The first season of Angel originally aired on The WB from October 5, 1999 to May 23, 2000, concurrently with the fourth season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Synopsis[]
Angel, the dashing demon from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, embarks on his own supernatural adventures in Los Angeles. City of Angels. City of Broken Dreams. Between pervasive evil and countless temptations lurking beneath the city’s glittery facade, L.A. is the ideal address for a fallen vampire looking to save a few lost souls and, in turn, perhaps redeem his own.[1]
Summary[]
Angel, who has just moved to Los Angeles, is visited by Doyle, a half-human, half-Brachen demon. Doyle explains to Angel that he experiences visions from the Powers That Be of people who are in danger or in trouble, and he is a messenger sent on their behalf so that Angel can investigate these visions. While on his first investigation, Angel bumps into Cordelia, who has also moved to Los Angeles from Sunnydale to be an actress. When Angel rescues her from a vampire, Cordelia comes up with the idea that she, Angel, and Doyle should start up a detective agency "to help the helpless — but charge a fee."[2]
During an Angel Investigations mission, Doyle dies, sacrificing himself to save a group of mixed-race demons being hunted down by an army of "pure-blooded" demons.[3] Just before his death, he passes on his dangerous visions to Cordelia in a kiss. Like Doyle, she finds the visions to be extremely painful.[4]
Wesley appears in Los Angeles as an inept "rogue demon hunter," but he gradually becomes a vital part of the team.[4] Angel also meets Gunn, a street-smart young man who leads a gang of vampire-hunters. Initially determined to kill Angel, Gunn comes to accept him and join his cause.[5]
Wesley finds and translates the ancient Shanshu Prophecy. It states that after a final battle, the vampire with a soul will live — that is, become human. Meanwhile, Wolfram & Hart attempt to raise a powerful creature from the dead: Darla.[6]
Cast[]
Main[]
- David Boreanaz as Angel (22/22)
- Charisma Carpenter as Cordelia (22/22)
- Alexis Denisof as Wesley (13/22)
- Glenn Quinn as Doyle (9/22)
Recurring[]
- Elisabeth Röhm as Kate (9/22)
- Christian Kane as Lindsey (5/22)
- Stephanie Romanov as Lilah (5/22)
- Thomas Burr as Lee (4/22)
- Julie Benz as Darla (3/22)
- Carey Cannon as Sister Oracle (3/22)
- Sarah Michelle Gellar as Buffy (3/22)
- J. August Richards as Gunn (3/22)
- Randall Slavin as Brother Oracle (3/22)
- Eliza Dushku as Faith (2/22)
- David Herman as David (2/22)
- John Mahon as Trevor (2/22)
- Michael Mantell as Oliver (2/22)
Episodes[]
| No. | Image | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | 
|
"City Of" | October 5, 1999 |
| Writers: Joss Whedon, David Greenwalt | Director: Joss Whedon | ||
| Angel is a centuries-old vampire cursed with a conscience who has left the small California town of Sunnydale and the only woman he ever loved to take up residence in the City of Angels. Sunnydale escapee Cordelia Chase has also come to Los Angeles with high hopes of living the glamorous Hollywood dream but the two soon discover that they could use each other's help. They are joined by Doyle, a disreputable spiritual mentor who has been sent by "The Powers That Be," a mysterious and powerful force trying to make things right. | |||
| 02 | 
|
"Lonely Heart" | October 12, 1999 |
| Writer: David Fury | Director: James A. Contner | ||
| Angel brushes up his pick-up lines while tracking a monstrous serial killer that is hunting at a happening Los Angeles singles bar. Meanwhile, Doyle is developing a serious crush on Cordelia and asks Angel to put in a good word for him. | |||
| 03 | 
|
"In the Dark" | October 19, 1999 |
| Writer: Douglas Petrie | Director: Bruce Seth Green | ||
| Angel receives an unexpected visit from Oz who delivers a gift from Buffy, a mystical relic that renders the owner unkillable — not by stakes, not fire, not even sunlight. But Oz is followed by Angel's arch nemesis, Spike, who is determined to fight Angel to the death for this awesome power. | |||
| 04 | 
|
"I Fall to Pieces" | October 26, 1999 |
| Writers: David Greenwalt, Joss Whedon | Director: Vern Gillum | ||
| Angel is called into action when Doyle's visions lead them to a young woman who is being stalked by a demonic neurosurgeon who uses his bizarre ability to manipulate the human body to terrorize others. Back at the office, gal Friday Cordelia goes undercover to help Angel research his prey. | |||
| 05 | 
|
"Rm w/a Vu" | November 2, 1999 |
| Writers: Jane Espenson, David Greenwalt | Director: Scott McGinnis | ||
| When Cordelia flees her roach-infested apartment and lands on Angel's doorstep, the close quarters force Angel to make a deal with Doyle neither can refuse. Meanwhile, Cordelia's riches-to-rags life may be taking a turn for the better when Doyle finds her the perfect apartment — until she discovers that the bargain rent comes with a price — the apartment is haunted by a former tenant. | |||
| 06 | 
|
"Sense & Sensitivity" | November 9, 1999 |
| Writer: Tim Minear | Director: James A. Contner | ||
| Angel fears that Kate's life is in danger after she nabs a dangerous murder suspect, but she becomes distracted when seemingly innocuous sensitivity training turns the entire police precinct into one big open wound. Meanwhile, Cordelia is miffed at Angel's lack of niceties around the office and frustrated that the middle-of-the-night hours are eating into her social life. | |||
| 07 | 
|
"The Bachelor Party" | November 16, 1999 |
| Writer: Tracey Stern | Director: David Straiton | ||
| Angel sees his new friend Doyle tortured when his estranged wife comes to town asking for a divorce so she can marry another man. With the wedding just a few days off, Angel agrees to follow her seemingly affable fiance to learn more about this man before Doyle gives his blessing to their union. | |||
| 08 | 
|
"I Will Remember You" | November 23, 1999 |
| Writers: David Greenwalt, Jeannine Renshaw | Director: David Grossman | ||
| After learning that Angel was in Sunnydale but stayed out of sight, Buffy comes to Los Angeles to confront him about his unannounced stalking, but a bloody battle with a medieval demon leaves Angel with awesome new powers and Buffy with a chance for true happiness with her beloved. | |||
| 09 | 
|
"Hero" | November 30, 1999 |
| Writers: Tim Minear, Howard Gordon | Director: Tucker Gates | ||
| Angel joins Doyle's crusade to save a group of helpless demons from The Scourge — a storm trooper-esque army of pure blood demons that persecute mixed blood demons. Meanwhile, Doyle reveals the reason he was sent to Angel, confesses his true identity to Cordelia and makes the ultimate sacrifice for his friends. | |||
| 10 | 
|
"Parting Gifts" | December 14, 1999 |
| Writers: David Fury, Jeannine Renshaw | Director: James A. Contner | ||
| Angel and Cordelia, still reeling from the loss of their friend Doyle, join forces with an old acquaintance in the pursuit of a demonic bounty hunter. Meanwhile, without the guidance of Doyle's visions from The Powers That Be, Angel finds himself fighting blind. | |||
| 11 | 
|
"Somnambulist" | January 18, 2000 |
| Writer: Tim Minear | Director: Winrich Kolbe | ||
| When a serial killer stalks the Los Angeles streets, Wesley recognizes the chillingly familiar religious markings from Angelus' killing spree in the 1700s, and Angel must face the possibility that he is committing the murders in his sleep. | |||
| 12 | 
|
"Expecting" | January 25, 2000 |
| Writer: Howard Gordon | Director: David Semel | ||
| After what Cordelia thought was a dream date, she wakes up to find herself in the middle of a nightmare — extremely pregnant with something extremely unnatural. Meanwhile, Cordelia's condition leads Angel and Wesley down a path of protection for their friend and colleague. | |||
| 13 | 
|
"She" | February 8, 2000 |
| Writers: Marti Noxon, David Greenwalt | Director: David Greenwalt | ||
| Angel joins forces with a warrior princess to save the enslaved women of her homeland from a dangerous patriarchal society of fierce warriors. | |||
| 14 | 
|
"I've Got You Under My Skin" | February 15, 2000 |
| Writer: Jeannine Renshaw | Director: R.D. Price | ||
| Cordelia's visions of a boy in trouble lead Angel and Wesley into battle with their first exorcism, but everything is not as it seems with the child who is possessed by a 10,000-year-old demon. | |||
| 15 | 
|
"The Prodigal" | February 22, 2000 |
| Writer: Tim Minear | Director: Bruce Seth Green | ||
| Angel is haunted by images of his past as a young man in 1753 Ireland, his overbearing father, his vampire birth by his past lover, Darla, and his family's murder by his own hand. Meanwhile, when Angel spots Kate's father at a crime scene, his investigations may change Kate's life forever. | |||
| 16 | 
|
"The Ring" | February 29, 2000 |
| Writer: Howard Gordon | Director: Nick Marck | ||
| In pursuit of a missing man, Angel becomes enslaved by a seedy underground gladiator-like boxing ring. Meanwhile, Cordelia and Wesley discover what Angel is up against and try to make their way into the secret operation in order to save him. | |||
| 17 | 
|
"Eternity" | April 4, 2000 |
| Writer: Tracey Stern | Director: Regis Kimble | ||
| Angel rescues a popular young actress from a stalker, but when he finds himself taken with her and confesses his true identity, she goes to drastic measures to secure eternal youth and beauty. | |||
| 18 | 
|
"Five by Five" | April 25, 2000 |
| Writer: Jim Kouf | Director: James A. Contner | ||
| Angel's life is on the line when the attorneys at Wolfram & Hart hire Los Angeles visitor Faith to put him out of business — permanently. In the meantime, Wesley, who still feels responsibility to Faith from being her former Watcher, declares he will stop her from bringing harm until he, and Angel, determine she needs more than a just swift kick to snap out of her evil ways. | |||
| 19 | 
|
"Sanctuary" | May 2, 2000 |
| Writers: Tim Minear, Joss Whedon | Director: Michael Lange | ||
| Buffy comes to Los Angeles seeking vengeance under the guise of protecting Angel from Faith's violent nature, but Buffy is shocked and hurt to discover her former love siding with her nemesis. Meanwhile, Wesley is faced with a crisis of loyalties when the Watcher's Council offers a chance at reinstatement if he gives up Faith. | |||
| 20 | 
|
"War Zone" | May 9, 2000 |
| Writer: Garry Campbell | Director: David Straiton | ||
| Angel tracks down a millionaire's blackmailer, but gets caught in the middle of a gang war between street kids and vampires and meets the leader of the vampire hunters, Charles Gunn. | |||
| 21 | 
|
"Blind Date" | May 16, 2000 |
| Writer: Jeannine Renshaw | Director: Thomas J. Wright | ||
| Angel agrees to help Lindsey McDonald crack the secret files of Wolfram & Hart to save a group of children from a demonic assassin. Ultimately, Lindsay isn't quite sure if he can stick by his decision to betray the firm and sabotage the deadly mission. | |||
| 22 | 
|
"To Shanshu in L.A." | May 23, 2000 |
| Writer: David Greenwalt | Director: David Greenwalt | ||
| Angel faces a wild demon who is summoned by Wolfram & Hart to wreak havoc and raise a powerful force to strike down Angel and destroy those close to him. | |||
Behind the scenes[]
Collections[]
- The season was collected in 2003 on the DVD set Angel Season One on DVD.
References[]
- ↑ Angel Season One on DVD. 20th Century Studios, February 11, 2003.
- ↑ "City Of"
- ↑ "Hero"
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Parting Gifts"
- ↑ "War Zone"
- ↑ "To Shanshu in L.A."