Angel

Spike : "Vampire ghost here, you sod. I bloody well invented ’afraid of the dark.’"

Tonight’s presentation contains graphic and disturbing violent images like chopped off fingers, and partial nudity in the form of naked Spike. Viewer discretion advised.

What *can* frighten a vampire ghost ? The answer is : helplessness, pain, and dismemberment ; we were clearly led to believe that Pavayne was going to dismember Spike. I’ll admit this episode creeped me out — especially at the end of the second act, with Spike helpless on the floor and about to get sliced into pieces. It wasn’t "Hush," but it was still damned effective.

There was a lot of Fred here — even a bit of naked Fred in the shower. Fred is doing well this season ; she’s fulfilling her potential as a "fetching mad scientist," and I’m starting to enjoy her developing friendship with Spike. It makes sense that Spike would prefer her ; he likes the ladies, as we well know. Fred may realize that Spike is deliberately charming and manipulating her, but I doubt she is unaffected, no matter what she says.

I like Spike with Fred, but I love Spike with Angel. My absolute favorite scene in this episode was their conversation on the couch, with Angel bitching about Spike’s "yammering" and Spike referring to Angel’s "brooding block of wood mystique." Spike even called Angel Liam. The best exchange, of course, was :

Angel : "I never told anyone about this, but I liked your poems." Spike : "You liked Barry Manilow."

Angel is more his old self when he’s with Spike ; I’ve always loved them together. But what’s with Angel the rest of the time ? Running Wolfram & Hart is getting to him. Wearing a suit — not black — and coming down on Fred about her budget ? And despite the fact that Pavayne more than deserved it, Angel seemed to enjoy being cruel to Pavayne. What Angel did to Pavayne bore a striking resemblance to what Connor did to Angel a year ago, right down to the little window.

After months of fan-wanking it to death, the Shanshu prophecy has finally been mentioned. The L.A. Scoobies are all taking for granted that it’s Angel’s prophecy, but I’m betting that the possibility of it applying to Spike will be discussed soon. Especially since we have Angel flirting with evil, while Spike has again nobly sacrificed his life for a woman.

No Wheat-a-bix, no sex, no pig’s blood. *Sigh.* I’m disappointed that Spike is still a spook. At least he is now more stable, and can actually touch things. (Like Fred, maybe ?) Fred made a valid point ; if Spike becomes corporeal, the first thing he’ll do is go look for Buffy. The writers are going to have to address this issue before Spike gets his body back. Which I’m assuming will eventually happen, please god.

Bits and pieces :

- The issue of ghosts not going through the floor was addressed ; Spike fell through the floor into some sort of basement. And the Spike/Pavayne fight went right through the furniture and walls.

- Fred : "He’s just like you. A champion." Angel : "God, I really hate that word."

- The bitchy blonde medium was funny, right up until Pavayne killed her.

- Dan thought the *sound* of someone getting their fingers cut off was exceedingly creepy.

- Fred mispronounced the word "nuclear." She’s a scientist ; she should know better.

- There was another journey to the kitty-cat-conduit in the White Room. (Angel : "I’m kind of a dog person." Gunn : "Ix-nay on the og-day.")

- We finally saw Wesley in his office, looking vice-presidential as the new head of research and intelligence. But you know, I rather miss the high school library kind of research. The focus on the first few episodes has definitely been on Fred’s department ; what are they going to do with Wesley ? At least Wesley got more screen time than Lorne.

- There was a reference to the beginning of season three, when Fred was covering the walls of her room with formulas and notes.

- Perhaps Spike should have jumped into the circle with Pavayne. But what if they had merged, like in "The Fly ?"

- Spike likes to surprise Gunn in the bathroom ? I can’t quite picture that. It’s easier to imagine him watching Fred in the shower, which Spike actually did in this episode. Speaking of which, how can anyone feel comfy taking a shower at Wolfram & Hart ? Hasn’t anyone seen "Psycho ?"

- The guy who played Matthias Pavayne, our eighteenth century mass murdering psychopath physician sacrifice, looked a bit familiar. I wonder if we’ll see him again.

Excellent episode. Four out of five stakes,