Angel Investigated - 2.9 The Trial

Posted by Jason Chamberlain on 12.16.2009

Angel goes to incredible lengths to give Darla a second chance at life, but is it too late for her?

2.9 The Trial
Writer: Douglas Petrie and Tim Minear
Director: Bruce Seth Green

Whedon Speak

Cordelia: You lied to us.
Angel: I did, I know.
Wesley: Why?
Angel: I figured you'd nag.

Angel: Aren't you supposed to be reading her?
Karaoke Demon: I'm a channel surfer.

Mike Gorman has the full review!

"The Trial" is one of "those" episodes. A truly stereotypical Whedonverse tale where just as the audience is given what it desires, it gets ripped away and the screen cuts to black before you can breath again. In other words, it is damn good television.

The episode begins with Cordelia and Wesley fretting over Angel's Darla obsession. A role they have been relegated to a lot the past few weeks. The moment is quite humorous because they assumed Angel was in the basement plotting his next move to save Darla when it turns out he was down there doing laundry. A great moment because we are reminded that even a champion of the Powers that Be needs clean clothes now and then. Angel apologizes for his behavior of late and promises he is going to move on. At the same moment Gunn enters telling Angel he has a lead on Darla. Angel tells Wesley and Cordelia he lied to them to avoid their nagging.


The ball really gets rolling from here as we see Darla getting the news that she is dying.Unwilling to face this fate Darla goes to a dive bar and attempts to get a vampire to turn her again. Angel intercedes and tries to convince her to embrace her humanity at which time Darla reveals her fate. Angel tells Darla that he will find out what is really going on with her as he does not trust Wolfram and Hart's diagnosis. He leaves Darla with Wesley and Cordelia and goes to confront Lindsey. When he discovers that it is true that Darla is dying he promises to find a cure that does not involve turning her back into a vampire.

Throughout the episode there are also a series of flashbacks to the "good old days" that serves as an introduction of Holtz. A character who would plague Angel for seasons to come. Back in the present day Angel takes Darla to visit a character who quickly is becoming a series favorite, Lorne the Karaoke Host. When Darla sings for Lorne clearly does not see good news but tells Angel to go an address where he will find what he seeks. This begins the titular trial in which Angel faces three challenges, each more difficult than the last in order to earn Darla's cure.

It is here we get to what I was referring to in my opening paragraph. Darla sees what Angel is willing to sacrifice for her. She begins to see that her humanity has a value. Angel is successful in his efforts so the guide for the trial attempts to cure Darla. His efforts however are unsuccessful because she has already been resurrected once. Angel is distraught but Darla assures him that she sees now the importance of her living out her life as fate intended. She even rebukes Angel's half hearted offer to turn her. Is this true character growth? Could Darla be set on the straight and narrow? Just as it seems we might get the answer to this question Lindsey bursts in with a bunch of Wolfram and Hart goons who restrain Angel. Following this Druscilla enters, bites Darla and makes Darla feed off of her.

Talk about throwing us a curve ball. When I first saw this episode I assumed that it would lead to Angel agreeing to finally turn Darla again. For his back to be up against a wall because of his feelings for her. I did not see the Druscilla curve coming

Jeremy Thomas	We've talked a lot throughout these discussions of Angel about the show's noir feel, and "The Trial" is an excellent example of that. Sometimes, despite all the hero's best efforts, they're struggling against the inevitable and tragedy is the only possible outcome. In these cases it's the struggle itself that's most significant, as it's what makes the hero what he is and his failures give him more meaning. This is a wonderful episode that really brings the darkness of the show to the forefront. Darla is dying of syphilis, a disease she had in her mortal life and has returned now that she's come back from the dead as a mortal. She's desperate for a chance to live and even is willing to give her soul to keep going. Angel will do anything to give someone a new chance at life, and he endures three brutal trials, even proving himself willing to sacrifice his existence for her. Does it work out? Mmmm, not so much. As it turns out you can only be brought back to life once. And just when we get the moment of serenity and Darla seems willing to accept death, Wolfram and Hart crashes in and the Drusilla makes her vampire grandmother her own child. There's a lot that can be said about this episode, and I can't think of anything negative. The episode is wonderfully written, and David Boreanaz and Julie Benz deliver some of their best work on the shows right here. At the end of this episode you're left feeling like you've been kicked in the vitals, but that's a far more satisfying finish than "saving the day" would have been. This will also be the lynchpin from which Angel will not recover, and pushes him to what will be shocking events in the next episode. What more can you ask for?	9.5
Ronny Sarnecky	How far would you go to save the life of the person that you love? Would you sacrifice your own life to save another? In the episode “Trial,” Angel is faced with that question when he finds out that Darla is dying. This was a really good episode throughout. However, it was the last five minutes of the show that drew you in. Seeing Darla finally accept the fact that she was human, and dying, like the way it was meant to be, was very sad. Of course, that emotion was replaced with a “OH MY GOD!” shocker when Druscilla returned to turn Darla back into a vampire. I do not remember much regarding Season Two of “Angel,” and I can’t wait to see what happens next. Does Darla and Druscilla team up against Angel? Does she just leave town? What kind of revenge will Angel seek against Wolfram & Hart for turning Darla? Something tells me that Season Two is going to get really, really good.	9
Jason Chamberlain	Man, nobody can bring the pain like Joss Whedon and his Mutant Enemy crew! This was one of the first Angel episodes to have that real EPIC feeling that the third and fourth seasons would become known for. You have great heroism and great loss, withn Wolfram and Hart (Lindsay especially) sinking to a new depth. As heart breaking as it is to see Darla's humanity ripped from her just as she was beginning to value it, it is awesome to see Dru back, and the two lady vamps reigning terror ovr Los Angeles had promise written all over it (it's unfortunate scheduling conflicts precluded it from being extended throughout the whole season). One of Angel's finest masterpieces.	9

GRR!!! ARGH!!!

The 411: "The Trial" is a truly great episode. We get to see Angel's nature as a champion shine, Darla begin to value her own humanity, and then have the rugged ripped out from under us. There are dark days ahead for Angel and his crew. Druscilla's return is just the beginning.

Final Score:  9.0   [  Amazing ]