Angel (TV Series) A Hole in the World (2004) User Reviews

A series highlight

[hannibal_lusty · 10/10 · 13 October 2008]

It all starts with a simple question: "Who would win in a fight, Cavemen or Astronauts?". In a regular show this would be just a petty argument for comedy's sake but as this is written by Joss Whedon it serves a higher purpose as the thematical exposition of the episode. The debate literally manifests when the smart, reasonable and science-minded Fred is infected by an ancient and violent primal force slowly hollowing her out to take control of her body. As Fred lays dying each member of the group begin an all out struggle for Fred's life and as they sink deeper into despair the violent and unreasonable cavemen inside of them begin to take control of their actions. When Spike and Angel find out that killing thousands of people is the only way to save Fred the cavemen in them comes out as Angel states he will chose Fred over the world. However as desperate as they become, ultimately the astronaut of logic and reason wins leaving Angel and Spike powerless to stop Fred's death. As Spike says "there's a hole in the world" and the viewer can't do anything but agree. It's unjust that Fred is killed. A girl who lived in a cave for years where her kind were slaughtered like cattle is finally brought down by, as she puts it, "some monster flue". It's unfair and unjust. The world is imperfect i. e. there's a hole in it. But in the end instead of letting go and giving in to an animalistic anger Spike is forced to simply accept the worlds flaws and continue to fight the good fight, a response of reason not of anger. A score for the astronauts and a score for Angel for producing one of the most beautiful and tragic things shown on television.

Bittersweet, just the way I love it.

[Darkphoenix1988 · 10/10 · 26 October 2008]

Along with "You're Welcome" and "Not Fade Away", this episode of one of my all time favorite television series of all time, is one I would just watch over and over again, growing more aware of the little hidden meanings and character developments each time. Amy Acker scored some major points with me in this episode and so did the rest of the cast, especially Lorne, and (I'm sorry) Eve. How weak and helpless the little witch has become... I just tingled with delight when they found her, all begging and looking like the wrong end of dog. Hehehe. Back to Fred, what can I say, the girl went out with a bang. They do kill her character off, but before they do, they show us how much of a fighter and how brave the "background bookworm sweetheart" really is. Her final scenes are heartbreaking, and then, oh, what's this? A blue goddess emerges! Gotta hand it to Joss, there has never been a better way to kill off a character than to bring in a cold, emotionless, über cool being into the picture to (literally) replace her. Throw my emotions into a blender and put in on high speed, will ya? Damn I love this show.

Wow. (*Spoiler, of course...).....

[jpowell180 · 10/10 · 14 May 2010]

Joss has done it again. This is one of the most heartwrenching eps of Season 5 of ATS. I realize that Winifred Burkle may have her detractors, but to them I must say, who can NOT find an uber-genius physicist chick like her hot? Fred was one of those shy-type girls who was made especially shy and with low self-esteem by her nightmarish experience in Pylia, but she overcame it and became what Wesley described as a superhero (Fred)"I walk with heroes" (Wes) "You ARE one.". The transition from Fred Burkle to Illyria is a harsh one, but one that cannot be held with anything but admiration due to the magnificent work of actress Amy Acker. Amy portrays both Fred and Illyria flawlessly - and portrays Illyria with bone-chilling dread while at the same time enabling us to feel the heartbreak at the loss of Fred. Fred was one of my favorite female characters of ATS, and frankly, she was the long-haul, marriage-type girl. I truly hope, in whatever form (comic?) that Joss Whedon will find a way to permanently bring back Winifred Burkle.

Wesley, why can't I stay?

[SleepTight666 · 10/10 · 3 May 2007]

Wesley, why can't I stay? - This episode may possibly be my favorite of the 5th season, well, this or 'Not Fade Away'. Although I am not one of 'Fred's biggest fans, I mean, she doesn't bother me (most of the time) but I just don't think she's that interesting, especially during the most part of season 5 where she was often simply a background character. But the terrific acting from the cast, especially miss Amy Acker and Alexis Denisof and the witty, yet depressing dialog of Joss Whedon is what makes this episode so special. Killing off 'Fred' and introducing 'Illyria' was to me, the best thing they did the 5th season. It brought so much angst and powerful scenes to the last couple of episodes, but I have to say that it was heart-breaking watching 'Fred' die, in pain, and slowly while her organs cook. The wittiness of this episode was the whole 'Astronauts vs Cavemen' arguments, though Cavemen win, obviously. 'Gunn's storyline was also pretty good, for a change, he talks to the conduit that is dressed up as him and even offers his own life for 'Fred', but the conduit reveals that they already have 'Gunn's soul. We also meet 'Drogyn', he guards a hole in the world, he says that there is a way to save 'Fred' but if they do, it will cost the lives of a lot of other people - Screw the world. But after a lot of struggle, 'Fred' dies in 'Wesley's arms and turns blue. FRED: I have to work. WESLEY: You have to lie down. FRED: I am not, I am not the damsel in distress. I am not some case. I have to work this. I lived in a cave for 5 years in a world where they killed my kind like cattle. I am not going to be cut down by some monster flu. I am better than that! But I wonder... how very scared I am. WESLEY: I swear on my life, we will stop this, but you must be back in bed. That's where I need you to fight. FRED: Like I'm 6 years old? This is a house of death. (10 out of 10)

Wes was screwed again

[limetalhead · 10/10 · 2 September 2008]

This was by far and away the saddest episode in the series. Why did they have to kill Fred? She was so cute. I waited for so long to see Wes & Fred hook up and they kill her right after it happens. Fred finally realized that Wesley was perfect after wasting all that time with Gunn in Season 4. Seeing her slowly be eaten away at and die in Wesley's arms actually made my eyes water. What's bad enough is that Wes again gets the shaft. Virginia breaks up with him while he's recovering from getting shot in season 2. Justine cuts his throat and everyone abandons him in season 3. He has to chop Lilah's head off after a possessed Cordy kills her in season 4. However, Wes never had anywhere near the feelings for Lilah that he did for Fred. The fact that there was nothing Angel & the gang could do to save her was such a downer. As if killing off Cordy wasn't bad enough, we are forced to lose yet another pretty face to a BS storyline. This episode almost made me want to stop watching the show.

Favorite episode and yet least favorite..

[gregsgirl7 · 9/10 · 15 December 2019]

I wanted so bad for Wesley and Fred to finally have the love that they deserve.

The boys try so hard to save her and yet, the un-succeed. It's a shame because I absolutely adored her.

However the thing that she becomes is even more impressive. I do wish they had a sixth season to see her truest potential arise. Alas she somewhat progressed in the coming comics.

The Rise & Fall of Fred

[Samuel-Shovel · 9/10 · 24 May 2019]

In "A Hole in the World", a mysterious sarcophagus shows up in the lab and sprays a weird mist at Fred causing a quick and deadly unknown illness to fall upon her. Angel and Spike must travel to England to investigate further while her new boyfriend Wes stays by her bedside. Gunn and Know try to figure out a way to cryogenically freeze her until it's revealed that Knox is behind it all. One of the last worshippers of an ancient demon god, he has been a part of thousand of years long plan to resurrect this god, using Fred's body as the shell. Fred dies, only for this new good to immediately take her place. The blue haired god awakes as the episode ends.

I got to be honest: I felt a bit blindsided by this one. I should have smelled that something was up when Fred and Wes got together. They were far too happy as a couple, the writers we're bound to make it all come crashing back down. Fred's character grew a lot from that scared girl that we saw in Pylea. She's turned into the confident, genius-level scientist of the later seasons. She was really the impetus for preventing Jasmine from taking over the world. She had some real important moments... And now she's gone.

It is nice that Joss was able to give her a new role and sandbox to play in. This new good creature will seemingly be the baddie for St least the next few episodes. Illyria has a cool character design; I'm interested in seeing what Amy Acker does with the new role.

The tragedy of AI

[Joxerlives · 8/10 · 24 April 2012]

The Good; Some very worthy stuff here, lovely Spike/Angel and Fred/Wes stuff. Gunn starts to realise the price he's paid for his mind upgrade. Especially love the moment when Fred sings and Lorne reacts, reading her future.

The Bad; The White Room scene seems very unnecessary

Best line; has to be; Fred; "Wesley, why can't I stay?"

Jeez, how did they get away with that? Considering what happened to Glenn Quinn the Burkles remarks about 'Junkie movie stars' are a little tasteless. Also Wes kneecapping the guy who just wanted his fax. Needless to say, hard to watch Fred suffer.

Apocalypses: 5

Angel Clichés Subverting the Hollywood cliché; Fred isn't concerned by the sword sticking through Angel but wants the specimen on it

In disguise; 8

DB/JM get's his shirt off; 18,

Cheap Angel; 8

Fang Gang in bondage: Cordy: 5 Angel: 15 Wes: 8 Gunn; 8 Lorne; 6 Fred; 5 Spike; 6

Fang gang knocked out: Fred passes out Cordy: 15 Angel: 20 Wes: 9 Doyle; 1 Gunn; 4 Lorne; 8 Groo; 1 Connor; 1 Faith; 1 Fred; 7 Spike; 5

Kills; going to let Fred go out with a bang and give her a dozen demon babies from the nest. Also one for Wes and one for Spike. 4 of Drogyn's demon guards each for Spike and Angel. Cordy: 5 vamps, 3 demons Angel; 48 vamps, 67 and 1/2 demons, 5 zombies, 12 humans, one werewolf and one cyborg Doyle; 1 vamp Wes; 16 demons+5 vamps, 5 zombies, 3 humans, 2 cyborgs Kate; 3 vamps Faith; 18 vamps, 6 demons, 3 humans. Gunn; 11 vamps+ 15 demons, 5 zombies, 1 human. Groo; 1 demon Fred; 3 vamps+ 14 demons, 5 zombies Connor; 16 vamps, 5 zombies, 2 demons, Jasmine Spike; 21 vamps, 12 demons+1 human+one parasite

Fang Gang go evil: Cordy: 3 Angel: 3 Gunn; 1 Wes; 1

Alternate Fang Gang; Fred to Illyria Cordy: 4 Angel: 12 Fred; 3 Wes; 1 Gunn; 1 Connor; 1 Lorne; 1

Characters killed: 2265

Recurring characters killed; goodbye Fred, liked you but never loved you as I did say Willow. Still, sad to see you go. 12

Total number of Angel Investigations; 5, Angel, Gunn, Lorne, Wes, Spike

Angel Investigations shot: Angel: 14 Wes; 2

Packing heat; literally as here we have Fred as Ripley (before Alien3 ruined the series) packing a flamethrower whilst Wes has his shotgun and a 45 later Wes; 12 Doyle; 1 Angel; 4 Gunn; 3 Fred; 5

Notches on Fang Gang bedpost: Do Wes and Fred have sex? She implies he's never been there before, do they have sex? Maybe Cordy: 5 ?+Wilson/Hacksaw Beast+Phantom Dennis+Groo+Connor plus possibly the Beast Angel: 6; Buffy, Darla, The Transcending Furies, Eve Wes; 3 definite; Virginia, the bleached blonde and Lilah, 2 possible, Justine, Fred Gunn; 2 Fred and Gwen. Fred; 1 Gunn, 1 possible Wes Groo; 1Cordy Spike; 3-Buffy, Anya, Harmony

Kinky dinky: Fred hints she's had group sex with the varsity lacrosse team. She says she's joking but you know she was doing a lot of weed back then. Fred is in effect orally raped by the essence of Illyria which then gestates inside her, taking over her body (again, very like Aliens)

Captain Subtext; Spike; "You think we should annoy other people?" Couple or what? Spike thinks James Bond's tux is poncey. Say that to his face? Angel doesn't know about Wes/Fred just as he didn't know about Fred/Gunn. Spike and Angel hold hands, hmmmm? They refer to St Petersberg where Anyanka and Halfyrek also hung out, wonder if it was at the same time?

Know the face, different character; 7

Parking garages; 9,

Guantanamo Bay; Lorne hits Eve. Didn't see that coming just as Lindsey won't in NFA

Buffy characters on Angel; 17 Wetherby, Collins and Smith. Angel, Cordy, Oz, Spike, Buffy, Wes, Faith, Darla, Dru, The Master, Anne, Willow and Harmony. POSSIBLY The First Evil, Andrew.

Missing scenes; According to the commentary this show was very long so plenty of scenes to be restored on a DVD extra

Questions and observations; For my money the astronauts win, they've everything the cavemen have plus science and technology. Lots of Aliens imagery, Fred with a flamethrower, the critters at the beginning, even the 'cow-pat' emblem on the sarcophagus looks a bit like a facehugger curled up. Lovely Wes and Gunn moment over Fred, Gunn almost has you going for a bit. Knox is also very believable. Is Fred mesmerised by the sarcophagus crystal as Buffy was in Helpless? Spike and Angel have never flown in a plane before and seem nervous about it. Their bonding on the plane is lovely. They speak of returning to the UK as the mother country, obviously a long time since they've been home. Spike didn't like Les Mis, neither did I, rather see Wicked again. Like Dianne Warren though and I think secretly Gunn does too.

Marks out of 10; 8/10 good ep but hard to watch

I Hate Where This Is Going.

[stamfragk · 10/10 · 3 July 2014]

Okay, first of all, am I the only one that finds this EXTREMELY SIMILAR to the Jasmine arc?! Old power takes over Cordy's body and leaves her in the end in a comatose state and then well, dead. And now old stupid power inflicts poor Fred and kills her?! Come on people! And only after what? Two-three bloody episodes after Cordelia's end?! Give us a break! Okay let's make a good episode, then an episode which will leaves us smiling, oh I see we got a little happy after "You're Welcome" hmm, who's a loving character who finally got together with the man she should be with from the very start? Ah yes, sweet Winifred! So why don't we just kill this one this time? (You can really understand sarcasm is high on this one...) And of course, I've given this a 10/10, because well, it is truly a well-written episode and has so many great touching scenes and marvellous acting too, but frankly, I'm quite disappointed... For once more we have to say goodbye to a wonderful, loving character, who has gone through so much, hey, don't get me wrong, the poor girl was in an another dimension for five years! As I state on the summary, I really don't like where this is going and I know we can't really ever expect "happy endings", but why so harsh Joss? Goodbye to yet another amazing character, seems like Angel is losing its female cast one by one...

Just when Fred stopped annoying me...

[m-47826 · 7/10 · 16 March 2022]

This season, her character became one I could tolerate. She wasn't with Gunn anymore, Wesley stopped pining over her. And she really brought something to the table. She was a very important part of the story even. But as we all know by now, Joss Whedon always had bigger plans for his supporting characters. So she had to go. And why not? It was heartbreaking seeing her ask Wesley why she can't stay, before her passing. But things still looked well though out for her character eventually, and Amy Acker gave her best to her character(s). Including that demon warrior at the very last minute. This episode also revealed interesting things about the regulars and some of the new characters, so unlike the previous ones (Happy Time... who doesn't like puppets?) it is not to be missed.

Not the best episode...

[white_giraffe-529-581104 · 5/10 · 14 November 2012]

The best part of the episode was when Fred finally kicked the bucket and i didn't have to see her whine anymore. It's not that i dislike Amy Acker, shes great, but the character of Fred is pitiful at best and downright annoying most of the time.

I think i finally put my finger on why i dislike her; shes not really developed, she is more like an idealized version of human. This episode proved that since she doesn't really do anything other than be sick. No, all the male characters go on separate quests to try to save her because shes just so damn special. This episode manages to give Fred very little screen-time and spends most of the episode with all the characters talking about how much they loved her and need to save her. They're doing their very best not to let her do anything strong or heroic, she is just a classic damsel in distress. Of coarse every episode after this all the characters talk about how much they miss Fred. None of the characters ever even talk about Cordelia and Angel actually loved her, Fred's just Wesley's fantasy, Cordelia got to die alone because that's what heroes do.

So ya, if you are a big fan of melodrama and cute damsels in distress then this is the episode for you! Seriously, it's like the exact opposite of the body, total crap. I have to give it a 5 though just for cavemen vs. Astronauts and of coarse my least favorite character being killed off.