After an empty night of passion with Darla, Angel wakes up with his soul still intact and has an epiphany. In a moment of clarity he realizes how deeply he had sunk into despair and how self-destructive his actions had become. He resolves to reunite with his crew, but Cordelia, Wesley and Gunn may not be ready to forgive him, even when their very lives are at stake.
| Airdate: | February 27, 2001 |
| Writer: | Tim Minear |
| Director: | Thomas J. Wright |
Cordelia: Listen, I've been impregnated by demon spawn before, let's just say, didn't really work out.
Behind the Scenes Trivia
Use of the name
A lot of Angel and Wesley’s discussion of the name of the agency in Epiphany was cut due to length.
Angel: “You kept the name. ‘Angel Investigations’.”
Wesley: “We’re going to change it. But if you must know, we felt we had as much right to it as you”.
Angel: “Oh. I mean, ‘Investigations’, okay. But come on—” (points to himself) “Angel”.
Wesley: “Yes. But whatever good reputation that corporate name enjoys, is due to all of us. Not just–” (mimics cadence) “Angel”.
Cast and Crew Trivia
Kevin Fry
Kevin Fry played a Skilosh demon in the Angel episodes Reprise and Epiphany. He has also been in Lime Salted Love, Wanted, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, JAG, 24, ER, Strong Medicine, The Division, The West Wing, Early Edition, Walker, Texas Ranger, Beverly Hills, 90210, Nash Bridges, Eraser and Babylon 5.
Character Trivia
Continuity
Music Trivia
Mythology Trivia
Skilosh demon
Skilosh demons are extremely violent, are skeletal, have ears with four ridges on them, and a third eye in the back of their head. They asexually reproduce by injecting their demon spawn into the skull of a human host. As a result, a third eye forms on the back of the host’s head. A new Skilosh will erupt, fully-grown from skull of its human host. If caught in time, a “deoculation” spell cures victims of the third eye and vanquishes the demon offspring within them.
References
Misery
In Showtime, Buffy and Andrew mention the 1990 movie Misery starring James Caan (as Paul Sheldon) and Kathy Bates (as Annie Wilkes). It was based on the book by Steven King:
Buffy: “So I’m here to tell you, you try anything, try to run… you ever see the movie Misery?”
Andrew: “Six times. But the book was scarier than the movie because instead of crushing his foot with a sledgehammer, Kathy Bates chops it off with…” (realising) “I’ll be good.”
I’m also quite sure that the scene in which Dawn innocently brings tea to her mother in No Place Like Home is a visual reference to the scene in Misery, in which Annie gives a cup of cocoa to the Sheriff. Dawn’s hair is even styled in the same way as Annie’s.
There is another visual reference to the film Misery in Epiphany - when the demons come to Wesley’s apartment he quickly goes into a cupboard in his wheelchair and struggles to reach up to find his gun. This is very similar to a scene in the film in which Paul Sheldon desperately reaches up from his wheelchair to grab pills before Annie finds him.
Goofs
Quotes
Darla: I don't accept that. You cannot tell me that wasn't perfect. Not only have I been around for 400 years, but I used to do this professionally, and that was perfect. We'll go again.
Angel: You did me a favor tonight, now I'm gonna do one for you. Get dressed and get out. Because the next time I see you, I will have to kill you.
The Host: Jeez, keep your pants on! ...Well, I see were a little late with that advice.
The Host: I think I'm speaking for everyone when I say if all you're gonna do is switch back to brood mode, we'd rather have you evil. Then at least you'd be in leather pants.
Cordelia: Listen, I've been impregnated by demon spawn before, let's just say, didn't really work out.
Gunn: You check her pad?
Angel: I stopped by there earlier.
Gunn: You enjoying your visit to 1973? I meant her message pad.
Angel: Guys, guys. Does it make sense that she would go there in the middle of the night, without calling either one of you?
Wesley and Gunn: They owe us money.
Angel: Let's go.
Gunn: So... had an epiphany did you?
Angel: Yeah. Ha.
Gunn: So, what, you just wake up and 'bang'?
Angel: It was sorta the other way around.
Angel: [After smashing Lindsey's plastic hand] Could have been the other one. Just be glad I had an epiphany.
Kate: Yikes. Sounds like you've had an epiphany.
Angel: That's what I keep saying, but nobody's listening.