On her birthday, Cordelia’s visions become so painful that they propel her into an astral state and a life-threatening coma. Visited by a demon guide, astral Cordy is mystically granted the opportunity to live her dream of a rich and famous actress if she is willing to give up her history with Angel and her visions.
| Airdate: | 14 January 2002 |
| Writer: | Mere Smith |
| Director: | Michael A. Grossman |
Cordelia: You're furious? I get body-jacked on my birthday and you're the one that's furious?
Behind the Scenes Trivia
Cast and Crew Trivia
David Denman
David Denman played Skip in Angel. He appeared in an episode of David Boreanaz’s show Bones as Phil Garfield, and played Roy in the US version of The Office. David has also appeared in When a Stranger Calls, Night Stalker, Big Fish, The Singing Detective, Out Cold, The X Files, Chicago Hope and ER.
Character Trivia
Skip
Skip was a metal-clad unclassified demon who worked for the Powers That Be, by overlooking Billy’s torture in an unknown hell dimension in That Vision Thing. His will kept Billy locked in the cage of flames while robbing him of his ability to scream. He fought Angel, who freed Billy to help Cordelia. Skip later appeared as Cordelia’s demon guide when her visions made her slip into a coma in Birthday. He was responsible for showing her how her life could be without Angel, and making her part-demon when she refused to turn her back on her friend.
He assisted Cordelia to ascend and become a higher being, and later tried to further Jasmine’s coming by telling Angel to kill Cordelia in order to save the world. He was eventually shot and killed by Wesley.
Continuity
Demon deformities
In Birthday, Cordelia checks to see if she has any demon deformities, including horns and a tail. These are also the first things that Buffy checked herself for in the Buffy episode Earshot when she gained an aspect of a demon.
Music Trivia
Mythology Trivia
References
Wonder Woman
In Bring on the Night, Xander and Andrew compare the school basement to issues 297-299 of the Wonder Woman comic ‘Catacombs’. Joss Whedon has been chosen to direct the 2006 movie version of Wonder Woman.
Cordelia’s birthday cake in the episode Birthday is decorated with an image of Wonder Woman. Charisma Carpenter, who plays Cordelia, has openly said she would like to star in Joss Whedon’s movie version of Wonder Woman.
In The Cautionary Tale of Numero Cinco, Lorne says to Fred, “Oh, you’re all woman. You’re everywoman. You’re Wonder Woman!”
Goofs
Quotes
Angel: Whoa! Whoa! Dirty people not touching the baby.
Cordelia: But pig-drinking bloodsuckers are okay? I meant that in a nice way.
Lorne: I'm pickin' up some hard-cord woo-woo vibes in the room. This ain't medical, kids. It's mystical.
Cordelia: You're furious? I get body-jacked on my birthday and you're the one that's furious?
Angel: I had this dream that Cordy was here. She was trying to tell me something. Something really important.
Cordelia: Yes, and, and...
Angel: It's weird.
Cordelia: How are you a Champion? In what way are you a Champion?
Cordelia: That's just a fancy way of saying...
Angel: She's dying.
Cordelia: I think I like the fancy way better.
Skip: Most people go astral, their spiritual shapes tend to be an idealized version of themselves you know, straighten the nose, lose the gray, sort of a self-esteem kind of thing. You're pretty confident, aren't you?
Lorne: Oh, for the love of God, somebody get me a Sea Breeze.
Angel: Did you get the information?
Lorne: Oh, why, yes, Angel. My horn should grow back in a couple of days. So kind of you to be concerned.
Skip: Actually, this is more the construct of a mall. You know, like in The Matrix.
Cordelia: You've seen The Matrix?
Skip: Oh, I love that flick. When Trinity's all, "Dodge this!" and the agent just crumbles to... and I'm not really instilling any awe anymore, am I?
Cordelia: But I thought the Powers That Be knew everything?
Skip: Life and death, that sort of thing, they got a handle on. Who somebody chooses to love, well that's good old free will.
Cordelia: I want something. Hypo-something. Hypothermia?
Nev: (into his cell phone) Josh, let's get a large tub of ice water in Ms. Chase's dressing room, pronto.
Cordelia: No, that's not it.
Nev: (into his cell phone) Cancelling ice water.
Skip: We've been over this. I respect what you're trying to do. It's noble and heroic and all that other Russell Crowe Gladiator crap.
Skip: The only way you get to keep the visions is by becoming part demon. The process isn't easy. It will make your vision-pain seem like a stroll through Candyland. And even after the agony subsides, the effects from the transformation will be numerous and unpredictable. You may never be able to lead a human life again.
Cordelia: So demonize me already.
Skip: It was an honor being your guide, Cordelia Chase.