Angel/Judgement

Judgement
Season 2, Episode 1
Airdate	September 26, 2000
Production Number	2ADH01
Teleplay by	David Greenwalt
Story by	Joss Whedon & David Greenwalt
Directed by	Michael Lange
← 1x22 To Shanshu in L.A.	2x02 → Are You Now or Have You Ever Been
Angel — Season Two

Judgement is the first episode of the second season of Angel, and the twenty-third episode overall. When Angel accidentally kills the guardian of a pregnant woman, he assumes his role as her protector.

David Boreanaz (Angel), Charisma Carpenter (Cordelia Chase), Alexis Denisof (Wesley Wyndam-Pryce), J. August Richards (Charles Gunn)

Guest Starring: Christian Kane (Lindsey McDonald), Stephanie Romanov (Lilah Morgan) Andy Hallett (Caritas Host), Justina Machado (Pregnant Woman), Julie Benz (Darla)

Guest Starring (end credits): Eliza Dushku (Faith)

Co-Starring: Rob Boltin (Johnny Fontaine), Iris Fields (Acting Teacher), Keith Campbell (Club Manager), Jason Frasca (White Guy), Andy Kreiss (Lizard Demon), Matthew James (Merl Demon), Glenn David Calloway (Judge), EJ Gage (Mordar the Bentback)

Plot Overview

Cordelia has a vision that leads Angel to a pregnant woman. Unfortunately, he mistakes her protector for evil and kills it. He then must step in to protect she and her unborn child.

Notes

Monster of the Week

• Prio Motu Demon: Prio Motu is a breed of demon that was bred to be a violent killer specializing in massacres. He's an ancient Ofga-beast and likely comes from Asia, considering his apparent Buddhist leanings.

Body Count

#	Whom	By Whom	How	Where
1	Carnyss Demon	Angel	Stabbed	Gym
2	Prio Motu	Angel	Snapped Neck	Tunnel
3	Vampire	Gunn	Staked	Junkyard
4	Demon	Angel	Bisected	Prio's Lair
5	Demon Knight	Angel	Decapitated	L.A. Streets

Music

Songs are listed in order of appearance in the episode:

• Gloria Gaynor - "I Will Survive"

• Kid Gloves Sampler CD - "Last Confession"

• Chopin - "Prelude in C Minor, Op. 27, No. 20"

• The Pointer Sisters - "I'm So Excited"

• Marvin Gaye - "Sexual Healing"

• Barry Manilow - "Mandy"

• Billy Ray Cyrus - "Achy, Breaky Heart"

Arc Advancement

Characters

• Darla: Darla is twice as old as Angel, according to Lindsey.

Referbacks

• BtVS - 1x07 - Angel: Darla was killed by Angel at The Bronze, a Sunnydale nightclub, after she attempted to frame Angel for an attack on Buffy's mother, Joyce Summers.

Darla: He killed me.

• 1x22 - To Shanshu in L.A.: While Angel fought a demon who was attempting to destroy his connection to the powers that be, Wolfram & Hart raised something in a box. Although we know it's Darla, the gang still doesn't in this episode.

• 1x19 - Sanctuary: Angel goes to visit Faith in prison. She turned herself into the police and confessed to murder and assault after being co-opted by Wolfram & Hart to kill Angel.

Trivia

The Show

• First Appearance: This episode marks the first appearance of Lorne, although he isn't named until later. He goes on to become a recurring guest and later a billed cast member. It also marks the first appearance of the Hyperion Hotel, which would become the Angel Investigations headquarters.

• Crazy Credits: Instead of the normal credits sequence, this episode's ending credits are shown over footage of Angel awkwardly singing Mandy by Barry Manilow.

• Guest star EJ Gage also appeared in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode "Buffy vs. Dracula", which originally aired immediately before this episode.

Behind the Scenes

• Episode Title: The title of this episode is often erroneously cited as Judgment. Although "Judgement" is an acceptable spelling of the term, it is more commonly assumed that the title is a pun on the villain featured in the episode and the spelling error is deliberate, similar to the fourth season episode, "Calvary."

• Credits Shake-Up: As of this episode, J. August Richards becomes a billed member of the cast, a role he will retain for the duration of series.

Allusions and References

• The Enemy Below: Curd Jürgens is an Austrian actor who starred in the 1957 movie The Enemy Below about an American naval destroyer and a German U-boat that meet in the ocean and have a long standoff. In the movie he was credited as "Curt Jurgens."

Host: Who's a little Curt Jurgens in The Enemy Below?

Goofs

• In the teaser, when the camera tracks Wesley and Cordelia in the mirror, you can see David Boreanaz to the right wait for his cue. Note this season was originally broadcast in full screen and errors like this were not visible until the widescreen DVD release.

• At one point, when the Prio Motu demon knocks Angel to the ground, a crew member in a blue shirt can briefly be seen to the right. Again, this is visible due to the DVD's widescreen presentation.

• After Angel hits the whiteboard in frustration, it cuts to Cordelia who is clearly a good distance away from him, but is much closer when it cuts to the next shot.

• When the tribunal says trial by combat will begin, it cuts to a shot of the pregnant woman that is clearly being played in reverse.

Quotes

• Gym Manager: (talking about a demon) That guy has horns.

Angel: Steroids - not good for you.

• Lilah: You have every right to review the contract. I encourage it. We'll talk on Monday. Of course, if you don't sign, we'll sue your ass off and kill your children. Just kidding, Donald. Nobody wants a lawsuit.

• Angel: There are three things I don't do: tan, date, and sing in public.

• Cordelia: Who is it?

Gunn: Gunn.

Wesley: What was that?

Cordelia: Something about a gun. What if it's a demon with a gun?

Wesley: Listen up, whoever you are, we're well armed and we know how to do battle, so if you know what's good for you...

Gunn: My name is Gunn. Angel sent me.

Cordelia: Well, this is a little embarrassing. Please, come in. Come in. Wesley, you've heard Angel talk about Gun. He's a great guy with a really fly street tag.

Wesley: What's he fly?

Cordelia: It's how they know you on the street, dorko. Gun! It really let's 'em know you mean business.

Gunn: It's my name. Charles Gunn. Two N's.

• Angel: She doesn't trust me. Why should she?

Cordelia: You can't see everything. You're just a vampire, like everyone else. That didn't come out right.

• Pregnant Woman: (to Angel) I really appreciate you coming through for us like this. But you know how you're not really good at anything? You sure you can do this?

• Faith: Bad day. One of the girls in the yard tried to build a rep by throwing down with me. She had low self-esteem, and a home-made knife, so...

Angel: Oh. Is she, you know, alive?

• Angel: I had to sing Barry Manilow.

Faith: You're kidding.

Angel: In front of people.

Faith: And here I am talking about my petty little problems.

• Faith: The road to redemption is a rocky path.

Angel: That it is.