Angel: Season 1 (1999 - 2000)

In the premiere episode of this spin-off from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Buffy's ex-boyfriend, Angel (David Boreanaz), the vampire with a soul, relocates to Los Angeles and finds a new purpose in life. Shortly after the events of Buffy's "Graduation Day, Part Two," Angel prowls the clubs of Los Angeles to kill vampires, let off steam, and drown his sorrows. He soon meets Doyle (Glenn Quinn), a half-human, half-demon representative of The Powers That Be. Doyle informs Angel that he must become a helper of the helpless, using the visions that the Powers send to Doyle as his guide. Angel's first assignment is to help Tina (Tracey Middendorf), a would-be actress who is being harassed by rich vampire Russell Winters (Vyto Ruginis). In the course of trying to do so, Angel bumps into Cordelia Chase (Charisma Carpenter), another recent Sunnydale transplant, would-be actress, and target of Russell's bloodlust. After Angel saves Cordelia from the fiend, she decides to become Angel's assistant and set up Angel Investigations, a paranormal private-eye business, as a front for their activities. "City of" originally aired on the WB network on October 5, 1999. To introduce non-Buffy watchers to their main character and his backstory, series creators Joss Whedon and David Greenwalt used flashback clips from the earlier show to illustrate a scene in which Doyle plays "This is Your Life" with his new partner. In addition to introducing Doyle and The Powers That Be, "City of" marks the first appearance of Wolfram & Hart, the demonic law firm that would become a recurring nemesis for the title character. Although he's never named in this episode, attorney Lindsey McDonald (Christian Kane) also appears.

The latest vision from The Powers That Be sends the gang to D'Oblique, a hipster meat market, to hunt down a serial killer who preys on the denizens of the Los Angeles singles scene. Proving that they still have a thing or two to learn about keeping a low profile, Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter) and Doyle (Glenn Quinn) make a spectacle of themselves. She tries passing out Angel Investigations business cards to the bar's confused clientele, while he gets involved in a brawl. Meanwhile, Angel (David Boreanaz) gets chummy with Kate Lockley (Elisabeth Rohm), a grave and alluring young woman who confesses that she spends every night at the club. Over the next few nights, Angel continues to trace the killer, who turns out to be a demon parasite that must switch bodies frequently to survive. Just as he catches up with the monster, Angel crosses paths with Kate again. It turns out she's a police detective, and she suspects Angel himself of the murders. Originally broadcast October 12, 1999, on the WB network, "Lonely Hearts" marked season one, episode two of the supernatural comedy drama. Tracey Stone, who has a small guest role, previously appeared with Charisma Carpenter on an episode of the short-lived Malibu Shores in 1996.

The second part of a crossover with Buffy the Vampire Slayer (see Buffy, "The Harsh Light of Day"), this episode of Angel guest-stars Seth Green as Oz, the werewolf rocker, and James Marsters as Spike, one of Angel's vampire nemeses. On tour with his band, Dingoes Ate My Baby, Oz comes to L.A. bearing a gift from Buffy to Angel -- the Gem of Amarra, a magical ring that makes any vampire who wears it truly invulnerable. Thinking the talisman too dangerous to use, Angel (David Boreanaz) hides it in the sewers underneath the city. Spike soon arrives and retains the services of Marcus (Kevin West), a fearsome, child-eating vampire, to torture and kidnap Angel. Although Angel keeps his mouth shut despite unimaginable agony, Doyle (Glenn Quinn) and Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter) find the ring, and, in an attempt to save their boss, inadvertently allow it to fall into Marcus' hands. Angel must chase the fiend to a crowded beach in full sunlight to prevent him for exercising his bloodlust on the amassed kiddies. Afterward, Angel uses the ring's powers to enjoy one day unharmed in the sunlight before pulverizing it to prevent it from falling into the wrong hands. Originally broadcast October 19, 1999, on the WB network, "In the Dark" marked season one, episode three of the supernatural comedy drama. It was also the first of many crossovers with the show's parent series.

Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter) and Doyle (Glenn Quinn) try to convince Angel (David Boreanaz) to charge clients for his services, but he demurs. Doyle promptly suffers one of his visions and sends Angel to contact Melissa Burns (Tushka Bergen), a young woman whom he believes will need Angel's supernatural services. Although Angel's abrupt appearance unnerves her, Melissa soon contacts him to accept his help. It turns out she's being stalked by Dr. Ronald Meltzer (Andy Umberger), a neurosurgeon with the uncanny ability to separate pieces of his body and use them remotely -- a floating eyeball, a crawling hand, etc. With the help of Detective Kate Lockley (Elisabeth Rohm), Angel eventually triumphs over the supernaturally dextrous surgeon, earning thanks and remuneration from Melissa. Originally broadcast October 26, 1999, on the WB network, "I Fall to Pieces" marked season one, episode four of the supernatural comedy drama. Guest star Andy Umberger also has a recurring role on Buffy the Vampire Slayer as D'Hoffryn, the former demon master of ex-vengeance demon Anya. Although an undercurrent of flirtation colors Lockley's second appearance in the series, her character will soon turn on Angel (see "Somnambulist").

Doyle (Glenn Quinn) finally gets up the nerve to ask out Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter), albeit halfheartedly, but her reply is a typically sarcastic "no." She tries to call, him, however, when she discovers roaches invading her dumpy apartment. Unfortunately, Doyle is busy being harassed by a demon in regards to some gambling debts, so he's unavailable. Cordelia therefore invites herself to move into Angel's plush digs. Unable to cope with Cordelia's nonexistent roommate skills, Angel (David Boreanaz) strikes a deal with Doyle: If Doyle will help Cordelia find a new flat, Angel will get the debt-collector demon off Doyle's back. Doyle does end up finding Cordelia a dream apartment, unfortunately, it's haunted by two separate ghosts. Cordelia and company eventually befriend one of the spooks and drive out the other one, leaving Cordy free to enjoy her new apartment. Originally broadcast November 2, 1999, on the WB network, "Rm w/a Vu" marked season one, episode five of the supernatural comedy drama. Aura, one of Cordelia's Heathers-style minions from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, appears in voice only, leaving a gossipy message on the Angel Investigations answering machine. The friendly ghost, Dennis, becomes a recurring character, though an invisible one. B.J. Porter, who portrays him in this episode, does not reappear.

With the help of Angel (David Boreanaz), Detective Kate Lockley (Elisabeth Rohm) arrests a mobster named Little Tony Papazian (John Capodice). His lawyers at Wolfram & Hart send a very special sensitivity trainer into her precinct to rile things up. The trainer, Allen Lloyd (Ron Marasco), uses supernatural powers to turn Kate and her fellow cops into blubbering, sensitive new age guys and gals. Her inhibitions loosened by the magical command to share her feelings, Kate suffers a bizarre breakdown during the retirement dinner of her father (John Mahon), a gruff, uniformed cop. Soon, Angel himself is letting loose his inner child. Doyle (Glenn Quinn) and Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter) are horrified at their boss' sweet new demeanor, but the therapy spell can't keep Angel from defeating Little Tony. Wolfram & Hart drop their client and decide it's time to keep a closer eye on Angel. Originally broadcast November 9, 1999, on the WB network, "Sense and Sensitivity" marked season one, episode six of the supernatural comedy drama. Kate's father would figure prominently several episodes later, in "Prodigal."

Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter) goes on a date with a boring but rich hunk while Angel (David Boreanaz) and Doyle (Glenn Quinn) bust some vampire butt. One of the vamps escapes and attacks Cordy, whose date flees in terror. Doyle saves the day, and a light goes off in Cordy's little head that maybe the Angel's sidekick is worth getting to know a little big better. Just as things seem to be moving to the next stage, however, a face from Doyle's past shows up -- Harry (Kristin Dattilo), his estranged ethnodemonologist wife, who wants to obtain a divorce so she can remarry. Her fiancé, Richard Straley (Carlos Jacott), turns out to be part of a tribe of demons who have given up their barbaric ways and adopted human guises. Doyle grudgingly gives his blessing to the union, whereupon Harry convinces Doyle and Angel to attend Richard's bachelor party and Cordelia to attend her own shower. As the parties progress simultaneously, Cordelia makes a horrifying discovery about the traditions of Richard's clan -- just as the groom-to-be's brothers are preparing to force Doyle to participate in a grotesque and deadly ritual. Originally broadcast November 16, 1999, on the WB network, "The Bachelor Party" marked season one, episode seven of the supernatural comedy drama. In a twist on typical male and female names, Doyle's wife, Harry, calls him Francis, revealing that his full name is Allen Francis Doyle. During the scenes in which she considers a romance with "fixer-upper" Doyle, Cordy alludes to her abortive relationship with Xander Harris in seasons two and three of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Angel's ex-girlfriend, Buffy Summers (Sarah Michelle Gellar), arrives in Los Angeles to berate Angel (David Boreanaz) for skulking in the shadows in Sunnydale to protect her without making his presence known (see Buffy the Vampire Slayer, "Pangs"). In the middle of their argument, a demon attacks, and Buffy and Angel take to the sewers to track it. During the ensuing melee, some of the demon's blood mixes with Angel's and he's amazed to discover that he has become completely human. Now that Angel is free from the curse that will turn him into a bloodthirsty monster if he ever experiences true happiness, a blissful day of sex, love, and ice cream soon reunites the ex-lovers. Unfortunately, another demon shows up and Buffy must protect her helpless lover. Angel realizes that without his vampiric abilities, he and those he cares for will be in constant danger. He begs the two Oracles of The Powers That Be to turn him back into a vampire. They use a temporal fold to turn the clock back 24 hours, leaving only Angel with the memory of his perfect day with Buffy and causing everyone else to forget it ever happened. Originally broadcast November 23, 1999, on the WB network, "I Will Remember You" marked season one, episode eight of the supernatural comedy drama. In the Buffy episode "Something Blue," Buffy mentions that she saw Angel in Los Angeles for only a few minutes -- proof that Angel is, indeed, the only one who remembers their tender reunion.

When a group of ruthless, demonic hunters known as the Scourge begin killing a family of helpless half-demons because of their mixed blood, it brings back painful memories for Doyle (Glenn Quinn) of the years he spent denying his own half-demonic nature. Angel (David Boreanaz) swiftly moves into action, going undercover in the Scourge and also arranging safe passage on a ship for the half-demons. But when one of the half-breeds, a troubled teen, runs away, Doyle must find and rescue him, delaying the ship's departure. By then, a double-cross has tipped off the Scourge to the ship's location and they show up, bloodthirsty, before it can leave port. Meanwhile, Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter) learns of Doyle's true nature and responds not with the disgust he was expecting, but with shock that he avoided telling her. She agrees to go out with Doyle, fulfilling his greatest wish, but it's not to be. The Scourge unleash a terrible weapon designed to destroy everyone with human blood in a quarter-mile radius. Doyle sacrifices himself to turn the weapon off, leaving Cordelia with a passionate goodbye kiss. Originally broadcast November 30, 1999, on the WB network, "Hero" marked season one, episode nine of the supernatural comedy drama. Although some reports indicated a rift between actor Glenn Quinn and the show's producers, his character's death was actually planned early in the show's development.