Episode Trivia
All about passion
details | 2 comments | suggested by Mel
The speech that Angel gives in the episode 2.17 Passion is completely different from the one that was in the original script. The cheerful original version was as follows:
“Passion, it is born, and though uninvited, unwelcome, unwanted like a cancer, it takes root. It festers. It bleeds. It scabs only to rupture, and bleed anew. It grows, it thrives until it consumes. It lives so, it must die in time. Passion, it drives some to distraction, some to despair, some to vengeance. It drives some to murder and others to madness. Passion is the source of hope and the cause of despair. It is the source of life and the cause of death.”
Angel and Giles’s place
details | 9 comments | suggested by Jess
Many people think it is a goof that Angelus got into Giles’s apartment to place Jenny’s body there in 2.17 Passion. It’s true we’ve never seen Angel in Giles’s apartment but that doesn’t mean he’s never been there.
Buffy’s photo
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The photograph of Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) behind Joyce as she eats dinner in 2.17 Passion is a publicity shot from Entertainment Weekly - the August 1997 issue.
Charlie Brown
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Willow and Xander have a Christmas tradition of watching A Charlie Brown Christmas together. This was first mentioned in 2.17 Passion. The cartoon features the Snoopy Dance, which is something we see Xander do in 5.03 The Replacement.
In 6.06 All The Way, Spike says:
“Great Pumpkin’s on in twenty.”
He’s referring to Charles Schultz’s animated Peanuts Halloween special It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.
College boy
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In the episode 2.17 Passion, Joyce remembers Angel as the college boy tutoring Buffy in 1.07 Angel.
Crawford Street
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Angelus, Spike and Drusilla lived in a mansion on Crawford Street after their old lair at The Factory burned down in 2.17 Passion. Angel lived there when he was brought back from Hell in season three until he moved to L.A.
Crawford Street may have been named after Sarah Michelle Gellar’s stunt double, Sophia Crawford.
Faster Pussycat! Kill! Kill!
details | 1 comment | suggested by Jess
Xander says of Giles in 2.17 Passion, “Faster pussycat! Kill! Kill!”. This is a name check of a trashy B-movie made by Russ Meyer in 1965. The plot consists of three strippers who hit the road in their sports cars and crush everything in their path, plus a wheelchair-bound old man.
Garlic
details | 5 comments | suggested by Jess
Traditionally, garlic is supposed to ward off vampires, though no explanation is properly given why. Buffy uses garlic, hoping to put off Spike if he tries to go to her house, in 6.10 Wrecked. She also hung garlic in her room in 2.17 Passion, when Angel was a threat.
Hearing about Jenny
details | 4 comments | suggested by Jess
When Buffy and Willow discover that Jenny has been killed in 2.17 Passion, we don’t hear the whole of their conversation, as it’s covered by a voice-over. Here’s the scene:
Willow (referring to ‘the talk’ with Joyce): “So was it horrible?”
Buffy: “It wasn’t too horrible.” (phone rings) “Hello?”
Giles (on phone): “Buffy?”
Buffy: “Giles! Hey, we finished the spe - ”
Giles (on phone): “Jenny… Ms. Calendar… she’s been killed.”
Buffy: “What?”
Giles (on phone): “It was Angel.”
Buffy drops the phone.
Willow: “Buffy?” (she picks up the phone) “Giles?”
Giles (on phone): “Willow. Angel’s killed Jenny.”
Willow: “What? No! oh… no�”
Joyce: “Willow! My god, Buffy! What’s wrong? Has something happened?”
Ira Rosenberg
details | add a comment | suggested by Jess
Willow’s neglectful father was called Ira Rosenberg, mentioned only in the episode 2.17 Passion and never seen on screen.
Jenny Calendar
details | 32 comments | suggested by Jess
Jenny Calendar was the Computer Science teacher at Sunnydale High, and also secretly Janna Kalderash, a Romany from the tribe who cursed Angel with his soul. Jenny was sent to Sunnydale to make sure that the curse was working, but she became friends with the Scoobies and liked Angel. Jenny fell in love with Giles, despite the fact that the two were exact opposites. When Angel lost his soul, Buffy blamed Jenny (2.14 Innocence). The technopagan tried to discover how to re-curse Angel but was killed by Angelus before she could tell anyone the cure (2.17 Passion). Jenny’s grave had no year of birth or date on it. It simply said, “Jennifer Calendar”.
Jenny’s disk
details | 3 comments | suggested by Jess
Jenny’s computer disk containing the spell to restore Angel’s soul falls between two desks at the end of the episode 2.17 Passion. This proves crucial in 2.21 Becoming (Part One), when Buffy and Willow find it and realise they can cure Angel.
Knocked out
details | 11 comments | suggested by Jess
In 5.01 Buffy Vs Dracula, Giles falls into Dracula’s basement, where he is surrounded by the sisters. After he falls he says, “Good show, Giles. At least you didn’t get knocked out for a change.” In 4.12 A New Man, Giles says he has a “tendency to get knocked on the head”. He’s not kidding. Giles has been knocked unconscious in the episodes:
- 1.03 The Witch (by vampires who want to raise the Master again)
- 1.05 Never Kill A Boy On The First Date (by Andrew Borba in the crematorium)
- 1.12 Prophecy Girl (by Buffy, to stop him from trying to help her)
- 2.01 When She Was Bad (by the vampires attempting to raise the Master)
- 2.17 Passion (by Angelus, after Giles attacks him for killing Jenny)
- 2.21 Becoming (Part One) (by a group of vampires who take him to Angelus)
- 3.04 Beauty And The Beasts (shot with a tranquillizer gun)
- 3.05 Homecoming (by Lyle Gorch and Candy).
- 3.07 Revelations (by Gwendolyn Post, in his office)
- 3.11 Gingerbread (by the MOO mob as they come to take Buffy away. When Cordy wakes him up she says, “I came over here to tell Buffy to stop this craziness and found you all unconscious… again. How many times have you been knocked out, anyway? I swear, one of these times, you’re going to wake up in a coma.”)
- 3.18 Earshot (he doesn’t get knocked out in this episode - but he does walk into a tree in a very amusing manner)
- 6.04 Flooded (by the Mfashnik demon as it breaks ino Buffy’s house. Giles later says, “Well, I know I’m back in America now. I’ve been knocked unconscious”).
La Boheme
details | add a comment | suggested by Abby M.
‘Acte 10 Soave Fanciulla’ from La Boheme by Puccini plays when Giles returns home to find Jenny dead in 2.17 Passion. The nomadic group called gypsies or Romany are called “bohemiens” in French. Bohemians and gypsies share some characteristics: Both groups are known for their vagabond lifestyle, for their merry poverty, and for their disregard of money for the pursuit of music, color, and relationships (how Jenny got involved with Giles even though she was supposed to watch Angel). It is pretty interesting to see the similarities between bohemians and gypsies considering Jenny was a gypsy.
The part we hear when Giles discovers Jenny dead is “O soave fanciulla,” from the end of act 1 when Rodolfo and Mimì first declare their love to each other (as Giles probably thinks that Jenny and him are about to do the same when this piece is played).
Losing the one you love
details | 17 comments | suggested by Abby M.
During the seven years of Buffy, all four core Scoobies have the person they love die at some point:
- Xander - Anya dies fighting against The First’s army (7.22 Chosen)
- Willow - Tara is shot and instantly killed by Warren (6.19 Seeing Red)
- Giles - Jenny gets her neck snapped by Angelus (2.17 Passion)
- Buffy - Angel was already dead but Buffy kills him by stabbing him in the heart with a sword (2.22 Becoming (Part Two))
Morcheeba
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We hear Morcheeba’s “Never An Easy Way” (from the album ‘Who Can You Trust’) as Angel watches The Scoobies at the Bronze in 2.17 Passion.
Not without you
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In 6.08 Tabula Rasa, Buffy tells Giles:
“I can’t do this without you”.
She previously made the same statement to her Watcher when Giles confronted Angelus after he murdered Jenny in 2.17 Passion.
Orb Of Thesulah
details | 10 comments | suggested by Jess
The Orb Of Thesulah was the key to translating the Transliteration Annuls for the Rituals of the Undead. These texts contained the spell to restore a soul to the undead but were lost. In 2.21 Becoming (Part One), Giles says to Willow that he has an Orb Of Thesulah which can restore Angel’s soul - he uses it as a paper weight. In 2.17 Passion, the owner of the Occult shop says to Jenny that someone bought an Orb but the person that bought it was going to use it as a paper weight, so he must have been talking about Giles.
Oz or Jenny?
details | 12 comments | suggested by Jess
Alyson Hannigan said in an interview,
“Angel…had to kill somebody we loved - we were all warned about that. Actually, I think it was supposed to be Oz that was killed, then they decided they’d keep Oz around and they killed Ms Calendar.”
Punching Giles
details | add a comment | suggested by Abby M.
Buffy punches Giles twice in the series: In 1.12 Prophecy Girl, to stop him preventing her from facing the Master, and in 2.17 Passion, after he attacks Angelus.
Remembering Jenny
details | 1 comment | suggested by Jess
The piece of music which plays at the end of 2.17 Passion, is called ‘Remembering Jenny’, composed by Christophe Beck. The vocals were provided by Anthony Stewart Head.
Richard Assad
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Richard Assad, who played the magic shop owner in 2.17 Passion, has also been in Along Came Polly, Wishmaster, Mars Attacks!, Forget Paris and Robin Hood: Men in Tights.
Robia LaMorte
details | 17 comments | suggested by Jess
Robia LaMorte played Jenny Calendar. Born in 1970 in New York, Robia became a professional dancer at 16 and appeared in her first music video ‘Shake Your Love’ for Deborah Gibson. She was paired with dancer Lori Elle and they became known as Diamond & Pearl - dancers for Prince. Robia was picked by Prince to dance with him for the Diamonds and Pearls album. A single from the album went to number 1 and Robia was pictured on the cover. Robia played Jill Fleming in Beverly Hills, 90210 prior to appearing in Buffy. She has also been in Spawn and Robot Bastard!
Robia’s religion
details | 2 comments | suggested by Jess
Robia LaMorte has talked about how she became a Christian:
“…I was driving home from their [Robia’s parents] house, and I decided to talk to God. “Ok God,” I said. “You know I believe in You, but I don’t get the whole Jesus/born again Christian thing. If Jesus really is the way, then you need to show me. If you make it clear to me in a way that I can relate to and understand, then I’ll check it out.” As I was praying this, I noticed that my car was suddenly in the middle of a gang of Hells Angels on their bikes. Leather clad bikers were in front of me and a few on each side. I thought how ironic it was to be praying to God and have all those Hells Angels around me. Well, I looked a little closer at the guys in front of me and they all had crosses on the back of their helmets and crosses on the back of their jackets. Above the cross on each leather jacket were the words “We Ride For Jesus.” I couldn’t help but laugh. The prayer was barely out of my mouth, and moments later, I was surrounded by Jesus bikers.”
Robia’s shoes
details | add a comment | suggested by Jess
Robia La Morte said the following about filming the episode 2.17 Passion:
“[The filming of] the confrontation in the classroom was one day in itself, that took probably four or five hours because of all the fire and explosions… On a separate day we did the rest…to the point of my death. A lot of running in high heels! The good thing about TV is, as soon as the camera goes to those tighter shots, put those sneakers on.”
Something to fall back on
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Willow taught Jenny’s computer science after she died in 2.17 Passion and continued to do so in 2.19 I Only Have Eyes For You, 2.20 Go Fish and 2.21 Becoming (Part One).
Special Projects
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In the episode 2.17 Passion, when Giles questions why Jenny is in the computer lab so late, she replies that she is “working on a special project.” In the episode 1.08 I Robot, You Jane, Fritz says to Jenny that he is working on a “special project” on the computer. Ironically, when Jenny asks if she will like Fritz’s ’special project’, he replies that she’ll die.
Tara’s detentions
details | add a comment | suggested by Abby M.
In 2.17 Passion, Willow asked Jenny if she could have the power to give detention and it seems she does. In 2.19 I Only Have Eyes For You there is a detention list at the bottom right hand corner of the chalkboard. The list includes Lisa D., Dayton, Ericka, and also Tara x 2. Tara was the name of Willow’s girlfriend in seasons 4 to 6.
The Factory
details | add a comment | suggested by Jess
Spike, Drusilla and, later, Angel’s, lair during season two was an old abandoned factory in Sunnydale. It was burned down in 2.17 Passion when Giles tried to kill Angelus for murdering Jenny. The vampires then moved to a mansion on Crawford Street. The set itself was torn down to make room for the vampires’ mansion set on a Buffy soundstage.
The Ritual of Restoration
details | 6 comments | suggested by Mel
The translation of the ritual to restore Angel’s soul on Jenny’s computer in 2.17 Passion is this:
As the orb is round in nature, as the earth, is round in nature and the heavens are round in nature so is the soul. Return from whence you were banished, using this orb as your guide - penetrate every ounce of the flesh, every sinew of the body and every tissue of the heart.
Make what lays before you more than the empty vessel that is animal, that is beast - make it man as God created when he separated the firmament of the heavens from the earth.
Come forth now, return, return. As the orb burns, let life burn.
Transliteration Annuls
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The Transliteration Annuls for the Rituals of the Undead were encrypted texts on how to use the Orb of Thessulah. The translation had been lost for years until Jenny Calendar deciphered it using a computer programme. Angelus murdered Jenny in the episode 2.17 Passion before she was able to use the spell, and it was several weeks before the disc containing the ritual was found.
Vampire invitation rule
details | 18 comments | suggested by Jess
In vampire mythology (and the Whedonverse), a vampire cannot enter a person’s home unless it has been invited. This is first seen in the Buffy episode 1.07 Angel:
Angel: “It’s all right. A vampire can’t come in unless it’s invited.”
There has been some debate as to whether Buffy actually invited Angel into her home in that episode, but she does quickly say to him, “Get in! C’mon!” as they’re being chased by vampires. When Angel first became a vampire he returned home to kill his family. From 1.15 The Prodigal:
Father: “Be gone, unclean thing! A demon can not enter a home where it’s not welcome. He must be invited!”
Angel: “That’s true. - But I was invited.”
Angel looks to the doorway. His father turns and sees Angel’s sister slumped against the wall.
Dad: “Och!”
Angel: “She thought I returned to her – an angel.”
A vampire can enter a public place such as a school or hospital (this is seen in 2.17 Passion and 2.18 Killed By Death). In 2.17 Passion Angel says the sign outside the school says ‘Romatia transicara edicatorum’ which translates to ‘Enter all ye who seek knowledge’. Vampires can also enter hotel rooms, which are considered public. In 2.09 The Trial, Angel says to Gunn after he has entered a motel room:
Angel: “Oh, Motel, public accommodation. She didn’t live here.”
Another vampire invitation rule is clarified in 5.02 Real Me: only someone who lives in a residence can invite a vampire in:
Xander: “Yeah, actually, she– Harmony– kind of happened to sort of get an invite.”
Buffy: “You guys can’t invite her in. I mean, only someone who lives here can…
If the owner of a house is dead, a vampire can enter. This is seen in 3.21 Graduation Day (Part One) when Angel enters the home of the dead Professor. It is also seen explicitly in 1.15 The Prodigal (Angel can only enter the home of Kate’s father after he has been killed) and in 2.04 Untouched (Angel enters when a victim on life support dies). In the latter example we see a visible barrier ripple when Angel tries to enter.
When a vampire is invited into a home once, it can enter again at any point, unless a reversal spell is done. The spell was first seen in 2.17 Passion, after Angel lost his soul and started stalking Buffy. The last words of the incantation (read by Willow at Buffy’s house) are “Hicce verbis consensus rescissus est,” which translates into English roughly as “By these words permission is rescinded.” Buffy uninvited Spike from her home in 5.14 Crush, Harmony was uninvited in 5.02 Real Me, and Dracula was uninvited in 5.01 Buffy Vs Dracula.
There have been several goofs/continuity errors concerning vampires and invitations in the Whedonverse:
- When Angel and Buffy are running from the Three in 1.07 Angel, they take refuge in Buffy’s house. As they close the door, one of the Three gets his arm through the door before Buffy forces him back out. But he was a vampire and also uninvited, so how did he get his arm in?
- A similar event occurs in 2.16 Bewitched, Bothered And Bewildered - when Drusilla pushes Buffy’s door down, her hands go into the house - but Drusilla was never invited in.
- Angel says that he needs an invitation to enter Buffy’s dorm room in 4.20 The Yoko Factor, but Sunday and her gang didn’t need one in 4.01 The Freshman. This doesn’t count only for Buffy - the vamps are able to access Eddie’s room as well, and presumably they can get into the rooms of the other students they killed. How do they do that?
- In 1.17 Eternity, how can Angel jump through the window into Rebecca’s apartment to save her from the intruder? He was never invited in, and Rebecca only said to him to “Stop by”. Is this enough of an invitation?
- In 1.18 Five By Five, Faith is torturing Wesley in the apartment of the man she injured previously in the episode. When Angel finds them, he walks straight into the apartment… no invite needed. If Faith had killed the man, Angel would not have required an invitation. However, in 1.19 Sanctuary, the following dialogue is heard between Kate and a fellow officer:
Kate: “So do we think she is the one who threw the party here?”
Kendrick: “The guy who lives here identifies her as the woman who mugged him. Put him in the hospital, stole his keys, his wallet. We’re lifting prints now. My bet is - we get a match.”It’s apparent he is alive, therefore Angel should not have been able to enter his apartment. (It’s possible that Angel called the victim to ask permission to enter but this would be a very strange conversation indeed!)
- There is some confusion over who invited Spike back into the home he shared with his mother in 7.17 Lies My Parents Told Me, but this could have been a servant who lived there.
- In 5.15 A Hole In The World, Angel and Spike enter Lindsey and Eve’s residence without an invitation.
Vamps in cars
details | 3 comments | suggested by Jess
In 2.17 Passion, Cordelia remembers that she invited Angel into her car once, seen in 2.02 Some Assembly Required. She eventually swaps her car with her grandmother.
[Goof] Blind Jonny
details | add a comment | suggested by Mullsen
There’s a nice little scene in 2.17 Passion where the gang’s research mode is interrupted by the unexpected appearance of two students (including Jonathan) looking for books. This unprecedented event forces the Scoobies to go elsewhere to finish their discussions. The only problem is - the gang haven’t even left the library before Jonathan reappears from the stacks to ask a question. He looks around confusingly and says, “Hello?”, but he should have seen them exiting the room. They would have had to have walked pretty fast to get out of the library without Jonathan seeing them.