Grade: B+
As both Angel and Cordelia grieve over Doyle's death, they are approached by a demon by the name of Barney, a seemingly harmless creature who begs sanctuary from an unidentified pursuer who has chased him across the country. At an audition, Cordelia botches her reading as she suffers the same type of vision formerly experienced by Doyle, and realizes that when he kissed her just before his death, he passed the gift on to her. Angry and confused, she desperately attempts to rid herself of the ability, but is unsuccessful. Meanwhile, Angel heads to Barney's apartment, believing that the pursuer might be lying in wait there. His suspicion proves correct, but the mysterious character turns out to be none other than Wesley, incompetent as ever, sporting a great deal of leather and styling himself a "rouge demon hunter", while unconvincingly denying Angel's accusations of having been fired from the Watcher's council. He explains that the demon he has been tracking is not, in fact, Barney, but a large, brutal killer who tracks down those with special powers and attempts to steal their abilities. At that moment, they are attacked by the demon itself, but it escapes before they are able to kill it. Back at headquarters, Cordelia confides in Barney regarding Doyle and her newfound power, and is astonished to see Angel bring Wesley home with him. The three deduce that the killer demon has been tracking Barney with the intention of acquiring his low-level empathic ability, and that Wesley has been tracking the demon in turn. Remembering that he followed the demon through a part of Koreatown earlier that day, Wesley accompanies Angel to a seedy haunt in the neighborhood in the hope of finding the demon there. They do indeed discover the demon, only to learn that it is on the verge of death, a life-draining horn which is an essential part of its physiology having been snapped off. The two realize too late that Barney has played them, as the empathic demon, now aware of Cordelia's unique gift, kidnaps her. Returning to headquarters to find Cordy gone, Angel uses the vague details she was able to give him about her earlier vision to track her location to a hotel, while Wesley attempts to translate the few words he was able to catch from the dying demon. Realizing that Barney is the powers-collecting demon and that Cordelia, now a seer, is going to be sold at auction, the two rush to the hotel and crash the demonic auction just before Cordelia's eyes are about to be removed and sold to a representative of Wolfram and Hart. In the ensuing battle, Cordelia kills Barney, while the lawyer reports to a superior that Angel has interrupted their plans once again. Returning to headquarters, Cordelia accepts that her possession of the seer powers was Doyle's last and only gift to her, and resigns herself to keeping them, while Wesley accepts an invitation to eat breakfast with Cordelia and Angel.
Observations:
- The revelation of Cordelia's inheritance of Doyle's powers is necessary, plot-wise, but also an interesting developmental step for her character, as we see her accept inconvenient and unpleasant personal circumstances out of love and respect for someone's memory as well as a feeling of responsibility to her friends.
- Just a question, and rather a gross one... how could a seer's eyes be of any use if they are unattached to the seer? It seems that it would be necessary to keep the seer alive in order for the visions to occur, but what do I know? And yes, Wolfram and Hart have shown their too-perfect faces once again.
- Wesley was out of his element dealing with two slightly unconventional Slayers; increase that incompetence tenfold, and you have Wesley the leather-clad rogue demon hunter. I assume that he must make some progress toward coming into his own; as it is, Angel Investigations has pretty much the worst crimefighting team ever.
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