"Angel" Release (2003)

User Rating:

8.6/10   

Director:

James A. Contner

Writers:

Joss Whedon (creator) &
David Greenwalt (creator) ...

TV Series:

"Angel" (1999)

Original Air Date:

12 March 2003 (Season 4, Episode 14)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Fantasy | Thriller

Plot:

Faith & Wesley continue to try and find Angelus. They want to capture him so they return Angel's soul...

Plot Keywords:

Vampire | Vampire Slayer | Redemption | Actress | Supernatural

Cast

David Boreanaz	...	Angelus
Charisma Carpenter	...	Cordelia Chase
J. August Richards	...	Charles Gunn
Amy Acker	...	Winifred 'Fred' Burkle
Vincent Kartheiser	...	Connor
Andy Hallett	...	Lorne
Alexis Denisof	...	Wesley Wyndam-Pryce
Christopher Neiman	...	Froter Demon
Eliza Dushku	...	Faith
Darren Foy	...	Lackey Vamp #1 (as Darren Laverty)
Sam Stefanski	...	Lackey Vamp #2
Catalina Martone	...	Vamp Waitress (as Catalina Larranaga)
Peter Renaday	...	The Beast Master (voice)
Becka Linder	...	Drugged Vamp #1
Chris Huse	...	Drugged Vamp #2

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Company:

Mutant Enemy

Trivia:

After just over 40 guest appearances Andy Hallett (Lorne) joins the regular cast in this episode and is featured in the opening credits.

Quotes:

[Faith has destroyed part of a wall in Wesley's bathroom]
Faith: Sorry about your bathroom.
Wesley Wyndam-Pryce: It's not the bathroom I'm worried about. Although, I'm sure my security deposit is a complete loss.

Movie Connections:

References The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1939)

Soundtrack:

Here

Best. Cliffhanger. Ever.

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

Okay, I saw only "Angel" after the show had been canceled. I got the DVDs as a birthday gift last year and wound up watching all five seasons in one long, glorious row. One episode after another for a couple of weeks. Sometimes, I wish I'd seen the show before it left the air. But, when "Release" rolled around I was SOOOOOO glad that I could just see the next episode immediately. Waiting a week to resolve this cliffhanger must've been pure torture. Honestly, this whole episode is terrific. Wes & Faith continue to steal the show in the quest to find Angelus and pretty much ever minute of it is a joy. I highly recommend it.

"Release" revolves around Wes & Faith's new plan to capture Angelus. they want to trank-dart him and restore his soul, but first the have to find him. Meanwhile, Evil Cordy is communicating with Angelus and wants him to join her side. Instead, Angelus decides to go to the Hyperion and steal all Team Angel's information on the Beast and its Master. Conner tries to fight him, but the sanctuary spell Lorne cast to prevent demon violence kicks in. Which means Conner is part demon. Wes & Faith go to some demon bars and find some people taking drugs and letting vampires feed off of them. It give them both a high, apparently. Wes & Faith eventually track Angelus to a deserted museum place. Angelus knocks Wes out and fights Faith. He gets the upper hand and bites her.

There are some good parts of this episode. I love Angelus arguing with Evil Cordy's voice in his head. His line "You can kiss my vampire ass" just makes me laugh every time. And he looks really cute wearing those stolen reading glasses and trying to read the papers he stole from the Hyperion. He's convinced that half of it is just doodles. Still, I think Evil Cordy is nuts if she thinks she can get Angelus over to her team. The guy doesn't play well with others, unless he's the boss. Just ask the Master. (See season two's "Darla.") I think Faith and Wes questioning people in that bar is pretty fun, too. Faith is having a hard time adjusting to "new" Wesley. When Angelus grabs him, Wes wants Faith to shoot right through him to get Angelus and he was serious. It's kinna a shock for her to see that Wes is now in control. For the first time, Faith starts listening to Weslsy like her Watcher, following his plans and respecting his authority. It's cool. Finally, the fight with Angelus in that museum or whatever just flat-out rocks. Most days, Spike, Buffy & Angel are pretty evenly matched. Any one of them could be called the strongest, depending on the battle or circumstances. But, I've never seen anyone in the Buffyverse fight harder that Angelus in "Release." If he'd fought like that back in BTVS season two, or if Angel did in season five's "Destiny," I don't think Buffy and Spike could have ever beaten him. It was amazing.

On the down side, is Conner a total idiot? It's bad enough that he wants to kill Angelus and is falling for Evil Cordy's tricks, but now he's looking in the MIRROR to see if maybe he's a vampire?!? I mean COME ON! If he was a vampire, then he wouldn't HAVE a reflection, for crying out loud! The kid drives me insane with his stupidity.

My favorite part of the episode: Wes stabbing that woman in the shoulder to get information. When you think back to season three of BTVS, it's amazing to realize that this is the same guy who once tried to hide behind Giles during a demon fight. Wes has slowly and believably become the hardest person in the Buffyverse. When you manage to shock Faith with your brutality, ya know you've crossed into some pretty dark territory, Wes.

My other favorite part of the episde: Angelus' line "Uh-oh! Vampire with a gun!" just cracks me up every time I hear it.