This two-parter that opens season 2 should be used as a paradigm of how to handle a major cast change in a popular TV show successfully: make as little fuss about it as possible, and have the new character in some way related to the old one, so that the audience won't feel alienated. Of course, it helps that the new Angel is played by the extremely angelic Cheryl Ladd, who wins you over instantly with her big smile and her good, friendly nature. This episode also features lots of pleasing Hawaiian scenery - it must have been the higher-budgeted episode since the pilot. The titillation factor has also gone up a notch or two, which is no bad thing: guest star France Nuyen makes a stunning Ursula Andress-like entrance from the ocean, revealing an absolutely perfect body, there are close-ups of local belly dancers revealing their absolutely perfect bodies, and not to be outdone, Jaclyn Smith and Cheryl Ladd wear bikinis throughout the climax (justified by the plot, though!), also revealing their absolutely perfect bodies. Finally, Charlie himself gets his biggest (speaking and physical-wise) role so far, though, of course, we still don't see his face! *** out of 4.
Review of Angels in Paradise
