. In that brilliantly written and executed act, all the festering issues and unresolved history brewing between the ex-Watcher and his former Slayer are laid bare. The talents of Dushku and Denisof just crackle with such depth and energy making for one of the standout moments of the season. The other shining moment of the episode was Faith and Angelus' battle in the final act. We were feeling the love for stunt man extraordinaire, Mike Massa last week but he completely out did himself this episode. Props also to Karen Sheperd (Eliza's stunt double) who makes Faith the kick-ass fighter she is. The coordination between the two ladies was seamless; not revealing where one ends and the other begins. The choreography and execution of the scaffolding battle was tremendous, matched only by the directing work of the incomparable, James Contner. On the "not so good" side, I have to ask when Angelus got to be such a Chatty-Cathy? Angelus version 3.0 is all annoying talky and barely any action. He brags and goes on so much in this episode that even his once welcomed barbs were sounding tired. Worse, I'm feeling completely deflated by the "Cordelia is Evil" plot twist. She's fangless and her disembodied voice tormenting Angelus was just plain weak - like something out of a bad parody of The Wizard of Oz. Her continued seduction of Connor is just uncomfortable to watch as well as unconvincing. But, I have to give some kudos to Kartheiser for his teenage vamp in the mirror display. Funny stuff but not enough to make me like him. Next week - crossover heaven as Willow Alyson Hannigan comes to L.A. to work her Wicca mojo! Fun Fact: In Angelus' speech to Faith he says, "These are the choices you have to make...there will be consequences . . ." Attentive fans will note, those are the episode titles dealing with the aftermath of Faith murdering the Mayor's aide on Buffy, which was the catalyst for her arc of darkness. I give it... Review by CoA Staff member, Phoenix

CoA Stakes Rating Guide = Disappointing, Stake it, it's Dust! = Not too bad, Lacking a few graves. = Typical Dark Avenger saves the day Saga. = Better still, Quality Headstones. = Outstanding! Reward it with mortality!

Wesley: Faith, are you sure you're ok? Faith: (wounds bloody) Little sticky. Waitress: (placing a drink on the table) Compliments of the lady. Angelus: Yeah. As if. One-horned Demon: (nervously) Oh, hey, Angelus. Buy you a warm one? Angelus: Maybe after. One-horned Demon: After what? Angelus: After I rip out your windpipe so it stops making that annoying talky sound. One-horned Demon: Wait! I have a condition. Whoop! Goh, boy! Dirty bitch! Tourette's, you've heard of it, right? Disembodied Voice: Destruction sometimes is its own reward. Angelus: Hey, man, you're preaching to the guy who ate the choir. Disembodied Voice: You would dare to defy me?! Angelus: Defy who? A big scary voice? Whoa! Hey, I got one of those, too, wanna hear it? (cups hands and shouts into them) You can kiss my vampire ass! That do anything for you? Lorne: (Gunn hands him a dart gun) Did I mention the only shots I'm good at involve tequila? Gunn: (re: Angelus) It doesn't mean we drop our guard. If he pops a fang in here, thwack him where it hurts. Lorne: Good night, not-so-sweet Prince. Lorne: (re: Connor's protection of Cordy) Odd bird, and getting birdier. Fred: (to Angelus) I do know one thing. You're out of your league. What you're up against, he'll make you his bitch, just like the Beast. Angelus: It's all about choices, Faith. The ones we make and the ones we don't. Oh, and the consequences. Those are always fun, huh? Gunn: (re: Angelus) All I'm saying is he tries dancing in here and pulling a Dark Shadows again, he's going to get a dart up his evil ass. Fred: Well, his ass moves pretty quick. Faith: We'll start with a perimeter sweep. I'll take point. Stay frosty. If he's still in the area... Wesley: You'll let him escape again? Faith: This coming from the boy hostage? Angelus: (removes glasses and throws them at shopkeeper) These aren't helping. (frustrated) Half of this crap is written in some archaic proto-demon cuneiform. And I don't want to be rude, but the other half I think they just doodled. Angelus: (talking to the disembodied voice) You ethereal types with your big swinging omniscience! Push comes to shove, though, you gotta send some overgrown slag heap to do your dirty work. Ooh! That's real spooky! (upon seeing his victim gone) Oh, that's great. You made me lose my shopkeeper. One-horned demon: I don't remember anything. I was drunk. I thought she was 18. Faith: I'm gonna work real hard on the not understanding that, Lumpy. One-horned demon: Frances! Wesley: (shoots demon) Strom Demon. Face should grow back. Eventually. (points shotgun at Frances) Faith: Think yours will? Francis: (to Faith franticly) Oh, that Angelus. Yeah. In here all the time. Running his mouth. "Look at me, I'm so evil". Real jackass. Never liked him. I'm on your side. Faith: So, what -- torturing humans is part of the new makeover? Wesley: I did what I had to because you couldn't. Faith: I hit her. Wesley: You think that's something new to her? Faith: You crossed it back there, Wes -- what'd you do back there -- Wesley: Oh, you have a problem with a little torture now? Seem to recall a time when you rather enjoyed it. Faith: Yeah, well, it's not me anymore. You know that. Wesley: (raises shotgun) Nice to have this along though, just in case. (speaking slowly) I remember what you did to me Faith. The broken glass, the shallow cuts, so I'd remain conscience. Faith: You think I'd hurt you again? Wesley: This the part where you tell me you've turned a new leaf, found God, Inner peace? We both know that isn't true. You haven't changed. You can't. Faith: (turns away) Wes -- Wesley: (getting angry) Because you're sick. You've always been sick. It goes right down to the roots rotting your soul. That's why your friends turned on you in Sunnydale, why the Watcher's Council tried to kill you. No one trusts you Faith. You're just a rabid dog who should have been put down years ago! (Faith slams him up against the wall) See? Wasn't so hard, was it? (quietly) It's what you'll need to beat him. Gunn: (re: Fred letting Angelus escape) Vampire Moriarty strolls in waving the anit-mojo mojo, anybody would've done the same. Lorne: He had mojo? Fred: No-jo. He waved this piece of junk in my face, and I went all spinal paralysis. Angelus: Uh-oh! Vampire with a gun. I see why he likes this thing. Angelus: Now, this is disappointing. You never used to bleed so easy. Faith: Screw you. Angelus: Hmm. Maybe after. I like my girls to lie still. Angelus: (re: Faith getting in a few knife slashes) That hurt, baby. Kinda liked it. Angelus: Still lookin' for someone to help beat the bad out of you? You know what the funny part is, darlin? I could beat you to death and it wouldn't make a difference. Nothing'll ever change who you are, Faith. You're a murderer, an animal, and you enjoy it. Just like me! Faith: You're wrong. I'm different now. I'm not like you. Angelus: (grabs Faith and vamps out) You will be. Quotes by CoA Council members, Seeker and Swoop