Plot Details: This opinion reveals major details about the movie's plot.

Seasons One and Two proved that Angel could stand on its own, but it still rode some of it’s sire, Buffy’s, coattails. This Season was different though. Buffy was bought by UPN, and Angel continued to show on the WB. Some people prophesied doom for Angel, but their prophecies turned out to be as hard to understand as that tricky Shanshu prophecy (i.e. they were two Seasons too early).

Angel (and gang) proved to old fans and critics that he could easily hold his own. It also did something that few shows with long story arcs pull off: it attracted new fans. Season Three pulled in new people, people who had no idea who Buffy was, or where Angel came from.

Last Season’s rendezvous between Darla and Angel, while it didn’t leave Angel soulless, did seem to leave Darla pregnant. Much of the arcs in Season Three stem from that pregnancy. Since it is impossible for one Vampire to produce offspring, the child of two Vampires is big news in the underground. Their child, Connor, is the subject of many prophecies (don’t tell me I didn’t warn you that prophecies can be very hard to decipher!). A lot of fans (myself included) weren’t thrilled with the Connor storyline, but it was hardly the only story happening…

New regular, Fred, adds another female face to Angel Investigations, and there’s soon a romantic triangle situation as Wesley and Gunn both vie for her affections. Not to be left out, is that a romantic storyline between Angel and Cordelia? What? Seriously? You have to watch it to be sold. I still can’t believe I was.

The Big Bads of the Season are amongst my favorites of the Series. Holtz is a Vampire Hunter brought back from the 18th century and he’s one of those guys you just love to hate. Plus there’s still the all-powerful Wolfram & Hart lawyers hanging around.

Angel, now shot in widescreen format, definitely finds its own bearings this Season, and dark bearings they are. The show has always been shot with darker sets and tones, but now the stories are darker too… and I like it!


* * * * * * Season Three: Episode Guide * * * * * *

3.1 ~ Heartthrob Original Airdate: September 24, 2001. Written And Directed By: David Greenwalt. 8 - 10.
Cordelia: Angel, she was the love of your life and she died, and you weren't there when that happened, you couldn't help her fight, you couldn't save her, you couldn't die with her.

Angel kills a Vampire from his past, and her boyfriend comes looking for revenge. In an awkward avoidance of saying any of the names from that other show, Angel has to deal with his grief of learning that she-who-can-no-longer-be-named has died.

3.2 ~ That Vision Thing OA: October 1, 2001. W: Jeffrey Bell. D: Bill Norton. 8 - 10.
Wesley: I suppose it's one of the unwritten laws of being a dick. Ah... ahem... a sleuth, a gumshoe, a sherlock.
Gunn: All I know is, you use the word dick again and we gonna have a problem.

Cordelia’s visions, which were never truly intended to be bestowed upon a human, are getting to be more than she can handle. Lorne tries to contact the Powers that Be to see what they can do to help. Angel does what he has to do in order to help Cordy.

3.3 ~ That Old Gang Of Mine OA: October 8, 2001. W: Tim Minear. D: Fred Keller. 8 - 10.
Gunn: No matter what else, I think I proved that you can trust me when I could have killed you and I didn't.
Angel: No. - You'll prove that I can trust you when day comes that you have to kill me - and you do.

Gunn is stuck in the middle of old friends and new ones when members of his old gang start killing harmless demons. Cordelia starts trying to help Fred adjust to life away from Pylea.

3.4 ~ Carpe Noctem OA: October 15, 2001. W: Scott Murphy. D: James A. Contner. 7 - 10.
Wesley: I don't believe it, on my desk?
Gunn: Well, it did used to be his. Maybe he was just kind of...reclaimin' it?
Wesley: How? By marking it? This isn't like him.
Cordy: What? This is totally like him. Doing the mystery dance with some cheap blonde.
Fred: Brunette, she was a cheap brunette.
Cordy: You're right, this isn't like him.

An older man in a nursing home switches bodies with Angel and tries to kill his old body (Angel), once he realizes that Angel’s body will last forever. Angel learns that Buffy is still alive via a phone call from Willow.

3.5 ~ Fredless OA: October 22, 2001. W: Mere Smith. D: Marita Grablak. 7 - 10.
Cordy: Lemme break it down for you, Fred. (imitating Buffy) Oh, Angel. I know that I am a Slayer, and you're a vampire and it would be impossible for us to be together, but --
Wesley: (imitating Angel) But... my gypsy curse sometimes prevents me from seeing the truth. Oh Buffy...
Cordy: Yes, Angel?
Wesley: I love you so much I almost forgot to brood.
Cordy: And just because I sent you to Hell that one time doesn't mean that we can't just be friends.
Wesley: Or possibly more?
Cordy: Gasp! No! We mustn't!
Wesley: Kiss me!
Cordy: Bite me!
Angel: (entering) How about you both bite me?
Fred: You're back!
Gunn: How'd it go?
Angel: I think those two pretty much summed it up.

Angel goes away to reunite with Buffy (Buffy does the same on her show). Fred learns what all the other members of Angel Investigations have learned… the true meaning of Family, and that it has little to do with blood ties.

3.6 ~ Billy OA: October 29, 2001. W: Tim Minear And Jeffrey Bell. D: David Grossman. 6 - 10.
Lilah: Cordelia Chase, right? Come to gloat?
Cordedia: I can do that anywhere. Are you gonna invite me in? Oh, wait. I'm not a vampire.

The prisoner Angel freed from Hell makes his misogynistic presence known.

3.7 ~ Offspring OA: November 5, 2001. W: David Greenwalt. D: Turi Meyer. 9 - 10.
Angel: Where is she (Darla)?
Wesley: She got away.
Gunn: We tried to stop her by hitting her fist and feet with our faces.

Wes has been researching a prophesy about a coming being, when nine-months-pregnant Darla shows up. Cordelia, who is hurt, by Angel’s dishonesty, takes Darla’s side.

3.8 ~ Quickening OA: November 12, 2001. W: Jeffrey Bell. D: Skip Schoolnik. 8 - 10.

Everyone’s getting wind of the impossible pregnancy, and what prophesies it may be fulfilling. Bad guys start showing up all over, trying to stop the approaching birth.

3.9 ~ Lullaby OA: November 19, 2001. W&D: Tim Minear. 10 - 10.
Darla: Doesn't anyone wanna sit back here with me?
Cordy: We're good.
Gunn: Yeah, it's, comfy.
Darla: I promise I won't throw anyone out of the car, Not while it's moving.
Fred: It's not that we don't trust you. I mean, we don't trust you. But the fact is, your water broke all over the back seat.
Darla: Oh.

Darla is truly conflicted as she finally loves. Angel does his best to protect her and the child, but Holtz is intent on exacting his revenge.

3.10 ~ Dad OA: December 10, 2001. W: David H. Goodman. D: Fred Keller. 7 - 10.
Cordy: (To Angel) So, you're just gonna leave?
Gunn: Sure, it's what he does best. You sure you don't wanna fire us first?

Everyone and their brother is trying to kidnap Angel’s son, while Holtz is recruiting fellow Vampire haters to assist him in ending Angel. Angel isn’t ready to accept the help of his friends in protecting and caring for his son.

3.11 ~ Birthday OA: January 14, 2002. W: Mere Smith. D: Michael Grossman. 9 - 10.

A vision leaves Cordelia in a coma, where she gets a chance to see what life would have been like for her, had she never signed on with Angel (note: she would have been a rich and famous actress)! Her demon guide tells her that she will have to give up part of her humanity and become part demon in order to withstand the visions, and gives her the choice.

3.12 ~ Provider OA: January 21, 2002. W: Scott Murphy. D: Bill Norton. 6 - 10.
Angel: Finding Holtz is our number one priority.
Gunn: I thought you said..
Angel: Finding Holtz and making money are our..
Cordelia: (clears throat loudly)
Angel: Finding Holtz, making money, and helping the helpless are our three number one priorities.

Angel becomes obsessed with making more money, getting more customers, in order to provide for his son. The new onslaught of customers spreads the gang a bit too thin, without enough people watching each other’s backs. Fred begins to earn her place at Angel Investigations.

3.13 ~ Waiting In The Wings OA: February 4, 2002. W&D: Joss Whedon. 9 - 10.
Lorne (singing to the baby): Go to sleep/ lullaby/ you've been fed and you're sleepy/ you'll be with/ Uncle Lorne/ who in no way resents not being asked to go to the ballet/ and is certainly/ not thinking/ of selling you to the first vampire cult that makes him a decent offer...

Angel takes the gang out to the ballet. He and Cordelia become possessed by the spirits of long-dead lovers. Angel is starting to realize that he has feelings for Cordelia, and is close to telling her when she gets a visit from a special Pylean friend.

3.14 ~ Couplet OA: February 18, 2002. W: Tim Minear And Jeffrey Bell. D: Tim Minear. 7 - 10.
Cordelia is reconnecting with the Groosalugg, while Angel is trying to reign in his feelings. Wes is hard at work trying to decipher the prophecy about Connor, and comes up with a very disturbing translation.

3.15 ~ Loyalty OA: February 25, 2002. W: Mere Smith. D: James A. Contner. 8 - 10.


Wesley does all he can to stop what he has translated: “The Father will kill the Son.” Holtz begins his attack on Angel, attacking his friends first. Gunn and Fred decide that they would quit their jobs if it meant having to quit dating.

3.16 ~ Sleep Tight OA: March 4, 2002. W: David Greenwalt. D: Terrence O'Hara. 10 - 10.
Lilah: How'd you find me?
Angel: Your assistant.
Lilah: I'll have his arms broken.
Angel: Already taken care of.

Angel is craving human blood, which frightens Wesley enough to kidnap Connor, so as to avoid the prophecy. Holtz kidnaps the kidnapped, however, in his plan to have his revenge.

3.17 ~ Forgiving OA: April 15, 2002. W: Jeffrey Bell. D: Turi Meyer. 7 - 10.

Angel is unable to forgive those he views as responsible for what has happened to Connor, and he begins searching for his own revenge. Cordelia is still gone with the Groosalugg. Wesley is in the Hospital, alone, suffering from a death blow.

3.18 ~ Double Or Nothing OA: April 22, 2002. W: David H. Goodman. D: David Grossman. 6 - 10.
Groosalugg: He is very fortunate to have such a woman looking after his weapon.
Lorne: I'm not touching that one!

The token “bad” episode. Gunn gets a visit from an old acquaintance. It seems Gunn once made a deal with him, and now he’s here to collect his payment. Cordelia returns, and Wesley survives, only to realize he’s been ostracized from the group.

3.19 ~ The Price OA: April 29, 2002. W: David Fury. D: Marita Grablak. 8 - 10.

The same thing that happened in an episode of Buffy happens here. A “hitchhiker” comes to this dimension, as a result of a spell Angel cast to try and get Connor back and is infesting the hotel.

3.20 ~ A New World OA: May 6, 2002. W: Jeffrey Bell. D: Tim Minear. 7 - 10.
Lilah (to Wesley): The worst spot in Hell is reserved for those who betray. So don't pretend you're too good to work for us.

Connor has returned from the hell dimension where Holtz took him, and time moved quicker there, as Connor is a teenager. Angel tries to reconnect with his son, but this proves to be very difficult.

3.21 ~ Benediction OA: May 13, 2002. W&D: Tim Minear. 8 - 10.
Fred: Okay, so he survived an unspeakable hell dimension-who hasn't?

Angel is still trying to bond with Connor, but Holtz pulls out a trump card that puts the ka-bosh on that plan.

3.22 ~ Tomorrow OA: May 20, 2002. W&D: David Greenwalt. 7 - 10.
(after sex)
Lilah: Don't think about me when I'm gone.
Wesley: I wasn't thinking about you when you were here.

Wes is no longer that stuffy Watcher guy. He’s a bad-@ss. I guess losing your friends, almost being killed, and sleeping with Lilah will do that to you. Connor believes that Angel killed Holtz and exacts his revenge. Angel and Cordelia are on their way to telling each other their feelings when Cordy gets sidetracked… seriously sidetracked.


* * * * * * DVD Extras * * * * * *

~ Commentary on Billy by Tim Minear and Jeffrey Bell
~ Commentary on Lullaby by Tim Minear and Mere Smith
~ Commentary on Waiting in the Wings by Joss Whedon
~ Outtakes
~ Deleted Scenes (Note from Stef: You absolutely have to watch the deleted scene from Waiting in the Wings which shows Wes's dream of him and Fred out on stage, performing Giselle. Fred is good. Wesley is hilarious.)
~ Page to Screen featurette which shows an episode's entire production cycle.
~ Darla: Deliver Us From Evil featurette giving us Darla’s entire history, from Buffy, episode 1 to Angel, Season 3.
~ Season 3 Overview, the status quo Cliff’s Notes version of the Season


* * * * * * Cast and Characters * * * * * *

in the opening credits…
Alexis Denisof… Wesley Wyndham-Pryce
Charisma Carpenter… Cordelia Chase
David Boreanaz… Angel
J. August Richards… Charles Gunn
Amy Acker… Winifred "Fred" Burkle

recurring characters, later to be added to opening credits…
Andy Hallett… The Host/Lorne
Vincent Kartheiser… Adult Connor

recurring characters, never to be added to opening credits…
Julie Benz… Darla
Keith Szarabajka… Holtz
Stephanie Romanov… Lilah Morgan
Mark Lutz… the Groosalugg


* * * * * * Miscellaneous Notes and Trivia * * * * * *

~ In 3.5, Fredless, Fred's mother says that her husband watched all the Alien movies except the last one when he dozed off. This is an inside joke since Alien: Resurrection was written by Joss Whedon.

~ The alley where Darla gives birth is known to the cast and crew as “Piss Alley”, according to Tim Minear during his commentary. Apparently the alley reeks of pee and sewage, and has an overabundance of rats. Fun!

~ Producer Marti Noxon sings the theme song to Cordy! She also sang a song in the Buffy Musical episode.

* * * * * * Related Reviews * * * * * *

Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Season One, Season Two ~ Season Three ~ Season Four~ Season Five ~ Season Six ~ Season Seven

Angel, Season One ~ Season Two


Recommended: Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Better than Watching TV
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older