Angel Talk || s3e13 "Waiting in the Wings"

[@Haggis-the-angry-dwarf]

'Stop calling me pastries' is one of my favorite lines in Angel. Makes me laugh every time.

[@donsample1002]

Summer Glau as the ballerina: her introduction to fans of badass women who can beat up everyone.

[@lionlyons]

Be seeing more _Firefly_ alumni now and again...

[@MrSupertallblackman]

There's footage of Amy Acker (Fred) performing the ballet. She studied ballet for 14 years. But underwent knee surgery while in high school, ending her ballet career.

[@PWGregory]

A deleted scene from this episode by the way. LOL the wording here kinda sounds like you're talking about some random video of Amy Acker performing a ballet. I know that's not what you meant like. 😂

[@razycrandomgirl]

​@@PWGregoryi feel like the context was implied...

[@elizabethm4824]

This episode is a needed reminder that you can’t call dibs on a person.

[@davidterhune8277]

Thanks to Alexis Denisof's acting and some great writing Wesley has gone from someone i didn't care for much on "Buffy" to a character i really care about on "Angel" Great to see Summer Glau from "Firefly" and "The Sarah Connor Chronicles"

[@zDom]

Great episode. I've always been amazed that the "I'm only alive when you're inside me." line made it past whatever censors there were.

[@gregleiner1608]

I remember in an interview with the cast, they say this was their favourite episode to film, that was much fun, different and everyone is together for the most part of the filming :)

[@kevinbre7563]

This is my favorite episode. All the lines. Angel: stop calling me pastries. Fred to Gunn: you're so pretty. Wes to Cordy: how can the dancers keep time without your rhythmic snoring. Lorne singing: is in no way resents not being invited to the ballet. And Wes is way more skilled with a sword than he was when practicing with Giles back on Buffy

[@lynnevetter]

This is one of my favorite Angel episodes.

[@louzeyre9750]

As other have mentioned: the deleted scenes for this episode are really awesome. The episode was actually originally created to show off Amy Acker's dance background and included a dream sequence where Wes dreams about being Fred's partner (and is absolutely hilarious), but it ended up ruining the flow of the episode, so even through it was literally the thing the episode was originally written around, it was cut.

[@Buffy8Fan]

The entire idea that created this episode was a dream sequence that got scrapped. It was Wesley and Fred on stage taking the place of "River Tam." It didn't belong and needede to be a deleted scene, but it was interesting that it was the inception of the idea behind such an interesting and great episode.

[@sevnhana2898]

I believe it was included on the DVD as a bonus video!

[@Buffy8Fan]

@@sevnhana2898 Yeah. As a deleted scene sequence with audio commentary.

[@razycrandomgirl]

​@@Buffy8Fani feel like it's not on my copy unless it's hidden (or I forgot)

[@Buffy8Fan]

@@razycrandomgirl Not all versions are the same in terms of special features, so who knows.

[@jpsykes2011]

Think about what the curse does. It requires Angel to be tormented. When he was with Buffy he loved her so much that his suffering lessened, then, when he and Buffy were 'together' he allowed himself a moment to be entirely 'with her' and take a moment of solace, a moment where he did not think at all about any of the evil he had done, and that was the downfall. Angel can sleep with people, and he can even fall in love....he just has to never allow any of his past evil deeds be out of his thoughts, even for a moment.

[@ZavidWebster]

Summer Glau!!! She's in Dollhouse, Firefly & Serenity

[@HpArtcraft]

As someone who grew up watching Buffy and Angel in the 90's, I love seeing other young people discovering them and you are so enthusiastic and fun to watch. I have seen these episodes and the shows overall in a different perspective and it has made me appreciate them so much more. You are wonderful. Thanks.

[@Anjalena]

"I don't dance. I echo." Ballet dancer on Angel - Whedon puts so many of these little 'stitches' throughout his shows that you can pull together into an intricate tapestry of tiny details. Those little details paint a bigger and deeper picture of the story and our characters that they wouldn't have time to add into the show. This stitch here attaches to The Dollhouse section. "I don't dance. I echo."😉 If you get to know his shows well, you'll begin to notice all different kinds of threads. I hope that made a little sense. I was trying to be poetic cuz that's how I was feeling but I may just be slightly stoned. 🥴🤭🤫

[@killianlpc]

This was a great innovative episode that was written and directed by Whedon himself. Great comedy opener with Cordy, Wesley talking about Denis and the loofah. The backdrop of the ballet is an excellent vehicle to the depth of the story. The Fred/Gunn/Wesley Triangle is now simmering under, and we feel she is now going to make a choice. In this episode I think it has similar vibes to S2 BTVS episode I Only Have Eyes For You, it's almost like a movie on its own. More comedy when Angel comes out of the room and tries to hide his erection from Cordelia. A great double kill by Angel, and then we have Gunn and Fred kissing, and the poignant scene of Wesley seeing it in the background. A super scene when Angel tells the Ballerina ( Firefly's Summer Glau ) to change the dance and he leaps into the theatre box to destroy the Count''s power centre. Angel seems to get a dose of Wesley's treatment when him and Cordelia are talking in the lobby and he says we both, and Cordelia says 'grew' but it's really 'Groo' as the Groosalug has crossed dimensions. Very touching scene at the end too with Fred and Wesley looking on at Groo and Cordy, and she says 'I guess you can never predict those things', you can see the hurt in Wesley's eyes. A really brilliant episode definitely one of the best from either show. One thing I think we can says for certain when Whedon writes and directs, they are always 100% bangers!

[@9ansean]

And so we come to what might be considered the Angel equivalent to Once More with Feeling. Time to play the music!

[@bad71able]

I always a bit disappointed we don't get a scene between Wes and Cordelia acknowledging just how wrong she was about Fred or attempting to console him since she clearly knows this would be pretty hard for him. Or even one between her and Fred admitting she had totally misinterpreted their conversation before the ballet.

[@hardybryan]

Groosalugg! Groosalugg! Groosalugg! Man, I love that guy. He's just so awesome. Cordy better do right by him.

[@StoryOfUsFinalDraft]

Probably my most sensitive fave episode of Angel because in real life I like Symphony concerts and theater Arts concerts and dressing up and balcony seats in the dark I like gathering of friends and they did that in this episode on top of that my fave character in the whole Buffyverse Angelverse Wesley gets emotional sad points in this episode and it was all gracefully beautiful so good

[@lurker1316]

7:44 - That facial expression is perfect.

[@cklambo]

Oh hey its River.

[@lionlyons]

Aw, you missed out the best bit of Lorne's lullaby. "...who in no way resents not being asked to the ballet...and who's not thinking about selling you to the first vampire cult who makes him a decent offer..."

[@ibgvox]

Great episode Joss did just after Buffy's musical and before Firefly pilot in a year he oversaw but not run (well...) Buffy and Angel. However what a year in terms of individual episodes.

[@llawliet7070]

To be fair Angel didn't know about the curse before he slept with Buffy. I do think there are precautions he could use to make sure he isn't perfectly happy. It isn't a sex thing to be fair,.

[@michaelkreitzer1369]

So much to say re these relationships, so many spoilers... _sigh_ such a dramatic ride ahead!

[@serenity4eva89]

"I echo..." (Summer and Echo's, ammirite? 😂) 💔 Yeah, the easy way out here would just be to give Angel and Wes everything they've wanted (and most of us fans too) since the end of S2... but I really do appreciate that Fred and Cordy were able to follow through on their true feelings (which isn't often the case for Buffyverse women) 😊

[@razycrandomgirl]

TBH Connor should be giving Angel true/pure moments of happiness. Unless there's a constant undercurrent of fear when it comes to his child. If watching his baby do basic baby stuff doesn't trigger Angelus then having sex with Cordelia (or even buffy again) shouldn't. That's my opinion though. I feel like knowing about the curse nullifies it bc the knowledge would keep him from being truly happy. 🤷🏾‍♀️

[@mardigrasbeads]

Interesting theory. Maybe once he experiences a moment of true happiness and Angelus comes back, the original curse is broken? Because the Romani never expected Angel to regain his soul? Anyway, I think you're onto something.

[@jb888888888]

This after show talk, like some previous ones, makes me suspect that alley is putting on that she hasn't seen the series before. Discussing "perfect happiness," Wes and Fred being "end game," etc.

[@deals187]

Man i cant wait for you to see season 4 ... the whole season is fkn rad

[@thestoicsoliloquies4041]

If Cordy and Angel sleep together, he loses his soul. If Cordy and Groo sleep together, she loses the visions. So no matter who she's with romantically, physically she'll have to settle for the ghost with the loofah.

[@9ansean]

Sad to see you torn about Groo coming back. Good to know you won't have to worry about any awkward ex returning when we get back to Buffy. 😏

[@XSpiegel]

Please tell me you plan watching Firefly after this ;)

[@mrmidlife2546]

The name of the actress playing the ballerina is Summer Glau. If you don't already know, remember that name. Seriously, write it down. :)

[@northbeach8336]

Shakespeare would call all these people star-crossed.

[@razycrandomgirl]

"There are no people like us. "

[@antonbrakhage490]

Anyone else kind of ship Cordy/Phantom Dennis?

[@XSpiegel]

River!

[@ernesthakey3396]

Wesley been working on his fencing skills...just saying.

[@BALDAR222]

Alley, you say "You know" an awful lot; you know?

[@ernesthakey3396]

You're not wrong... 😂 Many reactors, like, have something they, like, grew up saying a lot, that, like, they don't even realize it... (She also says "like" a lot.) It becomes a meaningless sound that provides a pause between thoughts or phrases. The classics are like, um, and you know. Another reactor always says "whenever" when "when" would be more proper. Just a dialect or habit that becomes ingrained. I try not to let it bother me. On an unrelated "how I watch reactors" note, sometimes I change the play speed to 1.25 for the reactor after-watch commentary. It's more fun with some reactors than others...but it does get through it a bit faster, allowing more reactions to be watched in the same amount of time...

[@menachemsalomon]

Typical Joss Whedon. Heartbreak all over, despite some of the characters seemingly going to get a happy ending. Which you know will never happen, because it's bleeping Joss Whedon.

[@tikamajere316]

This is one of my favorite Angel episodes. I ship Gunn and Fred all the way.

[@normalgamergal]

I thought I was the only one! Wes and Fred never made sense to me. They feel like a "nice guy" with a manic pixie dream girl while Gunn and Fred feel like a real relationship. They also have such cute moments together later on. SPOILER: Also, their breakup felt really forced to me.

[@lynnevetter]

Hello, upload 1 minute ago! lol