Episode 2x10: Reunion
 

This is the most talked about episode of Angel and its when he leaves the lawyers of Wolfram and Hart at the mercy of Darla and Drusilla. I realize that it was supposed to be Angel at the border of being Angelous and that we were supposed to be shocked at this but I loved this episode because like in "The Gift" where Giles kills Ben so that Glory would not be able to come back at create more havoc, one can see themself in Angel's shoes at this point. The lawyers of W&H create this situation where do you act as a Christian and save the lives of these people who caused this or do you just let justice be served? Remember when Angel said to Holland Masters that many people would be killed and how Holland said that he could care less so one would be hard pressed to want to save his person's hide.

Just want your take on this.

This was a good episode.

I have mixed feelings on how Angel acted at the end of the episode. On the one hand, I can see why Angel did it. He was sick of W&H always getting away with things and never being stopped. He was ok with letting Darla and Dru kill the lawyers. But the problem was that he locked the lawyers in the room. I don't think that is justice. To me justice is letting the defending party have a chance to defend themselves and then justice is served. Locking the lawyers in the room gives them no defense against vampires. If Angel really wanted no part in helping the lawyers he could have just walked away. Sure they probably wouldn't have escaped Darla and Dru, but they still would have had a chance to. Angel is as much guilty for their deaths as Dru and Darla because he knew what was going to happen and he facilitated it.

I think this was an important time in Angel's development and redemption. From this low experience in his life he's learned to deal with the evil in the world and in human beings. Before this he was fighting for the lives of humans because I think he had this mixed up view. He was a vampire-> evil, now with a soul fighting to become human-> good. I think s2 of Angel showed him that the world of humans is still cruel and humans are as screwed up as anything else. But they still need someone to protect them. His reply to Illyria in Shells showed how far he has come.
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ILLYRIA
You are the protector of these creatures?

ANGEL
Yes.

ILLYRIA
You'd fight for their lives?

ANGEL
Yes.

ILLYRIA
Even this one?

KNOX
Is that an issue? Is my life in peril, boss? King?

ANGEL
You're about as low as it gets, Knox, but you're a part of humanity. That isn't always pretty, but it's a hell of a lot better than what came before. And if it comes down to a choice between you and him, then yes, I would fight for his life, just like any other human's. Because that's what people do. That's what makes us—
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[img]smilies/love.gif[/img] Jenn

I think this was an amazing episode. It was definitely a turning point in season 2, as Angel descended into a much darker area, especially considering his actions at the end of this episode. I was shocked when I saw that scene. I sort of felt sorry for the lawyers (just a bit!), but I think this episode and the entire Angel/Darla/W&H arc made for powerful story-telling. So in essence, I am glad it happened.

Angel just wanted to let them all die. He was sick and tired of W&H getting away with murder. He felt such rage and anger over Darla's murder at the hands of W&H and Druscilla. Yet, he felt powerless in the sense that he himself could not do anything to those in charge because they were human. He couldn't kill them himself. Thus, he let Darla&Druscilla do it for him. I guess this was his way of ensuring justice was served.

Darla's being "turned" and Angel's inability to save her undoubtedly threw him into a state of numbness, rage, depression, and wanting to be just left alone.

In a way, I also sort of understood why Angel fired Wes, Gunn and Cordy. They didn't understand what he personally was going through and they didn't want to understand. They certainly didn't understand why Angel was trying so hard to help and save Darla. They couldn't grasp why Angel cared so much. They were I guess too wrapped up in the "mission".

I think it was right at the end when he realized that the only way he could deal with this crisis was by himself. Looking back, he was probably right.

[ 03-23-2004: Message edited dayne ]

This was definitely a great episode. One of my favorites of the series. I remember back when it aired, I read a post afterwards by someone on another board, and this person said that he didn't think he could watch the show anymore because of what Angel had done, and I kept thinking...why? Would it really have been as interesting if, even after failing to save Darla, Angel still played the good hero role and saved the people who were behind the reason for his failure?

To me, this really isn't much different from how, to some people, Buffy often seems to act like a bitch. They deserve to act this way. They deserve to whine and brood and generally be flawed. They live in a very dark world, and they can't get it right all the time. I agree that Angel probably should not have allowed Darla and Drusilla to kill the W&H lawyers without a fight, encouraging it even, but that just served to make Angel a much deeper character. He failed to save Darla, and that made him stop caring for a while. I thought it was realistic and understandable, and I agree, he has come a long way since then.

Amazing episode. I thought The Trial/Reunion were two of the best episodes of the series. Angel's fall from grace was very interesting.

I absolutely loved this episode!!! D/D stuff! Fabulous!!!

just the ending w/ angel firing the gang was whack...but all was good

I loved this episode. Then again I love anything with Drusilla in it. Juliet Landau as always, is amazing.

Angel's decision to allow the slaughter of the W&H lawyers was a huge shocker. As Angel was walking away and Drusilla whispers.."Daddy.." I was sorta hoping that maybe Angelus was going to show up in the next episode. Tee hee. Silly me.

It shows how Angel lost himself in his own obsession with bringing down Darla and Drusilla, not really caring what happens around him. I think that this has to do with his guilt and mixed emotions towards both Darla and Drusilla.

He promised Darla that he'd help her, stay with her and she'd never be alone. Instead she got sired by Dru. He feels guilty for not getting to her in time and saving her.

With Dru..he (as Angelus) drove her mad and sired her. He feels guilt towards Dru for making her suffer throught out all these years.

The evil these two caused are techincially *his* fault. If Dru hadn't been sired by him, Darla's second revamping may never have happened.

(A lot of things may not have happened too, but lol, let's not get into that.)

Overall-great ep, and Darla and Drusilla *do* look very nice together. Lol.

i l [img]smilies/love.gif[/img]ved this episode. it was when the show started to get darker and it made me like the show even more. IMO the W&H lawyers deserved to get killed. they must've known that there would be consequences for what they did to Angel. pestering him and making him angry. so i say they got what they deserved.


what is D/D? [img]smilies/look.gif[/img]

[ 03-24-2004: Message edited M姧åç}{è® ]

Definitely. I really liked The Trial as well.

I think Darla/Drusilla. Someone correct me if I'm wrong. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

yep that's it. darla and dru

REUNION
The Good;
Darla and Dru make quite a pair whilst Angel does his Batman routine. Some nice humour from Lilah and like the way Angel is so consumed by his quest that he tries to ignore his mission sent by the PTBs. And the shock ending is a kick in head.
The Bad;
Why does Lilah want to hear police sirens, what are the LAPD going to do against Dru and Darla? Shouldn't Angel have saved Holland's wife at least?
Best line:
Lilah (to Lindsey, indicating dead Darla) "Think you got a shot with her now?" Why we love Lilah even though she's a total bitch.
Jeez, how did they get away with that?
The scene in the shop with the murdered staff is horrifying
Apocalypses: 4
Angel Cliches
Damsel in distress; 17
Inverting the Hollywood cliche;
Lindsey (indicating the soon to be vamp Darla) "Can she hear us?"
Darla "She's DEAD!"
In disguise; 7
DB get's his shirt off; 11
Cordy's tattoo;3
Cheap Angel;
5
Fang Gang in bondage: Angel in cuffs
Cordy: 5
Angel: 9
Wes: 3

Fang gang knocked out:
Cordy: 10
Angel: 12
Wes: 5
Doyle; 1
Gunn; 1
Kills:
Cordy: 5 vamps, 1½ demons
Angel; 18 vamps, 19 and 1/2 demons, 3 humans
Doyle; 1 vamp
Wes; 1/2 a demon
Kate; 3 vamps
Faith; 16 vamps, 6 demons, 3 humans.
Gunn; 5 vamps+ 1 demon.
Fang Gang go evil:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 2

Alternate Fang Gang:
Cordy: 2
Angel: 6

Characters killed: 16 including the shopgirls and the motorist
30
Recurring characters killed;
4;
Total number of Angel Investigations:
4, Angel, Cordy, Wes and Gunn

Angel Investigations shot: no but Angel takes a gun away from a demon acolyte intent on suicide.
Angel: 10
Packing heat;
Wes; 2
Doyle; 1
Angel; 1

Notches on Fang Gang bedpost:
Cordy: 2 ?+Wilson/Hacksaw Beast
Angel: 1;Buffy
Wes; 2; Virginia and the bleached blonde

Kinky dinky:
Gunn comments that he's freaked out by the whole incest vibe of the grandaughter remaking the grandmother (as he was with his vamped sister). Dru wants Angel to 'Spank us til Tuesday, we promise to be bad if you do'!!!!!!
Captain Subtext;
Loved to have seen the Dru/neighbour scene. Once again Dru seems a very unusual vamp in some regards, more human than most. Dru appreciates Lilah's beauty. All of the Darla/Dru stuff
Know the face, different character; 2
Parking garages;
5,
Guantanamo Bay;
Buffy characters on Angel; 13
Wetherby, Collins and Smith. Angel, Cordy, Oz, Spike, Buffy, Wes, Faith, Darla, Dru, Master
Questions and observations;
Like the way it's Gunn who figures out the whole nursery angle, once again showing his brains. Weird seeing Darla in her shroud. Kate and Angel seem a team once more.
Marks out of 10; 8/10, Angel on top form.

One of the show's greatest moments ~

Angel turning Holland Manners' smug words from earlier in the episode back around onto him in a shocking yet richly deserved act of revenge:

Angel, please... People are going to die!
And yet somehow, I just can't seem to care.

Brutal, dark, vicious... I love it :evil_lol:

I often think that if Cordelia, Wesley and Gunn had been present to witness Holland telling Angel that he doesn't care about the lives being taken by Darla and Drusilla, they would've understood Angel's decision to lock everyone in the cellar.

But nope, they just chose to view it as yet more evidence that Angel's obsession with Darla is making him lose sight of the bigger picture :eyebrow:

And it's very obvious that Angel firing the team isn't a malicious act but an act of kindness masquerading as cruelty. He doesn't want them around to face the darkness that's coming. On the flip side, he doesn't realize how much he will struggle without them. (Plus Cordelia is still having visions, you moron! :spank:)

As for the lawyers are killed, I'd like to remind everyone of Buffy's wise words to Giles to season 7 about how wrong it is to keep the chip embedded in Spike's head:

"You can't beat evil by doing evil."

Angel's justification can be that these lawyers know the evil that they are participating in when they work for this company, and so they had it coming. I'd say he has a valid point. :nod:

But yes, it's also a sign that Angel is starting to lose himself. Perhaps on some level he has to, in order to beat Darla and the company's plan for him. Prove to them that they can't control him and that he's not some goody two-shoes who won't do what he has to in order to protect the majority.

First class episode. :star::star::star::star::star:

Oh wow. That end was shocking! :eek:

Angel was so close to stopping Darla from being reborn. It was obvious he found it hard to have to do it, but he would have done what had to be done, if Drusilla hadn't stopped him. I have to say, Drusilla and Darla made quite the duo at the clothes store. I like how Kate told Angel about the killings so he had a lead on where they were, knowing that she'd have no hope in stopping them.

It was shocking, what Angel did, by just closing the doors and letting Drusilla and Darla kill the roomful of Wolfram & Hart lawyers, but Holland, Lindsey and Lilah especially knew exactly what they were getting themselves into and the evil they were unleashing so they kinda had it coming. Especially Holland. It was dark and wrong, but I liked how Angel used Holland's words back at him. If Holland didn't care about innocent people being killed by two vampires he let loose, then he's just as evil as if he were a soulless vampire himself, so why should Angel care about him?

Angel firing the team was also shocking. I hope this isn't yet another descent into darkness for Angel. Though I wonder if he just wanted to keep them away knowing the darkness that is coming?

I could not believe that Angel did that. It was unexpected.

'and somehow I just can't bring myself to care' - he said something like that and closed the doors. Reminds me of Gone with the Wind. "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn."