Angel and the Host search for a physicist who they fear will cause the end of the world, but they are hampered by two Lubber demons who are seeking to subvert the scientist’s work to their own dark ends. Wesley, Cordelia and Gunn settle into their new digs, where Virginia brings them their first official case.
| Airdate: | February 6, 2001 |
| Writer: | David Greenwalt (story and teleplay) Joss Whedon (story) |
| Director: | Bill Norton |
Angel: Can you just get to the point already?
The Host: Yes, I can, if you'd let me get a word in edgewise here Mr. Get-to-the-Pointy-Pants.
Behind the Scenes Trivia
Angel’s love metaphor
Angel’s original depressing love metaphor was more extended in Happy Anniversary:
“Well, you know, love… it’s a fire. It burns you. Alive. Down to the bone. Then it turns the bone to ash and the cold wind just–”
Cast and Crew Trivia
Matt Champagne
Matt Champagne played Gene Rainey in Happy Anniversary. He has also appeared in Ghost Whisperer, Boston Legal, Eyes, Monk, CSI: Miami, Will & Grace, Miss Match, Providence, Dragonfly, The Tick, The Specials, The Pentagon Wars and The Client.
Norma Michaels
Norma Michaels, who played the ‘Older Woman’ in Doppelgängland, appeared in the Angel episode ‘Happy Anniversary‘ as Aunt Helen.
Character Trivia
Gene Rainy
Gene Rainy was a gifted university student studying physics, and a frequent customer at Caritas. After learning his girlfriend was going to dump him on their anniversary, he planned to freeze himself with her while they were being intimate using a time paradox machine. His formula was completed by a group of Lubber demons, who believed that Gene would bring about an apocalypse. However, the time paradox machine overloaded causing all time to begin to stop. Angel destroyed the machine, aided by Lorne.
Continuity
Music Trivia
Mythology Trivia
References
Lakers
Lorne says in Happy Anniversary, “This garden hue and the horns have kept me out of some key public performances - just once I’d love to ring in a Laker’s game with our national anthem.” He’s referencing the Los Angeles NBA team.
Goofs
Seen at 36.41 minutes:
When time starts freezing in Happy Anniversary, we see a man pouring a glass of beer. When we first see him there is a small amount of beer in the glass but when we see him again at 37:09 there is a lot of foam in the glass and the beer froths over.
Quotes
Gunn: I am so glad I met you guys, it's entertaining. Really.
Angel: What I hear and maybe, hopefully I'm still dreaming, is the "Star Spangled Banner" being belted out by a loud green demon.
The Host: What's today, Thursday? Tomorrow night the world's gonna end - thought you might like to know.
The Host: Don't feel the need to offer your guest a frothy cappuccino or a hot cinnamon roll?
The Host: I don't know why you fired those three plucky kids. They were good company. Not to mention Cordelia. Whew. Hot-o-Rama. In the oh-my-sizzling-loins sense of the word. If you know what I mean.
Angel: Can you just get to the point already?
The Host: Yes, I can, if you'd let me get a word in edgewise here Mr. Get-to-the-Pointy-Pants.
The Host: That is, if you're not too busy getting lawyers killed and setting girls on fire.
Virginia: Hey. Wow. This place is great. I brought champagne. You guys must be so excited... in that really dry, suicidal way.
Virginia: Really rich family, they invented um, I don't know, chairs or something.
Cordelia: We'll do it. We'll do anything.
Virginia: Oh, that's so sad.
Angel: Angel, why are you so cranky? Angel, you should lighten up, you should smile, you should wear a nice plaid.
The Host: Oh, not this season, honey.