It isn’t the actual end but it feels like it might be one, as Gunn’s plan has come to fruition, Illyria is back to her old self and tormented by the contradictions of her own existence and Fred’s memories claiming part of her identity, is getting ready to wipe out the world, or the entire universe. Which apparently Gunn thinks might still be a good idea. Stopping Illyria isn’t easy what with her being the size of the old Wolfram and Hart headquarters with giant tentacles and a generally bad attitude. But the old human emotions are still there.

After a whole lot of arguing, during which Gunn kills Connor, and Angel nearly kills Gunn, timeslips to the future apocalypse in which Angelus is fighting on the side of evil against good, Angel finally has the fish fill Illyria’s mind with memories of Fred gathered from Wesley and Spike, for some reason, resulting in an implosion that takes down Illyria and the Wolfram and Hart headquarters. Connor dies after delivering the usual sort of goodbye speech, leaving hell saved and in complete chaos.

If the events of Angel After the Fall actually stay true, something I doubt, then disposing of two of the show’s more annoying characters in one issue, Illyria and Connor, alone would justify the story. But the elaborate plot made up of hinged pieces also reflects the best of Season 4. Where Buffy Season 8 seems to be crashing, Angel Season 6 is prospering, probably because it has one master, instead of multiple writers taking turns. The story isn’t over yet, but so far it has worked a lot better than all of Angel Season 5.