ANGEL REVIEWS: SEASON FOUR

[Dalton]

Orpheus: Back to Life


"It's odd that you can get so anesthetized by your own pain or your own problem that you don't quite fully share the hell of someone close to you."
‑Lady Bird Johnson

For those unfamiliar with his story, the Orpheus of Greek mythology was the son of a muse and blessed with great musical ability. It is said that when he played and sang, there was no limit to his power to enthrall his listeners. After meeting the beautiful Eurydice, Orpheus wooed her with his song and they were quickly married. Shortly afterwards, Eurydice was walking in the meadow with her bridesmaids when a poisonous viper bit her and she died.

Devastated by her death, Orpheus entered the land of the dead to find and rescue his beloved. After wooing the king and queen of the Underworld with his song, they agreed to release Eurydice. However, there was one condition. Eurydice would follow Orpheus as they walked back up to the land of the living, but he was not to turn and look at her until their journey was finished. As Orpheus ascended, doubt crept into his mind. Unable to withstand the uncertainty any longer, he glanced behind him to make certain his love was truly following. Immediately, he saw her snatched away before his very eyes as she was returned to the Underworld forever.

Like the man in the myth, the mystical drug that runs in both Angelus’ and Faith’s veins gives the illusion that it is leading its users to a higher plane, but in reality it is sending them to hell forever.

For Angelus, hell is being forced to participate in a man’s redemption. As he pointed out to Faith, just because Angel is in charge, doesn’t mean Angelus goes away. He’s always there, aware of the good deeds that Angel does. As Angel fights on the side of good and resists his demonic nature, Angelus suffers in his impotence.

For Faith, hell is the realization that no amount of suffering and waiting will ever erase the sins of the past. Despite her attempts to follow the law and do her time, she can’t make up for what she’s done. Her time is never up.

Despite all of his wisecracks and bravado, Angelus is desperate. The longer he stays in a vegetative state reliving his past, the greater the odds are that Angel’s soul will be restored. He can argue about his constant presence till the cows come home, but when it’s all said and done, his personal hell is what becomes reality as he’s forced back into the box by Willow’s spell.
Faith, on the other hand, is given a choice. She can continue to hope that time alone will wash away her sins, or she can fight. Even though the pain, guilt and accountability never go away, people still need her. She can live again as a good person, despite the stains on her heart.

In the end, she chooses to return from hell, even without the help of some impatient, doubting boyfriend. Instead, her relationship with Angel is strengthened as he convinces her to not surrender to death.

So once again, the slayer emerges victorious in a battle against the vampire. It is important to note that Faith didn’t beat Angelus by becoming him; she beat him by being better than him. She was willing to sacrifice herself for the world and for Angel. Now, instead tormenting herself and giving into the pain of her past, she’s ready to fight.

I’m sure that Buffy and the Slayers‑in‑Training will be glad to hear it.

However, Faith and Angelus weren’t the only ones who’ve been in hell lately. With all kinds of backstabbing, bickering, and baby‑stealing going on, Angel Investigations has been in shambles. The group as whole has suffered some major trauma lately that’s left them pitching this way and that upon a sea of desperation and violence.

But now, the Beast is destroyed. Angel’s soul has been returned. Faith has recovered. It seems the sun is starting to shine again, both literally and figuratively.

"So we’re back."

Angel said it himself. The worst might not be over, but at least they’re back from the mistrust, back from the bad choices and back from being one seriously dysfunctional group of super heroes. Fingers crossed, the Fang Gang, as a team, is back.

Except for one teensy little problem ‑ one that is getting bigger at an unusually rapid rate. One that may or may not make Angel a grandpa.

Ick. Well, we can’t have everything. Right now we’re just going to have to hang on to the hope that our favorite group of supernatural detectives is on at least on the path to finding the camaraderie and effectiveness that they once possessed.

She Came, She Didn’t See, but She Conquered Anyway

Even though we were denied a face‑to‑face showdown between Willow and Evil Cordelia, it was very inspiring to see the witch confidently hold her own against a powerful being that once held the Beast and Angelus in its thrall. And how nice was it that she was able to use her considerable powers for good without going all hysterical at the thought of becoming Evil Willow again?

Willow’s powerful magic wasn’t the only thing she brought from Sunnydale that the gang seriously needed. Her sense of humor and can‑do attitude acted like a spiritual dust‑buster clearing out the emotional cobwebs hanging around the Hyperion lobby. Finding an intellectual mind with similar interests lifted Fred’s spirits. Willow’s revelation about her descent into darkness really helped put Wesley’s into perspective. The hug she had for Angel was probably just what he needed after spending a few days as a bloodthirsty murderer.

Sadly, as quickly as she blew into town, she’s hopping back on her broom and taking Faith with her. As much as we’d love to see them stay and continue to smack Evil Cordelia and Connor (Angel’s handsome, yet androgynous, son) around, it’s now the gang’s turn to take care of their own problems.

Problems that start next week with . . . .
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A kidnapped girl! As the gang continues to find out as much as they can about Cordelia’s whacked‑out pregnancy and the Beast’s master, Gwen asks Gunn to help her crash a party and rescue a missing girl. Now I’ve heard of women being moody while pregant, but if Cordelia’s outbursts get any more insane this time around, someone better start asking some questions!

Speaking of Cordelia’s outburst, who else thinks Charisma Carpenter is really growing into this evil gig? It’s like she’s channeling the meanness of the old Cordelia with just a little more crazy/evil thrown in, and I love it.

My candidate for best quote: "Break me off a switch, son ‑ there’s about to be a whooping."

Let everyone know your thoughts on the article, the quotes, Charisma and everything else on the boards below!

See ya next week!

[Dalton]

Players: Thinking Things Through


"Furious activity is no substitute for understanding."
‑H. H. Williams

The jig is up!

Evil Cordelia has been exposed for what she really is – evil. No more hiding under the covers, no more manipulative posturing and no more pretending to be nice. That’s right, she’s been outed by the gang and forced to let her evil flag fly.

All of her scheming and careful plotting wasn’t undone by some shocking revelation or boastful declaration to destroy the world. No, it was undone by simple, logical deduction.

Sounds too easy, doesn’t it? Well, it’s easier said than done when there is a giant Beast running around town, killing hundreds of human beings and blotting out the sun. Throw in a demon infestation and a maniacal killer hell‑bent on torturing your friends and it can get a little hard to concentrate. Who has time to sit down and examine the facts carefully when so many lives are on the line?

Well, the sun got better, the Beast died and Angelus returned to the dark corners of Angel’s mind. The only priority left is discovering the identity of the Big Bad, and thinking about it is just about the gang’s only avenue of investigation. So Angel got to thinking and pieced together the following clues:

Little Girls Like to Tattle – "The answer is among you," is the clue the girl in the White Room gave the gang on her deathbed. While normally the members of the Fang Gang would be beyond suspicion, this little message is sure to have helped point Angel in right direction.
Her Big, Fat Tanned Belly – Cordelia’s pregnant. She did have sex with Connor, so that’s not so weird. What’s weird is that her belly is at 8 months while her baby is at a few weeks. Half‑demons and higher beings aside, that is strange. Really strange. It would be enough to freak out even the newly matured, Saint Cordelia, big‑time. This Cordelia was handling all it a little to calmly; not to mention the fact she kept it a secret from her friends.

Get Out of Jail Free – Who is the one who came up with the spell that was supposed to restore Angel’s soul but really didn’t’? Why, it was the same person who just happened to let Angelus out of the cage. Wasn’t it convenient that the spell "didn’t work" but managed fooled Lorne? Hmmm . . .

Surgical Strikes – This is the clincher. Manny’s mauling. The theft of Angel’s soul. Lilah’s murder. Only one person was present at all three events. Throw in the fact that the big bad refused to appear to Angelus and used an obviously disguised voice and you’ve got a pretty strong case against that one person.

These big clues, among others, point to our favorite compulsively hair‑dyeing half‑demon. Even so, you can’t just go accusing your friends without hard evidence. Angel’s proved he can be real sneaky in the past (think pretending to be Angelus for Faith’s benefit) and proves now he hasn’t lost his touch. Not only does he brilliantly taunt EC by calling her insane and sloppy, but he also cooks up a test with Lorne and the others that was sure to catch her red‑handed.

And red‑handed she was! The mystery is solved, but the story isn’t over. Many questions about Evil Cordelia and her sinister plot remain.

If EC’s major goal is to successfully give birth to whatever horror lives in her belly, why did she so desperately need Angelus? Was he merely a way to keep Angel and the gang distracted? Did she have some larger purpose in mind? Normally I’m against those unrealistic, lengthy monologues that villains always give when they’re caught that carefully details their plan, step‑by‑step. However, I really want to have all her stint as a higher being, her return and her walk on the evil side fully explained. Something inside me would love to see Evil Cordelia peel off her face, reveal her machinations and then snarl, "And I would have gotten away with it, too, if it weren’t for those meddling do‑gooders and their pesky vampire!"

There’s still that possibility. Until then, let’s hope that she gets act like the truly nasty diva we all know she can be.

Playing or Getting Played?

The turgid supernatural soap opera continues as Fred and Wesley move closer to a comfortable place and Gunn hooks up with an electric hottie.

In order for romance to blossom between Fred and Wesley, they’ll have overcome quite a few mental and emotional hurdles. Fred will have to forgive Wesley for stealing Connor, chasing her with an ax and sleeping around with their mortal enemy. Wesley must forgive her for choosing Gunn, turning her back on him when he needed her most, and, quite possibly, for killing the professor.

Wesley tries to help Fred understand his side of the situation by telling her that sometimes it’s not just about holding hands. To paraphrase Missy Elliot, sometimes it’s about the gadunka‑dunk‑dunk.

But is it really? While I’m not denying the obvious attraction and desire that fueled their physical relationships, is that really what the Wesley/Lilah and Connor/Cordelia couplings were all about? Is it what they should have been about?

Connor, despite his raging teen hormones, would have loved to feel the warmth of genuine affection had not the object of his affection been harboring a secret agenda that involved deflowering the mixed‑up boy. Who thinks that sex was a good idea for someone with his issues? What he needed was love and acceptance, not a night of fleeting pleasure.

Wesley and Lilah were enemies in a grand conflict that found comfort in one another. Only it wasn’t very comforting. Wesley hated himself for not only sleeping with the enemy, but for using someone as a stand‑in for the person he really wanted. Lilah, on the other hand, found her carefully iced heart thawing just a bit and her walls of indifference slowly crumbling. Imagine if the two of them had allowed themselves a deeper relationship and really connected in the way that only two lost souls can.

Connor was lost and confused. Wesley was hurting from rejection. What made those two instances go from handholding comfort to a hop in the sack? Was it honestly a need for passionate sex and physical release, or is the sex only a pleasurable way of diverting attention away from the real issues?

Perhaps that is what Wesley was really telling Fred. It’s not about handholding and it’s not even about sex. It’s about hurting so bad that you’ll do anything to drown out the pain. It’s about making mistakes that you can’t ever take back because you’re too caught up in your own needs. It’s about being really stupid and hoping that you pull yourself from the rubble and start again.

Are Gunn and Gwen about to make one of those mistakes themselves? Gunn was used, abused and turned loose, all in one night, and he kind of liked it. One night away from the gang and he’s oh‑so‑willingly hooking up with the girl who nearly got him killed. Is he being there for her or his he merely trying to forget his failed relationship with Fred? Yeah, there’ll be some fallout ahead. You can count on it.

Not to get all lecturey, but it’s a fact of life that sex has its consequences, especially here in Buffy/Angelverse. Physical, mental, and (especially) emotional consequences. Perhaps instead of using sex as a substitute, the gang should start using a little love, trust and understanding.

Yeah, I know some of you are thinking: "Blah blah blah, people shouldn’t have irresponsible sex, but wouldn’t that hurt the ratings?"

It’s possible, but ratings themselves do not a show make. Okay, I admit, they tend to be kind of important. Right now, the ratings are okay, but they could be better. In fact, as you may or may not now, a host of WB shows have already been renewed, and Angel is not one of them. The decision will come in May, but until then, check out www.renewangel.com so see how you can join in the campaign to keep the show on television.

As for next week . . .
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Skip is back with some answers about Cordelia and her baby! Also, as Cordelia gets closer to giving birth, some hard decisions have to be made.

Until then, hit the boards and keep the discussion alive while we can enjoy it.

See ya next week!

[Dalton]

Inside Out: Big Bads and Big Goods


"It is our choices, Harry, that show who we are, far more than our abilities."
‑J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Okay, gang, it’s time for something a little different. Today, I’m throwing off the mantle of a mostly‑impartial reviewer and getting a little personal. I’m going to go out on a limb, lay it on the line and (mostly likely) invite criticism by telling you, faithful readers, that this my favorite episode of the season so far.

Yes, ever since the return from our extra‑extra long hiatus, the quality of the story lines has been quite good. However, this particular venture takes the cake. "Why?" you say. I’m so glad you asked! What you will find below is a summary of the reasons why this particular episode embodies some of the things that I love best about Angel (and Mutant Enemies shows in general) and why it should definitely be renewed for the next season.

I must confess there was a point during all the 90210ish developments that I wouldn’t have minded if the show had it’s plugged yanked. But since then things have changed, and I’m going taking this opportunity to get a little nerdy and sing the praises of one of best shows on television while throwing a little analysis into the tune.

I rarely gush, so please indulge me.

#1 – Like Pieces of a Puzzle

Warning: Big Fat Geek Moment Ahead – X‑men fans might remember a spin‑off comic book called Excalibur, which featured a team of super heroes fighting evil in England. In the 49th and 50th issue (over four years into its run), it was revealed that the team’s formation and destiny was all manipulated by a higher power. In this case, the writers had planned this revelation from day one.

Whether or not the writers of Angel had this gigantic plot in place since the beginning, or even since Cordelia got her visions form Doyle, remains a mystery. However, that does not take away from the fact that they were able to tie in all the smaller events into one grand scheme in a feat of fantastic storytelling.

We were finally given some answers. Cordelia is evil because she’s got a nasty inside of her. She’s got a nasty inside of her because she went to a higher plane. She went to a higher plane because she was being manipulated. Ah ha! How many of us cried foul when she left the Earth due to her "saintly" nature? Now it all makes sense! Good things come to those who wait, and we’d certainly waited long enough for an explanation of how our self‑serving Cordelia turned into a being of infinite goodness so quickly.

The story has come full circle and those of us who have hung on for the duration cannot help but feel like we’ve finally been rewarded for our dedication. Plus, the Murder She Wrote flashback/exposition was nifty, too.

#2 – Fighting and Feelings

Angel wouldn’t be Angel without the terrifically choreographed fight scenes. When Angel recovered from Skip’s beatings and returned with an attack of his own, you could feel each blow as it connected with the dastardly demon. Even more exhilarating was when Wesley found Skip’s weak spot and took the opportunity to blast his green, gooey brains.

However, as much as the man in me loves a good fight, there’s something to be said about the way the members of Angel Investigations bond and interact. My favorite moment in the entire episode was when Wesley asked Angel why he should care about the fate of his mortal enemy and Angel replied, "Because you did."

With those three words, all of the bad blood between the two men was washed away. Their friendship and commitment to one another was renewed without any blame‑tossing, screaming matches, or macho posturing. Even without the usual histrionics, one could feel the emotion and the importance of the moment.

By combining such moments of dramatic tension with others filled with physical catharsis, the show is able to maintain its genre‑bending status and broad appeal.

#3 – Shock and Awe

When Darla unexpectedly walked around the corner to confront Connor, that was shocking enough. When she started to try to convince Connor to not kill the girl, the shock was taken to a new level.

Here is a woman who was one of the most evil and sadistic vampires that ever lived. Now, because of an intervention by The Powers That Be, she is allowed to confront the son for whom she sacrificed her life. Instead of behaving in the wicked manner she’s so well known for, Darla acts like a loving, caring mother who was most likely redeemed by her final, selfless act.

As she attempts to dissuade Connor from using her sacrifice to enable more death, the possessed Cordelia confronts her. Two mortal enemies have swapped sides of the coin and face off as the representations of complete good and ultimate evil. The two voices warring over Connor’s soul prove once again that life is more than shades of gray – there really is a difference between right and wrong.

As if that is not awe‑inspiring enough, the shock continues when Evil Cordelia wins the battle and an innocent girl ends up losing her life. Connor’s innocence is destroyed, as well, as he watches his mother die before him.

Despite his instincts telling him it was wrong; despite his suspicions about Cordelia’s whacked out behavior; and despite the fact his mother contacted him from the beyond the grave to beg him not to do it, he still was a part of murder. No longer will I pity him as the confused teenager struggling with daddy issues and raging hormones. His foolish behavior has cost a person her life, and he’s got to live with the consequences.

But first, he’s got to deal with other shocking developments. Like a full‑grown woman popping out of Cordelia’s belly.

#4 – Production Supercrew

As Connor made his choice and began dragging the girl to her doom, a shot of a partially concealed Cordelia holding a cleaver summed up the entire tragic‑creepiness of the entire situation. The music playing as Cordelia groomed Connor to become a sociopath provided a hypnotic sense of foreboding. These are only two examples of the excellence in direction that Steven S. DeKnight provided for our viewing pleasure.

Not only is the direction superb, but the costumes as sets are equally impressive. Skip’s body was one of the most intricate costumes to ever appear on the show. If you’ve read Allyson’s Mutant Enemy column, you know how much thought, money and hard work goes into the preparation of the amazing sets as well.

Probably the most noticeable, and best‑appreciated, aspect of production is the dialogue to die for.

You’ve got funny: "Kid vicious did most of the heavy lifting, Cordelia just ‘Mwahahaha’d at us."

Poignant: "Do you really think that safety can be plucked from the arms of an evil deed?"

And Monty Pythonesque: "Or what, you’ll bleed on me some more?"

Put them all in a pot and you’ve got yourself the best vampire comedy‑drama‑action show on television. Not to be confused with that other slayer comedy‑drama‑action show. Sure, the show isn’t perfect, but when it’s good it’s a whole lot of fun.

Well, the list could go on and on, but it’s time to for me to put the lid on this praise jar and return to the role of unbiased observer. It’s in your hands now, my friends. Feel free to throw your own two cents into the jar, or open up one of your own on the boards below.

Until next week . . .

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Evil? What evil? This newborn bad girl looks like she’s taking over the world with love, peace and understanding. Only Fred sees that everyone is becoming mindless zombies in the process. But can she really do anything about it? Perhaps she needs to go out and buy everyone copies of the Infinity Crusade. (Ack! More of my geekines shows through!)

[Dalton]

Shiny Happy People: The Big Good



"The fact that an opinion has been widely held is no evidence whatever that it is not utterly absurd; indeed in view of the silliness of the majority of mankind, a widespread belief is more likely to be foolish than sensible."
‑ Bertrand Russell

Hide your children! Board your windows! Bring the pets in from outside! The big bad of the season has made her debut, and in her wake comes a devastating wave of . . . peace, love and understanding?

It’s an interesting concept, no doubt. Instead of destroying the world after a giant, final battle of demon versus man, the big, evil lady is going to subvert the human population by turning everyone into handholding, obedient worshipers. Yeah, it’s interesting, but let’s face it: the giant, final battle would be a lot more exciting.

Perhaps we’ll still get a battle. For now, however, we have a Power That Was whose teachings of love, acceptance and mercy have turned the Fang Gang into nothing more than obedient lap dogs. There’s a parallel that can drawn here to those who blindly following religious leaders or politicians that shows us how it’s never a good idea to check your brain at the door, no matter what beliefs you hold. However, that analogy only goes so far, as Jasmine’s followers act more like brainwashed cult members than just ignorant sheep. Their choice to believe or not to believe was taken away the moment they laid eyes on her.

Except for a few. Some might call them "called." Others might just call them crazy.

Crazy people ‑ there’s just something about them. They’ve got this unique way of looking at the world. It’s this different outlook that helps them to see things other people cannot. If you recall, those with a mental illness where the only ones who could see Dawn as the key. Now, they might just be the only ones who can see Jasmine for the rotting pile of flesh that she is.

No on can deny that Fred, after spending so much time in a demon dimension, is at least a little bit crazy. When that craziness came a‑calling after obsessively trying to get the blood out of Jasmine’s shirt, she was able to see the truth behind the beauty.

If it really is the truth. How do we know that the decaying corpse‑headed creature is the real Jasmine? Well, beyond the fact that everyone started acting against his or her nature when she appeared (Angel wearing bright clothes, Connor getting along with his dad, jaded Wesley dropping to his knees), we know all about what she did when she was controlling Cordelia. The woman who is now all about ending suffering previously blotted out the Sun, unleashed two killer demons, slaughtered a few people of her own and used a virgin sacrifice to be born. Before, she was trying to convince Connor that there is no such thing as evil. Now she’s telling him that they’re going to be the ones to rid the world of it.

Yeah, those sound more like the actions of a decaying corpse‑headed creature than a peace‑bringing harbinger of good. If what she and Skip revealed is true, then she's an ancient evil who hitched a ride to Earth from a higher dimension in Cordelia’s body. Now that she’s manipulated the perfect supernatural birth, she’s using that new body as the ultimate propaganda tool as she goes around denouncing fear and hate and promoting obedience and bisexuality.

But what is her ultimate goal? What does she hope to accomplish by eradicating the evil she so recently gladly participated in? Was she so covetous of human experience that she not only wants some of her own, but wants to rule over everyone else’s?

Only time will tell. Until then, Fred is on the run from her best friends with nowhere to go. She could call Willow again, but I’m guessing she already used up all of her crossover quarters. She could try to find others who believe they were "called," but what good will it do to trade one religious frenzy for another? No, her only real option is to find a way to force the others to see the truth.

The trouble is, when it comes to fanatics, that’s so much easier said than done.

Bat Gang Bites

While this outing was kind of anti‑climactic after last week’s action‑packed episode, it did set up the foundation for the next (and most likely final) story line of the season. Such setups are a necessary evil when a show doesn’t follow the one episode = one story format.
Gina Torres was the perfect choice to play the lovingly sinister Jasmine, as she has the ability to be warm and matronly, yet still kind of sexy at the same time. Since she does such a terrific job of not showing any kind of deception or malice, you almost start believing that Jasmine really might be a good guy.
The possibility that Fred might still suffer from crazy tendencies lends credibility to her past struggles. It is highly unlikely she would be completely cured after spending months scribbling on the walls of her hotel room. It’s also refreshing to see a character on television with a mental illness that isn’t portrayed as a "send me to the padded cell" loony.
Angel called Jasmine insane, deluded, demented and self‑important before he got to know her. We know the self‑important part is still true, but will she ever let the other traits shine through?
Angel went through "the trials" so Darla could have a second chance at life. After he passed, the valet told Angel that Darla was already living her second chance. This was while she was still human. How did the trials allow her and Angel to have a baby after she became a vampire?
Until next week, stay away from anyone promising that he or she can give you salvation or enlightenment if only you’ll blindly follow his/her commands, become one of his/her many spouses and promise to drink the kool‑aid.

Next Bat Time . . .
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Fred races to find a way to break the spell before she can be killed. It looks like Angel might see the light, but don’t even get me started on him making out with Fred! What was that about a torrid supernatural soap opera?

Josh Buckman

[Dalton]

The Magic Bullet: Fred to the Rescue



"True courage is not the brutal force of vulgar heroes, but the firm resolve of virtue and reason."
‑ Whithead

It’s official. Jasmine is evil.

Her wicked plan involves using the entire human population as happy slaves that will know her commands before she even speaks them. As if that wasn’t bad enough, she’ll be snacking on a few unlucky people every now and then along the way to achieving global domination.

As horrible as that may be, while sitting through Nathan Fillion’s endless southern‑fried soliloquies about sin over on Buffy I actually found myself longing for Jasmine’s speeches about love and goodness.

With so much hate, death and uncertainty in the world, who can really blame Jasmine’s brainless legions for so willingly enlisting in her new utopia? Sure, they really didn’t have a choice, but from the reaction of those freed from the mind control spell, you can tell they didn’t mind being among the happy and contented throng. The despair that comes with the return of pain, fear and doubt must be quite overwhelming.

Which is what makes Fred’s actions even more heroic.

While our heroes may not always have the answers, we are used to them always having the confidence and ability to get the job done. Whether it be Angel, Buffy, Willow or Wesley, we see them as extraordinary people equipped with the special skills needed to handle the situation. Sure they have flaws, but they so consistently respond as a hero should respond, we begin to think that it’s as easy and as natural as breathing. In fact, somewhere in the back of our minds, we even start thinking that we’d be just as brave and resolved if we were in similar situations. If it’s that natural, then why not?

The thing is, it’s not that natural.

Heroes are not always confident. Sure, when Angel is told he needs to go kill Cordelia to save the world, he picks up a sword and takes off. But when it’s Fred’s first time on her own, she cannot believe she is the one that must overcome such a giant evil on her own. She’s been fighting with the good guys for a while now, but it’s different when you’ve got the help of a supernatural crew.

Heroes don’t always know what to do. Give Wesley a hint that Angelus might know how to defeat the Beast and he’s preparing a ritual to steal Angel’s soul. However, it makes sense that Fred, on the run from the entire population of Los Angeles, needs time to sit and think.

Heroes are not always seen as such. Angel and Cordelia have been proclaimed as "champions" so frequently that it has become a joke. But every once in a while, a champion is proven by his or her actions instead of ambiguous prophecies or grand posturing. Fred, despite being declared a "monster" by her closest friends, took the steps necessary to rescue the others from Jasmine’s goon brigade.

Heroes know their limitations. Angel, Buffy, Faith and others are known for taking matters into their own hands. More often than not, they’ve got the power needed to handle the situation. Fred, however, is aware that she’s only got her own resourcefulness. She knew that in order to defeat Jasmine, she’d need help. There’s no time for pretense or posturing, only recruitment.

Fred doesn’t have any super powers, demon lineage or magic spells to help her out on her mission. She’s just an ordinary person with extraordinary resolve. It’s something we take for granted on a television show that involves a small band of do‑gooders constantly fighting to save the world.

It isn't easy being a hero. You don't always immediately know what to do. You don't always think you're capable of what needs to be done. But a real hero tries no matter how desperate or impossible the situation may seem, or no matter how much she wishes she didn’t have to.

Unlike a certain extraordinary person who has chosen to use his powers for evil instead of good.

Yes, the blood cure may not have worked on Connor because of his genetic link to Jasmine, but his descent into the darkside did not begin with her appearance. It began when he allowed a young, innocent virgin to be slaughtered.

Even if he had not, would it be too unbelievable to think that Connor was willingly following Jasmine? Here’s a boy who grew up in a hell dimension, lost his adoptive father to a revenge‑suicide, hates his real vampiric father and has never felt like he belonged. Jasmine has taken away all of that fear and uncertainty in his heart and replaced it with love and purpose.

On top of all that, admitting that Jasmine is evil would force Connor to come to terms with the fact that he helped kill an innocent woman so that a monstrosity could come into the world. Also, he is still unaware that Cordelia was being controlled by Jasmine, so he would have to believe that everything the only person he ever really cared for told him was a lie.

So when it comes to believing his own "child" over his hated father, he very well could have chosen the child.

So we see that the difference between Fred and Connor does not lie within their physical abilities or cosmic importance, but within their personal resolve and critical choices.

Fred, a normal person like you or me, has chosen to be a hero. Connor, a boy with all the natural blessings that would suggest a true champion, has chosen to follow evil.

Where their choices will lead them remains to be seen.

Bat Gang Bites

The book store owner. The executive demon. These two secondary characters that expressed great amounts of personality and humor in just a few short scenes without upstaging any of the regulars.
The kiss was a fluke. Thank goodness.
Jasmine wavered a bit and let a little of that malice slip through that shiny, happy exterior. It was just a hint of evil that has me looking forward to a full‑on revelation of her badness.
"You’re dead, Fred." You think anyone on the set had as much trouble keeping from cracking up as I did when the Jasmizombie said that line? There was just something about it.
With only a few episodes left this season (I saw season because I refuse to think it won’t be renewed), the battle between the Fang Gang and the Big Good is about to get even more intense. Tune in next week when . . .
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Jasmine sends an evil monster into the sewers after the exiles. Someone gets caught and a comatose mother goes missing. Oh where or where could my Cordelia be? Until then, join on us on the boards for more Angel dishing!

[Dalton]

Sacrifice: Give it Away

Irish dramatist George Bernard Shaw once said, "Self‑sacrifice enables us to sacrifice other people without blushing." If that is true, then Angel has nothing to be embarrassed about. Who in L.A. has sacrificed more?

When you think about it, the whole reason Angel is in L.A. is because of sacrifice. He denied his personal desires in order that Buffy might have a chance at a normal, lasting relationship. Angel had to sacrifice his love in order to prove it.

That’s because love is sacrifice. And sometimes you have to sacrifice to love. Circular. Paradoxical. Messed up. Call it what you want, but there’s no denying that if you truly want to love something, you must be willing to deny yourself, humble yourself and give of yourself.

True, selfless love is not about what you get, but what you give.

And this time around, Angel gave a whole lot.

In order to save his friends from Jasmine’s hordes, he had to sacrifice his already tenuous relationship with his son. In order to focus on the task at hand, he had sacrifice hope of rescuing a woman he loves. In order to find the secret to stopping a deranged, pseudo‑deity, he had to sacrifice his friends. The time may yet come when in order to keep the human population from losing its free will forever, he’ll have to sacrifice his life.

You know he’d do it, too.

The crazy thing is, Angel isn’t the only one doing the sacrificing.

When put to the test, the other members of the Fang Gang are just as willing to prove their love for humanity. Not only were they willing to give up their lives, but they were also willing to sacrifice their principles. It’s a case of the ends justifying the means, but when the means include punching a rebellious kid in the face and leaving a comatose woman behind and the end is saving the world, I can see where they’re coming from.

Sadly, the good guys haven’t cornered the market and self‑denying love. What? Bad guys can love, too? Well, yes. Bad guys can be bad without being evil (although it really helps). Take Connor, for instance. He’s one of the bad guys. He’s a bad guy because he’s confused, lonely, immature, easily manipulated and very stubborn ‑ not necessarily because he evil.

Connor thought he found a place where he belonged by Jasmine’s side. He loves his "daughter" so much that he was willing to sacrifice the pain that has defined him for so long ‑ the same pain he has been unwilling to give up for his father.

Not only did Connor sacrifice his pain for Jasmine, but he gave up his concern for Cordelia and his free will as well. Jasmine convinced him to give her everything. Connor, encouraged by his desire for belonging, freely did so.

How was he convinced to sacrifice his father and "friends" by a maggoty‑faced people‑eater? I believe the appropriate phrase is "love is blind."

So we’ve established that love means sacrifice, and sacrifice is needed to show love, but neither love nor sacrifice is exclusive from evil. The skittering demon preparing his Jeepers Creepers corpse collage is proof enough of that.

Speaking of the CGI serial killer, those who think that Jasmine may not be all that bad were probably given pause when he called her The Devourer. Anything that gets a happy from spells that involves intestines stitched together has got to have an agenda beyond world peace. "This meat I give to thee," is something I only want to hear at the butcher shop.

I digress.

In the end, we can clearly see that love is not always right. Sacrifice is not always good. But there’s no doubt that they’re what keeps going ‘round.

What’s in a Name?

When it comes to Jasmine’s real one, apparently a lot.

Once again, our astute ScoopMe readers prove they’re sharper than the average viewer by quickly catching on to the notion that Jasmine’s name will hold great importance. Either this means the story lines are getting obvious or our members are particularly intelligent. I prefer to believe latter is true.

Jasmine’s got some nasty name that might just be her undoing. That’s the problem with having crazed demons under your thrall – they tend to not have enough common sense to know when to shut up. Now, Angel is on a quest to find out her true name and how to use it against her. We can only hope he will learn it in time and shout it out of the window before Fantasia is destroyed by the Nothing. Oh, sorry. Wrong story.

There’s Power in the Blood

Jasmine (or Cordelia’s) blood breaks the spell. Blood is used to open the portal to another world. Connor’s blood is used to take away his pain. Skitter demon is heavily involved in "blood" magic. Are we sensing a theme here?

It’s no surprise that blood is so important in a story where so much Christian symbolism is running rampant. Jasmine has just gone to the head of the class in the Catholic Church. Over on Buffy, the bad boy is kind of a twisted priest, another figure in the Catholic Church. Is the fact that the two big bads so closely parallel each other an example of lazy writing, a hint that the two are linked, or some kind of commentary on Christian beliefs (specifically Catholicism)?

There’s a rumor . . .

That Angel will be renewed! If you haven’t already, check out www.renewangel.com for the latest news, and for information on how you can be a part of the campaign to keep it on the air.

Until we find out for sure, we’ll have to thoroughly savor the next two episodes and our ongoing discussion. I invite everyone to post their thoughts on this episode and future possibilities on the boards!

For now, I leave you with my nomination for quote of the week:

"Anyone else feel like the last feisty wife in Stepford?"

[Dalton]

Peace Out: Walking Away from Omelas



"The strongest principle of growth lies in human choice."
‑ George Eliot (1819 ‑ 1880)

Murder. Rape. Child abuse. Starvation. Biological weapons. War. Terrorist attacks. The threat of nuclear war. Can you imagine a world where these horrible acts are no longer worries? Can you imagine a world where the fear and hate that is responsible for such atrocities is replaced with love and happiness?

It would be a paradise. It’s something we all wish for. It’s something some of us hope we’ll be rewarded with when our lives are over. We hope some day to see the end of a suffering and the beginning of lasting peace. But what if we didn’t have to wait? What if we could have it right now? What if paradise was a reality, and all you had to do to get it was give up the option of doing evil?

That doesn’t sound so bad, does it? I mean, who is going to complain about not getting to hurt other people? Does anyone really want to be tempted to do harm to his neighbor?

So here’s the deal. You have to choose between living in peace and harmony with your fellow man or having the option to do evil. When you think about it, the average, selfless human being would hardly choose to inflict pain upon his fellow man over ending all suffering. It would take the most selfish, pig‑headed, or evil personalities in the world to let fear, confusion and death win over peace, understanding and life when presented with the two options, wouldn’t it? Which one would you choose?

Wait a minute. This just in ‑ you don’t have a choice.

Sorry, but you’re automatically lumped into the category of the righteous. Your free will is gone, and you didn’t even voluntarily give it up. You became a slave to happiness without having any say in the matter. You didn’t choose it, you didn’t earn it and you can’t give it up.

Still, you’re happy. No matter what your financial standing is, no matter what you look like, no matter how healthy you are, you blissfully love life. There’s no more doubting your potential or self‑loathing. Would you really mind being forced into that kind of personal joy?

Hold on again. There’s something else. In order for you to be that happy, thousands unwillingly faced a very gruesome and painful death. For you to stay that happy, thousands more will continue to (unknowingly) sacrifice themselves. Oh, and there’s just one more tiny, little detail. The benevolent entity that brings you such happiness just might physically control your body in order to use you to slaughter the very few people who do retain their free will.

It’s sounding more and more like raw deal, isn’t it? Sure, everyone is happy and blissful, but we’re all happy and blissful zombies. That which has made us human, our free will, is gone. That which has made us somewhat deserving of such a paradise, our ability to choose to do right, has vanished. There would be little difference between us and the vampires and demons that have no choice but to do evil. We would simply have no choice but to do good.

It’s not a reward; we haven’t earned it. It’s not a choice; we didn’t make it. It’s not a life; we’re not the ones living it.

Save brainwashing and chemical alteration, no one has the ability to take away your ability to choose. A. J. Toynbee once said, "As human beings, we are endowed with freedom of choice, and we cannot shuffle off our responsibility upon the shoulders of God or nature. We must shoulder it ourselves. It is up to us."

It’s up to us to make the world a better place. It’s up to us to decide how to live in it. It’s up to us to be better than the demons and the animals. It’s up to us to use our free will to do right and suffer the consequences when we do not.

Angel understands this. The crazy thing is, that’s not even the main reason why he fights Jasmine’s joyful regime.

Unaware that Connor has freely chosen to serve Jasmine despite the knowledge that she is a false deity, Angel fights to save his son. He fights to free Connor from the control of a madwoman. He fights to save him from her imperialistic ideals. But most of all, he fights for his love.

In a world where everyone loves Jasmine, the few who do not are destined to either be outcasts or be destroyed. In order for Angel to ever be near his son again, Jasmine must be defeated.

The price for Jasmine’s version of worldwide peace was too high. The general population would have to pay with their free will and the lives of many of their own. For Angel, he’d have to pay with his only son.

That’s why she had to go down. And down she went, de‑faced by her only freethinking follower.

Now the world is back to normal. All the misery, frustration and fear has returned.

The big bad was defeated.
So why don’t I feel like having a party?

Bat Gang Bites

Angel, ever the one to understand the need for redemption, offered Jasmine her chance to give it another go. Imagine the amount of good someone with her strength could have done for the world. For starters, she could kick Caleb’s hiney over on Buffy. However, she only wanted to do it the fast, easy way. When that was taken away from her, she went straight to the total annihilation backup plan. Talk about your sore losers.
Connor proved that his real loyalties lay with Cordelia, not Jasmine. He followed Jasmine because he believes that is what Cordelia would have wanted. What will happen when he discovers that the Cordelia he knows and loves was really just puppet Cordelia? I do not believe we have seen a more psychologically tormented character in the history of the Buffyverse. At least Drusilla’s crazy happened on purpose!
Was this truly the fulfillment of the prophecy we’ve heard so much about? Angel, faced with an apocalypse, doesn’t know if he’s going to be on the side of good or evil. Now, with world peace ending and a horrible monster defeated, some could say the moral ambiguity of the battle would fit the ambiguous nature of the prophecy perfectly. But what a letdown that would be after all the build up.
"The Way, the Light, and the Word." The bug priest used all of these terms to refer to Jasmine. They’re all terms that refer to Jesus in the Bible. Are we supposed to compare Christian beliefs to Jasmine’s agenda? I find that, and any comparison to political leaders, a little hard to swallow, considering Jasmine’s complete removal of free will.
Lilah is back? Is she dead? Does she signal the return of Wolfram & Hart? Will she (or Connor) be the fourth "big bad" we’ve seen this season? One thing is for sure, if the show ends with a cliffhanger this season, great amounts of screaming will occur!
We’ve only got one episode left in the season. Although the show has not yet been officially renewed, all sources are optimistic. Sadly, renewal or not, there will be no more Angel reviews on ScoopMe. As you are probably aware, the site is going down sometime later this summer. However, make sure that you return a week after this season’s final episode air to read the season wrap‑up and for a chance to look back on the great time we’ve spent discussing the show together.

Until then, hop on the boards below and join in a lively discussion with some of the smartest, wittiest and most passionate Angel fans on the net!

See you next week!

[Dalton]

Home: Concession and Compromise



"Don't talk to me about contracts, Wonka, I use them myself. They're strictly for suckers."
‑Sam Beauregarde, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

The Fang Gang defeated Jasmine and stopped her nefarious world‑domination scheme. As a reward, they’ve been given resources beyond their wildest dreams to use in their fight against evil.
Yay?

Over the few years that they have been together, the team at Angel Investigations has done a lot of good. They’ve killed vampires, stopped demons and even saved the world. Not once have they ever been rewarded. They weren’t doing it to get something, they were doing it to help people.

This time, however, they are given a reward. Not for stopping the bad guy, but for preventing global happiness and world peace. Sure, they restored everyone’s free will, but the world, as a whole, would have been a happier place if Jasmine has won.

So in a sense, the Fang Gang has been rewarded for making things worse. Not by the Powers that Be or some other "benevolent" entity, but by a company that has spent all of its energy trying to prove to Angel how completely and totally evil it is from day one.

Let’s review. Remember when Wolfram & Hart:

Hired a blind woman to assassinate children?
Tortured Cordelia until Angel unleashed a misogynistic psycho that turned men into women beaters?
Raised a woman from the dead and then transformed her into a vampire?
Stole money from a teen shelter?
The situation is similar to a person who has made his fortune selling drugs to kids offering to give you a million dollars. Sure, there is a lot of good that you could do with the money, but would you conscience allow you to accept it?

In Angel’s case, it did.

Same goes for Gunn and possibly Lorne. Wesley and Fred could have gone either way.

How is that possible? How did the good guys accept such a proposal knowing full well that motive behind the senior partners’ benevolence was most likely just as evil as it’s always been? How did they allow themselves to be maneuvered into a position where they were no longer in control, especially after just recovering for Jasmine’s supposed years of manipulation?

Simple. Wolfram & Hart used the three essential tools of temptation, misdirection, and pacification.

Temptation – Angel was given a chance to help Buffy and then Connor. Wesley was offered vast amounts of knowledge. Lorne got the bright lights, big stars routine. Fred was given the opportunity of limitless research. Gunn, I’m guessing, was offered power.

Misdirection – The Fang Gang was offered their fondest desires and told that their new gifts could be used to help other people. Lilah goaded them into believing that accepting such offers wouldn’t mean they were greedy, but noble.

Pacification – "We promise, there are no strings attached! All of this can be yours for the low price of nothing!"

Sure. One of the biggest collective evils in all of the Earth is just going to let the forces of good have such a great prize all for free. Riiiiight.

Angel and his companions know that it cannot be that easy. Deep in their hearts, they feel that accepting such a gift will somehow put them in debt to one of the most malevolent forces in the world. At the very least they will be part of some larger plan that the senior partners must be cooking up.

Saint Cordelia would definitely not approve.

I find it hard to approve, as well. Yes, Angel made the deal in order to give his son a better life. He wanted Connor to have a chance for happiness and a normal life, so he had Wolfram & Hart somehow pull a Dawn on him and his new family. That’s really nice of him. But in order to save his son, he had to make a deal with the devil. He has saved Connor, but at what price?

Perhaps there is no catch. Perhaps the gang will operate out of their new headquarters without any consequences. Perhaps Lorne’s cryptic comments about balance are supposed to indicate that giving in to evil is okay as long as some good comes from it.

If that’s the case, then why did they not just let Jasmine bring love and happiness to the whole world? If a little bad is okay as long as it brings in a lot of good, why bother with ethics at all?

"You want to give us your evil lawfirm? We’re not lawyers."

"Or evil! Currently."

The key word is "currently." How long with it stay that way? If power corrupts, then power given by the forces of evil has got to have some kind of double whammy on it.
Angel and the gang are fallible. They fight, they spend time in the shades of gray, and they make mistakes. But that’s just in, they’re mistakes. What happens when they willingly spend time in the gray area? What about when they willingly dabble with the black? Does that make them champions, or merely agents?

There is a reason why the stories of good versus of evil have survived the centuries. We all want something to believe in. Sure, they flawed hero makes him easier to identify with. However, in the end, he makes the right choices. He gives us hope that there is a noble purpose. There is a just cause. There is a reason to stay strong.

That’s not what is happening in L.A. We’ve had more than our fair share of gray recently. Cordelia, one of the good guys, was evil. The big bad guy really had a loving agenda. Another bad guy was really just a kid with serious emotional problems. And the good guys? They’ve chosen to accept help from ultimate evil.

Maybe that makes them more realistic. Maybe it just means they’re willing to take risks to help those around them. Maybe they truly are champions.

One thing is for sure; finales don’t get more ambiguous than this one.

That’s just the nature of the beast when you’re dealing with a show that may or may not be renewed for the next season. As a season finale, it marks a whole new direction for Team Angel and their mission. As a series finale, we can let our imaginations run wild and hope that the gang continues to fight the good fight better than ever with all the resources at their disposal.

I don’t know about you, but I’m counting on our guys to keep on fighting the good fight.

Despite all of the temptations and dangers that come with flirting with evil, despite all of their questionable activities and despite their acceptance of a deal with the devil, I won’t give up on the gang. Wesley’s noble attempt to free Lilah; Fred’s protest; Angel’s risky display of love: these all give me hope that our heroes will remain heroes ‑ even in the face of moral uncertainty.

Perhaps it will all turn out for the best.

"Willy Wonka: And Charlie: don't forget what happened to the man who suddenly got everything he'd ever wished for.

Charlie Bucket: What happened?

Willy Wonka: He lived happily ever after."



Bat Gang Bites

Did Angel really give Connor a better life or did he simply create another lie for Connor to live? Does it make a difference?
Speaking of Connor, was it not heartbreaking that he did not want the love of the one person who truly wanted to give it to him? Angel is the king of making sacrifices that no one will remember to appreciate.
One cannot help but wonder that if the growing love (and yes, I do believe they felt a love for each other) between Wesley and Lilah were not cut short by her death, would she have found a way to redeem herself?
Wesley punched out a former watcher? Of course, the British accent and love of books was a dead giveaway. Both Gunn and Wesley’s tour guides’ behavior suggested that there was something sinister behind the "gift."
Lilah said "skoche!"
Well, gang, this is it. Our last episode review of Angel together here at ScoopMe. Can you believe it? I needed my chocolate bar and teddy bear to get me through it.

However, I’m going to save my tearful goodbye (I’m really going to miss you guys!) for the season wrap‑up next week. Be sure to come back for a look back at the entire season. Until then, let’s ponder of the significance of events in the episode and enjoy our intelligent conversation while it lasts.

See you next week, my friends!

[Dalton]

It's an Angel Wrap!: Beginning and Ending

"Don't be dismayed at good‑byes. A farewell is necessary before you can meet again. And meeting again, after moments or lifetimes, is certain for those who are friends."
‑‑ Richard Bach

Let me just say, this was one tough article to write.

How does one adequately sum up how much the crew at Angel Investigations has gone through in such a short amount of time?

When we first returned from the summer break, our beloved Fang Gang was in quite a state of disarray. Angel was trapped in a box under the sea. Cordelia was bored out of her mind in a higher dimension. Fred and Gunn were playing house with the daddy‑drowning Connor. Lorne was being held hostage in a Las Vegas nightclub. Last, but not least, a rogue Wesley was out on his own (if you don’t count having Justine locked in a closet with the bucket).

Where are they now? Well, Cordelia’s in a coma. Connor is with a fake family. Wesley and Lorne are part of the group again. Oh, and the gang is now running the Los Angeles office of Wolfram & Hart.

What? How did our heroes end up joining forces with their mortal enemies?

If you believe Skip, it is the result of years of careful manipulation. It just didn’t quite end the way Jasmine planned it.

If you believe loose‑lipped actors and writers, the merger is the result of the need to pitch Angel as a show that’s about to go in a bold, new direction.

If you believe this viewer, it is the result of the Fang Gang’s continuing flirtation with the dark side.

Whatever the case may be, one thing is for sure: Team Angel is about to kick it with a whole new style. Let’s take a quick look at how each character has changed over the course of the season.
Lorne – He’s now a part of the opening credits. That’s about all that’s changed for this karoake‑loving demon do‑gooder. Let’s hope that his deal with Wolfram & Hart involves a new Caritas and a role that goes beyond the occasional comic relief.

Cordelia, a.k.a. Evil Cordy – Okay, so amnesia, possession and unconsciousness don’t really make for great character development, but you have to admit this gal has changed. Who could go through all of that and remain the same? Her out‑of‑character behavior was explained by the revelation that Jasmine was controlling her from within, but will that reset button give us back the Cordelia we know and love? Is Cordelia, one of the founding members of the Fang Gang, too far gone to save?

It’s a sad day in L.A. if that’s true. No matter how saintly she acted, I always held onto the hope that one day, we might have our Queen C back. She’s been with us from the first days of Sunnydale. If we lose Cordelia, only Angel remains to carry on the legacy (unless some cast members from Buffy make the transition).

Fred – She started as a smart sidekick with a penchant for cute rambling. She ended as a woman who single‑handedly started the revolution against the mind‑controlling Jasmine. She never believed she could be a hero until the situation demanded that she step into the role.

With Cordelia out of commission, Fred has also begun to function as the moral center of the team. Perhaps it is the blood of the professor on her conscience that reminds her of the importance of standing for what is right. She was able to resist the temptation of funded scientific‑research to turn down Wolfram & Hart and protested Angel’s acceptance of the offer. Will her voice be heard when the consequences of making a deal with a devil come back to bite the team on its collective butt?

Gunn – Gunn’s driving purpose has always been the mission. That was until he began dating Fred. To prove his dedication to her, he murdered a man. Instead of cementing their relationship, it drove them apart. Gunn went from being a cool, confident team member to a hothead who continually doubted his own usefulness.

Despite an ego‑enhancing dalliance with Electro‑Gwen, he still felt a little inadequate when faced with Fred’s huge brain and Wesley’s book smarts. The offer from Wolfram & Hart was vague, but his ready acceptance of it suggests that he will never be looked at as "just the muscle" ever again.

Wesley – His decision to kidnap Connor made him a pariah. The threat the Beast presented to the world reunited him with his friends. Finally, a few words from Angel reaffirmed his place on the team.

But this Wesley is different from the one that snatched Angel’s bouncing baby boy. His cold indifference and harsh treatment of his employees suggested an inner turmoil that contradicted his controlled demeanor. His pain led him to places he’d never been before ‑ places where he learned how to fight dirty (with guns and cool new weapons), love dirty (got kinky with their arch‑nemesis) and plan dirty (see Justine and bucket reference above). Yes, he’s stepped away from the dark side for now, but how will the influence of the most evil corporation known to man affect his future behavior?

Angel – Angel started as a loving father doing what he thought was best for his child and ended as a loving father doing what he thought was best for his child. If there is one thing Angel knows how to do, it’s sacrifice.

He was willing to risk his soul to stop the Beast. He was willing to sacrifice Cordelia to save the world. He was willing to give up his son so that he might have a better life. Angel is still Angel ‑ a tortured vampire fighting for what’s right. But now’s he’s a champion whose heart has been broken once again. So much sacrifice will either increase his love for humanity and belief in the mission or it will make him bitter and resentful. As the new leader of a (formerly) evil multi‑million dollar operation, he’ll need all of his friends to keep him connected to a love for the world.

Despite all of the changes each individual faced this season, one important fact remains. They are together. They’ve been through the worst and emerged as a team once again. They forgave each other without any of the obligatory speeches or the heated confrontations. The peril the world faced facilitated a healing process that put the petty jealousies and resentments into perspective.

Angel, Wesley, Gunn, Fred, Lorne and even Cordelia belong together. Nothing bonds people like adversity, and adversity is this group’s stock in trade.

We all have lapses in judgment. We all hurt the ones we love. We all are really, really stupid sometimes.

But despite all of our failures, true friends remain.

Time for Farewell

As the family known as the Fang Gang prepares for a new beginning, we, sadly, must prepare for an ending. Yes, it is time to say farewell to the site known as ScoopMe. Let me just tell you, it’s been quite a ride. I would not have enjoyed this show half as much as if it were not for the opportunity to come together here and meet with fellow fans of such intelligence. As hard as it was to sum up what the Fang Gang has been through, it’s even harder to sum up what spending the last three seasons here with you guys has meant to me.

I must take the time to thank my editors for being such wonderful people. Kim was great for putting up with my constant e‑mails and Kara and Coreen were such an encouragement. I also have to thank Jen and Mikal for getting me hooked on this site in the first place!

It’s really tough to say goodbye. Who’s going to get on my case when I get something wrong? Who’s going to check my literary references? Who will come up with such a great theories and speculation? Who’s going to inspire me to keep going with words of encouragement? I wish I had to the time and the space to call you all by name and tell you individually how much it has mean to read your thoughts and comments each week. Believe me I have read and appreciated it all. You have truly been an inspiration that has made all of the late nights and note‑taking worthwhile. You guys rock my face off!

I don’t know what is going to happen in the future, but I assure you, if you are on the article notification list, you’ll be the first to know. Until then, I wish you all the best from the bottom of my overly sentimental heart. I hope that our paths cross again.

Until then, we will still have our boards open for a while. Feel free to stop by below and gives us your thoughts on this crazy season and your speculation on the future (now that we know Angel has one) one last time.