Review of Episode 16, Season 4 "Players" With the Angel season steamrolling along with the "all arc-all the time" approach, Players came out of nowhere providing an unexpected standalone episode focusing primarily on Gunn [ J. August Richards] and Electro-girl, Gwen [guest star Alexa Davalos]. After all the intense Angelus stuff, it was nice to be able to sit back and watch this interesting duo play dress-up, engage in some chop sockey action and then, uhm, take their good chemistry to a new level in the last act. Of course, the big picture may have been on the backburner for the most part, Ms. Evil Cordelia was certainly feeling the fire as she desperately tired to pick up the pieces of her ruined scheme. Connor was still whining but the boy is finally starting to get wise as he called Cordy out on the fact that if he had followed her orders, Angel would have been lost forever. Meanwhile, Angel was in full brood mode but with his revelation to the gang that Angelus was not the one who killed Lilah then the game was truly afoot. A particularly strong moment came when Angel gave his condolences to Wesley on the loss of Lilah. It was a genuine moment and was another piece of their bridge building. That in turn, led to another poignant scene where Wes was able to finally articulate to Fred just what the Lilah relationship was all about. It was a fine acting moment between Acker and Denisof. I, for one, was completely impressed with Gunn this episode. Shining a light on the "muscle" reminded us that Gunn is indeed a lot more than just that. You could see J. August was just having a great time this week. Gunn was suave, confidant and even when Gwen played him, he was still able to save face and turn it to his favor. It was also interesting to see another side to Gwen, harkening back to the vulnerable, alienated little girl introduced back in the teaser of Ground State. Writers Elizabeth Craft, Sarah Fain and Jeff Bell did a strong job with Mere Smith's creation. All in all, a nice diversion episode and a well deserved moment in the sun for J. August this season. But the best moment in whole show came in the final seconds when Cordelia was exposed in her attempt to kill Lorne. The camera then zoomed right into Lorne's face and with his note-perfect delivery he snarked, "Has Cordy been a bad girl?" Then from under his cape, he produced a Magic 8-Ball, which answered, "Definitely." A classic line and a classic ending! 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!

Lorne: Well put me on the short bus and send me off to clueless school. A mystical pregnancy right under my beak and not even a tingle. Gunn: (to Angel) Well, congratulations. You're gonna have a grandspawn. Wesley: (re: being too harsh on Cordy) No. They were bound to skulk off to neutral corners. Gunn: Two vampires hook up and for the only time in vamp history, have a kid-our boy, Connor. Then Connor grows up, knocks it out with Cordelia, a part-demon former higher being, and quick as you can say "Easy-Bake Oven" there's a gigantic bun in hers. I don't think we were too harsh. Lorne: Yeah, well, that was before my spell went all flop-a-palooza. Fred: Having 2 part-demon parents might could explain the whoosh factor. Gunn: Not gonna be long before whoosh turns into pop. Lorne: Speaking of pop, don't you think our re-ensouled leader should be a part of this little confab? Angel: (stepping out of his office) Easy-bake? Flop-a-palooza? Whoosh, pop? (to Wesley) I don't skulk. Angel: Lorne, you're... Lorne: Reliable as a cheap fortune cookie? Angel: I was gonna say a guy with good contacts. Gwen: So I'm in a jam. I can't get out of it alone. I need someone suave, a guy who can handle himself in a tight spot. Angel: Gwen, I'd love to help --- Gwen: (pointing to Gunn) I meant him. Gwen: You collect anything when you travel? Gunn: Uh, yeah. I, uh, got a big ol' scar on my thigh from Boyle Heights . . . piece of vamp stake I picked up a while back in Alhambra . . . and a couple burn marks on my hip from Encino. Yup. Name a town, I'll show you the souvenir. Gunn: Listen, I've spent most of this year trapped in what I can only describe as a turgid supernatural soap opera. Wesley: (re: Lilah) We were fighting on opposite sides, but it was the same war. Fred: But you hated her. (pauses) Didn't you? Wesley: It's not always about holding hands. Gunn: (re: arriving at the party looking ala James Bond) Of course, I'd feel better if we were packin' some of his secret weapons. Gwen: Charles, we are the secret weapons. Wesley: (translating Angel's writing) Let's see. "The green... cart-like vehicle... eats..." (pauses) "I am not a buckethead." Angel: Damn it! Wesley: It's a tricky language. An inverted serif can alter the meaning of an entire passage. Angel: Try this one. Wesley: Something about. Strangling poultry. Angel: That's it. I gotta get out of here. Morimoto: I don't think you realize who you're up against. Gunn: If it's these two girls, I already kicked their ass once. (guns are drawn) But when you put it like that. Gunn: Hey, I'm just the muscle. Gwen: Don't knock the muscle, buddy. Makes the girls go all knocky in the knees. But if that's all you were, we never could have gotten into that party tonight. Gwen: (re: the device on her back) What's it doing? Gunn: You ever see one of those "Bodysnatcher" movies? Lorne: Has Cordy been a bad, bad girl? (looks into the Magic 8-Ball for the answer) Magic 8-Ball: Definitely. Quotes by CoA Council member, Seeker