Warning: If you think that your “Just Rewards” would be to avoid SPOILERS for the latest episode of Angel, then I strongly suggest you turn back now. I’m going to give away huge information about what happens in the second episode of the season, so if you’ve not seen it and want to go in unaware, I strongly suggest you turn back now.

In short: Solid and it definitely had some standout moments.

Ah, the joys of family and the dynamics of the oldest and youngest child.

In my family, I’m the oldest child and I can tell you right now that I worked hard to “break” my parents in for my younger sister—who got to do EVERYTHING. Of course, I’m sure that from her perspective, I had an easier road in life because I was first, so I got to be out there blazing trails and doing things she’d never get away with simply because my parents had learned from the experience of dealing with me. In both cases, we’re right, but also in both cases we’re wrong. Neither of us really had an advantage over the other, but from our experience, it certainly would appear to be that way.

We’ve got the same sort of dynamic working here with Spike and Angel.

In both cases, each sees the other as having an easier time when it comes to relating to the lot in life they’ve been given.

From Angel’s point of view, Spike has had it pretty easy. Even back in their vampire days, Spike was the young upstart that took Angelus’ cruelty to new levels. Spike got to off two slayers in his time while we’ve never heard of any major battles that Angelus won. Angel was the one who went good first—who got cursed with a soul by gypsies. Angel suffered for 100 years (how much of that was brought on by himself, I’ll leave up to you to debate) before he found a purpose in life, Spike suffered for three weeks. Also, while Angel was the first to be in love with Buffy and to give himself to her, it was Angel who had to suffer consequences of losing his soul, getting it back, being sent to hell and realizing he could never have the type of loving relationship he wanted with Buffy, while Spike…well, I think we all know what Spike got. He suffered for three weeks, as Angel puts it, got to sleep with Buffy on numerous occasions without any dire consequences. Spike was also Buffy’s first choice to stand alongside Buffy in the final battle that could, decide the fate of Sunnydale and the entire planet. Yes, from Angel’s point of view, Spike has had it easy.

But from Spike’s point of view things, are entirely different. Angel is the chosen son—the one chosen by the powers that be to fight the good fight. He’s been given resources out from posh offices to his choice of stylish cars to the resources to make a difference. And despite all that he’s done, Angel still has a special place in Buffy’s heart. He was Buffy’s first love and while I will still argue with anyone who wants to take me on that Buffy has moved on past Angel, she still holds a soft spot for him in her heart—a position that Spike cannot ever have. Also, for all his years of cruelty, Angelus has been forgiven by his friends. He’s struggling to find a way to become human again (he was promised as much in season one). He’s got a noble and glorious mission and he’s out there readily fighting the good fight. And all this from something that Angel considered a curse—his soul.

Two brothers, two different perspectives.

Both of them driving each other crazy when they’re around.

Which is a lot of fun for us to watch.

I loved seeing how Angel left out certain details about Spike from Wes—like the fact that Spike has a soul. I also found it interesting to see that in Angel’s mind, Spike can’t change—Angel believes that Spike must be up to something at all times, undermining him and trying to destroy him. Indeed, we see this the scene in Angel’s bedroom where Angel seems surprised that Spike has been doing the exact same thing he used to do in Sunnydale—fighting by Buffy’s side against the forces of evil.

So, there’s an interesting dynamic there—Angel the vampire that people can accept has changed and Spike the now vampire ghost who has changed but people aren’t as accepting of that.

That belief even bleeds over into the villain plotline of the week. We see that with the client who is funneling demons into human bodies so they can walk around finding victims. The client fully believes that Spike is the younger, spurned brother who is out to destroy Angel. So much so that he calls the ghostly Spike to him to strike a deal that will not only destroy Angel, but also give Spike what he wants—to be corporeal again.

It’s also interesting to see that Angel believes Spike would be so deceitful. One thing we’ve learned from Angel over the years—the man can carry a grudge. Just ask Wes.

But the thing that really interested me in this one was Spike’s conversation with Fred at the end. Two seasons ago, we found out that Buffy was yanked out of heaven by her friends and brought back to our moral coil. The only one she could tell was Spike—well at least until Sweet showed up and made her sing about the torment.

This time around, Spike is suffering. But this time, he’s vanishing at certain points and being sent to hell. And he doesn’t want to go. Seeing him come to Fred for help was nicely done and I loved that scene. I’ll admit that part of me wonders if he went to Fred because she is the least aware of who he was as Spike and might be the most willing to help him out of this dilemma. Or perhaps he senses that Fred is the only one who really might have a legitimate shot of putting him back into the world so that he can act and interact with it. Either way, I’m really looking forward to the combination of Spike and Fred together.

And while I liked a lot of what “Just Rewards” was doing, there were some things that overall didn’t make gel as well.

I have to admit that this one seemed like it was by two writers in spots. As much as I enjoyed the by-play between Angel and Spike, I have to admit the entire idea of dropping the client and the client not taking it well seemed a bit off kilter. It wasn’t necessarily as bad as some of the more disjointed Buffy stories we got from Marti Noxon early on in Buffy—where she’d have a great emotional angle for the story, but a monster plotline that seemed forced in late in the game—but it was still a bit evident here. Again, I think the fact that you had two writers may be part of it. I have enjoyed David Fury’s work in the past and I have adored Ben Edlund’s non-Mutant Enemy work (the man created the Tick, which is singly one of the funniest concepts out there), so it wasn’t that I don’t like both authors. I’m not just not sure how well their worked gelled together for this particular story

Another problem I had was one that came up last week, but I didn’t really address in my review. And that is David Borenaz’s going John Travola from Saturday Night Fever with his shirt. Honestly, the man needs to button that second button! It’s just not a flattering look for him and I kept thinking to myself—someone is trying way too hard to be a sex symbol here.

And while it’s a minor thing, it can take me out of really enjoying the episode, thinking—please dear heavens, button your shirt!

Also, I found the idea that Gunn had downloaded demon law into his head a bit too much of an attempt to get him into the plotline. I really felt the information he related—especially about the demon Angel fought and how that could be good for the firm—were far more suited to Wes and what his role on the show is.

But I understand that with a large cast, you have to find ways for each of the principals to show up each week. And while I loved what was done with Gunn last week, I didn’t find it all that necessary here and it ended up being annoying.

But other than that, I have to see that “Just Rewards” was very entertaining. I think season five is off to a strong start and I think we’ve got some great directions this could go. I’m definitely hooked in for the season. If these first two episodes are any indication, we could be in for a great—and hopefully consistent—season of Angel.

So, I guess that’s about it for now, except a few small things….

--Harmony’s reaction to Spike was far more “on” this week than last time. Seeing her bitter and resentful over being hurt was far more in keeping with where she left Spike on Buffy and I’m glad to see they carried that through.

--If you’ve ever seen the Tick, thhe cartoon show, you know that the Tick’s battle cry is “Spoooooon!” (Don’t ask why…it takes far too long to explain). When a spoon was used as a weapon against the bad guy, I had to wonder if that was Ben Edlund slipping in a Tick reference for those of us who also like “The Tick”?

--I wonder if Spike’s link to the firm is L.A. or if the medallion could go to, say, Cleveland and he’d go with it.

--I also wonder if Angel was reallly telling the truth as to where Buffy is. After all, at that point he had no idea Spike was tethered to L.A. so why wouldn’t he lie as to where Buffy is. Of course, if she is Europe, I assume she’s trying to start up the Watcher’s Council again, so that would make some sense.

--We get some confirmation of how long has passed since last year—19 days since Buffy defeated the First. This is the first time a Mutant Enemy show has not had three months pass between seasons and I’m intrigued to see how this will be dealt with. I hope it’s not like X-Files where they lose all sense of time within the shows.

So, that’s about it for now. Overall, I liked “Just Rewards” but don’t feel it was quite as strong as “Conviction.” Both parts set up some interesting things for the season and I’ve got a notion Joss has slipped some other stuff past us in these two episodes that will pay dividends as we go along. I know one thing though—I know where I’ll be Wednesday evenings at 9 p.m.—and it ain’t watchin’ the Bachelor…

My rating: 8.0 (out of 10.0)

Next up: Shades of Underworld, it’s vampire and werewolves…

“Or maybe, Captain Forehead was feeling a little less special. Didn’t like me crashing his exclusive club—another vampire with a soul in the world.”

--Spike