Supersymmetry (Angel episode)
Encyclopedia
"Supersymmetry" is episode 5 of season 4 in the television show Angel
. Written by Elizabeth Craft and Sarah Fain
and directed by Bill L. Norton
, it was originally broadcast on November 3, 2002 on the WB network
.
's article on superstring theory
is published in an academic journal, and she is asked to present it at a physics symposium by her old college professor Seidel. Her presentation takes a sudden turn when a dimensional portal opens and snake-like creatures emerge to kill her. Angel had spied Lilah
during the speech and at first thinks she is behind it, but she was simply keeping an eye on Wesley
. Gunn
and Angel suspect another member of the audience, a comic book fanatic who seemed to be expecting the portal's appearance, but it turns out he's just following stories of strange disappearances, as well as reading about Angel on internet forums. Fred learns that Professor Seidel is the one responsible and the one who had sent Fred into the Pylea
dimension six years earlier. He felt Fred as well as other missing colleagues were competing for his job. Against Angel and Gunn's advice, Fred pursues vengeance against her former mentor. She asks for Wesley's help, and in the process is almost sucked into another portal, opened by a text message from Seidel; Wesley agrees to help. Meanwhile, Cordelia
is staying with Connor at his vast empty loft. He trains her to slay vampires while a possible romance between them blossoms. Angel confronts Seidel (largely to protect him from Fred's vengeance), but Seidel releases a demon from a portal to attack Angel; as Seidel tries to escape, he encounters Fred, who opens her own portal, intending to send him to a hell dimension as punishment. As he is being sucked in, Gunn arrives and, when unable to convince Fred to close the portal, snaps Seidel's neck to save him from the torment, which upsets Fred. Fred and Gunn tell the others that Seidel accidentally sucked himself into a portal meant for Fred, keeping the true events secret.
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 Elizabeth Craft and Sarah Fain
Elizabeth Craft and Sarah Fain
Elizabeth Craft and Sarah Fain are American television screenwriters and producers, mostly working together as partners. They have also written two young-adult fiction novels together.Craft is married to producer Adam Fierro.- Angel :...
and directed by Bill L. Norton
Bill L. Norton
Bill L. Norton is a film director, writer and producer. He also has directed many television series, among them Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, John Doe, Hack, Las Vegas, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Lincoln Heights and Roswell.He is the son of screenwriter William W...
, it was originally broadcast on November 3, 2002 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...
.
Plot
FredWinifred 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:...
's article on superstring theory
Superstring theory
Superstring theory is an attempt to explain all of the particles and fundamental forces of nature in one theory by modelling them as vibrations of tiny supersymmetric strings...
is published in an academic journal, and she is asked to present it at a physics symposium by her old college professor Seidel. Her presentation takes a sudden turn when a dimensional portal opens and snake-like creatures emerge to kill her. Angel had spied Lilah
Lilah Morgan
Lilah Morgan is a fictional character from the television series Angel, played by Stephanie Romanov. She is first introduced in the episode "The Ring," and appears in the show's first and second seasons. After Lindsey McDonald leaves Los Angeles, Lilah becomes the primary face of Wolfram & Hart,...
during the speech and at first thinks she is behind it, but she was simply keeping an eye on 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...
. 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...
and Angel suspect another member of the audience, a comic book fanatic who seemed to be expecting the portal's appearance, but it turns out he's just following stories of strange disappearances, as well as reading about Angel on internet forums. Fred learns that Professor Seidel is the one responsible and the one who had sent Fred into the Pylea
Pylea
In the fictional universe established by the television series Angel, Pylea is a world in an alternate dimension where demons are the dominant life form and humans are treated as animals to be used as beasts of burden or even food...
dimension six years earlier. He felt Fred as well as other missing colleagues were competing for his job. Against Angel and Gunn's advice, Fred pursues vengeance against her former mentor. She asks for Wesley's help, and in the process is almost sucked into another portal, opened by a text message from Seidel; Wesley agrees to help. Meanwhile, Cordelia
Cordelia Chase
Cordelia Chase is a fictional character created by Joss Whedon for the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer; she also appeared on Buffy's spin-off series Angel...
is staying with Connor at his vast empty loft. He trains her to slay vampires while a possible romance between them blossoms. Angel confronts Seidel (largely to protect him from Fred's vengeance), but Seidel releases a demon from a portal to attack Angel; as Seidel tries to escape, he encounters Fred, who opens her own portal, intending to send him to a hell dimension as punishment. As he is being sucked in, Gunn arrives and, when unable to convince Fred to close the portal, snaps Seidel's neck to save him from the torment, which upsets Fred. Fred and Gunn tell the others that Seidel accidentally sucked himself into a portal meant for Fred, keeping the true events secret.
Arc significance
- This episode begins the breakup of Fred and Gunn's relationship, and indicates Connor's growing affection for Cordelia as the two share a kiss.
- In addition, Wesley and Lilah's complicated relationship is further developed, as she brings him a gift and realizes that he is still attracted to Fred.
- Angel demonstrates that he has photographic memory when he re-creates the auditorium environment with chairs and is able to recall exactly where every lecture attendee was seated and how each one responded to the portal.
- Despite the story originally suggesting it was simply a coincidence that Fred came upon the book, it's revealed that Fred's college professor Seidel was responsible for her being sent to Pylea, as well as several other students. A later episode, "Inside OutInside Out (Angel episode)"Inside Out" is episode 17 of season four in the television show Angel. Written and directed by Steven S. DeKnight, it was originally broadcast on April 2, 2003 on the WB network. Angel roughs up the demon guide Skip to find out why Cordelia has turned evil. Skip tells them a higher being has...
," implies Seidel himself was manipulated by the demon Skip as part of a long-term plan to assemble the members of Angel Investigations.
Cultural references
- The Incredible Hulk: After Angel threatens Lilah she responds with "Yeah, yeah, 'Hulk smash'" a common phrase from the Hulk comic books.
- Daredevil, Elektra, and Bullseye: During the scene with a comic book reader, Gunn references Bullseye killing Elektra in Daredevil #181.
- Dark Horse ComicsDark Horse ComicsDark Horse Comics is the largest independent American comic book and manga publisher.Dark Horse Comics was founded in 1986 by Mike Richardson in Milwaukie, Oregon, with the concept of establishing an ideal atmosphere for creative professionals. Richardson started out by opening his first comic book...
: During the same scene, the comic book reader is wearing a Thwack! shirt, the comic book fan says, "we're kinda crushing the Dark Horses" when Gunn is pushing him up against the comic book rack, on which Dark Horse comics such as Usagi YojimboUsagi Yojimbois a comic book series created by Stan Sakai in 1987. In 2011 IGN ranked Miyamoto Usagi 92nd in the top 100 comic books heroes.-Concept:Set primarily at the beginning of Edo period of Japan , with anthropomorphic animals replacing humans, the series features a rabbit ronin, Miyamoto Usagi, whom...
are visible. Angel is reading from a GhostGhost (comics)Ghost, in comics, may refer to:*Ghost , a superhero and star of her own series, published in the 1990s*Ghosts , an anthology with tales of the supernatural*Ghost , a supervillain and foe of Iron Man...
comic, which is published by Dark Horse. Dark Horse had published the first series of Angel comicsAngel: After the FallAngel: After the Fall is a comic book published by IDW Publishing. Written by Brian Lynch and plotted with Joss Whedon, the series is a canonical continuation of the Angel television series, and follows the events of that show's final televised season...
and currently publishes the Buffy Season 8Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season EightBuffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight is a comic book series published by Dark Horse Comics. The series serves as a canonical continuation of the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and follows the events of that show's final televised season. It is produced by Joss Whedon, who wrote the...
series. - The girl, the cat and the peanut butter: A reference to a well-known urban myth, although the myth usually involves a dog, not a cat.
- Chicago Cubs: Fred mentions former Cubs stars Sammy SosaSammy SosaSamuel Peralta "Sammy" Sosa is a Dominican former professional baseball right fielder. Sosa played with four Major League Baseball teams over his career which spanned from 1989-2007....
and Nomar GarciaparraNomar GarciaparraAnthony Nomar Garciaparra is a former Major League Baseball player. After playing parts of 9 seasons as an All-Star shortstop for the Boston Red Sox, he played third base, first base, and designated hitter for the Oakland Athletics, first base and third base for the Los Angeles Dodgers, and...
, although when the episode originally aired, Garciaparra was still with the Boston Red SoxBoston Red SoxThe Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
. - Fred complains that people want her to be "all sweetness and light". This is an allusion to PG Wodehouse's Uncle Fred's stories.