S02.E21: Through the Looking Glass

[Joe Hellandback]

THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS

The Good; Angel sees his hair in the mirror for the first time, you always wondered? (I guess Dru always fixed Spike's?) Lovely reveal of WR&H, very clever. Also like the double bluff of Cordy meeting the Groo. All the scenes with Lorne's family are hysterical.

The Bad; Aside from that this seems to be a case of 6 characters rushing about in search of a plot?

Best line: Lorne's mother; "No longer do the dance of joy Numfar"

Jeez, how did they get away with that? Angel still enjoys telling the story of cutting Lindsey's arm off, still some bad feeling there obviously.

Apocalypses: 5

Angel Clichés Inverting the Hollywood cliché; Angel actually enjoys playing the hero, revelling in his (literal) moment in the sun.

In disguise; 8

DB get's his shirt off; 12

Cordy's tattoo; 6,

Cheap Angel; 7

Fang Gang in bondage: Wes, Gunn and Lorne again Cordy: 5 Angel: 9 Wes: 6 Gunn; 3 Lorne; 2

Fang gang knocked out: Lorne again Cordy: 10 Angel: 12 Wes: 5 Doyle; 1 Gunn; 1 Lorne; 2

Kills: Angel kills 2 demons Cordy: 5 vamps, 1 demons Angel; 26 vamps, 35 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: almost Angel but not quite Cordy: 2 Angel: 2

Alternate Fang Gang: demon Angel Cordy: 2 Angel: 7

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 is expected to Com-shuk with the Groo, as Gunn observes "Sounds dirty to me". Obvious sexual attraction between Queen C and Groo, Lorne asks should he call the guards back with their cuffs? Cordy once again in a bikini despite saying she doesn't want to seem 'too easy' for the Groo. Cordy observes it's a long time since she Com-shuked and remarks on her propensity to be impregnated by demons "Do I send out some sort of 'Com-Shuk me' vibe?" (YES!) There's a great t-shirt slogan for you. Even the Groo of course is part-demon but can only mate with humans.

Captain Subtext; Huge beauty and beast vibe between Angel and Fred, Fangel right from the start. Lorne also seems enamoured of Groo so more evidence for the bi vibe. Wes keeps a picture of Cordy in his wallet

Know the face, different character; 2

Parking garages; 5,

Buffy characters on Angel; 15 Wetherby, Collins and Smith. Angel, Cordy, Oz, Spike, Buffy, Wes, Faith, Darla, Dru, Master, Anne, Willow and Harmony

Questions and observations; Here's the Groo, yay! After being abused and pushed around for the last 3 eps Cordy is now a Queen as she always wanted to be. Some beautiful small details like Cordy's little finger gesture when she tells the constable who wants the 'Most high princess' to feast on AI's blood "You're most high if you think that's going to happen!". Also Cordy reaching out to embrace her friends who walk past her to the food, shades of Indianna Jones (except Angel who makes for the mirror). Wes' idea of a list of demands sent to the Princess sounds reminiscent of Magna Carta.

Marks out of 10; 7/10