It's An Ordinary Life

Episode 2.09

Teaser

In the present day, Connor enjoys a Thanksgiving dinner with the Reilly family with no apparent memory of his actual life.

Act One

While on patrol, Angel encourages Faith to challenge Giles and Buffy's decision to hold a disciplinary hearing on her behavior. Faith reminds Angel that despite his wishes, Connor may never lead an ordinary life. Across town, Connor whines about the Nyazian prophecies to Professor Roth. She tells him that despite what's been "written", he can still lead a life of his own choosing.

In a stone mansion, demons perform a ritual that sends mystical energy shooting out towards, among other things, Connor. In a demon graveyard under a quarry, the demon Sahjhan comes back to life ready for mayhem and vengeance.

Flashback: One hundred years ago, Melanie Roth had her chance for a career as a doctor taken from her. She is still alive today, and working on a plan that will prevent Connor from ever fulfilling his potential for good.

After seeing Connor off for a weekend at the Reillys, Angel is greeted by his new liaison to the Senior Partners, Jason Guelph. Now that Angel is back from hell, Angel is obligated to work for them. Guelph gives Angel an incantation and tells him to use it to identify a person the Partners are searching for.

Aiden confronts the young Slayer Kristin about her flirtation with him, but she is not easily dissuaded.

Act Two

Faith visits the Council offices to turn her mystical guardianship of the suite over to someone else. It is given to Council scholars who are studying the Syndicate library. Faith reiterates to the scholars her decision to leave the Council.

Connor is at the Reillys with his memories very much in tact. He helps them prepare Thanksgiving dinner despite their awkardness around him.

Gunn visits the Burkles in Texas and finds Illyria masquerading as Fred. He confronts her about her plans now that she had been freed from the Senior Partners' dimension.

Flashback: One hundred years ago, Melanie Roth attempted a spell to save her career, but failed. Her magickal knowledge just wasn't good enough. In the present, she instructs a sorcerer to perform a spell which will reinstate the memory wipe. He does.

Everyone sits down to Thanksgiving dinner except Angel, who is investigating the incantation Guelph gave him.

The next day, Aiden tells Faith that the cloth with demon symbols on it speaks of the apocalypse, when demons will retake the Earth. He has seen one of the mysterious symbols on the cloth on a house near L.A.

Angel goes to the Council suite to consult with Giles, but is chased away by the Council scholars, who accuse him in a recent attack on Buffy and her Slayers.

Act Three

Flashback: One hundred years ago, Melanie Roth called upon the Anunnaki. Willis appeared and took her down to their dimension, where they asked her to speak her desire. In the present, Willis confronts her about taking Connor's memories away; Connor needs to choose to turn his back on a heroic life. Professor Roth replies that she will return his memory, then use the temptation of an ordinary life to corrupt him as the patrons have asked.

In the meantime, Connor is enjoying a visit from his old girlfriend, Tracy. She tells him she has left Cornell and plans to go to design school in L.A.

Faith and Aiden visit the stone mansion where the demons cast their spell earlier. They conclude the demons there worship the Old Ones.

Alarmed by the news that Buffy has been attacked and Slayers killed, Angel takes the Wolfram and Hart jet to England.

The next day, Sahjhan's murderous rampage reaches the Reillys' home town. Connor takes the family gun to guard the house. Lawrence goes after him. They are attacked by Sahjhan.

Aiden contacts Gunn to ask Illyria about apocalyptic cults. Illyria does not believe any such existing cults are a real threat, but grows angry at the mention of a cabal known as the Anunnaki.

Act Four

Connor fights Sahjhan, allowing Lawrence to return to the house. Believing he has killed Sahjhan, Connor soon follows. The Reillys struggle to fend off Sahjhan's minion while Connor battles Sahjhan again with strength he didn't realize he had.

Outside the Reilly home, Willis instructs Professor Roth to end the spell before Connor is killed. She does, just as Connor and Sahjhan take their fight back outside. We see everyone's memories return in that moment--Gunn and Illyria's, Angel's as he speaks to Buffy and Giles, Faith and Aiden's. Connor beheads Sahjhan, then leaves the Reillys' for their own safety.

Angel returns home and confronts Guelph, who informs him the Partners had nothing to do with the new memory wipe.

The next evening, Tracy arrives in L.A. and informs Connor she has both sets of memories--what really happened in their past and the memories she was implanted with. She tells him she'd like to start seeing him again. After she leaves, the sorcerer who reinstated the memory wipe appears and informs Connor he can have that happy, ordinary life back whenever he wants it. He just has to choose to turn his back on the life of demons, bad memories, and constant struggle.

Flashback: Professor Roth signs a pact with the Anunnaki to become one of their minions in exchange for access to all knowledge on the Earthly plane.

Episode 2.10 summary

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