Angel

Gunn: "Notice no matter how uptown we go, we always wind up in some stanky hole in the middle of the night?

Today’s theme is the nature of heroism.

This episode reminded me of the way I reacted to "The Zeppo." It was very good, but it was different; I had to think about how to take it. Heroic, dead Mexican wrestlers in masks who helped the helpless? How weird, and how delightful.

Angel isn’t dealing well with corporate life; he’s disconnected, doesn’t believe in a "shiny reward" any more, doesn’t believe in the Shanshu prophecy... his heart isn’t in it, pun intended. Numero Cinco’s feelings of worthlessness, and his unhappiness about working for Wolfram & Hart, paralleled Angel’s feelings exactly. Throughout the episode, Angel kept telling Numero Cinco about being a hero. These were things Angel needed to tell himself.

Fred gives Spike respect; it’s refreshing. She treats him like the hero he is, while Spike, for the most part, is unaware of his own heroism. Could that be because of how he was treated in Sunnydale during the past few years? It’s probably worse because Spike is truly disconnected, much more so than Angel, and missing his physical body. His current helplessness reminds me of when he was first chipped.

Spike is adjusting, though, and his intuitive nature makes him a good detective; he’s the one who figured out Tezcatcatl’s vulnerability, and he did it without a magic book or a microscope.

Spike is now curious about the Shanshu prophecy, and talking with Wesley about it. I had a feeling Wesley might be the one Spike would connect with next. Angel may have made a serious mistake mentioning "The father will kill the son" prophecy to Wesley; no one but Angel remembers Connor. (I wonder what the rest of them actually do remember of the last two years? Did Jasmine exist for them?)

I bet Wesley will remember what Angel said, and research it. If all mystic contracts and bargains are on record in the W&H archives, Angel’s contract concerning Connor will be there, won’t it?

Gunn loves going to work in the morning? He’s doing a lot of good, if that list of accomplishments he gave Angel is genuine. I like the new Gunn; he’s like the old Gunn, only more so, and he looks terrific in a suit. But shouldn’t he still wear jeans to a fight?

The great lines in these episodes just make me want to quote them; I have to stop myself from going overboard. I’m also getting accustomed to the snazzy new set, and the change in how Angel Investigations carries out their mission. I’ve been very happy with "Angel" so far this season, and it isn’t just the pleasure of still having Spike in the picture. Bravo.

Bits and pieces:

— Numero Cinco was in the season opener, delivering the envelope with Spike in it to Angel. Has he been in other episodes as well?

— The great victory over the Devils’ Robot? The best part of this was Angel asking Wesley about it, and Wesley saying wisely, "El Diablo Robotico."

— The coordinated wrestling scenes were impressive. The masks were a smart idea from a casting perspective.

— Lorne: "Fred, sweetie, you’re sort of like a woman..."

— How about those four gorgeous guys in a red convertible? Angel, Spike, Wesley, and Gunn. Yum.

— Spike: "Can’t drink, smoke, diddle my willy; doesn’t leave much to do other than watch you blokes stumble around playing Agatha Christie."

— What happened to the invitation rules at Numero Cinco’s apartment? Were they revoked because Numero Cinco pulled Angel into the room? Has that ever happened before?

— The card that Holland gave Numero Cinco said: "Wolfram & Hart / Attorneys at Law / 1127 Spring Street / Los Angeles, California / Holland Manners / Legal Associate / [finger over it] 5-5000."

— Gunn: "As meat goes, your heart’s a dried-up hunk of gnarly-ass beef jerky."

— In this episode, Lorne called Angel: honeybuns, sweetie pie, and our avenging Angel. Spike beat him this week, though; he called Angel a drama queen, General Grumpypants, and tall-dark-and-dreary.

— As mentioned in the Buffy episode "Lessons," there’s always a talisman, isn’t there?

No stake number this week. I have to think about it, Billie