Apocalypse, Nowish (Angel episode)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Angel episode | |
| "Apocalypse, Nowish" | |
 |
|
| Episode № | Season 4 Episode 07 |
|---|---|
| Guest star(s) | Andy Hallett (Lorne) Stephanie Romanov (Lilah) Daniel Dae Kim (Gavin) Vladimir Kulich (The Beast) |
| Writer(s) | Steven S. DeKnight |
| Director | Vern Gillum |
| Production № | 4ADH07 |
| Airdate | November 17, 2002 |
| Episode chronology | |
| Previous episode | Spin the Bottle |
| Next episode | Habeas Corpses |
"Apocalypse, Nowish" is episode 07 of season 4 in the television show Angel. See List of Angel (series) episodes for a complete list.
Contents |
[edit] Plot synopsis
[edit] Summary
As Angel and the group deal with a sudden wave of paranormal activity all over Los Angeles, they realize that they must prepare for the coming of a fierce apocalyptic beast foretold in Cordelia’s vision. With the group spread out too thin, Angel approaches Lilah for information, but she is not much help. Meanwhile, Fred and Gunn’s relationship begins to become strained over their different views over dealing with evil. While Wesley decides to call a truce with Angel and the group to help them find the source of the evil, Cordelia and Connor confide with each other over their views toward one another just when the beast rises from the bowels of the Earth to bring a “rain of fire” over the city as phase one of its plan to destroy the world.
[edit] Expanded overview
Lorne wants to know what Cordelia remembers about her time as a higher power, but Angel insists that they wait for a while before drilling her on her memories. At Connor's, Cordelia watches horror movies and eats junk food. Cordy thanks him for his help, but she's terribly disturbed by the vivid vision of a horrible evil she gets every time she closes her eyes. In a flash, the demon of her vision appears looming above her and grabs her throat before she awakes with a start and Connor comforts her from the horrible nightmare. Lorne takes a call about an abundance of snakes and whether it's a case they'll take, but it doesn't seem to be demonic enough for their purpose. Fred and Gunn check out a rich house that's been experiencing loud noises coming from their bathroom. The noises begin to sound and once they stop, rats start to emerge from the walls, drains and ceiling. Gunn and Fred both freak out and get out of the house quickly, recommending an exterminator.
Wesley returns back to his place after fighting off an excess of bugs to find Lilah waiting for him, dressed up like Fred. She lets her jealousy of Fred show, but Wesley ignores it long enough for the two to have sex on the couch. Fred and Gunn return to the hotel, both eager to get cleaned up after being around the rats. Fred wants to take a bath, but not with Gunn and it sets off an argument between them. She's not able to get over the fact that Gunn killed her professor for her and runs off on her own. The hotel continues to get numerous calls with strange incidents occurring all over L.A. Angel fusses over organizing the weapons cabinet while Lorne continues to press the Cordelia issue. Connor drops by to talk and pleads with Angel to talk to Cordelia.
Realizing the importance of the situation, Angel goes to see Cordy and she is finally able to talk to him. She tells him how much she loves him, but also that while she was a higher being, she saw and relieved everything he did while he was Angelus. Her in-depth knowledge of that part of his makes it too hard for her to be involved with him. Suddenly, she starts breathing hard and her eyes turn white as she warns Angel that "he's coming." Cordelia lies down and tells Angel and Connor what she remembers of her vision. They wonder whether Lorne reading her mind would help them again, but Cordelia needs more answers than that. The calls continue to flood in and amidst it all, Lorne picks up on Gunn's relationship troubles with Fred. A sparrow flies directly into one of the glass windows, distracting them both. Quickly, the hotel assaulted on all sides by the birds flying blindly to their death against windows and walls.
Lilah talks on her cell phone about the impending apocalypse until she enters into her office and finds Angel waiting for her. He's already beaten and tied up Gavin and he wants answers about what Wolfram and Hart knows about the apocalypse. She's not very helpful, but Angel convinces her that she wins whether she helps him or not and it'll be easier on her if she helps him. At Connor's place Cordy paces and tries to leave, but he stands in her way and makes her talk to him. She wonders why she was sent down to Earth again and Connor accompanies her on a quest to find the answers she needs. They walk to an alleyway that Cordelia recognizes as the place where Darla died and Connor was given life. A large, horned demon bursts from the ground in front of them, knocking Cordelia and Connor down.
Connor attacks, but his strength is not enough to stop the demon and he takes a brutal beating. Cordelia is also grabbed and hurt before the demon takes off, sparing them both. Gunn gets restless after not being able to locate Fred and tries to leave to find her, but Wesley shows up and interrupts his departure. Aware of all the strange occurrences around town, he offers to work with them to deal with this seemingly big problem, but Gunn's too angry with Wesley to even consider the idea. Angel stops them all from leaving because he has information from Lilah that they have to figure out before the world ends.
The trio examine the pages that contain the information that was pulled from Lorne's head. Lorne goes to answer the phone again and Angel instructs him to start mapping out the locations where the calls are coming from. The pages don't make any sense until Gunn sees that the pages fit together like a puzzle to build an even bigger clue. It builds a symbol shaped like a square with an "X" inside representing the "Eye of Fire." Lorne adds even more good news by showing that the locations of strange occurrences all over town are occurring in a pattern on a map that matches the symbol.
A waitress at a diner recommends Fred ease off of the continuous coffee she's been drinking and tries to advise Fred on her relationship troubles. An earthquake strikes and the patrons of the diner move away from the windows. Cordelia tends to Connor's wounds and finds that he has broken ribs, something that's never happened to him before. Angel and the gang determine that the location on the map that appears at the middle of the X is a popular club on a high rooftop. They arrive at the club to find a mass of dead bodies and the demon waiting for them.
Angel takes on the demon personally but, despite his domination over it, he is overpowered. Crossbows and axes and swords don't seem to have much of an impact, so Wesley tries a series of guns that also fail. Angel gets back into the battle and dominates again even managing to send the demon to its knees but when attempting to stake the demon in the eye, it is turned on him by the demon who then proceeds to stab him in the neck. With parting words about Cordelia's safety with Connor, the demon sends Angel flying off the roof onto another building. The demon forms the Eye of Fire with the bodies and sets them ablaze. Angel rips the stake from his neck and slowly begins to recover.
The fire on the roof rises towards the sky and soon fire starts to rain down while Connor and Cordelia watch. Connor blames himself for the whole situation ever happening, but Cordelia comforts him and reassures him that he's not to blame. Under the control of the now awakened Jasmine, Cordelia kisses Connor and offers him the chance to feel something real. While everyone else watches the fire rain down, fearing what little future awaits them, Connor finds comfort in Cordelia's arms, who is, unbeknownst to him, using him to impreganate herself so she can give birth to herself. Angel looks on into Connor's window from the roof of a nearby building and sees his son and, who he believes to be, Cordelia making love.
[edit] Quotes and trivia
- Gunn's fear of rats (first mentioned in "Heartthrob") is seen here.
- Fred previously went to the diner in "Couplet" and "Loyalty", (both times she was with Gunn).
[edit] Continuity
[edit] Timing
- Stories that take place around the same time in the Buffyverse:
| Location, time (if known) |
Buffyverse: Fall 2002 - December 2002 (non-canon = italic) |
|---|---|
| Sunnydale, 2002 | B7.01 Lessons |
| Mexico, 2002 | Buffy/Angel book: Seven Crows |
| L.A., 2002 | A4.01 Deep Down |
| L.A., 2002 | B7.02 Beneath You |
| L.A., 2002 | A4.02 Ground State |
| Sunnydale, 2002 | B7.03 Same Time, Same Place |
| Sunnydale, 2002 | Buffy book: Apocalypse Memories |
| L.A., Las Vegas, 2002 | A4.03 The House Always Wins |
| Sunnydale, 2002 | B7.04 Help |
| L.A., 2002 | Angel book: Dark Mirror |
| Sunnydale, 2002 | Buffy book: Mortal Fear |
| Sunnydale, 2002 | Buffy book: Spark and Burn |
| Sunnydale, L.A., 2002 | Buffy/Angel book: Heat |
| L.A., 2002 | A4.04 Slouching Toward Bethlehem |
| Sunnydale, 2002 | B7.05 Selfless |
| L.A., 2002 | A4.05 Supersymmetry |
| Sunnydale, 2002 | B7.06 Him |
| L.A., 2002 | Angel book: Solitary Man |
| L.A., 2002 | A4.06 Spin the Bottle |
| L.A., 2002 | Angel book: Love and Death |
| L.A., 2002 | Angel book: Monolith |
| Sunnydale, 2002 | B7.07 Conversations with Dead People |
| L.A., 2002 | A4.07 Apocalypse, Nowish |
| Sunnydale, 2002 | B7.08 Sleeper |
| L.A., 2002 | A4.08 Habeas Corpses |
| Sunnydale, 2002 | B7.09 Never Leave Me |
| L.A., 2002 | A4.09 Long Day's Journey |
| Sunnydale, 2002 | B7.10 Bring on the Night |
| Unknown, 2002 | Tales of the Vampires: Stacey |
| New York, 2002 | Tales of the Vampires: Spot the Vampire |
| Unknown 2002 | Tales of the Vampires: Taking Care of Business |
| L.A., 2002 | A4.10 Awakening |
