Angel

Herc’s Seen One of the Last Four ANGELs!!

Angel 5.19 FAQ What’s it called? “Time Bomb.”

Who’s responsible? Teleplay is credited to Ben Edlund (“Life of the Party,” “Smile Time”).

What does TV Guide say? “After her unstable mystical powers allow her to jump time dimensions, Illyria discovers the gang’s plot to kill her, so Angel must go back in time to keep her from murdering his friends first. Elsewhere, Gunn returns from his self-imposed exile and tries to get back into the swing of things at Wolfram & Hart. His first case involves overseeing a demonic adoption in which the surrogate mother (Jaime Bergman) may not have been given full disclosure.”

Angel can jump back through time now? Why doesn’t he go back and save Fred from Illyria? Why doesn’t he go back and prevent Darla from turning him into a vampire? Angel can’t control time, he just gets caught in Illyria’s temporal wake. Illyria even says “You were swept up in my wake,” as if she were a giant fan of “Star Trek: First Contact” or something.

TV Guide erroneously reported that Hamilton would offer Gunn a bargain last week. Does Hamilton finally get around to it? TV Guide lied to you. Illyria rescues Gunn in the opening scene. No bargain is struck with Hamilton, or anyone else.

Gunn is trying cases again? He revisits his office to find enormous stacks of files.

How’s Wesley Wyndam-Pryce doing with those restored memories? Fine. He’s very focused on the blue girl.

What’s Spike up to? He continues to test Illyria’s limits.

Krevlornswath (of the Deathwok Clan)? He’s assigned to tail Illyria. He gets to say things like “Bluebird is in flight.”

The big news? Illyria stakes Spike. Reduces him to dust. The mortality rate on regular characters this season? Poor! Or spectacular! Depending on your perspective!

What else is TV Guide not telling us? Angel turns evil. Again.

What’s good? The way Wesley scurries about his office, researching The Old Ones. The Fell demons, so relentless in their sliminess. Hamilton generally, but especially “It’s a business, boys! Not a Batcave!” in particular. The long conversation between Angel and Illyria near episode’s end. “Tell you what. Still like him better than Eve.” “We look so tiny to her.” “Yes! The patent-holder is a client.” “It’s consecrated urine.” “Oh, that’s mature.” “Do you even know how to use this thing?”

What’s not so good? “Life of the Party” offered more urine jokes.

How does it end, spoiler-boy? “What are you doing?” “What we’re supposed to,” answers Angel. “Serve our clients.”

Herc’s rating for “Angel” 5.19? ***1/2 The Hercules T. Strong Rating System: ***** better than we deserve **** better than most motion pictures *** actually worth your valuable time ** as horrible as most stuff on TV * makes you quietly pray for bulletins 9 p.m. Wednesday. The WB.