Circle of the Black Thorn
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| Universe | Buffyverse |
|---|---|
| Type | Fictional, evil |
| Founded | Post-Old Ones' imprisonment |
| Location | Pan-dimensional |
| Key people | Archduke Sebassis Izzerial the Devil Cyvus Vail Senator Helen Brucker Potentate Ed of the Fell Brethren Sahrvin Clan Leader Angel Three unnamed humans |
| Purpose | Maintaining "man's inhumanity to man" Arm of the Senior Partners |
| Powers*** | Reality warping United States Senate influence |
| Affiliations | Wolfram and Hart Senior Partners |
The Circle of the Black Thorn is a fictional secret society in the television show, Angel. The members of the Circle, the self-fashioned Black Thorns, are considered to be the earthly instruments of the Senior Partners (the cabal of demons behind the evil law firm, Wolfram and Hart), charged with being the driving force behind Wolfram & Hart's apocalyptical plans and dedicated to maintaining "man's inhumanity to man" not from a belief in evil per se, but because being a Black Thorn allows them to amass power for themselves and wield said power with impunity. As an associated organization, Wolfram & Hart works closely with the Circle and performs a number of services for its members.
The latest lineup of the Circle was composed of: Archduke Sebassis; Senator Helen Brucker; Cyvus Vail; Ed, Grand Potentate of the Fell Brethren; the leader of the Sahrvin Clan; Izzerial "the Devil"; and three other men whose names were never mentioned. Their latest recruit was Angel.
In the final season of Angel, Angel receives a vision of the true powers behind Wolfram & Hart's apocalypse thanks to Cordelia. After following their trail in secret, Angel learned that he would only draw the attention of the Circle by killing one of his lieutenants. Angel pretended to be the true power responsible for the resurrection of Illyria.
In the following months, Angel pretended to become corrupted by Wolfram & Hart as he helped the Fell Brethren obtain a baby they planned on using as a sacrifice, offered the firm's services to Senator Brucker in order to discredit one of her political rivals and sending a demon assassin after Drogyn the Battlebrand, guardian of the Deeper Well. Finally, Angel obtains a seat in the Circle following an initiation ritual that included the death of Drogyn. Prior to the death of Drogyn, the Black Thorns, covered with robes and masquerade ball masks brutally tortured Drogyn, ripping out his hair and beating him with wooden sticks.
While pleased that Angel was now one of them, the Circle remained wary that Angel would try to betray them as a way to fulfill the Shanshu prophecy, for which they demand that Angel renounces his possible destiny. In order to maintain his cover, Angel agrees.
However, Angel and his crew set out on a mission to wipe the Black Thorns out as an indirect attack on the Senior Partners, merely to take a stand; Wolfram & Hart might have all the power, but they would never control Angel and his crew. Angel secretly poisons the key player of the Black Thorns, Archduke Sebassis. Marcus Hamilton attacks Angel, but Angel defeats him with the aid of his son Connor, subsequently drinking Hamilton's blood to gain the strength Hamilton possesses due to his link to the Senior Partners. Izzerial and the three unnamed human members are slaughtered by Illyria, who also trashes their car. The leaders of the Sahrvin Clan, including its Representative in the Circle, are slain by Lindsey with the aid of Lorne; after succeeding, Lorne shoots Lindsey per Angel's command, saying that Lindsey will never be 'part of the solution'. Spike wipes out the Fell Brethren and their Grand Potentate Ed after recovering the infant who they would have sacrificed on his thirteenth birthday.
The crew's success was not without cost. Wesley Wyndam-Pryce is fatally stabbed by Cyvus Vail (who minutes later has his skull smashed by Illyria). Charles Gunn kills Senator Brucker, but winds up with a seemingly mortal wound during his fight against Brucker's vampire minions.
Angel, Spike, Illyria and Gunn assemble behind the Hyperion Hotel to face the consequences of their actions. The Senior Partners unleash a horde of demon warriors upon the group for their affront, including a dragon, with their sole plan being to fight (Although Angel comments that he wants to slay the dragon himself).
According to the Angel season 5 DVD commentary, the symbol of the Circle of the Black Thorn was inspired by a soda bottle cap ring (the plastic ring that helps prevent product tampering) that was turned inside out.
