Summer Glau

Summer Glau was born on July 24th 1981, in San Antonio, Texas. Summer trained and performed as a dancer throughout her teenage years until a serious injury forced her to take time to heal. During this time, while visiting friends in Los Angeles she got the part of the Prima Ballerina in the Angel episode Waiting in the Wings. Shortly after, she made the decision to move to LA and began working steadily as an actor and dancer. Summer was then cast in Joss Whedon’s new television series, Firefly, playing the role of River. Since the end of Firefly, Summer has appeared in Cold Case, Sleepover and Mammoth, as well as Serenity - the big screen version of Firefly.

Prima Ballerina

The unnamed Prima Ballerina in the Blinnikov World Ballet Corps was cursed to dance the same performance of Giselle forever. She had had an affair with another man which caused the jealous Count Kurksov to put the spell on her. Following Angel’s advice, she changed the routine, allowing Angel to locate the Count. After Angel destroyed his power, she faded away.

Fred and Gunn’s kiss

Fred and Gunn kiss for the first time in the episode Waiting in the Wings.

Kyrumption

In Offspring, Fred tells Angel about a Pylean word which reminds her of his and Cordelia’s relationship:

Fred: “Kyrumption. It’s the one nice word I remember from the Pylean hell dimension.”
Angel: “What’s it mean?”
Fred: “It’s when two great heroes meet on the field of battle and recognize their mutual fate. It’s also a kind of grog made out of the ox dung but that’s archaic.”

In Waiting in the Wings, Lorne and Angel have the following conversation:

Lorne: “Sorry, strudel. It’s not just when you’re singing. We got a little term back in Pylea. Kyrumption?”
Angel: “I know it.”
Lorne: “Okay. When two great heroes come together…”
Angel: “There will be no coming together, okay? Everything we’ve been through together and all anybody wants to talk about is…”
Lorne: “Can’t fight Kyrumption, cinnamon buns. It’s fate. It’s the stars. Kyrumption is…”

Old lovers

In the Angel episode ‘Waiting In The Wings’, Angel and Cordelia are taken over by the spirits of old lovers. In the episode Angel says: “Look, I’ve been possessed by the spirits of old lovers before. Never goes well.” This is a reference to the Buffy episode I Only Have Eyes For You when Angel and Buffy were possessed by the spirits of James and Grace.

Works in theory

In Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered, when Xander and Cordelia are hiding in Buffy’s house, Xander says it should be safe in there. Angelus appears suddenly at the window and says “Works in theory” before pulling Xander out of the house. Angel says the same line in the Angel season three episode ‘Waiting in the Wings‘ when he and Cordelia are trapped below the theatre.

Spinal Tap

In Real Me, Buffy warns Giles that magic shop owners have the life expectancy of a Spinal Tap drummer. This is Spinal Tap is a ‘rockumentary’ directed by Rob Reiner and starring Christopher Guest, Michael McKean and Harry Shearer. It follows a fake heavy metal band on their tour of America. The band’s drummers regularly die in mysterious ways: such as gardening accidents, or choking on (someone else’s) vomit.
In Waiting in the Wings, Cordelia says, “You want to wander around backstage like Spinal Tap for the next…ever?” She’s referring to a scene in This is Spinal Tap, in which the band get lost backstage before a gig.