Carpe Noctem analysis

From now on all my analysis will have an analysis table at the top like the one below. Below that will be bullet points of random thoughts

Point	Notes
Occasion and response	Carpe Noctem is probably written in response in terms of Lilah to the simmering attraction that's always been there ever since 'The Ring' between Angel and Lilah. Angel, in his own body probably wouldn't be that interested in terms of Lilah being 'good' Angel he's learnt to resist, but he, if needs be would probably use sex as emotional blackmail etc. But that is speculation. Touch has been used before with Angel in his own body but its not an affectionate, friendly or even civil relationship by any means. It's a way of showing what Lilah really wants but by not having Angel there as such. Just Angel's body to show all it really boils down to is a physical lust thing- there's nothing about it that's emotionally 'nice.'
Type	The scene between Angel and Lilah was quite stylised. Everything was exaggerated, loud and quite surreal, almost like a dream sequence. In contrast the scene with Lilah and Gavin was naturalistic.
Theme	The underlying theme was a word that comes up time and time again in the Carpe Noctem reviews- passion in it's simplest form. Though passion is not an easy word to interpret. Passion can be a positive emotion: It can mean love a kind of ardour. But then again passion is portrayed here as some of the darkest it's ever been on the show. Passion is seen as stemming from hatred, vehemence. It's very fevered and all to do with obsession and infatuation. Whereas the Lilah/Gavin scene's underlying theme seemed to be about rivalry and some patience on Gavin's part. There was no passion here. The two scenes were direct opposites.
Effect	The effect on people of the Angel/Lilah scene was different for everyone. Some people found it disturbing. Sure, Angel wasn't himself, but Lilah was. Can her thoughts have really become that twisted towards Angel? There's no line anymore. For some the scene was humorous. And for others (those wonderful people who had the strength to stay spoiler free) they didn't see it coming. The scene was more for shock effect than anything else. The Lilah/Gavin scene provoked anger and abhorrence. Gavin's starting to annoy people now- a general internet comment is 'he doesn't seem to be going anywhere. He's just there. He's monotone, he's annoying and he's just no Lindsey.'
Structure	Normally, Angel/Lilah scenes compose of dialogue with movement and the subtext that comes through that closer to non existent. Not this season. This season the dialogue between them is becoming less and less. There was little to no dialogue in huge parts of this scene. The emotion was expressed through movement and action. There wasn't a word about feeling or emotion- it all was interpreted through their actions. The Lilah/Gavin scene was a direct contrast. It was centred on dialogue.
Language- literal	The Angel/Lilah literal language began very 'just business' on Lilah's part, then after she's had a few drinks it became more conversational. Gavin tries to make the language used between him and Lilah civil and friendly 'Good morning' he tells her when he first sees her. She's just not interested. She wants to keep a professional distance from Gavin. (Which with previous colleagues of course she didn't and got hurt for it.)
Language- figurative	There seems to be no real figurative language between Angel and Lilah this episode. Perhaps it's to make the point that Angel isn't really Angel because normally there is. In contrast Gavin uses metaphors to try and convince Lilah they need a different approach towards Angel. He describes Angel as a 'rat.' He describes Wolfram and Hart as a 'maze.' The maze idea represents the sheer confusion at Wolfram and Hart often indicated through swirling camera angles and hurried paces and tones. It's also a 'web.' That people get sucked into and stuck in.
Conflict and storyline	The basic plot was completed unexpected for some. For others it was only a matter of time. A clever concept by the story writers to make Lilah's feelings crystal clear without Angel ever knowing. For the Lilah/Gavin scene nothing is said it's implied that Lilah is not that keen on Gavin really. It's also implied that Gavin isn't really interested in Lilah as a person- in friendship or something more he's only interested on using her to gain respect in a professional way.
Positive/negative emotion	The basic emotions are passion and lust. They are dual emotions- they can be interpreted both positively and negatively. Here passion and lust are seen as negatives- a metaphor for a 'quick' relationship. There's all the passion and the lust but in the end Lilah is hurt- just like in real life both physically and emotionally.
Positive/negative effect	The positive effect of the Angel/Lilah scenes was that of clarification. We see the way Lilah sees now. The negative effect was that is how twisted her emotions have become. The way she thinks is seen positively as very black and white and ordered and organised with o room for doubt. Yet negatively she thinks in no set order, her thoughts are dark and grey in comparison which asks the question when did things become so tangled for her? There is no real positive and negative in the Lilah/Gavin scene. Lilah is almost protecting Angel from Gavin. But it's unclear as to why. For him or for her?
How things change and future progression	Everything has changed from Lilah's point of view. She's expressed her feelings, thought she was getting what she wanted and then finds she hasn't and things are still confusing somehow for her. Maybe her feelings for Angel will change. Perhaps she'll put a line under what happened between them and they'll no longing be that underlying subtext, lust and passion. Or perhaps she'll just want him even more… Wolfram and Hart have no real storyline this season- people are keen to know what their big storyline will be and how they will evolve further.

Further points and areas of consideration that don't really fit anywhere else:

Gavin tells Lilah he'll have to 'earn her respect.' But deep down he knows she'll never respect him the way she respected Lindsey or Holland. There's probably going to be nothing but 'professionalism' between them.
Lilah uses the concept of 'metaphysical' when she discusses Angel with Gavin. Metaphysical is another word for 'bodiless' it's like as Gavin says Angel isn't a real person. To Gavin Angel is nothing more than an aim, a target to be destroyed. To Lilah he's a person.
When Lilah tells Gavin Angel might just 'rip out your throat.' We are given the impression she really doesn't care about anyone in her division. The only person she really cares about is herself.
Gavin describes Lilah as 'tough.' She's strong and emotionless meaning she probably doesn't trust anyone anymore.
When Gavin asks don't you want to see what Angel will 'do next?' he foreshadows what will happen next between Lilah and Angel. It's unexpected.
Lilah needs constant reassurance in Angel's presence. Maybe she fears him deep down
Lilah is quick to stab Gavin in the back- she will go against what he says and believes in despite having to work with him and despite the best interests of her division- all for Angel.
Lilah confides in Angel- it's an open honesty. Whereas she used to confide in Lindsey (Blood Money etc) is Angel replacing Lindsey somehow to her?
The way she talks to Gavin and the way she talks to Angel are direct opposites. She talks to Gavin with an authority, a formality. She is above him. The way she talks to Angel is gentler, they are equal or he is above her. It's almost flirtatious.
Lilah expects to be honoured for her work- it's what she's used to.
The way Lilah is unsure about Angel kissing her at first is representational of perhaps she's not even sure if this is really happening. It's clear she *has* thought about it and suddenly it's being played out in front of her eyes.
The idea that when Angel bites her it's the only time we've seen her truly scared or shocked- perhaps her fear of rejection or of death is her biggest fear of all
The way she uses religion as a defence is ironic- Wolfram and Hart and all it stands for is about mocking religion.
The ripping away of clothes was like ripping away the metaphorical 'layers' of a person- when you rip away these layers you find out in their heart who they really are. Underneath Lilah's 'layers' she wears black- deep down she is still evil. Whereas Angel wears white- he is good. Black and white are artistically speaking direct opposites. As a rule of Physics opposites attract. It's the basic theory of magnetism.
The way the desk is swept is a metaphor for the 'sweeping' away of doubts, inhibitions and the last traces of conscience. The past is 'swept' away the desk is uncluttered and 'clean' as their future now is.
Last point imagery- passion, dark emotion, desire, infatuation, craving, fire, lust. The imagery of colour is very red.