Angel S4-10: The Short Review

'Awakening'

Written by Steven S DeKnight and David Fury

Directed by James A Contner

'Awakening' is an episode of two halves, both impeccably handled. In the first half, the writers have the task of creating a situation where the characters decide to deliberately release Angelus, and making it plausible. In the second half, the focus changes and we get what is in essence an expanded version of Angel's dreams in 'Deep Down'. We get an insight into his psyche - and considering I usually value plot over character it's a tribute to Steve DeKnight and David Fury that they make this episode as downright interesting as it is.

I've said it before, and I'm going to keep on saying it until everyone agrees with me: The plotting this season is nigh-on watertight. They covered every base here: Angel saying he didn't know how or why Angelus should remember when he doesn't, Angel singing for Lorne, Cordelia being dead-set against bringing back Angelus, a fantastic Angel/Connor moment before he goes into the cage. The list goes on.

(Sidebar: No, Angelus didn't make an appearance in 'Eternity'. Angel never lost his soul in that episode: As Wesley said at the time, it wasn't really Angelus. And even if it had been, deciding to remove the soul into a controlled environment, where they can access and restore it at any time, is a much smarter decision than dosing up Angel on happy pills and waiting to see what happens. This is not the situation to be experimenting in.)

Then we get to the dream. And again, it's beautifully handled. Watch it the first time and you're suckered. Alarm bells start ringing when Angel and Cordy get it on, but everything before that - the apologies, the reconciliations, the resolutions - is pitched just this side of believable. It's Angel's perfect day. Watch it a second time, though, and you start to notice clues: The echoes of 'Deep Down', the changes in Wesley and Connor, the simplistic and film-like nature of the plot.

Everything in the dream says something about Angel, and his view of the world. It tells us who he considers most important: Wesley, Cordelia and Connor are the ones who go on the mission. It tells us what he thinks of each character. Look at Wesley, for instance - even in Angel's perfect day, Wesley gets his moments to shine. He saves Cordy in the bell-trap, he figures out the puzzle on the wall. Angel wants Wesley to succeed, he wants him as - in essence - a partner.

Then there's the Angel/Cordelia relationship. Essentially, Angel has cast Cordelia as the heroine in his life. This is understandable; in his relationships with Darla and Buffy, it was the women who were dominant. And then there's what Angel wants from Connor: Not undying love and devotion, just a simple 'his name is Angel'.

Add it all together, and suddenly you're one soul short. And you've got the best episode of the season to date.

The Council of Watchers rating: