"Waiting in the Wings" is a monster-of the-week episode that doesn't really factor into the larger plot line this season. But, it does establish some important character stuff that will play-out over the rest of the series. First of all, this is the episode where Gunn and Fred get together. Their relationship and Wes' sad, seemingly hopeless love for Fred will be major story lines in the episodes to come. Secondly, this episode sees the return of Gru, the good looking Pylean guy who Cordy fell for back in season two. His appearance in LA interrupts the Cordy & Angel romance, setting up a chain-of-events that plays out in the final episode of the season and into seasons four & five. All in all, I recommend that you see "Waiting in the Wings."
Basically, this episode is all about Team Angel's trip to the ballet. Instead of getting the concert tickets that Gunn requested, Angel buys "panoramic" seats at a performance of "Giselle." He saw this company dance it back in 1890 and is eager to relive the emotional impact of it all. Cordy is eager to dress up and agrees to tag along, as do Wes, Gunn and Fred, who are still involved in their love triangle. Lorne is left babysitting Conner and is shocked when Gru shows up from Pylea, looking for Cordy.
At the ballet, Angel begins to notice that there's something wrong with the dance. It's the same performance that he saw back in 1890, with the same dancers and everything. He and Cordy investigate and are soon possessed by the amorous spirits of two lovers. They make out and realize that the old lovers were afraid of some evil Count guy. The Count has been using magic to keep the Prima-ballerina trapped in this time "echo," for over 100 years.
When demons in tragedy/comedy faces attack, Wes, Gunn, Fred and Cordy hold them off and drain the Count's power. When Gunn is injured and Fred kisses him, Wes is heartbroken. Angel finds the Prima-ballerina, who asks for his help in getting free. He fights the Count guy and releases her from the spell. Angel finally begins to tell Cordy about his feelings for her, but Gru interrupts them. Angel is also heartbroken as Cordy rushes into Gru's arms.
There are some really great parts to this episode. I don't think Gunn is ever funnier than he is here. His annoyed reaction to Angel buying ballet tickets, his wonder over the "athletism" of the dancers, his pouty, "But we'll miss the end" when Fred and Wes drag him off looking for Cordy and Angel... It's all just perfect. Gunn doesn't get enough opportunities to really show his comedic side. Also, I love Angel in this episode. He's so cute, trying to admit his feelings for Cordy and getting so excited about the ballet. "I saw their performance in 1890. It made me cry like a baby and I was evil then!" Also, I have to laugh when Cordy falls asleep and ends up drooling on Angel's shoulder all during the first act.
Also, a big thumbs up to the writers for choosing "Giselle" as Angel's favorite ballet. It's got vampire-like creatures, a remorseful spoiled hero looking for forgiveness and an fitting, yet unhappy ending. All in all, it's perfect for this show. And, on a side note, Angel mentions that he's been possessed by dead lovers before and it never goes well. This is a reference to the BTVS season 2 episode "I Only Have Eyes for You," where Angelus and Buffy are taken over by spirits at Sunnydale High. It's a great episode and I highly recommend it.
I think "Waiting in the Wings" is about acting, both in terms of "acting a part" and "hesitating to act." Everyone acting out parts in this episode, leaving behind their regular lives. Fred is hesitant about dressing up in a fancy gown. Cordy and Angel are forced to act out the lives of those spirits. Gunn tries to be cool, but really he's loving the ballet. Wes is acting like his heart isn't broken. And then there's the "hesitating to act" part, with the ballerina lamenting that she let her love slip away. Wes & Angel are going through very similar situations. They both wait too long to express their feelings and Fred & Cordy move on with other men.
On the down side, Angel and Wesley are my favorite characters and they both wind up sad at the end of this episode. It kind of a downer. Also, and this is REALLY nit-picky and fairly obsessive, but I can't find any evidence that "Giselle" was preformed in 1890. I wanted to see where Angel was during that period. (Going by the show's time-line, he should have been with Spike, Darla and Dru, I'm thinking somewhere in Europe and, instead of doing anything healthy with my time, --Like working on my thesis which is due in three short weeks-- I was researching where.) Giselle" was preformed in 1887 and 1899, but I'm finding nothing on 1890. In 1890, the ballet "Sleeping Beauty" did premiere in St. Petersburg, Russia, which may have be where the show got the date. I'm willing to cut it some slack, though, since this a fictional ballet company (and a fictional TV show, I know, I know...) Also, I'm no ballet expert, so maybe "Giselle" played in some smaller venues in 1890 that aren't showing up in my quick and dirty internet search. Angel could have seen it anywhere, I guess.
My favorite part of the episode: Lorne calling Angel "pastries."
Basically, this episode is all about Team Angel's trip to the ballet. Instead of getting the concert tickets that Gunn requested, Angel buys "panoramic" seats at a performance of "Giselle." He saw this company dance it back in 1890 and is eager to relive the emotional impact of it all. Cordy is eager to dress up and agrees to tag along, as do Wes, Gunn and Fred, who are still involved in their love triangle. Lorne is left babysitting Conner and is shocked when Gru shows up from Pylea, looking for Cordy.
At the ballet, Angel begins to notice that there's something wrong with the dance. It's the same performance that he saw back in 1890, with the same dancers and everything. He and Cordy investigate and are soon possessed by the amorous spirits of two lovers. They make out and realize that the old lovers were afraid of some evil Count guy. The Count has been using magic to keep the Prima-ballerina trapped in this time "echo," for over 100 years.
When demons in tragedy/comedy faces attack, Wes, Gunn, Fred and Cordy hold them off and drain the Count's power. When Gunn is injured and Fred kisses him, Wes is heartbroken. Angel finds the Prima-ballerina, who asks for his help in getting free. He fights the Count guy and releases her from the spell. Angel finally begins to tell Cordy about his feelings for her, but Gru interrupts them. Angel is also heartbroken as Cordy rushes into Gru's arms.
There are some really great parts to this episode. I don't think Gunn is ever funnier than he is here. His annoyed reaction to Angel buying ballet tickets, his wonder over the "athletism" of the dancers, his pouty, "But we'll miss the end" when Fred and Wes drag him off looking for Cordy and Angel... It's all just perfect. Gunn doesn't get enough opportunities to really show his comedic side. Also, I love Angel in this episode. He's so cute, trying to admit his feelings for Cordy and getting so excited about the ballet. "I saw their performance in 1890. It made me cry like a baby and I was evil then!" Also, I have to laugh when Cordy falls asleep and ends up drooling on Angel's shoulder all during the first act.
Also, a big thumbs up to the writers for choosing "Giselle" as Angel's favorite ballet. It's got vampire-like creatures, a remorseful spoiled hero looking for forgiveness and an fitting, yet unhappy ending. All in all, it's perfect for this show. And, on a side note, Angel mentions that he's been possessed by dead lovers before and it never goes well. This is a reference to the BTVS season 2 episode "I Only Have Eyes for You," where Angelus and Buffy are taken over by spirits at Sunnydale High. It's a great episode and I highly recommend it.
I think "Waiting in the Wings" is about acting, both in terms of "acting a part" and "hesitating to act." Everyone acting out parts in this episode, leaving behind their regular lives. Fred is hesitant about dressing up in a fancy gown. Cordy and Angel are forced to act out the lives of those spirits. Gunn tries to be cool, but really he's loving the ballet. Wes is acting like his heart isn't broken. And then there's the "hesitating to act" part, with the ballerina lamenting that she let her love slip away. Wes & Angel are going through very similar situations. They both wait too long to express their feelings and Fred & Cordy move on with other men.
On the down side, Angel and Wesley are my favorite characters and they both wind up sad at the end of this episode. It kind of a downer. Also, and this is REALLY nit-picky and fairly obsessive, but I can't find any evidence that "Giselle" was preformed in 1890. I wanted to see where Angel was during that period. (Going by the show's time-line, he should have been with Spike, Darla and Dru, I'm thinking somewhere in Europe and, instead of doing anything healthy with my time, --Like working on my thesis which is due in three short weeks-- I was researching where.) Giselle" was preformed in 1887 and 1899, but I'm finding nothing on 1890. In 1890, the ballet "Sleeping Beauty" did premiere in St. Petersburg, Russia, which may have be where the show got the date. I'm willing to cut it some slack, though, since this a fictional ballet company (and a fictional TV show, I know, I know...) Also, I'm no ballet expert, so maybe "Giselle" played in some smaller venues in 1890 that aren't showing up in my quick and dirty internet search. Angel could have seen it anywhere, I guess.
My favorite part of the episode: Lorne calling Angel "pastries."
