I SO cannot wait for Andrew. And I love flashbacks. I'm really excited. I have nothing more to say beyond this.

Cole Searr | May 05, 21:51 CET

This'll probably be the usual discusssion thread. I have a feeling that this episode will be the most controversial of the season to date.

Simon | May 06, 00:54 CET

I agree with you on that Simon - looking forward to it.

magdelena | May 06, 04:13 CET

"Ciao" "Ciao" "Ciao"

Shroomy | May 06, 05:16 CET

i can't wait to see it!! unfortunately, i won't be able to watch it live 1) because my roomate is leaving soon and has unplugged the tv and 2) i have two finals in a row tomorrow.
grr arrghs all around.
I can't wait to see what everyone thinks :)

buffyfanatic18 | May 06, 05:26 CET

Holy crap. That was SO MUCH MORE than I expected. Ultimately, not having SMG appear really paid off and there was just so much happening throughout the episode that made me teary and then smiling like a nut!

Christopher | May 06, 05:57 CET

I can't believe a show this good is getting cancelled. This episode is easily my favorite episode of the season. So, so funny.

Shroomy | May 06, 05:57 CET

Yes, two very enthusiastic thumbs up. I always believed that the relationship between Angel and Spike was way more interesting than a Bangel or Spuffy pairing. For a stand alone episode, this was supremely satisfying (and very, very funny).

mai | May 06, 06:09 CET

"the immortal's eatin' cookies!'

oh hell, i'm giddy. i honestly don't think it would be this good if it weren't ending.

that was lovely.

leenah | May 06, 06:13 CET

If we lived in a world where a show like Angel would actually be considered for Emmy awards, I think Amy Acker would at least get a nomination for this episode. She creeped me out going back and forth between Illyria and Fred.

Funniest moment to me was Spike reacting to Angel's blathering about cookie dough.

prufrock | May 06, 06:13 CET

I howled with laughter. The actress who played the head of the Rome branch of Wolfram & Hart just slayed me. (I remember her from the first season of Sex and the City, in which she played a similarly over-the-top hilarious Italian socialite). I just wonder if the Romany lobby is going to protest the anti-Gypsy stuff?! Actually, as someone who's bona fide 1/8th Romany, I found it funny. Hilarious even. (But 1/8th isn't much, is it?)

I'm glad in a way that Buffy wasn't shown. It nicely underscores the whole "chasing a dream/memory" point of the episode. Andrew was fabulous, especially after he cleaned up and spoke fluent Italian. Yup, I'm an Andrew fan. And I'm a big fan of the Angel/Spike chemistry. Let Buffy have her silly old Immortal. Angel and Spike are just too fun together.

Amy Acker playing Illyria playing Fred gave me the chills. Why oh why can't we see this further explored?????? We need another season.

I've been relatively unspoiled so I really don't know what they're going to do for the next two episodes. I can't wait to see them but I'm so sad, too.

phlebotinin | May 06, 06:18 CET

That was a great episode and the "Buffy" factor was handled just enough to let us enjoy the comedy team of Angel and Spike. The fight scene was priceless when Spike accidentally hit Angel and then Angel hits Spike back and then the two of them swing at the same time. My only complaint is the slow motion made DBs jowls look even flabbier because they were shaking.

And the scenes with first Darla and the Dru commenting on the Immortals "talents" were so funny and the guys reactions. I loved it when at first Spike just thought it was Angelus' woman who had been violated and then a dreamy Druscilla peaks through the door just as content.

I also died laughing with Angels spouting off about cookie dough and the Immortal eating cookies. That was so funny.

Now, for the more serious stuff - Fred/Illyria was great. Amy Acker, yet again, did a fantastic job and she flawlessly switched from sweet, bubbly Fred to the dark Illyria.

I also loved the duplicate Wolfram & Hart building. And the Italian version of the firm was delightful.

Oh, when Andrew went to answer the door in his tux I wondered if it would be a man or a woman waiting for him but I was delighted to see two women!

Firefly Flanatic | May 06, 06:22 CET

The Angel/Spike dialogue was cute and all, but really this episode served to remind me that Wesley in pain makes for some good TV. Brilliant work by Denisof and Acker.

Really, really happy with the way this season is turning out. Really, really unhappy that it's coming to a premature close.

Galvatron | May 06, 06:26 CET

Suddenly Suave Andrew seemed kind of gimmicky to me...as did the whole Angel & Spike meet the Demon Cosa Nostra thing. I thought it was cute but the approaching end made me impatient for meatier stuff like Illyria playing Fred. How sick, twisted, creepy, wonderful.

gingeriffic | May 06, 06:28 CET

I have quite a few beers in me so sorry if this seems like incoherent rambling. I don't know what the hell I'm going to do with out Angel on the air. Amy Acker Is a goddess, period,explanation point! I had know idea she was THAT GOOD. The whole Illyria character Is just sooo fascinating I can't ever describe it (especially in my inebriated state ). Loved seeing Julie Benz again, can a woman be any hotter? I think not. Andrew was great, nice to see Greenwalt directing..... long story short loved the episode, It kept both ship's happy while moving on. Without Angel next season I'll have to get a life, Which Is a crime that I'll never forgive the WB for. Sorry for the rambling. I'm going to bed

adventures in spelling | May 06, 06:45 CET

Amy Acker just leapt into the realm of favorite Whedonverse actress. NEVER thought I'd feel that way.

Great ep. I seldom tape Angel (the last one was when Willow guest starred), but this one was a keeper. How funny are Spike and Angel together? I caught a glimpse of their chemistry before, but I swear, they need a show! Just them, on motorcycles, saving the world one week at a time!

Heh heh.

Willowy | May 06, 08:17 CET

I don't think that this was one of the best this sesaon, though it was very good.

It felt very very rushed. The characters were speaking too fast and the action was taking place too quickly. I couldn't follow the plot because the characters were speaking faster than I could listen. It was incredibly choppy. The teaser especially: It began too quickly, speed-talked its way to the catch-point, and then ended too quickly. The episode needed about 20 more minutes to be smooth enough with all the plot they crammed into 42 minutes.

I did like seeing Andrew again. He annoyed me in "Damage," where I thought he was overwritten and overplayed, but here he was excellent. However, the flashback scenes, especially the ones with Dru and Darla, were gratuitous and unnecessary. It's like they just wanted to cram special appearances in before the series ended.

The scenes with Wesley and Illyria were of a completely different tone than the Angel and Spike scenes, and that bothered me every time they switched locations.

Also, no Harmony? Or was her appearance so brief I forgot it?

Now on to the positive: This episode had many very funny and memorable moments. I'm actually glad that we never saw Buffy (except for that one scene, which pretty much doesn't count) or the Immortal, although it would've been nice if they or Dawn did show up. It worked really well. (But I would've prefered 20 extra minutes featuring an appearance by SMG.) The dialogue was as witty as normal, and the cinematography was superb.

Okay, I have more negative:

Now Angel mentions that Nina's his girlfriend. But two week's ago, he told Connor he didn't have one. WTF's up with that? I suppose you could say that we haven't seen it as a steady relationship yet, so it could've developed offscreen over the past two weeks. I know this is nit-picky, but it bugs me.

The end of last week's episode still doesn't make any logical sense. And now there's only 80-odd minutes left to provide any insight into this.


I know I've listed a lot of negatives, but I really did enjoy this ep; it was a lot of fun to watch. It's just that we've had a lot better, especially this season.

Invisible Green | May 06, 08:31 CET

Harmony was there, albeit in the background. Remember she asked Spike, "Eviler than YOU?"...

I also noticed the rushed feeling of the teaser. Didn't care though, as it was funny. I'm with Herc in that I loove the funny eps. They are always so well written and make me laugh out loud. And I love being "in on" the jokes.

I realize they don't have the impact of the more dramatic eps, but its a nice break sometimes.

Also, my heart broke for Wesley so many times in this episode. What a picture of grief he painted. I love Alexis. And how convincing was Amy Acker? Great work from the both of them.

Willowy | May 06, 19:39 CET