I'll preface my review by saying this: Are You Now or Have You Ever Been is one of the best episodes of Angel. It's a great hour of television period.
The episode starts with Angel asking Wesley and Cordelia to investigate the Hyperion Hotel. This hotel was the building he stumbled on in the prior episode and clearly recognized. It turns out Angel was a resident there in 1952. He discovers a demon which feeds off paranoia resides there and is manipulating the tenants into suicide, murder and all manner of mayhem.
I love this episode partly because it explores the idea that doing nothing can be just as bad as doing evil. Beyond his journey toward redemption, Angel does what he does because it's the right thing to do; because he has a unique ability to help people. Angel Investigations: We help the helpless.
An old movie buff like myself enjoys the references to Rebel Without a Cause. That's what Angel is in the 1952. He hasn't dedicated himself to the cause of good yet. This episode highlights the fact that there's nearly a hundred years between when Angel is cursed with a soul and when he surprises Buffy in an alleyway and says he wants to help her fight evil.
The journey, post-soul, from lost soul to savior was a long one.
The episode starts with Angel asking Wesley and Cordelia to investigate the Hyperion Hotel. This hotel was the building he stumbled on in the prior episode and clearly recognized. It turns out Angel was a resident there in 1952. He discovers a demon which feeds off paranoia resides there and is manipulating the tenants into suicide, murder and all manner of mayhem.
I love this episode partly because it explores the idea that doing nothing can be just as bad as doing evil. Beyond his journey toward redemption, Angel does what he does because it's the right thing to do; because he has a unique ability to help people. Angel Investigations: We help the helpless.
An old movie buff like myself enjoys the references to Rebel Without a Cause. That's what Angel is in the 1952. He hasn't dedicated himself to the cause of good yet. This episode highlights the fact that there's nearly a hundred years between when Angel is cursed with a soul and when he surprises Buffy in an alleyway and says he wants to help her fight evil.
The journey, post-soul, from lost soul to savior was a long one.