Angel

Just Rewards

"I must be in hell."

Spike’s return is not greeted warmly, especially by Spike. He is a ghost now, non-corporeal and unable to do anything useful, except stand around and be sarcastic. Which is fun for him, granted, but it gets old fast. He’s also tied to that amulet, which means he can’t leave L.A. So he decides to make the best of the situation by driving Angel crazy.

This all actually relates to this week’s evil client, a necromancer named Magnus Hainsley. Wolfram & Hart has been supplying him with dead bodies, so he can transfer demons into them. Basically, he uses himself as a conduit, dissolving the demons’ bodies and putting them inside those of humans. This allows the demons to "pass" in human society, for whatever reasons.

Angel goes to confront this guy, with Spike tagging along ("I’m his date"). Angel has frozen all of Hainsley’s financial assets, which is problematic for a millionaire. After Angel leaves, Hainsley offers Spike a deal that will give him corporeal form and do away with Angel.

Wesley discovers that Spike can be made actually, permanently dead if the amulet is destroyed, something that can only be done on hallowed ground (i.e. a cemetery). Angel seems a little reluctant to do this, despite the fact that he loathes having Spike around. He also knows that Spike is miserable in this state, so it could be construed as an act of mercy. Later, Spike shows up at Angel’s new apartment and tells him about Hainsley’s offer. He also confirms that he wants to destroy the amulet. He’s ready to be free.

Spike and Angel go to the cemetery, but just as Angel is about to smash the amulet, he’s lifted off the ground by Hainsley, who is standing nearby. He knocks Angel out and prepares to finish his deal with Spike.

They take Angel to Hainsley’s house, where Hainsley prepares to transfer Spike into Angel’s body. This will give Spike literally everything Angel has, and in return, Spike will get Hainsley’s money back for him. Angel’s soul will go bye-bye, into the afterlife for good.

Hainsley begins the transfer, but as Spike passes through his body, something goes wrong. Spike tries to take it over, but Hainsley is powerful, and he and Angel start to fight. Angel finally manages to decapitate Hainsley, only to discover that Spike had control of the body for part of their fight. He just liked the idea of punching Angel again.

Turns out, this was all an elaborate plan, cooked up by Spike and Angel to get rid of Hainsley. Wesley isn’t too happy about being kept out of the loop, but Angel points out that Spike isn’t very good with the whole sharing thing.

Later, Fred goes to her office, and finds Spike standing there. He’s been fading in and out of sight since he arrived, and hasn’t told anyone where he goes when he’s invisible. He finally reveals to Fred that he seems to be slipping, and when he goes away, he gets a glimpse of the "other side." It’s a place of fire and torment, not the place where the good guys end up. He’s terrified that he will get pulled in completely if something isn’t done soon. He’s figured out that Fred is the smarty in the group, and asks - practically begs - her to help him.

Way to complicate the mythology beyond all comprehension, guys. So, Spike is a ghost, but not exactly a ghost, because he doesn’t have the ectoplasmicbrainwavecoldspotwhatever readings. We still don’t know who sent him back or why, but we do know that it has something to do with Wolfram & Hart, since it was their amulet and he’s tied to L.A. because of it. It’s possible that this fate was meant for Angel, but that doesn’t explain why they gave him the W&H branch office. The Senior Partners apparently still have plans for him. Oh, and Spike is having visions of eternal hellfire and damnation every time he fades out of sight. Got all that ? Me neither.

No doubt, we’ll start getting some explanations as the season moves along, although Joss seems to enjoy tormenting us with his baroque mythology. Not that it matters much, since the real focus is on the characters, namely Spike and Angel, and how this situation is affecting them. Angel is irritated beyond words at Spike’s presence, and Spike ain’t too thrilled about it, either. These guys hate each other, not just because of their longstanding personal rivalry (Buffy relationships included), but because they are deeply jealous of each other. Angel has the big office and staff, and seems to be doing very well for himself, and Spike can’t stand that he’s being rewarded somehow for being a fruity, sell-out ponce. Plus, he’s Buffy’s One True Love, and Spike knows it.

I’m not sure why Angel would be jealous of Spike, but he seems to be. It can’t just be the hot Slayer action. Maybe the fact that Spike was given the opportunity to sacrifice himself for the cause, something Angel may secretly wish he could do, is bothering Angel in some subconscious way. He also doesn’t like anyone, especially Spike, joining his ensouled-vampire club. It makes him not so special anymore.

Spike’s relative lack of brooding is also an issue - Angel spent nearly a century suffering and trying to atone for his sins, while Spike spent three weeks moaning in a basement and came out of it with his "who cares ?" attitude pretty much intact. Spike has actually had a lot more angst than that, but Angel can’t see it, and Spike isn’t about to reveal that side of himself to his greatest rival.

I’ll admit, they had me going there for a while with Spike’s apparent double-cross. I wondered if maybe his soul had gone on to wherever, putting him back in evil mode, or if his hostility toward Angel had just overwhelmed the soul’s influence. Now, it looks like he and Angel will be doing a sort of undead buddy cop routine, which should be amusing. They do actually have quite a bit in common. Wouldn’t it be a kicker if they became friends ?

Not that such an event is terribly likely, especially since it wouldn’t be half as much fun as them irritating each other. I don’t want the sarcastic jabs to be blunted too quickly.

Having Harmony around is also entertaining, for the time being. But she’s as dumb and pathetic as ever, which will wear thin pretty soon, I think. They’ll need to do something different with her.

The other characters weren’t all that active this week, except in their roles as plot movers. Hainsley was an interesting fellow, though, and a very good one-shot villain. It’s nice to see a weekly menace that also connects to the larger story, something that will need to be the norm for the show to maintain its quality in these stand-alone times.

The great Whedon banter and character development weren’t as prominent this week, but Fury and Edlund gave us a great story and some juicy set-up for the rest of the season. Can’t complain about that at all.

8 out of 10.

Loey’s Fun Facts To Know and Tell About "Just Rewards" http://members.aol.com/LRL02/factsa52.html

Villains - 2 (Magnus Hainsley, knocked around and beheaded by Angel ; Hainsley’s butler, spoooned !)

Lawyers - 1 (Novac, a.k.a. Bucket O’ Lawyer)

Relationship Roulette : Spike and Angel argue about who really "had" Buffy, while Harmony seems to think there’s still something between her and Spike. At the very least, she really doesn’t like the news about the Slayer. Spike also flirts a little bit with Fred.

No Wonder He’s Green : Lorne is barely in the episode, let alone imbibing.

Oh, That Other Show : Several references are made to Buffy events, including a flashback to Spike’s demise, discussion of his affair with Buffy and his other affair with Harmony, mention of his ensoulment, and speculation about the amulet Angel brought to Sunnydale.

Random Info : The Buffy flashback reads "19 days earlier," so that’s how long it’s been since Sunnydale got swallowed. Presumably, this is also how long it’s been since the Angel finale, which makes this the first time the in-show timeline did not include a full summer between seasons.

Angel recently heard from Buffy. She was in Europe.

Spike refers to Angel as his "grandsire." This refers to the fact that Angel vamped Drusilla, who in turn vamped Spike.

Ben Edlund, who co-wrote this episode, also created The Tick, whose lead character’s battle cry was "Spooooon ! ! !". Angel kills Hainsley’s butler with a spoon. Coincidence ? I think not.