"Angel" Ground State (TV Episode 2002) Poster

(TV Series)

(2002)

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9/10
So you're a freak, Boo-Hoo
SleepTight66620 January 2007
Warning: Spoilers
So you're a freak, Boo-Hoo - Not as mind blowing as the season opener, but still pretty damn neat. This episode has my favorite teaser of the entire series, it's a flashback of little 'Gwen' going to a special school where she accidentally fries a little kid when she takes off her gloves. 'Gwen' is like a wonderful mix of 'Faith', the X-men character 'Rogue' and the Mortal Kombat character 'Raiden', she would have been an excellent add to the credits, too bad she was only used for three episodes. The scenes where she kills 'Gunn' and then revives him and makes 'Angel's heart beat followed by a hot kiss were reasons enough for me to love her. Also we get another very hot 'Wesley/Lilah' scene, it's a shame they weren't used as much as in the previous episode but still, when he goes down on her cost enough attention from critics to make it extremely memorable. I also loved the scene where 'Lilah' was watching 'Connor' and then got threatened by 'Angel' - Just this once, I'll ignore the fact that you're within fifty yards of my son. Just this once. The only thing that bothered me a little was that phantom 'Dennis' got written out, even though he was invisible and never said anything, I really loved the ghost, poor 'Dennis' now has to live (or whatever you call it) without ever knowing what happened to his beloved 'Cordy'. The absence of 'Cordy' is once again forgiven by her closing the episode, it was just exactly what you'd expect her to say. ANGEL: All those months, under the water, I kept thinking to myself I gotta get home... to Cordelia. I get back and I find out that she's gone. I keep thinking, I gotta get Cordy back home. Finally I find her, and I realize she already is home. Where she belongs. CORDELIA: What are you? Deficient? Get me out of here! (9.5 out of 10)
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8/10
Enter Gwen
katierose2952 March 2007
Warning: Spoilers
Honestly, this isn't the most important episode of the season, but I actually enjoy it a lot. Mostly, because of Angel trying to reconnect with Wes and find Cordy. The three of them are the heart of the show and I just love them together. Anyway, this episode introduces Gwen, who will be in the show later on, and it lets the rest of Team Angel know that Cordy's a Higher Power now. All and all, you should give the episode a chance.

This episode revolves around Angel's search for Cordelia. Ever since he's been out of the water, he's been desperate to find her again. His first stop is Cordy's apartment, which is about to be rented again. As Angel, Fred and Gunn try to figure out where Cordelia could be, Angel finds a picture of himself, Cordy and Wes. Determined to fix things, he goes to find Wesley. Angel tells Wes that he forgives him, but Wes is still bitter. He gives Angel the file that he's been keeping on Cordy's disappearance and leaves. Angel looks over Wes's research and follows his advice. Which basically means visiting an weird bat demon and then searching for a magical arch thing that works as an interdimentional GPS/compass. Unfortunately, the compass is about to be auctioned off for 33 million dollars. Team Angel decides to steal it.

Meanwhile, a professional thief named Gwen is also after the compass thing. She's working for an evil client of Wolfram & Hart and she gets the compass first. Gunn is hurt in the process and Fred is very upset. Angel is frustrated and goes to Lilah for information. She agrees because (1) Angel threatens her and (2) he can tell that she's dating Wes, which sort of freaks her out a little. She gives Angel the name of Gwen and her client. When Angel catches up with them, he and Gwen fight. Then the client tries to double cross Gwen and kill them both. Angel has to fight some bad guys and he & Gwen sort of bond. She gives him the compass thing to look for Cordy. Angel finds out that Cordelia is a Higher Power and reluctantly accepts the fact that she's gone. But in magic, floaty world, Cordy is ready to come home... NOW!

There are some good parts to this episode. I really like the scene between Wes and Angel. There's so much history and pain and genuine brotherly love between them. Angel's trying to mend fences. His time under the water has given him some perspective. When he looks that photo in Cordelia's apartment of himself, Cordy and Wesley, you can just see Angel's resolve to get his family back. But Wes is still hurt and distrustful. Angel's surprised to see that Wes is running his own crew of rouge demon hunters and that he doesn't seem to need Angel Inc. anymore. Only Wes's new fighters are pretty much faceless and he only calls them by their last names. He's distancing himself from them, because of his experiences with Team Angel. Wesley is angry and disillusioned, but on some level he still sees himself as part of Angel Inc. He's been researching Cordy's disappearance and he found Angel, because he still loves them. He wants to be back with his friends, he just doesn't know how. Watching his scene with Angel, I feel so bad for Wes and I just want him back at the Hyperion where he belongs. And Angel's so dedicated to finding Cordy. When the bat demon says that Cordelia doesn't need him anymore, Angel responds, "I need her" and it just breaks my heart. Also, I like the scene where Fred, Gunn & Angel brake into the auction house and find Gwen. I just have to laugh when Angel tries to explain the magical compass thing's powers and she starts signing "It's fun for a girl and a boy." Finally, it's nice that Gunn and Fred had a real emotional scene. She's internalizing all the stress that she's been under, trying to hold everything together. When she starts breaking down and sobbing, Gunn tries to comfort her, hugging her as she cries. It's a nice little moment.

On the down side, I think this is the last episode with Phantom Dennis, which makes me sad. I wish that he'd come back in season five, when Spike is a ghost, too. Also, I never really warm up to Gwen. She kind of a dead-end character, who never really fulfills her potential on the show. I still don't get why Angel kisses her during their fight. Basically, I'll accept him kissing Cordy and Buffy. Anybody else is just wrong. (This means you, Nina in season five.)

My favorite part of the episode: Fred's drawings. She has these silly little cartoon ghosts and slant-y roofed buildings as she tries to explain her plan to rob the auction house. Angel, meanwhile, sketches beautifully realized portraits of Cordy and the magical compass do-dad. Fred's annoyed, astonished reaction just makes me laugh. Probably because I'm a terrible artist, too.
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7/10
Episode 2: Electric Boogaloo
Samuel-Shovel15 October 2018
Warning: Spoilers
In "Ground State", Angel learns of an artifact that can help him figure out the whereabouts of Cordelia. In the gang's quest to steal it from its high security vault, Angel comes across another thief, a superhuman with the power to control electricity. The thief, Gwen, ends up with the prize after momentarily zapping Gunn to death before bringing him back. She attempts to hand it over to her employer who attempts to kill her. Angel comes in and saves the day. No longer receiving compensation for it, she gives the artifact to Angel. He uses it to discern that Cordy has transferred to a higher plane.

Meanwhle Connor roughs it on the streets and is watched by Angel and Wolfram & Hart. Lilah and Wesley's romantic entanglement continues. Angel makes up with Wes but the latter seems uninterested, now being used as a contractor for WR&H.

After an incredible season opener, the follow-up delivers as another solid episode. The new character of Gwen is intriguing yet perplexing. The Buffy-verse has never really had out-and-out superheroes. Buffy and the other slayers in the world are the closest thing to it. Everyone else is either a demon, a vampire, a ghost, a witch, etc. But Gwen (at least for now) appears to be just an ordinary human with superpowers. There's no magic spell around her or anything like that. We even got her X-Men-like origin story in the cold open. It seems like a weird wrinkle to introduce so deep into a world's narration.

But besides this, season 4 seems to be developing smoothly. Wes's character arc is quickly becoming the most fascinating throughout the entire Buffy-verse. From his bookish demeanor when first introduced on BtVS, he has come a long, long way. I'm excited to see what's in store for the former "rogue demon hunter".
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10/10
Thank you for Gwen
limetalhead30 September 2008
Warning: Spoilers
Not only one of the best but one of my favorite episodes of the season. First of all, we're introduced to Gwen. As a guy, do I really have to explain why that's so great? Aside from how hot she is, she actually is one of the more unique guest characters to appear in any season. To have a hot chick with superpowers who is a professional thief. Not something you normally see anywhere on TV. When she and Angel kiss after she unintentionally makes his heart beat; that was great.

Secondly, we get another great and very hot love scene with Wesley and Lilah. The two of them hooking up was a great plot twist because of the whole sleeping with the enemy angle. Not to mention how ridiculously hot Lilah is and how great she talks dirty. BEST PART OF THE EPISODE! WES: Shut up Lilah. LILAH: Make me. And then he goes down on her. Freakin' sweet.

This episode would've been perfect if Gwen hadn't revived Gunn after she fried him in the vault. Ever since he hooked up with Fred and later turned his back on Wes, I had been waiting to see him get what was coming to him. Gunn dying would've fit that scenario perfectly. Unfortunately, not everything can be good.

To end with Angel seeing Cordy in the beautiful place and deciding he shouldn't get her out was one of the sweetest moments. And Cordy's line of "What are you, deficient? Get me out of here" is just as great as her last line in Deep Down of "G-d, I am so bored."
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7/10
Angel does heist movie
Joxerlives14 March 2012
Warning: Spoilers
GROUND STATE

The Good; Wonderfully clever opening, you think Gwen's parents and headmistress are uncaring but actually they love her, they can just never touch her no matter how much they want to. Also love Angel's drawing and Fred's show, especially her little ghost.

The Bad; Gwen is fab, the rest of it is pretty stupid truth be told

Best line: Gunn; (about their chances) "Operation chance in hell!"

Apocalypses: 5

Angel Clichés In disguise; 8

DB get's his shirt off; 12

Cordy's tatt; 10

Fang Gang in bondage: Cordy: 5 Angel: 12 Wes: 6 Gunn; 4 Lorne; 3 Fred; 2

Fang gang knocked out: Cordy: 12 Angel: 15 Wes: 5 Doyle; 1 Gunn; 1 Lorne; 3 Groo; 1 Connor; 1 Fred; 1

Kills: 1 demon for Wes Cordy: 5 vamps, 3 demons Angel; 41 vamps, 57 and 1/2 demons, 7 humans Doyle; 1 vamp Wes; 13 demons+3 vamps, 2 humans Kate; 3 vamps Faith; 16 vamps, 6 demons, 3 humans. Gunn; 11 vamps+ 11 demons. Groo; 1 demon Fred; 3 vamp Connor; 4 vamps and 1 demon

Fang Gang go evil: Cordy: 2 Angel: 2 Gunn; 1 Wes; 1

Alternate Fang Gang: Cordy: 2 Angel: 8 Fred; 1

Characters killed: 46

Recurring characters killed; Gunn dies for a few seconds but then comes back. 8;

Total number of Angel Investigations:3 Angel, Gunn, Fred

Angel Investigations shot: Angel: 11 Wes; 1

Packing heat; Wes; 6 Doyle; 1 Angel; 2 Gunn; 1

Notches on Fang Gang bedpost: Lilah and Wes Cordy: 4 ?+Wilson/Hacksaw Beast+Phantom Dennis+Groo Angel: 5; Buffy, Darla and The Transcending Furies Wes; 3; Virginia, the bleached blonde and Lilah Gunn; 1 Fred Fred; 1 Gunn Groo; 1Cordy

Kinky dinky: Gwen RRRRRRRRRR! Love a bad girl in leather/PVC. And you can see her nipples through her outfit when she enters the bar. Justine described Lilah as 'incredibly loud' during sex and there's some belt snapping action between her and Wes. Lilah describes herself as Mrs Robinson and indeed Connor will develop a thing for older women. Gunn likes it when Fred is in charge. Gwen describes Angel as handsome and Gunn as 'Denzel' which certainly must have pleased him. Gwen describes Angel as a great kisser (the Furies were right) and sits astride him.

Captain Subtext; Fred's plans include going to prison and becoming somebody's bitch. She hopes her cellmate will be gentle (see also What the fanficcers thought). Gwen seems very close to her cute blonde Marlene Detreich-like female butler. Gwen calls Fred honey.

Know the face, different character; 4

Parking garages; 5,

Guantanamo Bay; Angel beats the building plans from a snitch

Buffy characters on Angel; 16 Wetherby, Collins and Smith. Angel, Cordy, Oz, Spike, Buffy, Wes, Faith, Darla, Dru, The Master, Anne, Willow and Harmony

What the fanficcers thought; Read an interesting one where Fred does indeed go to prison and becomes someone's bitch. Lucky for her that someone is Faith. Also the last appearance (or not) of Phantom Dennis. Read a lovely fic once where CC in 'You're welcome' goes to visit Dennis and tell's him that she loves him and it's time to pass over to the other side which indeed he does, his love for her all that was keeping him on Earth.

Questions and observations; Wes has his own organisation with 3 employees, maybe that's why Gunn and Fred are broke, he's taking their business. The Chandler auction house is of course a homage to LA author Raymond Chandler. Angel's 2 previous break-ins were in The Shroud of Rhamon and Choices in Buffy. Neither is very successful. The squatter camp Connor goes to is the old power station you see in countless movies and TV.

So why does no one wonder about Groo? Possibly because he let Lorne, Fred, Gunn know of his plans or maybe he's been in touch with them since?

Marks out of 10; 7/10 but only due to Gwen really
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7/10
My first impressions
antonemilamundsen5 January 2024
Warning: Spoilers
Really thought we were finally going to lose Charles Gunn for a sec there... :/ I still don't think he adds anything of value to this show, and he kind of drags the interest I had for Fred down as well.

Hope this new gal, Gwen, replaces Cordelia as Angel's love interest. Cordelia and Angel is a match that absolutely does not work for me in any way. Cordelia hasn't been a great character since she was back in Sunnydale, if you ask me; I am still waiting for her to prove herself in this show, because Angel falling in love with her does NOT feel earned at this point, and I'm beginning to doubt that it ever will.

Cordy can stay in heaven for all I care, and Gunn should have joined her. At least that would have given Fred a chance to finally do something other than be the nerd, exposition-spewer. We got a small glimpse of that in this episode, but imagine how much darker you could go with her if Gunn actually died there. I think that could really hit hard.

So, what did I like? Well, Wesley, first and foremost. I am loving his darker side and it is kind of the anchor of this season so far, and the last episodes of season 3, for me. Him saving Angel, but being almost apathetic about it, beacause the only reason he is doing it is because he knows Angel is needed. That's very cool. Also, keeping Justine captive in a sound-proof room, with nothing but a bucket to fill? I'm liking this Wesley.

I also really liked the way Angel handled the confrontation with Connor. Finally, we get to see this parenting-side of him, and not the making goo-goo-ga-sounds, and saying "Look at me, I'm Mr. Dad! :D" side.

So, still not keen on Cordy or Gunn, and I am getting very excited to see where this story takes Wesley. Angel himself is fine, but I hope he gets more agency this season, he felt kind of stale and did way too much cooing of that baby in last season.

I am going to assume all of my opinions here are controversial, but there you go.
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