Ep 14. Smile Time

In Angel season 5 episode 14, titled "Smile Time," the investigation into a strange children's show takes an unexpected turn when Angel finds himself transformed into a puppet. The episode centers around the Smile Time TV show, which seems to have some sort of nefarious influence on the kids who watch it. Angel and his team of detectives are hired to look into the show, as the parents of the audience fear that something sinister is at play.

The episode starts off with Angel and Spike discussing their fears about the Smile Time show. They're both convinced that there's something off about it, but they can't quite put their finger on what. Meanwhile, Fred and Wesley are busy working on a device that they hope will help them track any supernatural activity connected to the show.

As the team delves deeper into the mystery, they start to unravel the truth behind Smile Time. They discover that the puppets in the show are possessed by actual demons, who have been using the program to drain the life force of children who watch it. Angel and Spike attempt to infiltrate the studio where the show is being produced, but they're quickly caught and turned into puppets themselves.

The rest of the episode plays out with Angel, Spike, and the rest of the team trying to find a way to reverse the transformation. The new puppet versions of the characters provide some much-needed comic relief, but there's also a darker undercurrent to the story as their lives are at stake. The episode also explores themes of identity and perception, as Angel struggles to reconcile his heroic persona with the fact that he's now a small, felt puppet.

Despite the fantastical premise, the episode still manages to ground itself in the overarching themes of the series. The Smile Time show serves as a stand-in for the pervasive influence of mass media on modern society, and the demons in the show are a metaphor for the corrupting influence of power. There are also nods to classic puppetry and children's entertainment throughout the episode, adding a layer of nostalgia and whimsy to the proceedings.

Overall, "Smile Time" is a standout episode of Angel that manages to balance humor and drama in equal measure. The puppet versions of the characters provide some much-needed levity to the series, while the exploration of the dark side of children's entertainment adds depth and thematic resonance to the story. Whether you're a die-hard fan of the show or just looking for a unique, self-contained horror-comedy episode, "Smile Time" is definitely worth checking out.