First Impressions (Angel episode)
Encyclopedia
"First Impressions" is the third episode of season 2 in the television show Angel
. Written by Shawn Ryan
and directed by James A. Contner
, it was originally broadcast on October 10, 2000 on the WB
television network
.
The whole gang and Gunn meet up with a man named Jameel in order to get information about a demon named Deevak. Gunn gets violent when Jameel won't talk, but the interruption of a pack of vampires prevents Gunn from getting answers. After dusting the three vampires with quite a bit of effort, everyone complains about their injuries. After dropping Angel off at the hotel and returning home, Cordelia gets a vision of Gunn in danger. When Wesley and Angel both aren't available to help, Cordelia takes it upon herself to save Gunn. Angel enjoys happy dreams of being with Darla until Wesley arrives and interrupts.
Cordelia mistakenly attacks one of Gunn's friends, Joey, when she thinks that Joey is attacking Gunn. Gunn walks Cordelia to the car, but it turns out that Angel's car has been stolen. Without a car, Angel is forced to ride on Wesley's motorcycle, wearing a pink helmet in order to help save Gunn. With Cordelia at his side, Gunn tracks down the Desmond, who stole Angel's car. Before he can get information on the car's whereabouts, a huge pack of vampires attack the party. Gunn fends off most of them, but one of Gunn's close friends, Veronica, is cut badly by a piece of broken glass. Gunn reacts badly to the fact that Veronica nearly died, especially because he can't forget his sister's death.
Angel and Wesley arrive in time to witness the aftermath of the party, but find the location of Deevak through one of the surviving vampires at the party. After finally finding Angel's car, Gunn also finds Deevak. Holding Gunn by the throat and Cordelia by the arm, Deevak turns into Jameel. After Cordelia sprays Jameel with mace, he lets go of Cordelia and Gunn long enough to revert back to his ugly, demonic form. Angel and Wesley arrive to help and Angel finally kills Deevak with an ax.
Cordelia warns Gunn that he, not Deevak, was the danger she saw in her vision - he is putting himself in danger recklessly. She intends to help prevent him from destroying himself. Angel dreams that he returns to the hotel and Darla is there to comfort him. As he sleeps and dreams of his romantic encounters with his sire, Darla climbs over Angel in bed and kisses him.
and L.A. Confidential
, Gunn replies that he hasn't seen a movie since Denzel
was robbed of the Oscar for Malcolm X
. It is interesting to note that Reservoir Dogs was released before Malcolm X (and subsequently before the following Oscars in which it was nominated), so Gunn could have in fact seen it in the movie theater.
The episode title is a reference to the working title of Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen
, where the protagonists were initially blind to each other's true characters. Similarly, Gunn had the wrong impression of Cordelia's vision as well as both she and Wesley when he rudely dismissed them when he arrived in search of Angel (and, literally rather than thematically, Deevak's masquerade as Jameel).
Angel (TV series)
Angel is an American television series, a spin-off of the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The series was created by Buffys creator, Joss Whedon, in collaboration with David Greenwalt, and first aired on October 5, 1999...
. Written by Shawn Ryan
Shawn Ryan
Shawn Ryan is a writer, and the creator of the FX Networks series The Shield and the Fox TV series The Chicago Code.-Education/Personal life:...
and directed by James A. Contner
James A. Contner
James Atwater Contner is an American television and film director and cinematographer. His work includes episodes of such television series as Miami Vice, Angel, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Firefly and Star Trek: Enterprise...
, it was originally broadcast on October 10, 2000 on the WB
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., also known as Warner Bros. Pictures or simply Warner Bros. , is an American producer of film and television entertainment.One of the major film studios, it is a subsidiary of Time Warner, with its headquarters in Burbank,...
television network
Television network
A television network is a telecommunications network for distribution of television program content, whereby a central operation provides programming to many television stations or pay TV providers. Until the mid-1980s, television programming in most countries of the world was dominated by a small...
.
Plot synopsis
After talking with the host at the demon bar about his future, Angel walks out and encounters Darla. The two dance and talk before they kiss passionately. Angel then awakens, shaken by the disturbing dream. While Angel sleeps late, Cordelia and Wesley clean and organize their new office. Gunn arrives at the hotel, expecting Angel to be awake and able to help him. When Angel finally wakes up, David Nabbit is there to offer financial advice in regards to Angel's investment in the hotel.The whole gang and Gunn meet up with a man named Jameel in order to get information about a demon named Deevak. Gunn gets violent when Jameel won't talk, but the interruption of a pack of vampires prevents Gunn from getting answers. After dusting the three vampires with quite a bit of effort, everyone complains about their injuries. After dropping Angel off at the hotel and returning home, Cordelia gets a vision of Gunn in danger. When Wesley and Angel both aren't available to help, Cordelia takes it upon herself to save Gunn. Angel enjoys happy dreams of being with Darla until Wesley arrives and interrupts.
Cordelia mistakenly attacks one of Gunn's friends, Joey, when she thinks that Joey is attacking Gunn. Gunn walks Cordelia to the car, but it turns out that Angel's car has been stolen. Without a car, Angel is forced to ride on Wesley's motorcycle, wearing a pink helmet in order to help save Gunn. With Cordelia at his side, Gunn tracks down the Desmond, who stole Angel's car. Before he can get information on the car's whereabouts, a huge pack of vampires attack the party. Gunn fends off most of them, but one of Gunn's close friends, Veronica, is cut badly by a piece of broken glass. Gunn reacts badly to the fact that Veronica nearly died, especially because he can't forget his sister's death.
Angel and Wesley arrive in time to witness the aftermath of the party, but find the location of Deevak through one of the surviving vampires at the party. After finally finding Angel's car, Gunn also finds Deevak. Holding Gunn by the throat and Cordelia by the arm, Deevak turns into Jameel. After Cordelia sprays Jameel with mace, he lets go of Cordelia and Gunn long enough to revert back to his ugly, demonic form. Angel and Wesley arrive to help and Angel finally kills Deevak with an ax.
Cordelia warns Gunn that he, not Deevak, was the danger she saw in her vision - he is putting himself in danger recklessly. She intends to help prevent him from destroying himself. Angel dreams that he returns to the hotel and Darla is there to comfort him. As he sleeps and dreams of his romantic encounters with his sire, Darla climbs over Angel in bed and kisses him.
Arc significance
- Gunn forms his first attachment to a member of Angel's gang, aside from Angel. Cordelia is able to earn his respect and friendship. This bond (and the bond formed later with Wesley) are an important factor later in the season when Angel fires the entire staff.
- This episode marks the last appearance of David Nabbit
- Angel is revealed to have romantic and erotic dreams about Darla, which are caused by Darla herself (although Angel does not know this).
Cultural references
When Cordelia makes a reference to Reservoir DogsReservoir Dogs
Reservoir Dogs is an American crime film marking debut of director and writer Quentin Tarantino. It depicts the events before and after a botched diamond heist, but not the heist itself. Reservoir Dogs stars an ensemble cast: Harvey Keitel, Steve Buscemi, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen, Chris Penn, and...
and L.A. Confidential
L.A. Confidential (film)
L.A. Confidential is a 1997 American film based on James Ellroy's 1990 novel of the same title, the third book in his L.A. Quartet. Both the book and the film tell the story of a group of LAPD officers in the 1950s, and the intersection of police corruption and Hollywood celebrity...
, Gunn replies that he hasn't seen a movie since Denzel
Denzel Washington
Denzel Hayes Washington Jr. is an American actor, screenwriter, director, and film producer. He first rose to prominence when he joined the cast of the medical drama, St. Elsewhere, playing Dr...
was robbed of the Oscar for Malcolm X
Malcolm X (film)
Malcolm X is a 1992 biographical motion picture about the Muslim-American figure Malcolm X . It was co-written, co-produced, and directed by Spike Lee. It stars Denzel Washington as the titular character. It co-stars Angela Bassett, Albert Hall, Al Freeman, Jr., and Delroy Lindo...
. It is interesting to note that Reservoir Dogs was released before Malcolm X (and subsequently before the following Oscars in which it was nominated), so Gunn could have in fact seen it in the movie theater.
The episode title is a reference to the working title of Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen
Jane Austen
Jane Austen was an English novelist whose works of romantic fiction, set among the landed gentry, earned her a place as one of the most widely read writers in English literature, her realism and biting social commentary cementing her historical importance among scholars and critics.Austen lived...
, where the protagonists were initially blind to each other's true characters. Similarly, Gunn had the wrong impression of Cordelia's vision as well as both she and Wesley when he rudely dismissed them when he arrived in search of Angel (and, literally rather than thematically, Deevak's masquerade as Jameel).