"Loyalty" and the two episodes that follow are really about Wes. From his Watcher days, Wesley has been trying to do the right thing. He's a good man and suddenly he's confronted with some impossible choices. Wes loves Angel. He's loyal to him and his desire to protect Conner is less for the baby's sake than for Angel's. Angel couldn't live with himself if he hurt that baby. For seasons now Angel has been telling his crew that they have be prepared to stop him if he becomes Angelus. Angel is constantly aware of the darkness inside of him and scared that he might hurt someone he loves. I honestly believe that, if someone asked him in a hypothetical, "what if?" sort of way, Angel would have agreed that Wesley's doing the right thing. Only this ISN'T hypothetical and, as Wes's nightmares come true, he's struggling to save Angel and Conner. This really is a turning point for Wes and for the show. This storyline changes everything that comes after it and is some of Wes's best material. I highly recommend this episode.
"Loyalty" revolves around that prophesy Wes translated in "Couplet." It say "The father will kill the son," and he's terrified that it means that Angel will hurt Conner. Prophesies in the Buffyverse are tricky and he desperately seeks out a loop hole. When an all powerful oracle-thing, in the guise of a fiberglass fast-food hamburger statue, tells Wes that "the vampire will devour his child," Wes is torn. Angel continues to bask in fatherhood and doesn't seem dangerous, but Wes knows that Angelus is always inside him. The Hamburger Oracle (who has a better name that I can't remember. Lower or something.) tells Wes to look for three signs. An earthquake, fire, and blood in the sky.
Meanwhilem Team Angel's enemies continue to plot against them. Shajahn seeks out Lilah to enlist her help in destroying Angel. She agrees and even donates some of Conner's blood to the cause. (She's stolen it from his doctor's office.) Holtz continues to plot revenge against Angel. Justine is falling for Holtz and completely dedicated to his plan. They've recruited other would-be vampire hunters and one of them, posing as a client for Angel Inc., sends Gunn and Fred into a trap. The two of them have to fight off vampires at an old merry-go-round.
Wes follows the fake client back to Holtz and confronts him. Holtz refuses to back off of his quest for vengeance and he correctly guesses that Wes is worried that Angel will harm Conner. Wes leaves. Back a the Hyperion, Wes starts confiding in Angel. As he listens to Angel talks about how much he loves Conner, though, he decides that he's been paranoid. He starts laughing with relief. Just then an earthquake shakes the hotel. A gas pipe sets the room on fire. Wes stands there frozen as Angel saves Conner. Angel grabs Wesley and tosses him into the hallway. Wes realizes that Angel is bleeding on Conner's blanket, which is decorated with clouds. With the last sign, Wes is horrified. Then Angel remarks that even if they had been trapped in the room, at least he would have had a snack for later... Conner.
There are some good parts to this episode. I like Wes and Angel visiting Conner's doctor. They're both so cute and panic-y that something could be wrong. And I like this unshaven, slightly harder Wesley. He's always had a unyielding, slightly suicidal mind-set when it comes to doing the right thing. He was rouge demon hunting by himself when he left the Watcher's Council. And, even when I don't agree with his choices, I believe that HE does. When you add in his experiences with his own father and his dedication to Angel's mission, I understand why he's doing all this. Also, this is the first time that we hear about Lilah's mother, which is interesting. It's a shame she doesn't play a bigger role in the series, because it would be interesting to find out more about Lilah's past.
On the down side, my heart just breaks for Wes. I wish that he'd gone to Angel and explained the problem instead of trying to make the tough call by himself.
My favorite part of the episode: Gunn and Angel playing with the itty, bitty hockey sticks.
"Loyalty" revolves around that prophesy Wes translated in "Couplet." It say "The father will kill the son," and he's terrified that it means that Angel will hurt Conner. Prophesies in the Buffyverse are tricky and he desperately seeks out a loop hole. When an all powerful oracle-thing, in the guise of a fiberglass fast-food hamburger statue, tells Wes that "the vampire will devour his child," Wes is torn. Angel continues to bask in fatherhood and doesn't seem dangerous, but Wes knows that Angelus is always inside him. The Hamburger Oracle (who has a better name that I can't remember. Lower or something.) tells Wes to look for three signs. An earthquake, fire, and blood in the sky.
Meanwhilem Team Angel's enemies continue to plot against them. Shajahn seeks out Lilah to enlist her help in destroying Angel. She agrees and even donates some of Conner's blood to the cause. (She's stolen it from his doctor's office.) Holtz continues to plot revenge against Angel. Justine is falling for Holtz and completely dedicated to his plan. They've recruited other would-be vampire hunters and one of them, posing as a client for Angel Inc., sends Gunn and Fred into a trap. The two of them have to fight off vampires at an old merry-go-round.
Wes follows the fake client back to Holtz and confronts him. Holtz refuses to back off of his quest for vengeance and he correctly guesses that Wes is worried that Angel will harm Conner. Wes leaves. Back a the Hyperion, Wes starts confiding in Angel. As he listens to Angel talks about how much he loves Conner, though, he decides that he's been paranoid. He starts laughing with relief. Just then an earthquake shakes the hotel. A gas pipe sets the room on fire. Wes stands there frozen as Angel saves Conner. Angel grabs Wesley and tosses him into the hallway. Wes realizes that Angel is bleeding on Conner's blanket, which is decorated with clouds. With the last sign, Wes is horrified. Then Angel remarks that even if they had been trapped in the room, at least he would have had a snack for later... Conner.
There are some good parts to this episode. I like Wes and Angel visiting Conner's doctor. They're both so cute and panic-y that something could be wrong. And I like this unshaven, slightly harder Wesley. He's always had a unyielding, slightly suicidal mind-set when it comes to doing the right thing. He was rouge demon hunting by himself when he left the Watcher's Council. And, even when I don't agree with his choices, I believe that HE does. When you add in his experiences with his own father and his dedication to Angel's mission, I understand why he's doing all this. Also, this is the first time that we hear about Lilah's mother, which is interesting. It's a shame she doesn't play a bigger role in the series, because it would be interesting to find out more about Lilah's past.
On the down side, my heart just breaks for Wes. I wish that he'd gone to Angel and explained the problem instead of trying to make the tough call by himself.
My favorite part of the episode: Gunn and Angel playing with the itty, bitty hockey sticks.
