Episode Trivia
ABC Game Shows
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In 1.16 The Ring, when talking about Wesley, Cordelia says:
“Oh, I know. Every night it’s Jeopardy, followed by Wheel of Fortune and a cup of hot cocoa.”
Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune are both game shows aired on the ABC network.
In 4.06 Wild At Heart, Giles watches Jeopardy as he eats breakfast, shouting out the answers:
Giles: “The Peace of Westphalia.”
Contestant on TV: “Yalta?”
Giles: “Oh, you moron. That dinette set should be mine.”
Angel’s language skills
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Angel is shown to be fluent in several languages other than English throughout the show.
- In 1.10 Parting Gifts, he speaks Chinese
- In 1.16 The Ring, he speaks Spanish, Italian and Russian.
- In 3.08 Lover’s Walk, he reads Sartre’s La Nausée in the original language. Later, in 2.19 Belonging, he speaks French.
- In 5.13 Why We Fight, he speaks German.
- In 5.11 Damage, he is shown to understand (and presumably speak) Romanian.
Aye Aye Captain
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Some characters have a habit of putting the word “Captain” before nicknames on both Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel.
- Angel has been called Captain America by Jack McNamara in 1.16 The Ring
- Angel has been called Captain Forehead by Spike in 5.02 Just Rewards
- Giles has been called Captain Slow-Poke by Spike in 5.20 Spiral
- Riley has been called Captain America by Xander in 5.08 Shadow
- Riley has been called Captain Can-Do by Sam in 6.15 As You Were
- Riley has been called Captain Cardboard by Spike in 5.05 No Place Like Home
- Spike has been called Captain Peroxide by Xander in 6.09 Smashed
- Spike has been called Captain Peroxide by Angel in 7.22 Chosen
- Wesley has been called Captain Courageous by Giles in 3.14 Bad Girls
- Wesley has been called Captain Obvious by Gunn in 4.08 Habeas Corpses
- Xander has been called Captain Fear by Anya in 6.04 Flooded
- Xander has been called Captain Logic by Anya in 6.04 Flooded
Beetlejuice
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In 1.16 The Ring, Cordelia says:
“There’s always slime. This is why I don’t gamble. You make a small wager one day and a bigger one the next, and before you know it… Beetlejuicey Albino comes a-knockin’!”
She is referring to the pesky, pale-faced bio-exorcist lead character, played by Micheal Keaton, in the 1988 movie Beetlejuice.
Bickering
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The following scene was cut from 1.16 The Ring:
Wesley: “All I’m saying is you might have thought of the horsehair sooner, not that being flung across a room isn’t jolly good exercise”.
Cordy: “Speaking of horsehair, where did you find that jacket?”
Guard: “Mr and Mrs Winslow, good to see you again.”
Wesley: “Don’t touch me.”
Guard: “Remind me never to get married.”
Cordelia’s surnames
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Cordelia has a habit of giving people sarcastic new surnames.
She has called Angel:
- “Mr. I Was Alive for 200 Years and Never Developed an Investment Portfolio” in 1.01 City of.
- “Mr. I can’t tail the suspect during the day because I’ll burst into flames Private Eye” in 1.15 The Prodigal.
- “Mr. ‘oh, you’re my big, fat hero!” in 3.05 Fredless.
- “Mr. Distance” in 1.17 Eternity.
- “Mr. Killing Spree” In 3.02 Dead Man’s Party.
- “Mr. ‘I’m so tortured’” in 1.11 Somnambulist.
- “Angel? Mr. Bumpy-face? Hello?” in 4.04 Slouching Toward Bethlehem.
She has called Gunn:
- “Mr. I don’t take orders - now where do I stick my axe?” in 2.11 Redefinition.
- “Mr. Rationalization” in 2.03 First Impressions.
She has called Lorne:
- “Mr. Big Mojo-guy” in 2.11 Redefinition.
- “Mr. Green-Mojo-Guy” in 2.20 Over The Rainbow.
She has called Wesley:
- “Mr. Fussy Pants” in 2.05 Dear Boy.
- “Mr. Grouchy Pants” in 1.16 The Ring.
- “Mr. Don’t Talk to Me Before I’ve Had my Flagon of Oatbran in the Morning” in 1.16 The Ring
- “Mr. Star-schmoozer” in The 2.08 Shroud Of Rahmon.
- “Mr. Too-much-cologne” in 1.14 I’ve Got You Under My Skin.
Others have also been named by Cordy:
- To Xander: “Mr. Excitement” in 3.13 The Zeppo.
- To Devon: “Mr. I’m-the-lead-singer-I’m-so-great- I-don’t-have-to-show-up- for-my-date-or- even-call” in 2.06 Halloween.
- To Xander: “Mr. Faithful” in 3.01 Anne.
- To Wesley and Gunn: “Mr. and Mrs. Bickerson” in 3.05 Fredless.
- To Pierce: “Mr. Armani” in 1.07 Bachelor Party.
- To Barney: “Mr. Emotional Radar” in 1.10 Parting Gifts.
- To Kate and Angel: “Mr. and Mrs. Spock” in 1.06 Sense And Sensitivity.
Cordelia has also thrown in a few Misses in her name calling. She has called Buffy:
- “Little Miss Likes-to-fight” in 3.22 Graduation Day (Part Two).
- “Miss Not-Over-Yourself-Yet” in 3.07 Revelations.
- “Miss Save-The-World” in 2.13 Surprise.
Cordelia has even called herself a name:
- “Miss one-foot-in-the-grave” in 5.12 You’re Welcome.
Demons, demons, demons
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The website Dawn uses in 7.03 Same Time, Same Place, called ‘Demons, Demons, Demons’, was first used by Cordelia on Angel in the episode 1.16 The Ring. The website is also used by Sahjhan and Cordy in 3.10 Dad.
Gandhi
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In 3.01 Anne, Buffy says:
“Hey, Ken, wanna see my impression of Gandhi?”
She then kills Ken and says:
“Well, you know, if he was really pissed off.”
Peace-loving Mahatma Gandhi (1869 - 1948) worked for over 20 years to help secure rights for Indians in South Africa. He then spent the rest of his life trying to free India from British rule. He was assassinated by a religious extremist.
In 3.15 Consequences, after Faith killed Alan Finch, she said:
“The guy I offed was no Gandhi.”
In 5.04 Hell Bound Spike says:
“Oh, put your martyr away, Mahatma.”
In The Ring:
Cribb: “Idiot. Thinks he can get out of this by pulling a Gandhi.”
Gordon’s Trepkos
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Both the Angel episode 1.16 The Ring and The X-Files episode “Firewalker” featured a character named Daniel Trepkos - both were written by Howard Gordon.
Howard Gordon
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Howard Gordon co-wrote the episode 2.09 What’s My Line? (Part One) with Marti Noxon, and was consulting producer on the show. He was also a consulting producer and writer on Angel. He wrote the Angel episodes 1.09 Hero, 1.12 Expecting and 1.16 The Ring. Howard worked with Buffy’s executive producer David Greenwalt before, on an episode of The X-Files. He wrote many episodes and was co-executive producer of both 24 and The X-Files.
Howler demons
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Howler demons are slimy, bald, with white skin, and claw-like hands. They give off a sulphuric odour, and emit a high-pitched wail or howl, in preparation to fight or mate. Angel fought a pair of Howler demons when investigating a supposedly missing person in 1.16 The Ring.
Jerry Springer Show
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Cordelia says in 1.16 The Ring,
“You’d think people would get enough gratuitous violence watching Jerry Springer.”
The Jerry Springer Show was famous for it’s fights between guests.
Keanu Reeves
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In 1.16 The Ring, we learn that Cordelia had a horse named after the actor, Keanu Reeves:
Wesley: “I don’t know what else to try. We need something supple enough to thread the locking mechanism, but strong enough to spring the release.”
Cordelia: “Horsehair.”
Wesley: “Horsehair?”
Cordelia: “From Keanu, my palomino, before the IRS took him away.”
Lilah Morgan
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Unethical and conscious-free Lilah Morgan was a top attorney at Wolfram & Hart when she first met Angel. Intrigued by the idea of a vampire with a soul, she bought him from a demon-fighting ring who had captured him. Angel quickly turned Lilah’s offer of collaboration down, starting a tense relationship based on distrust and dislike. Lilah and Lindsey had a rivalry at W&H, but she always seemed the more calculating of the two, ever ready to sell out anyone available to the W&H management when things got tough.
The two were appointed joint heads of Special Projects after Darla and Drusilla killed many of their colleagues and their rivalry reached an all-time high as the two started a power struggle for vice-presidency of the Special Projects Team - as well as staying alive. Eventually, Lindsey left and Lilah was promoted to vice-president of the Special Projects Team.
Lilah was always happy to make Angel’s life difficult, but always slightly intimidated by the vampire. She and her new boss plotted to try and kidnap Angel’s infant son, Connor. When this failed, she turned her attentions to Angel’s estranged colleague, Wesley. She tried to convince him to join Wolfram & Hart but he continued to refuse those advances. Their relationship began as a series of one night stands, but continued throughout the reign of The Beast, her murder of Linwood Murrow, and the destruction of the Los Angeles branch of W&H. Lilah was the only employee left alive when Wesley helped her to escape.
Lilah was killed shortly after the release of Angelus. Wesley believed that Angelus was responsible and was forced to behead Lilah, as he believed she would rise again as a vampire, not realising that Cordelia had killed her. An employment contract with Wolfram & Hart does not terminate with death, and Lilah returned and offered Angel Investigations a tempting offer: full control of the Los Angeles branch of Wolfram and Hart with all the resources (and all the troubles).
Angel took the offer in an attempt to save his son Connor from a life of misery, and Lilah apparently returned to the Hell division of Wolfram and Hart, despite Wesley’s attempts to free her from her contract.
Mark Ginther
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Mark Ginther, who played the horned demon in Buffy’s 6.05 Life Serial, has previously appeared on Angel as ‘Lasovic’ in 1.16 The Ring and “Head Demon Guy” in the episode 1.15 The Prodigal. He has done stunts for Daredevil, Big Fat Liar, Jurassic Park III, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Wild Wild West, Arlington Road, BASEketball, George of the Jungle, Batman & Robin and Joe Versus the Volcano. Mark has appeared in The Master of Disguise, Babylon 5, Con Air, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze.
Nick Marck
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Nick Marck was a regular Buffy director and also directed the Angel episode 1.16 The Ring. He has directed The Wonder Years, American Gothic, Dawson’s Creek, The X-Files, Dark Angel and Malcolm in the Middle.
Spartacus
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Within the special features of Angel’s first season, Kelly A. Manners explains how 1.16 The Ring was inspired by Spartacus. Spartacus (c. 109 B.C. - 71 B.C.), according to Roman historians, was a gladiator-slave who became the leader (or possibly one of several leaders) in the unsuccessful slave uprising against the Roman Republic known as the Third Servile War.
Stephanie Romanov
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Stephanie Romanov was born on January 24, 1969. She was discovered at age 15 by Elite Modeling agent John Casablancas. Her first professional modelling job was in Europe, shooting for Italian and French Bazaar. She then moved to New York to pursue a professional model career, leaving her family in Las Vegas. She appeared in the magazines ELLE, Vanity Fair and French Vogue. Stephanie is also a trained dancer and speaks many foreign dialects, owing to her Russian heritage.
In 1993, Stephanie decided to try her hand at acting. She landed her first role as Teri Spencer on Aaron Spelling’s Models, Inc. and went on to get guest starring roles in Homicide: Life on the Street, The Sentinel, Just Shoot Me and Burke’s Law. She also appeared in several films, including Spy Hard, Menno’s Mind, Thirteen Days, The Final Cut and Cruel Intentions 3, in which she plays the headmistress.
Stephanie married film producer Nick Wechsler on December 26, 2001 in Cambodia. She gave birth to a baby girl, Lily Andreja Romanov on June 1, 2005.
West Side Story
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In 1.16 The Ring, Cordelia says:
“Couldn’t they have just done West Side Story?”
West Side Story is a musical written by Arthur Laurents, which is based on the Shakespeare play Romeo and Juliet. There have been numerous productions since its original opening in 1957, and even a film adaptation.
[Goof] Angel’s shirt
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When Angel is leaving the building where the fights took place in 1.16 The Ring, there is no blood visible under his jacket from where Trepkos stabbed him with the wooden pole.
[Goof] Angel’s wounds
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When Angel is fighting Trepkos in 1.16 The Ring his wounds, including the prominent stab wound in his chest change places, and even vanish throughout the fight.