User Reviews

"Five By Five" is the beginning of Faith's redemption. Her two part appearance here on "Angel" follows up the BTVS season four episodes "This Years Girl" and "Who are You?" This is actually a very cool episode, that plays on Faith's relationships with Angel and Wes. It also draws some really interesting parallels between Angel and Faith using flashbacks of Angel regaining his soul in Romania. If you're watching the show or following Faith's story line than you really should see "Five by Five."

"Five By Five" revolves around Faith coming to LA. After Angel messes up another Wolfram and Hart case, they are looking for a way to get rid of him. Faith, being a Vampire Slayer, offers them a great new opportunity to kill him. They hire Faith as an assassin and she sets out to kill Angel. First, she taunts him, then she shoots him. Angel is shocked to see Faith up and out of her coma. He and Wes want to try and help her. But when she attacks Cordy and kidnaps Wes, Angel realizes that he'll have to fight her. Meanwhile, flashbacks show Angelus killing a gypsy girl and his subsequent curse of a soul. His voice breaks as he tells Darla that he can remember the face of every person that he killed. He begs Darla for help, but she is disgusted by his soul and drives him away. Angel has to fight his way out of the darkness alone. He doesn't want Faith to go through the same thing. Faith tortures Wes. Angel shows up to save him and then Angel and Faith battle their way right out a window. They end up in an alley way, still fighting. But Faith slowly breaks down and begins to cry. She hates herself and she wants Angel to kill her. Angel end up comforting Faith as she sobs.

There are some great parts to this episode. Having Faith dancing to Rob Zombie's "Living Dead Girl" is just great. What a perfect song, considering Faith's state of mind. Also, I just love the scene in the at the end of the episode. Faith and Angel are fighting in the rain and, suddenly, you realize that she WANTS to loose. She wants Angel to kill her and end her suffering. When she begins sobbing and collapses to the ground, Angel just hugs her, sheltering her with his body as she cries. It's just a beautiful scene. Also, I really love the all the flash backs in this episode. They really show why Angel is so determined to save Faith and add to character histories. It's especially cool to see Angel right after he regains his soul. He's so broken and confused. Spike will go through something similar in BTVS season seven when he gets his soul back. (On a side not, I'm surprised that Wolfram and Hart doesn't try to hire Spike to get rid of Faith in "Sanctuary." He's the obvious choice, since he's killed two Slayers and has a history with Angel. I guess they know about Spike's little chip problem.)

In fact, there's a lot of stuff in this episode that can connect Angel to Faith AND Spike. Take, for instance, Angel imploring Darla to help him when he regains his soul and her disgusted refusal. In "Sancutary" Faith asks Angel for help and he agrees. Giving her the support that he never had as he struggled with his memories and remorse. And, in BTVS season seven's "Sleeper," Spike finally breaks down and begs for Buffy's assistance. He expects her to turn away. But, instead she promises to help him, setting Spike down a path towards redemption. It all sort of fits. Also, Angel's fear of dancing (see "She") corresponds with Spike and Faith. Spike always refers to fighting Slayers as "dancing." It's a kind of sexual metaphor for him, a mix of violence and death and sex and an exhilarating loss of control. (See BTVS season five's Fool for Love.") For Faith, dancing represents basically the same things. She always ends up on at night clubs, working out her aggression through dancing and the occasional fight. In this episode, she looses control of herself to music. (See also BTVS season four's "Who Are You?") To Angel, who constantly struggles to stay in control and to repress his sexual desires and darker violent tendencies, dancing is something to avoid. Which actually makes a lot of sense. Granted, I'm always looking for ways to work Spike into an episode, bit still... It's kind of cool.

On the down side, how does Angel get into that apartment to save Wes and fight Faith? They guy who owns the place is still alive, so wouldn't Angel need an invitation to enter? Also, when is Cordy gonna learn to listen to Dennis? He warned her about Wilson back in "Expecting" and now he tries to tell her not to come into her apartment because Faith is in there, but Cordy just doesn't get it. Finally, I'm sorry that poor Wes gets hurts in this episode. I really don't blame him for Faith's current condition. Even handing her over to the Council back in BTVS season three's "Consequences" is pretty understandable. Wes was new in Sunnydale, Faith was killing people and the Scoobies were keeping him out of the loop. Why wouldn't he follow Council protocol and arrest her?

My favorite part of the episode: Faith trying to shoot Angel with a crossbow. He catches the arrow before it can hit him, proving that --yes-- Angel CAN snatch those "wee sticks" right out of the air. (See season five's "The Girl in Question.") Spike would be very impressed.

Much like the corresponding episode from Buffy, I initially started this episode feeling a little meh. We'd just seen Faith make some profound realizations while being Buffy, but clearly that didn't stick since she beats up several people immediately upon arrival. I was disappointed. Meanwhile, we're also getting flashbacks to Angel immediately post-soul. I was glad to see that, because I'd been curious, but I had no idea why that, why now.

But I should really learn to have more faith in these shows, because as they wove together, it became more clear and more perfect. Angel didn't immediately start on a no-kill, perfect path to redemption once he'd been cursed to get his soul back. His girlfriend of, what, a hundred years kicks him out, he's starving and dirty wandering the streets, yet unable to actually kill. He screams "I'm a monster" as he gets into fights, but isn't able to go anywhere with them. He's lost and broken. But we know where he's able to go from there, and now he's actively saving people.

Similarly, we see Faith now in that lost and broken stage. She's acting out in a psychotic rage, angry and confused and out of place. She's not really ready for redemption yet. This culminates when, after she's tortured Wesley and beat up Angel, she continues fighting Angel which devolves into her childishly slapping his chest screaming, "I'm bad!" and then "Just kill me, please kill me, I'm bad." It's heartbreaking and a really great moment for us to see. This is coupled with Wesley heading out into the alley with a knife, ready to end it, and then seeing Faith break down. He drops the knife, realizing he'd been wrong again. Poor Wesley. (Though it is nice to see him developing as a person, getting stronger and more confident.)

Now that we've seen the lows that Angel had to go through to get to where he is now, and we've seen that directly paralleled with what Faith is going through, we're more ready for Faith to potentially attempt redemption. She's done some terrible things, so it would be hard for an audience to forgive without a moment like this.

Overall a really well done episode.

All these little cuts and bruises just bring out the mother in me - An emotional, well written and maybe a little overrated but certainly one of the best season 1 episodes. 'Faith' is in town and The triple L-M's (Lindsey McDonald, Lee Mercer and Lilah Moran) hire 'Faith' to kill 'Angel', but of course she wants to p!ss him off first by hitting 'Cordy' with her elbow and then kidnapping 'Wes' and torturing him with everything she can think of. The 'Faith' scenes all rocked immensely, from her dance scene to the torture scenes, best of all was of course the amazing ending where 'Faith' begs 'Angel' to kill her, the last shot was simply perfect. FAITH: Did you ever wonder if things would have been different, if we'd never met. What if you'd had Buffy and Giles would have been my Watcher? You think you'd still be here right now? Or would Giles be sitting in that chair? Or is it just like fate. You know, there is no choice. You were gonna be here no matter what. You think about that stuff? Fate and destiny. I don't. Not that any of this is your own fault. Since this may be the last chance we will have to unload on each other, I feel that it is kind of my duty to tell you that if you'd been a better Watcher, I might have been a more positive role model! Face it, Wesley, you really were a jerk. Always walking around as if you had some great big stake rammed up your English Channel. I think I want to hear you scream. WESLEY: You never will. FAITH: Admit it, Wesley, didn't you always kind of have the hots for me? (9.5 out of 10)

The Good; All of it, brilliant episode that gives Angel it's first 10/10 story. It's nearly my all time favourite Angel ep AND contains my all time favourite Angel moment, Wes coming across the weeping Faith in Angel's arms and dropping the knife.

The Bad; If you think there's anything bad in this ep, go to the doctor because you're clearly crazy.

Best line:

Cordy 'Generally you don't change a guy. Scratch the surface and what do you get? More surface!' (the events of Expecting still sting obviously)

Jeez, how did they get away with that? Faith tortures Wes, horribly. She hurts Lee too but who cares? Darla describes killing children who 'squeal like little piggies', eugh!

Apocalypses: 4

Angel Clichés

Damsel in distress; 15,

Inverting the Hollywood cliché; loathsome pimp picks up beautiful lost girl who then turns around and beats the crap out of him! Good for her!

In disguise; 4, Angel masquerades as a lawyer

DB get's his shirt off;

5 Cordy's tattoo;3

Cheap Angel; he doesn't carry any cash with him 3

Fang Gang in bondage: Wes tied to a chair Cordy: 5 Angel: 8 Wes: 2

Fang gang knocked out: Cordy and Wes Cordy: 9 Angel: 10 Wes: 4 Doyle; 1

Kills: Cordy: 3 vamps, 1½ demons Angel: 3 demons so 11 vamps, 9 and 1/2 demons, 2 humans. Doyle; 1 vamp Wes; 1/2 a demon Kate; 3 vamps Fang Gang go evil: Cordy: 2 Angel: 2

Alternate Fang Gang: Cordy: 2 Angel: 6

Characters killed: 25 Recurring characters killed; 2;

Total number of Angel Investigations: 3, Angel and Cordy and Wes

Angel Investigations shot: Angel by Faith Angel: 8, Packing heat; Angel tries to shoot Faith in the leg but fires blanks Wes; 2 Doyle; 1 Angel; 1

Notches on Fang Gang bedpost: Cordy: 2 ?+Wilson/Hacksaw Beast Angel: 1;Buffy

Kinky dinky: Lindsey offers to 'get Faith off' but she's heard that from guys before (although Lilah promises she'll impress Faith?). The guy who picks Faith up at the bus station is clearly looking to be her pimp but she gives him what he deserves. In a blow to Cesly fans CC proclaims that hell will freeze over before she has sex with Wes. Faith dancing is always a highlight. Darla and Angel(us) refer to 'playing games'.

Captain Subtext; Lilah picks Faith up in the club. Faith remarks she's not much of a talker, more of a doer

Know the face, different character; 2

Parking garages; 4,

Buffy characters on Angel; 7; Angel, Cordy, Oz, Spike, Buffy, Wes, Faith

Questions and observations; Note that when Angel catches the crossbow bolt Faith fires at him it's nowhere near his heart, she just wants to goad him into the fight. At this stage Wolfram and Hart don't realise that they need Angel for their prophecy so are quite happy to try and kill him. We have flashbacks to resouled Angel having broken up with Darla, starving but isn't able to bring himself to kill in order to eat. All of the WR&H lawyers have the same initials, LM? How does Angel enter the thugs apartment when he's not invited? PTB or is the guy squatting?

Marks out of 10; 10/10 my favourite Angel ep ever until Orpheus

I love this episode. It is so good. I just love Faith and I love that they brought her into Angel, after her time on Buffy The Vampire Slayer.

This episode takes place after an episode of Buffy The Vampire Slayer. In Buffy The Vampire Slayer Season 4 Episode 16, Faith takes over Buffy's body. After they realize what happens and they fix it, Faith goes on the run. In this episode, Faith comes to Los Angeles and is wreaking havoc. And after Angel ruins yet another one of Wolfram & Hart's cases, they set out to destroy him, once and for all. Who could do a better job of killing a vampire than a Vampire Slayer. That's right. They recruit Faith to kill Angel. She kidnaps Wesley and tortures him. Poor, Wesley. Faith is brought to self-loathing and eventually Angel finds her. But instead of killing her, or taking her somewhere, like a jail or something, he tries to help her, after she begs him to kill her.

Overall, I give this episode a 10 out of 10.

Spoilers

I can not say enough about the dramatic writing ability of Jim Kouf in the "Five by Five" Angel Episode. It was a tremendous dramatic story, that lets one see the humanity of the Faith Lehane. Faith Lehane was played by Eliza Dushku and Eliza gave the most powerful performance of any television actress. It was something to behold.

Most of the Angel shows are gimmick filled. When I say gimmick filled, I mean, they have things like, why is Angel acting so sensitive or what are these people hiding. The same was true in this show. The title probably should have been the special gimmick. The title very intelligently clues one into the ending, because the meaning of the title (I read your signal loud and clear) ties into why Angel does what he does.

What does Angel do?

It is really about what he does not do!

Faith Lehane the murderous rogue vampire slayer left Sunnydale and comes to Angels town of LA and accepted a contract to kill the good vampire, Angel. Also, because Faith is a slayer, she is considered to have the upper hand in any confrontation with a vampire, including Angel.

Angel recognizes the tortured soul in Faith Lehane as he finds out she is out to kill him. She wants him to come after her, so she can kill him but Angel avoids the confrontation. To catipalt the confrontation Faith captures Angel's friend Wesley and this forces Angel bursts on the scene and deal with Faith.

However, Angel mysteriously tells Faith he knows what she is after (Remember what the title of the show means). An epic life and death struggle ensues and as it continues, Faith belts out loud death threats and comments about being unbeatable in her most authoritative and angry voice, telling Angel, he's "gonna die!".

The long grueling fight now in a dark dank outside alley, begins to wear Faith down, and as Faith begins to tire, Angel is now certain he can avoid Faith's intentions and says, "I know what you want, and I'm not gonna do it!" This causes Faith to fight her hardest and the music builds to a crishendo over Faiths grunts and screams in the darkness. Afterwards, in the downpour of rain and through sounds of thunder and flashes of lightning, Faith tires and is totally frustrated.

Then looking like a drowned rat in the downpour, Faith steps under bright street lights and screams comments in desperation at the top of her lungs in Angel's face.

(I' ll stop the spoiler there and tell you to just see it for yourself, so you can experience it.)

I have watched this episode and especially the last 15 minutes of this episode over 200 hundred times and never get tired of it. It is always a powerful dramatic experience, despite the fact that I know the ending so well.

Faith is one of my favorite Buffy characters so her first appearance on Angel had to be good right? Thankfully this episode exceeded my expectations. Not only did we get some great character development on the Faith front but also some more pivotal backstory for Angel. Also its notable how the stories paralleled with each other. Angel with his soul restored couldn't cope with the monster he had become as well as Faith realizing the pain she's caused others wanted nothing more than a death wish for her punishment. They're a lot more alike than they seem especially with the whole torturing watchers thing.

Pros: Nice parallels to Angel and Faith's redemption stories

Dance Club fight scene

Final fight scene and last moments

Cons: None

Overall Score: 9.3/10

Five by Five is about Faith arriving in L.A. hell-bent on pain. Wolfram and Hart hires her to eliminate Angel, after he's been meddling in their affairs.

Not big on crossovers, but this episode's solid. Faith's always more suited as the villain, because whether on the side of good or not, the character's never kind-hearted. The highlights are Wesley's interactions with Faith. Him punching her in response to her forcefully elbowing Cordy and Faith respecting his action as well. Has Angel and Darla flashbacks too.