Mary Beth's Synopsis

The more things change, the more they stay the same. Angel may have left Sunnydale and the love of his life behind, but he hasn't give up his second favorite past-time: brooding. He's sitting in his darkened office, contemplating life, death, undeath, and where to get his next plasma delivery when he's interrupted by the one half-person who's not about to let Angel slip into old habits quite so easily. Doyle is aching for some fun. It's Friday night, the city is hopping, and they need a change of pace. But he's not looking just for a guy's night out. No, he'd like to "toast the new business" with Cordelia in tow, too. He's quite enamored of Ms. Chase and asks Angel to put in a good word for him. Angel points out that (1) he hardly knows Doyle and (2) the direct approach is the best approach with Queen C. As Cordy arrives, Doyle makes one last request that Angel keep his half-demon status hush-hush.

Cordy, however, is in her own kind of heaven -- one that stems from finally having a purpose and complete creative control over the business end of things at "Angel Investigations" [Reviewer makes valiant attempt to restrain from jokes about Charlie and Bosley...]. She's been a busy Office Manager, ordering calling cards that Angel can give to people so they can contact them when they need help -- in lieu of a Bat Signal, Doyle points out. There's some confusion, much to Cordy's consternation, about just what the logo on the card is. A butterfly? A bird? An owl? The reviewer begins to question how such "intuitive" investigators will ever make a living when Cordy, clearly exasperated with the linear thinkers she's been saddled with, informs them it's an angel. (Duh!)

As she lightly smacks Doyle, he doubles over in pain. But he's not a wimp, he's been hit by one of his visions and we get our first glimpse of what a "splitting migraine with pictures" looks like. He's in pain, sweating, and we see quick flashes of a club scene--LA twentysomethings dancing and grooving. When the pain dies down, Doyle helpfully informs them that he saw a bar -- "one of those terminally stuck in the 80s places" and one that he recognizes and one where, he says simply, "something's gonna happen."

Taking his cue, Angel informs them they're heading out on the town after all.

Meanwhile at the bar -- D'Oblique -- a mousy (by LA TV show standards, of course) blonde girl named Sharon sits quietly at the bar, looking lonely and out of place. A handsome guy, Kevin, joins her. She seems surprised by his attention, and is a bit standoffish. But Kevin takes stock of her and the surrounding for a moment and quickly shifts his demeanor to something Sharon can identify with -- "God, I really hate places like this, don't you?" Sharon smiles and warms up to this "kindred spirit." Kevin smiles back.... but to us, it's hardly a friendly gesture.

At D'Oblique, Kevin and Sharon bond over similar childhood romantic ideals. Kevin is laying it on thick -- playing to Sharon's loneliness and romantic apathy. And she's eating it up.

Cordy, Angel, and Doyle arrive meanwhile and split up to look for someone in trouble -- or causing trouble. Angel hits the bar, checking with the bartender for signs of anything "unusual" or "dangerous." The bartender assures him that the really hot women will arrive later. Angel is perplexed. Cordy is taking direct marketing to a whole new level, shoving their card in various patrons' faces. Doyle tries to explain the need for a more subtle approach, not only to avoid alienating potential customers but also to keep the police from noticing their "vigilante" business.

Cordy claims her acting "skills" have taught her everything she knows about people. She demonstrates by diagnosing several losers in attendance, including Sharon who is seen leaving with Kevin. In the midst of their bickering, neither Cordy or Doyle register them as potential victims. As Cordy wonders how Angel is faring, we see...... not well. "No, really, I wasn't hitting on you..." he tries to reassure one guy who's walking away disgusted. A lovely blonde woman sitting alone at the bar notices Angel's lack of social skills and takes pity on him.... and demonstrates her own lack of same.

Her name is Kate, and she and Angel stutter to each other for awhile before Angel finally tries to find out if she's in need of rescuing, which she isn't. We do learn that she seems to be a lonely, jaded woman going through the motions of socialization because there isn't any other way to meet anyone. They continue their small talk -- she asks Angel what he does, and he after a few starts and stops, he ends up telling her he's a veterinarian -- until they fall into an awkward silence.

In another part of the bar, Cordy and Doyle bond -- Cordy-style. He thinks she has everyone figured out, but she admits he perplexes her, with his visions and the headaches and the "bleah" thing he does with his face. Plus, she thinks his visions are rather lame. Something more Mission Impossible would be cooler, she thinks. Doyle, still new to the Cordelia dynamic, really isn't sure how to respond. They're interrupted by a Thug who seems to think Cordy's been handing out the cards looking for a date. Doyle tries to dispel the guy gallantly, but Cordy doesn't let him. She tells the guy they're business cards. Undaunted, the guy assumes she means business cares and refused to back down. Doyle again tries to step in, which just ticks Cordy off.

While they spar with the guy and each other, Kate and Angel continue to bond. Kate is "opening up" to him about her trust issues -- particularly with men. While Angel tries to figure her out, she manages to babble her foot into her mouth quite endearingly. Angel doesn't let her get down on herself, though, and finally gets her to admit she's just trying to "make a connection." In part because he's in full "hero mode" look for someone to help but also because he's clueless, Angel isn't pick up her signals at all. So Kate, who has mistaken his kindness for something more and his vagueness as a wish that she would make the first move, stumbles her way to asking him if he'd like to go someplace quiet... to talk. Angel balks. He's on a mission here, so he tells her he can't. He has to stay there. Rejected, Kate shuts down. Another awkward silence reigns.

Things are hardly quite where Doyle and Cordelia are. Thug #1 is joined by Thug #2. Thug #1 continues to insult Cordy's virtue while Doyle tries to keep the peace and avoid trouble. But after Thug #1 tells his friend that Cordy is a hooker and Doyle, her pimp, is giving him a hard time, they've both had enough. And while Doyle insists that violence won't solve anything, he doesn't deny it's usefulness. He takes down Thug #1 with a headbutt but is quickly overwhelmed by both guys. The bartender tries to intervene, but is knocked out in the process. Enter Angel. He evens things up, and he and Doyle make quick work of the Thugs. The bartender chases the guys out and thanks Angel and Doyle. Seems those guys are chronic troublemakers.

To the victors go the spoils -- or at least to Angel, as a lovely red-headed patron worries over him, ignoring Doyle, who's a bit more worse for the wear. Shaking his head as if understanding that this is going to be the norm, Doyle moves away with Cordelia in tow. Angel strikes up a conversation with the woman -- Marcy from Barstow -- while Kate looks on in disgust (and perhaps a hint of disappointment). Angel watches as she leaves, but sticks, albeit a tad reluctantly, with his duty.

In a dark apartment, Sharon and Kevin lie in bed having clearly made a "connection" of their own. But now to the uncomfortable post-coital conundrum: to cuddle or not to cuddle? Sharon clutches the sheets to her chest and starts to leave. Kevin seems cold and distant, but oddly enough, he insists that she stay. He just wants to hold her. Sharon relents.

Back at D'Oblique, the bar is emptying. It's closing time and our gang is confused. They've come up empty. Dejected, they lament the difficulty of socialization. Angel comments on how much things have changed since his tavern days, where, Doyle points out, "everybody knew your name..." Cordy tries valiantly to relate -- comparing their experiences to high school, where it was easy to date because they had so much in common. "Being demon food, for instance." But she points out, as only she can, that Angel does have it worst because he can't really date for fear of losing his soul again and killing everyone. Angel, as always appreciates her perspective.

The next morning, in Kevin's apartment, Sharon is getting dressed. But something is different. She's no longer meek and mousy. Her makeup, her clothes, her shoes, her entire demeanor all scream vixen. As she gets up to leave, we see Kevin's body, tangled up in bloody sheets. He's dead.

Later that night, the gang gathers in the offices to research info on the club. Doyle's reading newspapers while Cordy's pecking the heck out of the computer keyboard. Doyle finally give ups waiting on her and demonstrates his computer skills -- picked up downloading pictures of naked women -- by finding a couple of articles relating to murders of D'Oblique patron, one man, one woman, both eviscerated. They conclude that there are probably more murders that haven't been connected yet by the press. Angel sends Cordy and Doyle to "the library" to find eviscerating demons, especially ones that pray on the young single people. He heads back to the club.

Outside D'Oblique, Angel runs into Kate. He tries to apologize for being rude the night before. She accepts and asks if he'll buy her a drink so they can start fresh. He balks. He tries to convince her not to go into the bar, even though he is. His lack of specifics, however, makes her suspicious. He brushes her off and goes in on her own. Angel follows.

Inside, Kate and Angel each settle in at the bar, keeping their distance. Kate's still baffled by his behavior, and says as much to her neighbor, who turns out to be Sharon. It seems that Sharon has found her own geeky guy, Neil, to hit on. They're bonding once again over shared frustration over the dating scene. Sharon, as Kevin did with her, lays on the charm. And flattery is getting her everywhere.

Meanwhile, a guy shows up looking for Kevin. The bartender tells him he hasn't seen him since the night before with "some girl." Angel overhears their conversation and, alarm bells ringing, asks what girl?

Cordelia & Doyle are knee deep in demon research. Cordy comments on the overall ick factor with demons, which Doyle takes offense to. But he doesn't give away why; instead, he tries to point out that not all demons are bad. Cordy's not having any of it. "I've known a lot of demons," she says, much to Doyle's chagrin. "And slime aside, not a lot going on there."

The bartender tells Angel and Kevin's friend that it was Sharon that Kevin left with. He tries to point her out, but she and Neil have already left. Angel gets her last name out of Kevin's friend and searches the phone book for an address. Sensing urgency, he takes off after them on foot.

Sharon and Neil are already in bed, but the sex apparently didn't go so well. Neil is embarrassed, but Sharon tells him to roll over so she can hold him. As she curls up behind him, a hideous worm-like creature bursts out of her chest and into Neil's back.

Angel rushes through the door of Sharon's apartment, kicking it down. He's too late. He comes across what used to be Neil as it finishes dressing and the demon finishes burrowing into Neil's body.

The geek is gone. Neil's demeanor is turned ice cold... and deadly. Angel and Neil exchange a few words, acknowledging each other's lack of humanity, while Sharon lies dead in the bed. This demon, Neil says, is searching for the perfect host. Apparently, the bodies it inhabits never last. Discussion over, Angel and the demon fight. But this guy is surprisingly strong. Angel struggles to keep up with it, but NotNeil gets the upper hand and throws him into the wall and runs off just before Kate arrives. Angel is picking himself up off the floor when she gets there and takes stock of the situation. She spots Sharon's body and adds her suspicions about Angel and jumps to a logical conclusion. Despite Angel's attempts to explain, she pulls out a gun... and a badge.

Kate, it turns out, is LAPD, and she has been tracking Angel. He waives his right to remain silent and tries to explain and convince her they're on the same side. But she's not listening. She calls him an "impotent sicko" who's unable to connect with people and how uses his looks to attract his victims. Angel has is own, more accurate, description of the killer -- a guy who prays on the weak, offering them an end to their loneliness. Kate cuts him off and tries to cuff, but Angel, apologizing, knocks her down and dives out the several stories high window. He hits a car, rolls off and runs away as Kate watches from the window above -- and as Neil watches from the ledge outside the window.

Cordelia and Doyle arrive at Cordy's hell hole, I mean, apartment loaded with books. They've arranged to meet Angel there, apparently. Doyle is at first taken aback, then amused, and finally disgusted by the living conditions. Cordelia tries to brush it off, but comes across defensive. Angel arrives haggard and tired.... but unable to take a load off until Doyle reminds Cordelia that she has to invite Angel in. Cordelia does so, but not before jokingly asking him to promise not to go all evil again.

Angel fills them in on the events that transpired at Neil's apartment -- also finding a moment to marvel at Cordy's abode. She is not amused. He tells them the demon is a burrower (not a burro) and gives them the task of figuring out how to stop it. Doyle, of course, is only too happy to continue working with Cordelia.

Angel plans to go back to the bar. He's certain it will strike again, despite Angel knowing it's out there.... "because that's what lonely people do."

In a montage, we see Neil setting up another victim (a young Asian woman) while Kate finds and searches Angel's offices and apartment and while Angel searches the bar for the demon. The demon is the only one that has any luck, as we next see the Asian woman alive and well and dressed to kill.

As the sun rises, Angel returns to Cordy's to find her and Doyle asleep on the couch, looking kind of cozy actually. Angel's search may have turned up empty, but at least Doyle and Cordy found a name for the demon -- Talmar. It's a parasite that moves from body to body and once it starts toe leave one body for the next, the original body goes "gerpluey" pretty fast. It's very strong, but fire is a viable weapon. If Angel can just see it in another body, he's sure he can recognize it. He decides to enlist the help of someone who's been tracking it longer than he has -- Kate. He calls her at the police station and asks her to meet him at the bar at 7. She's understandably reluctant so he tells her she can prepare herself however she wants and asks that she give him a chance. He doesn't think she really believes he's the killer, but if their search turns up nothing, she can arrest him.

That night, Kate waits for Angel at a table at D'Oblique. She's dropped the act and is all business. She brushes off the bartender with a flash of her badge and asks him to tell her as soon as Angel arrives. A suave-looking guy moves into pick her up, and Kate tries to brush him off, too. He's not quite as easily deterred, but she's saved when the bartender shows up to tell her he just saw Angel in the alley, getting ready to bolt. Kate leaves the pick-up artist to watch her go.

She follows the bartender to a storage area in the back of the bar, where he jumps her, knocks her out, rips the back of her shirt open, and prepares to let Talmar take her has a new host. He hovers over her as Talmar exits the bartender's body, but before it can join with Kate, Angel shows up and knocks the bartender back with a 2x4. Talmar is forced to return to the bartender's body -- which begins, as predicted, to go gerpluey pretty quickly. Angel tries to wake Kate up while Talmar recovers. He tussles with Angel while Kate tries to shake off her attack. Despite his deteriorating state, Talmar still gets the best of Angel and shoves him and Kate into the basement of the bar before he heads back into the bar in search of a new host. Oddly enough, however, no one is interested in a guy whose face is falling off.

Angel meanwhile tries first to break the door to the basement down, with no luck. Then, he decides to go out one of the high up windows. He pulls out one of his Hero Gadgets, a grappling hook and shoots it toward a beam. Incredulous, Kate asks "Who *are* you?" But before he can respond, he yanks on the string and pulls the beam down. So much for being a hero. Kate favors the direct approach and shoots the lock off the door.

They chase after Talmar through the bar and outside, where he's dragging an unwilling victim into an alleyway. Charging ahead, Angel catches up to them. As the victim runs off, Talmar and Angel face off. Talmar is looking pretty bad, but he's still strong. It's a tough fight, but Angel spies a large barrel of fire at the end of the alley that some homeless people were using to keep warm (in LA.... in October.....). He struggles with Talmar until he gets him into position and then dumps him into the barrel. Talmar shrieks as the flames engulf him, but he heads for Angel -- who's lying on the ground, exhausted -- anyway. Before Talmar can grab Angel and dish out a similar fate, Kate shoots him dead.

As the police and fire department clean up, Kate informs Angel that the case is closed -- the bartender can be connected to everyone. She thanks him for saving her life, and he thanks her for the same. Humbled a bit, she tells Angel that she searched his place illegally. She'd like to start fresh. He gives her his card (the logo on which she thinks is a lobster...) and tells her he'll be around if he needs her... and then he fades in to the shadows.

At the office, presumably the next night, Angel offers Cordelia and Doyle a reward for their hard work on this case. He bravely offers a night out on the town. . . for fun.

"Or..." says Cordy, smiling at Angel as she gets up to leave."We can go home."

"And you can sit in the dark alone," add Doyle as he follows Cordy out.

"God, yes. Thank you." Angel sighs happily. They turn out the lights as he settles into his chair, in the darkness, brooding.

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Mary Beth's Review

Well, week two arrives and Angel is still kicking butt. I found Lonely Heart a bit of a let down from City of, but considering how much I loved City of, that's almost to be expected. Still, this episode served mostly to continue Angel's integration into society, develop the characters and introduce new ones, and solidify the working relationship between Cordy, Doyle, and Angel. How it did that became almost incidental.

Almost.

On repeated viewing (for synopsis and review writing), the search for the demon Talmar and the investigation surrounding it seem at times a bit contrived (well more contrived than usual). It's an interesting theme, though, of loneliness that makes it easier for Angel to identify and step up to the fight. The look on Angel's face when he says "because that's what lonely people do" is one of such pain, such knowing, that I physically ached for him. Don't tell me David Boreanaz can't act. The one line spoke volumes.

Despite a slightly clunky albeit well-executed story and some weird pacing -- almost the entire first half of the story was set at the bar and without a change of setting, the story seemed to drag a bit -- the episode, to me was a hit for it's wonderful characterization.

Characters:
Cordy and Doyle bonding was not only hilarious but also telling. We finally learn a bit more about Doyle -- his crushies for Cordelia belie a yearning to hide his half-demon status. It's something he may not be quite accepting of or comfortable with. It will be interesting to see how Cordy reacts when she finds out (if she doesn't suspect already) and how her treatment of him will affect him.

And we learn that Cordelia is blossoming with a newfound purpose.... but as strong as she likes to seem, she's easily defensive about her current social status. She stood up for her living environment (and god love her for being a slob), but she's not proud.

We meet Kate, who by all reports will become a recurring character. She's NOT a love interest for Angel, insist Joss and writer David Fury, but a minor flirtation. No matter their intentions, she's an interesting character. I didn't like her at first. But once she revealed her true self, I softened to her. I realize that she was putting on an act in the bar. I don't doubt that many of the things she was saying were true, that she was opening up with the freedom of "undercover work," but without the confidence her job brings her, she was almost too simpering. Once more in her element, her strengths could shine. She's smart -- she knew something was up with Angel, but could also sense that he wasn't as dangerous as he appeared to be on the surface. She's tough -- willing to stand up for herself. And she doesn't take herself too seriously. It was interesting to watch her bond with Angel over their shared loneliness.

Angel may have had a hard time in that bar, and he may have complained about how much things have changed, but he found something there that he wasn't expecting... a new ally and potential friend. He might be able to do this after all. He's still extremely inept and uncomfortable with people. But he's absolutely amazing in the role of savior. He's taken to this new calling with a vengeance -- barking orders and Cordelia and Doyle, thinking through the situations with a thoughtfulness and intellect he never got much of a chance to display on Buffy. It's neat!

Relationships:
Cordy and Doyle become more of team, setting up a nice working triumvirate with Angel. But despite some nice bonding moments at the beginning and end, Angel is still very much removed from them. As I said in the synopsis, the more things change, the more they stay the same. Angel admits he "hardly knows Doyle." He seems to be keeping them at arm's length. He's still afraid to get too close to anyone. He knows the pain of losing the people he cares about, and at this point, prefers the pain of loneliness and solitude.

Doyle's crush on Cordy becomes more prevalent. Whether she's aware of it or his half-demon status is in question. She seems to notice his face does something during the visions, but since we didn't see it get all point, I assume she just means he cringes a lot. Whatever, it certainly made Doyle nervous.

Kate is introduced but only makes a connection with Angel. The door is left open for further interaction, though, when he gives her his card.

Continuity:
The gang has moved into the office, gained business cards and office supplies.... with what money? And there's some question as to whether the library Cordy and Doyle went to is Angel's personal library or one Angel went to in the pilot. I tend to think it's his own personal one. Perhaps he and Giles share books now and then.

We see evidence of the rule that vampires can enter the homes of humans once they're dead when Angel kicks down the door of Sharon's apartment. Angel had to be invited into Cordy's apartment.

Best Moments:
Absolute best: Angel's "God, yes. Thank you" at the end.

Cordelia handing out the calling cards at D'Oblique. Only she would take such a direct approach.

All of Cordy and Doyle's bonding moments. They make a good fit, but I still think I need to learn more about Doyle to understand if he's really going to be a match for her.

Angel and the failed Batman trick with Kate -- and Kate's subsequent shooting off of the lock. She's not going to stand for any overdone Hero act. :-)

Rating:
Overall, some fabulous character development, but a weak plot. Still, great fun and utterly charming. I give it a 3 out of 5.

Next Week:

SPIKE!!!!!!!!

SunSpeak

"OK, I yield. David cracks me up. I could take or leave him before but now that he's rendered me helpless with laughter, I'm in thrall. That very last bit 'God, yes thank you' as he realized he could stay home had me rolling!" -- Deb

"I like Kate. I wasn't sure I would. Not because I have Angel/Buffy issues. I absolutely don't. I just didn't think I was gonna like her since I really hate having characters shoved down my throat but she wasn't. Well, OK she *was* but with a spoonful of sugar. " --Deb

"So, did Angel watch Batman movies and take notes on what equipment to carry? For the first time in my long TV viewing life of saying the line before the character, I was tripped up. I was *SO* sure when she said 'Who are you?' that he was gonna say Batman, that when he didn't, I actually threw socks at the TV (Yes, that fine and venerable tradition lives on)."
"I might have been disappointed in the blatancy of said visual joke if Angel's attempt to be ultracool and Bat-prepared hadn't gone so hilariously wrong. (Thus further damaging Kate's estimate of his sanity. *double snerk*)" -- Deb & Val

"Where'd Angel get his library? Do he and Giles belong to the same book club? Do they have their own personal inter-demonic-library loan system?"
"Maybe it's the Higher Power Book Club? And they send him one each month? :-)" -- Deb and MB

"That's the best part about this whole thing. Every time it gets too full of itself it makes fun of itself; every time Angel gets too angsty or serious Joss takes a good poke at him. It's dark, it's intense, it's dramatic, but it's goddamn *funny*." -- Gina

"Cordelia, Cordelia...even if you aren't having company, dear...pick the cereal up off the floor."
"The expression on Angel's face when he said 'You live like this?' was priceless. Angel noticing and editorializing on mundane things...new, and a plus." -- Deb & Gina

"I too liked Kate more than I expected I would. Loved the 'drunken hypocritical slut' line, or whatever that was...that may have to be written down and become a sig file." -- Gina

"Not only is David growing on me, but Angel is as well. Damn I *HATE* being wrong. I was so sure Angel the show would make me run screaming into the night to avoid the tedium of watching brood boy. But he's not brood boy. Well, not the exclusion of all else. Yes, he brood. If he didn't, we wouldn't know it was him but he's actually acting on stuff as opposed to just reacting - which I hate in the living even more than I do in the dead. " -- Deb

"Exactly. I was pretty much prepared for Hamlet: The Series
< brood >
'Life sucks.'
< brood >
'I should do something about it.'
< brood >
'But what can I really do?'
< brood >
'Yup, It's still sucking.'
< brood >
'I should get off my ass and do something one of these hours...'
< brood >
'But I'm overwhelmed by how much it all sucks...'
< brood >
>>>*SMACK!*<<<
[That last being the audience-participation part of the exercise. *g*]
But I'm with Deb... loving it while still in utter shock." -- Dianne

"Angel went out and got...well, a life. OK, so he wasn't so gung ho about it last week but he must wanna play with others more than he lets on. 'Cause ya know - I gotta feeling that if Angel *really* doesn't want to do something, not much is gonna make him."
"I think I realized this in Bad Girls, when he was talking Faith about how much being with Buffy had shown him what people could be like, how caring they could be. How alive they could make him feel. I'm sure on some levels he really misses Willow and Giles and even Xander (Buffy being a given...) because of how much they made him *feel* -- all *kinds* of feelings. Feelings hurt. But once you've had them.... it's hard not to anymore. And in that sense, Cordy is a godsend." --Deb & MB

"I am so glad that Cordy is still so....Cordy. The same old 'in-the-brain-and-out-the-mouth' Cordy we all know and giggle at. She is definitely getting a lot of the best quotage." -- Julie

"Y'know, it should have occurred to me when I first saw the configuration of the regular cast that a Doyle-Cordelia match-up (or at least an attempted one) was inevitable. And it makes perfect sense in a bizarre Buffyverse sort of way...after all, Cordy is the only Slayerette who *hasn't* had a romantic relationship with a supernatural being of any kind (tho not for lack of trying with Angel for a while there, *snerk*)." --Val

"Poor Angel. *g* His palpable relief at being let off the social hook in the tag was entirely too adorable. I'm as incorrigible as the next romantic, but I gotta say that he and Buffy are both benefiting from the separation. It's fun watching him move up a grade in his quest to become a person. But the homework--and worse, the fieldwork--are definitely tougher than they used to be." -- Val

"I'm proud of Greenwalt & Co., in an odd sort of way, for letting him get *pounded* by a baddie (not to mention making a Bat-imposter fool of himself in front of a new ally) in the second ep. But man, he was just *not* having a good week!" -- Val

"Though, here's another thought. In the act to trying to kick down a door, what happens if he overextends and his foot tries to go further than the threshold of the door? Groin pull? Knocked spectacularly on his butt? (Butt or the act of getting knocked. Take your pick.)" --Kimberley, on Angel getting into the homes of victims who aren't dead yet.

"I continue to be impressed by David's exponential growth as an actor...two years ago, even as I was impressed with what he had already learned, I never would have judged him capable of the running mix of confusion, frustration, concern for the people in danger and sheer *exhaustion* from trying to be social that he kept up throughout the ep. Whether Cordy and Doyle were letting him off the hook on purpose, or just going home because *they* were exhausted, it was cute (if a little sad) to see his few precious hours of solitary brooding as a reward." -- Val

"It's going to be a race to see who grows and changes faster, Angel or Cordy, though he's definitely got a head start right now (mostly because she had one before). Doyle, while I think he *will* learn, is on a bit of a slower curve. The conversation where he tries to convince Angel to 'put in a good word' for him with Cordelia is priceless. And Angel may not be as up on modern social interaction as he'd like, but he knows Cordy well enough to know that the straightforward approach is Doyle's best bet. Not that it takes *that* much interaction with her to realize it's the only approach she considers worthwhile in *any* situation. *snerk*" -- Val

"I have to admit to never having been a die-hard Angel/Buffy shipper in the first place (after a while it was pretty much all brooding about how they can't ever be happy... which goes from tragic to annoying to boring pretty damned fast IMNSHO), but I love Kate. I apparently missed all mention of her upcomingness in my inadvertant summer hiatus, so she was a complete surprise to me. But I like her, like her attitude, and can see some serious fun with the two of them in the near future." -- Dianne

"He must have been fresh outta pig's blood or she wouldn't have given the fridge that rather cursory once over. "
"Once a bachelor, always a bachelor. He probably had a small, dried-up half-jar of mustard in the back and nothing else because he hadn't gotten around to going shopping. Looks like 90% of single guys' fridges that way-- perfect cover. :-)" -- Deb & Dianne

"And the 'Go to Hell' 'Been there.... done that...' It was a predictable line.... but dammit, I still loved it! :-)"
"Rastro and I agreed that he should have added, '...came back without the t-shirt... or anything else...' < giggle! >" -- MB & Mo

"I love this show. Love it. I worry, however, that Joss may be paying a little too much attention to the new baby and neglecting big sister a bit. I found the new Buffy ep only marginally better than the season premiere, and still a little scattered. Part of that, I'm sure, is 'finding' the show again with such a major upheaval of characters, setting, etc. And I recall that after 'Anne' and 'Dead Man's Party,' neither of which I thought showed much promise, last season picked up considerably. But I think that right at this moment, episode for episode, Angel is better than Buffy." -- Gina