Episode Trivia
Angel’s mirror trick
details | add a comment | suggested by Mel
The script’s stage directions for 2.01 Judgement explain how the mirrored walls of the health club should be affected:
We see Wes and Cor and the manager moving toward us, people working out, etc, but no Angel. SWISH PAN away from this reflection (and hide the cut in the swish pan) and DISCOVER Angel where he belongs, in front of Wes and Cor, stopping a few feet in front of the mirror.
Barry Manilow
details | 2 comments | suggested by Jess
The first song Angel first sings in Caritas in the episode 2.01 Judgement is “Mandy” revealing his secret shame - a love of Barry Manilow (”I think it’s kinda pretty”). He also listens to the song in the episode 4.15 Orpheus, and sings a version for Jasmine in 4.19 The Magic Bullet.
In 5.04 Hell Bound, Angel and Spike say:
Angel: “Yeah, I never told anybody about this, but I…I liked your poems.”
Spike: “You like Barry Manilow!”
In 2.06 Guise Will Be Guise, Lorne says to Angel:
“You don’t have to sing. A break for you, a break for me, and a break for Mr. Manilow.”
Bravo
details | add a comment | suggested by Meghann
Cordelia references the Bravo TV network in 2.01 Judgement:
Cordelia: “Maybe it’s time we pay your stoolie a little visit. Make with the chin-music until he canaries. I’ve been watching a little noir festival on Bravo.”
Cordelia’s address
details | 1 comment | suggested by Meghann
In 2.01 Judgement, Angel gives Gunn one of his business cards with Cordelia’s address and telephone number on the back. Her address ia:
141 Embury Street
Apartment 212
Silverlake, CA 90026
Phone number: 323-555-0175
Costco
details | add a comment | suggested by Meghann
Costco Wholesale Corporation is a popular warehouse club chain. It is referenced in 2.01 Judgement:
Angel: “I understand.”
Jo: “How could you? I don’t even understand it! - I mean, six months ago I’m working the register at Costco. I did my time as a stock-girl and I was moving up. I was gonna be able to provide for my baby. Now all I wanna do is make sure she gets born.”
Edward James Gage
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Edward James Gage, who played one of Dracula’s movers in 5.01 Buffy Vs Dracula, also played Mordar the Bentback in the Angel episode 2.01 Judgement.
End credits
details | 12 comments | suggested by Jess
Cast listings in the closing credits in TV shows are usually reserved only for background characters with unimportant parts, or those with no speaking roles, but occasionally main characters are listed there when their appearance is to be a surprise. Examples of this in the Buffyverse are in 6.21 Two To Go, in which Giles makes a dramatic entrance at the end of the episode; the Angel episode 2.01 Judgement, in which Faith (Eliza Dushku) is visited by Angel; and 2.22 There’s No Place Like Plrtz Glrb, in which Willow appears at at the very end of the episode. In 5.08 Destiny, Christian Kane’s name was omitted from the opening credits to make his character Lindey’s arrival a surprise.
End of the tunnel
details | add a comment | suggested by Angel242
Both Angel and Buffy paraphrase the sentence “Light at the end of the tunnel”:
In 6.16 Hell’s Bells, whilst tying Xander’s tie, Buffy says,
“You and Anya give me hope. It’s like… you two are proof that there’s light at the end of this very long, long, nasty tunnel.”
Then, when Xander leaves Anya, she says,
“They were supposed to be my light at the end of the tunnel. I guess they were a train.”
In 2.01 Judgement, a moody Angel says:
Angel: “I thought I was out of the tunnel.”
Cordelia: “Sure you did… because the tunnel is - you know, it’s something we all… Are we talking real tunnel or symbolic? Just give me that much.”
Angel: “I saw the light at the end of the tunnel - that some day I might become human. That light was so bright, I thought I was already out.”
Handi-capable
details | add a comment | suggested by Meghann
The term “handi-capable” has been used by Lilah and Cordelia. In 2.01 Judgement:
Lilah to Lindsey: “You’re not handicapped - you’re handi-capable.”
Cordelia: “So, we’ve heard from the socially handi-capable. What’s your story?”
He killed me
details | 1 comment | suggested by Jess
In 2.01 Judgement, Darla says of Angel:
“He killed me. I remember now - with a soul in his heart.”
This occurred in the Buffy episode 1.07 Angel. In that episode, Angel told Buffy about his past deeds:
“I killed them with a song in my heart.”
I Will Survive
details | 1 comment | suggested by Jess
When we first see Lorne in 2.01 Judgement, he sings Gloria Gaynor’s song “I Will Survive” in his demon-karaoke bar Caritas. During the song, he also says:
“Oh, you know what I’m talking about. In this city you better learn to get along. Because LA’s got it all: The glamour and the grit, the big breaks and the heartaches, the sweet young lovers and the nasty, ugly, hairy fiends that suck out your brain through your face. It’s all part of the big wacky variety show we call - Los Angeles. You never know what’s coming next. And lets admit it folks: Isn’t that why we love it?”
I’m So Excited
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A demon called Liz sings “I’m So Excited” by the Pointer Sisters in Caritas in 2.01 Judgement.
Matthew James
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Matthew James played snitch-demon Merl in Angel. He also played The Dude in Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, with Eliza Dushku, and has appeared in Clean and Til Night.
Merl
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Merl was a tongue-less parasite demon, whose snitchy services were often used by Angel Investigations, sometimes for money, sometimes using physical and verbal violence. He hung around mostly at Lorne’s karaoke bar, Caritas.
Merl was not evil, but his services were easily brought, making him untrustworthy. In 3.03 That Old Gang Of Mine, Merl was once again used for information by Angel, who hung him upside down. He demanded an apology from Angel, and when Angel went to visit him the next day to make up, he found Merl dead. Merl had been killed by Gunn’s old demon hunting gang, who had begun to unnecessarily kill peaceful demons.
Office explosion
details | add a comment | suggested by Meghann
The explosion of Angel Investigations’ first office is referenced twice during 2.01 Judgement. First, by Angel:
Angel: “Yeah. Look! I got cards - and an office. Well, the office kind of blew up, but we’re working out of this other apartment in Silverlake, temporarily.”
And later by Gunn:
Gunn: “In the hospital - after Angel’s building blew? He sent me there to keep an eye on you two.”
The explosion was caused by a bomb placed by Vocah in 1.22 To Shanshu In L.A.
Prio Motu demons
details | add a comment | suggested by Mel
Prio Motu demons are ancient Ofga-beasts “bred to maim and massacre”. The Prio Motu we see in 2.01 Judgement, Kamal, was a rare exception to this rule - he was Jo’s champion until Angel killed him, believing he was trying to hurt her. Information about Prio Motu demons can be found in the book Suleman’s Compendium.
Sexual Healing
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In 2.01 Judgement, the hunch-backed demon Mordar the Bentback sings Marvin Gaye’s “Sexual Healing” in Caritas.
The Enemy Below
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Lorne says in 2.01 Judgement:
“Well who’s a little Curd? Who’s a little Curd Jürgens in The Enemy Below?”
He’s referencing the German actor who starred in the 1957 submarine action film The Enemy Below.
[Goof] Lorne’s handkerchief
details | add a comment | suggested by Mel
When we see Lorne in Caritas in 2.01 Judgement, his handkerchief is on his left side but when we see him next (10:46) it’s on his right side.
[Goof] N.D.O.U
details | add a comment | suggested by ildjarn
In 2.01 Judgement, Angel writes ‘Prio motu’ on the white board. Above it you can see Wesley has written ‘N.D.O.U’. When you see the board from afar, the ‘N.D.O.U.’ is gone.