Angel pitch tape
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| “Pitch tape” | |
|---|---|
| Angel episode | |
 |
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| Episode no. | Season 1 Episode 0 |
| Guest stars | (uncredited) |
| Written by | Joss Whedon |
| Directed by | Joss Whedon |
| Production no. | N/A |
| Original airdate | Unaired 1999 |
| Episode chronology | |
| ← Previous | Next → |
| – | "In the Dark" |
A six-minute pitch tape produced by Joss Whedon was never intended to air, but used in 1999 to show the WB Network the potential of Angel. See also List of Angel (series) episodes.
Contents |
[edit] Plot synopsis
[edit] Summary
Angel stands on a skyscraper over night-time Los Angeles. He explains key moments in his history that eventually brought him to L.A.. Angel has not been in the city long. He promises to stir the waters and challenge powerful forces that have made great business out of people's despair.
[edit] Expanded overview
Angel stands on the top of a building block. He explains his remarkable history. He was born 244 years ago in Ireland. He describes his life as "Small town, good family". Twenty-seven years into an "unremarkable life" Angel met Darla, who turned him into a vampire. Angel admits that living as a vampire was a thrill, enjoying power, danger and fashion, but most of all "the kill". Angel goes on to explain the gypsy curse he was given. When he killed a gypsy, the Kalderash clan cursed him with a soul so that he might suffer with guilt for his crimes. He acknowledges that it was Buffy who finally showed him that his life was important one hundred years after the curse. Angel explains how he discovered that the curse meant he could not experience a moment of "perfect happiness" without losing his soul and becoming a monster.
Angel announces he recently moved to L.A. and formed Angel Investigations. Cordy emphasises that the business must charge to make rent. Doyle gave Angel the focus he needed, Doyle points out that "Sometimes it's not so easy. Not all demons have horns. Not every damsel wants to be rescued.". Angel seems ready for the challenge. The two speak of the powerful forces that have made great business out of people's despair, and Angel says that they aren't going to like him stirring up the waters. Doyle asks if he's afraid of that to which Angel replies, "I'm counting on that."
[edit] Writing and acting
[edit] Cast
[edit] Production details
- Much of the footage featuring Boreanaz, Carpenter and Quinn was reused in "City of", "Lonely Hearts", and in the opening titles.
- The presentation used archived clips from Buffy including flashbacks in this order: "Becoming I", "Becoming II", "Amends ", "Passion", "Anne", "The Harvest", "Enemies", "Surprise", "Graduation Day II".
[edit] Music
- VAST - "Here". This track would later be used again in the fourth season episode "Release".
- VAST - "Dirty Hole".
- VAST - "Temptation".
- VAST - "I'm Dying".
[edit] Quotes
- Powerful forces
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- ALLEN FRANCIS DOYLE: "There's powerful forces out here. Agents of pure evil. They've made great business out of people's despair."
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- Doyle is referring to powers like Wolfram and Hart.
- Stirring waters
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- ANGEL: "They're not going to like me stirring up the waters."
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- ALLEN FRANCIS DOYLE : "What, and you're afraid of that?"
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- ANGEL : "I'm counting on that. "
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- Whilst having good intentions all along, Angel foreshadows his obsessive challenge against the system during Angel Season 2, that will almost cost him all his links to humanity.
[edit] Continuity
[edit] Canonical issues
The canonicical status of the presentation is unclear. The showing is shot by Whedon, and doesn't contradict anything established by canon. However Angel appears to be speaking to the camera, and possibly breaking the Fourth wall. Alternatively he could be telling his story to an unseen character.
[edit] Timing
- The continuity takes place after Angel has left Sunnydale, and has been living in L.A. shortly. It appears that it is after he has met Doyle, and also after Cordelia has joined Angel Investigations. More specifically it would be set after "Lonely Hearts", but before "In the Dark".
- Other stories taking place around the same time in the Buffyverse:
| Location, time (if known) |
Buffyverse chronology: Fall 1999 - December 1999 (non-canon = italic) |
|---|---|
| L.A. 1999 | Angel comic: Doyle: Spotlight |
| L.A. 1999 | A1.01 City of |
| Sunnydale, 1999 | B4.01 The Freshman |
| Sunnydale, 1999 | B4.02 Living Conditions |
| L.A. 1999 | |
| L.A. 1999 | A1.02 Lonely Hearts |
| L.A. 1999 | A1.00 Unaired Angel pilot |
| L.A. 1999 | Angel book: Not Forgotten |
| Sunnydale, 1999 | B4.03 The Harsh Light of Day |
| L.A. 1999 | A1.03 In the Dark |
| Sunnydale, 1999 | B4.04 Fear, Itself |
| Sunnydale, 1999 | Buffy graphic novel: Blood of Carthage |
| L.A. 1999 | Angel graphic novel: Surrogates |
| L.A. 1999 | Angel comic: Strange Bedfellows story, Angel #4 |
| Sunnydale, 1999 | Buffy video game: Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Game Boy Color) |
| Sunnydale, 1999 | Tales of the Slayer: All That You Do Comes Back.. |
| L.A. 1999 | A1.04 I Fall to Pieces |
| Sunnydale, 1999 | B4.05 Beer Bad |
| L.A. 1999 | A1.05 Rm w/a Vu |
| Sunnydale, 1999 | Buffy books: Lost Slayer series |
| Sunnydale, 1999 | B4.06 Wild at Heart |
| Sunnydale, 1999 | Buffy graphic novel: Oz |
| Sunnydale, 1999 | Buffy book: Oz: Into the Wild |
| L.A. 1999 | A1.06 Sense & Sensitivity |
| Sunnydale, 1999 | B4.07 The Initiative |
| L.A. 1999 | A1.07 Bachelor Party |
| L.A. 1999 | Angel book: Close to the Ground |
| L.A. 1999 | Angel book: Soul Trade |
| L.A. 1999 | Angel graphic novel: Earthly Possessions |
| L.A. 1999 | Angel book: Redemption |
| L.A. 1999 | Angel book: Shakedown |
| L.A. 1999 | Angel book: Hollywood Noir |
| L.A. 1999 | Angel book: Avatar |
| L.A. 1999 | Angel book: Bruja |
| L.A. 1999 | Angel book: The Summoned |
| Sunnydale, 1999 | B4.08 Pangs |
| L.A. 1999 | A1.08 I Will Remember You |
| Sunnydale, 1999 | B4.09 Something Blue |
| L.A. 1999 | A1.09 Hero |
| Sunnydale, 1999 | B4.10 Hush |
| L.A. 1999 | A1.10 Parting Gifts |
| Sunnydale, 1999 | B4.11 Doomed |
| L.A. 1999 | A1.11 Somnambulist |
[edit] See also
[edit] Buffyverse oddities
- In chronological order of Buffyverse continuity:
- History of the Slayer
- Unaired Buffy pilot
- Lydia Chalmer's "Thesis on William the Bloody"
- Christmas Buffy promo
- Corrupt (unaired Angel episode)
- Angel pitch tape
- Buffy Season 6 UPN promos: Scooby Gang talk about Buffy
