Review of Episode 1, Season 5

"Conviction"


First, let me start by saying how fabulous it is to even be writing a review for the season premiere of Angel season five. Shame, shame WB! You had us all terrified we'd be Angel and Joss-less this season. That being said, the brand, spanking new season got off to a great start with the added plus of episode one, "Conviction" being written and directed by Joss Whedon (the first time for that since "City Of...", the series debut). Unlike other seasons, only nineteen days have passed (in TV time) since the season finale, which allows the audience to get the full impact of Angel and his team’s unease with their new job as top brass at the Los Angeles branch of Wolfram & Hart. From the opening scene, which was an excellent twist on the same scene in "City Of...", Joss makes it clear this season is all about change. Gratefully, the circumstances may be different but the trademark melding of comedy, dark drama, violence, and genuine emotion are all still present and in fine form.

"Conviction" sets up a nice overview of the new season and gets us reacquainted with the cast, some new faces and what their roles will be this season. Wesley (Alexis Denisof) is back to being the research guy. He's still scruffy but less angsty, which is kind of confusing because the Connor mind-wipe from "Home" has to be a major factor for him considering all of Wesley's deep, dark exploration over the last season was a direct result of Connor being in their lives. Otherwise, Lorne is a hoot, as usual, executed with charm and great wit by Andy Hallett as he plays quasi-agent to the damned celebs of L.A. Gunn makes a questionable choice to undergo a 'procedure' that stuffs a lawyers brain into his street-smarts noggin. Now J. August Richards gets to look very cool, wearing expensive suits and contributing on a level, grey-matter playing field with his A.I. teammates. Of course, expect repercussions for said choice, but for now it's a nice change for the brawn of the group. Fred (Amy Acker) gets the most awkward entrance of the group with her initial dialogue coming off pretty cringe-inducing but once she settles into her new science lab, she takes the reigns and even gets to scream at her new evil employees, way to go! Lastly, David Boreanaz gives us a wonderfully layered Angel. From overwhelmed to goofy to downright chilling when he levels some 'mercy' on an evil employee, his Angel reminds us that a conflicted hero is so worthy of watching.

Other new changes include the return of the dingbat, vampire turned office assistant, Harmony, as played by the exceptional Mercedes McNabb. Her long history on both Buffy and Angel makes her a perfect foil for her new boss and adds a lot of in-joke fun to the series. We also get a new woman in the form of W&H liaison, Eve (Sarah Thompson). She's like Lilah-lite, more sorority girl than imposing harbinger of doom, which left me longing for the real Lilah (Stephanie Romanov). Eve seems to be shaping up as the moral quandary element, the one who will poke a stick at Angel and his comrades when the choices get rough. We’ll see if I warm up to her more as the season progresses. Right now, the jury is not happy but still giving the benefit of the doubt. We also have a potential new love triangle boiling with Wes, Fred and her new cutie, lab-boy, Knox (Jonathan Woodward).

Otherwise, the new W&H sets look great providing a more open and alive set to work amongst. The necrotempered glass in the offices also allows for lots of sunlight but Kristy and I both have to nit-pick that point -- two hundred years as a vamp and Angel gives nary a flinch at the bright sunlight? I would think nineteen days would hardly make Angel a sun-bather. The plot involving a nasty client willing to make his child a human bomb was a decent introduction to the vermin the group will be working with and against this season. It led to an excellent fight scene and a really nasty resolution, which had me cheering. Of course, it wouldn’t be Joss if he didn't throw in the last act zinger, which had new cast member, Spike (James Marsters) dramatically un-dusting from an amulet sent to Angel in the mail. An exceptional cliffhanger and the most exciting new development for the season is about to make his presence known. All I have to say is, 'Let the games begin!'

I give it...

Review by Staff Writer, 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!




Wesley: I'm still stuck back at, "Why on earth are we here?"
Fred: What, because we're crusaders against evil and now the law firm that represents most of the evil in the world has given us its LA branch to run however we want, probably in an attempt to corrupt, divide, or destroy us, and we all said yes in, like, 3 minutes?
Wesley: You're run-on sentences have got a lot less pointless
Fred: Oh, that's so sweet. And a tad condescending.

Wesley: Feng Shui.
Gunn: Right. What's that mean again?
Wesley: That people will believe anything. Actually, in this place, Feng Shui will probably have enormous significance. I'll align my furniture the wrong way and suddenly catch fire or turn into a pudding.

Lorne: (re: being presented some carpet samples) Yeah, that carpet’s great because I want our clients to become sick and vomit.

Angel: (into speaker phone) Uh... can I get a cup of coffee or something?
Phone menu voice: You have reached Ritual Sacrifice. For goats press one, or say "goats."
(moments later, Angel presses another button)
Phone menu voice: To sacrifice a loved one or pet, press the pound key.

Angel: Harmony.
Harmony: Hey! Boss.
Angel: You’re my secretary?
Harmony: (sighs) Hello! Assistant.
Angel: Explain why I shouldn’t kill you?
Harmony: Secretary’s fine.
Angel: No, it’s not fine. Where is it fine? You’ve been working here?
Harmony: Yeah-huh.
Angel: Why?
Harmony: Well, duh! I’m a single undead gal trying to make it in the big city -- I have to start somewhere and they’re evil here. They don’t judge. They’ve got the necrotempered glass -- (does a little dance) no burning up -- a great medical plan, and who needs dental more than us?

Wesley: Well, I thought a familiar face would just the thing in a place like this.
Angel: You turned evil a lot faster than I thought you would.
Wesley: Nonsense

Angel: What? I'm not allowed to hit people?
Wesley: Not people capable of genocide
Angel: Those are exactly the types of people I should be allowed to hit!

Angel: (upon seeing his new cars) Oh, God, they're so beautiful.

Gunn: (to the Judge) I’m asking that you recuse yourself from this trial.
Judge: The thin ice you are on is over very deep water.
(Gunn presents the Judges' stock connections to Fries)
Judge: You submit that I could have possibly known about this connection?
Gunn: I found out, and I’ve been on the case 6 hours.
Judge: The ice is melting Counselor.
Gunn: The Defense submits it has learned how to swim.

Agent Hauser: You really think you can solve the problem? Come into Wolfram and Hart and make everything right? Turn night into glorious day? You pathetic little fairy.
Angel: I'm not little.

Wesley: (questioning) Spike.
Angel: (irritated) Spike.
Harmony: Blondie Bear?

Quotes by Staff Writer, BCangel