

Season 5, Episode 20
Written by Steven S. DeKnight and Drew Goddard
Directed by David Greenwalt
Original Airdate: 5 May 2004
“She’d never fall for a centuries-old guy with a dark past who may or may not be evil.”
Angel
REGULAR CAST
- David Boreanaz as Angel
- James Marsters as Spike
- J. August Richards as Charles Gunn
- Amy Acker as Illyria
- Andy Hallett as Lorne
- Mercedes McNab as Harmony Kendall
- Alexis Denisof as Wesley Wyndam-Pryce
SPECIAL GUEST STARS
- Julie Benz as Darla
- Tom Lenk as Andrew Wells
GUEST CAST
- David Lee as Alfonso
- Gary Grubbs as Roger Burkle
- Jennifer Griffin as Trish Burkle
- Carole Raphaelle Davis as Ilona
- Juliet Landau as Drusilla
CO-STARRING
- Vikki Gurdas as Bartendress
- Rob Steiner as Pietro
- Andrew Ableson as Italian Man
- Dominic Pace as Bouncer
- Irina Maleeva as Old Demon Lady
SYNOPSIS
Angel and Gunn discuss their next mission – retrieving the body of a demon to prevent a war in LA. Angel, hesitant, assigns Spike, but a call interrupts – Buffy’s in Italy, where the body is located. Angel recalls The Immortal, a figure from his past, and ultimately decides to go himself.
On the Wolfram & Hart jet, Angel and Spike bicker over Buffy before begrudgingly agreeing to work together. Angel reveals he had someone watching Buffy until they landed in the hospital. Spike remembers Italy from the 1950s, but Angel recalls 1894 – when they last crossed paths in Rome.
Flashback to 1894 – Angelus and William hang from a barn ceiling, warned to leave Rome, The Immortal’s territory. They escape, only to find Darla sprawled on their bed.
In LA, Illyria touches a plant, noting she can no longer hear its song. Lorne tries to lighten the mood, but Wesley insists she go to the lab to assess her diminished abilities. As she departs, Fred’s parents unexpectedly arrive, shocking Lorne and Wesley.
In Rome, Angel and Spike knock on a door—Andrew answers. He reveals Buffy is seeing The Immortal. Flashback to 1894 – Darla wakes up, revealing The Immortal slept with her and Drusilla. Angelus and William, furious, try infiltrating a club but are denied entry.
Back in Rome, Spike and Angel struggle to accept Buffy’s choice. A maid hands them a bag containing the capo’s head – it must hatch into a new body. They return to Buffy’s apartment, only to find Andrew again – Buffy remains absent.
In LA, Wesley prepares to tell Fred’s parents the truth – until Fred herself appears at the door.
In Rome, Angel and Spike chase a demon who steals the capo’s head. He escapes in their car, forcing them onto a moped. The chase ends with their vehicle totaled and the demon escaping. With only 12 hours left, they turn to the local Wolfram & Hart office.
Inside the Rome branch, CEO Ilona welcomes them warmly, offering clothes and handling negotiations. Meanwhile, in LA, Wesley confronts Illyria – she impersonated Fred to spare her parents’ grief. He firmly orders her never to do it again.
In Rome, Angel and Spike prepare the ransom. Outnumbered, they initially fight but ultimately exchange the money. As The Immortal’s men leave, they check the bag – it’s a bomb. The explosion leaves them battered.
Back at Wolfram & Hart Rome, Ilona provides replacements for their ruined clothes. She insists they let her team handle the capo’s head recovery and sends them away. Before leaving Italy, they check Buffy’s apartment again – she’s still absent. Andrew tells them Buffy has moved on, and so should they.
In LA, Illyria-as-Fred enters Wesley’s office, pushing her impersonation further. Wesley, unsettled, firmly refuses, but Illyria insists she wants to explore the role. He walks out, refusing again.
Angel and Spike return to Wolfram & Hart, expecting war. Gunn, however, reveals The Immortal delivered the capo’s head – war averted. Enraged, Angel and Spike slowly accept the inevitable – Buffy is moving on, and they must too.
TRIVIA
The events of this episode are all based on the fact that Buffy is in Rome – or at least a version of her is. Season Eight reveals that the Slayer has several decoys around the world to distract potential enemies. While Buffy is aware of the decoy in Rome, she’s unaware why Andrew finds the fact that she’s dating the Immortal amusing.
This episode marks the final appearances of Darla and Drusilla in the series. Drusilla will return in Angel & Faith, under the Season Nine banner.
Contrary to popular belief, Sarah Michelle Gellar was not supposed to appear in this episode. The joke is that Buffy isn’t seen by Angel and Spike. However, Andrew was not originally going to appear either – Michelle Trachtenberg was unavailable to reprise the role of Dawn, so Tom Lenk’s Andrew stepped forward instead. This helped pave the way for Andrew to become a central part of the Scooby Gang in seasons eight through twelve.
CONTINUITY
In Pangs, Giles told Angel that it wouldn’t be fair for him to see Buffy and for Buffy not to know he was there. Angel hasn’t learnt his lesson – he has had a spy looking in on her activities. Of course, he’s unaware that it’s not actually Buffy in Rome…
Illyria first begins to impersonate Fred in this episode. She’ll do it again in the season finale and throughout season nine when she is stuck in human form. She’ll be sharing a body with Fred in Angel & Faith season ten.
Spike’s duster, that he took from Nikki Wood in flashback in Fool for Love is destroyed. Ilona gives him a new one that looks identical. Spike is very pleased.
Angel claims that the Immortal is eating cookie dough – a reference to his last conversation with Buffy in Chosen.
Andrew compliments Angel on his jacket – and will get one himself in season eight.
Spike asks if Buffy can be locked in a box, like Pavayne from Hell Bound.
Spike is once again playing video games. He’s been doing it since he recovered from losing his hands in You’re Welcome. He’ll continue this hobby from this point on.
While arguing about saving the world, Angel and Spike mention various events that we’ve seen occur previously: Angel being part of the Scooby Gang when they closed the Hellmouth twice, once in Prophecy Girl and then again in The Zeppo. Spike counters that he did the same in Doomed and Chosen. Angel refers to Graduation Day and the battle with the Mayor (who he’ll meet again in season twelve) and Angel Investigations stopping Jasmine in Peace Out. Their memories of their actions during Becoming (Part 2) are up for debate. They both claim that one.
WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?
EPISODE
Time Bomb / Power Play









