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Gwen Raiden was a minor recurring fictional character on the WB network's TV series Angel.
Gwen was introduced in the second episode of season 4. Her origin is (uncharacteristically) shown in flashback before any action takes place. In 1985 , Gwen was a small girl who had to ability to funnel electricity through her body and use it as a weapon. However, she can't control this ability, so she has to be bundled up in heavy winter clothing so that she does not kill all those she touches. Her parents sent her off to a boarding school in Gills Rock, Wisconsin where she can be isolated from the other children. Outside at recess, a boy is playing with a ball and it gets away from him; in order to retrieve it, he must go near where Gwen is sitting. The boy asks if she is a freak, and tells her she doesn't look like one. Heartened by this gesture, Gwen smiles and the boy offers to share one of his toys with her. As she reaches out to take the toy, an electrical shock travels from Gwen to the boy using the toy as a conduit. He is killed.
Flash forward to present day Los Angeles, Gwen is a grown woman who uses her power to facilitate her career as a professional thief. She is hired to steal an artifact (called "the Axis of Pythia") which is very valuable. Unknown to her, Angel must use the same object in order to find Cordelia on her higher plain. Both Gwen and Angel find the artifact and fight over its possession. During the course of the battle, Gwen tries to kill Angel with a bolt of electricity...however since he's already dead it actually serves to make his dead heart beat again. Caught in the moment, Angel gives Gwen a passionate kiss. After he regains his focus on Cordelia, the man who hired Gwen reveals that he had trapped her and intended to kill her with poison gas. Since Angel is a vampire, he was not affected and he rescued Gwen. Gwen showed her gratitude by allowing Angel to use the artifact. He later gave it back to her, and she sold it for $33 million.
The second time Gwen appeared, she assisted Angel in fighting The Beast and took an interest in Gunn. During her last appearance, she asked Gunn to help her with a mission under the auspices of helping a kidnapped girl; in reality, she was trying to steal an experimental device which would allow her to control her power. Gunn grudgingly agreed, and shared an intimate moment with her afterwards.
Gwen's character is the source of much debate amongst fans. Many believe her stories felt forced and didn't really fit the continuity of the season, whereas others think that further exploration of the character was a missed opportunity.
Gwen Raiden was played by Alexa Davalos.
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