Ground State

Now that he's back from his salt-water prison, Angel (David Boreanaz) is determined to find Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter), who was ready to profess her love for him before she was summarily beckoned to a higher plane (see "Tomorrow"). A terse meeting with uneasy ally Wesley (Alexis Denisof) yields one possible avenue of investigation: an ancient relic that can locate souls across dimensions. The only problems are that the object is up for auction and that a sultry cat burglar Alexa Davalos with the power to control electricity is out to steal it. That doesn't bode well for Angel's own attempt to "borrow" the relic -- or for Gunn (J. August Richards), who almost dies during a skirmish with the thief, causing no end of anguish for Fred (Amy Acker). Ultimately, Angel does get a crack at using the object, only to learn the truth about Cordelia's ascension. Little does he know that Cordelia gazing down at him imploringly, hoping to be rescued from highly evolved tedium. Originally broadcast Oct. 13, 2002, on the WB network, "Ground State" marked season four, episode two of the supernatural comedy drama. Gwen Raiden, the electrifying cat burglar played by Alexa Davalos, receives an extensive backstory in preparation for a recurring role.