Angel "Lineage"
Season 5, Episode 7
Tara I. – TwoCents Staff Reviewer
tara@thetwocentscorp.com
Angel Broodometer: 4
Ooh. A Wesley episode! Disclaimer: I love all Wesley episodes, so, I'll try, but I can't guarantee impartiality. In this episode, Wesley's stiff-upper-lip father arrives in town just in time to participate in Wes' crisis of confidence. A crisis exacerbated by Angel's own crisis of confidence in Wes. Oh, and Fred takes a hook to the shoulder. Good times!
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Angel
ReplyDelete"Lineage"
Season 5, Episode 7
Tara I. – TwoCents Staff Reviewer
tara@thetwocentscorp.com
Angel Broodometer: 4
Ooh. A Wesley episode! Disclaimer: I love all Wesley episodes, so, I'll try, but I can't guarantee impartiality. In this episode, Wesley's stiff-upper-lip father arrives in town just in time to participate in Wes' crisis of confidence. A crisis exacerbated by Angel's own crisis of confidence in Wes. Oh, and Fred takes a hook to the shoulder. Good times!
We start the episode as Wesley is bargaining with a demon arms dealer. The dealer is unimpressed with Wesley until Wes brings out his "muscle" in the form of Fred and a magical submachine gun. Even with Fred and the gun, the dealer is still skeptical that Angel is going to be okay with this deal. Wes almost manages to smooth things over until a masked ninja crashes the party (I hate it when that happens!) and takes on the dealer's men.
Wes pulls a Clive Owen as he dives across the room firing two guns at the assailants. Unfortunately, this leaves Fred, who is sheltering behind some boxes, without a weapon. Fortunately, Angel arrives to save the day and take out the ninja--who literally short-circuits. I guess they don't make cyborg ninjas like they used to.
They also don't make cardboard box cover like they used to, because despite her position, Fred has been hit in the shoulder with a grappling hook. She's bleeding and unresponsive as we head into the credits. You will all be shocked to discover that she is okay. However, her recovery doesn't stop Angel from berating Wesley for taking Fred on the mission. He accuses Wes of taking Fred with him, despite the danger, because of Wes' crush on her. Wes tries to deny it, but Angel has clearly hit a soft spot.
As Wesley leaves, Eve suggests that Angel is being a little harsh and that perhaps his anger is more about Wes kidnapping Connor than because of Fred. Angel tries to deny this, but Eve insists that Angel doesn't trust Wes. Angel doesn't do a lot to discourage that idea.
Meanwhile, Fred, complete with a shiny, new sling, has gone to see Wesley to apologize for getting impaled by a hook. Who apologizes for that? Wesley, still reeling from Angel's comments, immediately apologizes to her for putting her in danger. Fred is angered by his patronising attitude and reads him a Fred-style riot act, not realizing that Wes' father (Roy Dotrice) is standing right behind her listening to the entire conversation. When she does realize it, she tries to cover up...about as well as you'd expect.
Wesley is surprised to see his father, but is even more surprised to find out that his father wants Wes to return to the Watcher's fold...or so he says. In reality, Wes' dad is actually in league with the evil ninjas. The plan: kidnap Angel and take away Angel's will. Why? Who knows? Maybe they're tired of the brooding.
Wes uncovers the plan, but not before his dad has knocked him out and stolen Angel's will using a glowy stick-thing—as you do. Unfortunately, Evil Dad takes Fred hostage before Wesley can rescue Angel. What will Wes do? Well, naturally, without a second's pause, Wesley shoots his dad dead—about 7 times. Can we say overkill! Fred and Wes are stunned at what he's done, but not as stunned as they are to discover that Evil Dad isn't really Wes' father, he's a cyborg in a 3 piece suit!
Everyone tries to comfort Wesley over killing his father with little effect. Angel, finally, realizes that he can trust Wes to do the right thing even if that thing is not in Wes' or his friends' best interests. Fred tries to comfort Wes with the thought that Wes was just defending his friends. Wes isn't comforted. And he, almost, tells her how he feels about her by admitting that he shot the cyborg to save her. Fred is stunned, but before she can address Wes' admission, Knox comes along to take her home. Stupid Knox!
I enjoyed this episode, but then again, it was a Wesley-centric episode, so that was a given. I'll put the Broodometer at 4 this week. Angel was largely on the sidelines for this episode, but there was some Wes/Connor brooding.
What did you think? Do you wish Wes had really killed his father? Are you pro Wes/Fred? Write your Two Cents below.