Recap / Gargoyles S 2 Possession

• Story Arc: Puck, Coldstone
• Characters: The Manhattan Clan, David Xanatos, Alex Xanatos, Puck, Coldstone, Coldfire, Coldsteel
• Enemy(ies) : Coldsteel

Xanatos recovers Coldstone and tries to sort out his inner demons; Puck decides to incorporate this challenge into his magic lessons for Alex.

Puck and Alex trick Broadway, Angela, and Brooklyn into volunteering their bodies for possession by Othello, Desdemona, and Iago respectively, before showing them two new robots Xanatos has built, which just happen to resemble Desdemona and Iago. After a demonstration of the robots' strength and power, Desdemona and Iago agree to be transferred into them, while Othello is transferred back into Coldstone.

David Xanatos and Puck (as Owen) return in Hunter's Moon; Alex Xanatos returns in Nightwatch. Coldstone returns in Reunion. Coldfire and Coldsteel return in The Rock.

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This Episode contains the following Tropes:

• And I Must Scream: Brooklyn reveals that he was fully aware of everything while Iago possessed him. Given their own actions, Othello and Desdemona are a bit sheepish over knowing that the same goes for Broadway and Angela.
• The Bus Came Back: Specifically, the bus that Coldstone was put on thirty-six episodes prior.
• Demonic Possession: Subverted with Broadway and Angela, who have no problem housing Othello and Desdemona's souls. Played straight with Brookyln, who is forced to watch everything Iago does while inside his body.
• Enemy Without: At the end of the episode, Othello and Desdemona are free of Iago, who now has his own robot body. Unfortunately, Othello and Desdemona know this only makes him more dangerous than ever and set out to stop him.
• Evil Knockoff: Xanatos creates robotic versions of Othello and Desdemona to house their souls and Puck uses them to ensure the gargoyles all behave according to his plan. While not actually evil, they are used to fight their gargoyle counterparts and their true intentions are not revealed at first. Coldsteel, the robotic version of Iago, however definitely plays this trope straighter; especially when possessed by Iago.
• Fighting from the Inside: Othello and Desdemona have to fight off Iago from taking complete control over Coldstone’s body.
• Forced Sleep: Puck in Goliath’s body sprinkles some sleeping powder onto Bronx to keep him from attacking Coldstone.
• Foreshadowing: Alex inhabiting Lexington's body (willingly) is the start of the two of them bonding much closer in future episodes.
• I Owe You My Life: Xanatos recovered Coldstone and worked towards separating the three personalities in order to pay Goliath back for saving his son.
• It's All My Fault: After Iago leaves his body, Brookyln feels guilty that he was powerless to stop him. Desdemona assures him that it wasn't his fault.
• It's Personal: At the end of the episode, when Iago (now Coldsteel) flees, Brooklyn declares he'll be waiting for his return.
• Laser-Guided Karma: After being the one responsible for Goliath becoming mind-controlled by Demona in “Temptation”, Brooklyn learns firsthand what it's like to be mind-controlled by a malevolent gargoyle.
• Loophole Abuse: Since the terms of his punishment specified that he couldn't use his magic unless he was training Alex, Puck used the opportunity to both resolve the Coldstone problem and give Alex his first lesson.
• Many Spirits Inside of One: Goliath and the rest of the Manhattan clan try to figure out a way to handle the three conflicting spirits within Coldstone.
• Mirror Match: While from the outside it doesn’t appear like this trope applies, this is the case when Desdemona in Angela’s body and Othello in Broadway’s body are fighting their robotic counterparts.
• Oh, My Gods!: Iago’s reaction to Coldsteel
  Iago: By dragon, you’re me!
• Playing Both Sides: Puck, ever the trickster, plays both Goliath and his clan (including Coldstone and Desdemona) as well as Iago to his desired outcome.
• Put on a Bus: Once in their respective robot bodies, Othello and Desdemona choose to leave the clan, as they feel obligated to deal with the escaped Iago.
• Rules Lawyer: The terms of the transfer spell require the souls and hosts to agree to the possession. Puck engineered a situation where Brooklyn, Broadway, and Angela would all agree so that the three souls could be removed from the robot body. Once the new robot bodies are ready, Puck has them show off so that Iago will be impressed and agree to leave Brooklyn's body.
• So Proud of You: Puck congratulates his young pupil when it's all over.
• Unwilling Suspension: Goliath and Hudson get tied up and hung upside down from trees by Puck in Coldstone’s body.
• Voices Are Not Mental: Lots of possessing in this episode, but the bodies still retain the normal voice actor, just with subtle accent and inflection changes here and there. This also works to the plot's benefit, as it takes a while for anyone to learn that Iago is in Brooklyn.
• We Will Meet Again:
  • Iago declares this before fleeing. Brooklyn responds that he'll be waiting for that day.
  • Othello and Desdemona promise to return to rejoin the Manhatten Clan after Iago is dealt with.
• Whole-Plot Reference: To the Star Trek: The Original Series Season 2 episode "Return to Tomorrow."