Coming off of the Angelus story, "Players" is kind of a let down. Honestly, you could skip it and not miss much plot-wise. The last five minutes of the show have Team Angel busting Evil Cordy, but it'll all be rehashed next episode anyway. And the Gunn & Gwen story is pretty average monster-of-the-week stuff. Since this will be her last episode and she'll never be heard from again, I really don't see the point of introducing it all. Anyway, it's hardly the highlight of the season.
"Players" revolves around Gwen coming to Team Angel for help. She needs someone suave to help her infiltrate a fancy party. Instead of Angel, though, she wants Gunn. Gunn is happy to be asked , especially when Gwen explains that that they have to rescue a little girl named Lisa. It turns out she's lying, of course. She really wants a para-military chip thing that will deactivate her body's electrical current. Gunn helps her steal it and the two of them wind up in bed.
Meanwhile, Team Angel is still adjusting to the idea of Cordy's rapidly progressing pregnancy. Wes points out that she's had a fast-paced mystical pregnancy before (in season one's "Expecting") and that Team Angel should investigate. Cordy and Conner are insulted that the other are questioning their baby's non-evilness. Angel goes to think things over in his office. He tries to remember what he learned as Angelus and he tells Wes that he didn't kill Lilah. So the Beast's Master must've been in the hotel. They come up with a plan. Lorne says that he'll preform a cleansing spell for his empath-abilities and do a reading on the baby. Worried, Evil Cordy tries to stop him as he conducts the spell. As she steps out to stab him, Fred, Angel & Wes surround her, catching her in the act.
There are some good parts to the episode. Gunn's always pretty likable, and his new worry that he's losing his identity is very interesting. He used to lead vampire hunters, now he's just the "muscle." It's a concern that will drive his character next season. And I like that little girl standing up to him when he promises to take her home. "I AM home." Gunn's just so surprised that I just have to laugh. And I think it's interesting that the little jade figure he stole was a big cat considering the White Room conduit next season. Also, I enjoy the last scene where Team Angel finally catches Cordy. I was so scared that she'd hurt Lorne the first time I saw this episode. It was quite a relief when they finally caught on to her evil-ness instead. Watching the episode again, you can see that Angel was suspicious of her from the time she showed up pregnant. He always look sort of broody, but there's a new thoughtful glint in his eye as he looks at her throughout "Players." And Lorne's Magic Eight Ball at the end just cracks me up. "Has Cordy been a bad, bad girl?" **Definately.**
On the down side, I know that Fred and Gunn have been fighting and are SORTA broken up. But SORTA broken up, ain't broken up. I think it's a little soon for him to be sleeping with another woman.
My favorite part of the episode: Angel offering Wes sympathy for Lilah's death. It's just a really lovely moment between them.
"Players" revolves around Gwen coming to Team Angel for help. She needs someone suave to help her infiltrate a fancy party. Instead of Angel, though, she wants Gunn. Gunn is happy to be asked , especially when Gwen explains that that they have to rescue a little girl named Lisa. It turns out she's lying, of course. She really wants a para-military chip thing that will deactivate her body's electrical current. Gunn helps her steal it and the two of them wind up in bed.
Meanwhile, Team Angel is still adjusting to the idea of Cordy's rapidly progressing pregnancy. Wes points out that she's had a fast-paced mystical pregnancy before (in season one's "Expecting") and that Team Angel should investigate. Cordy and Conner are insulted that the other are questioning their baby's non-evilness. Angel goes to think things over in his office. He tries to remember what he learned as Angelus and he tells Wes that he didn't kill Lilah. So the Beast's Master must've been in the hotel. They come up with a plan. Lorne says that he'll preform a cleansing spell for his empath-abilities and do a reading on the baby. Worried, Evil Cordy tries to stop him as he conducts the spell. As she steps out to stab him, Fred, Angel & Wes surround her, catching her in the act.
There are some good parts to the episode. Gunn's always pretty likable, and his new worry that he's losing his identity is very interesting. He used to lead vampire hunters, now he's just the "muscle." It's a concern that will drive his character next season. And I like that little girl standing up to him when he promises to take her home. "I AM home." Gunn's just so surprised that I just have to laugh. And I think it's interesting that the little jade figure he stole was a big cat considering the White Room conduit next season. Also, I enjoy the last scene where Team Angel finally catches Cordy. I was so scared that she'd hurt Lorne the first time I saw this episode. It was quite a relief when they finally caught on to her evil-ness instead. Watching the episode again, you can see that Angel was suspicious of her from the time she showed up pregnant. He always look sort of broody, but there's a new thoughtful glint in his eye as he looks at her throughout "Players." And Lorne's Magic Eight Ball at the end just cracks me up. "Has Cordy been a bad, bad girl?" **Definately.**
On the down side, I know that Fred and Gunn have been fighting and are SORTA broken up. But SORTA broken up, ain't broken up. I think it's a little soon for him to be sleeping with another woman.
My favorite part of the episode: Angel offering Wes sympathy for Lilah's death. It's just a really lovely moment between them.