"Darla" is the seventh episode of the second season of Angel and the twenty-ninth episode in the series. Written and directed by Tim Minear, it was originally broadcast on November 14, 2000, on The WB network.
It is the second part of a crossover event with Buffy the Vampire Slayer that begins in "Fool for Love."
Synopsis[]
CONTINUATION OF ANGEL/BUFFY CROSSOVER — Angel is desperate to rescue Darla from the clutches of Wolfram & Hart. Flashbacks reveal what a dangerous and powerful relationship they shared as history weirdly seems to be repeating itself. The trip down memory lane begins with Darla's turning by the Master and ends with the gang of Spike, Drusilla, Darla and Angel being torn apart when he gets a soul.[1]
Summary[]
In his bedroom, Angel sits sketching a picture of Darla when Wesley enters asking if he wants to talk. Angel claims there's nothing on his mind, despite being surrounded by dozens of similar pictures. Meanwhile Darla is sitting in her apartment surrounded by smashed mirrors. Lindsey arrives and Darla, who is now starting to experience the weight of the soul she was resurrected with, tells him she's started remembering everything she did as a vampire. As Lindsey laments sending Darla to Angel too soon, she tells him that she and Angel are now far more than enemies: they're soulmates.
Virginia Colony, 1609 — In a bedroom, the human prostitute who will become Darla lies in her deathbed, covered in sores from the syphilis that is killing her. Asking that the blinds be closed, she receives a visit from a hooded figure who appears to be a priest who asks everyone else to leave. Darla states she needs nothing from God and should just be allowed to die, but the priest tells her she is not to die but will be reborn. At that point, he pulls back the hood and reveals himself to be the Master. Darla believes that he is death, but he tells her that he is her savior and promises to help her just like God has refused to. With that, he bites her.
In the hotel, Angel is still desperate to track Darla down, but Wesley and Cordelia are trying to talk him out of it telling him not only will it be dangerous but difficult when it comes to working out exactly where she is. Gunn reminds them that Wolfram & Hart will be housing Darla and they should be able to work out where she is by following their real estate acquisitions and expenses. Cordy and Wesley begin chasing up this lead as Angel tells them Darla always liked somewhere with a view.
London, 1760 — Darla has brought Angelus before the Master to show off her wonderful new creation (bragging about the destruction they caused through South Wales and the North of England) and have him inducted into the Order of Aurelius. Angelus is unimpressed at the fact the Order, supposedly an elite group of vampires, are reduced to living in the sewer. The Master explains that the Order of Aurelius gives tribute to the Old Ones while waiting for the day to rise, but Angelus questions why they don't simply just go on the surface now before insulting the Master directly and sitting on his throne. Darla is horrified and quickly tries to apologize for Angelus, who receives a beating for his words. Regardless, Angelus regrets nothing and asks Darla if she really wants to stay in a rat-infested stink hole or join him on a trip to Naples where he'll treat her to luxury and promises her anything she wants. The Master initially expects Darla to remain loyal to him, her sire, only to realize she's choosing "the stallion" over him. Despite his anger, the Master allows them to leave knowing the day will come when Darla returns to him.
During his research, Angel has found that the name "Darla" didn't come into common use until over a century after Darla was born. This makes Angel realize that the Master gave it to her and he never knew his sire's real name. Wesley arrives with no new leads, and Angel wonders why Wolfram & Hart brought her back as a human. Wesley suggests it may have been the only way they could bring her back, or it may have been so they could control her before warning Angel the whole point to resurrecting Darla may have been to keep them all distracted and if that was the plan then its working perfectly.
Lindsey has taken Darla to Wolfram & Hart to stop her from hurting herself, only to bump into Holland. After exchanging pleasantries with Darla he reminds Lindsey that she wasn't meant to be brought into the firm after she made contact with Angel. However, when Lindsey mentions she's starting to show signs of post-traumatic stress disorder, Holland tells him that things are moving faster than they thought and tells him he did the right thing. He then orders that Darla not be allowed to leave the building before suggesting all sharp objects are removed from her reach.
London, 1880 — Angelus, Darla, and Drusilla are just fed on a sailor and, while Angelus and Darla relish the meal, Dru is feeling despondent due to her loneliness. Darla offers to share Angelus with her, but Dru tells her that Angelus's mind is too full of her. Angelus suggests that Dru make her own partner, and she quickly latches onto the idea, dreaming of taking a brave knight and making him hers forever. At that point, a crying man — who would soon become Spike — bumps into the group as he flees a party. As Darla and Angelus sneer, Drusilla is captivated by the man.
Cordelia has managed to track down Darla's location, thanks to her and Darla's fictional parents in their fictional coma winning round the housing manager, and Angel is ready to head there immediately. However, the location is Sun Valley, so he agrees that Wesley and Gunn should head there instead. In Lindsey's office, Darla admits to the lawyer that she cannot remember her real name as she considered that life to be done as soon as the Master turned her into a vampire. She has been Darla far longer than she was anybody else, and wonders who it was the firm brought back from hell: the prostitute without a name or the vampire who killed hundreds. Lindsey replies that they just brought back her, and Darla moves in for a kiss, accusing him of wanting her since the first moment they met. Lindsey tries to resist, but soon gives in. After a few seconds of kissing though, Darla bites his neck, telling Lindsey that's how vampires get what they want. Tearfully, she tells him she can feel her body slowly dying while describing her soul as a cancer.
Romania, 1898 — As the newly ensouled Angel wanders around aimlessly and half-crazed, Darla has tracked down the Romani clan that cursed him and asks them to reverse the spell. The Kalderash man refuses, telling him Angel must suffer as his victims did, but Darla insistent. Drusilla asks Darla where Angelus is, as she is loathe to begin a massacre without him, but Darla sends her on her way to enjoy the people in the camp. Darla then tells the man that in a nearby caravan are his wife and daughters, who are safe for the moment and will be allowed to survive if Angelus is restored. At this moment, Spike emerges having already feasted on the lot of them. Darla snaps the man's neck and unleashes Spike and Dru on the rest of the remaining people.
Wesley and Gunn show Angel the photos of the trashed room where Darla was staying, and he notices that the mirrors were all smashed, proving to him Darla is starting to feel guilt for all she did. Cordy is confused since Angel feels guilt but doesn't smash mirrors, only for him to point that, unlike Darla, he doesn't have to look at himself in them. Cordelia answers the phone as Angel and the others discuss their next move, only for Cordy to reveal she has Darla on the phone. Angel quickly gets the phone off her and asks Darla where she is, but Darla reminds him he promised her anything. Angel tells her he'll do what he can for her, when Lindsey interrupts. Angel hears Lindsey telling Darla he can give her what she needs, Darla trying to leave, and a shot when a security guard tries to stop them.
Later, Lindsey and Holland watch the tape of Darla shooting the guard dead before Lindsey helps her escape. Holland is very unhappy that not only was Darla allowed to escape, but was helped despite his orders to the contrary in regards to her leaving the building. Holland then assures Lindsey that they have a suspect in custody in regards to the dead guard and Darla has been picked up. Lindsey is worried the Darla project is going to be handed over to someone else, but Holland tells him that project is being scrapped due to it going out of control. Holland orders Lindsey to get some rest and they'll start again the next day, but Lindsey knows that the firm will now have Darla killed.
Angel is heading out of the hotel's door to rescue Darla despite knowing he could be walking into a trap. Wesley tells him he agrees that since Darla asked for help she shouldn't be denied it especially as Angel knows what she's going through but also reminds him that he wandered the globe for a century without seeking redemption. Angel tells Wes that he did seek something in that time.
China during the Boxer Rebellion, 1900 — As Darla exits a house, Angel pushes her up against the wall, having tracked her down since her rejection of him after he got his soul back. Darla asks if he's come to be killed, but Angel tells her that instead he wants them to be as they were. Darla tells him its impossible since he has a soul, but Angel counters that he's still a vampire and can still be the Angelus she knew. Darla's feelings for her lover reignite and she accepts him back, with the two leaving to enjoy the chaos of the rebellion.
In Wolfram & Hart's parking garage, Angel wraps a cable around Lindsey's neck and is ready to throttle the life out of him only to find the lawyer was calling him anyway. Lindsey tells Angel that Darla is to be killed as well as the location where it'll be likely carried out. Angel leaves to try and save her, warning Lindsey that he'll come back if it's a trick, then adds he may just come back anyway.
China during the Boxer Rebellion, 1900 — Angel wanders the burning streets, unable to enjoy the carnage despite his earlier promises. He comes across a missionary family with a baby hiding in an abandoned house, but cannot bring himself to harm any of them. When Darla arrives and tries to investigate, Angel leads her away claiming there to be nothing but bodies. The two then bump into Dru and a bloodied Spike, where Dru boasts that Spike has just killed a Slayer. Angel congratulates him, telling he's now one of them. Dru then senses fear coming from the direction of the missionaries Angel encountered, but he claims to be bored with the rebellion and orders everyone to leave. Later, he returns to the house he is sharing with Darla, only for her to reveal she knows the truth that he hasn't changed and still can't enjoy a kill. Angel reminds her that he has fed off people since their reunion, but she knows they were all criminals. She tells him she returned to the rebellion and found the family Angel had refused to kill and is furious that he was protecting missionaries from her while Spike was killing a Slayer. She has already killed the family except for the baby, whom she now expects Angel to kill in order for him to fully prove himself.
Angel makes it to Darla before Wolfram & Hart's agents can kill her and returns her to the hotel. Later at Wolfram & Hart, Lindsey spies Holland talking to the guard who was supposedly killed. Confronting his boss, Lindsey accused Holland of playing him, but Holland tells him they just needed him to believe what was happening as now they have their desired conclusion — Angel is with Darla. Lindsey warns Holland that there's no way Angel is going to experience a moment of pure happiness with Darla as he's too noble to take advantage, but Holland assures him that everyone is aware there's no chance of physical intimacy between the two. Instead, they're hoping he's going to save her another way.
In the hotel, Darla wakes up where Angel is waiting for her and admits that she feels lucky that she's with someone who can understand the pain she's suffering. Darla notes that she was originally supposed to get to him, but now finds that she needs him to help her pain stop. Angel tells her that it'll take time, but she reminds him it takes seconds, as she wants him to end her suffering by turning her back into a vampire. Angel refuses outright and tells her the life she's got back is a gift, but she can only see life as suffering and pain and wants him to return the favor she did for him. Angel tells Darla that by turning him into a vampire she didn't help him, but damned him. Darla then tells him it doesn't have to be a favor, but revenge if he prefers that instead. Angel tells her that he still can't do it.
China during the Boxer Rebellion, 1900 — Angel can't bring himself to kill the baby and, instead, escapes with it.
In the hotel, Darla angrily flees, telling Angel not to seek her out again.
Continuity[]
- Darla is sired by the Master and initially brings Angelus to him and the Order of Aurelius. Although she leaves with Angelus, Darla is once again with the Master by the time Buffy arrives in Sunnydale "Welcome to the Hellmouth."
- Drusilla's line "Don't be cross. I could be your mummy." foreshadows her siring of Darla in the episode "The Trial."
- The flashback to Romania, in 1898, take place soon after those from a flashback from "Five by Five," where Darla first realizes Angel has a soul.
- The return of Angel's soul is shown in the Buffy episode "Becoming, Part One."
- During the flashback to the Boxer Rebellion in 1900, Spike mentions killing a Slayer. This would be Xin Rong, the first Slayer he killed, which he recounts in the Buffy crossover episode "Fool for Love". This fight is the source of Spike's scar, which is still freshly bleeding in the flashback.
Appearances[]
Individuals[]
- Angel
- Cordelia Chase
- Darla
- Drusilla (Only in flashbacks)
- Flynn
- Charles Gunn
- Holland Manners
- Lindsey McDonald
- Master (Only in flashbacks)
- Xin Rong (Only mentioned)
- Spike (Only in flashbacks)
- Wesley Wyndam-Pryce
- Kalderash girl (Only mentioned)
- Kalderash man (Only in flashbacks)
Organizations and titles[]
- Angel Investigations
- Annapolis Olive Oil Import/Export (Only mentioned)
- Slayer (Only mentioned)
- Whirlwind
- Wolfram & Hart
Species[]
Locations[]
- Beijing, China (Only in flashbacks)
- Borşa, Romania (Only in flashbacks)
- London, England (Only in flashbacks)
- Los Angeles, USA
- Virginia, Virgina Colony (Only in flashbacks)
Objects[]
Death count[]
- Darla, sired by the Master (in flashbacks).
- Unknown number of Kalderash people, killed by Darla, Drusilla, and Spike (only mentioned in flashbacks).
- Romani man's family, drained by Spike (only mentioned in flashbacks).
- Romani man, snapped neck by Darla (in flashbacks).
- Missionary couple, blood drained by Darla (in flashbacks).
Behind the scenes[]
Broadcast[]
- "Darla" had an audience of 3.5 million households upon its original airing.[2]
Music[]
- Robert J. Kral — "Rebellion"
- Robert J. Kral — original score
Awards[]
- The episode was nominated for the Hollywood Makeup Artist and Hair Stylist Guild Awards in both categories Best Period Makeup in a Series and Best Period Hair Styling in a Series.[3]
International titles[]
- Czech: "Darla"
- Finnish: "Vanha rakas" (Old Darling)
- French: "Darla"
- German: "Darla"
- Hungarian: "Darla"
- Italian: "Il ritorno di Darla" (The Return of Darla)
- Portuguese: "Darla"
- Russian: "Дарла" (Darla)
- Spanish (Latin America): "Darla"
- Spanish (Spain): "Darla"
- Turkish: "Darla"
Gallery[]
Promotional stills[]
Behind the scenes[]
Quotes[]
| Darla: "Hmm, I remember now. You're death?" |
| Master: "No." |
| Darla: "What then?" |
| Master: "I'm your savior. God never did anything for you... But I will." |
| Angelus: "Well, if you're lonely, Dru, why don't you make yourself a playmate?" |
| Drusilla: "I could! I could pick the wisest and bravest knight in all the land and make him mine forever with a kiss." |
| William: "Bloody... Watch where you're going!" |
| Darla: "Or you could just take the first drooling idiot that comes along." |
| Darla: "You took him from me! You stole him away! You gave him a soul!" |
| Man: "He must suffer, as all his victims have suffered." |
| Darla: "That is no justice! Whatever pain he caused to your daughter was momentary, over in an instant... or an hour. But what you've done to him will force him to suffer for the rest of eternity! Remove that filthy soul so my boy might return to me!" |
| Angel: "Come on guys. We are a detective agency. We investigate things. That's what we're good at." |
| Cordy: "That's what we suck at. Let's face it, unless there's a website called www.Oh-By-the-way-we-have-Darla-stashed-here.com, we're pretty much out of luck." |
| Wesley: "It's not gonna be easy." |
| Cordy: "Before he said he could smell her. How about we cruise around with the top down and you take big whiffs? Well, we'll wait until after the sun sets obviously." |
| Cordy: (holding the phone) "Angel..." |
| Angel: "Cordy, just take a message." (to Wesley) "So you think this is a setup." |
| Wesley: "We mustn't rule it out." |
| Cordy: "Angel!" |
| Angel: "Cordy, please, I'm talking." |
| Cordy: (into the phone) "Hi Darla. He can't talk right now. He'll call you back once he's found you. Yeah, bye-bye." |
References[]
- ↑ "Season Two." City of Angel. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011.
- ↑ "Nielsen Ratings for Angel's Second Season." Nielsen Ratings for Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, & Firefly. Archived from the original on July 19, 2008.
- ↑ Rob Francis, "News - 19th February." BBC, February 19, 2001.