The second season of the television series Angel, the spin-off of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, premiered on September 26, 2000, on The WB and concluded its 22-episode season on May 22, 2001. It maintained its previous timeslot, airing Tuesdays at 9:00 pm ET, following Buffy.

Angel
Season 2
Region 1 Season 2 DVD cover
Starring
No. of episodes22
Release
Original networkThe WB
Original releaseSeptember 26, 2000 (2000-09-26) –
May 22, 2001 (2001-05-22)
Season chronology
← Previous
Season 1
Next →
Season 3
List of episodes

Cast and characters

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Main cast

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Recurring cast

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Guest cast

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Crew

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Series creators Joss Whedon and David Greenwalt served as executive producers, while Greenwalt would serve as the series' showrunner as Whedon was running Buffy. Whedon didn't write a script for the season, although he did write the stories to "Judgment" and "Happy Anniversary", directed the fourth episode "Untouched" and even acted in the season's penultimate episode as Lorne's dancing cousin Numfar. Buffy writer/producer Marti Noxon served as consulting producer, with other Buffy writers Jane Espenson, Douglas Petrie and David Fury were asked to write freelance scripts.

Tim Minear (supervising producer, promoted to co-executive producer midseason) and Jim Kouf (consulting producer) were the only writers kept on the staff. Minear ended up writing the most episodes of the season, including important episodes during the Angel/Darla story arc including "Darla", "The Trial", "Reunion", "Reprise" and "Epiphany". "Darla" also counted as Minear's directorial debut. Mere Smith, who was a script coordinator during the first season was promoted to a staff writer, and began writing episodes. Shawn Ryan was hired for the season and also served as a producer.[1]

James A. Contner (also co-producer) directed the highest number of episodes in the second season, directing three episodes. David Greenwalt directed two, including the season finale.

Episodes

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No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateProd.
code
U.S. viewers
(millions)
231"Judgment"Michael LangeStory by : Joss Whedon & David Greenwalt
Teleplay by : David Greenwalt
September 26, 2000 (2000-09-26)2ADH016.09[2]
After accidentally killing her protector, Angel champions a pregnant woman being hunted down by demons.
242"Are You Now or Have You Ever Been"David SemelTim MinearOctober 3, 2000 (2000-10-03)2ADH025.04[3]
In the 1950s, Angel aids a woman living on the lam in the Hyperion Hotel, an establishment with a long history of death and mayhem. In the present, Angel returns to the Hyperion and tracks the demon he refused to stop 50 years earlier.
253"First Impressions"James A. ContnerShawn RyanOctober 10, 2000 (2000-10-10)2ADH035.09[4]
Angel encounters an amorous Darla in his dreams. Meanwhile, Cordelia vows to protect Gunn.
264"Untouched"Joss WhedonMere SmithOctober 17, 2000 (2000-10-17)2ADH044.92[5]
Angel attempts to help a girl with telekinetic powers before she falls into the hands of Wolfram and Hart.
275"Dear Boy"David GreenwaltDavid GreenwaltOctober 24, 2000 (2000-10-24)2ADH055.40[6]
At the behest of Wolfram & Hart, Darla attempts to unbalance Angel enough to force him to embrace his dark side.
286"Guise Will Be Guise"Krishna RaoJane EspensonNovember 7, 2000 (2000-11-07)2ADH066.05[7]
Angel meets a Swami to end his obsession with Darla. Wesley assumes Angel's identity and plays bodyguard.
297"Darla"Tim MinearTim MinearNovember 14, 2000 (2000-11-14)2ADH075.54[8]
Angel is desperate to rescue Darla from the clutches of Wolfram & Hart. Darla remembers her past.
308"The Shroud of Rahmon"David GrossmanJim KoufNovember 21, 2000 (2000-11-21)2ADH084.67[9]
Angel goes undercover with Gunn to prevent a mind-altering Shroud from falling into the wrong hands.
319"The Trial"Bruce Seth GreenStory by : David Greenwalt
Teleplay by : Douglas Petrie & Tim Minear
November 28, 2000 (2000-11-28)2ADH094.67[10]
Learning that Darla is dying, Angel refuses to turn her into a vampire. Instead, he undertakes a series of mystical ordeals in which he must ultimately sacrifice his own life for hers.
3210"Reunion"James A. ContnerTim Minear & Shawn RyanDecember 19, 2000 (2000-12-19)2ADH104.66[11]
The newly revamped deadly duo of Drusilla and Darla hit the streets of LA. and Angel is frantic.
3311"Redefinition"Michael GrossmanMere SmithJanuary 16, 2001 (2001-01-16)2ADH114.11[12]
After firing his staff and cutting himself off from all help, Angel takes on Darla and Drusilla.
3412"Blood Money"R.D. PriceShawn Ryan & Mere SmithJanuary 23, 2001 (2001-01-23)2ADH124.75[13]
Angel threatens to reveal Wolfram & Hart's criminality when he discovers they're stealing from a teen shelter.
3513"Happy Anniversary"Bill L. NortonStory by : Joss Whedon & David Greenwalt
Teleplay by : David Greenwalt
February 6, 2001 (2001-02-06)2ADH134.33[14]
Angel and Lorne search for a physicist who plans to freeze time, while Wesley, Cordelia and Gunn establish themselves as independent detectives.
3614"The Thin Dead Line"Scott McGinnisJim Kouf & Shawn RyanFebruary 13, 2001 (2001-02-13)2ADH144.51[15]
Angel teams up with Kate to investigate the rumors of zombie policemen who are out for blood while Cordelia, Wesley, and Gunn fend for themselves.
3715"Reprise"James Whitmore, Jr.Tim MinearFebruary 20, 2001 (2001-02-20)2ADH154.45[16]
One of Wolfram and Hart's "senior partners" is coming to visit, and Angel is determined to take it out.
3816"Epiphany"Thomas J. WrightTim MinearFebruary 27, 2001 (2001-02-27)2ADH165.21[17]
After an empty night of passion with Darla, Angel wakes up with his soul still intact and has an epiphany.
3917"Disharmony"Fred KellerDavid FuryApril 17, 2001 (2001-04-17)2ADH173.64[18]
While the group tries to track down vampires, Cordelia gets a surprise visit from her high school friend Harmony.
4018"Dead End"James A. ContnerDavid GreenwaltApril 24, 2001 (2001-04-24)2ADH184.40[19]
Cordelia's visions get worse and the gang fears for her health. Meanwhile, Lindsey is granted a new hand.
4119"Belonging"Turi MeyerShawn RyanMay 1, 2001 (2001-05-01)2ADH194.56[20]
Angel and his crew must find a way to kill a bloodthirsty demon who has arrived in town from another dimension.
4220"Over the Rainbow"Fred KellerMere SmithMay 8, 2001 (2001-05-08)2ADH205.03[21]
Cordelia is sucked through a magic portal and transported to a demon dimension where humans are considered inferior, prompting the gang to rescue her.
4321"Through the Looking Glass"Tim MinearTim MinearMay 15, 2001 (2001-05-15)2ADH215.18[22]
After learning that Cordelia has become the Princess of Pylea, Wesley and Gunn are captured by rebels as Angel tries to save a slave sentenced to execution.
4422"There's No Place Like Plrtz Glrb"David GreenwaltDavid GreenwaltMay 22, 2001 (2001-05-22)2ADH224.84[23]
Aided by Fred, Angel struggles with his inner beast the demon dimension brings out in him, while Wesley and Gunn join with rebel forces to overthrow the government. In the last scene, the team return home to the Hyperion to find Willow with news of Buffy's death in "The Gift".

Reception

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The second season won the International Horror Guild Award for Best Television. It was nominated for five Saturn Awards – Best Network Television Series, Best Actor on Television (David Boreanaz), Best Actress on Television (Charisma Carpenter), Best Supporting Actor on Television (Alexis Denisof) and Best Supporting Actress on Television (Juliet Landau).[24]

The Futon Critic named "Reunion" the 20th best episode of 2000.[25] Slayage cited the episode "Are You Now or Have You Ever Been" as the greatest episode of the series.[26]

The second season averaged 4.1 million viewers, slightly lower than the fifth season of Buffy.[27]

DVD release

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Angel: The Complete Second Season was released on DVD in region 1 on September 2, 2003[28] and in region 2 on April 15, 2002.[29] The DVD includes all 22 episodes on 6 discs presented in anamorphic widescreen 1.78:1 aspect ratio. Special features on the DVD include two commentary tracks—"Are You Now or Have You Ever Been" by writer Tim Minear and "Over the Rainbow" by director Fred Keller. Scripts for "Darla" and "Disharmony" are included. Featurettes include, "Making up the Monsters", which details the make-up design; "Inside the Agency" is a set tour of various sets; "Stunts" details the choreography of the stunts; and "Season 2 Overview" is a summary of the season featuring interviews with cast and crew members. A photo stills gallery is also included.[30]

References

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  1. ^ "A Brief History of Mutant Enemy". Whedon.info. May 24, 2004. Retrieved August 10, 2010.
  2. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (Sept. 25–Oct. 1)". The Los Angeles Times. October 4, 2000. Retrieved May 6, 2021 – via Newspapers.com. 
  3. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (Oct. 2–8)". The Los Angeles Times. October 11, 2000. Retrieved May 7, 2021 – via Newspapers.com. 
  4. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (Oct. 9–15)". The Los Angeles Times. October 18, 2000. Retrieved May 7, 2021 – via Newspapers.com. 
  5. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (Oct. 16–22)". The Los Angeles Times. October 25, 2000. Retrieved May 7, 2021 – via Newspapers.com. 
  6. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (Oct. 23–29)". The Los Angeles Times. November 1, 2000. Retrieved May 7, 2021 – via Newspapers.com. 
  7. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (Nov. 6-12)". The Los Angeles Times. November 15, 2000. Retrieved May 8, 2021 – via Newspapers.com. 
  8. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (Nov. 13-19)". The Los Angeles Times. November 22, 2000. Retrieved May 8, 2021 – via Newspapers.com. 
  9. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (Nov. 20-26)". The Los Angeles Times. December 1, 2000. Retrieved May 8, 2021 – via Newspapers.com. 
  10. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (Nov. 27-Dec. 3)". The Los Angeles Times. December 6, 2000. Retrieved May 8, 2021 – via Newspapers.com. 
  11. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (Dec. 18-24)". The Los Angeles Times. December 29, 2000. Retrieved May 9, 2021 – via Newspapers.com. 
  12. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (Jan. 15–21)". The Los Angeles Times. January 24, 2001. Retrieved October 16, 2020 – via Newspapers.com. 
  13. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (Jan. 22-28)". The Los Angeles Times. January 31, 2001. Retrieved May 9, 2021 – via Newspapers.com. 
  14. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (Feb. 5-11)". The Los Angeles Times. February 14, 2001. Retrieved May 9, 2021 – via Newspapers.com. 
  15. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (Feb. 12-18)". The Los Angeles Times. February 22, 2001. Retrieved May 9, 2021 – via Newspapers.com. 
  16. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (Feb. 19-25)". The Los Angeles Times. February 28, 2001. Retrieved May 9, 2021 – via Newspapers.com. 
  17. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (Feb. 26-March 4)". The Los Angeles Times. March 7, 2001. Retrieved May 9, 2021 – via Newspapers.com. 
  18. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (April 16–22)". The Los Angeles Times. April 25, 2001. Retrieved May 10, 2021 – via Newspapers.com. 
  19. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (April 23–29)". The Los Angeles Times. May 2, 2001. Retrieved May 10, 2021 – via Newspapers.com. 
  20. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (April 30-May 6)". The Los Angeles Times. May 9, 2001. Retrieved May 10, 2021 – via Newspapers.com. 
  21. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (May 7–13)". The Los Angeles Times. May 16, 2001. Retrieved May 10, 2021 – via Newspapers.com. 
  22. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (May 14–20)". The Los Angeles Times. May 23, 2001. Retrieved May 10, 2021 – via Newspapers.com. 
  23. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (May 21–27)". The Los Angeles Times. June 1, 2001. Retrieved May 10, 2021 – via Newspapers.com. 
  24. ^ ""Angel" (1999) - Awards". IMDb. Retrieved August 10, 2010.
  25. ^ Brian Ford Sullivan (January 4, 2001). "The 20 Best Episodes of 2000". The Futon Critic. Retrieved August 10, 2010.
  26. ^ Erenberg, Daniel (April 18, 2003). "Opinion: Best Of The Best, Part Two". Slayage. Retrieved October 10, 2007.
  27. ^ "The Bitter End". Entertainment Weekly. June 1, 2001. Retrieved August 10, 2010.
  28. ^ "Angel - Season Two". Amazon.com. September 2, 2003. Retrieved August 9, 2010.
  29. ^ "Buffy DVD and VHS". BBC. Retrieved August 9, 2010.
  30. ^ "Angel - The Complete 2nd Season". TVShowsOnDVD.com. Archived from the original on August 10, 2011. Retrieved February 18, 2011.
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