Review of Episode 16, Season 5 "Shells" “Shells” literally continues right where “A Hole in the World” left off, with Illyria “born” anew in Fred’s apartment before a despondent and then enraged Wesley. As written and directed by Steve DeKnight (and an un-credited Joss Whedon in parts), the questions revolving around Fred’s death are faced and explored with continued emotional impact and depth. Dealing with consequences for all of the team’s individual choices, in the past and in the present, is the business at hand and no one is spared the harsh light of truth on their actions. Last week, Amy Acker amazed and touched us with her good-bye as Fred, this episode she knocked it out of the park again giving us an entirely new character in Illyria. In what could have been a potentially disastrous transformation, Amy instead deftly creates a strangely engaging, displaced ancient warrior that is quickly shown to have no purpose in this world. In the most intriguing turn of events, the expected Big Bad of the season ends up being anything but, instead earning a sort of pathetic sympathy rather than heartfelt audience hate. How very “Joss” to kill a beloved character for an assumed purpose only to turn that assumption on its head in the span of a brief episode. We can only hope the evolution of Illyria as a character in the short time left for the series is enough to make the sacrifice of Fred feel worthy enough for Illyria to continue to exist. DeKnight continues to prove his prowess behind the camera with his ever-maturing flair for mixing his astute and emotional dialogue with grand action scenes. The battle sequences, including the “bullet time” battle in Fred’s lab and Angel’s flight and the Illyria showdown towards the end, are visually arresting and just plain exciting to watch – some of the best of the season. Much like last week, the rest of the cast (exchanging Lorne for Harmony this week) get some great moments to reflect on their sorry situation. Angel is sadly heroic in his desperate actions to try and restore Fred’s soul as he panics in the face of losing yet another strong woman to the good fight. Meanwhile, Spike is finally given a truly plausible reason for staying to fight by Angel’s side. Gunn gets to take the Wesley Season 3 position of being personas non-gratis with the rest of the team for his forsaking of Fred (albeit unintentionally) in order to service his own selfish needs. J. manages to infuse Gunn with the right mix of guilt and emotional fragility to incite the necessary sympathy. And Wesley, a man on the edge since his own ousting from the group back in the day, takes his opportunity to become unhinged letting his unbridled rage and sorrow manifest itself in stabbing Gunn, shooting Knox and then assuming the care of a rudder-less Illyria simply because she looks like his lost love. Like Amy, Alexis Denisof also gives another amazing performance that just smolders onscreen. “Shells” works like the perfect bookend to its predecessor, “A Hole in the World” right down to the final shot of a innocent and hopeful Fred driving away from her home into her bright future – heartbreaking again and a last look at a true heroine in the making. 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!

Illyria: Oh...now I remember. Winifred Burkle is the shell I'm in. Wesley: She's the woman you killed. Illyria: This is grief. I'm watching human grief. It's like offal in my mouth. Wesley: If you stay here, you'll taste it every day, every second. Look. Humans rule the Earth. They will last for millenia...like roaches crawling everywhere. Crying and sweating and puking their feelings all over you. Go back. Sleep until the humans are gone. They are stupid and weak. They'll kill each other off and you can return to the world you deserve. Leave this shell. Illyria: You seek to save what's rotted through. This carcass is bound to me. I could not change that if I carted to, but you have opened my eyes to truth. If the world is truly overrun by humans...(tosses wesley into wall) then I have work to do. Knox: She's so much more than that now. Beyond flesh. Beyond perfection. I loved Fred. I really did. She had a warmth that took you in and held you uintil everything cold and distant melted away. She was the most beautiful, perfect woman I ever met. That's why I chose her. She's the only one that was worthy. (Wesley pulls out gun) Gunn: Wes, don't. We need him. I know how you feel-- Wesley: Do you know? You didn't feel her die. She was shaking with pain and terrified and so brave. And she was better than anyone I've known, and better than...and she's gone. Illyria: You are the Qwa'ha Xahn. Knox: I am your priest. I am your servant. I am your guide in this world. I've taken your sacraments and placed them close to my heart according to the ancient ways. That's why you were called to me. We're bound together. Illyria: My last Qwa'ha Xahn was taller. Knox: I--I may be shrinking a bit, in the glory of your presence. Wesley: What did you do, Charles? Gunn: It was just a piece of paper. I was losing it. Everything they put in my head, everything that made me different. Special. And he could fix it. Make it permanent. So I signed a piece of paper. It was a custom's release form. I didn't think anyone would get hurt. Wesley: Nothing from Wolfram & Hart is ever free. You knew that. Gunn: I couldn't go back...to being just the muscle. I--I didn't think it would be one of us. I didn't think it would be Fred. Wes: I understand not wanting to go back. Not wanting to be who you were. I understand it. And I can forgive it. But you knew what was happening to her. You knew who was reponsible and you didnt say anything. You let her die. (picks up knife stabs Gunn) I'm less forgiving about that. Angel: (slams Wesley against wall) What the hell did you do? Wesley: What I had to. Angel: I don't remember seeing "stab Gunn" on the agenda this morning. Wesley: I avoided the major organs. He'll probably live. Angel: Is that supposed to make it all right? Wesley: Nothing is all right! Nothing will ever be all right. Angel: We'll get her back, Wes. Wesley: No, we won't. Fred's soul...her soul was destroyed resurrecting Illyria. Harmony: How could you do that? To your friends? To Fred? Gunn: Because I was weak. Because I wanted to be somebody that I wasn't. Because I don't know where I fit. Because I never did. Because a thousand other reasons that don't mean a damn 'cause she's gone. She's gone...and she's not coming back because of me. I did this, and I'm sorry. (starts crying) I'm sorry. Illyria: You are the protector of these creatures? Angel: Yes. Illyria: You'd fight for their lives? Angel: Yes. Illyria: (to Knox) Even this one? Knox: Is that an issue? Is my life in peril, boss? King? Illyria: (re: temple) No. It can't be. It's gone. My world is gone. Wesley: (puts a gun to her temple) Now you know how I feel. Illyria: I've nowhere to go. My kingdom is long dead. Long dead. There's so much I don't understand. I've become overwhelmed. I'm unsure of my place. Wesley: Your place is with the rest of your people: dead and turned to ash. Illyria: Perhaps...but I exist here. I must learn to walk in this world. I'll need your help...Wesley. Wesley: If I were to help you find your way...you have to learn to change. You mustn't kill. Illyria: You killed the Qwa'ha Xahn in defiance of your leader. Wesley: He murdered the woman I love. Illyria: And that made it just. Wesley: No. It wasn't just. I'm probably the last man in the world to teach you what's right. Illyria: But you will. If I abide, you will help me. Wesley: Yes. Illyria: Because I look like her? Wesley: Yes. Illyria: We cling to what is gone. Is there anything in this life but grief? Wesley: There's love. There's hope...for some. There's hope that you'll find something worthy...that your life will lead you to some joy...that after everything...you can still be surprised. Illyria: Is that enough? Is that enough to live on? Quotes by Staff Writer, BCangel