Review of Episode 9, Season 5 "Harm's Way" It's been two and a half seasons since Harmony has had her own Angel episode to shine ("Disharmony") and "Harm's Way" put her back in the spotlight with a fun outing focusing on the ditzy, undead blonde. In a complete standalone episode, we get to watch a day in the life of Angel's cheery, but little liked assistant as she tries to make it in the 9 to 5 world. She's kind of like Mary Tyler Moore, but with less brains and more fangs. As we come to find out, she is having about as much success at it as her boss. Mercedes McNab is a treat to watch as she sashays and blunders her way through the corporate jungle bringing a lot of light to the usual gloom with her comedic gifts. The episode itself is pretty slight in terms of story. A big summit between warring clans being hosted at W&H has Angel cranky and uptight leaving Harmony running scared making sure the meeting goes perfectly. It dissolves into a quasi-murder mystery that is sure to disappoint most, as the consequent reveal about the culprit is pretty random, but that's not really the point. The real fun of the episode is watching Harm get some quality time with the main cast, especially her girl bonding with Fred (Amy Acker) at a bar. The women get a chance to let their hair down, be girls and explore some really fun comedic timing together. Other things to love include the Wolfram & Hart employee welcome video, which serves as a hilarious introduction to the evil firm with some inspired inside geek jokes. The warring demon clans screeching at one another in subtitles is a highlight as it quickly degenerates into them calling Angel, "a filthy man whore." David Boreanaz's subsequent look of confusion while seated at the head of the boardroom table is just plain classic. Harm's literal piling up of witnesses in the janitorial closet and her lunchroom chopstick fight stance are also great, even if the fight is over long and a bit awkward. The only other business of the episode revolves around Spike leaving to seek out Buffy due to his newly corporeal state in "Destiny." After making his farewells in the open, he returns somberly at the end confessing to Harm of his fear of showing back up in Buffy's life after making such a grand gesture for her and world. It was a bittersweet moment in his continued growth, maybe a hard sell for most fans considering he went and got a soul for the woman, but considering the lack of ability for an actual resolution, it worked pretty well. He also gave Harm some much needed support after a truly bad day. As she so succinctly confessed to Angel in the aftermath of the summit, "I don't have a soul so I have to try a lot harder." It certainly was a lot of fun to watch. 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!

Fred: There haven't been any side effects since you recorporealized, have there? Spike: Bit of a hang over, but that's to be expected after all the drinking. Spike: Fred...I want you to know...Uh, I mean, all that work you put in trying to, you know, cure me of the ghosties... Fred: I didn't do anything. Spike: Oh, you did. You--you believed in...you tried. I won't forget that. Fred: You're welcome. Harmony: (re: camel) Like I said, I did a lot of research. Camel meat's a delicacy. So I thought it would be a great way to kick off the summit, 'cause of the clans being so uptight? Like...comfort food. Angel: Comfort food. Harmony: Uh-huh! And as host, you get the honor of slicing off its hump and sticking a hot poker through its heart. And then the demon leaders rip apart its carcass with their bare hands. Angel: (chuckles angrily) Are you--I don't even know h-how... Harmony: (re: Fred) (sighs) I just wish I were more like you. You know, except for the part about being all into science...and not having a lot up front. Angel: Just got off the phone with L.A.P.D. They found a body. Harmony: Where? Did he say where? Angel: City dump, wrapped in a laundry bag. Wesley: And the police called you because... Angel: Apparently, we own them. Gunn: Right. Makes sense. Wesley: Of course. Fred: The size and depth of the wound indicate a female vampire. Harmony: Or gay! Fred: Um...it doesn't really work like that. Harmony: I should've smelled you! Tamika: You would've if you wore less of that tacky perfume! Harmony: Chanel's not tacky! Harmony: Yeah--not mattering. I know that feeling well. Spike: Oh, come on, Harm, you matter to someone. Harmony: I do? Spike: Yeah. Girl tried to frame you, didn't she? Must have mattered to her. Everybody's talking about it. Harmony: You're right. That girl hated me. She wanted me dead. I matter. Quotes by Staff Writer, BCangel