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Couplet

"Couplet" is the fourteenth episode of the third season of Angel and the fifty-eighth episode in the series. Written by Tim Minear with Jeffrey Bell and directed by Tim Minear, it was originally broadcast on February 18, 2002, on The WB network.

Synopsis

Angel feels isolated, obsolete and even a bit jealous when Groosalugg arrives in town from Pylea and immediately saves the gang in battle and is welcomed into the loving arms of his former princess, Cordelia.[1]

Summary

Angel and Lorne talk about Cordelia's relationship with Groo. Angel claims there is nothing between him and Cordelia and that he prefers being a solo act. Lorne does not believe him.

In Cordelia's apartment, Groo briefly explains how he was overthrown. He says he was bored with government and is glad to be out of power. The two kiss, but Cordelia sees him for an instant as a demon speaking with his voice and pulls away.

The next morning in the Hyperion Hotel, Angel comes downstairs carrying Connor. Wesley is the only one already at work. He takes the opportunity to talk privately with Angel about the strangeness of Connor's birth, though Angel, at first, thinks he is talking about Groo. Wesley acknowledges that, without the Nyazian Scrolls, information will be hard to come by. Angel suggests they could try and take them back from Wolfram & Hart, but Wesley suggests that scholarly commentaries may be able to provide them information from those who have already studied the prophecies in depth.

Cordelia and Groo come in. Cordelia tells Wesley she has had a new vision, of a spiny demon, the same one she saw earlier speaking with Groo's voice, that will rise later that day. She also complains that she is unable to have sex with Groo for fear that her visions will pass to him. Wesley suggests that a paranormal prophylactic might be devised.

Gunn and Fred are sharing breakfast in a beachfront diner. Fred says things are different now that they have kissed. They are about to kiss again when both their cellphones ring. Wesley is calling them to work.

Back at Angel Investigations, Wesley has identified the creature from Cordelia's vision as a Senih'D demon. He says it will rise before nightfall in the mid-city area and will immediately seek to feed. Groo says he is familiar with this kind of demon from his time in Pylea and knows how to track and kill it.

Angel and Groo track the demon through the sewers. The Senih'D finds them and attacks. When the demon escapes to a city park, where it is broad daylight, Angel cannot follow, so Groo pursues and kills the demon alone. The AI team arrives just in time to see his heroics. Angel remains in the shadows while Groo receives hugs and thanks.

Later, as Groo reenacts his fight with the Senih'D, Angel Investigations is hired by Ms. Frakes, a woman convinced that her fiance, Jerry, is under a love spell (which is the only reason she believes that he would speak to another woman online). With only the username Hotblonde37159 to follow, they decide to trail the fiance instead. Wesley, eager to get Gunn out of the way for a while, assigns him the job. However, this idea backfires when Fred tags along.

Angel and Wesley visit a rare books store to purchase an ancient commentary that may help them understand Connor's significance. Angel confesses to Wesley that he feels inferior to Groo, who can do everything he can some things he can't, and fears Groo might replace him. Wesley attempts to console him.

Back at AI headquarters, Cordelia prepares to give Groo a haircut. They discuss the reasons Cordelia feels she cannot have sex with him.

Gunn and Fred are parked in Gunn's truck near Plummer Park, staking out their target, who is standing by the roots of a large tree apparently doing nothing. Gunn and Fred kiss. When they look up, Jerry has disappeared.

Angel and Wesley return to the hotel, where they meet Groo looking much like Angel, with the same clothes and haircut. Angel finds Cordelia behind her desk, and she asks him to help her have sex with Groo; She needs Angel, along with Groo, to visit a demon brothel, where there is a woman who can provide a protective potion that will enable Cordelia to have sex without losing her visions.

Fred and Gunn search around the tree where their quarry disappeared. Their camera shows the tree dragging their quarry underground. As soon as they learn this, the tree extends roots above ground and drags them underground as well.

At Anita's brothel, Angel and Groo buy the potion. Angel receives a cellphone call from Gunn, who is trapped underground with Fred, held by the roots of a tree. They see Jerry with a root stuck into his body. The tree has a computer with a DSL connection and a dating site showing on its screen. Fred says its game is to lure lonely people to within its reach and pull them underground to feed on them.

Angel and Groo walk through the sewers toward the place where Gunn and Fred are trapped. Angel warns Groo not to be too hasty. Groo hands the bottle of potion to Angel for safekeeping, then rushes headlong toward the tree, which impales him on one of its roots.

After ascertaining that the tree is made of flesh and not real wood, Angel taunts Groo and hits him several times, while claiming to be superior to him. The tree takes the bait, releases Groo, and attacks Angel, not knowing he is a vampire. Angel's undead body saps the tree's strength until Gunn and Fred can get free. They attack the tree with Groo's sword, killing it.

At AI headquarters, Wesley debriefs Gunn and Fred. As the two of them leave to clean up, Wesley asks Gunn to stay. Wesley says he is concerned about Fred. Gunn promises he will not hurt her.

Cordelia dresses Groo's wounds. Groo confesses that he was reckless and endangered everyone, adding that Angel is the true champion. Cordelia is impressed that Groo would renounce the credit that way, asks for the potion, and drags Groo out of the room. Angel hands Cordelia a roll of cash and asks Cordelia to take a vacation with Groo.

Angel goes upstairs to relieve Lorne at Connor's crib.

Downstairs, Wesley has finished translating the prophecy. He is joined by Angel with Connor, who is happy because, with his son, he knows he isn't truly alone. As Angel leaves, Wesley looks grimly at his translation: "The Father will kill the Son."

Continuity

Appearances

Individuals

Organizations and titles

Species

Events

Locations

Objects

Death count

  • Sehni'D demon, killed by the Groosalug with a sword.
  • Root demon, killed by Gunn with a sword.

Behind the scenes

Production

  • Gunn gives the location of the tree where he and Fred are trapped as "near Plummer Park," which is located at 7377 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90046.
  • Bernard Addison, who portrays the root monster in this episode, also portrays Cop #1 in "Dead Things."

Broadcast

  • "Couplet" had an audience of 2.6 million households upon its original airing.[2]

Pop culture references

  • Lorne tells Angel: "Fine Miss Garbo, Have it your way, be alone". This refers to Greta Garbo who led a private life of simplicity, never married, had no children, and lived alone as an adult.
  • Cordelia mentions Battlefield Earth, a movie in which the haircut of some characters is somewhat reminiscent of Groo's.
  • Cordelia refers to the biblical story of Samson, fearing that, just as he did, the Groo will lose his strength if she cuts his hair.

Music

International titles

  • Czech: "Dvojverší" (Couplet)
  • Finnish: "Lemmenjuomaa" (Favorite Drink)
  • French: "Rivalités" (Rivalries)
  • German: "Einsam, zweisam" (Lonesome, Twosome)
  • Hungarian: "Versek" (Verses)
  • Italian: "Gelosia" (Jealousy)
  • Portuguese (Brazil): "Semelhanças" (Similarities)
  • Russian: "Куплет" (Couplet)
  • Spanish (Latin America): "Parejas" (Pairs)
  • Spanish (Spain): "Pareado" (Couplet)
  • Turkish: "Beyit" (Couplet)

Gallery

Promotional pictures

References

  1. ↑ "angel: Couplet." TheWB.com. Archived from the original on December 26, 2003.
  2. ↑ "Nielsen Ratings for Angel's Third Season." Nielsen Ratings for Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, & Firefly. Archived from the original on July 5, 2008.