Jeremy Gushkin Movies
- 2003
The suicide of a recently jilted woman hits close to home for Federico (Freddy Rodriguez) -- who continues to worry that his own wife (Justina Machado) is clinically depressed -- and for Nate (Peter Krause), who sympathizes with the woman's boyfriend's desire to end a relationship that stifled him. Nate's misgivings about his marriage come to a head at an art show featuring works by Claire (Lauren Ambrose), her boyfriend Russell (Ben Foster), and Billy Chenowith (Jeremy Sisto). There, Brenda (Rachel Griffiths) officially meets Lisa (Lili Taylor) and immediately recognizes that her massage appointment (in the episode "Tears, Bones and Desire") was actually an undercover reconnaissance mission. Brenda privately reassures Lisa that Nate is all hers, but tensions between the couple continue to run high. Ultimately, though, they realize it's time to stop pretending, and they resolve to settle for being friends, lovers and co-parents rather than picture-perfect husband and wife. David (Michael C. Hall), meanwhile, pretends to be okay with the threesomes in which he and Keith (Mathew St. Patrick) are now frequently engaging. Actually, however, he has deep misgivings about the hookups -- and the relationship. Claire feels none too secure about her own romance, especially after Billy confirms, through personal experience, that Olivier (Peter MacDissi), their mutual mentor, has a thing for sleeping with his students regardless of gender. As it turns out, though, Olivier's trysting partner for the evening is none other than Margaret Chenowith (Joanna Cassidy), Brenda and Billy's recently widowed mother. If only Ruth (Frances Conroy) were as sexually forthright as Margaret, perhaps she wouldn't end up sleeping alone, rebuffed by virginal junior mortician Arthur (Rainn Wilson). Originally broadcast April 27, 2003, on HBO, "The Opening" marked season three, episode nine of the made-for-cable drama. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
- 2003
Angelus (David Boreanaz) drinks deep from Faith (Eliza Dushku), then keels over. It seems the slayer and ally Wesley (Alexis Denisof) spiked her blood with a mystical drug called Orpheus, then deliberately allowed Angelus to drink it. The vampire ends up unconscious and hallucinating, while Faith falls into a coma. Soon, though, their fever dreams intermingle as Faith and Angelus watch the past century unfold through the eyes of the tortured Angel. The vampire with a soul wanders, a vagabond do-gooder, trying desperately to make up for the evil he committed as Angelus. But when his thirst for blood overpowers his nascent conscience, he takes to feeding off rats and shunning humanity. Meanwhile, in the real world, Fred (Amy Acker) enlists the help of powerful witch Willow Rosenberg (Alyson Hannigan), the only person who has ever successfully re-ensouled Angel (see Buffy the Vampire Slayer, "Becoming, Part 2"). In between witty repartee with Wes and a reunion with the secretly evil Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter), Willow soon figures out how to restore Angel's soul despite the fact that it's in Cordy's clutches. Cordy tries in secret -- and in vain -- to keep the soul encased in its sacred vessel. But she fails thanks to the timely interruption of Connor (Vincent Kartheiser), who's still blissfully unaware that Cordelia is playing him for a chump. As Angel's soul rushes through the ether, Cordy goads her lackey into killing his father. Only Faith -- suddenly awakened from her near-death slumber -- prevents Connor from dusting Angel before he can emerge from Angelus. Still ignorant that it was Cordelia whose magicks she was battling, Willow heads back to Sunnydale with Faith in tow. Just then, Cordy interrupts the gang's joyful reunion with Angel by announcing the impending birth of her and Connor's child. Originally broadcast March 19, 2003, on the WB network, "Orpheus" marked season four, episode 15 of the supernatural soap opera. It marked the first crossover between Angel and parent series Buffy the Vampire Slayer in almost two years. Although not integral to this episode's plot, the scenes between Willow and Wesley did allow Alexis Denisof to act alongside his real-life fiancée, guest star Alyson Hannigan. Faith's story line would continue on Buffy in "Dirty Girls." ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
