OK *end of personal anecdote. * Back On topic. Writing Lilah… hmmm… I'm no expert but if you want my tips you've got 'em… They're averaging out about one point per episode… so here you go:

OK, so Lilah's a fight fan… she enjoys violence (which is probably normal for a person who works for Wolfram and Hart.) Though I don't really think she'd enjoy that much violence featuring *her. * Lilah's a *fan* of violence not a participator. She'd probably enjoy a good fight between Angel and Lindsey (preferably over her, but hey she's not *that* picky.)

And that brings us to Lilah 'n' Angel… hmm… subtextual sizzling… anyone *not* got the unrequited sexual chemistry between Lilah and Angel in this ep? And what an exciting couple would Lilah and Angelus make? So mull over *that* thought for a week as we move swiftly on to…

In a good way there's no way Lilah has healthy working relations with her fellow lawyers. Looking at the scene with Lee she has total and complete control over him. *What does that mean? * A recurring theme with Lilah: She uses her sexual powers as persuasive powers.

She uses these powers of persuasion to get her own way and is flexible in how she uses them. Even with the femmes of LA. Look at the way she lured Faith from the club based on the perception that Faith could have some *fun* with her. Many people talk about Lilah's *preferences* based in this episode but I think she just used Faith's preference to get her own way (i.e. Angel killed.)

There's a fab scene that shows the full brutality of the law firm. When Faith is breaking every bone in Lee's face Lindsey and Lilah sit on the desk watching. It shows how each attorney is desensitised to the violence that surrounds them (which falls in line of thoughts from 'The Ring.')

Lilah is an extremely influential lawyer at Wolfram and Hart despite being only an associate. She has many contacts probably across the whole of LA, if not California. Many of these contacts are probably inhuman (e.g. she's heard of Merl of 'Blood Money.')

Angel is her top priority, though we don't know in what way. It's clear she doesn't want him dead (Blood Money) but she probably wants him dark, not just for the good of her company and status but for the good of her and Angel's personal relationship. The Chemistry sizzled in 'The Ring'… what would happen between them if Angel reverted to Angelus? (For a taster of what things might be like try 'Blood Money' and 'Reprise.')

Lilah uses a lot of slang in her speech but not tacky slang ('She's roaming with the mark,') which doesn't really make sense to me but this use of slang conveys her possible upper class upbringing.

She doesn't like to work inside the law and is shocked at Lindsey's suggestion of going to the police to turn in both Angel and Faith. Then again that might just be the Angel part…

This episode throws up a lot of unanswered questions regarding Lilah's character that are yet to be answered by both fan fic writers and on screen.

We're assuming nothing scares her. (Until the events of 'Blood money' in her car with Angel at least.) So why does she tell Lindsey he scared her? It's an honesty we haven't seen from her before and she's clearly nervous, worried or guilty over something. She seems very vulnerable in this whole exchange with Lindsey and we see a much softer and more naïve side to Lilah than we have in the past (this is a side when writing Lilah most writers tend to pick up on, analyse and use.)

Lilah has trust issues. She probably doesn't trust people because of her job or perhaps there's whole other trust issue to her character that remains unresearched and is yet to be fleshed out on screen.

The first seeds are sown in this episode of the biting competition between Lindsey and Lilah. She falls for him time after time and him for her (see 'Redefinition.') He hurts her a lot and knows he does.

Lindsey and Lilah, despite their biting rivalry are friends really. Watch the little friendship (or more) touch where she checks his watch. Watch her sleeve. Underneath it is her own watch. It's cute, and the reason why many people fall in love with the lawyers. Because underneath it all we can assume) that Lilah is human… a great insight into Lilah's character… oh, and one more thing… in the scene where Lee is killed all three lawyers have secrets… so what's Lilah's?

Lilah's upset with Lindsey. He almost deserted the company and her for her other potential love interest Angel. She's also jealous of his raised status and his new found (not) relationship with Angel.

Lilah's also got a working relationship with Holland, and is his right hand girl (as Lindsey's his right hand guy.) More subtextualness, as we examine the nature of the relationship between Lilah and Holland. We see she is frightened of him and his status (we have seen in 'Blind Date' he has many hitmen.) We see they have a semi affectionate relationship almost friendship with each other, even though she seems uncomfortable in his presence.

She reminds Lindsey throughout the episode how lucky he is to be there, and in a sense to still have her, in many ways, unconditional love.

She is the first to greet Darla into Wolfram and Hart, possibly to use to her advantage to better her relationship with Angel…

Lilah has the whole one scene in this but it sets the scene for her role in the entire season.

We are shown the jokey, happy and light relationship (though deep down we know she could be serious) she shares with her clients.

She is clearly jealous of the friendship and coming relationship that Darla and Lindsey share. It's the kind of friendship she wants to have with Lindsey and doesn't get no matter how hard she tries ('Blind Date.')

Lilah is the primary guest star in this episode and *man* she does it in style! Forget the first evil, she is the *ultimate* evil…

Basically she befriends the telekinetic Bethany Chaulk. She acts much like a big sister figure, giving her a place to stay and things to see and do. Unfortunately, she's only trying to recruit Bethany as a W & H assassin figure.

The Holland/Lilah interaction in this piece is a little on the creepy side. It's clear Holland cares for Lilah very much but she still sees him as an authority figure. It's very different from both the relationship Holland shares with Lindsey and Lilah shares with Lindsey. It's also clear from their interactions that Holland prefers Lindsey to Lilah, saying that Lindsey understands the 'big picture.' implying that Lilah may be against the whole apocalypse scenario ('Reprise.')

Angel/Lilah interaction at the end is bittersweetly subtextual. Angel calls Lilah 'sweetie' but Lilah attacks him using his vampirism against him. She also tells him she'll play with his mind (subtext wheels turning…) she also wishes him 'sweet dreams' at the end. This may be interpreted as a cute kinda lover thing but of course it's a reference to the sleeping powder Lilah has given to Darla in order for her to enter Angel's dreams.

Lilah's happy. Darla's has been vamped so that means no more yucky Darla/Lindsey touching moments… darkness people!

Lilah's got no fear of Angel (something that will change dramatically by the time 'Blood Money' comes around.) Wolfram and Hart security also carry stakes… under Lilah's orders? No way. Look how uncomfortable she is when Angel is about to get staked. She wants him dark not dead (See 'Blood Money.')

The scenes of the wine cellar before Darla and Dru's appearance are touching. The whole family feel of Wolfram and Hart is really sweet. Notice the reaction Lilah takes to having her name coupled with Lindsey's as Holland in effect gives them his blessing by toasting their names together. He's in effect giving her permission to go after him (see 'Redefinition.')

Given that the last scenes in the wine cellar when Angel appears are chilling and sad. Lilah begs Angel for her life and he turns her down… Viewers are left wondering both a) whether or not Lilah's still alive and b) what Angel's true feelings for Lilah are…

Viewers have been speculating all week whether or not Lilah is still alive. Of course she is.

She's blaming Lindsey for Darla 'n' Dru's massacre and is probably more upset about his death than she is letting onto (See previous subtext… you decide *exactly* how close they were…) and she probably feels a bit guilty being one of the team who created Darla 'n' Dru in the first place.

She's clearly terrified of the two vamps and Darla makes it clear she wants her dead (however, Dru chooses to keep her alive. Why?) Lilah's jealous when Darla says Lindsey might get promoted and laughs when Darla tells Lindsey she's in love with him (dramatic irony perhaps?)

The scene that has broken many a heart is when Lilah asks Lindsey to run away with her. She puts her life down on the line for him or is at least offering to. Whenever I watch this scene I choke up… it's simply beautiful… Of course this *is* Lilah (she's attempting to frame him) but she's also trying to save his life. God *they're so meant to be together* grr arg! God damn!

Last scene where Lilah finds she's going to be head of special projects with Lindsey is another gem. Watch the look she gives him *can anyone else feel the love in this room? *

I *so* can't remember this ep at all hardly but I'll try. Next time I see it I'll update.

There's some Angel (us)/Lilah subtext here. Lilah's absolutely terrified of him with no one around to protect her (i.e. Holland.) But she reminds him of her promotion and he doesn't kill her (which is all of the good.) Still she's clearly shaken.

Lilah clearly thinks she's better, or at least stronger than Lindsey when it comes to handling vampires and demons (take her interaction with Boone for example) It is different outside of an office environment though…

When she tells Lindsey the senior partners want Angel alive she is clearly sticking to orders… and that pesky little crush she has on Angel.

She clearly wants to work *closely* with Lindsey reminding him they're a team. Once again we are reminded of a certain unconditional love… don't cha just love 'em?

She's a very reassuring and somewhat stabilising influence on Lindsey which is a character trait first touched upon in 'Untouched.' He is far more unpredictable ('Dead End') and they form a nice balancing act… which has just about kept them afloat up to now. Like it or not they've been working as a team right from the start.

Lilah is extremely loyal to Lindsey. He knows she'll stick by him no matter what (especially following the events of 'Redefinition.') She's faithful but she's also faithful to Angel. When it comes to the crunch who will she choose?

Lilah's also a worrier about her public image showing her status as a high profile lawyer well known within the city of LA if not nation-wide (hinted on by Darla in 'Redefinition.')

We have Lilah chasing Lindsey around most of the building. Faithful, remembering the faithful riff from Blood Money. I'm not gonna say it again: She is faithful to Lindsey.

She clearly panicked over the review. Not just for her job but for her life. And probably Lindsey's. Protectiveness.

Um… she's into unholy rituals and clearly knows a lot about that. We don't wanna say she- Giles but… nah that's cruel. She knows a lot. More like a she- Wesley.

Is Lilah human? She talks about 1968, which was nearly forty years ago. But talks like she remembers it. Well preserved person much? Vampire? Demon? Alien? Fiendish imp of some kind? You do the math…

'My mother was right… I should have had children' *hint, hint* subtext, subtext. This is to Lindsey by the way and not Angel…

Lilah questions Lindsey's trust in her over Darla 'n' Dru. She probably fears for her safety again since the last run in with D 'n' D she ended up with an ugly looking neck wound.

Lilah 'n' Angelus I guess more like goodiness. Muchos fun with bodyguards. Oh, so perfect, not deciding, not deciding, Lindsey? Angel? Lindsey? Angel?

I have never been so mad in my entire life! Lindsey actually hit Lilah! Aaaahhhhhhhhhhh! I'll start swinging towards Lilah 'n' Angel I really will!

Rockin' ep, Rockin' ep! Tearfulness abound, I think I e-mailed and texted everyone I know!

Fear conveyed over Angel. Fearful, fearful, fearful after his recent angelustic turn. Well she loves dark anyways, but yeah, the fear factor abound.

Many contacts, particularly demonic, *remembering Merl. * He was *great. *

Hurt by Lindsey's stabs in the back as she puts it. Awww, I *know* he loves her really…

She's pretty jealous of Lindsey's new hand and she knows they 'really, really like you.' Oblique I guess reference to 'I really, really like you.'

And how can he not care that she's gonna die if he gets promoted? She's in serious pain in this but it's the vulnerable Lilah we saw way back in 'Blind Date.'

Oblique references. Her and Lindsey 'It's not about right or wrong.' It's more about heat, desire, black magick, ya know… the usual office romance…

Unrequited love. 'Yeah, he's great.' Speaking for the world here… everyone loves Lindsey!

She carries a gun in her handbag. Smart! That's good.

This is Lindsey's speech on how great Lilah is: "I would've chosen Lilah. Do you know how many hours this chick has logged in? She's been working overtime boys! She's everything you ever dreamed of! Lilah is your guy." Everything you ever dreamed off… why, oh why didn't they sail off into the sunset together? Watch Lilah's face as he leaves. Broke my heart (this is when the tears happened.)