User Reviews

This is Doyle's final episode. I actually really like the guy and I'm sorry to see him die. He added a lot of humor to the show and his relationship with Cordelia was kind of sweet. His death illustrates the tough choices and un-happy endings that the show will face in the seasons to come. Scarifices, and wrong turns, and loss will affect all the characters. The fight against evil is never easy and "Angel" isn't afraid to show the darker consequences of the battle. If you're watching the show, you really need to see this episode. Doyle's death will be referenced through out the show, especially in season five, and "Hero" sets up Cordy's new gifts.

"Hero" revolves around a clan of evil Nazi demons, called the Scourge, coming to LA. They want to wipe out all the "impure" demons. Their newest victims are a bunch of harmless gray demons who are trying to hide from the Scourge stormtroopers. Angel wants to help them and he starts planning how he can ship them out of the country to safety. He cuts a deal with a captain friend of his to smuggle them out on a steamer. Cordy starts evacuating them to the boat as the Scourge draws closer. The demons see Angel as the "Chose One," a figure from their myths who protects them from evil. Doyle admits that his cousin was killed by the Scourge and that his visions initially began because he didn't help his cousin escape them. When one of the teenage demons runs off, Doyle goes after him.

Angel goes undercover as a member of the Scorage and finds out that they are developing a weapon. It's a big light thing that burns anyone with humanity alive. They plan to use it on the demon clan. The Scourge has discovered that they're on the boat and heads for the docks. Angel hurries to warn the others. Meanwhile, Doyle finds the missing kid and Cordy discovers that Doyle is part demon. That doesn't matter too much to her. (Way less than his being short or poor, actually.) Doyle and Cordy begin to arrange a date, when Angel and the Scourge arrives. Soon the big light thing is deployed. It's suspended above the demon clan and someone has to leap onto it and deactivate it. It's a suicide mission. Angel prepares to jump on to it, but Doyle pushes him off the catwalk. Then he kisses Cordy and leaps on to the light machine. Angel and Cordy scream at him to stop, but Doyle deactivates the weapon and dies.

There are some good parts to this episode. I especially love the video Cordy and Doyle make. Watching them film it is hilarious. Doyle's suppose to be accessible to all the "joe-six packs" in the audience. But, the commercial is about Angel, someone who will fight and protect you no matter what. Doyle stumbles through his lines ("Our rats are low") and smiles nervously when he's done reading the cue cards. It's just a funny little scene. But when Angel and Cordy watch it at the end of the episode, the video becomes so much deeper. Suddenly it's about Doyle. An "average" guy who sacrificed himself to save others and protected his friends with his life. Angel wasn't the "chosen one" those demons were waiting for or the "Hero" in the episodes title or the subject of the commercial Cordy filmed... Doyle was. His last words, "Is that it? Am I done?" just break my heart every time. What a great, beautiful scene. (On a side note, the video is played again in Angel's 100th episode, season five's "You're Welcome." It's one small part of why I end up sobbing through most of that episode.)

On the down side, I think that the "pure" demon Nazi's are ridiculous. Not only is there "master race" agenda pretty heavy handed, but it just doesn't make any sense. How can they be "pure" demons? In BTVS season three's "Graduation Day Part One," Anya very clearly explains that there are no "pure" demons in the world. All the demons on earth have been "corroputed" by human taint or whatever. That's why the Mayor was such a threat. Because he was going to ascend into a gigantic, world crushing, "pure" demon. So are these Nazi demons just delusional or what? If they're only after demon's with human parents or something, then why did they kill Doyle's cousin? Why were they after that demon clan? I saw a lot of kids and no human parents in the group. That teenage demon kid (whose name I've forgotten) said his mother could "pass" as human. Meaning that she wasn't really human, but a demon. Are there degrees of humanity and demon-ness? And why would they just let Angel join their cult? (Not that he doesn't look cute with his hair all dark and slicked down. In fact it's sort of a funny disguise, given that Spike dresses up like a Nazi in season five's "Why We Fight" with that same hair do, but I digress...) If they don't trust vampires or humans, why are they so fast to accept Angel? And where do they go after they activate the light weapon thing? Are they still wandering around LA? Why are they never mentioned again? Am I missing something or does this whole just not make sense?

My favorite part of the episode: Cordelia's ridiculous concept for the Angel Investiagations TV commercial. Every time I hear Angel say, "I'm the Dark Avenger!" I just have to smile.

You never know until you've been tested. I get that now - Oh god, the pain, the pain, make it stop. I think i've rewatched this episode a little too often for it to make me cry, still, it definitely makes me brood for at least an hour. 'Hero' is without a doubt my favorite of the first season, it has plenty of depths and the most honorable death of a character, even if he died too soon, Tim Minear managed to blow me away like he always does. What I like most about the episode is the whole 'hero factor', everyone can basically be a hero, even the Irish Weasles. After only 9 episodes, I enjoyed this 'Doyle' guy more than I have probably ever enjoyed any character, he had so much charisma, his dialog was warm, fuzzy and funny - I don't see Angel putting on tights. Oh, now I do and it s really disturbing. I also loved the scourage storyline, I think it's quite obvious that the scourage represented the Nazi's and the half breeds were the Jews. I wish that the scourage storyline would have carried until the end of this season, then at least we would have enjoyed 'Doyle' for 13 more episodes. 'Doyle' also finally got a good background story as he deserved, we saw flashbacks on how he came to know of the scourage and when he had his first vision. My other favorite scenes were to begin with, the commercial, obviously - And you can count on me cause i'm the Dark Avenger. Also 'Cordy' taping 'Doyle', I loved how that was used at the beginning and end of the episode. And of course then you have the 'Doyle' sacrifice, after realizing that he could not let 'Angel' sacrifice himself, he kissed 'Cordy' which passed his visions onto 'Cordy' and then jumped to stop the machine from annihilating everyone. One thing I just noticed, those demons thought that 'Angel' was the promised one who was sent to save their lives but actually, it wasn't him, it was 'Doyle'. Amazing episode, why does Joss Whedon hate us so much? ugh! 'Doyle' never even got the chance to ask 'Cordy' out for dinner. I will miss 'Doyle' and Glenn Quinn for always. R.I.P. DOYLE: If you need help. Then look no further. Angel Investigations is the best! Our rats are low... CORDELIA: Rates! DOYLE: It says 'rats'. Our rates are low, but our standards are high. When the chips are down, and you're at the end of your rope you need someone that you can count on. And that's what you'll find here, someone that will go all the way, no matter what. So don't lose hope. Come on over to our offices and you'll see that there's still heroes in this world... Is that it? Am I done? (10 out of 10)

I was really impressed by this episode. I feel like it really emphasized the kind of tone Angel would take, and how it's different from BTVS. It's a lot darker, such as actually showing us the slaughtered bodies of Doyle's demon "cousins." It also brings to light the true meaning of hero. The demons they're trying to save believe that Angel is the prophesied saviour, and Cordy believes that Angel is such a good looking heroic type dude that he's not relatable to others, but in the end it's people like Doyle who make the difference.

I liked the balance between humour and drama. It starts off funny, with Cordy narrating a theoretical commercial. Angel saying that he is the "Dark Avenger" totally cracks me up. Doyle's line "I don't see Angel puttin' on tights... Oh, now I do and it's really disturbing" won the episode for me early on. Doyle and Cordy trying to film the commercial is funny.

But then we get darker, with the Nazi-esque Scourge hunting half-demons. I feel fairly ambivalent about them, as it was a pretty heavy-handed allegory. They even made Angel's hair 1940s-ish when he "joined" them. But the scene about the demon boy relating his experiences on Halloween was touching. Doyle and Cordy finally getting a moment was great. Doyle overcoming his personal demons of having let down his demon-brethren in the past was great, and especially pronounced given his usual comedic role. And finally, Doyle kissing Cordy and sacrificing himself, proving himself the real hero, was tragic but powerful. It took me by complete surprise, as I really liked Doyle and assumed he was a main character, here to stay. This just tells me what to expect from the future of Angel - or rather, that I can't expect it to be the average, good guys always make it through kind of show.

Bookending the episode with the recording of Doyle's commercial was really great. It takes on a completely different feeling after his heroic sacrifice, in the best possible way.

Basically, a really strong episode.

Hero is about the gang helping a clan of demon refugees, targeted for extermination by a group of demons known as The Scourge.

A quality send off and tribute to the character of Doyle and Glenn Quinn, though not the highest standard throughout. After the talk Doyle just had with Angel and his self-sacrifice, to give up his happiness to ensure Buffy wouldn't die. Doyle realizes Angel's too important and sacrifices himself. While the ending's poignant, it's handled a bit clumsily. I mean, Doyle punching Angel wouldn't stun him and he could jump up the ladder instead of step by step and if Doyle failed to turn it off they'd all die anyway, so Angel still should of done it. The Scourge don't exactly act like some unstoppable force emulating the Nazi regime, the beacon certainly changes things though. They look awfully silly too. Cordy's rather cheeky this episode.

"Hero" is often praised as one of the best episodes of "Angel", a notion which I cannot quite come to terms with personally. Where this episode could have been one of the shining lights of the first season, it merely stands as a great piece of Angel's first season. To me, at least, it does not transcend above the overall quality of the show; it merely rises above the overall quality of its first season, but does not really break any new ground.

Doyle's past eventually comes back to haunt him, as a group of demon purists named The Scourge begin eliminating half demons to rid the world of demon impurity. Many, myself included, find issues with The Scourge, as they are referred to. The idea of Nazi-like demons does not come off as much of a compelling idea, partly because "Graduation Day" has already informed us how rare pure demons are. Vampires, werewolves and most other mythical creatures that exist in the Buffyverse are half demon, so the idea that The Scourge eliminates half demons would logically mean, removal of virtually all demons. In Season 5's "A Hole in the World", we will learn that Illyria is part to an ancient demon race known as 'The Old Ones', implying she too is pure demon. However, since pure demons are rare, "Hero" does raise some questions with regards to its plot.

Where the plot is weak, the character of Doyle is further explored. We see in his past him refusing shelter to a demon of his own race hunted by the Scourge, ultimately leading to him becoming their prey. Glenn Quinn is once again excellent in the role of half demon, Doyle. We see his desires to correct the errors of his past, those errors that have led him to lead a secretive life. When Angel states to Doyle, "Fight the good fight, whichever way you can", Doyle takes this personally. By the conclusion of the episode, Doyle has sacrificed himself to save those around him. Not just his close friends, but many of his race. As beautiful as the last five or so minutes of the episode are, Doyle's demise occurs a little too early into the show, and as such, I am perhaps not as invested in his death as I could have been. His departure would have been more fitting a bit later into the season, once his character had grown a bit more to the viewer. Wesley could have been introduced in the following episode, and Doyle could have met his fate later in the season.

The opening to the episode is perfectly in line with "Angel", both thematically and tonally. We see Angel Investigations trying to reach out to more customers to run a more efficient business. In this opening sequence, where Angel declares that he is the 'Dark Avenger', we see the lighthearted comedy that the show also inherits from its parent show. This sequence is truly funny and Doyle's failed acting in the advertisement is initially hilarious. By the end of the episode, it is poignant. "When the chips are low, and you're at the end of your road, you'll need someone you can count on. And that's what you'll find here. Someone who'll go all the way...who will protect you no matter what. Don't lose hope. Come on over to our offices, and you'll see there's still heroes in this world. Is that it?" These final moments would go on to have an everlasting influence on the lives of both Angel and Cordelia. To Angel, he is determined to continue in the legacy that Doyle left. That there are still heroes in this world, no matter how rare there may be. For Cordelia, she is about to have the biggest change in her life, starting with the very next episode. Of course, this final scene affirms Doyle as a hero, and is the perfect counterpart to the lighthearted introduction to the episode. Doyle's arc has come to a close, perhaps not as perfectly as it could have been. Yet it has, and Doyle was a wonderfully charming character.

"Angel" would later have episodes that were devastating to both the audience and characters alike. "Reunion", "Forgiving", "A Hole in the World" and "Shells" are perfect examples of this, and they work better because the characters are better realized. "Hero", as it stands, is a great episode, but one that rarely reaches true greatness.

RATING: 8/10

The Good; Actually I rated this ep pretty weak until the last 5 minutes when it then became spectacular. Cordy's advertisement idea and the one she films with Doyle are hilarious but ultimately incredibly poignant. Good scene too when the kid tells Doyle his Halloween story.

The Bad; I didn't really dig the demons in peril storyline and I thought the Nazi allegory with The Scourge was a bit thick (nowadays they'd be the Taliban). Also they seem to accept Angel into their ranks a little too easily. Even their vehicles look Nazi-like and DB's hair looks very 1940s.

Best line: Doyle; "Is that it? Am I done?"

Jeez, how did they get away with that? Doyle's melting face

Apocalypses: 4

Angel Clichés (Cordy's ad is one big Angel cliché)

Damsel in distress; nope, 2.

Inverting the Hollywood cliché; The sidekick sacrifices himself to save the day rather than the hero

In disguise; 3 as a Nazi/scourge DB get's his shirt off; 3

Cordy's tatto;2

Cheap Angel; 2. Exactly what do all these people owe Angel money for?

Fang Gang in bondage: Cordy: 5 Angel: 4 Wes: 1

Fang gang knocked out: Cordy: 8 Angel: 7 Wes: 1 Doyle; 1

Kills: Cordy: none this ep. 3 vamps, ½ a demon from her time in Sunnydale Angel: 2 Scourge for Angel. So that gives Angel 8 vamps, 6 demons, 2 humans. Doyle; 1 vamp

Fang Gang go evil: Cordy: 1 Angel: 1

Alternate Fang Gang: Cordy: 2 Angel: 5

Characters killed: the treacherous first mate so we won't count him 14 Recurring characters killed; 1; Goodbye Doyle

Total number of Angel Investigations: 2, Angel and Cordy

Angel Investigations shot: Angel: 5,

Packing heat; Doyle; 1

Notches on Fang Gang bedpost: Cordy: 1? Angel: 1;Buffy

Kinky dinky: The wonderfully named Big Randy.

Captain Subtext; Doyle imagines Angel in tights.

Know the face, different character; 2

Parking garages; 2

Buffy characters appearing in Angel; (unless someone can correct me no original Angel character ever appears on Buffy?) 5; Angel, Cordy, Oz, Spike, Buffy

Questions and observations; So goodbye Doyle, we hardly knew you. A good ending for the character but all the more sad by Glenn Quinn's death shortly afterwards. Cordy refers to 'one of the cheaper Baldwins' in her description of the advert. I always thought Adam Baldwin was one but according to IMDb no he's not. Angel on a motorbike, Cordy drives a truck, is there no end to her talents? Once again we see demons who are slowly being won over to humanity. The Scourge are trying to stop this but are unwittingly aping human's themselves.

Marks out of 10; 7/10, a weak ep rescued by it's awesome finale

This story really intrigued me, I'd say it has the best story of the whole series, but the ending is just awful. The death of Doyle is one of the worst mistakes the writers made. Doyle had so much potential as a character, he was also the only main original character. Instead they replace him with pathetic Wesley. Wesley is so unintelligent and annoying, his purpose was to shows in Buffy that Giles was the better mentor and the council made a stupid mistake. Wesley is just not strong enough to take on Doyle's spot.