Angel Review – “Underneath”

Angel’s back for the last six episodes. How will it end?

Cast and Crew

David Boreanaz as Angel

Alexis Denisof as Wesley Wyndham-Pryce

J. August Richards as Charles Gunn

Amy Acker as Fred Burkle

Andy Hallett as Lorne

James Marsters as Spike

Written by Sarah Fain & Elizabeth Craft

Directed by Skip Schoolnik

Original Airdate

Underneath originally aired on Wednesday, April 14, 2004.

Synopsis

Angel decides it’s time to take an active role in fighting the upcoming apocalypse.

High Point

“You’ve already lost two soldiers.” I count a few more than that. Does the speaker know more than we do?

Low Point

The Illyria scenes. They just didn’t go anywhere this week, and felt like they were there to remind us the characters were around.

The Review

This felt like a set-up story, much like previous set-up stories. There wasn’t a lot here that hasn’t been done before on this series. (Apart from the basement scene, what haven’t we seen?) I give the originality 3 out of 6.

The effects were well done, but nothing new. I give it 4 out of 6.

The story was well plotted, but didn’t really feel like a full hour, leaving Wesley’s scenes to feel like a time filler. I give it 4 out of 6.

The acting was well done. We had a chance to see some range from Amy Acker, as well as some significant changes for J. August Richards, Christian Kane, and Sarah Thompson. It’s also great to see Adam Baldwin in a different role than Jayne. I give it 5 out of 6.

The emotional response this produced was a bit limited. There were funny moments, but until the final act, nothing really hit home. I give it 4 out of 6.

The production was well made, although limited by the lack of a full 44 minutes worth of script. I give it 4 out of 6.

Overall, it’s a decent episode, but not as earth-shattering as the last few. I give it 4 out of 6.

In total, Underneath receives 28 out of 42.

8 replies on “Angel Review – “Underneath””

  1. two words…
    … Jayne Cobb!

    It’s really too bad we only get a few more episodes with the new liason.

    • Re: two words…

      … Jayne Cobb!

      It’s really too bad we only get a few more episodes with the new liason.

      Oh, you mean the Agent Smith wannabe?

      • Re: two words…

        Oh, you mean the Agent Smith wannabe?

        I Was Just Waiting For ‘Mister Angel…. We’ve Missed You….’

        Still, I Thought He Was Great.

      • Re: two words…

        … Jayne Cobb!

        It’s really too bad we only get a few more episodes with the new liason.

        Oh, you mean the Agent Smith wannabe?

        What the hell?

        Er, how could you not think of the unkillable Knowle
        Rohrer
        from the X-Files?

  2. Well it was entertaining
    But I think the next few will be better. This was really one of those fact-finding episodes setting up for the final Big Thing, although what they can do I don’t know…

    I did like Gunn’s line though ‘Alternate dimension, remember? The sun’s the non-frying variety.’

    Poor Gunn :-( I thought that was quite a nasty version of hell really. First you have to live in US-style suburban ‘bliss’ (shudder), then you get to die every day because the oven bulb keeps blowing and you have to go into the cellar. Very nasty.

    • Re: Well it was entertaining
      Having my heart yanked out daily (or hourly?) would bother me less than the infinite loop of that really awful joke with my child. If I had any awareness of the situation at all, I might toss the kid down the stairs just for a break in that action.

      • Re: Well it was entertaining

        Having my heart yanked out daily (or hourly?) would bother me less than the infinite loop of that really awful joke with my child. If I had any awareness of the situation at all, I might toss the kid down the stairs just for a break in that action.

        That was part of the thing that was so horrible about it.

  3. Amy Acker as Illyria
    I must say I was impressed about Amy’s portrayal of this character. I see she went from blathering heartland cutie to confident yet dissapointed demigoddess locked into the limited flesh of a human. This episode showed the two; though I belive with Wesly’s wishful thinking thrown in there. The makeup does aid to it. “Blue Smurf, indeed! Perhaps Psycho Smurfette? LOL

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