HERO

Cordelia narrates a commercial she has devised to an underwhelmed Angel: The Dark Avenger.   Doyle agrees to read Cordy’s script to camera, but it’s a disaster. Angel confides to Doyle that Buffy was in LA much longer than five minutes; that he became human and chose to sacrifice that life to continue fighting the good fight.   Doyle says he couldn’t give up the pleasures of the flesh for duty.   Angel tells him that he’ll never know until he’s tested.   There is an apocalypse coming, Angel can feel it and he tells Doyle that they need to prepare.

Cordelia is upset that Angel kept something so momentous a secret.   Prompted by these sentiments, Doyle begins to tell Cordelia about his demon side, but is interrupted by a vision.   Angel and Doyle search a tenement and find a group of terrified demons hiding inside.   Angel offers to help them.   They say he is ‘The Promised One’, a saviour mentioned in their prophecies.

Their leader explains that they are running from The Scourge, demon-hunters who persecute half-breeds.   When Angel asks Doyle who they are, he replies: ‘Death’. Doyle once refused to aid members of his own race, the Brachen, fleeing The Scourge, and as a result they were killed.   Doyle was burdened with his visions as a penance.   He tells Angel that The Scourge are dedicated to their cause, that they won’t stop until every half-breed is annihilated.   Angel feels they must help the Lister demons escape.   Cordelia rents a truck to transport them to a ship and sanctuary on Briole Island.   Cordelia is confused that demons are their clients, but Doyle assures her the clan are in need of help.

A young demon, Rieff, absconds, convinced that they will all die.   Doyle convinces Rieff to return to his family, assuring him that even if Angel isn’t their saviour, he is still a hero.   Doyle acts as a decoy to lead The Scourge away from Rieff and, with Angel’s help, loses them.   Angel then offers his services to The Scourge, saying that although he is a vampire and a half-breed himself, he needs to be cleansed.   The Scourge leader accepts Angel’s offer.

The captain of the ship is anxious to leave, but Cordelia assures him that Angel will arrive soon.   The demon elder thanks Cordelia for her help and accidentally lets slip Doyle’s secret.   Angel is present at a meeting of The Scourge with their leader, Tiernan.   He unveils a weapon called the Beacon, a light that destroys those with human blood.   Tiernan tells his troops to exterminate the half-breeds.

When Reiff and Doyle arrive at the ship, Cordelia is angry with Doyle for not telling her about his demon heritage.   Doyle says he was afraid of rejection.   Cordelia says that being poor and short are much worse than being a half-demon and that he should ask her out.   Angel arrives, followed by The Scourge who deploy the Beacon.   Angel knows he must stop it from detonating and prepares himself for a suicide mission to disarm the weapon.

Doyle knocks Angel out, kisses Cordy goodbye and assumes his demon face, leaping on to the platform where the Beacon is suspended.   Angel recovers too late to stop Doyle and watches as his friend uncouples the power supply but is disintegrated in the process.   Angel and Cordelia sit in silence, watching the commercial Doyle filmed: ‘Is that it? Am I done?’

 

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