"Judgment" is the season premiere of the second season of Angel and the twenty-third episode in the series. Written by David Greenwalt and directed by Michael Lange, it was originally broadcast on September 26, 2000, on The WB network.

Synopsis

I WILL SURVIVE — The well-oiled, demon-fighting machine of Angel, Cordelia and Wesley is back in full force and joined by the streetwise vampire hunter Charles Gunn. After a case of mistaken identity leads Angel to slay a demon protecting an innocent girl, karaoke is the only way to make things right. Meanwhile, Angel struggles with the discovery that he may not always be eternal and Darla recovers from her resurrection from Hell.^[1]

Summary

Cordelia is in the middle of an acting class while Wesley is making money off people using his skill at darts. Both get a message on their beepers saying "911." The two meet up with Angel at a gym, and the three march through as one of the staff attempts to stop them while Angel and Wesley discuss the Carnyss demon that will be making a sacrifice there. The gym attendant stops when he notices Angel has no reflection in the wall mirror, which Angel "fixes" by kicking it, revealing the demon about to sacrifice two people. Making quick work of the demon and his human accomplices, the gang leaves, claiming that the demon's appearance was due to steroids.

Later, the gang is back at Cordelia's apartment, which has been acting as temporary headquarters for Angel Investigations since their office was blown up. They have set up a big whiteboard with the details of their recent, current, and upcoming cases. As Wesley continues to guess what Wolfram & Hart raised months earlier and if they could have already faced it, Angel considers joining a gym one day until Cordelia notes the men shower together. Suddenly, Cordelia has a vision about a demon she doesn't recognize, and Wesley begins to research it based on her vague description.

At Wolfram & Hart, Lilah visits Lindsey, who is struggling with his new prosthetic hand while attempting to put on a CD for Darla, who has spent her time recovering since her resurrection. She senses Angel's presence in the city and remembers how he killed her. The three look forward to the prospect of messing with Angel's head.

Angel attempts to sketch the demon Cordelia saw in her vision, while Wesley contends with Dennis's attempts to help. Cordelia suddenly recognizes the demon in one of Wesley's books, and he identifies it as a Prio Motu, which is known for being a vicious killer. Although the team now knows what they're dealing with, they have no idea where to find it. Wes says he's been expanding their contact list and knows a parasite demon named Merl who should be able to help, but the place he likes to meet is unusual.

The gang arrives at a karaoke bar, and Wesley explains it is a sanctuary for demons. A lizard demon finishes singing, and the Host, a green demon with small red horns, goes to talk with him while Mordar the Bentback takes the stage. Finding Merl, the gang bribe him for information. After initially being unwilling, Merl agrees and tells Angel that the Prio Motu, which is a stone-cold killer, likes to travel underground, then he informs Angel of its probable location. The Host approaches and introduces himself to Angel, asking him if he fancies singing. Angel refuses, even after Wesley explains that the Host's powers allow him to see into the spirit of those who sing to him, enabling him to read their aura and answer questions about their destiny. Even though this could give them some much needed information, Angel still refuses. The Host notes that Angel seems to be feeling pretty prideful, and he warns that pride typically comes before a fall.

Investigating the area Merl sent him, Angel finds the Prio Motu near a pregnant woman. The two fight, and Angel snaps the demon's neck, killing it. Angel informs the woman, Jo, that she's safe, but she starts to cry and mourn the demon, telling Angel that he was her friend. Angel realizes his mistake, but Jo isn't interested in his explanation as she tells him that the Prio Motu was protecting her from "the Tribunal." She flees, and Angel stays behind.

Angel reports to Wes and Cordelia what happened, leading them to realize that Cordelia's vision was meant to send Angel to help the Prio Motu instead of killing it. Angel is upset that he killed a fellow soldier, another who had overcome his evil nature and was fighting for good like himself. He then decides that the Prio Motu's mission is now his. Wesley assures Angel that he had no way of knowing, but Angel realizes that someone did. Angel interrogates Merl, getting the demon to admit that he knew the Prio Motu wasn't deadly, but Mearl wanted him out of the picture because there's a bounty on Jo, or rather her unborn daughter, who is destined to become a powerful force for good. Now that her protector is dead, it's open season on them both. Angel learns the area where the Prio Motu was living, and he heads there hoping to find Jo.

In another part of town, Gunn saves a man from an attacking vampire. As the man runs off in fear, Angel arrives and asks Gunn's help with scouting the local area, and the two set out to find the Prio Motu's home. Angel explains what the Prio Motu was doing before admitting that he accidentally killed it. Finally finding the lair, Angel and Gunn scout the demon's home. Angel feels even more guilty as he surveys the demon's belonging and learns the Prio Motu's name was Kamal. He then finds a talisman and sends Gunn to deliver it to Cordelia and Wesley while he, as Gunn puts it, "soaks up the guilt."

Gunn leaves, and Jo arrives. She and Angel discuss what happened, with Jo still angry at Angel for killing her protector and only friend. She tells him that, six months earlier, she was just a regular woman and now just wants to protect her daughter while the rest of the demon world wants to either worship or kill her. She explains that Kamal meant to present the Coat of Arms to the Tribunal, and Angel realizes this is the talisman they found. Jo is relieved until Angel explains that he doesn't have the talisman on him. Jo angrily tries to leave, but a demon assassin attacks. After ensuring this demon is okay to kill, Angel takes care of it, only for several more to appear. The two flee.

At Cordelia's apartment, she and Wesley continue their research on the tribunal when Gunn arrives with the talisman. This is the first time they've met him, and their awkward attempts to appear cool in front of him leave Gunn unimpressed.

Fleeing from the demons pursuing them, Angel and Jo take refuge in an abandoned hotel. Jo realizes he personally knows the place. She tells Angel the Tribunal is supposed to be able to offer protection for Jo and her daughter, and Kamal meant to present the talisman and be her champion. Without either, Jo now intends to get out of town and make a run for it, but Angel tells her that she'll be found wherever she goes. The demons arrive, and Angel sends Jo to Cordelia's address while he stays to fight.

Arriving back at the apartment after a tough battle, Angel is dismayed to learn that Jo never showed up. Frustrated that she has no reason to trust him, he hits the whiteboard in anger. He admits to Cordelia that learning of his destiny to become human has caused him to believe his battles were nearly over. Cordelia agrees that they all allowed themselves to get cocky, but she assures him that she'll be with him through it all — even if he doesn't become human any time soon.

Suddenly, Wesley finds that the talisman is meant to be presented before what is known as the Chair of Judgment, an ancient court meant to settle grievances with a battle to the death. Angel realizes this is why Kamal was with Jo, as Wes tells him the tribunal could be anywhere. Angel knows he needs to find Jo quickly, and he can think of only one way to get the information.

Angel is on stage at the karaoke bar, struggling through the song "Mandy" before an unenthusiastic crowd. The Host interrupts him and takes Angel aside for a chat. He assures Angel that he shouldn't feel so much guilt for killing Kamal because most people would've done the same. Before giving any further information, the Host asks Angel why he picked "Mandy," and Angel admits that he thinks it's "pretty." The Host gives him credit for confessing and tells Angel the information he needs. Jo can't escape the Tribunal — they'll appear wherever she is and, without a champion or the talisman, things are grim for her and the baby. He tells Angel where Jo and the Tribunal will be and, regardless of the outcome, he must try to save her.

Attempting to flee, Jo is suddenly faced with the Tribunal when it appears in the street along with a demon knight on horseback. Without her champion or the talisman, the Tribunal denies Jo's request for asylum and allows the demon knight to kill her. Angel suddenly throws down Jo's talisman and declares himself her champion. The fight to the death begins with a joust on horseback. Angel assures Jo though it's been a while, he grew up around horses. The joust with the demon knight begins, and he eventually knocks Angel off his horse. They soon resort to a sword fight on foot, which appears to end with Angel being defeated with a stab to the gut. The Tribunal announces that the demon knight may do what he wants with Jo, and the knight proceeds to put a knife to her neck. Angel suddenly rises and beheads him with a single sweep. With Angel having won, the Tribunal places Jo and her child under their protection until the unborn girl comes of age.

With his mission over, Angel removes the whiteboard with all their missions, telling Wesley and Cordelia he realized that fighting the good fight doesn't include keeping count of his victories. He then leaves and visits Faith in prison, and the two discuss their hardships of redemption — whether it's serving hard time or singing Barry Manilow in a karaoke demon bar.

Continuity

• This episode introduces the character of Lorne, known only as "the Host" until the episode "Belonging."
• It also introduces Caritas, a mainstay scenario of the series. It will be featured throughout this season and, initially, in the next one, until it is destroyed by Gunn's former underlings in "That Old Gang of Mine". Lorne will rebuild it in "Lullaby", only for it to be, soon after, destroyed by Daniel Holtz. It will reappear two years later, rebuilt a second time, in "Underneath," and will last be featured in the series in its finale, "Not Fade Away."
• The Angel Investigations team use Cordelia's apartment as headquarters after Wolfram & Hart exploded their office in "To Shanshu in L.A."
• The white board lists the team's encounter with an Ethros demon in "I've Got You Under My Skin."
• Angel considers not always being eternal and becoming human due to the Shanshu Prophecy, which he first learned in "To Shanshu in L.A."
• Multiple demons seen in Caritas belong to the mouthless species previously seen in "Earshot," though they wear clothes while the ones in "Earshot" were naked.
• One demon listening to Liz singing and later sharing a table with Mordar has the same appearance as Machida from "Reptile Boy."
• This episode marks the first appearance of the Hyperion Hotel, which becomes Angel Investigations' base of operations beginning in "Are You Now or Have You Ever Been."

Appearances

Individuals

• Angel
• Cordelia Chase
• Darla
• Durthock the Child Eater
• Johnny Fontaine
• Charles Gunn
• Jo
• Kamal
• Faith Lehane
• Liz
• Lindsey McDonald
• Merl
• Mordar the Bentback
• Lilah Morgan
• Dennis Pearson
• Vocah (Only mentioned)
• Wesley Wyndam-Pryce
• Zaroh (Only mentioned)
• Gorrishyn mage (Only mentioned)
• Unidentified Carnyss demon
• Unidentified demon assassin (Judgment)
• Unidentified demon knight

Organization and titles

• Angel Investigations
• Gunn's crew
• Los Angeles Police Department (Only mentioned)
• Powers That Be (Only mentioned)
• Slayer
• Tribunal
• Wolfram & Hart

Species

• Demon
  • Carnyss demon
  • Deathwok Clan
  • Ethros demon (Only mentioned)
  • Hindu Kush (Only mentioned)
  • Parasite demon
  • Prio Motu demon
  • Khee Shak demon (Only mentioned)
  • Lizard demon
  • Scabby demon
  • Sloth demon (Only mentioned)
  • Sonsoo demon (Only mentioned)
  • Tien Shenin (Only mentioned)
  • Vartite demon (Only mentioned)
• Ghost
• Human
• Unicorn (Only as a statue)
• Vampire

Locations

• Kazakhstan (Only mentioned)
• Pakistan (Only mentioned)
• United States
  • Los Angeles
    • Angel Investigations offices (Only mentioned)
    • Caritas
    • Pearson Arms Apartments
      • Pearson Arms apartment 212
    • Powerhouse Gym
    • St. Matthew's Hospital (Only mentioned)
    • Wesley Wyndam-Pryce's apartment (Only mentioned)
    • Wolfram & Hart Los Angeles branch
  • Stockton
    • Northern California Women's Facility

Objects

• Aura (Only mentioned)
• Coat of Arms
• Enchanted sword
• Knights of Byzantium sword
• Soul (Only mentioned)
• Suleman's Compendium

Rituals and spells

• Exorcism (Only mentioned)
• Praetorian sacrifice

Death count

• The Carnyss demon, stabbed by Angel.
• Kamal, neck broken by Angel.
• Unidentified demon, neck broken by Angel.
• One vampire, staked by Gunn.
• The demon knight, beheaded by Angel.

Behind the scenes

Production

• The episode had a production number of 2ADH01.
• Starting with this episode, Angel appears in widescreen (16:9) on the DVDs in the United States. The second season is still designed for standard definition televisions (4:3) and some syndicated airings show the 4:3 versions.
• The music in the scene of Wesley playing darts in the pub differs from the original broadcast to the DVD release.
• The guest star Eliza Dushku is credited in the closing credits of this episode instead of the opening ones. Although closing credits cast listings are usually reserved for co-stars, Dushku was placed here to keep Angel's visit to prison a surprise for the viewers. This same trick is used as well with Anthony Stewart Head's return in the Buffy episode "Two to Go."
• J. August Richards joins the regular cast and is billed in the opening credits as of this episode.
• This is Andy Hallett's first appearance as the Host, later known as Lorne. He is a regular guest star from this episode on, and he eventually joins the regular cast during the fourth season.
• The end credits feature outtakes from Angel's performance of "Mandy" and a voiceover from David Boreanaz saying, "Thank you very much" while impersonating Elvis. This is the third and last time in the Buffyverse that a scene is played as the credits roll, a format previously used in the episodes "The Puppet Show" and "She."
• Rob Boltin, who portrays an actor in this episode, also portrayed a movie soldier in "Restless."
• Keith Campbell, who plays the club manager in this episode, also portrayed Oz under his werewolf form in the episode "Phases."
• E.J. Gage, who plays Mordar the Bentback, also played one of the movers in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode "Buffy vs. Dracula," which aired immediately before this one when originally broadcast.
• The Tribunal members' clothing and appearance are notably similar to the demon shaman seen in the episode "Enemies."

Broadcast

• "Judgment" had an audience of 3.9 million households upon its original airing.^[2]

Pop culture references

• Lindsey mentions that Darla likes the composers Frédéric Chopin and Johannes Brahms.
• Cordelia says she's been watching a festival of noir films on the Bravo network.
• After singing "I'm So Excited," the Host jokes about the demon giving The Pointer Sisters — the song's original performers — "a run for their money."
• Jo says she used to work the register at Costco retail store.
• Lorne implies that Angel is "a little curt" like the actor Curt Jurgens's role in the film The Enemy Below (1957).
• While visiting Faith, Angel confesses that he sang Barry Manilow. She asks if it was "Copacabana," one of Manilow's hits, but he admits that it was "Mandy."

Goofs

• The Angel Season Two on DVD and Disney+ ^[3] list the episode as "Judgement."
• When the group goes to the gym to defeat a demon, the team walks along a wall of mirrors and the camera is filming everyone's reflection in the mirrors. Since Angel has no reflection, actor David Boreanaz is not walking with the group; however, the widescreen version reveals David's reflection on the far right of the screen, waiting for the group to catch up to his mark until he joins the group.
• In the staff member's POV shot of the group standing in front of the mirror, Cordelia's reflection is absent, which should be just in front of the staff member.
• In the widescreen version, upon leaving the demon's hideout, Angel's reflection can again be seen in the mirror just outside of it.
• When Cordelia finds the demon on Wesley's book, the page she points only has text, but the close up suddenly reveals a large illustration.
• In Caritas, when Wesley and Cordelia are discussing the Host, the scene is actually flipped. This is made obvious by the fact that Charisma Carpenter's mole is on the wrong side of her face.
• In the widescreen version, when Angel is snapping Prio Motu's neck, you can see a microphone at the top of the screen.
• Gunn finds the entrance to Jo's hideout by noticing a new vent that he says had not been there before. However, inside the room the light passing through a large powered fan can be seen, and there is no other clear way out other than the entrance they came in. Since ventilation fans are not built to blow into perpetually unoccupied and closed rooms, the vent would have had to always be there, so it would have made more sense if Gunn noticed a lack of ventilation or noise from the vent due to the new door, not the vent itself.
• In the widescreen version, as Angel climbs onto the horse, the camera from the previous shot can be clearly seen in the bottom right corner of the screen.
• In the widescreen version, when Angel is jousting in the street, some of the wide shots reveal the road has been cordoned off, and cars getting too close are signaled away by crew members/police.

Music

• Andy Hallett — "I Will Survive"
• Garth Brooks — "Friends in Low Places" (original broadcast)
• Crown Jewels — "Last Confession" (DVD release)
• Chopin — "Prelude in C minor, Op. 28, No. 20"
• Andy Kreiss and Andy Hallett — "I'm So Excited"
• Edward James Gage — "Sexual Healing"
• David Boreanaz — "Mandy"
• Billy Ray Cyrus — "Achy Breaky Heart"
• Robert J. Kral — "Judgment & Jousting"
• Robert J. Kral — original score

International titles

• Czech: "Soud" (Judgment)
• Finnish: "Tuomio" (Judgment)
• French: "Le jugement" (The Judgment)
• German: "Das Tribunal" (The Tribunal)
• Hungarian: "A tárgyalás" (The Trial)
• Italian: "Il giudizio" (The Judgment)
• Portuguese (Brazil): "O Julgamento" (The Judgment)
• Russian: "Правосудие" (Judgment)
• Spanish (Latin America): "El juicio" (The Judgment)
• Spanish (Spain): "El juicio" (The Judgment)
• Turkish: "Hüküm" (Judgment)

Adaptations

• An Angel action figure was based on Lorne's appearance in this episode.

Gallery

Promotional stills

Behind the scenes

Quotes

Gym Manager: "That guy has horns."

Angel: "Steroids. Not good for ya."

Cordelia: "Gun. It really let's them know you mean business."

Gunn: "It's my name. Charles Gunn. Two 'n's."

Wesley: "Uh, I'm Wesley Wyndam... Pryce, and this is Cordelia Chase."

Cordelia: "It's nice to finally meet."

Gunn: "I've seen you before."

Cordelia: "Really? The Tan 'n' Screen commercials?"

Gunn: "I saw you in bed."

Cordelia: "What?"

Wesley: "Oh, I can see this is none of my business."

Gunn: "You too."

Wesley: Now, just a moment!"

Gunn: "In the hospital, after Angel's building blew? He sent me there to keep an eye on you two."

Cordelia: "Right."

Gunn: "I'm just messing with y'all. I was hoping for some demon fighting tonight, but I wound up with a delivery job instead."

Angel: "There are three things I don't do: tan, date, or sing in public."

Angel: "Where is she?"

The Host: "My question first and answer true, cause you know I'll know: Why 'Mandy'?"

Angel: "Well, I know the words... and I kinda think it's pretty."

The Host: "And it is, you great big sap. There is not a destroyer of worlds that can argue with Manilow and good for you for fessing up."

References

1. ↑ "Season Two." City of Angel. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011.
2. ↑ "Nielsen Ratings for Angel's Second Season." Nielsen Ratings for Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, & Firefly. Archived from the original on July 19, 2008.
3. ↑ Judgement on Disney+

Angel episode guide
Pilot · Title sequence · Crossover episodes · Airing order of episodes
Season 1	"City Of" · "Lonely Heart" · "In the Dark" · "I Fall to Pieces" · "Rm w/a Vu" · "Sense & Sensitivity" · "The Bachelor Party" · "I Will Remember You" · "Hero" · "Parting Gifts" · "Somnambulist" · "Expecting" · "She" · "I've Got You Under My Skin" · "The Prodigal" · "The Ring" · "Eternity" · "Five by Five" · "Sanctuary" · "War Zone" · "Blind Date" · "To Shanshu in L.A."
Season 2	"Judgment" · "Are You Now or Have You Ever Been" · "First Impressions" · "Untouched" · "Dear Boy" · "Guise Will Be Guise" · "Darla" · "The Shroud of Rahmon" · "The Trial" · "Reunion" · "Redefinition" · "Blood Money" · "Happy Anniversary" · "The Thin Dead Line" · "Reprise" · "Epiphany" · "Disharmony" · "Dead End" · "Belonging" · "Over the Rainbow" · "Through the Looking Glass" · "There's No Place Like Plrtz Glrb"
Season 3	"Heartthrob" · "That Vision-Thing" · "That Old Gang of Mine" · "Carpe Noctem" · "Fredless" · "Billy" · "Offspring" · "Quickening" · "Lullaby" · "Dad" · "Birthday" · "Provider" · "Waiting in the Wings" · "Couplet" · "Loyalty" · "Sleep Tight" · "Forgiving" · "Double or Nothing" · "The Price" · "A New World" · "Benediction" · "Tomorrow"
Season 4	"Deep Down" · "Ground State" · "The House Always Wins" · "Slouching Toward Bethlehem" · "Supersymmetry" · "Spin the Bottle" · "Apocalypse, Nowish" · "Habeas Corpses" · "Long Day's Journey" · "Awakening" · "Soulless" · "Calvary" · "Salvage" · "Release" · "Orpheus" · "Players" · "Inside Out" · "Shiny Happy People" · "The Magic Bullet" · "Sacrifice" · "Peace Out" · "Home"
Season 5	"Conviction" · "Just Rewards" · "Unleashed" · "Hell Bound" · "Life of the Party" · "The Cautionary Tale of Numero Cinco" · "Lineage" · "Destiny" · "Harm's Way" · "Soul Purpose" · "Damage" · "You're Welcome" · "Why We Fight" · "Smile Time" · "A Hole in the World" · "Shells" · "Underneath" · "Origin" · "Time Bomb" · "The Girl in Question" · "Power Play" · "Not Fade Away"