"Angel"
Shells (2004)

Director:

Steven S. DeKnight

Writers:

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

TV Series:

"Angel" (1999)

Original Air Date:

3 March 2004 (Season 5, Episode 16)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Fantasy | Thriller

Plot:

As Angel and the gang try desperately to bring Fred back, Wesley begins to understand that the ancient demon Illyria...

Plot Keywords:

Cult Hero | One Word Title | One Man Army | Cult TV | Vampire Detective

Cast

David Boreanaz	...	Angel
James Marsters	...	Spike
J. August Richards	...	Charles Gunn
Amy Acker	...	Illyria
Andy Hallett	...	Lorne
Alexis Denisof	...	Wesley Wyndam-Pryce
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jennifer Griffin	...	Trish Burkle
Mercedes McNab	...	Harmony Kendall
Marc Vann	...	Doctor Sparrow
Jonathan M. Woodward	...	Knox

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Goofs:

Continuity: In the opening scene, Wesley lets some tears fall over Fred's death. In some shots his face is wet, in others it is dry.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Wesley Wyndam-Pryce: Fred?
[Illyria walks past Wesley toward the mirror, ignoring him]
Wesley Wyndam-Pryce: Illyria?
Illyria: My name. You would presume to speak my name? Because I am returned in the body of a human, you think you can speak to me. It's disgusting.
Wesley Wyndam-Pryce: Who is Winifred Burkle?
Illyria: I thought the humans would have long died out by now. Instead, you've grown bold.
Wesley Wyndam-Pryce: So you don't know who Fred is?
Illyria: Nor care. Bleat at me no longer. We're done.
Wesley Wyndam-Pryce: Yes.
[...]

Soundtrack:

A Place Called Home

I've been unreasonable because I've lost all reason

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

I've been unreasonable because I've lost all reason - 'Shells' is not too far, not far at all from achieving as much as the previous episode 'A Hole In The World' managed to. I was immediately drawn to 'Illyria', there was just something about her that kept me wishing she wouldn't be destroyed, just her blue god-y presence made this episode what it was, also loved the time 'traveling' and her strange connection with 'Wesley' that was much more powerful than Fresley. Only negative side I can think of was 'Harmony', she once again proved how useless her character can be, but when 'Illyria' punched her all across the room it made it worth it. 'Wesley' still steals the episode by stabbing 'Gunn' and shooting 'Knox' during one of 'Angel's speeches - Were you even listening?. Also the fabulous fight scene between the fang gang and 'Illyria', the world of 'Illyria' being in ashes and the blue smurf asking 'Wesley' to help her walk on this earth made this one of the show's best episodes, not to mention the ending scene of when 'Fred' left home to live in LA while the song 'No Place Like Home' plays in the background, that was definitely tear-jerking. ILLYRIA: We cling to what is gone. Is there anything in this life but grief? WESLEY: There's love. There's hope... for some. There's hope that you'll find something worthy... that your life will lead you to some joy... that after everything... you can still be surprised. ILLYRIA: Is that enough? Is that enough to live on? (10 out of 10)