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Angel Season V Episode #94: "The Cautionary Tale Of Numero Cinco" Episode Guide

This summary is the intellectual property of Loey

A supremely ugly Aztec warrior demon has been literally ripping the hearts out of people in East Los Angeles, during Dia de los Muertos, the Mexican Day of the Dead. Research indicates that it is stealing the hearts of heroes in order to power itself up, sort of like a really gruesome video game character.

In seeking a way to stop the demon, Wesley discovers that it was last defeated 50 years ago to the day, by a group of five brothers, who were the champions of their time. Only one of the brothers survived. He's still in Los Angeles. In fact, he's been right under their collective noses the whole time.

He's that elderly Wolfram & Hart mail guy with the shiny Number 5 wrestler's mask, and he doesn't want to get dragged into this again. Back in the day, he and his brothers were luchadores, Mexican wrestlers, but they were also heroes to the otherwise-neglected Hispanic community. They fought everything from gangsters to vampires, and were inseparable. After they fought the demon, Tezcatcatl, only Number 5 was left, and he soon found himself unwanted and forgotten. Except by Wolfram & Hart, who hired him as muscle for the firm. Now, he feels like a useless sell-out, and wants nothing to do with this whole business.

Meanwhile, the gang discovers that Tezcatcatl was actually a great human warrior in Aztec days, but he created a talisman that would harness the power of the sun god and make him super-powerful. He was found out and sentenced to die on the Aztec equivalent of the Day of the Dead, but he made a deal with a shaman to bring him back to life every 50 years. So, right on schedule, he comes back, looking for his talisman, which has been placed in the safekeeping of generations of heroes.

Angel remembers seeing the talisman at Number 5's apartment, but no one is there when he goes to find it. Number 5 is at the cemetery where his brothers are buried, trying to summon the demon to come and do battle again. He tells Angel that he's not worthy to be de-hearted by the demon, so he swallowed the talisman, which will force Tezcatcatl to kill him in order to retrieve it.

Tezcatcatl shows up, and Angel and Number 5 both have at it. Number 5 is stabbed through the stomach, and Angel is thrown back against the brothers' headstone. As he struggles to get up, a hand pops out of the ground beside him. Then another, then another, and before you know it, Los Hermanos Numeros are back again.

The brothers (with Angel's help) attack the demon, finally pinning it to the ground. Angel stabs it through the heart, which will put it out of commission for another 50 years. Angel goes to Number 5, who is slumped over on the ground, and tells him that he is finally worthy. Number 5 isn't so sure he's worthy, but he's also not stupid - he actually hid the talisman in a coffee thermos. Angel goes and gets it, but when he comes back, Number 5 is dead.

The brothers pick up their fallen hero and take him to the gravesite. All five hermanos fade away quietly into nothingness, leaving Angel alone in the cemetery.

Angel gives the talisman to Wesley, who promises to put it somewhere safe. Angel informs everyone that Number 5 died a hero, but he's obviously not feeling very heroic himself. The demon didn't want his heart, after all, and he no longer believes in all those prophecies about being rewarded with his humanity and such. His current unhappiness goes much deeper than just not liking the W&H corporate culture.

A little pep talk from Wesley (who has heard about the extent of Angel's cynicism from Spike) prompts Angel to rethink his feeling of "disconnect." Wes points out that Angel needs to believe that this will all be worth it in the end, that there's some hope for him yet.

Late that night, Angel goes into Wesley's office and picks up one of the template volumes. He calls up the Shanshu prophecy translation, and begins to read.

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