Angel: Are You Now or Have You Ever Been (2000)
Season 2, Episode 2
9/10
Angel: The Lost Years
29 December 2015
Warning: Spoilers
Angel has had a soul for a long time now but he wasn't always a protector. In the 50s he was nothing but a wandering recluse. Coming to live in a thriving hotel he meets a mysterious woman named Judy who seems to be on the run. Turns out her life was going downhill when her employers found out she's mixed (black and white) and fired her. This was the 50s and unfortunately this was the norm.She decides to steal as much money as she can from them,takes off and tries to lay low at the hotel. On the other side of things,voices are surrounding the hotel causing fear,paranoia and murder. Everything comes to a head when everyone finds out about Judy and accuses her of a murder she didn't commit. When Angel shows up she turns the blame on him and the townspeople...er...I mean residents decide to hang him. After the smoke clears Angel is still alive obviously and the real culprit a Thesulac Demon shows itself claiming to have caused all the conflict in the hotel and gives Angel the choice of saving the lost souls he's about to feed on to which Angel responds by leaving. A very different side to Angel than we're used to. Of course Angel rectifies what happened in the present time and the episode ends with a very poignant scene with Angel and the aged Judy. Very beautiful episode and one of the best written.

Pros: Racism, paranoia,compassion for humanity and lack there of are well told themes in the episode.

Different kind of period piece episode for Angel

Angel and Judy reconciliation scene

New base of operations for Angel Investigations

Cons: Thesulac Demon was defeated way too easily

Overall Score: 9.2/10
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