This is a pretty entertaining episode that really highlights the growing romance between Angel and Cordy. He'll break his own code, risk the lives of himself and others, and even work with Wolfram and Hart to keep to keep her save. (Interestingly, he'll do very similar things to keep Conner safe in season four.) Angel doesn't want to lose anyone else he loves and he's beginning to love Cordy as more than just a friend. I really like their relationship and it's cool to watch it develop. "That Vision Thing" will also tie in with the later episode "Billy," so if you're watching the season on DVD you probably shouldn't skip this episode.
"That Vision Thing" revolves around Cordelia's gifts suddenly turning dangerous. She gets a vision of a demon that leaves her physically hurt. Huge scratches cover her body. She tries to cover up her injuries and sends Angel off to find the coin that the demon was guarding. Once he gets it, though, Cordy has another vision. This one leaves her face covered in blisters and she can't hide it. Angel is horrified that the visions are hurting Cordy. He goes to find the key thing from her vision, while Wes works on a plan to cure Cordy. Lorne comes to try and "read" Cordy. She's scared that if the visions go away, Angel won't need her anymore. Angel tells Cordy that he needs HER, not the visions. Cordy finally agrees to let Lorne try and help. Something goes wrong, and Lorne goes flying across the room. Cordy's arm develops terrible burns as she has another vision, this one of a guy trapped in a hell dimension. It soon becomes clear that her new visions aren't from the PTB... They're being sent from Wolfram and Hart.
Angel goes to confront Lilah and learns that she's hired a psychic to "hack" into Cordy's brain. Lilah says that unless Angel agrees to help, she'll let Cordy die. It seems that one of her clients, a guy named Billy, is imprisoned in an hell dimension. Lilah wants Angel to get Billy out. Angel agrees. The coin and the key are actually an dimensional opening. It allows Angel to jump into the hell dimension and get to Billy. He fights the big, armored demon, Skip, who's holding Billy captive. Then Angel sets up a trade with Lilah. As soon as she has her psychic remove the spell from Cordy, Angel sets Billy free. Then he kills the psychic and warns Lilah never to come after Cordy again. Cordy is concerned when she learns what Angel did. She points out that they don't know what Billy's capable of or what he did to get send to that hell dimension. Angel says that he can't worry about that and that whatever it costs, it's worth it to have Cordy safe.
There are some good parts to this episode. I like the scene with Gunn, Wes and Angel riding around in Angel's car, checking herbal shops. Gunn's especially funny, muttering that they really need to start searching the last place on the list first, since that's always where the mystical do-dad ends up. And I like Fred reading the phone book. "'H' is such an interesting letter." She's a really great addition to the cast. Wes sort of smiles at her and you can already see that he's falling for her. Finally, I really love how this episode highlights Angel and Cordy's relationship. They've really come a long way since the first season and their friendship is growing into something more. Cordy is more than Angel's assistant or conduit or friend. He's growing to love her. I actually don't agree with Angel freeing Billy from that hell dimension. But, I understand why he did it. Angel can't loose Cordelia and he'll risk anything and anyone to keep her safe. It's very sweet and I think it's actually very true to his character's evolution. Angel needs Cordy. She grounds him and gives him a reason to fight.
On the down side, I can't believe that Angel didn't kill Lilah in this episode. Don't get me wrong, I love Lilah. She's so snarky and bad, that it's impossible not to enjoy all her scenes. But she's evil and dangerous and a continuing threat to Team Angel. Angel never should have given into her demands to rescue Billy and he really should have gotten rid of Lilah now, before she comes up with a plan that he can't circumvent so easily.
My favorite part of the episode: Skip. I just like that guy.
"That Vision Thing" revolves around Cordelia's gifts suddenly turning dangerous. She gets a vision of a demon that leaves her physically hurt. Huge scratches cover her body. She tries to cover up her injuries and sends Angel off to find the coin that the demon was guarding. Once he gets it, though, Cordy has another vision. This one leaves her face covered in blisters and she can't hide it. Angel is horrified that the visions are hurting Cordy. He goes to find the key thing from her vision, while Wes works on a plan to cure Cordy. Lorne comes to try and "read" Cordy. She's scared that if the visions go away, Angel won't need her anymore. Angel tells Cordy that he needs HER, not the visions. Cordy finally agrees to let Lorne try and help. Something goes wrong, and Lorne goes flying across the room. Cordy's arm develops terrible burns as she has another vision, this one of a guy trapped in a hell dimension. It soon becomes clear that her new visions aren't from the PTB... They're being sent from Wolfram and Hart.
Angel goes to confront Lilah and learns that she's hired a psychic to "hack" into Cordy's brain. Lilah says that unless Angel agrees to help, she'll let Cordy die. It seems that one of her clients, a guy named Billy, is imprisoned in an hell dimension. Lilah wants Angel to get Billy out. Angel agrees. The coin and the key are actually an dimensional opening. It allows Angel to jump into the hell dimension and get to Billy. He fights the big, armored demon, Skip, who's holding Billy captive. Then Angel sets up a trade with Lilah. As soon as she has her psychic remove the spell from Cordy, Angel sets Billy free. Then he kills the psychic and warns Lilah never to come after Cordy again. Cordy is concerned when she learns what Angel did. She points out that they don't know what Billy's capable of or what he did to get send to that hell dimension. Angel says that he can't worry about that and that whatever it costs, it's worth it to have Cordy safe.
There are some good parts to this episode. I like the scene with Gunn, Wes and Angel riding around in Angel's car, checking herbal shops. Gunn's especially funny, muttering that they really need to start searching the last place on the list first, since that's always where the mystical do-dad ends up. And I like Fred reading the phone book. "'H' is such an interesting letter." She's a really great addition to the cast. Wes sort of smiles at her and you can already see that he's falling for her. Finally, I really love how this episode highlights Angel and Cordy's relationship. They've really come a long way since the first season and their friendship is growing into something more. Cordy is more than Angel's assistant or conduit or friend. He's growing to love her. I actually don't agree with Angel freeing Billy from that hell dimension. But, I understand why he did it. Angel can't loose Cordelia and he'll risk anything and anyone to keep her safe. It's very sweet and I think it's actually very true to his character's evolution. Angel needs Cordy. She grounds him and gives him a reason to fight.
On the down side, I can't believe that Angel didn't kill Lilah in this episode. Don't get me wrong, I love Lilah. She's so snarky and bad, that it's impossible not to enjoy all her scenes. But she's evil and dangerous and a continuing threat to Team Angel. Angel never should have given into her demands to rescue Billy and he really should have gotten rid of Lilah now, before she comes up with a plan that he can't circumvent so easily.
My favorite part of the episode: Skip. I just like that guy.
