"Angel" You're Welcome (2004)

User Rating:

9.1/10   

Director:

David Fury

Writers:

Joss Whedon (creator) &
David Greenwalt (creator) ...

TV Series:

"Angel" (1999)

Original Air Date:

4 February 2004 (Season 5, Episode 12)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Fantasy | Thriller

Plot:

In the 100th episode, Cordelia awakens from her magically induced coma and returns to help Angel fight...

Plot Keywords:

Vampire | Vampire Slayer | Redemption | Actress | Supernatural

US TV Schedule:

Fri. Nov. 13

6:00 AM

TNT

You're Welcome

#5.12

Cast

David Boreanaz	...	Angel
James Marsters	...	Spike
J. August Richards	...	Charles Gunn
Amy Acker	...	Winifred 'Fred' Burkle
Andy Hallett	...	Lorne
Alexis Denisof	...	Wesley Wyndam-Pryce
Charisma Carpenter	...	Cordelia Chase
Christian Kane	...	Lindsey McDonald
Sarah Thompson	...	Eve
Mercedes McNab	...	Harmony Kendall
Ryan Alvarez	...	Demon Slave
T.J. Thyne	...	Lawyer
Mark Colson	...	Izzy

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Company:

Mutant Enemy

Trivia:

Charisma Carpenter turned down their initial offer to appear as Cordelia. She said she later agreed to come back in order to give fans some closure to the character.

Quotes:

Cordelia: [to Lindsey] Sweetie, your epidermis is showing.

My favorite "Angel" episode

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

I'm really not a person who cries at TV, but this episode just rips me apart. The last five minutes- from the Cordy saying good-bye to Wes in the elevator, to Angel holding that phone receiver all alone in his office- is so heartbreaking and beautiful that it just blow me away. I end up crying every time I see it and, trust me, I've seen it A LOT. It's, hands-down, one of the best scenes in the Buffyverse. "You're Welcome" is the show's 100th episode and it makes the most of it. Not only does it bring Cordy back, but it also ends Lindsey's "Doyle" plan and gives poor Angel yet another reason to be depressed. It's flat-out great television.

This episode revolves around Cordelia waking up from her coma. Angel is feeling worn out from his time at Wolfram & Hart and tells the others that he's quitting. Suddenly, from her hospital bed, Cordy sees visions of Angel, Lindsey's tattoos and a fight. Her eyes open and she's back to old, non-possessed Cordy again. Angel is thrilled to have her back and quickly brings her to see everyone at Wolfram & Hart. Cordy isn't thrilled that he's CEO of "Hell Inc." and tries to remind Angel that he's a hero. She and Wes also start looking into her vision and realize the tattoos are a spell for hiding.

Meanwhile, Lindsey and Eve are worried that Cordy is back and pointing Angel in their direction. Spike is healing from having his hands chopped off in "Damage" and Lindsey remarks that he once lost a hand, too. Then he sends Spike off with a phony vision about Cordy being evil. Spike bites Cordy, realizes that she's not evil, then gets hit by Angel a bunch of times. The good news is, Angel soon puts together the missing hand, "urban cowboy" clues and pegs this faux-Doyle as Lindsey. Lindsey, seeing that his plan is imploding, tries to start Wolfram & Hart's failsafe devise, which will kill Angel. As Wes, Lorne, Gunn and Fred work to undo the tattoos, Spike, Angel and Cordy head off to the basement to find Lindsey. As Fred watches Wes work, she begins to see him in a new way. (FINALLY!) Angel and Lindsey fight, and Angel remembers his mission (for now.) As the tattoos vanish the Senior Partners are able to "see" Lindsey and they pull him into an alternate dimension. Eve leaves Wolfram & Hart to hide. And everything seems perfect. . . Except it's not. It turns out that Cordy hasn't told Angel everything. She tearfully explains that can't stay, she's just here to get "her guy" back on track and she has to go. Then she kisses Angel good-bye. The phone rings. Angel answers it and it's the hospital saying that Cordy has died. She never woke up. She came back to help him find his path again and now she's gone.

There are so many great parts to this episode. Harmony torturing Eve for the team. . . Fred finally seeing Wes in a more romantic light. . . Spike playing Donkey Kong. . . Really, it packs so much cool stuff into one episode. And I especially appreciate how much of the show's history is addressed. Doyle, Darla, Conner, Lila, and Jasmine are mentioned. Lindsey losing his hand back in "To Shanshu in LA" becomes a major plot point. Cordy & Angel falling in love and their ruined meeting on the cliffs back in season three becomes the subject of a beautiful "what if?" talk between them. Even Harmony trying to kill Team Angel back in season two's "Disharmony" is brought up again. And the Hyperion is mentioned. It just all works really well.

Cordy waking up is really the high point of the episode, though. Angel & Wes's overjoyed reactions to having Cordy back again are so cute and heartfelt. I've always seen the three of them as the heart of the show and their relationship, going all the way back to BTVS season three, is just so sweet that I just have to smile. And then, as the episode draws to a close and it becomes clear that Cordy won't be able to stay, it just breaks my heart. Seriously, this d*nm episode just isn't satisfied until it leaves me sitting on the sofa, crying like an idiot. As Cordy gives Wes a misty smile and says that he still "works the best mojo in town," I'm instantly reminded of the all the times they "worked the books" in the past seasons and my eyes start tearing up. Then, as Cordy tries to explain to Angel why she's on another path and kisses him good-bye, I really start crying. The two of them are just so RIGHT together. It's so sad and unfair. Then, in a final effort to send me running for the tissues, there's that phone call. As Angel picks up the telephone, Cordy quietly says, "Oh and you're welcome." It quickly becomes apparent that it's the hospital calling to tell Angel that Cordy has died. He insists that their wrong and turns to look at Cordy. . . But she's vanished. "Thank you." Angel whispers to the empty room and I'm just sobbing. Seriously, I'm crying right now as I write this. I know, I know, I'm a dork. But, COME ON! The scene is friggin' brilliant.

On the down side, I miss Cordy and this episode just reminds me how much. Also, I'm not sure why Cordy isn't discouraging Angel from staying at Wolfram & Hart. The place is killing him and he needs to get out. She should know that.

My favorite part of the episode: Angel and Cordy watching the video of Doyle from season one's "Hero." Such a perfect way to remember where the series began and reinforce the hard choices that have come along the way.