Episode Trivia
A Fistful of Dollars
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In 1.03 In The Dark, Oz says
“Yeah, your old buddy Spike dug up Sunnydale looking for it - but he got a fistful of Buffy and left it behind.”
This could be reference to the western A Fistful of Dollars.
Amarrah crossover
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At some point between 3.22 Graduation Day (Part Two) and 4.03 The Harsh Light Of Day, the gang (except for Xander) have found out that Angel was in L.A. Buffy gives the Gem of Amarrah to Oz to take to her ex-boyfriend. We see their adventures in the Angel episode 1.03 In The Dark, which features both Oz and Spike.
Angela’s Ashes
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In 1.03 In The Dark, Cordelia says to Doyle:
“I think the trick is laying of the ale before you start quoting Angela’s Ashes and weeping like a baby man.”
Angela’s Ashes is Frank McCourt’s autobiography about his childhood in Limerick, Ireland.
Arm in a box
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Cordelia references Buffy episodes 2.13 Surprise and 2.14 Innocence when she tells Doyle about Spike in 1.03 In The Dark:
“Oh, and this one time he and Dru raised this demon that burned people from the inside. It was this whole weird thing with an arm in a box.”
Batman
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The comic Batman, by DC Comics, is mentioned several times in Buffy.
- In 2.02 Some Assembly Required, Buffy alludes to the ‘Bat-Signal’ in Gotham city which is used to alert Batman that he is needed when she says to Willow:
“Sorry to interrupt, Willow, but it’s the Bat-Signal.”
- In the Batman comics, Catwoman is a cat-burglar, and the alter ego of Selina Kyle. In 2.06 Halloween, Xander says to Cordelia:
“Catwoman, you’re with me.”
- The Batcave was Batman’s high-tech base and Alfred was his loyal butler. In 4.20 The Yoko Factor, Xander says:
“You and Willow go do the superpower thing, I’ll stay behind and putt around the Batcave with crusty old Alfred here.”
- The nerds’ freeze ray gun in 6.09 Smashed may have been inspired by Batman’s Mr Freeze, who used a similar device.
- In 7.02 Beneath You, Spike refers to the 1960s TV show Batman in which Batman and Robin would slide down poles to the Batcave when they were needed when he says:
“A little touchy-feely, and you’re off to the Batpoles?”
- In 7.10 Bring On The Night, Andrew mentions Batman’s foe The Riddler:
“You think I’m a super-villain like Dr. Doom or Apocalypse or The Riddler. But I admit I went over to the dark side but just to pick up a few things and now I’m back. I’ve learned. I’m good again.”
- Vincent Schiavelli, who played Jenny’s uncle in 2.13 Surprise and 2.14 Innocence played the Organ Grinder in the movie Batman Returns.
- In the Angel episode 1.02 Lonely Hearts, Doyle refers to the Bat-signal, saying:
“It’s not like you have a signal folks can shine in the sky whenever they need help, you know?”
- In 1.03 In The Dark, Spike says of Angel:
“Quickly to the Angelmobile, away.”
- In 1.05 Rm W/A Vu, Cordy says:
“They gave it to a blonde that showed up in a skintight leather cat suit. She is supposed to be a housewife. She looked ridiculous. She looked like cat-woman taking out the cat-trash.”
- In 1.12 Expecting, Cordelia smudges her lipstick across her face and says (referencing Batman’s nemesis):
“And now I look like the Joker.”
- In 3.21 Benediction, Lilah says of Connor (referring to the name often given to Batman’s sidekick, Robin):
“Who’s the boy wonder?”
- In 4.02 Ground State, when the gang are climbing the gates to get into the auction house, Gunn says:
“This is so much harder than it looks on Batman”.
- In 5.19 Time Bomb, Hamilton says:
“It’s a business, boys, not a Batcave.”
Bruce Seth Green
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Bruce Seth Green directed several episodes in Buffy’s seasons one and two. He also directed the Angel episodes 1.03 In The Dark, 1.15 The Prodigal and 2.09 The Trial. Bruce is not a relation to Seth Green, despite their very similar names. Bruce has worked on Airwolf, Knight Rider, MacGyver, Xena: Warrior Princess, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, American Gothic, Gilmore Girls and V.
Call in the decorator
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In 1.03 In The Dark, Cordelia and Doyle have the following conversation:
Cordelia: “Please. I couldn’t get comfortable in here if the floor was lined with mink. I mean, how can you live like this?”
Doyle: “Well, I didn’t until last week. Then I saw what you did with your place and I just had to call my decorator.”
Doyle is referring to the episode 1.02 Lonely Hearts, in which he saw Cordelia’s less-than clean apartment.
Doug Petrie
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Doug Petrie was a co-executive producer, writer and director on Buffy. He also wrote the Angel episodes 2.09 The Trial and 1.03 In The Dark. Doug is a huge fan of comics. He’s written several Buffy comics and worked on the screenplay for the upcoming Fantastic Four feature film. There are loads of comic book references in Doug’s episodes. He has also worked on Tru Calling, Harriet the Spy (which starred Michelle Trachtenberg) and Clarissa Explains it All.
Doyle’s place
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Doyle’s apartment is described in the script for 1.03 In The Dark as:
It is, almost literally, the bachelor pad from Hell. Piles of laundry, crushed beer cans, and take out food cartons lie scattered about, mixed in with some super-natural knick knacks: a goats skull, black candles, books.
Fantastic Four
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The Marvel comic Fantastic Four is referenced a few times in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel. In 1.03 The Witch, Xander says about Amber’s burning hands:
“Like the Human Torch, only it hurts.”
This is a reference to Johnny Storm, the Human Torch, a character in the Fantastic Four.
In the Angel episode 1.03 In The Dark, Cordelia says:
“It’s daylight, you’re ringless, and unless you changing the act to Human Torch, I don’t think so”.
In 7.01 Lessons, Willow’s Wicca teacher is named Miss Harkness. There was a witch named Miss Harkness in the Fantastic Four.
In 7.10 Bring On The Night, Andrew mentions the supervillain Dr. Doom from the comic.
Gem of Amarrah
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The Gem of Amarrah was a legend amongst vampires. The Gem rendered the vampire who wore it invincible. Vampires combed the world for the Gem, but none found it and it was concluded that the Gem must be a myth, not unlike the Holy Grail. In 4.03 The Harsh Light Of Day, Spike discovered the Gem in a ring sealed in an underground crypt in Sunnydale. After Buffy got the ring from Spike she entrusted it to Oz to deliver to Angel, who destroyed it as he was worried it might get into the wrong hands.
In 3.01 Heartthrob, after an invincible vampire attacks Angel and Cordelia, Cordy asks Angel if:
“the Amarrah people [made] cufflinks or belt buckles?”
Howler monkeys
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This line describing the sadistic Marcus in 1.03 In The Dark was cut from the episode:
“Marcus was run out of Novi Grad by a pack of angry Howler demons for his antics with some local sprites - and you know Howler demons, they’ll hook up with anything.”
I Love Lucy
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In 1.03 In The Dark, Spike says, “Lucy, I’m home.”
This is a famous quote from the 50s TV series I Love Lucy. The main character Ricky Ricardo would frequently call this to his wife when he came home.
Johnny Depp
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The following line is from 1.03 In The Dark:
Cordelia: “When you are done giving the place the Johnny Depp once-over – I hope you have the cash to pay for all of this.”
This is a reference to an incident in 1994 when Johnny Depp allegedly trashed a New York hotel room.
Kevin West
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Kevin West played the sadistic vampire Marcus in 1.03 In The Dark. He won a Best Actor Clio Award in 1989 for his performance in a Little Caesar’s Pizza advert entitled “Origami”. Since appearing in Angel, Kevin has been in Phil of the Future, The West Wing, ER, The O.C., Alias, Black Scorpion, Four Dogs Playing Poker and Gone in Sixty Seconds.
Living gargoyle
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Spike’s first appearance in the script for 1.03 In The Dark is described in the stage directions as:
Now we see who this narrator is: it’s SPIKE. Perched high overhead ona rooftop ledge, looking down on the alley like some living gargoyle. Having the time of his life.
Marcus
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Marcus was a vampire seen in 1.03 In The Dark. He was hired by Spike to torture Angel for the Gem of Amarrah, but took the ring for himself and went in search of his obsession - children. Marcus was killed by Angel, who took the Gem and destroyed it.
Marcus’s torture chest
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Doug Petrie included the following line in the script’s stage directions, describing Marcus’ torture paraphernelia in 1.03 In The Dark:
Marcus opens a battered old trunk filled with torture implements - among them we see a cat’s paw, a breast ripper, a heretic’s fork, “the pear”, etc.
Mozart
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Marcus plays Mozart’s Symphony No. in C K.5 ‘Jupiter’ Menuetto Allegretto whilst torturing Angel in 1.03 In The Dark.
Oz
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Oz was a cool and thoughtful guitar-player in band Dingoes Ate My Baby. Oz’s full name was Daniel Osbourne. He fell in love with Willow, who decided to stay with him when Oz discovered he was a werewolf (2.15 Phases). The two went to UC Sunnydale together where Oz met Veruca, a fellow werewolf. One full moon, he escaped from his cage and when he woke up - human - in the morning he was disgusted to find himself naked with her. Veruca tried to convince him that they belonged together, and that he shouldn’t ignore the wolf inside him. He tried to resist yet locked himself in a cage with Veruca so she wouldn’t be free to kill anyone as a wolf. Willow discovered the two naked together in the morning and Oz decided to leave Sunnydale to try and find a cure for his condition (Wild at Heart). He still loved Willow very much and didn’t want to hurt her. Oz successfully cured himself of his wolfishness, only to return to find that Willow had a new girlfriend. He left Sunnydale again, this time for good (4.19 New Moon Rising).
Professor Angel Dust and The PH Force
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As Oz is driving to LA in 1.03 In The Dark, Professor Angel Dust and The PH Force’s Smoker’s Revenge is playing.
Railroad spike
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Xander said to Willow in 1.03 The Witch:
“That is the point, you don’t have to drive it through my head like a railroad spike.”
The character of Spike (introduced in season two’s 2.03 School Hard) was said to have got his name by murdering people using railroad spikes.
In Angel’s 1.03 In The Dark, Doyle says:
“Spike, like in railroads.”
In a flashback to William’s last day as a human, seen in 5.07 Fool For Love, one of the guests at a party says:
“I’d rather have a railroad spike through my head than listen to this stuff.”
Perhaps this is how Spike got inspired?
Rancho Range and Golf Shop
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In 1.03 In The Dark, Angel says:
“I was brought back for a reason, Doyle, and as much as I would like to kid myself, I don’t think it was for 18 holes at Rancho.”
This is a reference to The Rancho Range and Golf Shop, which is in Los Angeles.
Seth Green
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Seth Green played guitarist and werewolf Oz in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Like many of his Buffy co-stars, Seth started acting as a child in commercials. Seth then appeared in a few movies including playing the boyfriend of Alyson Hannigan’s character in My Stepmother is an Alien. Jodie Foster’s production company, Egg Pictures, is named after Green’s character in The Hotel New Hampshire, in which she also starred. Seth became famous playing Oz in Buffy and playing Scott Evil in the Austin Powers movies. Seth was the voice of Chris in the cartoon Family Guy, for which he also sang the theme song. Seth has also been in Idle Hands, Pump up the Volume (with Juliet Landau), Can’t Hardly Wait, America’s Sweethearts, Rat Race, The Italian Job, Greg the Bunny, Party Monster and Without A Paddle. Seth appeared in several episodes of season 7 of That’s 70’s Show as the character Mitch.
Seth contributed guitar tracks on Velvet Chain’s The Buffy E.P. for the song ‘Buffy’, and appears in the album credits. Seth Green has also performed with the band on stage.
Alyson Hannigan starred in the film My Stepmother is An Alien, and Seth played her on-screen boyfriend. Jim Doughan, who played the Driver’s Ed. teacher in 1.03 The Witch also had a part in the film.
Seth appeared in the original Buffy movie, but his scene was cut out. He can still be seen in a small picture on the back of the video box.
Seth co-starred in Stephen King’s mini-series It (1990) in which he portrayed the younger version of the character Richie Tozier, whose greatest fear in life is werewolves.
Along with Matthew Senreich, Seth created a stop-animation TV show called Robot Chicken using toys as the main characters. Stars who have provided voices for the show include Seth’s friend Sarah Michelle Gellar.
Spiritual Angel
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The exercise Angel is doing in the courtyard of the mansion in 3.06 Band Candy, is T’ai Chi Ch’uan, a Chinese martial art which is also used as a form of Taoist yoga. Snyder later says in that episode he learnt “Tae Kwan Do at the Y” - a marked contrast to Angel. In 3.07 Revelations Buffy and Angel do T’ai Chi together, before it gets too sexy for them.
We also see Angel performing T’ai Chi in the Angel episode 1.03 In The Dark.
The Flintstones
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Whilst talking about Angela’s Ashes with Doyle in 1.03 In The Dark, Cordelia says:
“I doubt very much that the main characters are Betty and Barney Rubble - as you so vehemently insisted last night. Also, I don’t think Oz appreciated being called my little Bam Bam all night”
Betty and Barney Rubble are characters from the cartoon The Flintstones and Bam Bam is their child.
Vampires and sunlight
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We first learn that vampires can be killed by direct sunlight in 1.02 The Harvest, when Buffy says:
Xander: “So, what else?”
Buffy: “What else what?”
Xander: “For vampire slayage.”
Buffy: “Oh, fire, beheading, sunlight, holy water, the usual.”
Of course, this doesn’t mean that the actors who play vampires can be destructed using sun beams. There are several occasions when direct sunlight lays on vampires in the show without them being destroyed.
- When Angel is sitting on Buffy’s bed in 3.18 Earshot, sun is shining in but he doesn’t burst into flame.
- In 4.19 New Moon Rising Adam confronts Spike in his crypt during the daytime. There’s lots of sunlight around, yet Spike doesn’t dust.
- In 5.18 Intervention, Spike’s face is in direct sunlight when Glory pulls him up by his lip. She then throws Spike on the bed, and his left arm is also in direct sunlight - he doesn’t burn on both these occasions.
- In the scene with Spike and the mannequin in 5.03 The Replacement, Spike has a tan line on his arms, where his t-shirt has been, though it may be possible to tan in indirect sunlight.
- During the Angel episode 1.03 In The Dark, there are quite a few incidents where sunlight is laying directly on vampires without them burning. This can be seen in particular during the warehouse torture scenes, and when Angel is in the van, about to attack Marcus.
- When the demon attacks Angel in his office in 1.08 I Will Remember You, Angel is clearly standing in direct sunlight.
As Harfang says in the comments section of this trivia - vampires’ resistance to sunlight appears to be directly dependent on their importance to the story.
Another point to note is that only direct sunlight harms vampires - and it just kills them. In 2.10 What’s My Line? (Part Two), Angel is seen being weakened by sunlight which is actually nowhere near him.
Versace
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Cordelia references the fashion designer Versace in 1.03 In The Dark when she says:
“Since when did you get all Versace about accessorising?”
[Goof] Boom
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The boom mic can be seen on screen in 1.03 In The Dark at 36:04, just above Cordelia’s head.