Ep 4. Slouching Toward Bethlehem

Angel, the brooding vampire with a soul, returns in season 4 episode 4 of his eponymous show, titled "Slouching Toward Bethlehem." The episode picks up with Angel and the rest of his team at Wolfram & Hart, the law firm they now work for. The firm is gearing up for a major event, a mysterious happening that only occurs once every 75 years. Meanwhile, Angel is haunted by vivid dreams of Darla, his deceased lover and the mother of his child.

As the team prepares for the upcoming event, they receive a surprise visit from an unexpected ally - Charles Gunn's old gang. Despite their rocky history, the gang arrives seeking Angel's help with a dire situation. A serial killer is on the loose, and he's targeting young people who have been involved in social justice movements. Gunn and his old gang have been working tirelessly to catch the killer, but they've hit a dead end. They believe that the killer might be a demon, and they hope that Angel's supernatural abilities can help them track him down.

As always, Angel is eager to help out those in need, so he embarks on the investigation with Gunn and his old gang. They begin by looking into the most recent victim, a young woman named Litton. They discover that she had been working on a project involving the redevelopment of a dilapidated area of the city. Litton had been fighting against corrupt developers to ensure that the area was redeveloped in a way that benefited the community. The team soon realizes that all of the victims were involved in similar projects, and they surmise that the killer must be targeting people who are trying to make a positive difference in the world.

As they continue to investigate, Angel's dreams of Darla become more vivid and intense. He becomes increasingly tormented by the memories of their past and by the knowledge that he will never be able to be with her again. However, he knows that he must remain focused on the task at hand, and he continues to work with Gunn and the gang to track down the killer.

Finally, after much investigation, the team is able to uncover a shocking piece of information - the killer is not a demon, but a human. The killer is actually a wealthy developer who has been hiring hitmen to take out anyone who opposes his plans for redevelopment. He sees activists like Litton and the other victims as nothing more than obstacles in his way, and he is more than willing to resort to murder to get what he wants.

With this knowledge in hand, Angel and the gang confront the killer and put a stop to his murderous rampage. However, the victory is bittersweet for Angel, who is still grappling with the memories of Darla and the knowledge that he can never truly be at peace.

"Slouching Toward Bethlehem" is a classic episode of Angel that showcases the show's trademark mix of action, drama, and supernatural elements. Fans of the show will no doubt enjoy the return of Gunn's old gang and the eerie mystery surrounding the serial killer. Additionally, the episode provides a glimpse into Angel's tortured psyche and the lingering pain of his past relationships. Overall, "Slouching Toward Bethlehem" is a must-watch for any fan of the show.