Angel’s voicover

David Boreanaz did the “previously on Angel” voiceover for the first time on the series in the episode Lonely Hearts.

Better the odds

The following scene was cut from the original script for Lonely Hearts:

Doyle: “Good. The two of you working separately. Better the odds.”
Angel: “Not of her surviving if she finds this thing before I do.”

Elisabeth Rohm

Elisabeth Rohm played detective Kate Lockley in Angel. She was born in Dússeldorf in Germany in 1973, and was raised in New York. After leaving Angel, Elisabeth became well known for playing A.D.A. Serena Southerlyn in Law & Order and Alison Jeffers in Bull (alongside Elizabeth Anne Allen - Amy Madison in Buffy). A horse-riding and fitness fanatic, Elisabeth has also appeared in Miss Congeniality 2, Push, The Invisible Man and Deconstructing Harry.

Kate Lockley

Kate Lockley was a detective for the Los Angeles Police Department. She first met Angel when working on a serial killer case at a single’s bar. The two made a connection, Kate came to trust Angel and the two aided each other in different cases. Kate began to find herself attracted to the enigmatic Angel, even though she wouldn’t admit it, even to herself.

Kate discovered that Angel was a vampire, something which truly confused her, made more difficult by the dicovery of her father’s lifeless body - killed at the hands of vampires. Kate read up on Angels evil past and threw her hatred and frustration at him every time they met.

Obsessed with ridding the city of “his kind”, Kate began to concentrate on cases connected with the supernatural, forcing her career to spiral downwards until she was fired. In despair, Kate attempted to take her own life by washing down prescription pills with alcohol. During this she called Angel and blames him for ruining her life because he made her believe. Angel broke into her apartment and saved her life, and trhe two came to an understanding. Kate told Angel she believed there’s a higher power at work and they’re not in the battle against the forces of darkness alone. When he asks her why, Kate replies that she never invited him into her apartment.

THC

The name of Veruca’s band is Shy, but the music is actually perfomed by the real band THC. They play the song ‘Overfire’ in Beer Bad. George Sarah, who can be seen on the piano in Shy’s performances, is actually THC’s songwriter. He collaborated with Anthony Stewart Head on his album ‘Music For Elevators’. Shy play ‘Dip’ and ‘Need to Destroy’ in Wild at Heart.
In the Angel episode ‘Lonely Hearts‘, when team Angel arrives at the club we hear “Girlflesh” by THC.

Burrower demon

The Burrower demon is a parasite that lives in the bodies of human beings. It yearns to make a connection, usually through sexual intercourse, and body-jumps between hosts. When the parasite leaves a host, the body decays at a rapid rate as the human’s life force has been drained. Burrowers can be killed by fire.

Batman

The comic Batman, by DC Comics, is mentioned several times in Buffy.

• In Some Assembly Required, Buffy says to Willow, “Sorry to interrupt, Willow, but it’s the Bat-Signal.” She’s alluding to the ‘Bat-Signal’ in Gotham city which is used to alert Batman that he is needed.
• In Halloween, Xander says to Cordelia, “Catwoman, you’re with me.” In the Batman comics, Catwoman is a cat-burglar, and the alter ego of Selina Kyle.
• In The Yoko Factor, Xander says, “You and Willow go do the superpower thing, I’ll stay behind and putt around the Batcave with crusty old Alfred here.” The Batcave was Batman’s high-tech base and Alfred was his loyal butler.
• The nerds’ freeze ray gun in Smashed may have been inspired by Batman’s Mr Freeze, who used a similar device.
• In Beneath You, Spike says, “A little touchy-feely, and you’re off to the Batpoles?” He’s referring to the 1960s TV show Batman in which Batman and Robin would slide down poles to the Batcave when they were needed.
• In Bring on the Night, Andrew mentions Batman’s foe The Riddler.
• Vincent Schiavelli, who played Jenny’s uncle in Surprise and Innocence played the Organ Grinder in the movie Batman Returns.
• In the Angel episode Lonely Hearts, Doyle says, “It’s not like you have a signal folks can shine in the sky whenever they need help, you know?”, referring to the Batsignal.
• In ‘In the Dark‘, Spike says of Angel, “quickly to the Angelmobile, away” - another Batman reference.
• In Benediction, Lilah says of Connor,”Who’s the boy wonder?” This is the name often given to Batman’s sidekick, Robin.

Cagney and Lacey

In Lonely Hearts, Cordelia says, “Cagney and Lacey Kate? I thought we were hiding from her.” This is a reference to the TV show Cagney & Lacey, about two female detectives.

Saved By the Bell

In Lonely Hearts, the bartender says, “She was there just a minute ago, getting it on with some Screech”. This is a reference to the geeky character Screech, played by Dustin Diamond, from TV show Saved By The Bell.

Seen at 36.41 minutes:

When Angel and Kate escape from the basement in Lonely Hearts, they run past a mirror, in which you can see Angel’s reflection.