Somnambulist

Template:Angelepisode "Somnambulist" is episode 11 of season 1 in the television show Angel.

Angel worries that he might be sleep-killing when a string of murders turn out to be identical to his dreams.

Synopsis

When Angel starts having dreams of the hunt, dreams that match a string of real murders in every detail, he, Wesley and Cordelia test the theory that he might be somehow sleep-killing by chaining him to the bed for the night. Angel is hardly comforted to learn he's in the clear, however, when he discovers the identity, and the origin, of the killer, a vampire named Penn whom Angelus sired in Ireland over two centuries ago. Devising a plan to protect Kate while making use of her vast LAPD resources, Angel forces Penn into the open, but fails to stop him due in part to Kate's vulnerability. After Kate comes to grips with the reality of L.A.'s supernatural side, educating herself about vampire lore in general and about Angelus in particular, Angel forces her unwilling participation to trap and dust the soulless serial killer. This puts a permanent strain on his own relationship with Kate.

Starring

• David Boreanaz as Angel
• Charisma Carpenter as Cordelia Chase
• Alexis Denisof as Wesley Wyndam-Pryce

Guest Starring

• Elisabeth Röhm as Kate Lockley
• Jeremy Renner as Penn

Co Starring

• Nick McCallum as Skateboard Kid
• Kimberleigh Aarn as Precinct Clerk
• Paul Webster as Uniform #1
• Brien DiRito as Task Force Member #1

Trivia

• The script was originally called "The Killer I Created", until a detailed summary appeared online, prompting Tim Minear to alter the title. "I went on to the Buffy message board... changed the title and said it was about dreams and about horrible things that you do in your sleep, which completely fooled the fans," says Minear.

• After writing the first draft, Tim Minear had to rewrite parts of the script to accommodate Wesley's arrival and Doyle's departure; the final scene on the rooftop was originally between Angel and Doyle.

• Alexis Denisof (Wesley) replaces Glenn Quinn (Doyle) in the opening credit sequence.

• Obi-wan Kenobi: Cordelia refers to Angelus' training of Penn by calling him Psycho-Wan Kenobi after the Star Wars character.

• Gallagher: Cordelia comments that the comedian has changed his act more times than Penn has in two centuries of performing.

• Apt Pupil: Cordy refers to this film when she recognizes Penn.

• Up with People: Penn mocks Angel with the name of the upbeat singing group.

• Puritan: Penn seems to mildly mock himself, but he may also be casting a centuries old religious slur on Catholic Liam.

• Dirty Harry: The red herring Penn leaves Angel to suggest he is going to attack a school bus is reminiscent of a scene where a sociopath hijacks a school bus in the movie Dirty Harry.

Quotes

Penn - "Angelus?  We were supposed to meet in Italy.  Do you remember?"
Angel - I remember.
Penn - Well, I waited.  Hell, I waited until the 18th century.  What happened?"
Angel - "Got held up in Romania."
Penn - "Romania.  What's in Romania?"
Angel - "Gypsies."

Continuity

• Kate learns that Angel is a vampire, permanently altering their relationship.

Music

• Lunatic Calm - "Leave You Far Behind"