Season Five

 

Regular cast: David Boreanaz, James Marsters, J. August Richards, Amy Acker (from episode 17 as Illyria rather than Fred),  Andy Hallett, Mercedes McNab (from episode 17), Alexis Denisof

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Angel season 5 is the season of Angel Investigations entering the belly of the whale, as they take over the LA branch of Wolfram & Hart and try to change it from the inside. This will be an endeavor of mixed results, but eventually, they will find a way to keep fighting the good fight, even though this will prove again and again not to be the easy road. This is also Angel without Buffy, as the spin-off series extends its run after the run of Buffy ended. Although, one could argue that Angel was Angel without Buffy starting in season 3 (season 6 of Buffy) when the shows were on two different networks and crossovers became difficult (and discouraged), and in fact, the end of Buffy doesn’t mean the end of seeing Buffy characters on Angel (as Spike, for example, will play a major role this season). Finally, it is Angel without Cordelia, which is a loss truly felt. Cordelia was Angel’s heart, and the series is not the same without her.

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“Conviction”

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Episode 1 of Season 5

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“...we possess the most powerful thing in the world: conviction.”

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Original US airdate: October 1st, 2003

Rewatched: June 8th, 2024

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• Writer: Joss Whedon

• Director: Joss Whedon

• Guests: Sarah Thompson, Mercedes McNab, Jonathan Woodward, Dane Northcut, Jacqueline Hahn, Marc Vann, Michael Shamus Wiles, Rod Rowland

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The teaser of this episode mirrors that of “City of…” Angel (with a snazzy new hairstyle) saves a blonde woman from vampires in an alley. Instead of Doyle showing up to offer to help him do good, a Wolfram & Hart tactical team shows up, with press and paperwork for the poor, confused woman to sign. Angel may be the same, but his job isn’t. And this is what the team faces throughout the episode.

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The group is settling into Wolfram & Hart but are not without their doubts. Fred and Wesley voice the most. Gunn, on the other hand, is fitting in more. After his meeting in the White Room with the panther, he was the keenest to take on the role. In this episode, Eve, the team’s contact to the senior partners, send Gunn to get an upgrade. The entire knowledge of law (and Gilbert and Sullivan) is implanted in his brain, making him a super lawyer. In fact, Gunn is the one who is able to use his new knowledge to save the day without violence this episode. What’s concerning is that he didn’t share any of this with the team until it was done. Keeping secrets never goes well.

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Angel also took the role at Wolfram & Hart willingly, but mostly to save his son. He is, however, enjoying the perks like his giant motor pool of very cool cars, his own helicopter, an assistant (Harmony, who he’s not keen about, since she’s kind of evil), etc. But he’s wary. He’s wary of Eve (and not happy that she seems to be the only other person who knows about Connor), and wary of the staff (having Lorne read them to try to weed out the very evil), and wary of the clients.

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And that is the big story of this episode. One of Wolfram & Hart’s clients, Corbin Fries, looks like he’s going to lose his court case. He, however, has a bomb he can explode if needed, which he threatens Angel with. It turns out the bomb really is a bomb – a mystical box containing a virus that he put in his son. The mystical box can be opened with a magic word at any time (and possibly by Corbin’s death). So, to save the world, the team has to get a really bad guy onto the streets again.

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Angel wants to isolate the son, so if the box is opened, only the son will die (not great, but better than all other scenarios). However, Angel is nearly beaten to the school by the tactical team, who seem upset at the changes at Wolfram & Hart. Angel is able to get the kids out before the team shows up and it turns into a showdown between the two factions- Hauser, the head of the team, accuses Angel of not understanding Wolfram & Hart:

Hauser: You really think you can solve the problem? Come into Wolfram & Hart and make everything right? Turn night into glorious day? You pathetic little fairy.

Angel: I’m not little!

Hauser: It’s exactly what you are. You’re miniscule. A dust mote on the shelf of that great institution. And you think I’m just a trigger-happy jerk who follows orders. But I am something you will never be. I’m pure. I believe in evil. You and your friends, you’re conflicted. You’re confused. We’re not. That is why you are going to lose, because we possess the most powerful thing in the world: conviction.”

Angel fights, and wins, leaving Hauser dead. Angel claims there’s one thing more powerful than conviction and that’s mercy, he just doesn’t show this to Hauser. Angel once mentioned that things were simpler when he was evil, and I think Hauser has confused this simplicity with power, or that being able to doubt decisions and see the gray areas of life is a form of weakness. I would argue that Angel Investigations also has convictions, very strong ones, about fighting the good fight. They are only conflicted by how to use Wolfram & Hart to do so.

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With Corbin’s son contained, Gunn then finally saves the day and gets Corbin off on a technicality. The group has mixed feelings about this. They saved the world by saving the bad guy, although Gunn is sure that Corbin will try to stay out of illegal activities while his case is still going through the courts, and Gunn says he will make sure it takes a long time until he’s fully off… so maybe it’s a win. The gang ends the episode by wondering how they can survive Wolfram & Hart.

Fred: Are we really going to do any good?

Angel: Yes, we are. We’re gonna change things. We came to Wolfram & Hart because it’s a powerful weapon and we’ll figure out how to wield it.

Wesley: Or kill ourselves with it. […]

Angel: Sooner or later, they’ll tip their hand, and we’ll find out why they really brought us here. Meanwhile, we do the work our way, one thing at a time. We deal with whatever comes next.

The team has conviction. Then Angel opens an envelope and out falls the amulet he took to Sunnydale which killed Spike and destroyed the Hellmouth (and Sunnydale). Except, Spike isn’t dead. He manifests out of the amulet.

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On a final note, the gang mentions Cordy’s coma to Harmony, who is excited to work with everyone, including Cordelia. They are still hoping to cure her, however.

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“Just Rewards”

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Episode 2 of Season 5

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“It's not the place heroes go.”

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Original US airdate: October 8th, 2003

Rewatched: June 15th, 2024

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• Writer: David Fury & Ben Edlund

• Director: James A. Contner

• Guests: Mercedes McNab, Victor Raider-Wexler

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Spike and Angel are more similar than they would like to admit. Both sired by female vampires in alleys, both part of the same vampire family, both with the same first name as humans (Liam being a short form of Wiliam), and both acquiring nicknames as vampires that replaced their human names. They both fell in love with the same Slayer, although the two relationships were quite different, and both have souls, although how they achieved them is quite different. Finally, they are both heroes (and have both died, with Angel being sent to hell by Buffy and Spike dying to save Sunnydale). And now, they are together again.

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First, it’s worth noting the difference of how they got their souls. Angel was cursed with his soul for killing the wrong person, and tried to stay evil at first, returning to live with Darla, but ultimately went his own way, staying clear of humans and rarely helping, finally living on the streets, until he was sent to help Buffy. Angel’s soul was not the spark that sent him on the road to salvation. Buffy was. For Spike, it can also be argued Buffy was the person who set him on the road to salvation as well. First, he got the chip, which led to him helping the Scoobies. Then he fell in love with Buffy. But he realized his shortcomings (even with the chip) and went to get his soul himself. He then returned to Buffy and to saving the world. Spike also willingly died to save the world. So both share Buffy being a key person in their journey, but the role that their souls plays in their journey is quite different.

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It's now nineteen days after Spike died in Sunnydale and he is back at Wolfram & Hart, but he is not fully himself. Instead, he seems to be some kind of ghost, attached to the amulet he wore in Sunnydale and unable to leave LA, always being returned to Wolfram & Hart when he tries. Angel is not happy. First, it turns out he kept information about Spike a secret from the team (Spike’s soul and his sacrifice), and it’s clear Angel has a bit of rivalry with Spike (over Buffy and souls and heroism). Spike is also the first person (besides Angel Investigations) to question their decision to join the evil law firm, and his accusations are not fully unfounded.

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However, despite their rivalry, despite how much Spike annoys Angel, when Spike is given the chance to have an evil necromancer give him a body, Spike chooses to help Angel double-cross him. The two save the day, showing that despite their, at times, intense rivalry, they can set it aside to do what is right, as they are both, no matter how they got there, heroes on the side of good.

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This episode does, however, raise questions of how long Angel Investigations and Angel can be heroes at Wolfram & Hart. Angel doesn’t seem to have real control yet. In fact, one of his decisions gets a lawyer killed by an angry client, and Angel kills a demon client. Angel also considers that Wolfram & Hart most likely meant for him to wear the amulet and end up like Spike. Finally, Gunn continues to impress with his knowledge, including his knowledge of demon law, but outside of Angel, he’s the one who made the biggest deal with the devil, and it doesn’t seem like this can have no consequences down the line.

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Finally, Spike may not be in LA to stay. Although he can’t escape the city, he does fade in and out of existence, and it seems to be getting worse. Although he’s not happy to be back (he wanted to die a hero’s death and be done with it), he is now afraid to die. It seems that fading away now would mean going to hell. So, although he was willing to die in Sunnydale, anticipating dying a hero and not ending up in hell, the prospect of fading away into hell now fills Spike with terror. The end of the episode has him asking Fred for help.

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“Unleashed”

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Episode 3 of Season 5

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“... if you separate yourself from the ones you love, the monster wins.”

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Original US airdate: October 15th, 2003

Rewatched: June 21st, 2024

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• Writer: Sarah Fain & Elizabeth Craft

• Director: Marita Grabiak

• Guests: Jenny Mollen, John Billingsley

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This episode is more of a monster-of-the-week episode, reminiscent of earlier seasons of Angel. The gang is still settling into Wolfram & Hart and trying to figure out what it all means. The episode starts with the gang having an outdoor picnic of Chinese food. They check for bugs before starting to discuss their situation. They still question why they were given the law firm, and the question of what Gunn’s new knowledge means is raised as well. The episode ends with the gang in Angel’s new apartment, ordering Chinese food and hanging out together. No matter what questions and doubts they have, they cannot survive Wolfram & Hart alone. This episode raises the theme of family several times, with Fred calling them “a demon-hunting, helpless-helping, dysfunctional family” and Angel saying that separating yourself from the people you love means the monster wins. Lorne also reminds Angel that they need to work together. Angel is particularly testy when he fails to locate the person he saved the night before and snaps at him. Lorne tells him:

You know, you’re fighting so many enemies around you, Angel, your punches are getting sloppy, and we’ve got the bruises to prove it. We’re operating in unfriendly territory, champ. I don’t want you to forget about the people covering your back.

While the overall theme of Angel Investigations as family is a bit flawed, as not all members really feel that way, the idea that they are stronger together in their fight is true, especially this season.

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The monster of the week also underlines the importance of family. Angel saves a woman, Nina, from a werewolf, but he isn’t able to stop her from running away, which is unfortunate, as she was bitten. Using the resources of Wolfram & Hart, they’re able to find her and get her to safety, although it’s a close call. When Nina wakes up the next morning, she’s very confused. Angel explains what she is, but she is worried what this means for her, and for her sister and niece, who she lives with. Nina is willing to accept help but is then later kidnapped. Dr. Royce from Wolfram & Hart, who had helped the team with Nina, sold her location of a man who puts on exotic dinners. Team Angel is able to save Nina again, but not before she kills one diner and bites Dr. Royce. This leaves Nina unsure about whether she can have a normal life and be a werewolf, but Angel wants her to try. He’ll be there to help her. He doesn’t want her to let the monster win.

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Nina seems to be positioned this episode as a potential love interest for Angel. Fred tries to explain to her why Angel doesn’t date, but it doesn’t come out so well. At the end of the episode, when Angel drives Nina home, they exchange looks. When the gang eats in Angel’s apartment, this is discussed, with Angel clearly showing interest. Angel has a type. Nina is the 4th powerful blonde woman Angel will be interested in. First, there was Darla, then Buffy, then Kate (not supernaturally powerful, but a strong policewoman nonetheless), and now Nina. Except Cordy (and possibly Druscilla, if she can truly be counted as a love interest), they’ve all been blonde. All, including Cordy and Druscilla, have had power of some kind. It’s an interesting aspect of Angel’s dating life. It does seem very soon after Cordy to be thinking about dating, though. But I digress.

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Family is important, but Spike, despite Angel being his grandsire, does not quite belong to the family yet. He is still fading away and it seems to be getting worse, but Fred is making no headway in finding a solution and doesn’t have the time to devote to it. She suggests Spike goes to Wesley, but he cooks up a story of why he can’t. When Fred calls B.S. Spike is willing to admit that he only wants her to know. This episode leaves the Spike issue unresolved.

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Finally, two points of interest. In this episode, it is said that killing a werewolf turns it back into its human form. But on Buffy, the werewolf hunter made a living selling the pelts, which seems to contradict this information. Then, when Dr. Royce is bitten, Angel lets the evil chef keep him, so that he’ll be able to serve werewolf next month. While Dr. Royce is clearly not the good guy in this episode, it seems like Wolfram & Hart may already be having an influence on Angel as it seems a bit out of character (or in character for his dark period in season 2) to be willing to sacrifice the bad guys. Will Angel be able to remain a hero at Wolfram & Hart?

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“Hell Bound”

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Episode 4 of Season 5

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“It's about doing what's right.”

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Original US airdate: October 22nd, 2003

Rewatched: June 28th, 2024

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• Writer: Steven S. DeKnight

• Director: Steven S. DeKnight

• Guests: Sarah Thompson, Simon Templeman, Dorie Barton

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This episode focusses on Spike and Angel, and their slowly forming relationship. Spike is still slipping into hell and Fred is trying to keep him from going. Fred also tells Spike about the Shanshu prophecy. Learning that a reward like humanity might await Angel is not something Spike can be happy about, especially considering his own fate. Fred, unfortunately, is also massively overspending her budget in the process, something that Angel and Eve end up talking to her about. In their conversation, Angel questions whether Spike is even worth saving, but Fred thinks he is, pointing out that “it’s about doing what’s right. Remember?” In the end, though, Angel also says “some people can’t be saved”. In light of a later conversation with Spike, it’s unclear whether Angel really means Spike, or himself, or perhaps it’s a reference to those he’s lost on the way, like Doyle and Cordy, rather than a true question of whether Spike is worth saving.

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Later, Angel and Spike sit down together and talk about their fate.

Angel: You’re starting to feel it, aren’t you? How close you are now, to hell.

Spike: What if I am? Not like it’s such a big bleeding deal, is it? If a ponce like you could break out.

Angel: I never escaped from hell. All I got was a short reprieve. Not even sure how I managed that. 

Spike: Oh, put your martyr away, Mahatma, Fred told me all about your great shining prophecy. Pile up all your good deeds and get the big brass ring handed to you like everything else.

Angel: Except for one small catch. The prophecy’s a bunch of bull. They all are. Nothing’s written in stone or fated to happen, Spike. You save the world, you end up running an evil law firm.

Spike: So why even bother?

Angel: What else are we gonna do?

It’s a bit of a twist on the key philosophy of Angel, that if nothing matters, then all that matters is what you do, except this time, it’s not so positive. The big bad of last season was a power that be, raising the question of whether good really exists, and how much the powers really care about humans. Cordy is in a coma, a steep price to pay for someone whose journey took her from self-centered to fighting the good fight. Angel (and Spike) saved the world at the end of last season, and neither got any reward, really. Angel has Wolfram & Hart, but this is his biggest challenge yet. Spike is a ghost, stuck there with Angel. This conversation indicates that perhaps Angel is not quite happy with the direction his life has taken, and where fighting the good fight has gotten him, but there is no alternative for him (or for Spike).

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While Angel and Spike do not become fast friends, they are coming to an understanding about each other. They have their past, but they also have a future together. Angel even admits he likes Spike’s poems in this episode.

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Finally, the evil of this episode is a ghost named Pavayne, who has managed to live undetected at Wolfram & Hart since he was sacrificed to deconsecrate the land it was build on. He tortures the souls of those who die at the firm and then sends them to hell. He is the one who is causing Spike’s slipping. Fred has finally figured out how to make Spike corporeal, hoping this will save him from Pavayne. The gang will then figure out what to do with the evil ghost later. They set up a machine that will only work once, and that is powered by dark energy from the conduit in the White Room, which the panther will not give them again. When the machine is ready, both Spike and Pavyne, who have been battling it out over Spike’s soul, head to the lab. Pavayne then attacks Fred, making Spike choose – save Fred (who he is choking) or become corporeal. Spike chooses to make Pavayne corporeal, getting an evil spirit out of the way. Pavayne is then put in Wolfram & Hart’s permanent storage. Spike ends the episode coming to terms with being a ghost. It seems that he is not in danger of slipping into hell with Pavayne gone, at least not yet, and he has finally learned how to touch things, which is one step up from where he was.

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It's a bittersweet end, but it does show Fred was right. Spike is worth saving. And Angel Investigations has not completely given up fighting the good fight.

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