Angel S3-14: The Short Review

'Couplet'

Written by Tim Minear and Jeffrey Bell

Directed by Tim Minear

"I'm tired of being lonely" - Cordelia.

'Couplet' is one of those frustrating episodes that somehow ends up being less than the sum of its parts. I'm fond of it - the basic premise is sound, and there are several genuinely great character scenes - but somehow the shifts in tone from comedy to drama rarely feel as accomplished as they should, and the whole story ends up suffering as a result.

In part, I admit I'm disappointed because 'Couplet' isn't the episode I wanted. This is always a dangerous way to look at things, but a jealous Angel is, to me, a fascinating prospect. Angel has always had a tendency to obsess about the women in his life, and has never had that obsession unrequited, so jealousy is breaking new ground. Here, however, it is too-often played for laughs, and doesn't get the serious treatment that I feel it should.

Looking at what we got, though, instead of what I wanted, there's still a lot to appreciate. Whilst the episode is light on plot - a feature I'm always wary of - here, it doesn't bother me too much because whilst the focus is very definitely on character development there is still always a clear sense of motion, of proceeding towards resolution. Characters don't stand around and talk about their lives, they talk about their lives whilst doing other things (Wesley and Angel in the bookshop, for example). Perhaps more importantly, what plot there is seems to be related to the personal issues the characters are going through, which makes the whole affair feel that much more cohesive. I haven't quite disentangled all the symbolism of the internet tree yet, for instance, but there would seem to be a relationship entanglement subtext, as well as the timely reiteration of Angel's separation from the world of the living. Even the appearance of the Groosalugg isn't particularly painful; in fact, by the end of the episode I found I even had something of a soft spot for the guy. He's not the sharpest tool in the box, but he does have a certain innocence and nobility that I can see appealing to Cordelia.

Without a doubt, though, what saves the episode from mediocrity are the character scenes, notably those involving Wesley and Angel. I very much like the fact that the relationships are being played for how they affect those outside them at least as much as they are being played for how they affect those in them. The last ten minutes, in particular, are pure gold, from Gunn and Wesley's conversation, through Angel's gift to Cordelia to that classic Angel kick ending - with every moment gorgeously scored, to boot. My heart broke twice and jumped into my throat once; these are characters that I care about, dammit!

On the subject of the ending; when Wesley and Angel visit the bookshop, there is a prominent shot of the 'Wolf Book', as seen last season in Pylea. I can't quite believe that this was accidental. The best theory I've heard argues that it's an indication that the source material Wesley translated is not to be trusted - that it's a plant by Wolfram and Hart to stir things up at AI. The potential for the future is certainly interesting; Wesley already seems to be feeling somewhat isolated from the others, and we know he has some deep-rooted parental issues.

Gunn and Fred are still working for me - just about. As establishment of the relationship, it's good, especially since it's having an impact on their work and on their relationship with Wesley. However, hopefully over the next couple of episodes the fact of the relationship will either become less prominent, or will develop some tension. Cordelia and Angel, on the other hand, now looks like a shoe-in to be happening later in the season, what with Cordelia's (priceless) redressing of the Groosalugg and the (intriguingly unsubtle) introduction of the prophylactic potion into the equation. I think it still has potential, though; Cordelia is obviously so deeply in denial that when she does admit her feelings to herself the ramifications will be big. In the meantime, however, emphasising the characters' loneliness seems to me to be exactly the right way to play this; it adds interest to their motivations, and steers the relationship away from a rehash of Buffy/Angel territory.

Overall, I have a sneaking suspicion that this episode is one that will grow on me over time; on a rewatch, the character scenes make more of an impression and the humour seems less prominent. It won't ever be a classic, but it realigns the relationships nicely in preparation for presumably imminent returns of Holtz and Wolfram and Hart.