Not Fade Away

Not Fade Away is the 22nd episode of season 5, and the final episode of the series, of the television show Angel. See also List of Angel (series) episodes.

Angel, having regained the confidence and trust of his team, continues feigning loyalty to the Circle of the Black Thorn. When he announces that the time has come to strike back, he tells his team to make the most of what may be their last day on Earth. Gunn visits his old neighborhood, Wesley tends to the wounded Illyria, Lorne spends some time onstage, Spike performs at a poetry slam, and Angel visits his son. When night falls, they move to divide and conquer the demons that wield Wolfram and Hart's power on earth, incurring the wrath of the armies of hell.

Quotes and trivia

 * Joss Whedon discussed the final battle in SFX Magazine.


 * ''"Gunn is dead. Illyria keeps fighting. Angel loses an arm. Spike gets Shanshu. And Xander loses another eye, which is funny, because he isn't even there."


 * This is all said in humor.


 * Despite many rumors, this episode was written some time after the series had been confirmed as cancelled. It is not a cliffhanger. However, it is still down to the viewers to decide whether or not Angel, Spike, Gunn, and Illyria actually survive the final battle. Non-canonical comics have since depicted these characters' survival.


 * This is the 254th and final episode of Buffy/Angel.


 * The poem that Spike reads is a completed form of the poem that was originally introduced in Buffy Season 5's "Fool for Love". In that episode, only the last two lines were revealed.   The completed poem reads:


 * My soul is racked in harsh repose
 * Midnight descends in raven colored clothes
 * But soft, behold! A sunlight beam
 * Cutting a swath of glimmering gleam
 * My heart expands, 'tis grown a bulge in't,
 * Inspired by your beauty effulgent