Tangent 21 - A Hole In The World

Posted by
Maffrew

Posted on
20:21
Feb 26 2004

A Hole In The World

Great stuff indeed.

I'd say this is definitely the best episode of Angel Season 5 so far, and in the top 2 or 3 episodes of Angel ever. Joss wrote and directed this episode and it shows. When he is on form he brings an element of class to the show that the others just can't match.

For those that are spoiler-minded but haven't seen it yet, the episode goes like this: A sarcophogas (sp?) is delivered to the W&H lab and Fred is infected with the essence of an ancient demon, Illyria. Now, this demon is ancient in the real sense. A demon from before time.

Immediately the entire team goes badass and starts trying to solve it. Even Lorn gets in on the fighting spirit and socks Eve in the chops, before threatening to kill her. The Deathwok clan would be proud. Angel and Spike hightail it England where they think they can find a way to draw the demon out of Fred. This provides some great dialogue and good action. In the face of Fred's imminent death, Angel and Spike unite as a force to be reckoned with.

Gunn and Knox try and find a way to freeze Fred and thus freeze the demon, and this is where the surprise comes in. It was Knox that brought the sarcophogas to the US and Gunn who let it through customs as payment for his brain-upgrade last week. Cue Gunn going badass on Knox. This was very well done, i wasn't expecting it to be Knox at all.

During all this, Fred is with Wes and this is where the emotional stuff comes in. The two only got together last week, but due to some excellent writing and great performances, their love for each other, and the fact that they are both terrified, comes across great.

Angel and Spike are informed that if they save Fred, thousands or hundreds of thousands of people will die. Uh-oh.

At episodes end, Fred seems to die, but then she gets up all demonified as Illyria, in a sort of Dark-Willow look, but much cooler.

This was a great ep

7 Replies and 2517 Views in Total.

Byron "Live. Grow stronger. Fight another day."

Damn fine episode, the sort of thing Joss used to be able to do blind. Lots of *approriate* shockers, angst by the shedload, weird English blokes and an apocalypse now-ish. You cannot ask for more.

Angel and Spike's "debate" ...

Fred and Wesley don't really work for me, but the final scenes between them were genuinely well written and quite touching.

"Who's captain of Manchester United, what's your favourite colour and how many fingers am I holding up?" Classic!

All the comparisons with Evil Willow are ... appropriate. (Cryptic gaze time.)

Struck me as a very Buffy sort of episode actually, in a good way.

One complaint: Wes literally ripping the lawyer a new one. It did make me laugh out loud, but it was a cheap shock gag, and if we're to take the characters remotely seriously makes Wes look like a sadistic lunatic who's just been given a lifetime NRA subscription and complimentary naughty salt.

If they can belt out a couple more like this I'll be a happy chappie. Just for mercy's sake don't muck up the finale again.

But more importantly ... astronaught or caveman? Egh? EGH?!

Posted: 21:39 Feb 27 2004

head2head 'Rene Descartes was a drunken fart, I drink, therefore I am. '

I'm with you guys...this was a class ep!!!

I'm in bits though...why does Joss have to give us something to be happy about (I was happy about Wes and Fred anyway!) and then rip it away from us so uncerimoniously? (sp?!!) I REALLY hope that Fred isn't dead, although all the signs are pointing that way

. Although saying that, it doesn't seen logical that they would kill Fred off so soon after killing off cordy...theres got to be a main female in there somewhere (and to me, Harmony and Eve don't count

).

I was totally taken in by this episode. I think what got me the most was the fact that the guys were all united in one thing - saving Fred. I loved the way that even Lorne showed anger and fear that we had never seen in him before -

'If I hear so much as one wrong note, these guys won't have the chance to kill you'...oooo er!

This was Joss Whedon at his best!

It also seems interesting that Wes is heading in the same direction as Willow did in season 6; seems sort of fitting! Or maybe thats just me....

Someone reassure me that they would not kill off Fred....please!

Posted: 22:18 Feb 27 2004

Byron "Live. Grow stronger. Fight another day."

by head2head
I'm in bits though...why does Joss have to give us something to be happy about (I was happy about Wes and Fred anyway!) and then rip it away from us so uncerimoniously?

There has always been a merciless, even sadistic, side to Joss's writing. It can benefit the narrative, as with Jenny Calender's brutal death in "Passion", but it can also detract and leave a nasty taste in the mouth, as with, well, pretty much all of the season 6 finale, and Anya's untimely end.

I think it's working well here.

Evil Fred also looks way cooler than "veiny" Willow!

Posted: 23:21 Feb 27 2004

head2head 'Rene Descartes was a drunken fart, I drink, therefore I am. '

by Byron
(quotes)
Evil Fred also looks way cooler than "veiny" Willow!

I'll agree with you on that one...she looks fantastic!

I kind of guessed that something was going to happen to Fred. Since when has Joss let one of his characters find love?!!

I'm really looking forward to the next couple of weeks, even if it is going to depress me!!

I'm still harboring some hope that Fred isn't quite dead though

(I'm in denial!)

Roll on next week

Posted: 08:57 Feb 28 2004

In a State of Dan That's just, like, your opinion, man

There's definitely a feeling of deja vu about this episode. Having a couple get together only for one of them to die horribly is something they've done twice before on Buffy, and there's definite shades of both scary veiny Willow and what happened with Cordy.

What saves it is the execution, more so because it's been below standard in far too many episodes this season. The characters all have something to do! Even Lorne! The Wes/Fred romance, even though it came out of absolutely nowhere because they've been so busy concentrating on Angel and Spike, works well. The dialogue, the direction, the pacing, the performances, all are of the standard we expect from a Joss episode.

Having said that, the real test, I think, comes with what happens next. The writers must be aware that they're in danger of repeating themselves, so we can only hope they come up with something fresh.

Posted: 11:18 Feb 28 2004

head2head 'Rene Descartes was a drunken fart, I drink, therefore I am. '

by In a State of Dan
The writers must be aware that they're in danger of repeating themselves, so we can only hope they come up with something fresh.

Like say, saving the character from a certain soul and body stealing demon and having her live happily ever after?

Posted: 12:05 Feb 28 2004

Byron "Live. Grow stronger. Fight another day."

by In a State of Dan
There's definitely a feeling of deja vu about this episode. Having a couple get together only for one of them to die horribly is something they've done twice before on Buffy, and there's definite shades of both scary veiny Willow and what happened with Cordy.

"Angst is to me what daffodils were to Wordsworth."

Posted: 16:56 Feb 28 2004

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