S02.E20: Over the Rainbow

[Joe Hellandback]

OVER THE RAINBOW

The Good; A fun romp veering unpredictably from the ridiculous to the sublime, not so much the series changing direction as looping the loop and throwing in a barrel roll for good measure. Must be so nice for DB to be able to work in the sun for once.

The Bad; Even the most imaginative set dressing can't hide the cheapness of some of the production qualities. The bit where Lorne goes to see his psychic friend is also blatantly filler (although I love her name, Persia White, sounds like a film noir heroine?)

Best line: Another Xena reference (see also Disharmony and Halloween on Buffy) Gunn; (on being told that Pylea is rife with xenophobia) "Why are they afraid of Xena? I think she's kinda fly"

Jeez, how did they get away with that? A lot of the Pylea stuff especially the hellbeast dissecting the guy. We thankfully never see the AI group as a freakishly hybridised Siamese twin, as Gunn observes, horrified "That was a risk!!!?"

Apocalypses: 5

Angel Clichés

Inverting the Hollywood cliché; The guys take on the villagers and for once they lose.

In disguise; 8

DB get's his shirt off; 12

Cordy's tattoo; 6,

Cheap Angel; 7

Fang Gang in bondage: Cordyx2 but the rest of the guys as well Cordy: 7 Angel: 10 Wes: 5 Gunn; 2 Lorne; 1

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

Kills: Cordy: 5 vamps, 1 demons Angel; 26 vamps, 33 and 1/2 demons, 3 humans Doyle; 1 vamp Wes; 3 demons Kate; 3 vamps Faith; 16 vamps, 6 demons, 3 humans. Gunn; 7 vamps+ 2 demons.

Fang Gang go evil: Cordy: 2 Angel: 2

Alternate Fang Gang: Cordy: 2 Angel: 6

Characters killed: 37

Recurring characters killed; 6;

Total number of Angel Investigations: 4, Angel, Cordy, Wes and Gunn

Angel Investigations shot: Angel: 11 Wes; 1

Packing heat; Wes; 3 Doyle; 1 Angel; 1

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

Kinky dinky: Cordy as a slave for the second time. If you enjoy seeing beautiful women enslaved, enchained and degraded this is the ep for you. Of course if you enjoy that you should be in deep, deep therapy rather than reading my reviews! Wes has handcuffs or at least knows someone who does (Mistress Spanksalot?). Once again, here's where they miss Kate who could have lent them some.

Captain Subtext; Gunn likes Xena. Now this could either be classed as kinky dinky, he just likes hot dominant women in leather,(well who doesn't?) or it could have some deeper significance? Pylea strikes you as just the sort of place that Xena and Gabby would clean up.

Know the face, different character; 2

Parking garages; 5,

Buffy characters on Angel; 16 Wetherby, Collins and Smith. Angel, Cordy, Oz, Spike, Buffy, Wes, Faith, Darla, Dru, Master, Anne, Willow and Harmony

Questions and observations; Angel was in the Tower of London at some stage. First real appearance for Fred and Amy Acker does a great job of portraying her impending madness. Also Gavin Parks oozes his Gucci clad self into the show. The scene where Angel leaves the tape for Gunn is very reminiscent of Kurt Russell in The Thing. Angel delighted in the daylight, his joy is lovely to behold.

Marks out of 10; 6/10, not great in itself but again, promising much