History Recap / AngelS02E07Darla

* {{Irony}}: The flashbacks show that Angelus disapproved of the Order of Aurelius' EvilPlan to [[TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnewIt destroy the world]] by summoning [[EldritchAbomination the Old Ones]], pointing out that by doing so, the modern world would be destroyed and [[PragmaticVillainy vampires would lose access to their food, entertainment & creature comforts]]. A century-and-change later, Angelus would become so "traumatized" from experiencing human emotion with Buffy thanks to possession-by-ghost that he'd try to awaken the demon Acathla to suck the entire world into Hell, and Spike would actually side with Buffy to prevent Angelus' plan on the same logic that Angelus once used to reject the Master's OmnicidalManiac ambitions.

Darla runs from a pursuing Angel, and gets to the front doors of the Hotel. Darla tells Angel not to look for her again, before running out into the morning sun. Angel powerlessly watches her leave again.

* CallForward: When Angel accosts Darla in the China flashbacks, she's wearing a red kimono. The last time Angel crossed paths with Darla on ''Buffy'', he asked, "What's with the [[CatholicSchoolgirlsRule Catholic schoolgirl]] look? Last time I saw you it was kimonos."

* {{Irony}}: The flashbacks show that Angelus disapproved of the Order of Aurelius' EvilPlan to [[OmnicidalManiac destroy the world]] by summoning [[EldritchAbomination the Old Ones]], pointing out that by doing so, the modern world would be destroyed and [[PragmaticVillainy vampires would access to their food, entertainment & creature comforts]]. A century-and-change later, Angelus would become so "traumatized" from experiencing human emotion with Buffy thanks to possession-by-ghost that he'd try to awaken the demon Acathla to suck the entire world into Hell, and Spike would actually side with Buffy to prevent Angelus' plan on the same logic that Angelus once used to reject the Master's OmnicidalManiac ambitions.

** Lindsey realizes he's been had. It was all a setup to drive Darla back to Angel. Holland explains that the crisis had to seem real, and Lindsey was left out of loop because he's too emotionally attached. Lindsey scoffs at the idea that Angel will take advantage of Darla and experience his 'moment of happiness', but Holland insists that won't happen. Holland expects Angel to do the only thing that he can do: Save her soul.

* ThePowerOfActing: Back at Angel HQ, Cordelia gives the 411 on Darla's last-known location. Cordy sweet-talked the property manager by posing as a Darla's (much, much, much) younger sister. Also, their parents are in a coma.

* PettheDog: Angel is far from being a hero in the flashbacks but he does lie to Darla in an attempt to prevent her from slaughtering an innocent family.

* ImprovisedWeapon: Darla's phone receiver. Hey, Lindsey, I think it's for ''you''. '''''THWACK.'''''

* JackBauerInterrogationTechnique / NothingGoodEverHappensInAParkingGarage: As Lindsey approaches his car in a parking garage, Angel wraps a cord around his throat and proceeds to throttle him. We can see that Lindsey has a cross hanging on a chain around his neck. (A fat lot of good that did, eh?) Angel allows a little slack into the cord so that Lindsey can croak out Darla's location. Which he would have done without the torture.

* NeckSnap: Once she realizes there's no returning Angel's soul, Darla gives up and snaps the gypsy's neck, while Dru sings, "[[LovesTheSoundOfScreaming They cry out for mercy]]." Darla thinks for a second, and replies, "[[RevengeByProxy Show none]]."

* NoNameGiven: Darla's original self. Looking up the name "Darla", meaning "dear one", Angel realizes that the Master must have given it to her, because it didn't come into common usage until well after she was alive. The whole 140 years they were together, he never knew her real name. Later, Darla tells Lindsey that it's been so long that she doesn't even remember her original name.

** Angelus (almost bored): "What would you want to do that for?"
** Master: "Huh?"

%%* YouRemindMeOfX

'''Cordy:''' "That's what we suck at. Let's face it, unless there's a website called ''[[http://www.oh-by-the-way-we-have-darla-stashed-here.com/ www.Oh-By-the-way-we-have-Darla-stashed-here.com]]'', we're pretty much out of luck."

* WontTakeYesForAnAnswer: Angel tortures Lindsey for information on Darla's location.

* BridalCarry: An exuberant Spike carries Dru in his arms during the PowerWalk scene.

* PowerWalk: Angelus and his "family" walking amongst the chaos of the Boxer Rebellion. This shot was recycled from the ''Buffy'' episode "Fool For Love." The only difference is the focus on Angelus and Darla instead of Spike.

* MeaningfulEcho: Much is made over Darla's affinity for windows with a view. While he's being pummeled by dear ol' dad (The Master), Angelus promises, "I can give you that view you crave, Darla." Flash forward 120 years later, when an ensouled Angel shows up at Darla's doorstep in China. He intones, "I miss the view."

* NeckSnap: Once she realizes there's no returning Angel's soul, Darla gives up and snaps the Gypsy's neck, while Dru sings, "[[LovesTheSoundOfScreaming They cry out for mercy]]." Darla thinks for a second, and replies, "[[RevengeByProxy Show none]]."

* PoorCommunicationKills: Darla has clearly not told Spike and Drusilla about the curse, presumably either because she's worried they'll turn on Angelus or because it's too shameful (in fact, we know that Spike won't learn this until [[Recap/BuffyTheVampireSlayerS2E3SchoolHard "School Hard"]]. Meaning that Spike kills the family of the gypsy who could have removed Angel's soul once more, unwittingly taking away Darla's bargaining chip.

* {{Foreshadowing}}: "I could be ''your'' mummy someday." Drusilla might be yammering on in her usual cryptic way, but remember that she's a seer; this line foreshadows the events of "The Trial".

* JackBauerInterrogationTechnique / NothingGoodEverHappensInAParkingGarage: As Lindsey approaches his car in a parking garage, Angel wraps a cord around his throat and proceeds to throttle him. We can see that Lindsey has a cross hanging on a chain around his neck. (A fat lot of good that did, eh?) Angel allows a little slack into the cord so that Lindsey can croak out Darla's location.
* LaserGuidedKarma: Darla abandons her sire for the younger and better looking Angelus. A hundred years later Darla gets dumped by the vampire she sired for some [[Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer sixteen-year old cheerleader from Sunnydale]].

* ImprobableInfantSurvival: Double subverted. Darla wants to make sure that Angel is still soulless, so she leads him to a crib with a baby that she had kidnapped, and tells him to drink its blood (though not in so many words). Courtesy of DramaticIrony, the audience knows Angel is ensouled. Angel then rescues the child.

* TwerpSweating / DoNotTauntCthulhu: Darla introducing her new beau (Angelus) to meet The Master in his underground lair. Darla tries impressing him with her boyfriend's killing record. Angelus, unimpressed with the surroundings, makes fun of the Master's cult and their silly plans for world annihilation. The Master displays statesmanlike patience, but eventually grows tired of Angelus' lack of respect and clobbers him.

1760, London. Darla is introducing her new beau (Angelus) to The Master in his underground lair. Angelus displays a notable lack of awe, looking down on the Master for living in a rat-infested stink hole and having a funny bat-nose. The Master eventually grows tired of Angelus' disrespect and beats him to a pulp. Angelus asks whether Darla would rather look at his own or The Master's face for all eternity. Darla looks lovingly at Angelus, then helps him up, and they leave the sewers together. One of the Master's flunkies tries to stop them, but the Master waves him off. "It won't last. I give it a century, tops."

Speak of the devil -- Darla dials Angel's number, calling from Lyndsey's office in a state of despair. Lindsey enters and demands to know who Darla's talking to. Angel, on the other line, hears a struggle, followed by a gunshot. Later, Holland is reviewing the tape from inside Lindsey's office showing a security guard getting shot in the struggle. Luckily, Darla only made it a few blocks before getting re-captured. The guard's death has been handled Wolfram & Hart style, so Lindsey won't have to worry about it. Holland thinks Lindsey is too emotional when it comes to Darla and takes Lindsey off the project, which is henceforth "terminated." Lindsey registers what this means.

** Spike not knowing about Angel's curse fits with their meeting in "School Hard", in which Angel pretends he's still Angelus.

* DefiantToTheEnd: The woman who becomes Darla on her deathbed; she refuses God's forgiveness and doesn't even flinch when the 'priest' removes his hood to reveal his demon features. No wonder the Master was taken with her.

* EnemyMine: Lindsey teams with Angel to save Darla from W&H's hitmen. [[BatmanGambit Just as Holland expected.]]

* PayEvilUntoEvil: It hasn't escaped her attention that Angelus only kills rapists and other "evil-doers."
* ThePowerOfActing: Back at Angel HQ, Cordelia gives the 411 on Darla's last-known location. Cordy sweet-talked the property manager by posing as a Darla's much, much, much younger sister. Also, their parents are in a coma. And their long-lost brother with the plastic hand who secretly dreams of being concert pianist -- too much?
* PoorCommunicationKills: Darla has clearly not told Spike and Drusilla about the curse, presumably because she's worried they'll turn on Angelus. Meaning that they kill the family of the gypsy who could have removed Angel's soul once more, unwittingly taking away Darla's bargaining chip.

* {{Retcon}}: The Master spoke very highly of Angelus on ''Buffy'', and even confessed that he genuinely misses him. This would seem to contradict their meeting in 1760; Angelus has no interest in joining the Order of Aurelius, and is open in his lack of regard for the Master. Then again, by this time Angelus is just a cocky young vampire, he hasn't become the single most feared vampire ever.

* YourApprovalFillsMeWithShame: Lindsey escorts Darla to his office at Wolfram & Hart. Holland Manners enters and says howdy, then asks to talk to Lindsey privately. Out in the hall, Holland points out that it isn't "prudent" to keep Darla in their building now that she's made contact with Angel. Doors might get kicked in. Lindsey explains that he's worried Darla might hurt herself. Holland is happy to learn she is cracking up, then departs, telling Lindsay that he did the right thing.

* CrossOver: This episode aired immediately after the ''Buffy'' Season Five episode "Fool For Love", which included some of the same flashbacks -- albeit from Spike's viewpoint. These include Spike's CrashIntoHello with his future sire, Drusilla, as well the prelude and aftermath of his battle with Xin Rong, the first Slayer he killed.
* DefensiveWhat: Spike on Darla learning that he fed on the gypsy mystic's family, ruining her plans to remove Angel's soul.