Oz pays a visit to Angel and gives him the Gem of Amarra, the vampire's holy grail that grants eternal protection. Doyle wants Angel to wear it with pride, but Angel opts to play it safe and hides it in the underground tunnels. He is soon kidnapped by Spike and tortured by a child-eating vampire named
Marcus.

Spike: "How can I thank you, you mysterious black-clad-hunk-of-a-knight-thing?"
"No need little lady. Your tears of gratitude are enough for me. You see, I was once a bad-ass vampire. But love, and a pesky curse, defanged me. And now, I'm just a *big* fluffy puppy with bad teeth. No! Not the hair! Never the hair."
"But there must be some way I can show my appreciation."
"No, helping those in need's my job. And w**king up a load of sexual tension and prancing away like a magnificent poof is truly thanks enough."
"I understand. I have a nephew who's gay, so..."
"Say no more. Evil's still afoot. And I'm almost out of that Nancy-boy hair gel I like so much. Quickly! To the Angel-mobile! Away!"



a fantastic episode ... following a kind of good buffy episode .... great to have oz in it too:

Oz: Does he have a hat and gun.


Cordelia: Just fangs.


Oz: Well, that works

marcus is a scary vampire ... still love classical musical ... :huh:

spike as good as usual ... and as naive as usual ... but never mind.

a good ending with angel watching the sun going down and then breaking the gem

That opening is still funny no matter how many times you watch it :lol: :lol: :lol:

I love that beginning bit. I can't wait to watch this ep, hopefully I'll have time tomorrow :)

Margot

Angel: Might as well go home, Spike. The Gem of Amara stays with me.


Spike: Why? Cuz you're Angel, Vamp Detective now? Ooo. I'm so scared. What's next? Vampire cowboy? Vampire fireman? Oh! Vampire ballerina!


Angel: I do like to w**k with my legs.
:lmao:

Fantastic episode this one.

The opening is indeed memorable, Spike's commentary from the rooftops driving home once again the humour synonymous with the show.

Nice to see that the links to the parent series are still there, although it might be construed as a sign of weakness to have bought two of the original show's characters in so early.

Either way, it works. Spike is the perfect foil for Angel, their verbal sparring always a highlight. Oz, well, the Angel/Oz relationship obviously doesn't rely on an abundance of words :lol:

Marcus was indeed creepy, and it was quite sinister when he slipped on the ring and decided to go for take-out :unsure:

The character of Doyle works very well in this one once again, again emphasising his demon side, and he's still keeping it from Cordelia.

As for the torture scenes, I found it rather amusing when Marcus lost his cool after Angel nearly staked him :thumbsup:

A definite improvement over the previous episode, and things are looking up :)

I just have to say this, I know this is Angel but I think that Spike has GOT to take the prize for funniest speech this epsiode, maybe even this season :thumbsup:

Also, is anyone else playing 'Spot the bit from the opening credits' this episode? Just me then huh? :huh:

I love Spikes first words to Cordelia (You look smashing! Have you lost weight?) and the way that she almost forgets herself and who Spike is just because of the compliment :D Typical Cordelia! But it just goes to show you boys, a little flattery goes a long way ;)

The Angel torture scene is really upsetting, despite Spikes constant whinning and pithy one-liners (though he is really funny :D )

I have a couple of questions. How did Angel and Co know Marcus had the ring, Spike didn't discover it was gone until after they had escaped. And how the hell did they know to find him at the pier?

I think they suspected the pier cause hed said he liked children, and maybe we are to think they saw him take the ring

But why the pier? It didn't look like there was an amusement park or something there. Why not a park, or an arcade, or even a school? The pier just seemed kinda random, like they only choose it for the dramatic 'falling into sea from great height whilst burning' quality of it ;)

they wanted a place outside ... vampire walking and searching in victim by daylight ... scary

Loved the episode. The inclusion of Spike and Oz, and a continuition of a Buffy plotline was a nice idea to grab viewers and introduce them to Angel's world. The torture scene was disturbing, and oz's drive-by is, well, cool. Angel's day in the sun is also touching, and his sacrifice of the ring reminds us what this series is about. It also serves as a reminder of his past relationship with Buffy, and how no matter how tempting it is to hold on, letting go is the best thing for everyone.

A highly rewatchable episode. 9.5/10

OZ- "He's very pale. Like, paler than most people."

Great start to the episode. That scene with Spike is just hilarious. :)

I also love the way that Cordy greets Oz, and their rather brief catch-up on the gossip before it turns into awkwardness. And Cordy talking to Oz about Angel being a detective.

Oz: Does he have a hat & gun?
Cordy: No, just fangs. :lol:

Rather creepy bad guy this ep, and I liked the fact that Spike told Angel about Buffy & Parker. Just another little torture to add to the hot pokers in his side. Ouch.. :fear:

And it's a great scene when Angel has the ring on, and his rather childlike wonder at being out in the sun.

All in all, it's a pretty good episode. :)

:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: Brilliant episode like most people have said the speech from spike at the beginning is wonderful reminding us again of the interesting past they share.
I like the fact Cordy forgets who she’s talking to because she’s being complemented.
Marcus, he’s well creepy, and was on ER last night anyone see that?
Angel steeping out into the sun, arwhhh, gotta love him, :innocent: then being all noble and destroying the ring so that the people who really need him will still get a chance.
I give this episode 10/10

I thought I recognised him :huh:

As most people have said the start is very funny. :)

Still don't see why Angel destroyed the ring though, did he not think he would be able to control himself if he had it? What a surprise it would have been if some bad guy ran out in to the daylight and Angel followed him. Though I suppose if it became known that he had it it would attract vampires from all over the world to try and take it from him. Still it would have been wise to keep it in case something urgent arose and if he didn't want it he could have sent it back to Buffy to keep.

Also compare the Angel/Spike fight to XXXXXXXX and then consider the popularity of the characters.

I must be the only one that's not keen on this episode. I've tried to like it, but I feel that watching it is an effort. Yes, the start's funny, but the rest is disappointing. :ermm:

I have to say that this episode wasn’t as fantastic as I remembered. Perhaps it’s because I’m so tired of Spike these days and the fact that he really hasn’t evolved as much as everyone thinks he has, or perhaps it’s because I tend to think the rest of the episode is as brilliant as the rooftops commentary, but it fell short of expectations this time round.

Still, there are many excellent parts to it. Starting, of course with Spike’s commentary from the rooftops. Absolutely unequivocally hilarious. Even after the amount of times I’ve seen it. Possibly the funniest and wittiest moment of Angel ever (though possibly rivalled by the phoney T’ish Magev’s speech to Angel in Guise Will Be Guise).

Anyway, on with the show. There are lots of good bits. Cordy waving her Invoice and Doyle’s scepticism about actually getting paid. Oz’s arrival and Cordy’s “Oz? Oz??? Oz!! It’s Oz!” Oz and Angel (“No, we’re usually laconic”). Angel’s lack of enthusiasm for the Gem of Amara right from the start. Spike and Angel fighting in the car park – good fight, some funny repartee. Spike recognising Cordelia – fair enough, he spied on Buffy and her gang, but sounding like he’s actually met her before is a bit odd. Cordy complaining about Doyle’s apartment (“Well, I saw what you did with your place”) and Doyle on the phone looking for “Spike, as in railroad” (nice little touch, as Doyle presumably doesn’t know that’s how Spike got his name).

And the Rachel story (the girl Angel rescues at the start) – it took me a moment to w**k out how her story fits in, but then he says to her “It’s either take the easy fix…or take the hard road” and that’s what it’s about – her weaning herself off her abusive boyfriend, him w**king for his redemption rather than taking the easy road with the Gem of Amara. This is, in fact, the core premise of the whole of Angel the Series (well, until they forgot about it, anyway!)

Then we have Spike capturing Angel and the rather icky torture scene – but there’s some great dialogue between the two vampires. Especially, I noticed this time, a pretty long conversation about Buffy. Quarrelling over her already, in a way. (Sound familiar?) Then Spike threatening Cordy and Doyle and them actually going along with it to rescue Angel. Like Doyle bringing out his demon to find the ring. Love Oz busting into the warehouse in the van. Love Spike’s fury at Marcus nicking the ring, and the pure creepiness of Marcus walking out into the sun. Love Angel racing along the pier in flames, the fight under the pier, the staking Marcus and then taking the ring off his finger (though it does seem a rather easy way to get out of the “the ring makes its wearer invulnerable” clause). Love Angel walking out into the sun, all bewildered, and then watching the sunset, now sure what he has to do. Love that speech about being there for the people lost in the dark, because the day people already have help. What a hero.

Oh, and by the way, Angel looks totally gorgeous all the way through this episode – and Spike looks really, really young !!!!

8.5/10

AF

Guys there is a strict no spoilers policy in rewatch threads!

:blush: Oops. We'll have to get admin to delete the above posts.

i like this episode. great to see oz and spike! marcus is v creepy!

love emma :)

Post deleted in accordance with Spoiler Policy ;)

10 / 10

To me, this was the start of great things to come. I didn't like the fact that in the first two eps Angel had taken such a different turn since SDunnydale but the arrival of familiar faces vrought it all home :thumbsup:

As with agreeance, loved the Spike scene at the beginning, loved Angel walking in the sun :thumbsup: :thumbsup: (How cute!) Loved Angel watching the sun go down :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

This ep was the first one in Angel to have me in tears of both laughter and Upset. What a great way to use Angel outside which is something that hadn't been explored on Buffy before (Only in dreams)

Npw to watch ep 4

Pretty much everything has already been said. I love the opening, and as a whole I think this is a good episode. Not the best, but good nonetheless.

Margot

One of the stand out episodes of the first season.

Spike is just brilliant. Particularly in his first and last scenes. Love it.

10/10

:thumbsup: totally agree Spike is fantastic and the cross over works really well.

The beginning speech is hilarious :lmao:

Still think Angel should have kept the gem though :rolleyes:

I love Spike’s bit at the start of this episode. I’ve seen it loads of times but it’s still funny. Plus, Oz :drool: :thumbsup:, I miss Oz. This episode is quite disturbing when the baddie goes after kids, very creepy – that actor was in Alias S2 as well, he was one of the SD-6 people who analysed the wine.
It’s nice to have a little crossover with Buffy, following on from The Harsh Light of Day. Poor Angel, when Spike brings up Parker that must have hurt just like another hot poker.
I love when Oz enters the Angel Investigations office and Cordy being so excited to see him but quickly running out of things to ask him and then having Angel and Oz have a conversation which borders on monosyllabic but is a lot more comfortable

Very strong episode!

Always good to see Oz and Spike and the opening scene goes without saying - priceless :lol:

I loved this episode just becasue you get a full idea of how tortured Angel must be - turning down the ring so he could continue to save others.

the torture scene was gruesome but funny too and I about died laughing when Spike set fire to his hair!!!!

Agaiin all bases covered but good to read yor reviews :)

A very fine crossover but a bit like with Rm w/a vu I watched the butchered Ch4 edit first which left me with a poor first impression not surprisingly.

Spike's voiceover is good but not that good. I prefer the humour in say Intervention. Overall action packed and engaging. sk

A good episode because of the way it crosses over with Buffy.Good storyline,nice to see SPike and Oz in LA.Spike and ANgel fighting is good.Like the beginning when SPike is making a comic strip when ANgel saves today's blonde women.I like the ending when Angel runs into the sunlight to kill the vampire.Angel should have kept the ring. ;)