S02.E12: Blood Money

[Joe Hellandback]

BLOOD MONEY

The Good; Anne's back, wonderful the way minor characters from old eps can now assume major roles in the Buffyverse. A nice pastiche of the cynicism of major corporations.

The Bad; Couldn't they have got some real TV stars to do that benefit?

Best line: Lindsey "Boo hoo Lilah, let me wipe away the tears with my plastic hand!"

Jeez, how did they get away with that? Anne refer to a 14 year old prostitute lying in her own blood after a rough trick, uuggghhhh! (real life always more horrific than supernatural evil)

Apocalypses: 4

Angel Clichés Damsel in distress; 17

In disguise; 7

DB get's his shirt off; 11

Cordy's tattoo;3

Cheap Angel; he owes Merle money 6

Fang Gang in bondage: Cordy: 5 Angel: 8 Wes: 3

Fang gang knocked out: Cordy: 10 Angel: 12 Wes: 5 Doyle; 1 Gunn; 1

Kills: Half a demon for Wes and Gunn Cordy: 5 vamps, 1 demons Angel; 22 vamps, 31 and 1/2 demons, 3 humans Doyle; 1 vamp Wes; 1 demon Kate; 3 vamps Faith; 16 vamps, 6 demons, 3 humans. Gunn; 5 vamps+ 2 and half demons.

Fang Gang go evil: Cordy: 2 Angel: 2

Alternate Fang Gang: Cordy: 2 Angel: 6

Characters killed: 30

Recurring characters killed; Holland the scumbag appears again, I bet he's looking up rather than down and could use some ice about now 4;

Total number of Angel Investigations: 3 or 1? 4, Angel, Cordy, Wes and Gunn

Angel Investigations shot: Angel: 10

Packing heat; Wes; 2 Doyle; 1 Angel; 1

Notches on Fang Gang bedpost: Cordy: 2 ?+Wilson/Hacksaw Beast Angel: 1;Buffy Wes; 2; Virginia and the bleached blonde

Kinky dinky: Kennell's school for girls, why is it that the buildings supernatural evil always seems to be drawn to are filled with teenage schoolgirls? (The Craft, Suspira, Carrie and countless trashier efforts, Satan's School for Girls, 5 Girls anyone?) Or did I just answer my own question? It's implied that Angel enjoys dressing up in Cordy's clothes. Angel says he is hitching a ride in Lilah's back seat, probably literally but the way he says it hints at innuendo.

Captain Subtext; The 'Life Lessons' actress is asked why they made her character gay, an obvious nod to Willow on Buffy

Know the face, different character; Anne/Lily/Chantrelle but still the same girl 2

Parking garages; yep, Angel attacks Lilah in hers 6,

Guantanamo Bay; More Merle bashing, you genuinely start to feel sorry for him.

Buffy characters on Angel; 14 Wetherby, Collins and Smith. Angel, Cordy, Oz, Spike, Buffy, Wes, Faith, Darla, Dru, Master, Anne

Questions and observations; Angel criticises Merle's beanbags, surely he had some during the Manilow years. We're told that Angel was in Mexico in the 20s and fought Boon over a girl, love to see that in the comics some time. Love his built-in knuckledusters. So why doesn't Anne recognise Angel when she was introduced to him in the Buffy ep Lie to Me? Interesting to see Wes as Bond, he would have been great in the Roger Moore style. Presumably Angel beats Boon for the money.

Marks out of 10; 6/10 standalone ep, some nice stuff with Anne and Boon and some nice humour with Lindsey and Lilah.