Hero

Hero
Season 1
episode 9
Air date	November 30, 1999
Written by	Tim Minear Howard Gordon
Directed by	Tucker Gates
Length	41 minutes
Angel
← Previous	"I Will Remember You"
Next →	"Parting Gifts"
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
← Previous	"Pangs"
Next →	"Hush"
Cast
Starring	David Boreanaz — Angel Charisma Carpenter — Cordelia Glenn Quinn — Doyle
Guest starring	Tony Denman — Rieff Anthony Cistaro — Trask Michelle Horn — Rayna Lee Arenberg — Tiernan Sean Gunn — Lucas
Co-starring	James Henriksen — Elder Lister David Bickford — Cargo Inspector Christopher Comes — Storm Trooper #2 Paul O'Brien — Randy Ashley Taylor — First Mate

"Hero" is the ninth episode of the first season of Angel and the ninth episode in the series. Written by Tim Minear with Howard Gordon and directed by Tucker Gates, it was originally broadcast on November 30, 1999, on The WB network.

Synopsis

RACISM IN THE DEMON WORLD — 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 those of mixed blood. Meanwhile, Doyle reveals the reason he was sent to Angel, confesses his true identity to Cordelia and makes the ultimate sacrifice for his friends.

Summary

It's nighttime in Los Angeles, and Cordelia is describing her ideas for an Angel Investigations promotional video. She's holding a video camera filming Angel, but he dismisses the idea of being "the Dark Avenger" and leaves, taking the elevator downstairs to his apartment. Cordelia thinks that Buffy's visit earlier on will leave Angel so broody that their business will suffer. Doyle points out that their video might not be as successful as she wants it to be, since Angel's inability to go out in sunlight might seem suspicious, and they don't even have a license.

Cordelia decides that Doyle would be a better star for the ad, since he's "ordinary." She records him as she forces him to sit for a test run. He awkwardly goes through a script she's put together, which says that their rats, not their rates, are low. Cordelia tells Doyle that she's seeing him as a "weasel" rather than a regular guy and doesn't think that customers will go for that. Cordelia says that she's worried about Angel, who shouldn't be so heartbroken when he doesn't have a beating heart to begin with. Doyle says that he'll talk to Angel, and Cordelia adds that getting Angel a costume might make the ad better.

Doyle approaches Angel while he's working out, and Angel tells him that he needs some time to work through what happened with Buffy. Doyle thinks that Buffy was only there for a few minutes, but Angel tells him that she was there for a whole day and night. He asks about the Oracles, who, because of the temporal fold, Doyle doesn't remember taking him to. Angel explains how he was turned human and experienced happiness with Buffy, only to give it up to save her life with no one remembering what happened but him.

Doyle wonders why Angel would give back his mortality. Angel thinks he might have made the wrong decision, but Doyle says that his actions prove Cordelia's theory that he's a hero. Doyle thinks that, in Angel's position, he would have chosen pleasure over duty and honor, but Angel believes no one can know what they'll do until the choice is upon them. He adds that the Oracles mentioned something about the end of days, and he thinks Angel Investigations might have to play a role in it. Doyle doesn't think it's fair that Angel not only helps out helpless people, but now has to help fight the apocalypse. Angel doesn't see a distinction — it's all fighting the good fight. Doyle says that Angel can fight while he keeps score.

Out in the lobby, Doyle recaps Angel's version of Buffy's visit for Cordelia, who thinks that Angel should have taken advantage of the temporal fold to buy some stocks and lottery tickets. She's not so happy that he kept what happened a secret from them. They talk about Harry, and Doyle mentions that, if he wants to have a successful relationship, he needs to "put some cards on the table." Before he can finally tell Cordelia that he's part demon, he has visions of people huddled together near a brick building. Cordelia asks him if they look like they could afford to pay.

A demon girl runs down a street at night, pursued by people wearing heavy boots and marching in quick-time. A demon boy grabs her and they hide together as the boot-wearers run by. Angel and Doyle head to the brick building from Doyle's visions and note how run-down it is. They find a table with still-warm food on it, realizing that the people there must have had to run off with little warning. Angel finds a trapdoor under the carpet and finds a bunch of demons hiding there.

Later, the demons, Listers, explain that they were promised help to escape but got ripped off. They were headed for an island near Ecuador, where others of their kind had been able to hide out. The two kids run in, announcing that they were almost caught and lost half of their supplies. The senior Lister tells the boy, Rieff, that the Promised One has arrived, and indicates Angel. Apparently, there's a prophecy that the Promised One would appear at the end of the century to save the Listers from the Scourge. Rieff is skeptical that Angel, who has never even heard of the Scourge, can save them. In fact, he thinks that Angel will get them all killed.

At hearing about the Scourge, Doyle goes to the window and looks out of it pensively. When Angel asks him what's going on, Doyle says he knows what they are, they're "death." Doyle explains about how he dealt with them in the past.

Some time before, Doyle arrives in his apartment to find a guy named Lucas in the shadows. He tells Doyle he is a friend and, when Doyle questions that, Lucas shows himself and reveals he is also a Brachen demon. Some of the Brachens escaped the Scourge, which is coming after them again. Lucas explains that the Scourge is an army of pure-blood demons who hate those of mixed blood.

In the present, Angel asks why no one fights back, and Doyle says they do and they can be killed. However, the Scourge is willing to die for their beliefs. When Angel says it's hard to fight fanatics, Doyle says it's impossible.

Back in the past, Lucas asks Doyle to help the Brachens hide out until they can leave town. Doyle refuses to help, since it's not something he's used to doing. Lucas argues that Doyle is one of them, but Doyle says that he isn't, since he was raised human. Doyle says that he'd be taking a big risk by helping the Brachens out. Lucas notes that they have a common enemy, but Doyle is still unwilling to lend a hand. Later, there's a knock at Doyle's door, and when he opens it, he has visions of Lucas and the other Brachens being killed.

In the present, Doyle tells Angel that he wasn't sure if the vision was real or not, since it was his first, so he went to find out and discovered the bodies of the Brachens. He tells Angel that these demons need more than just one hero against the Scourge. Angel says that they won't have to, since they'll help them escape before it comes to that.

Later, Cordelia drives a truck over to the building. Inside, she encounters the senior Lister and tells him that the breath spray she's holding is really demon repellent. She sprays it and the Lister calmly notes: "Wintergreen." Doyle arrives and assures Cordelia that she's safe there and confirms that she brought the truck. She pulls him aside and reminds him that Angel Investigations is about fighting evil, not helping demons. Doyle tells her that they're not evil, but are, in fact, half human and that they need to get to a freighter called the Quintessa.

Doyle sends Cordelia ahead to get everything in order, but she wants to know who's paying for this non-Carnival "cruise." Cordelia gets upset when Doyle tells her that the ships captain owes Angel money. She asks why they're wasting their time and why they can't just collect the money instead. Doyle reminds her that there are oppressed demon people there and asks her to "please" do this. His plead worries Cordelia. She gets somber and asks if bad things are coming. Doyle answers that really bad things are coming, and she heads off to do her job.

Angel talks with the harbormaster, arranging for documents about the freighter to say that it's carrying medical waste. Angel threatens to bite him if anyone inspects the cargo or tries to hinder its trip. Back at the building, Rieff disappears and the demon girl, Rayna, reports that he doesn't believe there's a Promised One and ran off so he wouldn't be killed along with everyone else. Doyle gives the senior Lister his phone and tells him that, when Cordelia calls to confirm that everything's ready, they should head to the ship.

Doyle goes after Rieff, finding him on the street. Rieff tells Doyle that he's not going to the ship because he'll be hated anywhere he goes. Doyle tells him that he belongs among his family, but Rieff still thinks that they won't be alive much longer. Doyle tries to convince him that Angel will be able to help, but Rieff just sarcastically calls him "my hero." Doyle tells him that Angel is a hero. They can call him the "Promised One" or the "Dark Avenger," but he's still the one they can depend on. Doyle explains that his family has to put their faith in something because otherwise they'll just give up.

At the freighter, Cordelia figures out some last-minute details and prepares to make the confirmation call. On their way to meet up with the other Listers, Doyle and Rieff hear the Scourge approaching and take off. They hide inside a building as the Scourge starts destroying things, heading towards Doyle and Rieff's hiding place. Doyle puts on his demon face and heads outside, leading the Scourge away from Rieff. Angel grabs him from behind a building and is grimly pleased to hear that the Scourge is headed his way.

The Scourge arrives at the brick building, which the Listers have already abandoned. Angel arrives, pretending to have taken Doyle hostage. Angel tells the Scourge that, as a vampire, he hates his humanity. When Doyle pretends to plead for his life, Angel snaps his neck. Angel asks the Scourge if he can join up with them and they take him along with them. Rieff finds Doyle and is impressed that, while in demon form, he can have his neck broken and not die.

The Listers board the freighter and the captain asks Cordelia about Angel cutting his debt in half, something Cordelia made up to make sure they could still get money from him. He tells Cordelia that they have to leave right away. However, if Angel takes 60% off, he'll agree to wait longer. She tells the captain he drives a hard bargain and agrees to the 60%. One of the Listers thanks Cordelia for her, Doyle, and Angel's help, saying that Doyle understands the demons' suffering, since he himself is half demon.

Angel listens to a member of the Scourge ranting about "half-breed" demons. A couple of Scourge members bring in a large crystal-shaped light and turn it on. The commander explains that, when the light touches the half-breed demons, they'll all die. He demonstrates it by crisping the turn-coat first mate from the Quintessa. When fully charged, the light from this weapon, the Beacon, will be able to reach up to a quarter mile away. The commander sends the platoon to the ship to destroy the betrayed Listers. Angel intercepts one of the Scourge, knocks it out, and steals its motorcycle.

Doyle and Rieff arrive at the freighter, and Cordelia notes that Doyle looks happy. She tells him that she was worried, then slaps him for not telling her he was half demon, especially after they agreed that they shouldn't keep secrets from each other. He admits that he was afraid that she would reject him, but she points out that she'd already rejected him. She adds that she works for a vampire and isn't superficial about his lineage. She tells him to ask her out to dinner already. Angel arrives and announces that the freighter needs to leave.

Before the ship can leave, the Scourge shows up. The freighter heads off and the head of the Scourge blasts Angel for lying. Angel fights off several of the soldiers, but he falls into the cargo hold with the Listers. He kills the head Scourge just as the Beacon gets moved into position. Angel yells for them all to get out, but Doyle shouts back that the Scourge have blocked the doors from the outside. Doyle asks Angel what the light is for, and Angel explains that it'll kill anything or anyone with human blood. Angel thinks that he can turn it off if he pulls the cable, but Doyle and Cordelia know this will be suicide. Angel says that he'll do it anyway and Doyle says: "The good fight, yeah? You never know until you've been tested. I get that now." Doyle hauls back and hits Angel, knocking him down into the cargo hold. Doyle grabs Cordelia and they kiss, a blue light passing between their lips. He morphs into his demon face and says: "Too bad we'll never know if this is a face you could learn to love."

Shouting Doyle's name, Angel starts to climb out of the cargo hold, but Doyle grabs the frame of the light and smiles at Cordelia and Angel. He finds the power coupling and struggles with it, enduring the weapon's successive effects, first decreasing his strength and forcing him back to human form, then burning his skin away. Doyle pulls the plug, and the last flash of the dying light disintegrates him. After the light fades away, Cordelia and Angel share a grief-stricken hug.

Back at the Angel Investigations offices, Angel and Cordelia silently watch the tape with Doyle's advertisement. Doyle says to the camera: "'Come on over to our offices and you'll see that there's still heroes in this world.' Is that it? Am I done?"

Continuity

• As it'll be revealed in the next episode, "Parting Gifts," Doyle passes his visions to Cordelia through their kiss.
• The videotaped commercial Doyle makes with Cordelia is seen again in the episodes "Birthday" and "You're Welcome."
• The demon species who enslaved teenagers in L.A. the Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode "Anne" is the same as the soldiers of the Scourge.
• Although the Scourge never reappear in the series, they are mentioned as one of the groups who may pose a threat to Connor's existence in "Dad" shortly after his birth.
• Although Doyle himself never returns to the series, Angel and Cordelia's grief over his passing is tackled in various subsequent episodes such as "Parting Gifts" and "I've Got You Under My Skin."
• In the episode "Soul Purpose," Lindsey will adopt the name Doyle to try to discredit Angel as a Champion while setting things up to make it appear that Spike has taken Angel's place.
• Doyle's father Axtius plays an important role in the non-canon crossover novel Monster Island, in which he is a pure-blood supremacist seeking to destroy the colony referenced in this episode.

Appearances

Individuals

• Angel
• Cordelia Chase
• Allen Francis Doyle
• Harriet (Only mentioned)
• Lucas (Only in flashbacks)
• Randy
• Rayna
• Rieff
• Buffy Summers (Only mentioned)
• Tiernan
• Trask
• Elder Lister
• Rieff's mother (Only mentioned)
• Unidentified cargo inspector
• Unidentified first mate

Organizations and titles

• Angel Investigations
• The Oracles (Only mentioned)
• Powers That Be (Only mentioned)
• Promised One
• Scourge
• Seer
• Slayer (Only mentioned)

Species

• Demon
  • Brachen demon (Only in flashbacks)
  • Lister
  • Mohra demon (Only mentioned)
  • Unidentified demon guard
• Half-demon
• Human
• Vampire

Locations

• Earth
  • Briole, Ecuador (Only mentioned)
  • Los Angeles, USA
    • Angel Investigations offices
    • Allen Francis Doyle's apartment (Only in flashbacks)
    • Brinks Apartments
• Netherworld of Eternal Watching (Only mentioned)

Objects

• Angel Investigations commercial
• Beacon
• Quintessa

Death count

• Lucas and his clan, killed by the Scourge (in flashbacks).
• Unidentified first mate, destroyed by the Beacon.
• Trask, neck snapped by Angel.
• Doyle, sacrificed himself in the Beacon.

Behind the scenes

Production

• Special Effects Supervisor Loni Peristere explains David Greenwalt described his vision of Doyle's death: "I want him to melt to death... I want his flesh to melt off and muscle and then bones." Peristere was concerned that that effect would be too graphic for television. He shot Doyle in his demon form, and Doyle with half-burned make-up then used matte elements to digitally "chew through his skin," including an element of acetone poured on Styrofoam.
• The Scourge are reminiscent of the Nazi Party in Germany, who believed that pure races, specifically the Aryan race, were superior. To protect their purity, they persecuted the Jews like the Scourge persecute half-demons. Their uniforms too are similar, as is the way that Angel styles his hair whilst undercover.
• Sean Gunn, who portrays Lucas is this episode, returns as Mars in "She."
• Anthony Cistaro, who portrays Trask in this episode, returns as an Ethros demon in "I've Got You Under My Skin."

Broadcast

• "Hero" had an audience of 3.5 million households upon its original airing.

Pop culture references

• Cordelia says her first choice to narrate the commercial is "that bald Star Trek guy," referring to the actor Patrick Stewart that stars in the series.
• Cordelia adds that she would settle for "one of the cheaper Baldwins," referring to the four acting siblings Alec, Daniel, William, and Stephen Baldwin.
• Cordelia compares Angel's character with the 1995 film Braveheart.
• When Cordelia pretends to be playing charades with Doyle, she guesses the films The Mask and The Man with Two Brains.
• Cordelia guesses the cruise the AI team will pay for the refugees won't be from the Carnival Cruise Lines.
• Cordelia comments the tramp freighter is not The Love Boat, referring to the TV series set on a luxury passenger cruise ship.
• Angel calls one of the Scourge members "Football head," Helga's nickname for Arnold in Hey Arnold!

Goofs

• The commercial at the end of the episode is a different take from when Cordelia and Doyle recorded it earlier in the episode, as the stresses and tone are different.

Music

• Robert J. Kral and Elin Carlson — "Hero"
• Christophe Beck and Robert J. Kral — original score

International titles

• Czech: "Hrdina" (Hero)
• Finnish: "Sankareita onko heitä" (Heroes Out There)
• French: "Sacrifice héroïque" (Heroic Sacrifice)
• German: "Helden wie wir" (Heroes like us)
• Hungarian: "Hősök" (Heroes)
• Italian: "Morte di un eroe" (Death of a Hero)
• Portuguese (Brazil): "O Herói" (The Hero)
• Russian: "Герой" (Hero)
• Spanish (Latin America): "Héroe" (Hero)
• Spanish (Spain): "Héroe" (Hero)
• Turkish: "Kahraman" (Hero)

Gallery

Behind the scenes

Quotes

Cordelia: "Would it kill him to put on some tights and a cape and garner us a little free publicity?"

Doyle: "I don't see Angel puttin' on tights... Oh, now I do and it's really disturbin'."

Doyle: "If you need help. Then look no further. Angel Investigations is the best! Our rats are low—"

Cordelia: "Rates!"

Doyle: "It says 'rats.' Our rates are low, but our standards are high. When the chips are down, and you're at the end of your rope you need someone that you can count on. And that's what you'll find here — someone that will go all the way, no matter what. So don't lose hope. Come on over to our offices and you'll see that there's still heroes in this world. Is that it? Am I done?"

Cordelia: "Why didn't you tell me you were half-demon? I thought we agreed that secrets are bad."

Doyle: "I wanted to tell you. I was afraid. Thought if I did, you'd reject me."

Cordelia: "I've rejected you way before now. So you're half-demon — big whoop! I can't believe you think I'd care about that. I mean, I work for a vampire, hello?"

Cordelia: "I mean, you're half-demon. That is so far down the list. Way under short, and... poor. Is there anything else I should know?"

Doyle: "The half-demon thing, pretty much my big secret."

Cordelia: "Good. That's out. It's done. Would you ask me out for dinner already?"

Doyle: "Yeah?"

Doyle: "The good fight, yeah? You never know until you've been tested. I get that now."