Angel

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Angel 5.13 FAQ
What’s it called?
“Why We Fight.”

Who’s responsible?
Teleplay is credited to Drew Goddard and Steve DeKnight.

What did Coax say about this one back on Jan. 21?
“During World War II (long before Maggie Walsh was born) a “government initiative” recruits Angel for a World War II submarine mission (where he runs into another former “Buffy” regular).”

Huh. What does TV Guide say?
“When a face from his past shows up at Wolfram & Hart, flashbacks reveal Angel’s role in salvaging a damaged WWII sub carrying crucial technology---and vampire prisoners. But Angel’s visitor doesn’t want to reminisce; he’s looking to settle an old score. Lawson: Eyal Podell. Hodge: Matt Goodwin. Spinelli: Nick Spano.”

Any reference to the late Cordelia Chase this week?
Zero. None. Though other events of the prior ‘sode are alluded to.

Where’s Eve?
“Tactical swept her hangouts, and our locators ran through their usual voodoo,” notes Charles Gunn. “Each came back with the same result: Eve has vanished.”

Is Eve in hiding from the senior partners now?
“The senior partners don’t take betrayal lightly,” notes one member of Team Angel. “Yeah, well, gotta figure they whisked her up shortly after they nabbed the scheming prince,” theorizes another.

What old score does Angel’s visitor wish to settle?
Angel sired him 60 years ago. Which, when you think hard about it, makes the visitor (his nanme is Lawson) a wholly unique member of the Buffiverse.

The big news?
Spike sports a heretofore unseen look this week. Its reveal is easily one of the most gratifying moments of the hour.

The bigger news?
It’s a government “demon research initiative” that recruits Angel, and in 1943 appears to be brand spanking new. There’s no reason to believe this is not the same body that bedeviled Buffy Summers four years ago. And, given its long secret history, more than a few viewers may posit that the Initiative probably didn’t exactly close down after it fled Sunnydale.

What else is TV Guide not telling us?
Take away the flashbacks and an epilogue with Spike, and this episode is basically one long scene.

Has Spike signed on with Team Angel?
No. It’s fairly clear that he’s still operating apart from the firm.

What’s good?
The War Department’s version of the Iniative is a hoot, as is the Fury-esque (Nick, that is, not David) officer who seems to oversee it. It’s fun to watch the clueless sub crew react to all the big weirdness. And it’s surprising compelling to see how effortlessly Angel seems to adapt to military culture; his management style aboard the sub (and there is much to manage down there) stands in marked contrast to his more laid-back approaches to Wolfram and Angel Investigations. Amusing also are the three very different vampires the Nazis are transporting.

What’s not so good?
The first time we see a youthful Lawson at the firm, his vampire status is easy to guess, and some may also find it a little to easy to guess the reason for his transformation. As a result, Angel’s big decision in the last act doesn’t manifest much of a reveal, and the episode kind of needs one there.

How does it end, spoiler-boy?
“Then what was he looking for?” asks Spike. “A reason,” replies Angel.

Herc’s rating for “Angel” 5.13?

***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.
Swing the crebbil!
I am - Hercules!!