The Trial (Angel episode)
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| “The Trial” | |
|---|---|
| Angel episode | |
   Angel endures a series of trials to heal Darla  Darla drinks Drusilla's blood to turn into a vampire in order to heal herself |
|
| Episode no. | Season 2 Episode 9 |
| Guest stars | Christian Kane (Lindsey) Jim Piddock Julie Benz (Darla) Juliet Landau (Drusilla) Andy Hallett (Lorne) |
| Written by | Douglas Petrie Tim Minear |
| Directed by | Bruce Seth Green |
| Production no. | 2ADH09 |
| Original airdate | November 28, 2000 |
| Episode chronology | |
| ← Previous | Next → |
| "The Shroud of Rahmon" | "Reunion" |
| List of Angel episodes | |
"The Trial" is episode 9 of season 2 in the television show Angel. See List of Angel episodes for a complete list.
Contents |
[edit] Plot synopsis
[edit] Summary
After Darla discovers that she is terminally ill with syphilis once again and will die soon, she tries to get vampires to feed off her in order to become a vampire again. Angel prevents her from doing so, and searches for another way to help her. Following the guidance of the Caritas Host, Angel enters into a series of three mysterious trials in an attempt to save her life. But the downside is that he could get both of them killed in the process. Meanwhile, Lindsey decides to try to turn Darla back to the dark side.
[edit] Expanded overview
Cordelia and Wesley talk about Angel while Angel is down in the basement, doing his laundry. Gunn has located Darla at the Royal Viking Motel, but Lindsey has gotten to her first. Lindsey and Holland confront Darla with information about her health. Angel and Gunn check out the motel room, but find little information.
In France, 1765, Angelus and Darla run from a vampire hunter and hide in a barn. As the mob closes in, Darla knocks Angelus down and leaves on the only horse. In present time, Darla tries to talk a young male vampire into making her a vampire. Outside, in an alley, Angel stakes the vampire before he can bite Darla. They talk and Darla reveals that she is terminally ill and only has a few months left to live. Angel brings Darla to the hotel and expresses that he doubts the truth of the records Wolfram and Hart showed her.
Angel visits Lindsey and finds that Darla really is dying. Lindsey reveals that Darla is dying from the same diseases she was dying from when she was first human. Angel takes Darla to the demon karaoke bar where she sings beautifully while the Host talks to Angel. He tells Angel of the only way to save Darla, but it may mean Angel's death. Angel dives into an empty pool and into an underground location where he must survive three trials to save Darla's life.
Angel is advised by a valet before being left in a room to fight unarmed against a large demon that has weapons. Angel eventually slices the demon in two, and chains the pieces to opposite sides of the room. From the safety of another room, Darla watches. Angel moves onto another room that consists of crosses covering the walls and floors. After crossing the burning ground, Angel must fish a key out of a bowl filled with holy water. Chained spread-eagle before a wall of wooden stakes, Angel finds that the third trial requires him to die in order for Darla to live.
The valet presents Angel with his options, but Angel is willing to give his life, and that enough to pass the test. The valet gives Angel and Darla bad news though as it's revealed that Darla is already living her second chance at life. Furious, Angel violently attacks the room that surrounds them, truly distraught that after everything he went through, he couldn't save Darla. Upon returning to the surface, Darla is accepting of her fate and Angel is there to support her. Lindsey and several large men break into the room and restrain Angel and Darla. Drusilla makes a shocking return and while Angel watches, she makes Darla a vampire, again.
[edit] Writing and acting
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[edit] Production details
[edit] Music
- Ella Fitzgerald - "Ill Wind"
- Robert Kral - "The Trials for Darla"
[edit] Quotes and trivia
- Holtz is mentioned for the first time in one of this episode's flashbacks. He would later appear in the first episode of the third season, and become that season's major threat.
- After the trial, Angel wonders about what effect siring Darla will have on her. "Maybe it would be different. We don't know. Maybe because, you know, I have a soul, if I did bite you..." This contradicts the flashback in "Why We Fight", in which it is revealed that Angel had already sired someone and he knew that they were evil.
- Talking about Wolfram & Hart playing mind games, Cordelia makes a lawyer joke. Darla: "I don't trust them -- but I know a thing or two about mind games -- [turning to Angel] so do you -- we played them together for over a century." Cordelia: "Yes, but you were just soul-less blood sucking demons -- they're lawyers." Angel: "She's right, we were amateurs."
[edit] Translations
- German title: "Auf Leben und Tod" ("Between life and death")
- Italian title: "Diagnosi mortale" ("Deadly diagnosis")
[edit] Continuity
[edit] Arc significance
In the fourth season episode "Shiny Happy People", Jasmine claims that Angel was successful in these trials, and earned the life of Connor, which later allowed Jasmine herself to be born.
[edit] Timing
- Stories that take place around the same time in the Buffyverse:
| Location, time (if known) |
Buffyverse chronology: Fall 2000 - December 2000 (non-canon = italic) |
|---|---|
| Sunnydale, 2000 | B5.01 Buffy vs. Dracula |
| L.A., 2000 | A2.01 Judgment |
| Sunnydale, 2000 | Buffy graphic novel: Haunted (by Jane Espenson) |
| Sunnydale, 2000 | B5.02 Real Me |
| L.A., 2000 | A2.02 Are You Now or Have You Ever Been |
| L.A., 2000 | Angel book: Image |
| L.A., 2000 | Angel book: Stranger to the Sun |
| Sunnydale, 2000 | B5.03 The Replacement |
| Sunnydale, 2000 | Buffy graphic novel: False Memories |
| Sunnydale, 2000 | Buffy Graphic novel story: Willow & Tara: Wannablessedbe |
| L.A., 2000 | A2.03 First Impressions |
| L.A., 2000 | Angel graphic novel: Long Night's Journey |
| Sunnydale, 2000 | B5.04 Out of My Mind |
| L.A., 2000 | A2.04 Untouched |
| Sunnydale, 2000 | B5.05 No Place Like Home |
| L.A., 2000 | A2.05 Dear Boy |
| Sunnydale, 2000 | B5.06 Family |
| Sunnydale, 2000 | Buffy graphic novel: Autumnal |
| L.A., 2000 | Angel graphic novel: Autumnal |
| L.A., 2000 | A2.06 Guise Will Be Guise |
| Sunnydale, 2000 | B5.07 Fool for Love |
| L.A., 2000 | A2.07 Darla |
| Sunnydale, 2000 | B5.08 Shadow |
| L.A., 2000 | A2.08 The Shroud of Rahmon |
| Sunnydale, 2000 | B5.09 Listening to Fear |
| L.A., 2000 | A2.09 The Trial |
| Sunnydale, 2000 | B5.10 Into the Woods |
| L.A., 2000 | A2.10 Reunion |
| Sunnydale, 2000 | B5.11 Triangle |
| L.A., 2000 | A2.11 Redefinition |
[edit] External links
- The Trial at the Internet Movie Database
