Release

Template:Angelepisode

Release is the fourteenth episode of the fourth season of Angel and the eightieth episode overall. Written by Sarah Fain, Elizabeth Craft and Steven S. DeKnight and directed by James A. Contner it was originally broadcast on March 12, 2003 on the WB network.

Synopsis

As a battered and bloodied Faith recovers from her bloody showdown with The Beast at Wesley's apartment, they debate why Angelus would suddenly kill the Beast and allow the sun to return to Los Angeles. Meanwhile, Angelus surprises Fred by showing up back at the hotel where he demands information on who is directing the Beast and steals her research materials. Fred tries to shoot him with a tranquilizer dart but accidentally hits Lorne instead. Faith and Wesley try to track Angelus down by going to the demon bar where he hangs out, which leads to Faith having another showdown with Angelus in a deserted museum. Cordelia convinces Connor to keep her sudden pregnancy a secret from everyone else while she, a vessel of the evil power, telepathically contacts Angelus to recruit him for her cause.Template:Clear

Background Information

Production

• After 44 appearances as a guest star Andy Hallett (Lorne) is finally added to the opening credits in this episode.

Broadcast

• This is one of the longest intro (before opening theme), at 5:27. There is one other episode in season 3 with over 5 minutes too. (citation needed)

Quotes

Demon: "Look, I'm telling ya, I don't know nothing. On my mother's tumor." [notices a demon sneaking up behind Wesley and Faith, intending to attack them] "And even if I did, I'd never yak to a couple of flesh-bags that are about to get their internal organs sucked out of their ..."

Wesley: [shoots his shotgun behind him, without even looking, nailing his would-be attacker in the face] "Strom demon. Face should grow back." [cocks the shotgun] "Eventually."

Faith: "Think yours will?"

Demon: "Oh, that Angelus. Yeah, in here all the time running his mouth. 'Look at me, I'm so evil.' Real jackass. Never liked him. I'm on your side."

Angelus: "Uh-oh! Vampire with a gun!"

Continuity

• When Wesley and Faith are looking for Angelus, they discover that people are getting a high from vampire bites. This concept plays a similar role in the Season 5 episode of Buffy Into the Woods
• The description of Angel talking to himself is similar to the method of the First, yet no one suggests the First could be behind the apocalyptic events. This suggests Buffy and the Scoobies haven't attempted to contact Angel about their battle with the first. One would think after learning that L.A. was blacked out that some effort would be made to contact Angel on the assumption it was an act on behalf of the First. It's not as if Buffy hasn't considered bringing Angel into her war against the First, since she asks him to open a second front later. There also doesn't seem to be much sharing of notes in the next episode when Willow arrives.