Season four of BTVS has one of my all-time favorite Buffyverse episodes, "Something Blue." In that one, Willow casts a spell that has everyone acting strangely under her inadvertent mystical suggestions. It's really, REALLY funny. "Life of the Party" is sort of the same plot. It's a little less funny than "Something Blue," but still a great episode that puts Lorne front and center. It also introduces some characters who will be back later in the season. So if you're watching the season on DVD, I recommend that you see it.
"Life of the Party" revolves around Lorne's Halloween party. Wolfram & Hart has one every year, but the demon community is scared to attended under Angel's management. He might kill all the guests. Lorne is frantic to ensure the party's success and he's badgering Team Angel about their "ho-hum" attitudes. He tells Fred and Wes that they MUST come and get drunk. He tells Gunn to mark out his territory and convince Angel to listen. He tells Spike to be positive. He tells Angel to lighten up and that instead of arguing, he & Eve should just "get a room." Pretty soon, all of his suggestions are actually happening. Fred and Wes are drunk for no reason. Gunn is urinating all over the office. Spike is cheerfully announcing that he loves EVERYTHING. Angel is gushing at the guests and sleeping with Eve. Clearly something mystical is afoot.
It turns out that Lorne had Wolfram & Hart remove his sleep so he could accomplish more. But, because he's an empath demon, there are side effects. Instead, of reading destinies, he's creating them. Also, his subconscious is manifesting itself as a big angry monster and killing people. All the conflicts that Lorne usually resolves in his sleep are suddenly being fought right in the open. One of the guests, Arch Duke Sebasis, is sure that Angel is trying to kill him. Really, its Lorne's subconscious. But Team Angel has to fight him and replace Lorne's sleep before it's too late.
There are some good parts to this episode. I like everyone under the effects the spell. Especially, Wes and Fred. They're stumbling around, drunkenly bonding. Fred asks how much alcohol he's consumed and Wes sort of squints, "About a third of a half of this beer." His woozy precision just cracks me up. And I think it's pretty hilarious that it's Spike's new attitude that has everyone realizing they're under a spell. They're trying to explain what's going on, but when he comes over, smiling and dancing to to the music, they just know it's gotta be magic. Also, I enjoy "Angel" picking up the BTVS tradition of celebrating Halloween. Spike's been complaining for years that real demons just ignore the holiday, but again and again he's proved wrong. It seems like something weird happens just about every October. (See season BTVS two's "Halloween," season four's "Fear, Itself," and season six's "All the Way.") Finally, that demon in the "human" costume is great... In an evil sort of way.
I just love Lorne and I'm glad he has an episode. He's always funny, but when he starts pressuring people into the party, I really have to laugh. They're all so shocked when he starts ranting at them. Angel gets this mystified look on his face and he actually does what Lorne says. Poor Angel hates parties (see season one's "She.") All he wants to do is watch hockey and brood in the dark. But he grudgingly goes along with the celebration because of Lorne. I think that season five is Lorne's best season. It's the first time we see some of his deeper emotions. He's always so friendly and understanding, but under it all he's a real "person." He sees things clearly and he knows himself. He's starting to betray his identity and, the more he realizes it, the more it worries him. But he loves Team Angel, so he's slowly being drawn away from who he is really is. Like everyone working at Wolfram & Hart, Lorne's starting to feel compromised and lost. He's the one I feel sorriest for by the end of the season.
On the down side, Eve and Angel sleeping together kinna creeps me out. But it's a funny scene, so I'll cut it some slack.
My favorite part of the episode: Gunn trying to understand why he's urinating on everything. Angel asks if Lorne told him to do it and Gunn's worried reply, "Lord, I hope so" is just one of my favorite lines ever.
"Life of the Party" revolves around Lorne's Halloween party. Wolfram & Hart has one every year, but the demon community is scared to attended under Angel's management. He might kill all the guests. Lorne is frantic to ensure the party's success and he's badgering Team Angel about their "ho-hum" attitudes. He tells Fred and Wes that they MUST come and get drunk. He tells Gunn to mark out his territory and convince Angel to listen. He tells Spike to be positive. He tells Angel to lighten up and that instead of arguing, he & Eve should just "get a room." Pretty soon, all of his suggestions are actually happening. Fred and Wes are drunk for no reason. Gunn is urinating all over the office. Spike is cheerfully announcing that he loves EVERYTHING. Angel is gushing at the guests and sleeping with Eve. Clearly something mystical is afoot.
It turns out that Lorne had Wolfram & Hart remove his sleep so he could accomplish more. But, because he's an empath demon, there are side effects. Instead, of reading destinies, he's creating them. Also, his subconscious is manifesting itself as a big angry monster and killing people. All the conflicts that Lorne usually resolves in his sleep are suddenly being fought right in the open. One of the guests, Arch Duke Sebasis, is sure that Angel is trying to kill him. Really, its Lorne's subconscious. But Team Angel has to fight him and replace Lorne's sleep before it's too late.
There are some good parts to this episode. I like everyone under the effects the spell. Especially, Wes and Fred. They're stumbling around, drunkenly bonding. Fred asks how much alcohol he's consumed and Wes sort of squints, "About a third of a half of this beer." His woozy precision just cracks me up. And I think it's pretty hilarious that it's Spike's new attitude that has everyone realizing they're under a spell. They're trying to explain what's going on, but when he comes over, smiling and dancing to to the music, they just know it's gotta be magic. Also, I enjoy "Angel" picking up the BTVS tradition of celebrating Halloween. Spike's been complaining for years that real demons just ignore the holiday, but again and again he's proved wrong. It seems like something weird happens just about every October. (See season BTVS two's "Halloween," season four's "Fear, Itself," and season six's "All the Way.") Finally, that demon in the "human" costume is great... In an evil sort of way.
I just love Lorne and I'm glad he has an episode. He's always funny, but when he starts pressuring people into the party, I really have to laugh. They're all so shocked when he starts ranting at them. Angel gets this mystified look on his face and he actually does what Lorne says. Poor Angel hates parties (see season one's "She.") All he wants to do is watch hockey and brood in the dark. But he grudgingly goes along with the celebration because of Lorne. I think that season five is Lorne's best season. It's the first time we see some of his deeper emotions. He's always so friendly and understanding, but under it all he's a real "person." He sees things clearly and he knows himself. He's starting to betray his identity and, the more he realizes it, the more it worries him. But he loves Team Angel, so he's slowly being drawn away from who he is really is. Like everyone working at Wolfram & Hart, Lorne's starting to feel compromised and lost. He's the one I feel sorriest for by the end of the season.
On the down side, Eve and Angel sleeping together kinna creeps me out. But it's a funny scene, so I'll cut it some slack.
My favorite part of the episode: Gunn trying to understand why he's urinating on everything. Angel asks if Lorne told him to do it and Gunn's worried reply, "Lord, I hope so" is just one of my favorite lines ever.
