Reunion

Reunion
Written by Tim Minear & Shawn Ryan
Directed by James A. Contner

Original Airdate: December 19, 2000

Plot: Angel races against time to destroy Darla before she rises again. However, his plan fails and Druscilla and Darla go on a shopping spree that could end with a massacre.... Review

Warning: If you are looking to be restored from SPOILERS, I strongly suggest you turn back now. There are major SPOILER just ahead for the latest episode of Angel, "Reunion"....

In short: Interesting if not completely compelling.

There's a part of me that really, really wants to like "Reunion."

Certainly on paper it has a lot of elements that could make it a potentially great episode of Angel. From the return of Druscilla in a more substantial role (I hesitate to use the word pivotal since her shocking appearance at the end of "The Trial" was far more pivotal in terms of the overall storyline the series is pursuing) to Darla's finally getting what she longed for most to the two female vamps teaming up to wreak havoc on Los Angeles, it had a lot of potential. And certainly there were some good moments to the storyline, but I have to admit that too much of it depended on a large amount of suspension of disbelief and coincidence to fully satisfying.

I am referring to the sequence of events that gets Angel from out of the hands of the police to the home Holland's house for the "tasting." I can believe, based on what we've seen of the character in the past, that Kate would be on the scene. After all, she does have her police scanner on and is listening for the weird and wild things that happen in L.A. And certainly Angel breaking a window and entering the office would qualify as that. So I can buy that she would be at the scene. I can also buy that she would give Angel information on how to stop Darla and Dru--not only because Angel saved her life earlier this year but also because she knows that she can't stop the duo. While Kate has had the chip on her shoulder since her father died, she's always been a character who wants to defend those who can't defend themselves. And certainly in this case, Angel would be the best defense against the new duo.

What I don't really buy is how Angel gets from the dress store to the tasting. I find it a bit too much to believe that the woman in the dressing room was just able to sit there. It screamed out "plot device" and really ruined that portion of the episode for me. Indeed, it was one of those leaps that was too big for me as a viewer to take. It felt as though the writers had painted themselves into a corner where Angel had to get from point A to point C and they had no idea what point B should or could be. I'd have been a bit more willing to buy it if the point B is if Cordelia had received a vision. That would have been far more reasonable and interesting.

But, that plot point aside, there were parts of the episode that I did enjoy.

First of all, it was very nice to see Juliet Landeau return and be in full form as Druscilla. I also liked the fact that Dru was very much in character from Buffy--from her naming of the stars and talking to them to the fact that she was just pretty much over the edge at all times. And teaming her up with Julie Benz worked for the most part in a couple of scenes. The scenes at the tasting were full of tension and they worked well. And Dru's excitement at being a mom was both chilling and utterly entertaining.

But the scenes that didn't work for me were the shopping sequences. I'm not sure why but at this point the two characters didn't seem to be clicking. And the sequence in the store where Darla killed the sales clerk for "poor customer service" was a bit flat. It's almost as if these were some of the first scenes filmed and the two actresses hadn't built up their on-screen chemistry yet.

As for Angel, it was interesting. Certainly seeing Angel become distracted to the point of obsession is something that's been developing all year. Indeed, this is more in character with his evil Angelus side that with his soul-ed out Angel side. We saw Angelus pursue and stalk Buffy to the point of obsession in season two of Buffy and so it makes sense that it would continue here. But I think that at some point, Angel's got to snap out of it. This is a character who just six months ago found out he could get redemption and become human. This was the character who only three months ago was so obsessed with saving people that he had a chart on a dry erase board. This is the character who wanted to so badly atone for his sins that he went back to confront old demons (both literally and figuratively) in an old hotel. Indeed, thinking back on ARNOHYEB, it's hard to remember the almost glee and joy Angel took at being able to stop the demon. I'm not saying he was Mr. Ray of Sunshine, but he was certainly a more rounded character than he's become over the past few episodes. I can understand that Angel feels that Darla is his responsibility and it's nice to see him act on that. But I think it may be going too far. The Angel we've come to know through his presence of Buffy and now on his own show would not allow the slaughter that occurred to happen. Even if Wolfram and Hart's division is evil and he does want them to be brought to justice. Which is why the final portion of the story was so shocking.

As was Angel's reaction to being confronted by his group. Indeed, his firing of Cordelia, Wesley and Gunn was a jaw dropping moment that has left me yearning for there to be a new episode next week and making the wait until January for new episodes seem that much longer.

Personally, I think if Angel is headed toward Angelus territory it's time for Buffy to come and kick some vampire butt. Or maybe for Angel to have his head examined.

I'm not sure where the writers are going with this plotline, but I can only have faith that it will come out for the best in the end.

As for the rest of the story, I've got to admit I liked the glimpses of Wolfram and Hart. I liked the scene between Holland and Lindsay about having "normal outside" contacts. Certainly this made me wonder if W&H wanted Lindsay to have them so he could be manipulated through them. That might be interesting. Also, I love the scene where Angel crashed in the window (though how he knew which one is a very good question) and his confrontation with Holland. Certainly it's interesting to know that Angel is the project and not Darla. I can only wait and see how this develops.

Also, Lindsay got his chance to shine. His not being afraid of death was interesting. I have a feeling it was more hope that Darla would make him into a vampire and then love him rather than not being afraid of death more than anything. My question is who survived and who didn't. That will be something to ponder over the next few weeks.

The only characters who got the short end of the stick were the regulars--Gunn, Wesley and Cordelia. It seemed as if their scenes were only there because the writers had to include them. I liked the vision in the car scene and I liked the sense of teamwork at figuring out where Darla might be to rise again. That all worked. But they have been sorefully underused these past few episodes and it felt that way again here. I like Wolfram and Hart. I like Darla and Dru. But I also like Cordy, Wesley and Gunn. And they deserve something more to do than be the lackeys for Angel. Of course now they may have something more to do now that they've been fired. I certainly hope this plotline doesn't become one of those--I had to fire you to get you out of harms way and facilitate my plan. If it does, I will be disappointed. There has to be consequences from this action in the long-run. And a good payoff.

Well, that's about it for now. All in all, an episode that had some good moments but was flat in others. It's laid the ground work for some good future work and it will just be a matter of time before we see how that pays off.

My rating: 7.0 (out of 10.0)

Next up: Repeats until January....

On a personal note, I'd like to wish everyone a happy and blessed holiday season, not only to you but to your families as well. I will see y'all in 2001!