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{{DISPLAYTITLE:''Angel'' (series)}}
 
 
 
{{DisambigLink|description=TV series|page=Angel}}
 
{{DisambigLink|description=TV series|page=Angel}}
  +
{{Show
  +
|Title = ''Angel''
  +
|Image = AngelTitlecard.jpg
  +
|Seasons = [[Angel season 1|1]] · [[Angel season 2|2]] · [[Angel season 3|3]] · [[Angel season 4|4]] · [[Angel season 5|5]]
  +
|Episodes = 110
  +
|Premiere = "[[City Of]]"
  +
|Finale = "[[Not Fade Away]]"
  +
|Premieredate = October 5, [[1999]]
  +
|Finaledate = May 19, [[2004]]
  +
|Starring = [[David Boreanaz]]<br>[[Charisma Carpenter]]<br>[[Glenn Quinn]]<br>[[Alexis Denisof]]<br>[[J. August Richards]]<br>[[Amy Acker]]<br>[[Andy Hallett]]<br>[[Vincent Kartheiser]]<br>[[James Marsters]]<br>[[Mercedes McNab]]
  +
|Created by = [[Joss Whedon]]<br>[[David Greenwalt]]
  +
|Companies = [[Mutant Enemy Productions|Mutant Enemy Inc.]]<br>[[David Greenwalt Productions]]<br>[[Kuzui Enterprises]]<br>[[Sandollar Productions|Sandollar Television]]<br>[[20th Century Studios|20th Century Fox Television]]
  +
|Networks = [[UPN]]
  +
}}
   
 
'''''Angel''''' is a spin-off from the ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]'' television series. It was created by ''Buffy'''s creator [[Joss Whedon]] in collaboration with [[David Greenwalt]], and it was first aired in October [[1999]] until its cancellation in [[2004]].
[[File:AngelTitlecard.jpg|thumb|260px|''Angel'' logo]]
 
 
'''''Angel''''' was a spin-off from the American television series ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]''. The series was created by ''Buffy'''s creator [[Joss Whedon]] in collaboration with [[David Greenwalt]], and it was first aired in October [[1999]] until its cancellation in [[2004]].
 
   
 
==Premise==
 
==Premise==
Line 11: Line 21:
   
 
==Origin==
 
==Origin==
Co-producer Greenwalt points out: "There's no denying that ''Angel'' grew out of ''Buffy''."<ref name=":1">Edward Gross and Mark A. Altman, "[[Slayers & Vampires|Slayers & Vampires: The Complete Uncensored, Unauthorized Oral History of Buffy & Angel]]". Tor Books (2017).</ref> In ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'', the character Angel was first seen in the first episode and became a regular, appearing in the opening credits during seasons 2 and 3. In ''Buffy'''s season 3 finale, he leaves Sunnydale to continue his atonement without Buffy. Whedon believed that "Angel was the one character who was bigger than life in the same way that Buffy was, a kind of superhero."<ref name=":0">Candace Havens, "[[Joss Whedon: The Genius Behind Buffy]]". Benbella Books (2003).</ref> Whedon has compared the series to its parent, "It's a little bit more straightforward action show and a little bit more of a guys' show."<ref>David Bassom, "Buffy, Angel and Me". ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer Magazine]]'' #12, [[Titan Entertainment Group|Titan Magazines]] (September 2000).</ref>
+
Co-producer Greenwalt points out: "There's no denying that ''Angel'' grew out of ''Buffy''."<ref name=":1">Edward Gross and Mark A. Altman, ''[[Slayers & Vampires|Slayers & Vampires: The Complete Uncensored, Unauthorized Oral History of Buffy & Angel]]''. Tor Books (2017).</ref> In ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'', the character Angel was first seen in the first episode and became a regular, appearing in the opening credits during seasons 2 and 3. In ''Buffy'''s season 3 finale, he leaves Sunnydale to continue his atonement without Buffy. Whedon believed that "Angel was the one character who was bigger than life in the same way that Buffy was, a kind of superhero."<ref name=":0">Candace Havens, ''[[Joss Whedon: The Genius Behind Buffy]]''. Benbella Books (2003).</ref> Whedon has compared the series to its parent, "It's a little bit more straightforward action show and a little bit more of a guys' show."<ref>David Bassom, "Buffy, Angel and Me." ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer Magazine]]'' #12, [[Titan Entertainment Group|Titan Magazines]] (September 2000).</ref>
   
While the central concept behind Buffy was "high school as a horror movie" in small-town America,<ref>[http://www.shebytches.com/SFSaidgb.html "Interview with Joss Whedon by SF Said"]. ''Shebytches.com''. [https://web.archive.org/web/20100512141258/http://www.shebytches.com/SFSaidgb.html Archived] from the original on May 12, 2010.</ref> co-creators David Greenwalt and Whedon were looking to make Angel into a different "gritty, urban show."<ref name=":0" /> Whedon explained, "We wanted a much darker show, darker in tone. It's set in Los Angeles because there are a lot of demons in L.A. and a wealth of stories to be told. We also wanted to take the show a little older and have the characters deal with demons in a much different way. Buffy is always the underdog trying to save the world, but Angel is looking for redemption. It's those two things that creatively make the shows different."<ref name=":0" /> Whedon and Greenwalt prepared a six-minute promotional video pitch for the WB Network, the [[Angel pitch tape|''Angel'' pitch tape]]. Some shots from this short were later used in the opening credits.<ref name=":2">Keith Topping, "[[Hollywood Vampire: An Expanded and Updated Unauthorised and Unofficial Guide to Angel]]". Virgin Books (2004).</ref>
+
While the central concept behind Buffy was "high school as a horror movie" in small-town America,<ref>[http://www.shebytches.com/SFSaidgb.html "Interview with Joss Whedon by SF Said."] ''Shebytches.com''. [https://web.archive.org/web/20100512141258/http://www.shebytches.com/SFSaidgb.html Archived] from the original on May 12, 2010.</ref> co-creators David Greenwalt and Whedon were looking to make Angel into a different "gritty, urban show."<ref name=":0" /> Whedon explained, "We wanted a much darker show, darker in tone. It's set in Los Angeles because there are a lot of demons in L.A. and a wealth of stories to be told. We also wanted to take the show a little older and have the characters deal with demons in a much different way. Buffy is always the underdog trying to save the world, but Angel is looking for redemption. It's those two things that creatively make the shows different."<ref name=":0" /> Whedon and Greenwalt prepared a six-minute promotional video pitch for the WB Network, the [[Angel pitch tape|''Angel'' pitch tape]]. Some shots from this short were later used in the opening credits.<ref name=":2">Keith Topping, ''[[Hollywood Vampire: An Expanded and Updated Unauthorised and Unofficial Guide to Angel]]''. Virgin Books (2004).</ref>
   
Early during the life of the series, some effort was made to slightly soften the original concept. For example, scenes were cut from the pilot episode, "[[City Of]]," in which Angel tasted the blood of a murder victim; the episode that was originally written to be the second episode, "[[Corrupt]]", was abandoned altogether. Writer David Fury explained, "The network was shocked. They said 'We can't shoot this. This is way too dark.' We were able to break a new idea, we had to turn it over in three days."<ref>Nancy Holder, Jeff Mariotte, and Maryelizabeth Hart, "[[The Casefiles, Volume One]]". Pocket Books (2002).</ref> Instead, the tone was lightened and the opening episodes established Angel Investigations as an idealistic, shoestring operation. Greenwalt describes the transition for the second season of the series: "our notion was this will be a really dark, gritty urban show, and then we got really bored with that, because the sets were ugly and brown and stuff. That's why we had to blow that office up the first year."<ref name=":1" />
+
Early during the life of the series, some effort was made to slightly soften the original concept. For example, scenes were cut from the debut episode, "[[City Of]]," in which Angel tasted the blood of a murder victim; the episode that was originally written to be the second episode, "[[Corrupt]]," was abandoned altogether. Writer David Fury explained, "The network was shocked. They said 'We can't shoot this. This is way too dark.' We were able to break a new idea, we had to turn it over in three days."<ref>[[Nancy Holder]], [[Jeff Mariotte]], and [[Maryelizabeth Hart]], ''[[The Casefiles, Volume 1]]''. Pocket Books (2002).</ref> Instead, the tone was lightened and the opening episodes established Angel Investigations as an idealistic, shoestring operation. Greenwalt describes the transition for the second season of the series: "our notion was this will be a really dark, gritty urban show, and then we got really bored with that, because the sets were ugly and brown and stuff. That's why we had to blow that office up the first year."<ref name=":1" />
   
A first draft script reveals that Angel was originally intended to include the character [[Whistler]], played by [[Max Perlich]], who had already been featured as Angel's guide in ''Buffy'' episodes "[[Becoming, Part One]]" and "[[Becoming, Part Two|Part Two]]".<ref name=":2" /> In an interview, Perlich said, "I never got called again. If they had called, I would have probably accepted because it was a great experience and I think Joss is very original and talented."<ref>Tara Dilullo, "Where are they now? Max Perlich". ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer Magazine]]'' #62, [[Titan Entertainment Group|Titan Magazines]] (July 2004).</ref> Instead, the producers created a Whistler-like character, [[Allen Francis Doyle|Doyle]]. [[Cordelia Chase]], also from the original Sunnydale crew, joined Angel and Doyle.
+
A first draft script reveals that Angel was originally intended to include the character [[Whistler]], played by [[Max Perlich]], who had already been featured as Angel's guide in ''Buffy'' episodes "[[Becoming, Part One]]" and "[[Becoming, Part Two|Part Two]]."<ref name=":2" /> In an interview, Perlich said, "I never got called again. If they had called, I would have probably accepted because it was a great experience and I think Joss is very original and talented."<ref>Tara Dilullo, "Where are they now? Max Perlich." ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer Magazine]]'' #62, [[Titan Entertainment Group|Titan Magazines]] (July 2004).</ref> Instead, the producers created a Whistler-like character, [[Allen Francis Doyle|Doyle]]. [[Cordelia Chase]], also from the original Sunnydale crew, joined Angel and Doyle.
   
 
==Storyline==
 
==Storyline==
*[[Angel (season 1)|''Angel'' season 1]]
+
*[[Angel season 1|''Angel'' season 1]]
*[[Angel (season 2)|''Angel'' season 2]]
+
*[[Angel season 2|''Angel'' season 2]]
*[[Angel (season 3)|''Angel'' season 3]]
+
*[[Angel season 3|''Angel'' season 3]]
*[[Angel (season 4)|''Angel'' season 4]]
+
*[[Angel season 4|''Angel'' season 4]]
*[[Angel (season 5)|''Angel'' season 5]]
+
*[[Angel season 5|''Angel'' season 5]]
   
 
==Cast==
 
==Cast==
 
===Regular cast===
 
===Regular cast===
*[[David Boreanaz]] as [[Angel]] <small>(Seasons 1-5) 110 episodes.</small>
+
*[[David Boreanaz]] as [[Angel]] <small>(Seasons 1–5) 110 episodes.</small>
*[[Charisma Carpenter]] as [[Cordelia Chase]] <small>(Seasons 1-4. Special guest star 5.12) 86 episodes.</small>
+
*[[Charisma Carpenter]] as [[Cordelia Chase]] <small>(Seasons 1–4. Special guest star 5.12) 86 episodes.</small>
*[[Glenn Quinn]] as [[Allen Francis Doyle]] <small>(Season 1.01-1.10) 9 episodes.</small>
+
*[[Glenn Quinn]] as [[Allen Francis Doyle]] <small>(Season 1.01–1.10) 9 episodes.</small>
*[[J. August Richards]] as [[Charles Gunn]] <small>(Seasons 2-5. Guest star 1.20-1.22) 91 episodes.</small>
+
*[[Alexis Denisof]] as [[Wesley Wyndam-Pryce]] <small>(Seasons 1.11–5. Guest star 1.10) 100 episodes.</small>
*[[Amy Acker]] as [[Winifred Burkle]]/[[Illyria]] <small>(Seasons 3-5.17, 5.20 and 5.22. Guest star 2.19-2.22 as [[Winifred Burkle|Fred]]. Season 5.15-5.22 as [[Illyria]].) 70 episodes (67 as Fred, 8 as Illyria, 75 episodes total).</small>
+
*[[J. August Richards]] as [[Charles Gunn]] <small>(Seasons 2–5. Guest star 1.20-1.22) 91 episodes.</small>
*[[Andy Hallett]] as [[Krevlornswath of the Deathwok Clan|Lorne]] <small>(Seasons 4.14-5. Recurring seasons 2, 3 and the rest of 4 except 4.02) 76 episodes.</small>
+
*[[Amy Acker]] as [[Winifred Burkle]]/[[Illyria]] <small>(Seasons 3–5.17, 5.20 and 5.22. Guest star 2.19–2.22 as [[Winifred Burkle|Fred]]. Season 5.15–5.22 as [[Illyria]].) 70 episodes (67 as Fred, 8 as Illyria, 75 episodes total).</small>
*[[Vincent Kartheiser]] as [[Connor]] <small>(Season 4. Guest star season 3.19-3.22, 5.18 and 5.22) 28 episodes.</small>
+
*[[Andy Hallett]] as [[Krevlornswath of the Deathwok Clan|Lorne]] <small>(Seasons 4.14–5. Recurring seasons 2, 3 and the rest of 4 except 4.02) 76 episodes.</small>
 
*[[Vincent Kartheiser]] as [[Connor]] <small>(Season 4. Guest star season 3.19–3.22, 5.18 and 5.22) 28 episodes.</small>
 
*[[James Marsters]] as [[Spike]] <small>(Season 5. Guest star season 1.03 and 2.07) 24 episodes.</small>
 
*[[James Marsters]] as [[Spike]] <small>(Season 5. Guest star season 1.03 and 2.07) 24 episodes.</small>
*[[Mercedes McNab]] as [[Harmony Kendall]] <small>( Season 5.17-5.22. Guest star season 2.17, 5.01, 5.02, 5.05, 5.08-5.12, 5.14 and 5.16) 17 episodes.</small>
+
*[[Mercedes McNab]] as [[Harmony Kendall]] <small>(Season 5.17–5.22. Guest star season 2.17, 5.01, 5.02, 5.05, 5.08–5.12, 5.14 and 5.16) 17 episodes.</small>
*[[Alexis Denisof]] as [[Wesley Wyndam-Pryce]] <small>(Seasons 1.11-5. Guest star 1.10) 100 episodes.</small>
 
   
 
===Recurring cast===
 
===Recurring cast===
*[[Christian Kane]] as [[Lindsey McDonald]] <small>(Seasons 1-2 and 5) 21 episodes.</small>
+
*[[Christian Kane]] as [[Lindsey McDonald]] <small>(Seasons 1–2 and 5) 21 episodes.</small>
*[[Elisabeth Röhm]] as [[Kate Lockley]] <small>(Seasons 1-2) 15 episodes.</small>
+
*[[Elisabeth Röhm]] as [[Kate Lockley]] <small>(Seasons 1–2) 15 episodes.</small>
*[[Julie Benz]] as [[Darla]] (Seasons 1-5) <small>20 episodes.</small>
+
*[[Julie Benz]] as [[Darla]] <small>(Seasons 1–5) 20 episodes.</small>
*[[Stephanie Romanov]] as [[Lilah Morgan]] <small>(Seasons 1-4) 35 episodes.</small>
+
*[[Stephanie Romanov]] as [[Lilah Morgan]] <small>(Seasons 1–4) 35 episodes.</small>
*[[Eliza Dushku]] as [[Faith Lehane]] <small>(Seasons 1-2 and 4) 6 episodes.</small>
+
*[[Eliza Dushku]] as [[Faith Lehane]] <small>(Seasons 1–2 and 4) 6 episodes.</small>
*Thomas Burr as [[Lee Mercer]] <small>(Season 1) 4 episodes.</small>
+
*[[Thomas Burr]] as [[Lee Mercer]] <small>(Season 1) 4 episodes.</small>
*[[Sam Anderson]] as [[Holland Manners]] <small>(Seasons 1-2) 8 episodes.</small>
+
*[[Sam Anderson]] as [[Holland Manners]] <small>(Seasons 1–2) 8 episodes.</small>
 
*[[Juliet Landau]] as [[Drusilla]] <small>(Seasons 2 and 5) 7 episodes.</small>
 
*[[Juliet Landau]] as [[Drusilla]] <small>(Seasons 2 and 5) 7 episodes.</small>
*[[Daniel Dae Kim]] as [[Gavin Park]] <small>(Seasons 2-4) 12 episodes.</small>
+
*[[Julia Lee]] as [[Anne Steele]] <small>(Seasons 2 and 5) 3 episodes.</small>
*[[Mark Lutz]] as [[Groosalugg]] <small>(Seasons 2-3) 9 episodes.</small>
+
*[[Daniel Dae Kim]] as [[Gavin Park]] <small>(Seasons 2–4) 12 episodes.</small>
*[[David Denman]] as [[Skip]] <small>(Seasons 3-4) 4 episodes.</small>
+
*[[Mark Lutz]] as [[Groosalugg]] <small>(Seasons 2–3) 9 episodes.</small>
  +
*[[David Denman]] as [[Skip]] <small>(Seasons 3–4) 4 episodes.</small>
 
*[[Keith Szarabajka]] as [[Daniel Holtz]] <small>(Season 3) 11 episodes.</small>
 
*[[Keith Szarabajka]] as [[Daniel Holtz]] <small>(Season 3) 11 episodes.</small>
 
*[[Jack Conley]] as [[Sahjhan]] <small>(Seasons 3 and 5) 8 episodes.</small>
 
*[[Jack Conley]] as [[Sahjhan]] <small>(Seasons 3 and 5) 8 episodes.</small>
*[[John Rubinstein]] as [[Linwood Murrow]] <small>(Seasons 3-4) 6 episodes.</small>
+
*[[John Rubinstein]] as [[Linwood Murrow]] <small>(Seasons 3–4) 6 episodes.</small>
*Laurel Holloman as [[Justine Cooper]] <small>(Seasons 3-4) 8 episodes.</small>
+
*[[Laurel Holloman]] as [[Justine Cooper]] <small>(Seasons 3–4) 8 episodes.</small>
 
*[[Alexa Davalos]] as [[Gwen Raiden]] <small>(Season 4) 3 episodes.</small>
 
*[[Alexa Davalos]] as [[Gwen Raiden]] <small>(Season 4) 3 episodes.</small>
 
*[[Vladimir Kulich]] as [[The Beast]] <small>(Season 4) 8 episodes.</small>
 
*[[Vladimir Kulich]] as [[The Beast]] <small>(Season 4) 8 episodes.</small>
 
*[[Gina Torres]] as [[Jasmine]] <small>(Season 4) 5 episodes.</small>
 
*[[Gina Torres]] as [[Jasmine]] <small>(Season 4) 5 episodes.</small>
*[[Jonathan M. Woodward]] as [[Knox (human)|Knox]] <small>(Seasons 4-5) 7 episodes.</small>
+
*[[Jonathan M. Woodward]] as [[Knox]] <small>(Seasons 4–5) 7 episodes.</small>
*[[Sarah Thompson]] as [[Eve Levin]] <small>(Season 5) 10 episodes.</small>
+
*[[Sarah Thompson]] as [[Eve (Wolfram & Hart)|Eve]] <small>(Season 5) 10 episodes.</small>
 
*[[Jenny Mollen]] as [[Nina Ash]] <small>(Season 5) 3 episodes.</small>
 
*[[Jenny Mollen]] as [[Nina Ash]] <small>(Season 5) 3 episodes.</small>
 
*[[Adam Baldwin]] as [[Marcus Hamilton]] <small>(Season 5) 5 episodes.</small>
 
*[[Adam Baldwin]] as [[Marcus Hamilton]] <small>(Season 5) 5 episodes.</small>
Line 66: Line 77:
 
*[[Seth Green]] as [[Daniel Osbourne|Oz]] <small>(Season 1) 1 episode.</small>
 
*[[Seth Green]] as [[Daniel Osbourne|Oz]] <small>(Season 1) 1 episode.</small>
 
*[[Sarah Michelle Gellar]] as [[Buffy Summers]] <small>(Season 1) 2 episodes.</small>
 
*[[Sarah Michelle Gellar]] as [[Buffy Summers]] <small>(Season 1) 2 episodes.</small>
*[[Mark Metcalf]] as [[The Master]] <small>(Season 2) 1 episode.</small>
+
*[[Mark Metcalf]] as [[Master]] <small>(Season 2) 1 episode.</small>
 
*[[Alyson Hannigan]] as [[Willow Rosenberg]] <small>(Seasons 2 and 4) 3 episodes.</small>
 
*[[Alyson Hannigan]] as [[Willow Rosenberg]] <small>(Seasons 2 and 4) 3 episodes.</small>
 
*[[Tom Lenk]] as [[Andrew Wells]] <small>(Season 5) 2 episodes.</small>
 
*[[Tom Lenk]] as [[Andrew Wells]] <small>(Season 5) 2 episodes.</small>
   
 
==Title sequence==
 
==Title sequence==
:''Main article: [[Angel title sequence]]''
+
{{Main|Angel title sequence}}
   
Each episode of ''Angel'' features a title sequence, presenting each show's cast members, consisting of clips from the show itself. The opening theme was composed by Holly Knight and [[Darling Violetta]], an alternative rock group that performed two songs during the third season of ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer''. Holly Knight was the music producer of the track. The next year, Angel invited bands to submit demos for the theme music to the show. They asked bands to use "dark superhero ideas" and "cello-rock".<ref>AngelHART, "[https://web.archive.org/web/20061009171307/http://websites.cable.ntl.com/~fraxis/the_ww/old/features/thomas.html Interview – Jymm Thomas of Darling Violetta"]. ''Watchers Web'', 1999. Archived from the original October 9, 2006.</ref>
+
Each episode of ''Angel'' features a title sequence, presenting each show's cast members, consisting of clips from the show itself. The opening theme was composed by Holly Knight and [[Darling Violetta]], an alternative rock group that performed two songs during the third season of ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer''. Holly Knight was the music producer of the track. The next year, Angel invited bands to submit demos for the theme music to the show. They asked bands to use "dark superhero ideas" and "cello-rock."<ref>AngelHART, "[https://web.archive.org/web/20061009171307/http://websites.cable.ntl.com/~fraxis/the_ww/old/features/thomas.html Interview – Jymm Thomas of Darling Violetta."] ''Watchers Web'', 1999. Archived from the original on October 9, 2006.</ref>
   
==Continuity==
+
==Episodes==
 
{{Main|List of Angel episodes}}
Based on the TV show, the ''Angel'' series has expanded into licensed [[Angel comics|comics]] and [[Angel novels|novels]]. These stories either adapt aired episodes, fill spaces between stories, or offer a continuity to the series, often involving the original cast and crew. Although the [[canon]]icity of these creations aren't always confirmed, notably ''[[After the Fall]]'', ''[[Angel & Faith]]'', ''[[Angel & Faith Season Ten]]'', and ''[[Angel Season Eleven]]'' have been produced as the direct continuation of the series in comic form.
 
   
  +
The series debuted its first season on October 5, 1999 and ran for five years until its finale on May 19, 2004. In that time, 110 episodes of the series aired.
==Behind the scenes==
 
*David Boreanaz (Angel) and Christian Kane (Lindsey) are the only actors to appear in both the first and the last episodes of the series.
 
*David Boreanaz and James Marsters (Spike) are the only actors to appear in the final episodes of both ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' and ''Angel''.
 
*David Boreanaz is the only actor to appear in the first and final episodes of both ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' and ''Angel''.
 
*Mercedes McNab (Harmony) is the only actor to appear in the [[unaired Buffy pilot|unaired ''Buffy'' pilot]] and the final episode of ''Angel'', giving her the longest run of any character in the TV series.
 
*David Boreanaz is the only actor to appear in every episode on the series.
 
*Andy Hallett (Lorne) was featured in over forty episodes before appearing in the title sequence as a regular character.
 
*Like with ''Buffy'', all cast members — except for the original three, David Boreanaz, Charisma Carpenter (Cordelia), and Glenn Quinn (Doyle) — have been guest stars before becoming regulars.
 
*David Boreanaz and Glenn Quinn are the only regulars to never appear as guest stars/Special Guest Stars.
 
*David Boreanaz, Charisma Carpenter, Alexis Denisof (Wesley), J. August Richards (Gunn), and Julie Benz (Darla) are the only actors and actresses to appear in all five seasons.
 
*In total, eighteen actors and actresses played the same character in both ''Buffy'' and ''Angel'': Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy), David Boreanaz (Angel), Alyson Hannigan (Willow), Charisma Carpenter (Cordelia), Seth Green (Oz), James Marsters (Spike), Alexis Denisof (Wesley), Julie Benz (Darla), Juliet Landau (Drusilla), Mark Metcalf (The Master), Eliza Dushku (Faith), Tom Lenk (Andrew), Mercedes McNab (Harmony), Alastair Duncan (Collins), Jeff Ricketts (Weatherby), Kevin Owers (Smith), Julia Lee (Anne), and Zitto Kazann ([[Kalderash man]]).
 
*By the series end, James Marsters is the only actor to be in a scene with every single major character from both ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' and ''Angel.'' Buffy, Xander, Willow, Cordelia, Angel, Giles, Oz, Anya, Dawn, Riley, and Tara on ''Buffy''. And Angel, Cordelia, Doyle, Wesley, Gunn, Fred, Lorne, Connor, and Harmony on ''Angel''.
 
   
  +
==Awards and nominations==
==See also==
 
  +
{{Main|Awards and nominations to Angel}}
*[[List of Angel episodes|List of ''Angel'' episodes]]
 
  +
*[[Angel awards and nominations|''Angel'' awards and nominations]]
 
  +
==DVD releases==
*[[Angel DVDs|''Angel'' DVDs]]
 
  +
{{Main|Angel DVDs}}
  +
  +
==Continuity==
 
Based on the TV show, the ''Angel'' series has expanded into licensed [[Angel comics|comics]] and [[Angel novels|novels]]. These stories either adapt aired episodes, fill spaces between stories, or offer a continuity to the series, often involving the original cast and crew. However, the [[canon]]icity of these creations aren't always confirmed.
  +
  +
Notably, the comic series ''[[After the Fall]]'', ''[[Angel & Faith]]'', ''[[Angel & Faith Season Ten]]'', and ''[[Angel Season Eleven]]'' have been produced as the direct continuation of the series in comic form.
   
 
==References==
 
==References==
 
{{References}}
 
{{References}}
   
[[Category:Angel (series)|Angel]]
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{{DISPLAYTITLE:''Angel'' (series)}}
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  +
[[de:Angel - Jäger der Finsternis]]
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[[es:Ángel (serie)]]
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[[fr:Angel (série)]]
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[[nl:Angel (TV serie)]]
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[[pt-br:Angel (série)]]
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[[Category:Angel (series)| ]]
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[[Category:Shows]]

Latest revision as of 03:48, 16 September 2023

Note: This article is about the TV series. For other uses, see Angel.

Angel is a spin-off from the Buffy the Vampire Slayer television series. It was created by Buffy's creator Joss Whedon in collaboration with David Greenwalt, and it was first aired in October 1999 until its cancellation in 2004.

Premise

The series details the ongoing trials of the vampire Angel, who has his soul restored to him as a punishment after more than a century of murder and torture of innocents, leaving him tormented by guilt and remorse. He works as a private detective in a fictionalized version of Los Angeles, where he and a variety of associates work to "help the helpless" and to restore the faith and "save the souls" of those who had lost their way. Typically, this involved doing battle with evil demons or demonically-allied humans (primarily the evil law firm Wolfram & Hart), as well as battling his own violent nature.

Origin

Co-producer Greenwalt points out: "There's no denying that Angel grew out of Buffy."[1] In Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the character Angel was first seen in the first episode and became a regular, appearing in the opening credits during seasons 2 and 3. In Buffy's season 3 finale, he leaves Sunnydale to continue his atonement without Buffy. Whedon believed that "Angel was the one character who was bigger than life in the same way that Buffy was, a kind of superhero."[2] Whedon has compared the series to its parent, "It's a little bit more straightforward action show and a little bit more of a guys' show."[3]

While the central concept behind Buffy was "high school as a horror movie" in small-town America,[4] co-creators David Greenwalt and Whedon were looking to make Angel into a different "gritty, urban show."[2] Whedon explained, "We wanted a much darker show, darker in tone. It's set in Los Angeles because there are a lot of demons in L.A. and a wealth of stories to be told. We also wanted to take the show a little older and have the characters deal with demons in a much different way. Buffy is always the underdog trying to save the world, but Angel is looking for redemption. It's those two things that creatively make the shows different."[2] Whedon and Greenwalt prepared a six-minute promotional video pitch for the WB Network, the Angel pitch tape. Some shots from this short were later used in the opening credits.[5]

Early during the life of the series, some effort was made to slightly soften the original concept. For example, scenes were cut from the debut episode, "City Of," in which Angel tasted the blood of a murder victim; the episode that was originally written to be the second episode, "Corrupt," was abandoned altogether. Writer David Fury explained, "The network was shocked. They said 'We can't shoot this. This is way too dark.' We were able to break a new idea, we had to turn it over in three days."[6] Instead, the tone was lightened and the opening episodes established Angel Investigations as an idealistic, shoestring operation. Greenwalt describes the transition for the second season of the series: "our notion was this will be a really dark, gritty urban show, and then we got really bored with that, because the sets were ugly and brown and stuff. That's why we had to blow that office up the first year."[1]

A first draft script reveals that Angel was originally intended to include the character Whistler, played by Max Perlich, who had already been featured as Angel's guide in Buffy episodes "Becoming, Part One" and "Part Two."[5] In an interview, Perlich said, "I never got called again. If they had called, I would have probably accepted because it was a great experience and I think Joss is very original and talented."[7] Instead, the producers created a Whistler-like character, Doyle. Cordelia Chase, also from the original Sunnydale crew, joined Angel and Doyle.

Storyline

Cast

Regular cast

Recurring cast

Crossover characters

Title sequence

Main article: Angel title sequence

Each episode of Angel features a title sequence, presenting each show's cast members, consisting of clips from the show itself. The opening theme was composed by Holly Knight and Darling Violetta, an alternative rock group that performed two songs during the third season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Holly Knight was the music producer of the track. The next year, Angel invited bands to submit demos for the theme music to the show. They asked bands to use "dark superhero ideas" and "cello-rock."[8]

Episodes

The series debuted its first season on October 5, 1999 and ran for five years until its finale on May 19, 2004. In that time, 110 episodes of the series aired.

Awards and nominations

DVD releases

Main article: Angel DVDs

Continuity

Based on the TV show, the Angel series has expanded into licensed comics and novels. These stories either adapt aired episodes, fill spaces between stories, or offer a continuity to the series, often involving the original cast and crew. However, the canonicity of these creations aren't always confirmed.

Notably, the comic series After the Fall, Angel & Faith, Angel & Faith Season Ten, and Angel Season Eleven have been produced as the direct continuation of the series in comic form.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Edward Gross and Mark A. Altman, Slayers & Vampires: The Complete Uncensored, Unauthorized Oral History of Buffy & Angel. Tor Books (2017).
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Candace Havens, Joss Whedon: The Genius Behind Buffy. Benbella Books (2003).
  3. David Bassom, "Buffy, Angel and Me." Buffy the Vampire Slayer Magazine #12, Titan Magazines (September 2000).
  4. "Interview with Joss Whedon by SF Said." Shebytches.com. Archived from the original on May 12, 2010.
  5. 5.0 5.1 Keith Topping, Hollywood Vampire: An Expanded and Updated Unauthorised and Unofficial Guide to Angel. Virgin Books (2004).
  6. Nancy Holder, Jeff Mariotte, and Maryelizabeth Hart, The Casefiles, Volume 1. Pocket Books (2002).
  7. Tara Dilullo, "Where are they now? Max Perlich." Buffy the Vampire Slayer Magazine #62, Titan Magazines (July 2004).
  8. AngelHART, "Interview – Jymm Thomas of Darling Violetta." Watchers Web, 1999. Archived from the original on October 9, 2006.