Review of Episode 17, Season 5 "Underneath" It's all about layers this week as the aptly title, "Underneath" written by Liz Craft and Sarah Fain, delves deeper into post-Fred trauma being suffered by all the characters. Amongst the emotion, the episode also finally revisits some of the dangling issues churned up this season which seem to be leading to the eventual and expected climax in the halls of Wolfram & Hart. In easily their best script since last season's "Soulless," the writers explore some deep and thought-provoking ideas about inner fears and insecurities, while handily weaving in some superbly funny moments throughout. There is even a well played and executed Twilight-Zone-esque side story that perfectly reintroduces MIA-Lindsey McDonald back into the fold. As we pick up the story, the consequences are still unfolding after the loss of Fred. Wes is playing babysitter to the powerless Illyria and he is sinking into a dark, biting depression reminiscent of his post throat cutting days in Season Three. The squelched blue God in the visage of his lost-love is taking him to the brink and the two trade barbs and heavy dialogue about being part of a world so cold and small. Denisof and Acker continue to build a whole new dynamic with these two characters that is proving to be really engaging to watch. And can you really go wrong when Wes calls Illyria a Smurf and a twit? Meanwhile, Angel goes to bring Gunn back to the law firm, but not before reminding him about the process of atonement. The two men, always achingly similar in their life missions, are now bonded even closer through their past sins. And even ever-happy Lorne is finally given a chance to step off the chipper train to wallow in his pain and grief, which resonates so well in Hallet's performance. Firefly fans were surely ecstatic to see a smartly dressed but, freaky scary Adam Baldwin saunter into the W&H offices. His wordless Terminator shtick was great and his last act revelation that he is the new liaison to the Senior Partners has fantastic promise for the rest of the season. Matter of fact, there was so much going on in this episode and so much to like, it's hard to cover everything without going on way too long. Spike and Angel in the sunlight, the shoot-em up at the Suburbia Corral (including mom and son with uzi's), the comedy stylings of Eve, Harmony and Lorne, Gunn's heartbreaking sacrifice and the last moment revelation that the Senior Partners nefarious plan has been all about distracting the good guys is almost so glaringly obvious to be trite, yet it fits beautifully within the episode and the arc. As always in the Joss-verse, it's all about tweaking the conventional to make it surprising and no show does it better than Angel. 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!

Spike: So what's on the agenda? Angel: Uh, I have assignments for people. (snapping noise) Spike: What? I'm listening. With beer. Angel: Forget it. You know what? This isn't a meeting. This is you being annoying. Angel: I should never have let her come here. Bad things always happen here. Spike: Hate to break it to you, mate, but bad things always happen everywhere. Besides, she wanted to be here. It was her choice. Angel: Was it? Spike: Bugger. You're fixing to do something stupid, aren't you? Angel: Done it. Came here. Eve: Ooh, I'm intimidated. What could you possibly do to me? I've been trapped in this house for weeks like a-- Spike: Rat? Snake? Beady little rat snake? Lorne: What I know is I started drinking the moment that I found out that a girl I loved was gonna die. Every time I get to the bottom of the glass, I hope that that last drop is gonna take me the distance. Bartender: OK. Lorne: A simple plan that failed utterly, which is why I'm gonna heave my tuchis off this stool, strap the bells on, and with a smile and a quip, go back into the belly of a very ugly beast and pretend like I can help. Bartender: Hmm Lorne: 'Cause that's what the green guy does. Angel: Listen, Gunn...I know you feel bad about your part in what happened to Fred. And you should. For the rest of your life, it should wake you up in the middle of the night. And it will. Because you're a good man. You signed a piece of paper, that's all. Gunn: But I knew. Not about Fred, but...when I signed, I knew there would be consequences. Angel: You now, the thing about atonement is, you never run out of chances...but you gotta take 'em. You can't hide in some hospital room and pretend it's all gonna go away...'cause it never will. Gunn: Car's built to get us there. Once we have Lindsey, it's on us to find The Wrath. Spike: The Wrath?! You know that's gonna be a giggle. Wesley: Are you telling me the great Illyria, idol of millions, was limited to one small dimension? Illyria: I travelled all of them as I pleased. I walked worlds of smoke, and half-truths, intangible. Worlds of torment and of unnameable beauty. Opaline towers as high as small moons. Glaciers that rippled with insensate lust. And one world with nothing but shrimp. I tired of that one quickly. Lorne: Uh, Angel, you should know there's a very tall, well-dressed, uh--where' s Gunn? Angel? Angel: He, uh--he stayed behind. Lorne: Stayed behind? But you never leave a--or...I guess we do. That's what we do now. (thumping on the door) Eve: Oh, God! Lorne: Like I was saying. (Hamilton bursts in) Angel: Damn....he is well-dressed. Illyria: All I am is what I am. I lived 7 lives at once. I was power and the ecstasy of death. I was god to a god. Now...I--I'm trapped...on a roof. Just one roof....in this time and this place, with an unstable human who drinks too much whiskey and called me a smurf. (Wesley chuckles) You don't worship me at all, do you? Lindsey: Not an apocalypse, the apocalypse. What'd you think, a gong was gonna sound? Time to jump on your horses and fight the big fight? Starting pistol went off a long time ago, boys. You're playing for the bad guys. Every day you sit behind your desk and you learn a little more how to accept the world the way it is. Well, here's the rub...heroes don't do that. Heroes don't accept the world the way it is. They fight it. Angel: You're saying everything we do...it's a distraction...to keep us busy from looking under the surface. Lindsey: (snaps his fingers) Ding! We have a winner! The world keeps sliding towards entropy and degradation, and what do you do? You sit in your big chair, and you sign your checks, just like the Senior Partners planned. The war's here, Angel. And you're already 2 soldiers down. Quotes by Staff Writer, BCangel