Angel/Recap/S01 E09 Hero

"You never know your strength until you're tested."

Angel Investigations help a clan of half-breed demons (a mongrel race resulting from the breeding of demons and humans) hiding from a fanatical Naziesque group known as the Scourge.

"Commander Trask: "You lied to us, half-breed."
 * Armor-Piercing Slap: Cordy is angry that Doyle has been hiding his demon nature from her.
 * Bad Bad Acting: Cordy and Doyle in their add for Angel Investigations.
 * Call Back: The demon teen talks about how humiliating it was that the only time he could walk among humans was on Halloween, referencing the fact established in Buffy the Vampire Slayer that demons avoid Halloween because it's crass.
 * Captain Obvious
 * Captain Obvious

Angel: "You catch on quick, football-head.""

""Well, if it's a fight they want -- can't someone else give it to them?""
 * Continuity Snarl: The Whedonverse established on Buffy that pure-blood demons don't exist in this dimension (and those that did would be powerful beings like the Mayor was trying to ascend into in "Graduation Day").
 * Much later the series gave something of an Author's Saving Throw when a drawing of Illyria's true form resembled a giant squid, hinting that the Scourge were a bunch of posers.
 * Cowardly Lion: Doyle

"Angel: "Certify that the ship is carrying an inspected cargo of medical waste. No one looks inside that ship or stops it from leaving harbor. If they do, I'm going to feel that it's your fault. Then look for me to get a little bit peckish.""
 * Dark Is Not Evil: The Lister Demons are peaceful race.
 * Empathy Doll Shot: Doyle finds a pair of children's shoes in the room where the demon family was massacred
 * Fantastic Racism: The Scourge are pure-blood demons on a fanatical mission to kill all Half Human Hybrids.
 * Good Is Not Nice: Angel threatening the Harbourmaster.
 * Good Is Not Nice: Angel threatening the Harbourmaster.

"Cordy: "What do you think I am, superficial? So you're half demon. That's so far down the list, way under 'short' and 'poor'!"
 * Heartbroken Badass: Angel after the events of the previous episode; apparently he's become even more broody, if that's possible.
 * The Hero: Turns out to be Doyle, not Angel.
 * Hero Stole My Bike: Cause that's what heroes do. Anyway, it was a Scourge motorbike, so that's OK.
 * Hunter of His Own Kind: Angel convinces the Scourge leader that he's so full of self-hatred he wants to join their cause.
 * I Resemble That Remark

"Cordy (voice over): "Okay, we fade up on an aerial shot, downtown, skyscrapers, lights, yada, yada, yada. We hear a Narrator, preferably famous -- maybe that bald Star Trek guy or one of the cheaper Baldwins, and he says: 'It's a big, bad city out there.' Cut to a woman walking down a dark, spooky street - alone. We'll cast some beautiful, young actress, maybe an up-and-coming starlet whose carrier is on the verge of taking off (we see Cordy walking down a dark street). Anyway, she's all nervous, right? Mucho vulnerable. The voice guy says: 'danger lurks around every corner.' Boom! She's attacked by a big, ugly goon, with a knife. She screams: 'Help! Is there no one to help me?' 'Well now there is someone to answer your call. (We see a dark figure in a long trench coat) He'll protect you, (dark guy beats up big, ugly goon), catch you when you fall! You can count on it. (Camera pulls in on Angel's face and he says to the camera:) 'And you can count on me, because I'm the Dark Avenger'.""
 * Leaning on the Fourth Wall: The opening scene of the episode.
 * Leaning on the Fourth Wall: The opening scene of the episode.

"Angel: "I smell something."
 * Meaningful Echo: The words Doyle says at the end of the cheesy commercial Cordelia films
 * My Greatest Failure: Refusing to lend aid to a group of pacifist Brachen demons who were trying to escape The Scourge. Later that night, Doyle experienced his very first vision — that of the entire Brachen clan being slaughtered.
 * A Nazi by Any Other Name: The Scorge wear grey well-fitted uniforms of a cut fashionable in 1940's Europe, and drive trucks and motorcycles from the same era.
 * Neck Snap:
 * The Nose Knows

Doyle (tasting the food): "Still warm. They left in a hurry."

Angel: "Not food. (Throws a carpet aside revealing a trap door) Fear.""

"Doyle: "Hey. Is this a private catharsis or can anyone watch?""
 * Percussive Prevention:
 * Percussive Therapy: Angel is pounding a punching bag.

""Incredible, isn't it? He makes it all so clear.""
 * Phlebotinum Bomb: The Beacon can destroy any creature with human blood.
 * Rewarded as a Traitor Deserves / Tested on Humans: The First Mate is killed to demonstrate the Beacon.
 * Rousing Speech: The Scourge commander, Tiernan, does his Hitler rap.

"Cordy: "Well, the guy is a bona fide hero; would it kill him to put on some tights and a cape and garner us some free publicity?"
 * Superheroes Wear Tights

Doyle: "I don't see Angel putting on some tights... (Takes a deep breath and shakes his head) Ah, now I do, and it's really disturbing.""


 * Trojan Prisoner
 * We Need a Distraction: Cordy pretending Doyle is playing charades to cover his having a vision in public.
 * Zeerust: The Beacon has lots of 1930's era switches and dials.
 * Zeerust: The Beacon has lots of 1930's era switches and dials.

""Is that it? Am I done?""