Angel, "That Old Gang Of Mine" Review (3x03)

Brief Synopsis: “Gunn finds himself stuck between his old gang and his new team after he discovers that a string of brutal and indiscriminate demon murders were committed by his former gang. Even Caritas – a sanctuary for demons, vampires, and humans alike – isn’t immune to the devastation and Gunn is forced to make a choice once and for all.”


"That Vision Thing" (3x02) quick link here                                                                                                      "Carpe Noctem" (3x04) quick link here

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With that being said, let’s get started, shall we?



When I’ve finished writing my Buffyverse reviews, I intend to make a number of articles about the shows to help me detach from them before moving on to other shows such as “Firefly”, “Game Of Thrones”, “The Walking Dead”, “Doctor Who”, “Dollhouse”, and others. One of these articles will be a list of the most underrated “Buffy The Vampire Slayer” and “Angel” episodes. “That Old Gang Of Mine” will definitely make the list. I’ll never understand why it’s so universally shunned by the fandom. Is it because Gunn is one of the least popular main characters on the show? That’s the only reason I can think of. When you think about the character of Charles Gunn, when you think about his journey and what shapes his story arc, this episode could very well be his most important. Since the beginning of the Pylea arc, I’ve been preaching that every character’s identity crisis gets resolved in Pylea (or at least a large section of it) except for Gunn. This is Gunn’s time to get some much needed character development and exploration. Where does Gunn belong? How does he fit into this supernatural world that he despises? Should his loyalty belong to his old crew or to his new family? These are all questions that Gunn has been battling internally for his entire time on the show. Gunn has spent almost his entire life on the streets of Los Angeles fighting against vampires. He’s lost friends, he’s lost possessions, and eventually he lost his sister in his war against the vampires. Therefore, the idea of working for a vampire wasn’t one that came easy for Gunn. It’s taken a lot of time and a lot of energy, but Gunn is relatively comfortable in his role at Angel Investigations now...especially since Wesley took over the reigns. Remember, when Angel went dark and abandoned his friends in the last season it was Gunn who gave Angel the hardest time and was the least willing to accept Angel back into the fold. Gunn already has a natural instinct to distrust and dislike vampires because of the environment he was raised in, so Angel’s firing him and abandoning him only furthered this instinct.

However, Gunn has always been accepting of working for Angel because Angel offers him something that his old gang doesn’t...the ability to help a lot of people. In “War Zone”, Gunn’s primary objective was keeping his crew alive and safe. Every day was a struggle. A struggle to eat, a struggle to fight, a struggle to stay alive. Now, Gunn can help the helpless and save souls. He has a purpose and an identity outside of his own survival. However, as I’ve mentioned, Gunn isn’t convinced that he belongs at Angel Investigations. For a long time he’s been trying to balance both worlds, but in doing so he’s not allowing himself to fully belong in either. The theme of this episode is ‘loyalty’ and it primarily revolves around Gunn and where his loyalty lies. By the end of this episode, Gunn will have made a choice once and for all. However, loyalty isn’t just limited to Gunn making a choice. It’s also explored through Gunn lying to his friend Wesley and stealing evidence.

Angel: “That night still haunts me. I’m ashamed of how I treated you. The way I used you. I took what I needed, then I cast you aside and that was wrong of me. Was very wrong.”
Merl: “He’s reading!”
Angel: “I made some notes.”
Merl: “I don’t feel the sincerity here.”
Angel: “I told you this was a waste of time.”
Merl: “Real friends don’t need notes.”
Angel: “We’re not friends, Merl! We barely even know each other.”
Merl: “Not like you made the effort either, is it?!”
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Angel: “No, he’s right. He’s right. Every time I went to Merl for information he came through. So, I’ll tell you what, Merl...take a shot. Take a shot, Merl.”
*Merl tries to punch Angel and is thrown backwards*
Merl: “Whoa! Man! You did that on purpose! You knew that was gonna happen. You tricked me!”
Lorne: “Why, now, I’m sure Angel just forgot for a moment that any demon violence is impossible in Caritas.”
Angel: “Yeah, I...forgot.”

When did Angel and Merl become an old married couple? I was half expecting Merl to bust out the old classic, “it’s not what you said, it’s the way you said it”. The first section of the conversation could be read as Angel physically using Merl for gratification and then never calling him, which fills me with so much hysteria that I might burst. These two need their heads bashed together and to be reminded that they’re not pre-teens with raging hormones to excuse their childish behaviour. While this scene is played for humour, it does hold two very important points. 1) Lorne reminds the audience that demon violence is impossible at Caritas. This will play a major role later in the episode. 2) Angel is being held accountable for his actions while he was dark. I’m glad that Angel’s behaviour in the last season hasn’t been swept under the rug in this one because Angel’s actions in this season are largely caused by his darkness in the last. Angel is still having to make amends for his selfish behaviour. Excellent use of subtle continuity.

While this episode is primarily a Gunn-fest, it does hold some wonderful moments for Fred as well...

Angel: “She’s been back in this world for three months and she still hasn’t gone out into it.”
Cordy: “Right, and it’s not like the last time she went out into it she got sucked into an inter-dimensional portal and ended up living like a hunted animal in a hostile demon alternate world or anything...oh, wait, kinda is, isn’t it?”

At Angel’s request, Cordelia decides to spend some time with Fred and encourage her to step out into the world for the first time since returning home to Los Angeles. Fred has slowly ventured out of her room and into the lobby of the hotel and she’s even ‘forked’ with Gunn, but she hasn’t left the safety of the hotel yet. Well, I say ‘safety’, but that hotel gets more action than Tiger Woods. You know, when you consider that when Fred first left her bedroom, James attacked the hotel, and in this episode, her first time venturing out into the world results in her almost getting shot, perhaps she’d be safer staying in her room and doodling on the walls after all. Fred’s behaviour is completely understandable. Not only is she scared of going outside in case of portals and imminent attacks, but she’s also used to being alone, isolated, and living out of one room (or cave). For five years, Fred has been her only friend. Her only company was the voices in her head. She was alone, she was scared, and she was trapped. From a psychological point of view it makes sense that Fred would continue this pattern of behaviour after returning home. Her adjusting to regular life again should be a long process.

However, just getting Fred out of the house for the evening is a big step forward in itself. Fred is rather directionless at the moment, so Cordelia takes her to Caritas to sing for Lorne, which means that Lorne can help Fred find her path in life once again. It’s a solid plan in theory and it’s made even more solid when you think about the fact that Lorne is from Pylea and loathes it there too. If anyone can relate to what Fred is going through, it’s Lorne. I know I shouldn’t, but I get such joy in the fact that Fred sings Patsy Cline’s “Crazy” on stage at Caritas. If there was ever a fitting song for Fred’s current mental state...of course, in typical Buffyverse fashion, Fred ends up right in the line of fire and finds herself at gunpoint on her first night out of the hotel. I’ll admit, later in the episode when Fred steps forward to shoot Angel with a crossbow, I thought she was serious. I thought she was choosing her own survival over the handsome man that saved her from the monsters in Pylea...then she turned it on Gio and gave one of the most disturbingly hilarious monologues in “Angel” history (which is located in the “Quote Of The Episode” section of this review).

When I first saw this episode, as soon as Tim Minear’s name came up as the writer, I jokingly told my friend Luke that somebody was going to die (I meant other than a villain). Tim Minear has spent too much time around Joss Whedon and he can’t be happy so long as all the good guys are alive. I was not wrong. After his lover’s spat with Angel, Merl returns home (after the most hilariously awkward goodbye with Gunn) and is quickly slaughtered. Poor Merl. I liked that tongueless bastard. I’m going to miss his constantly nervous disposition and his squeaky voice when scared.

It’s at this point in the episode where things start to get juicy...metaphorically speaking. As the juicy part of the episode starts with Gunn dreaming, I don’t want anybody thinking that the juices are real and emanating from Gunn while he sleeps. Wet dreams are no joking matter. Gunn’s brief dream takes us back to season one’s “War Zone”, where Gunn’s sister, Alonna, has been turned into a vampire and tries to convince him to join her. With a painstakingly (pun-believable) heavy heart, Gunn dusts his sister instead. It’s clear that Alonna’s death still haunts Gunn in his every waking moment. He blames himself for not being able to save her. He blames himself for not being able to protect her. As her older brother and the leader of their gang, he sees himself as her guardian and responsible for what happened to her. For 18 months this has been Gunn’s motivation. His motivation to save souls, his motivation to hunt the forces of darkness. More importantly for this episode, it was his motivation in leaving his old crew and life behind. Without Alonna, without his only remaining family, Gunn had no desire to stick around. Gunn failed to protect his sister. He failed in his duty as her older brother in his mind. Angel offered him an escape and he took it. It’s not until Gunn’s friend George died in “Belonging” that Gunn started to lean towards his old crew again. Should his responsibility be to his old life or his new one? Does he owe it to his childhood friends and his old neighbourhood to go back and protect them? Does he truly belong in a family environment where he works for a vampire, the same type of animal that killed his sister? All of these questions have been buzzing around Gunn’s head for at least six months and I can’t help but feel sorry for him. Regardless of what he chooses, he’ll be hurting someone and leaving someone to fend for themselves.

The problem is that Gunn loves both families, but he can’t be with both at the same time. While he doesn’t consider himself and Angel friends, he does at least respect Angel and knows that Angel can save more souls in a year than his old crew could in a decade. Angel has saved the entire world before now. Plus, Gunn loves Wesley and Cordelia, and even Fred by this point. After Angel abandoned them, Gunn, Cordy, and Wesley truly bonded. They were in the trenches together, fighting demons and trying to set up a business against overwhelming odds. Wesley took a bullet for Gunn! On the flipside of that, Gunn has known Rondell and a few other gang members for his entire life. They’ve survived their childhoods and adolescence together. They were supporting each other through the very worst of times. When they couldn’t afford food and were dropping like flies. These type of experiences bond people together. Throughout the second season, Gunn was slowly leaning more towards Angel Investigations. Between trying to escape his sister’s death and the fact that Angel could allow him to help more people and earn some money, the choice was relatively straightforward. However, this episode throws a number of morally ambiguous actions at Gunn and suddenly he starts to second guess himself. Why are they spending their time trying to find out who killed Merl, a demon? Shouldn’t their priority be helping the helpless (humans)? Suddenly, Gunn isn’t so sure that he made the right decision...

Angel: “Usually doesn’t take you two hours to answer a page is all.”
Gunn: “Excuse me, but did somebody put you back in charge? Because if they did they forgot to tell me about it.”

(Gone, but never forgotten...)

Soon after this it’s revealed that the villainous fiends that killed Merl are targeting other demons at random as well. I shall never, ever forgive Gio, Rondell, and the others for killing the adorable Big Gulp Demon. He politely asked who was there and was quickly shot to death. Ugh. That’s heartbreaking. He seemed like the type of guy that would listen to you talk about your problems for hours and give you a warm, slimy hug afterwards and order you a pizza. Those bastards. Everyone reading this review, please take a ten second break in honour of the Big Gulp Demon. Think about his overly polite attitude. Think about him happily sipping on his drink. Think of him and remember him fondly. Of course, once Gunn discovers that it’s his old gang that are doing the killing, it throws more roadblocks at him. Are they doing the right thing in killing demons, regardless of whether the demon in question had attacked anyone or not? Was it only a matter of time before the Big Gulp Demon murdered someone who spilled his drink? Should Gunn’s allegiance lay with Angel Investigations as they try to discover who killed these demons or should it lay with his old crew who’re killing supernatural creatures? Let’s not forget, some of the demons that are being murdered are vicious killers. For example, one of the demons in Caritas later, a sanctuary where he should be safe, openly admits to eating babies slowly. Does that demon deserve to be killed? Sure! Allowing that demon to live would have been immoral and would go against everything Gunn and Angel Investigations stands for. But does Lorne deserve to be killed just because he’s a demon? Did the Big Gulp Demon? Did Merl?

Gunn: “So, we find this demon killing machine...what then? We gonna stop it? Or thank it?”
Wesley: “I don’t know.”

Gunn recognises one of the crossbow bolts that Wesley has bagged up as evidence and he takes it to Rondell, thinking that Gio has gone rogue. Rondell tells Gunn that Gio isn’t rogue, they’re all going out and killing demons together because demons are evil, vile creatures. They’re like the Nazis of the supernatural world. Trying to wipe away an entire race simply because they exist and they don’t like them. Sure, some demons have given them cause to want them dead, but not all demons can be tarred with the same brush. One of the reasons I adore “Angel” so much is because of those varying shades of grey. We have good humans, bad humans, good vampires, bad vampires, good demons, and bad demons. You can’t assume that something with horns or a funny skin colour is evil simply because their origin is different. Plus, this message will extend with its audience beyond the show and into the realms of the real world. You can’t judge someone and dislike them just because they’re different than you in some way. All of this behaviour, all of Gunn’s struggles, all of these demon deaths, leads us to Caritas. Inside Caritas, a sanctuary to demons, vampires, and supernatural creatures, Rondell, Gio, and Gunn’s old gang open-fire on all of the creatures inside simply because they assume everyone in there is evil. Sadly, the ‘no violence’ spell doesn’t extend as far as humans. Lorne really should look into that with the Furies. Perhaps look into extending it as far as the door as well and not leave the stairwell out...just some helpful advice for the future.

Gio points out to Rondell that Gunn is in Caritas, socialising with demons and vampires. Rondell allows Cordelia to leave Caritas (but not Fred!) to go and get Angel so that Gunn can prove to him that he doesn’t prefer a vampire to his own kind and lifelong friends. While Cordelia is gone, Lorne reads Gio and we discover some very startling facts about him. Gio ran away from Miami because of some horrifying incident involving a female that he was close to. This female trusted Gio and she was either hurt or killed, possibly by him. It’s not specified exactly what Gio did, but based on Lorne’s dialogue and Gio’s facial expressions, it was definitely something traumatic. I’ve got to give a special shout-out to Khalil Kain, who plays Gio in this episode. He’s able to make Gio a very memorable one-episode character because of his terrific portrayal. Wanna feel old? Khalil is 50 now. These revelations from Lorne highlight a parallel between Gunn and Gio. These two young black men both ran away from their problems. They both feel responsible for the death (I’m assuming in Gio’s case) of a female they were close to and they both started a new life in order to try to escape from their guilt. Both of these men, these leaders, were unable to save the females they were close to, so they ran away. Gio represents everything that Gunn could have become if he was a different man. Gio grew to resent the supernatural world and every creature that was a part of it or wanted to be a part of it. He kills indiscriminately, he’s ruthless, and he dislikes Gunn simply because Gunn works for a vampire. For a while in this episode it looked as though Gunn could have been heading down this path too, but ultimately Gunn makes a different decision, even though deep down a part of him agrees with Gio’s philosophy. Excellent writing from Tim Minear as usual. As I’ve mentioned before, I think Tim Minear is the most consistently strong “Angel” writer. He understands and accepts the characters in a way that nobody else is quite able to.

Gunn understands that some of these demons deserve to die. He understands that supernatural creatures are capable of evil, heinous acts. However, when Gio and Rondell threaten the lives of Lorne and Angel, Gunn is forced into action. Angel abandoned Gunn and committed some questionable behaviour in his own right during the last season, but Gunn knows Angel’s worth. He knows that when Angel is firing on all cylinders he can help a lot of people and has saved the world before now. Plus, Gunn has known Lorne for a year and Lorne has never hurt anybody. He’s anti-violence and created a demon sanctuary! Gunn can’t sit back and allow one of his closest friends to kill Lorne. Gio starts winding Gunn up about his sister, Alonna, and starts twisting everything that happened. He tells Gunn that Gunn wanted Alonna to bite him and turn him into a vampire so that he could have an “eternal kiss”. The horrid thing about Gio’s words is that they’re shrouded in truth. Not the incest part, but the rest. Gunn’s inability to protect his sister, his inability to save her...in his rage and confusion, Gunn shoots the baby-eating demon, killing him, just as Angel arrives.

Angel: “Let me make it simple for you...*Angel transforms into his vampire face*. Take a look. This is what I am. Deal with it or don’t, but make a damn choice.”
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Gunn: “You think I won’t kill him because he’s my friend? That ain’t why. Truth is he can never be my friend on account of what he is. It’s not his fault, really. Just the way it worked out.”
Rondell: “He ain’t your friend. I am, and you’re gonna choose that over me?”
Gunn: “Looks like. It’s about the mission, bro. He’s got it. You don’t.”

This development has been a long time in the making for Gunn. There’s no denying that Gunn gets less character development than Angel, Cordy, Wesley, and even Fred as time rolls on. Out of the show’s main cast, he’s the one who’s often brushed aside and labelled as the ‘muscle’...but not in this episode. This moment, this exchange above, is huge for Gunn. After a lifetime of hating the supernatural world on principle, Gunn is choosing a vampire and a demon over his old life and old friends. Gunn has learned that what matters to him is the mission: helping people and saving souls. He can do more good with Angel, Wesley, Cordy, and the rest than he ever could with his old gang. Plus, his old gang aren’t acting as he feels they should. While a part of him agrees with their new philosophies, a larger part of him knows it’s wrong. Since joining Angel Investigations, he’s lived in the supernatural world and he’s grown to know that not all demons and vampires are evil, they don’t all deserve to be eliminated. Gunn isn’t friends with Angel. Hell, he doesn’t even like Angel all that much. He was the one that didn’t want Angel to rejoin the group after he returned from his darkness. Angel isn’t just a vampire, he isn’t just the same type of creature that killed his sister, but he also broke Gunn’s trust when he abandoned him. Gunn isn’t the type to suffer disloyalty lightly. Loyalty means everything to Gunn and Angel broke that. However, Angel is the one that dragged Gunn out of his sorrowful existence. He gave Gunn a place in the world and a career. He opened Gunn’s eyes to the moral grey-area of demons and vampires. These revelations for Gunn being openly addressed by Gunn is exciting because it means that Gunn’s character can go anywhere in the future. He’s an open book now. When all is said and done, when Gunn was forced into a choice once and for all, he chose Angel Investigations. Slowly, Gunn does learn to become friends with Angel, which is yet another step forwards in Gunn’s character journey. For two seasons Gunn has been fighting an internal struggle, but now that struggling is done. He can move on.

Then the Furies lift Caritas’ spell that stops all demon violence and Gio gets his head bitten off. A perfectly fitting end for that character. Being killed by a demon. A demon that we could argue is ‘good’ unless threatened. Speaking of the Furies, I need backstory on Angel and them, and I need it now. Their swooning over the very mention of his name is both hilarious and memorable. The amount of people I know that quote the “mmm, Angel” line is staggering.

Wesley: “It’s never easy, the pull of divided loyalties. Whatever choice we do end up making, we feel as though we’ve betrayed someone.”
Gunn: “Yeah.”
Wesley: “If you ever withhold information or attempt to subvert me again, I will fire you. I can’t have any one member of the team compromising the safety of the group, no matter who it is. If you do it again, you will be dismissed. Bag and baggage, out of a job, onto the streets.”

That is what loyalty means to Wesley. Wesley feels as though Gunn betrayed him, regardless of Gunn’s good intentions. Wesley understands why Gunn did what he did, but the cost of Gunn hiding things and removing evidence was the entire team nearly being shot to death. Wesley can’t allow that to happen again...even if it is his bromance brother.

Gunn: “You understand I had to stall. Just had to keep it going.”
Angel: “Yeah, I get that.”
Gunn: “Doesn’t mean I meant any of it.”
Angel: “No, you meant all of it, but that’s okay.”
Gunn: “I can’t help the way I feel, man. That’s just the way it is. Doesn’t mean I don’t wanna work with you. Doesn’t even mean that I don’t like you...maybe some day, I don’t know.”
Angel: “I don’t know either...but I’ve got time.”
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Gunn: “No matter what else, I think I proved that you can trust me when I could have killed you and I didn’t.”
Angel: “No, you’ll prove that I can trust you when the day comes that you have to kill me and you do.”

Gunn remembers this piece of advice from Angel and he’s fully prepared to kill Angelus in the next season if he needs to. Gunn’s made a lot of headway in this episode. He’s finally turned a corner in his life and it’s onwards and upwards for Charles...which on “Angel” means death, destruction, and devastation.


Quote Of The Episode

Fred: “Although, I thought I might just shoot you in the throat instead. Now, if I pierce one on your carotid arteries, considering the temperature in here, ‘cause I think somebody shot the thermostat, the blood loss is gonna be heavy. And there’s a chance I’ll puncture a vocal cord and you won’t even be able to scream, but you’ll want to when the blood loss to your brain results in a cerebral vascular event...that’s a stroke, I wasn’t trying to sound snooty.” 



FINAL SCORE: 7.5/10

What are your thoughts on "That Old Gang Of Mine"? Did you enjoy this episode? Dislike it? Let me know all your thoughts in the comments section below!

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