Dream episodes in the Buffyverse are always fun. Over on BTVS we have, season one's "Nightmares" and season four's "Restless." Here on "Angel," there's "Soul Purpose" and really I think it's the best of the three. It lets us into Angel's head and shows us a lot of his thoughts and insecurities. It also sets up the next stage of Lindsey's plan and establishes Spike as LA's new Helper of the Helpless. This is an excellent episode and I highly recommend it.
"Soul Purpose" revolves around Lindesy and Eve's evil plan. They want to bring down Angel. Eve sticks an evil little sting-ray looking demon on Angel's chest that puts him in a series of hallucinations that he can't wake up from. In his dreams, Angel worries that he's losing his place in the world and becoming hollow. (A lot of the stuff that's shown is referencing his past or an indication of things to come, which is cool.) He's especially worried that the compromises that he's made at Wolfram & Hart are making him less heroic than Spike. The longer Angel stays unconscious, the sicker he becomes.
Meanwhile, Lindsey approaches Spike and tells him that he's receiving visions from the Powers That Be. Ripping off Angel's story from season one, Lindsey says his name is Doyle and Spike has been charged with helping the helpless. Spike is not thrilled with this news. (It's especially funny how suspicious and reluctant he is, if you've seen Angel receiving similar information back in season one's "City Of..") He grudgingly saves some people and allows Doyle to rent him an apartment. Team Angel doesn't understand why Spike wants to go fight evil free lance instead of working with them. Spike insists that that he doesn't trust Wolfram & Hart. When "Doyle" says that he's gotten a vision that Angel's in trouble, Spike goes to save him from the dreams and kills the sting-ray. Team Angel finally begins suspecting Eve of plotting against them.
There are some great parts to this episode. I love Wes and Gunn's scene with Spike. Team Angel is pretty surprised to learn that he's still in LA and suddenly doin' good works. Still, the description of a demon fighter with "a medium build, black leather coat, and platinum blond hair," who asked the victims he saved if they wanna "get some hooch and listen to 'Sex Pistols' records with him" does tend to limit the suspects. Wes and Gunn end up at Spike's new apartment in an attempt to recruit him for Wolfram & Hart. When he starts listing all the reasons why he won't join them, Wes & Gunn are surprised... And a little worried. Since season two of BTVS, Spike has been able make some unexpectedly perceptive observations about the people around him. When he gets insulted (on Angel's behalf) that they've come to him without talking it over with Angel first, Gunn & Wes actually feel guilty. Spike, perpetual outsider that he is, is the only one who can see what Wolfram & Hart is doing to Team Angel. It's interesting.
I also really like trying to interpret Angel's dreams. The bear, the honky tonk, the Pylean-like field. And my personal favorite, the "Candy Moutain Wonderland" where everyone's dreams come true. Until I saw this episode, I'd never realized how insecure poor Angel is about Spike. His vision of Spike as a popular, heroic figure is somehow hilarious and sad at the same time. Angel's worried about Spike taking his place as Champion, but also about Spike winning over all his friends and taking Buffy's love. Angel's always been socially awkward and he sees Spike as someone who's charismatic & sincere. It's really interesting. (Especially since, in reality, Angel is usually the one who people wind up liking best.) Anyway, Angel stands there in his own Number 5-style outfit, while Dream-Spike modestly explains that he never fought for a reward, but because he wanted to do to the right thing. "That's why you deserve the reward." Dream-Gunn explains and, really it's one of the deepest statements of the season. In the end, Angel realizes that fighting for the Shanshu isn't the point of his mission... And, in my opinion, that's why he deserves to finally get it, no matter what "Not Fade Away" suggests.
On the down side, what's the deal with threat piece of stone that Eve gives Fred? We never get any resolution on that. And dream-Wes is wrong, vampires do get sick. Remember Dru? Also, I think Conner & Cordy should have been in Angel's dreams. They're such a big part of his motivation & sadness this season that I think it's strange that they weren't even mentioned. Finally, I love Spike, but he's STILL not helping people out of the goodness of his heart. He originally went investigating "Doyle's" vision because he was curious. After that, I really think that he's (grudging) continuing to help so he can say, "See? I'm not just doing heroic things to impress Buffy or to show up Angel." Which is STILL focusing on Buffy & Angel and not the helpless themselves. Just my opinion.
My favorite part of the episode: How incredibly BAD Spike is at Helping the Helpless. After saving a woman from a vampire attack, he starts shouting at her for wandering around alley ways in high heels and saying that she's a "moron" for not calling a cab. She goes running off, while Spike continues his tirade. "If a stranger offers you candy... Don't get in the van!" Then he starts grumbling to himself about her stupidity. "You almost made her cry," Lindesy observes and I just have to laugh.
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