Angel (TV Series) You're Welcome (2004) User Reviews

My favorite "Angel" episode

[katierose295 · 10/10 · 25 October 2007]

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.

The heart still beats....

[limetalhead · 10/10 · 6 October 2008]

As Fred said in the season 3 episode 'Fredless', Cordy was the heart of Team Angel. 'You're Welcome' more than confirmed that comment. I was so happy to see Cordy back, even if just for one episode. Cordy's comment on Doyle "Used his last breath to keep on fighting" is so pivotal in this episode and the end of the season. She basically has returned to help put Angel back on the path he walked before Wolfram & Hart. Telling Angel what's what, helping him stop Lindsey(which is so reminiscent of how Doyle died) and helping him feel like a champion again. The best scene was at the end when she finally kissed Angel and said that the PTB owed her one. I was so happy until Angel got the phone call where he found out that Cordy had died. Like most others, I was shocked at how this could have happened but maybe that's what she meant by the PTB giving her that last one. I'm sure I wasn't the only one who thought than when she kissed Angel that she passed the visions on, like Doyle did to her.

The Best Episode of Angel or Buffy

[Mart-Short · 10/10 · 11 June 2006]

I just have to say that this particular episode is the 100th episode of Angel. It is also its highest peak. The fifth season of Angel was not the best season of the show by far. Prior to this, its 12th episode, the shows had been pretty standard and either boring or not having very much to do with the whole scope of things. This episode changed all of that.

Charisma Carpenter returns as Cordelia Chase. She is awoken by the powers that be from the coma she was in at the end of the fourth season. When she wakes up, we see the Cordelia we all knew and loved from earlier seasons of Angel. Not the wack job she was in season 4. Her hair also looks awesome! Which is something I wasn't able to say in seasons 3 and 4. Cordelia is back for one soul purpose, no pun intended. To, "get her man back on track." That is exactly what she does.

The ending of this episode is one that will have any Angel or even Buffy fan in tears! I don't care who you are! Enjoy!

I'm going to miss her

[Red_Identity · 23 March 2014]

I mean, I knew she came back for one episode only in Season 5. I really want to know everything that happened offset with Charisma, but as it is, it was all handled very well. I felt like I hadn't seen Cordelia since those first few scenes she had in the early episodes of Season 4, since when she was back with the gang none of it was her. So sad because I was reminded of how much I missed her, Carpenter had never been better than in this episode, but part of that seems to be because of her actual emotions running through it.

Question- At this point, did they know this would be the last season? It's a good thing they wrapped it up instead of the show ending and her still in a comma. At the same time, I feel like if they had known she would've appeared near the end of the season and not die?

Also, seeing that footage of Doyle made me sad. Fu*k he was such a big part of the show in such little time.

Goodbye Cordy

[OliverPage547 · 10/10 · 11 April 2008]

This might be the 100th episode of the show, but it's just as good as it ever was. Firstly Cordelia wakes from her coma and Angel's world seems like it might be heading back to normal again.

On the other hand we have Spike and Lindsey practically reenacting the first episode (Angel and Doyal) and its a great way to show how far Angel's character has really come throughout the show.

Having Cordy back even just for the one show, made me realise how much life she brought to some of the other characters at times. Her final scene with Angel, is for lack of a better word, HARD to watch. They have no need to act in that scene because it's obvious they are genuinely sad to be saying goodbye at long last.

Definitely one worth watching, and if you get the DVD then make sure you re watch it with the commentaries. Trust me.

Spike's a hero, and you're C.E.O. of Hell, Incorporated. What freakin' bizarro world did I wake up in?

[SleepTight666 · 10/10 · 3 April 2007]

Spike's a hero, and you're C.E.O. of Hell, Incorporated. What freakin' bizarro world did I wake up in? - Finally, season 5's first perfect episode. This episode brings back everything the previous ones were missing, the heart of the show aka miss 'Cordelia Chase', the character with the most charisma and charm. I really can't think of anything bad to say, besides the obvious death of 'Cordy', which after all the rewatchings I am still upset about, seriously, every time at the end of this episode I get a little mad at Joss for killing her, I can't help it, I will never get over it unless they decide to make a season 6 and resurrect her somehow. Which will never happen. But like I said, it really felt as if the good old show was back - I'm Angel, I beat the bad guys. The most memorable scenes were to begin with, the one with the 'Hero' tape, apparently, from the commentaries, David and Charisma had to cry during the filming of that scene and I can understand why, the first soldier down. Another scene I utterly loved was the fight scene between 'Lindsey' and 'Angel', I sure love a good fight scene now and then and this was the best season 5 fight scene thus far - Sweetie, your epidermis is showing. And then of course the painful ending, it was beautiful, sad, frustrating, so many different emotions all at once, I loved it. I'm just on a different road and this is my off-ramp. Thank you Cordy, for being one of the best characters TV ever knew... *sniff* I think I got something in my eye. CORDELIA: Do you ever wonder... Do you ever think about if we'd met up that night and had a chance to... ANGEL: All the time. CORDELIA: Guess we missed our moment, huh? ANGEL: Maybe we were meant to. Or maybe people like us just don't get to have that. CORDELIA: Angel, there are no people like us. (10 out of 10)

Goodbye CC

[Joxerlives · 10/10 · 23 April 2012]

The Good; EVERYTHING!

The Bad; NOTHING! Well actually, Spike has met Doyle during 'In the dark' so why doesn't he recognise the significance of the name?

Best line; CC; "You're welcome" (Could it be anything else?) also like; Angel (of Lindsey's new superpowers from Nepal) "They sell that crap at the airport" and CC (grabbing Eve by the hair) "Let's go Lilah junior" plus CC (to Lindsey)"Dinner and a show. And you're both!"

Jeez, how did they get away with that? Poor old Lorne has to get bled to make the spell work. Plus slaughtered nuns (once upon a time just Angelus' thing)

Apocalypses: 5

Angel Clichés In disguise; 8

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

Cheap Angel; 8

Fang Gang in bondage: Cordy: 5 Angel: 14 Wes: 7 Gunn; 7 Lorne; 6 Fred; 4 Spike; 6

Fang gang knocked out: Cordy: 15 Angel: 19 Wes: 8 Doyle; 1 Gunn; 3 Lorne; 8 Groo; 1 Connor; 1 Faith; 1 Fred; 5 Spike; 5

Kills; Cordy: 5 vamps, 3 demons Angel; 45 vamps, 62 and 1/2 demons, 5 zombies, 12 humans, one werewolf and one cyborg Doyle; 1 vamp Wes; 14 demons+5 vamps, 5 zombies, 3 humans, 2 cyborgs Kate; 3 vamps Faith; 18 vamps, 6 demons, 3 humans. Gunn; 11 vamps+ 13 demons, 5 zombies, 1 human. Groo; 1 demon Fred; 3 vamps+ 2 demon, 5 zombies Connor; 16 vamps, 5 zombies, 2 demons, Jasmine Spike; 21 vamps, 7 demons+1 human+one parasite

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

Alternate Fang Gang; Cordy: 4 Angel: 11 Fred; 2 Wes; 1 Gunn; 1 Connor; 1 Lorne; 1

Characters killed: poor nuns 2270

Recurring characters killed; alas poor Cordy, we've had her from the very first episode of Buffy all the way through to the last season of Angel (8 years and over 100 eps) and now we must say goodbye. The shallow bitch queen of Sunnydale High became the girl we loved and lost 11

Total number of Angel Investigations; 5, Spike now cut off from Lindsey/Doyle and drinking with the AI gang (as indeed is a lonely Harmony) Angel, Gunn, Fred, Lorne, Wes,

Angel Investigations shot: Angel: 14 Wes; 2

Packing heat; Wes; 11 Doyle; 1 Angel; 4 Gunn; 3 Fred; 3

Notches on Fang Gang bedpost: 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, 1 possible, Justine Gunn; 2 Fred and Gwen. Fred; 1 Gunn Groo; 1Cordy Spike; 3-Buffy, Anya, Harmony

Kinky dinky: Eve hints that Angel really rocked her world during their sex in 'Life of the Party'.

Captain Subtext; Eve remarks that Angel is still the centre of Lindsey's universe. Hmmm?

Know the face, different character; 5

Parking garages; 9,

Guantanamo Bay; Harmony beats up Eve but doesn't get to bite her. Eve seems to give up Lindsey very easily. Once again we have the strangely ambivalent attitude to torture we see in a lot of TV and movies

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.

What the fanficcers thought; Read a lovely one where the last thing CC does is go to see Phantom Dennis, Whatever_happened_to_Phantom_Dennis to tell him she loves him and that it's time for them both to pass to the afterlife. And he does so they can be together forever. Another familiar theme is that Xander's attempts to reason with Willow at the end of Grave fail and DarkWillow either destroys the world or takes it over in partnership with The First Evil. In the follow up story Cordy appears to her and convinces her to set things right because SHE rather than Xander is the real love of Willow's life.

Questions and observations; The critter in the tank is very reminiscent of the 4-5-6 we see in Torchwood; Children of Earth. Cordy joins Willow, Buffy, Giles, Angel, Spike, Dawn, Andrew and Riley as a Scooby bitten by a vampire. CC apologies to Wes for killing Lilah. Wes forgives her, possibly because of his own behaviour in 'Billy' and under Jasmine's influence. Nice joke on Hollywood that Colin Farrell (most overrated actor EVER?) is unknown to CC. We see Doyle again, all the more poignant as Glenn Quinn had died from a heroin overdose (with Andy Hallet also gone pretty soon they might start talking of the 'Curse of Angel') Episode 12 of season 5, only 10 eps of Angel left.

Why not DB and CC on the commentary although Christian and Sarah do a great job. First appearance of Izzy the Devil who'll be more important later. Did Lindsey maybe bump into Oz during his travels in Nepal? He refers to Angel as Eurotrash, yeah pal, he's from where the history is from.

Last scene is great and it's not a surprise that the tears CC and DB cry are actually real, as were mine.

The WB celebrate the 100th ep of Angel, a series that has run for 5 years and increased it's audience whilst slashing it's budget and has the 3rd bestselling DVDs in the US (Buffy no2, Band of Brothers no1). Then they cancel it. Then they go bust. Serves them right the morons!

Marks out of 10; 10/10 (sob!)

Cordelia Grows Beyond Expectation

[Jakemcclake · 8/10 · 8 March 2016]

This story showed Cordelia's growth from the self centered character on Buffy (and the first episode of Angel) to the person she ended up as in this episode. Her character is hardly recognizable and very different from Cordelia at the start of Angel, except she is played by the same actress, Charisma Carpenter.

The truth about her emerges throughout this story that deep inside of the often shallow, selfish girl was a very brave hero with her heart and mind on the perfect track. The plot of this episode indicates, she was so much on track that she was allowed to come back out of a coma to steer Angel back on the right track.

One could feel, when you watched her, that the character of Cordelia always had something wonderful inside of her. She was my favorite character. I just glad they wrote this last script showing who she really is.

A Proper Sendoff

[Samuel-Shovel · 9/10 · 17 May 2019]

In "You're Welcome", as Angel gets more disillusioned by Wolfram & Hart, Cordy wakes up from her coma and returns to the group. This puts a wrench in Lindsey's master plan to take down Angel. He tries to get Spike to kill her but that backfires when Spike reveals he's got a vison-having friend. The group figures out Lindsey and Eve have been pulling the strings together and they need to stop Lindsey before it's too late. Lindsey activates a monster intended to kill Angel but Cordy is able to shut it down before it's released. Angel defeats Lindsey while Wes breaks down the charms protecting and shielding Lindsey from the senior partners. Lindsey is subsequently pulled into hell. Eve is forced to answer to the partners as well. Everything seems back to normal. Angel and Cordy share a moment where she reveals she can't stay. He turns his back and she disappears. Angel receives a phone call from the hospital telling him Cordy just died without ever waking from her coma.

Closure. That's what this episode is all about. I'm glad Cordy's character got the proper send-off she deserved. She really turned into an integral part of both shows. Her arc was great, turning her from the stuck up high school cheerleader from original BtVS to the selfless, god-like being if the latter portion of Angel.

I'm surprised how quickly Lindsey's season 5 is over. Maybe I'm wrong and we'll see him return with revenge in his heart, but if this truly is the end of his story, I kind of like the way he's going out. Not every villain needs some big build up to a season finale confrontation. Sometimes it's nice to see them waylaid before they can even put their plan into action. It's a bit less formulaic this way.

Spike plays Donkey Kong...on Xbox?

[nightwishouge · 10/10 · 10 January 2016]

The fact that one of the "perks" for Spike in his alliance with Lindsey/"Doyle" is an Xbox in his new apartment reminds me of Faith's excitement (I think it was in Doppelgangland) in season 3 over her new Playstation, courtesy of the Mayor. I'm not sure if this was a conscious parallel, but it is interesting to note that Faith, ostensibly (or fated to be) good, willingly worked for the Big Bad, while Spike, ostensibly (or fated to be) evil, only does their bidding after being tricked. He thinks he is doing the right thing and being the hero, though of course his motivations are as selfish as Faith's. He just wants the fame and glory and the status of being a champion; he is good because he wants to outdo Angel at goodness, just as Spike wanted to outdo Angelus at evil. Given that Angel has always taken motivation into account when discussing morality (he believes your reasons for doing good are equally as important as the deeds themselves, if not more important), it's an interesting contrast. And maybe I'm reading too much into it.

Anyway, You're Welcome is Cordelia's send-off episode. To be honest I haven't missed Cordelia thus far in season 5. Some time after season 2 of Angel I started to find her very bland and dull. The more the writers shifted her into Love Interest mode, the less compelling I found her. The thing the opening seasons of Angel did so brilliantly was interweave her "old" Mean Girl personality--sassy, incisive, shallow, intelligent, occasionally callous--with her newfound sense of loyalty and compassion. It was a brilliant character arc. But after a while she became a Mary Sue, too perfect and long-suffering, and that just isn't interesting. Martyrs are not dynamic characters, especially on a TV show, because all you can do to develop them is just have them suffer MORE, and it becomes really one-note. I have no affection for misery porn.

So I wasn't really looking forward to this episode. But I have to give props where props are due. David Fury really captures Cordelia's character beautifully. It's just like the Buffyverse to get me really caring about a character right before she's killed off (the Jenny Calendar/Tara syndrome). I still think the Cordelia-Angel romance was ill-advised, but at least it's only alluded to here.

Almost more important to me than seeing her say goodbye to Angel, though, was wrapping up her relationship with Wes. The writers made an irrevocably stupid misstep in season 3/4, when Wesley was separated from AI and Cordelia declared she didn't care about him; she only cared about Angel. What a betrayal of Cordy's character. Of course she would have cared about Wesley, after all they've been through together. He's the only other relic of her life from Sunnydale. I don't buy for a moment she wouldn't at least visit him, try to see his side of things. An entire season's worth of colossal disrespect can't be salvaged in a single episode, but David Fury at least puts a Band-Aid on it by hinting at the friendship Cordelia and Wesley once shared, and having them depart on good terms.

Classic Joss, Wonderful Episode.

[stamfragk · 10/10 · 2 July 2014]

I never thought I would say this when I first started Buffy The Vampire Slayer, but I will really miss Cordelia! When we first see her, she's a hollow bitch who really gets on your nerves! But, over the years and especially when you actually see her on Angel, she does have one of the most significant character development. I did grow to like her and I wish she would end up with Angel, who am I kidding? By the end of Season 1 of Angel, she was actually my favorite... Of course, Joss Whedon; he just never wants to give us a bloody happily ever after ending, damn! I mean yeah, I've read the spoilers Cordy never wakes up from the coma, but still, I was hoping for something else, I just want it for once to be happy, but I guess, that's just not Joss Whedon's style! Another thing that I find really amazing is the fact that, even thought "Cordelia" is on Season 4 of Angel, well at least kinda, you get to feel how she has been absent, when you see her in this episode and I did felt it completely; how we haven't really seen our dear Cordy for a long long time... And it's so sad, how she says her final goodbyes and gets to help the Angel Team just for one last time, everybody hugging her, even Harmony, her interest of Connor and where he is and of course her apology to Wesley, even thought it wasn't really her fault. One of the best episodes, an extremely touching one, it will definitely leave you crying... A very cruel end to a loving character, but even thought the bitter feeling it leaves you with, at least we get somewhat of a closure, considering the fact that I absolutely hated what stupid Jasmine made her go through in the previous season... Yes, I'm not a big fan of the whole Jasmine and Evil Cordy arc. Rest In Peace Cordelia Chase I really loved you and you will be missed... 10/10 and now, I'm gonna cry myself to sleep, thanks, Joss.

The 100th...

[taylorkingston · 10/10 · 28 October 2014]

I really like this episode. I think it's a great 100th episode. I have to congratulate the show on getting to one hundred episodes. Not many do. I think it had a good storyline and answered questions that needed to be answered.

In this episode, Cordelia wakes up from her coma. She is confused when she finds out that no one except for Angel, remembers Connor. She feels like that's a mistake that needs to be fixed. Whilst she's there, her feelings for Angel come back. Well, they never really left, did they? They were always there, but never accessible. There was always something in the way. Like Cordelia being taken over by an evil substance, Connor, her getting into a coma, etc. By the end of the episode, everyone is happy that Cordelia is back for good. But unfortunately, she's not. After she and Angel have an amazing kiss, something the fans had been waiting for, Angel gets a call. The person of the other end of the line tells him that Cordelia never woke up and that, sadly, she has passed away. So, yeah, they screwed with our heads. How mean is that? Don't bring a beloved character back and then kill them off. That's just rude.

Overall, I give this episode a 10 out of 10.

How to kill two birds with one stone.

[m-47826 · 5/10 · 15 March 2022]

Lindsey/Eve plan reaches a dead end, and Cordelia dies after her triumphant return. And when I say triumphant, it's a figure of speech. The episode is dull, it's a non-event, and they should've picked another episode for the spot. Cordelia stopped being a relevant character long ago, and seeing her back with the gang, only showed she had no business being part of it anymore. I honestly have nothing to say about her return, I was yet looking forward to rewatch. That goodbye kiss between her and Angel, was so wrong and awkward... But the ending twist, was a great and unexpected way to conclude this 100th episode. Still, it wasn't enough to make it one of the show's events.

Wish she could've stayed

[charliejones-47701 · 9/10 · 16 February 2022]

After all the S4 shenanigans, it was so bittersweet to have our real Cordelia back! With that said and knowing this is her final ep, I really savored and thoroughly enjoyed every second of Charisma Carpenter playing her on screen. This episode also has callbacks from the first season which is much needed since our protagonist is losing his way in the mission. All and all, THAT LAST SCENE. Still. Unforgettable. Thank you Cordelia Chase! I wish you could stay but thanks nonetheless. I get it now.

Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead

[tonishamcphee · 10/10 · 29 January 2014]

Ding Dong The Witch Is Finally Dead. I love this episode just because I know that Cordelia is finally going to die. Her reign of terror finally comes to an end as she shares a final spark-less kiss with Angel. She did finally do something useful as she gave him a vision of where the real power was via "The Circle of Thorns." Bravo to the writers of Cordelia Chase. She was masterful at nasty and I hated her with a fiery vengeance for it, which means that was some stellar character writing. Cordelia should have died in Sunnydale, first season, in my opinion but that's how you create characters you love to hate!Granted Cordelia was dead the moment she ascended but this was final, as final as final could be in this supernatural world anyway. So thank you Charisma Carpenter for giving Cordelia life and thank you writers for finally taking it away.