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Angel

Angel 5x17 Underneath - Bureau42 Review

By fiziko

Thursday 15 April 2004, by cally

Angel Review - "Underneath"

posted April 14, 7:25 pm by fiziko

Angel’s back for the last six episodes. How will it end?

Cast and Crew David Boreanaz as Angel Alexis Denisof as Wesley Wyndham-Pryce J. August Richards as Charles Gunn Amy Acker as Fred Burkle Andy Hallett as Lorne James Marsters as Spike Written by Sarah Fain & Elizabeth Craft Directed by Skip Schoolnik

Past TV reviews can be found here.

Original Airdate Underneath originally aired on Wednesday, April 14, 2004.

Synopsis Angel decides it’s time to take an active role in fighting the upcoming apocalypse.

High Point "You’ve already lost two soldiers." I count a few more than that. Does the speaker know more than we do?

Low Point The Illyria scenes. They just didn’t go anywhere this week, and felt like they were there to remind us the characters were around.

The Review This felt like a set-up story, much like previous set-up stories. There wasn’t a lot here that hasn’t been done before on this series. (Apart from the basement scene, what haven’t we seen?) I give the originality 3 out of 6.

The effects were well done, but nothing new. I give it 4 out of 6.

The story was well plotted, but didn’t really feel like a full hour, leaving Wesley’s scenes to feel like a time filler. I give it 4 out of 6.

The acting was well done. We had a chance to see some range from Amy Acker, as well as some significant changes for J. August Richards, Christian Kane, and Sarah Thompson. It’s also great to see Adam Baldwin in a different role than Jayne. I give it 5 out of 6.

The emotional response this produced was a bit limited. There were funny moments, but until the final act, nothing really hit home. I give it 4 out of 6.

The production was well made, although limited by the lack of a full 44 minutes worth of script. I give it 4 out of 6.

Overall, it’s a decent episode, but not as earth-shattering as the last few. I give it 4 out of 6.

In total, Underneath receives 28 out of 42.


1 Message

  • > Angel 5x17 Underneath - Bureau42 Review

    16 April 2004 07:24, by Wolverine68

    Am intresting way of measuring an episode.

    Yes, Illeria was the low point, she her intresting points, but they want to move on the other stories. I can respect her character somewhat, she has a bad nature but wants to learn to act differently.

    But illeria is a demon, and one who killed a friend & vital member of the group. As Harmoney said "why aren’t we killing her?" She’s a demon, therefor killable, is is she? This show has always had the middle ground issue, rather then the black & while relaities of Buffy. Wesley is helping her fight for her soul, as Angel did for Faith.

    True I would rather see Illeria help Angel in battle, she would be a powerful ally for the good side, but that is not an option (yet), she has an internal battle to face 1st. We must also remember that this is a drama, and all characters must be followed to show what is happening with them.

    Let’s not over look that it is 1-easier to stay out of her way, & 2-non knows how to kill ehr yet.

    As for the high point, I must say that honer belongs to Gunn. His character was taken on an intresting journey this year. We fans were always curious from the ned of season 4 what the damn cat said to him in the white room. Now we now that the senior partners tried to make him a tool. He went slowly into decesion as Wesley’s character did 2 years ago, but in a whole new way. He made deals behind the backs of his friends, and cost the woman he loved her life. And now he redeemed himself in the best way for that the could. OK, so it wasn’t an epic death in battle, but it was something that went with the plot.

    The acting was of course good, not that the stars are masters but they do a good job all the time. The action was good, even the brief Harmoney fight was done well.

    This is one of the best episodes of the season (I’d say in my top 8). Fain & Craft have improved greatly as writters. I did not like their work at 1st, but they have sold me. (Their 1st few episodes of Angel were mediocre, then they wrote an episode that was low point of season 4. Now they are writting one of the best of season 5.)