Ep 6. Sense and Sensitivity

Angel Season 1 Episode 6 "Sense and Sensitivity" showcases Angel taking a case that forces him to confront his biggest fear: getting his soul lost. Angel's soul is what makes him human and separated from the viciousness of the vampire world. However, the case presents a different type of threat that puts his soul under an entirely different type of risk.

The episode begins with a woman being attacked by a monster. Angel and Cordelia investigate the incident and find that it's not a monster that attacked her, but rather a man in a delusional state. This incident prompts Angel to take the investigation, and he discovers that the man was under the influence of a drug that heightens the senses and amplifies emotions. The drug, named "Orpheus," was illicitly circulated on the streets, causing a series of attacks and several cases of violence.

Angel and his team discover that the distributor of the drug was a pharmaceutical company, and upon further investigation, Angel sees an old enemy from his past, Lindsey, associated with the company. Angel confronts him but quickly realizes that he can't provoke him without losing control and potentially losing his soul.

Simultaneously, Angel's newly appointed sidekick, Kate, characterized as a hothead cop, joins the investigation, thinking it's her opportunity to prove her worth to the team. However, she's immediately at odds with Angel's style of handling things, and her momentum to contribute becomes a burden. Kate's frustration reaches a boiling point after a botched attempt to capture the drug's distributors ends with her throwing a tantrum and destroying crucial evidence. Her impulsiveness throughout the case continually places the team and their operation in danger.

Angel recognizes that the Orpheus drug amplifies emotions and decides to use it to his advantage by administering it to Kate, hoping she will calm down and work with the team rather than against it. However, things don't go as planned when Kate's amplified emotions cause her to become more erratic and prone to recklessness. Angel regrets his actions and realizes that he's not immune to being influenced by amplified emotions. He becomes concerned about the possible loss of his soul in the face of such a challenge.

"Sensitivity and Sense" presents a storyline that explores the consequences of losing control over one's emotions. The episode features Angel's vulnerability getting exposed by a situation that that attempts to take away the one thing that makes him unique: his soul. The episode also introduces Kate's character, adding a fresh angle of perspectives to the show while highlighting her flaws. It exposes the emotional, impatient, and brash behaviors that exist within human beings, unraveling the complexities of the characters' personalities.

Overall, Angel Season 1 Episode 6 "Sense and Sensitivity" provides an engaging and thought-provoking story that explores the characters' emotional vulnerability and delves into one of the central themes of the show; the challenge of maintaining humanity within an inhumane world.