Angel returns to form this week after the less than stellar offering last week. This week, the story centers on a character I never thought would actually get an episode to himself. As a matter of fact, I never really thought of the guy as a ‘character’ in the sense that he’d even be developed. I’m talking about Numero Cinco (number five to most Americans, I suppose). I’m sure you know him, or at least have seen him a couple times here and there. He’s the guy that has been a fixture in every episode of Angel since season five began. Still not ringing a bell? He’s the guy in the wrestling mask that delivers the mail. Yeah, I knew you knew him.
Episode 5.06, “The Cautionary Tale of Numero Cinco”
Written and Directed by Jeffrey Bell
Original Air Date:
So, how exactly did this very minor character get an episode to himself? That, I’m not sure about. However, I do know that I’m glad he did. While I wouldn’t say it’s the best episode of Angel so far this season, it is definitely a very good, very solid piece of work. The episode opens with Number Five doing his mail thing when he forgets to pick up a package in Angel’s office. Angel goes after him to hand him the package and is instantly grabbed by the little wrestler and thrown through a nearby window. Much hilarity ensues as within minutes the law office is made aware of Angel’s ‘attack’ on poor old Number Five. Spike offers up some of the funniest twists on the event which according to him had Angel going "right off on the mail guy". It's not as funny written down, but Marster's inflection was perfect.
Anyway, reports of a Day of the Dead killer are circling about, and it’s up to Angel and company to stop the killings. Angel goes out for a night time drive to find the person or demon (we all know it's gonna be the latter) responsible while Gunn comments that it’s great to be back on the streets doing some good again (I have to agree). They eventually encounter the beast and find out exactly what it is. Apparently, it’s a monster that was defeated years ago by the ‘Hermanos Numeros” at the cost of 4 of the 5 brothers. The Hermanos Numeros were a group of champions of their time. They were also wrestlers while not fighting crime. Any idea where this is going? Yes, Number Five was one of the five brothers and the only living person left to have faced the monster that Angel is currently fighting. Angel is forced to go back and enlist the services of Number Five.
Number Five soon reveals to Angel that every year on the Day of the Dead, he makes a shrine to his brothers, but they don’t visit him. He feels that it’s because he has lost the will of the champion. This is an issue that hits close to home with Angel as he’s made abundantly clear that he no longer believes the Shanshu prophecy will ever be fulfilled. He has nothing to fight for, and in that respect he is in the same boat as Number Five. To top matters off, Spike has begun researching the Shanshu prophecy and is beginning to wonder if maybe the prophecy is about him and not Angel. After all, the prophecy only said that a vampire with a soul would be able to Shanshu after averting the apocalypse. Who’s to say that’s not Spike? While I hope it’s not, it is an interesting point. For that matter, we know Shanshu also means death, maybe Spike is Shanshu-ing right now…
Number Five eventually dies to help Angel defeat the monster and in doing so regains the heart of the warrior. His brothers come back from the afterlife for a short while to help finish of the demon with Angel by their side. Perhaps in seeing how Number Five sacrificed himself and how his brothers’ spirits were able to return because of Five’s noble sacrifice, Angel realizes that there is something worth fighting for. The episode ends with Angel reading the Shanshu prophecy and maybe regaining the belief that he has something worth fighting for.
All in all, I have to say this was a very good episode. Everything just felt right. Number Five was turned from an anonymous background fixture into a likeable character that you honestly felt both sad and happy for when he passed away. It’s a shame he won’t be in the background of the show anymore, but this episode was a great way to say goodbye to a character I never knew I’d miss.
Angel was appropriately broody and discouraged in facing up to what he thinks is his lot in life now. Despite all he’s achieved he believes he’s a monster still in some way. His non-acceptance of the prophecy was very in character. In fact, he even mentions how past prophecies have led them wrong when he tells Wesley how the “father will devour the son” prophecy didn’t exactly pan out. Not realizing his slip of the tongue was a nice touch. If you don’t remember what I’m talking about, that particular prophecy said that Angel would kill Conner, and it is what prompted Wesley to kidnap Conner back in season 3. You’ll also remember that nobody besides Angel and a select few at Wolfram and Hart even remember Conner’s existence now. It’ll be quite a good bit of fun if this slip of the tongue makes Wesley start to wonder what exactly Angel was talking about and prompts him to seek some more information. It was a few simple inconsistencies like this that tore apart Jonathon’s spell in “Superstar” on Buffy, and it might be a simple thing like this that allow the people on Angel find out about Conner.
I also have to say that after roughly three full years of having Gunn on the show, I finally really like the place he’s taken. Up until now, he’s just been treated as a thug and muscle. It just never felt right that they always played so into the typical black street thug image with him and nothing too much more. Now, though, he’s a smart capable lawyer that is enjoying his new lot in life. I really like the change they made in his character and hope he stays just as well written for the foreseeable future.
Oh, and the little touch of having Holland Manners’ name on the Wolfram & Hart business card given to Number Five was great.
All things considered this ep definitely deserves
8.5 out of 10
Just an aside, but from what I’ve heard, Angel’s been renewed for a sixth year. Hooray.
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