Warning: If reading SPOILERS for the latest episode of Angel, "Room With A View," will make you want to brick me up in a wall, please, please turn back now...there are major SPOILERS just ahead...

In short: The first misstep....

In many ways, "Room With a View" reminded me a Buffy's second-season episode, "Some Assembly Required." Both episodes had a strongs first-act that really caught me attention and have me drooling with anticipation at what was to come....

...only to dissapoint me with weak finishes.

I will admit that "Room With a View" did have its moments and its final act was much stronger that the final act for SAR, but overall, I've got to admit I was disappointed.

There was a lot that worked about RWAV. Most of it involved Corelia, who I realized in watching last night has gotten a bit of the short end of the stick in the character development part. Yes, she'd been behaving in a similar fashion to what we'd come to expect on Buffy, but we hadn't really seen a lot of how her new lifestyle affected her. So, that these issues were brought up and dealt with is what really rescued the episode from being an otherwise pedestrian affair...

I liked seeing how Cordy tried to avoid any contact with her old life so as not to depress herself about the status of her new one. That worked really well. Also, Cordy's sense of self-identity being caught up in where she lived and what she wore (you got the feeling from her dialogue when the sink spit out brown water on her that that might be one of her last designer, "good" outfits) worked on a lot of levels. To see her step by step have good things taken away from her, until ultimately it leads to the ghost trying to take her life worked.

We also got a glimpse of Cordy's personal side as we saw her breakdown into a sobbing mess. I liked that touch, but I also was cheering when the old Cordy we know and love came back. Seeing her respond to the word bitch in the manner she did reminded me of the old Cordy we knew and loved on Buffy--she was prickly on the outside but had a softer side that we occasinally saw.

And I've got to admit part of me wanted to cheer when the transformation took place...Cheers to Charisma Carpenter for carrying off the scene so well.

As for Doyle and his past, we again got hints of it. Nothing major, but enough to keep us interested. (Of course, Doyle and his past may be a mute point based on the information coming out about upcoming episodes) The demon tracking him was nicely done as was his deal with Angel to help each other out. Again, the good stuff happened in the first fifteen minutes and then was back burnered until the closing act.

I have to admit that Doyle is intriguing as a character and I think that figuring out who is in debt to and why would really, really help his character.

And also answer the question Angel put to him--why do you live like this?

You get the feeling that Doyle's sins will show up to burn Angel eventually. At least, that's the feeling I get.

In many ways, RWAV was a character piece for Cordy and to a lesser extent Doyle. Angel was there, but he served only to keep the plot moving and kick butt as needed. We didn't learn anything new or interesting about him, but that's OK. Because he's had the spotlight the last few weeks and it's nice to see the supporting characters get some work.

What didn't work for me, was the little things. Namely, acts two and three. It just seemd to be fluffy and not as well executed as acts one and two. Indeed, there were times that it felt like the story went into a holding pattern as it set up the pieces to fall and then kept beating home that these were the pieces and they would fall. The ghost was interesting, but didn't really come into her own unil the end. I think that seeing her do more than just terrify Cordy might have been interesting, though it would probably have ruined the suprirse nature of the ending.

Another little thing was just how the demons found Cordy's place considering they'd never been there. Was it by following the scent of Doyle? Surely Cordy hadn't been there long enough for them to look her up in the phone book or by calling information. One or two lines would have helped them.

Also, Kate fell totally flat last night. Not sure exactly what it was, but she seemed to bubbly and perky for her own good. Almost as if the actress was trying to hard with the little material she was given for the episode. Indeed, her attempts to flirt with Angel were particularily unnerving as it seemed the two had no chemistry last night...

Finally, the son in the wall...well, it worked on some levels. It certainly cuaght me by suprise and I guess I give credit to the storyline for that. But again, it felt a bit forced.

And I wonder if we will see more evidence of the ghost as the series goes along or if it's just a one time cute thing and will be promptly dropped...

Anyway, that about wraps it up. Overall, I was disappointed by last night's episode. I only hope Angel rebounds well...

My rating: 4.5 (out of 10.0)

Next up: Compassion goes a bit too far...