This is a great episode that establishes some really important stuff for the rest of the series. (1) Cordy's visions are beginning to take a toll on her health. (2) Lindsey's leaving town, so Lila's now in charge of the Special Projects division of Wolfram and Hart. (3) Wolfram and Hart can reattach limbs. (That'll come back into play in season five.) All in all, "Dead End" is a fun, interesting episode with a lot of small moments that just rock. You shouldn't skip if you're watching the series on DVD.
This episode revolves around Lindsey. Since losing his hand last year in "To Shanshu in LA," he's been wearing a prosthetic. Now, Wolfram and Hart have bumped him to the top of their mystical transplant list. They have a procedure that will graft a new hand onto him via magic. Lindsey is thrilled with his new appendage. He can play the guitar again and tie his ties and shave. But there's one small problem... He thinks that the hand is "evil." It's writing "kill" on documents and not following his instructions. Lindsey begins to investigate the hand's origins.
Meanwhile, Cordy has a vision of a man putting a butcher knife through his eyes. She's becoming debilitated by the headaches and horrible images in that afflict her. Wes, Gunn and Angel are concerned, but Cordy insists that it's all part of the job. When they investigate the guy with the knife in his eyes, they realize that Wolfram and Hart is involved. The guy received an eye transplant from the same doctor who gave Lindsey his new hand. Lindsey and Angel wind up working together. They discover that Wolfram and Hart is abducting people and using their limbs and organs as "parts." Lindsey's hand was writing "kill" because its original owner is still alive in a storage tank and desperately wants to die so his suffering will end. Angel and Lindsey shut down the body part operation. Lindsey quits Wolfram and Hart and leaves town. Lila is made Wolfram and Hart's director of special projects.
There's a lot to like about this episode. I always smile when I see that family photo on Nathan's desk. His "wife" is this 20-something model, while he and his son are in these horrible, matching glasses. And I just love Angel hiring a detective to do his detective work for him. It's such a ridiculous idea that I just have to laugh. And I like Lindsey singing at Karitos. Seeing his guitar sitting in the closet was really sad and I'm happy that he could finally play it again. But, Angel's annoyance and jealousy over Lindsey's performance is just hilarious. Lorne, Gunn, Cordy and Wes are praising Lindsey and Angel just rolls his eyes, "Is everyone here drunk?" (On a side note, Lindsey's song in this episode will be sung by Eve in season five's "Hole in the World.") Anyway, it's neat to see Lindsey and Angel try and work together as "Dead End" goes on. They're bickering over who gets to beat up the witness and generally driving each other crazy. And the "Cops Suck" banner Angel hangs on the back on Lindsey's truck is just so childish and fun. Lindsey and Spike are the two "people" who really bring out Angel's hidden 12 year old. Finally, I really enjoy the scene where Lindsey quits his job. His "I've got an evil hand" rant is just great, from shooting guns, to pinching Lila, to rubbing his co-workers heads, "Charlie!" I just love it.
On the down side, I really like Lindsey so I'm sad that he'll be gone for a while. Also, did he have to kill that guy who's hand he received? Couldn't they have tried to help him, somehow? Also, I really don't get why Wolfram and Hart tried to promote Lindsey over Lila. He's betrayed Wolfram and Hart again and again. Lila's always pretty loyal to the company. She's a much better choice for the head of special projects.
My favorite part of the episode: Angel bringing Cordy everything on the take-out menu, because he couldn't remember what she likes to eat. Cordy is touched. She looks at the food, looks up at Angel and says, "I love you." Angel gives her slowest, sweetest smile and I just completely fall in love with him myself. For an immortal, vampire, bad ass... He's simply adorable.
This episode revolves around Lindsey. Since losing his hand last year in "To Shanshu in LA," he's been wearing a prosthetic. Now, Wolfram and Hart have bumped him to the top of their mystical transplant list. They have a procedure that will graft a new hand onto him via magic. Lindsey is thrilled with his new appendage. He can play the guitar again and tie his ties and shave. But there's one small problem... He thinks that the hand is "evil." It's writing "kill" on documents and not following his instructions. Lindsey begins to investigate the hand's origins.
Meanwhile, Cordy has a vision of a man putting a butcher knife through his eyes. She's becoming debilitated by the headaches and horrible images in that afflict her. Wes, Gunn and Angel are concerned, but Cordy insists that it's all part of the job. When they investigate the guy with the knife in his eyes, they realize that Wolfram and Hart is involved. The guy received an eye transplant from the same doctor who gave Lindsey his new hand. Lindsey and Angel wind up working together. They discover that Wolfram and Hart is abducting people and using their limbs and organs as "parts." Lindsey's hand was writing "kill" because its original owner is still alive in a storage tank and desperately wants to die so his suffering will end. Angel and Lindsey shut down the body part operation. Lindsey quits Wolfram and Hart and leaves town. Lila is made Wolfram and Hart's director of special projects.
There's a lot to like about this episode. I always smile when I see that family photo on Nathan's desk. His "wife" is this 20-something model, while he and his son are in these horrible, matching glasses. And I just love Angel hiring a detective to do his detective work for him. It's such a ridiculous idea that I just have to laugh. And I like Lindsey singing at Karitos. Seeing his guitar sitting in the closet was really sad and I'm happy that he could finally play it again. But, Angel's annoyance and jealousy over Lindsey's performance is just hilarious. Lorne, Gunn, Cordy and Wes are praising Lindsey and Angel just rolls his eyes, "Is everyone here drunk?" (On a side note, Lindsey's song in this episode will be sung by Eve in season five's "Hole in the World.") Anyway, it's neat to see Lindsey and Angel try and work together as "Dead End" goes on. They're bickering over who gets to beat up the witness and generally driving each other crazy. And the "Cops Suck" banner Angel hangs on the back on Lindsey's truck is just so childish and fun. Lindsey and Spike are the two "people" who really bring out Angel's hidden 12 year old. Finally, I really enjoy the scene where Lindsey quits his job. His "I've got an evil hand" rant is just great, from shooting guns, to pinching Lila, to rubbing his co-workers heads, "Charlie!" I just love it.
On the down side, I really like Lindsey so I'm sad that he'll be gone for a while. Also, did he have to kill that guy who's hand he received? Couldn't they have tried to help him, somehow? Also, I really don't get why Wolfram and Hart tried to promote Lindsey over Lila. He's betrayed Wolfram and Hart again and again. Lila's always pretty loyal to the company. She's a much better choice for the head of special projects.
My favorite part of the episode: Angel bringing Cordy everything on the take-out menu, because he couldn't remember what she likes to eat. Cordy is touched. She looks at the food, looks up at Angel and says, "I love you." Angel gives her slowest, sweetest smile and I just completely fall in love with him myself. For an immortal, vampire, bad ass... He's simply adorable.