Episode Trivia
A Clockwork Orange
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A Clockwork Orange is a 1971 film adaptation of a 1962 novel of the same name, by Anthony Burgess. The adaptation was produced, written, and directed, by Stanley Kubrick. It stars Malcolm McDowell as the charismatic delinquent Alex.
The following is from 4.16 Players:
Fred: “It’s the pictures in my mind that are getting me. I can’t stop thinking about Connor and Cordy, hiding up in that room, imagining what they do up there… it’s like being stuck in a really bad movie with those Clockwork Orange clampy things on my eyeballs.”
Within the film, Alex undergoes an experimental aversion therapy developed by the government to solve societal crime. The technique involves being exposed to extreme depictions of on-screen violence under the influence of a nausea-inducing drug. Alex is unable to look away from the screen, each of his eyes held open by a speculum.
Alexa Davalos
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Alexa Davalos played Gwen Raiden in the Angel episodes 4.02 Ground State, 4.09 Long Day’s Journey and 4.16 Players. Of Greek descent, she was born in France on May 28, 1982. She started out as a model, before appearing in the HBO TV film And Starring Pancho Villa as Himself, with Anthony Stewart Head and Antonio Banderas. She has also appeared in The Chronicles of Riddick, The Ghost of F. Scott Fitzgerald, Disturbing the Peace, and starred in the TV show Reunion as Samantha.
Alexa speaks both Greek and French fluently. Her mother is Greek American actress Elyssa Davalos, and her grandfather is actor Richard Davalos.
Clash of the Titans
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The following dialog is from 4.16 Players:
Cordelia discussing her pregnancy: “I haven’t been hiding or ashamed or anything. It’s just with the Beast and his psycho master and then Faith and Willow and all that drama-rama, not to mention—”
Angel: “Angelus.”
Cordelia: “Everything’s been so Clash of the Titans around her. I didn’t want to be a… distraction.”
Clash of the Titans is a 1981 film directed by Desmond Davis and written by Beverley Cross.
Easy-Bake Oven
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Gunn references Hasbro’s ‘Easy-Bake Oven’ in 4.16 Players:
Gunn: “Two vampires hook up and for the only time in vamp history have a kid— our boy Connor. Then Connor grows up, knocks it out with Cordelia— a part demon, former higher-being— and quick as you can say ‘Easy-Bake Oven’, there’s a gigantic bun in hers. I don’t think we were too harsh.”
Gwen Raiden
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Gwen Raiden as a child had extraordinary electrical powers which made her unable to touch humans without giving them electric shocks. Unable to cope, her parents offered a generous donation to a school to take her to deal with her unusual and dangerous talents. As she grew older, Gwen began to hire out her electrical talents to the rich as a cat burglar, retrieving rare and priceless items for cash.
She met Angel’s when he attempted to steal the Axis of Pythia - the same artefact she has been assigned to retrieve. During this time she accidentally killed Gunn and subsequently restarted his heart. She later went to Angel when one of her clients, a member of the Ra-tet, was killed by the Beast, and offered her own luxurious apartment as a safe haven for the last surviving member of the mystical group.
She later asked for Gunn’s help to rescue Lisa (4.16 Players), whom she said was the kidnapped daughter of a client, although her true motives were later revealed to be less selfless. She and Gunn stole what was in fact L.I.S.A (a Localized Ionic Sensory Activator) which regulates body temperature, heartbeat and body chemistry. Gunn used the device on Gwen to control her electricity. Finally able to touch a human again, Gwen and Gunn made love.
Invasion of the Body Snatchers
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In 4.16 Players, Gunn mentions Invasion of the Body Snatchers, when he sees the way the L.I.S.A. device integrates itself into Gwen’s back.
Gwen: “What’s it doing?”
Gunn: “You ever see one of those body-snatcher movies?”
The story in Invasion of the Body Snatchers is of a group of aliens who start their takeover in a small town by replacing the inhabitants with controlled pod people. There have been two versions of the story - in 1956 and in 1978.
James Bond
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- In the episode 2.11 Ted, Cordelia states Buffy should have “special rules” when it comes to the subject of murder to which Xander replies, “What? A license to kill?” This is the title of the 1989 James Bond movie starring Timothy Dalton.
- In 3.20 The Prom, Cordelia says that Wesley would look “way-007 in a tux”, referring to Agent 007 - James Bond.
- In 4.04 Fear, Itself, Xander dresses as James Bond:
Xander: “Bond. James Bond. Insurance, you know, in case we get turned into our costumes again. I’m going for cool Secret Agent Guy.”
Buffy: “I hate to break it to you but you’ll probably end up cool Head Waiter Guy.” - In 6.04 Flooded, the nerds can be seen playing 007 Golden-Eye on their Playstation.
- In 5.04 Out Of My Mind, Buffy says:
“You’re like my fairy godmother and Santa Claus and Q all wrapped up into one… Q from Bond not Star Trek“.
- In 6.05 Life Serial, Jonathan, Andrew and Warren discuss the different actors who have portrayed James Bond. Warren likes Sean Connery, Jonathan favours Roger Moore and Andrew’s favourite is Timothy Dalton. They mention the movies Dr. No, Moonraker, Licence to Kill and The Living Daylights.
- In 6.15 As You Were, Buffy says to Riley:
“you still carry around all that James Bond stuff.”
They later abseil down a giant dam, 007-style.
- In 7.01 Lessons, Dawn says, “Check out double-oh Xander”, referencing James Bond.
- In 7.11 Showtime, Andrew tells Dawn she has a “License to Kill”.
- In 6.20 Villains, Buffy, Xander,and Dawn are talking about what to do with Warren and Buffy says:
“That doesn’t give me a license to kill.”
- In the Angel episode 4.16 Players:
Gunn: “You tell me. I’m thinking James Bond never looked this fine.”
Gwen: “I’m thinking you’re right.”
Gunn: “Of course, I’d feel better if we were packing some of his secret weapons.”
Magic 8-Ball
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The Magic 8-Ball, manufactured by Mattel, is a toy used for fortune-telling. Invented in 1946 by Abe Bookman of the Alabe Toy Company, it is a hollow, plastic sphere resembling an oversized, black and white 8-ball. Inside is a white, plastic, icosahedral die floating in a dark blue liquid. Each of the 20 faces of the die has an affirmative, negative, or non-committal statement printed on it in raised letters. There is a transparent window on the bottom of the 8-ball through which these messages can be read.
Wesley references the toy in 1.22 To Shanshu In L.A.:
Wesley: “This is an ancient sacred text, not a magic 8-ball.”
We see Lorne use the toy in 4.16 Players:
Cordelia: “Angel…”
(She turns to run but Wesley and Fred appear out of the shadows and surround her. Wesley racks his shotgun and Fred aims a trank gun at her. With nowhere to go, Cordelia turns back to Angel and stares icily at him as Lorne slides a toy Magic 8-Ball out from under his altar and shakes it.”
Lorne: “Has Cordy been a bad, bad girl?”
(He turns the ball over and the cube inside rises to the surface with the answer: DEFINITELY)