Review of Episode 21, Season 5 "Power Play" The end is nigh and it's back to the apocalypse for the penultimate episode of Angel, "Power Play". The power in the title isn't just any power, it's The Power, the kind that controls the game in the battle between good and evil, of which the Senior Partners have been fully in control of all year. Over this season, Angel and company have been wallowing inside the belly of the beast thinking they've been able to direct and change the course of evil by the sheer fact they are now working amongst it with frustrating results. But it took a last gift from Cordelia, in the form of a one time vision revealed this episode, for Angel to gain clarity on just what is at stake and how to really fight the fight. Like a splash of cold water to the face, Angel has come to understand that the "power" he accepted in running Wolfram & Hart has never been his at all. Instead, Angel and his entire team have been pawns in the Senior Partner's game to distract and divert their greatest enemies from the machinations behind the dark curtain. Luckily, Angel is about to turn that game inside out so he can make good on his intent and truly cripple evil from within. As written by David Fury, "Power Play" sets the game right again and while it may be a dense episode, a bit slow due to intense exposition, the connecting of season long dots, and an overall diversionary plot, it's ultimately a strong and clear mission statement for the final battle. One of the greatest strengths of the episode is the success it achieves in being a true ensemble piece. Every cast member is included as they discover and piece together mounting evidence against Angel of which they cumulatively try to discount or understand. Unlike the group, having the audience believing Angel has turned to evil always rings false, but it works that they would have doubts having all lived through the tragedies and gravity of the season. Team Angel are all fully aware of what has been lost or given freely in exchange for the bliss of power so to believe Angel would succumb finally isn’t that far of a stretch for them anymore. There is also a fine sense of continuity in the episode, which is one of the best things about Whedon shows. Lindsey returns and his place and intentions for the season are made more clear, various demons introduced through W&H all season return and are revealed to be members of The Circle of the Black Thorn (a.k.a. the Senior Partner's instruments of evil on Earth). Drogyn, the keeper of the well also fits in nicely and serves to reveal Hamilton's background too. All of the revelations provide depth and purpose to the season's many puzzles in a way that feels more earned than random, which could easily be the case with a storyline this complicated. Yet where the episode truly shines is in the last act, in the last few minutes. When the beleaguered and disillusioned team finally join together to bring down what they think is now their evil leader, Angel reveals his epiphany to them in the safety of a nifty glamour that gives him six minutes of safety to reveal the truth to them all. In a fervent explanation of his actions, Angel lays out the ugly truth, evil can’t be defeated. The Senior Partners will always be, but instead of giving up, he knows how to weaken them and finally make them bleed. By shifting and deceiving the truth to his favor, Angel has been taken in by the Circle and he can now exploit that weakness to bring down the weapon the Partners hold so dear. Yet, to achieve such an act, they will have to sacrifice more than ever before most likely with each of their lives. It’s a price Angel is willing to make and in a moment that rings so true and breathtakingly honest, each member of the team raises his hand to join the fight too. It’s a goose bump moment because each actor makes you feel and understand their fear, indecision and then acceptance just by the looks on their faces. A classy, truthful and amazingly powerful moment that makes the entire episode work as a whole and sets the stage for an fight that will surely be as heroic and terrible as ever seen before. 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!

Angel: For the last...very long moment I haven't had a single coherent thought. Nina: I'm gonna take that as a compliment. Angel: You really should. Nina: But now, the brow is back. (re: Illyria) If she's not on your mind, then... Angel: There's--there's a lot more than usual going on. Nina: Work? Angel: Always. Angel: I know I've spent years fighting to get somewhere...to accomplish something...and now that I'm close to it...I don't like what I see. What I am. Nina: You're a hero. Angel: (softly) Oh, that word. Nina: You're my hero. Angel: I may not always be. Spike: Anyhow, I thought Wesley was giving you the primer on all things human. Illyria: He and I are no longer having intercourse. Spike: Y-ah. You wh-what? Illyira: He has ceased communication with me. Spike: Oh! Oh. Communi-- Illyira: My recent reversion to the Burkle persona disturbed him. And he will not tell me why. Spike: You don't know? You may not think you're as powerful as you were, Highness, but looking like Fred, for some of us...it's the most devastating power you have. Spike: Listen, you need some Boretz killing done, I'll have a go. I haven't had a decent tussle since the Blue Meanie and I stopped sparring. Wesley: Yes. All right. Call me if you find anything. I'll be in my office learning what I can. Illyria: He showed no regard for my presence. Spike: Not that you require any creatures attention. (Illyria glares) Hey, wanna go find something to hit? Lorne: What's the weather report? Wesley: Cold. Icy, actually. Lorne: Well, he cut 6 of my clients loose, didn't even tell me. I spent all day talking them off ledges and out of pill bottles. Wesley: I sense that suicidal celebrities are beneath Angel's concern. Lorne: These are very pretty people I'm talking about, Wes, 4 of them are getting in shape for Young Guns III. Wesley: The small stuff that you can't worry about, would that include Fred? Angel: I loved Fred. Wesley: That's not an answer. Angel: Then I guess you don't get one. Hamilton: (re: Illyria) I gotta tell ya, I'm a little disappointed. (hits her) Didn't think a big, scary Old One bled this easily. Maybe it's this skinny, little body you chose to infect. (hits her again) Or maybe it's that ray gun they shot you with to keep you from exploding. Or maybe...(punch)you're....(punch)just...(punch)not.....(punch)that...(punch)cool! Yes, that's probably it. (stomps on her face) Angel: This isn't a keep-fightin'-the-good-fight kind of deal. Let's be clear. I'm talking about killing every...single...member of the Black Thorn. We don't walk away from that. Lorne: Do we crawl away, at least? Angel: We do this, the Senior Partners will rain their whole wrath. They'll make an example of us. I'm talking full-on hell, not the basic fire-and-brimstone kind we're used to. Gunn: We know the drill. Angel: No, you don't. 10-to-1, we're gone when the smoke clears. They will do everything in their power to destroy us. So...I need you to be sure. Power endures. We can't bring down the Senior Partners, but for one bright, shining moment, we can show them that they don't own us. You need to decide for yourselves if that's worth dying for. I can't order you to do this. I can't do it without you. Quotes by Staff Writer, BCangel