Old friends return, all changed from their experiences, and perhaps they collectively are learning to heal. For me, at least, the fact that all the storylines are finally converging means it’s about to get a whole lot more interesting.
Note: This recap may contain spoilers!
First up, we have Fred. Angel has found her, looking like the human woman she once was, but appearances can be deceiving. She admits that Illyria is not gone, that she’s still inside and warring to emerge. And her dual nature causes unrest with those around her, especially Nadira. Fred’s appearance will cause something big in Magic Town, even if they don’t know what yet. I am interested to see what will become of Fred, and perhaps what part Illyria will play in it all. Will Illyria finally leave? Or will she and Fred learn to coexist peacefully?
Then there’s Faith’s return, which I’ve been awaiting for many issues. She has taken refuge with the aunts, and even though Faith owns the house, she knows that she needs to find her own place because living with the aunts is not a long-term solution. Faith also knows that her return means that she needs to face up to some things in her past. Her career is unknown, as she’s temporarily part of the transition team, but it looks like there’s a larger purpose waiting for her. Inspector Brandt wanted to meet with her, and that meeting brought her the information that Nadira is not only alive, but at the center of the magic issues plaguing the town. And of course a visit to Nadira means Faith will see Angel again, too. It’s all coming together.
The third component of the issue is the appearance of Eldre Koh. He saves a supernatural/human couple at the beginning of the issue, which is a good example of how he might be trying to remain heroic and good. When he admits that he has nowhere to go, a bit lost in the changing world, they push him to go see Nadira. We don’t get to pick up with his storyline again for most of the issue, but he manages to bookend it quite well. And so, rounding off the issue, he does finally make it to Nadira’s place. Of course, with Fred, Faith, and Angel there as well, it’s bound to be an interesting discussion as we pick up the story next time.
Rating: 3 / 5 Stars
