Time Bomb (Angel episode)
Encyclopedia
"Time Bomb" is episode 19 of season 5 in the television show Angel
. Written by Ben Edlund
and directed by Vern Gillum
, it was originally broadcast on April 28, 2004 on the WB network
. In "Time Bomb", Illyria rescues Gunn
from the hell dimension he entered in penance for his role in Fred's
death. While Angel negotiates a contract between a group of demons and a pregnant woman whose unborn child the demons believe to be their Messiah, Illyria begins uncontrollably looping through time, until Wesley
shunts her excess power into another dimension.
Meanwhile, Illyria enjoys sparring with Spike in the training room, but elsewhere begins to act oddly even by her standards, and Wesley theorizes that she is growing emotionally and molecularly unstable as a result of her interdimensional travels; if her energy excess continues to go unchecked, it will result in a catastrophic explosion.
As Angel, Gunn, and Hamilton argue over how to handle the Fell Brethren case, Illyria grows increasingly disoriented and paranoid, culminating in a confrontation in which she effortlessly kills Angel, Lorne, Spike, and Wesley in a matter of seconds. At this point, the narrative switches to her point of view, and Illyria's disorientation has been caused by the fact that her excessive mystical energy has been sending her back and forth in time uncontrollably.
Illyria again goes back in time to a point before she had killed the other characters, and inadvertently begins taking Angel with her on her trips through time. Angel learns of the deaths of his friends, and is horrified. After Illyria gives him advice about power, she explodes and likely decimates the continental shelf, but the explosion is so powerful it blasts Angel back in time to before Illyria killed everyone. This time, thanks to what Illyria told him, Angel is able to avoid the massacre. Illyria accuses Angel and Wesley of plotting to kill her with Wesley's massive ray gun, but Wes reveals that the gun is not meant to kill her, but rather to disperse her excessive energy and thus prevent the fatal explosion. Wesley manages to activate the ray in time, but Illyria is left emotionally devastated by the resulting loss of some of her super powers.
In the epilogue, Angel returns his attention to the Fell Brethren case, and shocks Gunn by agreeing to represent the demons rather than the pregnant woman, having apparently taken Illyria's advice about power.
, David Boreanaz
's wife. Of the experience, Boreanaz says, "[it was] great to have her come on to the show, and have our son look at that, and see the two of us actually play opposite one another for a brief moment." He adds, "We had fun with it. It was nothing too serious, it was just a small little role, a laugh."
theme".
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 Ben Edlund
Ben Edlund
Ben Edlund is a comic book artist and writer and television screenwriter. Prior to his involvement in TV, he was best known as the creator of the satirical superhero character The Tick. He is currently an executive producer and staff writer for The CW series Supernatural.-Background:Edlund was...
and directed by Vern Gillum
Vern Gillum
Vern Gillum is an American television director.His most notable directorial work includes a number of episodes from each of the television series The Big Easy, The Untouchables, Miami Vice, Angel, Profiler, Law & Order and Pros and Cons...
, it was originally broadcast on April 28, 2004 on the WB 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...
. In "Time Bomb", Illyria rescues Gunn
Charles Gunn
Charles Gunn is a fictional character created by Joss Whedon for the television series, Angel. The character is portrayed by J. August Richards, and was named by Whedon after filmmaker James Gunn and actor Sean Gunn, both of whom had worked with Whedon...
from the hell dimension he entered in penance for his role in Fred's
Winifred Burkle
Winifred "Fred" Burkle is a fictional character created by Joss Whedon and introduced by Shawn Ryan and Mere Smith on the television series Angel. The character is portrayed by Amy Acker.-Character history:...
death. While Angel negotiates a contract between a group of demons and a pregnant woman whose unborn child the demons believe to be their Messiah, Illyria begins uncontrollably looping through time, until Wesley
Wesley Wyndam-Pryce
Wesley Wyndam-Pryce is a fictional character created by Joss Whedon for the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel...
shunts her excess power into another dimension.
Plot
The episode opens with Gunn still being tortured by a demon in a hell dimension, when he is suddenly rescued by Illyria, who uses her ability to shift between dimensions to return them both to Wolfram & Hart. Wes says he should apologize for stabbing Gunn earlier but is unsure how, thinking it would just be awkward. Gunn says he isn't looking for an apology, unsure he would accept it and wryly comments, "Besides, I just got my heart cut out of my chest every day for two weeks straight. Compared to what? A little jab in the gut? Kinda over it." Angel grows suspicious of Illyria's continued presence at the firm, and concludes that she is staying not out of loyalty, but out of an attraction for the firm's power. He orders Lorne to shadow her, and then turns his attention to a legal case involving a ceremonial demon pact; a pregnant woman has agreed to allow a demonic cult called "the Fell Brethren" to adopt her baby, and Angel and Gunn start to advise her until they learn, to their outrage, that their client isn't the innocent woman, but rather the seemingly benevolent demons who are secretly taking advantage of her and plotting to sacrifice the child not long after the birth.Meanwhile, Illyria enjoys sparring with Spike in the training room, but elsewhere begins to act oddly even by her standards, and Wesley theorizes that she is growing emotionally and molecularly unstable as a result of her interdimensional travels; if her energy excess continues to go unchecked, it will result in a catastrophic explosion.
As Angel, Gunn, and Hamilton argue over how to handle the Fell Brethren case, Illyria grows increasingly disoriented and paranoid, culminating in a confrontation in which she effortlessly kills Angel, Lorne, Spike, and Wesley in a matter of seconds. At this point, the narrative switches to her point of view, and Illyria's disorientation has been caused by the fact that her excessive mystical energy has been sending her back and forth in time uncontrollably.
Illyria again goes back in time to a point before she had killed the other characters, and inadvertently begins taking Angel with her on her trips through time. Angel learns of the deaths of his friends, and is horrified. After Illyria gives him advice about power, she explodes and likely decimates the continental shelf, but the explosion is so powerful it blasts Angel back in time to before Illyria killed everyone. This time, thanks to what Illyria told him, Angel is able to avoid the massacre. Illyria accuses Angel and Wesley of plotting to kill her with Wesley's massive ray gun, but Wes reveals that the gun is not meant to kill her, but rather to disperse her excessive energy and thus prevent the fatal explosion. Wesley manages to activate the ray in time, but Illyria is left emotionally devastated by the resulting loss of some of her super powers.
In the epilogue, Angel returns his attention to the Fell Brethren case, and shocks Gunn by agreeing to represent the demons rather than the pregnant woman, having apparently taken Illyria's advice about power.
Acting
The role of Amanda was played by Jaime BergmanJaime Bergman
Jaime Bergman is an American model and actress who was Playboy magazine's Playmate of the Month in January 1999, its 45th Anniversary issue. In addition to her magazine appearance she has appeared in several Playboy videos. Her centerfold was photographed by Stephen Wayda.-Career:Bergman was the St...
, David Boreanaz
David Boreanaz
David Boreanaz is an American actor, television producer, and director, known for his role as Angel on the supernatural drama series Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel, and as Special Agent Seeley Booth on the television crime drama Bones....
's wife. Of the experience, Boreanaz says, "[it was] great to have her come on to the show, and have our son look at that, and see the two of us actually play opposite one another for a brief moment." He adds, "We had fun with it. It was nothing too serious, it was just a small little role, a laugh."
Production details
J. Sherman compares the scene in which Illyria descends into hell to rescue Gunn as a "riff on the OrpheusOrpheus
Orpheus was a legendary musician, poet, and prophet in ancient Greek religion and myth. The major stories about him are centered on his ability to charm all living things and even stones with his music; his attempt to retrieve his wife from the underworld; and his death at the hands of those who...
theme".