Review of Episode 13, Season 5 "Why We Fight" Never let it be said the Angel writing team hasn’t been thinking outside the box this season for story ideas. In “Why We Fight,” Drew Goddard and Steve DeKnight give us a new Angel flashback episode, this time going back to 1943 and his adventure with Spike and some other vamps on a Nazis submarine. Definitely not the expected storyline after the emotional denouement of last week’s “You’re Welcome,” but it does continue to explore the themes of sacrifice and the value of one life for the better of many others. Despite the originality in attempting an episode like this, “Why We Fight” falls short on several levels making for an interesting, but ultimately uneven offering. The storyline jumps back and forth from the present day at W&H to 1943 when Angel is forced into helping a secret U.S. government demon tracking division that “enlist” the surly vamp in helping them save a U.S. commandeered Nazis sub. Astute Buffy fans should have caught a subtle reference to the origins of the famed Initiative, providing a nice inside tip of the hat for long-time fans. Even with the mention, the ploy of forcing Angel to help the stranded crew doesn’t really wash much considering his oft-referenced lack of empathy for humans at the time. Meanwhile in the present, a mysterious man named Lawson (earnestly played by Eyal Podell) arrives at W&H and quickly takes Fred, Gunn and Wes hostage as payback for his own personal history with Angel. It’s revealed in flashback that while on the sub, Angel turned Lawson into a vamp before the ensign succumbed to a fatal wound, in order to save the sinking sub and the rest of his crew on board. Now, seeking revenge or “a reason,” he has tracked Angel down for payback. Sadly, the whole crux of that dilemma falls flat considering Lawson agreed to be turned in order to save the rest of his crew. Instead, the far more interesting revelation from Lawson - that his un-life has been a torturous limbo of an existence due to Angel having a soul when he was sired - is a completely intriguing turn of events that is sadly dropped almost as soon as it is spoken making for a huge disappointment. The dialogue between past and present Lawson and Angel is well delivered although fraught with some overly heavy metaphors about sacrifice and how far one is willing to go for the greater good, but somehow it never achieves the emotional resonance the writers are aiming for. It might be because Lawson doesn’t have an emotional connection with the audience or that the same point was made more effectively in both, “You’re Welcome” or “Numero Cinco.” Whatever the reason, the climax feels anti-climatic and only vaguely poignant. And overall, the episode feels like show history had to be tinkered or retconned too much to make the concept work. Despite the problems, the episode has some things to enjoy. The sub set is a great change of pace and the inherent dramatic tension of that environment was naturally palpable. The other vamps on the boat, especially Buffy veteran Camden Toy as the Prince of Lies was fun. Spike sporting black hair was a shock to see and his old pre-soul personality wearing a variant of his familiar duster was in keeping with expectations. Marsters also threw out some great lines in the episode providing the rare levity in the outing. So “Why We Fight” may not have been the strongest episode this season, but it still gets points for daring to try something different. 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: What did we do with our lives before we got these jobs? Wesley: I seem to recall lots and lots of Jenga. Spike: Of all the bloody faces I expected to see down here. Angel: You're a nazi. Spike: What? Oh. No. I just ate one. Nostroyev: Angelus. Used to be quite the terror back in the day. Haven't heard much of you lately, though. Angel: Haven't heard much of you, ever. Nostroyev: Nostroyev! Scourge of Siberia and butcher of Alexander Palace. Angel: Sorry. Nostroyev: I was Rasputin's lover! Spike: I'm playing nice with the anchovies, like you asked. At least let me have a go at the wheel. Angel: Pipe down. I'm trying to work. Spike: Oh, "pipe down." That official sailor talk, is it? Well, ahoy, matey. You can just swab my deck. Prince of Lies: You think I don't know?! I am as ancient as the darkness itself. Angel: Yeah, you're real old. We know. Just calm down. Prince of Lies: They dare conceive such violations upon my temple! The Prince of Lies is not a slab of meat to be set upon by insignificant maggots. Angel: Put a sock in it. Lawson: Funny what goes through a man's mind when his life's hanging in the balance. Boys talked about that a lot back on the boat. Always figured it'd be the special moments you freeze in time. Your mom singing you to sleep at night. Sneaking into the movies with your best friend. The way your girl's hair shimmers in the sun. But the truth is...the only thing that really goes through your head is..."wow...this really sucks." And then you're gone. Spike: Bloody brilliant. Turn the por sod to save the ship then make him dash for dry land before Mr. Sunshine scorches him a new one. Ha! You're still a dick. Angel: Yeah. I am. (Silence. Points to the hatch) Spike: (Scoffs) Bollocks. (Climbs the ladder) Spike: (Re: Lawson) Took him long enough. Know revenge is best served cold and all, but his must've been frozen solid. Angel: I don't think that's what he was after. Spike: No? Then what was he looking for? Angel: A reason. Quotes by Staff Writer, BCangel