Episode Trivia
Kevin Fry
details | add a comment | suggested by Jess
Kevin Fry played a Skilosh demon in the Angel episodes 2.15 Reprise and 2.16 Epiphany. He has also been in Lime Salted Love, Wanted, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, JAG, 24, ER, Strong Medicine, The Division, The West Wing, Early Edition, Walker, Texas Ranger, Beverly Hills, 90210, Nash Bridges, Eraser and Babylon 5.
Misery
details | 1 comment | suggested by Jess
In 7.11 Showtime, Buffy and Andrew mention the 1990 movie Misery starring James Caan (as Paul Sheldon) and Kathy Bates (as Annie Wilkes). It was based on the book by Steven King:
Buffy: “So I’m here to tell you, you try anything, try to run… you ever see the movie Misery?”
Andrew: “Six times. But the book was scarier than the movie because instead of crushing his foot with a sledgehammer, Kathy Bates chops it off with…” (realising) “I’ll be good.”
I’m also quite sure that the scene in which Dawn innocently brings tea to her mother in 5.05 No Place Like Home is a visual reference to the scene in Misery, in which Annie gives a cup of cocoa to the Sheriff. Dawn’s hair is even styled in the same way as Annie’s.
There is another visual reference to the film Misery in 2.16 Epiphany - when the demons come to Wesley’s apartment he quickly goes into a cupboard in his wheelchair and struggles to reach up to find his gun. This is very similar to a scene in the film in which Paul Sheldon desperately reaches up from his wheelchair to grab pills before Annie finds him.
Skilosh demon
details | add a comment | suggested by Jess
Skilosh demons are extremely violent, are skeletal, have ears with four ridges on them, and a third eye in the back of their head. They asexually reproduce by injecting their demon spawn into the skull of a human host. As a result, a third eye forms on the back of the host’s head. A new Skilosh will erupt, fully-grown from skull of its human host. If caught in time, a “deoculation” spell cures victims of the third eye and vanquishes the demon offspring within them.
Use of the name
details | 1 comment | suggested by Mel
A lot of Angel and Wesley’s discussion of the name of the agency in 2.16 Epiphany was cut due to length.
Angel: “You kept the name. ‘Angel Investigations’.”
Wesley: “We’re going to change it. But if you must know, we felt we had as much right to it as you”.
Angel: “Oh. I mean, ‘Investigations’, okay. But come on—” (points to himself) “Angel”.
Wesley: “Yes. But whatever good reputation that corporate name enjoys, is due to all of us. Not just–” (mimics cadence) “Angel”.