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5.13 Why We Fight

Lawson, a mysterious man from Angel’s past, arrives at Wolfram & Hart and takes the gang hostage. Through flashbacks to World War II, it is revealed that Angel worked with the U.S. Navy to recover a captured German submarine with American sailors on board. The ship also has a secret cargo, a dangerous trio of vampires, including Spike, who were kidnapped by the Germans and forced to help the Nazis. When the sub comes under attack, Angel saves Lawson’s life by turning him into a vampire. Now, sixty years later, Lawson has arrived at Wolfram & Hart seeking revenge.

Nostroyev: I will tear you open and play "Coachman, Spare Your Horses" on the lute of your entrails!

Behind the Scenes Trivia

God save who?

In the DVD for Why We Fight, when Spike sings ‘God Save the King’, the subtitles incorrectly use the words to ‘God Save the Queen’.

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Cast and Crew Trivia

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Character Trivia

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Continuity

Lying prince

In Tomorrow, Connor tells Angel, “You’re the prince of lies”. In Why We Fight, we see a flashback to World War II, in which Angel is on a submarine with a vampire called the Prince of Lies.

No experiments, please

In the flashback to World War II in Why We Fight, Spike objects to U.S. government experiments (”And I’m not getting experimented on by his government”) which is ironic as the government experimented with him in his later life. The US-based Initiative put a chip in his head to control him.

Ocean trappiness

Angel tells Spike they’re trapped at the bottom of the ocean in Why We Fight, when they’re in a submarine during WWII. In Tomorrow, Angel is again trapped in the bottom of the ocean, put there by his son Connor.

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Music Trivia

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Mythology Trivia

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References

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Goofs

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Quotes

Lawson: Come on chief, give me a mission. (Angel stakes him)

Angel: We need them. I'm not getting trapped at the bottom of the sea!
Spike: And I'm not getting experimented on by his government!

Spike: Sneaky bastards, the SS. Don't ever go to a "free virgin blood party". Turns out, it's probably a trap.

Angel: You're a Nazi.
Spike: What? Oh! No, I just ate one.

Nostroyev: I will tear you open and play "Coachman, Spare Your Horses" on the lute of your entrails!

Lawson: Aren't you going to ask how I got in here?
Angel: Nah. You'd be amazed how many people break into this building on a regular basis.

Angel: Spike's not in the S.S. He just likes wearing the jacket.