Are You Now or Have You Ever Been (3 Oct. 2000)

After running across it, Angel is vaguely familiar with an abandoned building, the Hyperion hotel. At his request, Wesley and Cordelia discover that Angel used to be a tenant in the hotel ... See full summary »

Director:

David Semel

Writers:

Joss Whedon (creator), David Greenwalt (creator),

Stars:

David Boreanaz, Charisma Carpenter, Alexis Denisof

Cast

Episode cast overview:
David Boreanaz	...	Angel
Charisma Carpenter	...	Cordelia Chase
Alexis Denisof	...	Wesley Wyndam-Pryce
J. August Richards	...	Charles Gunn
Melissa Marsala	...	Judy Kovacs
John Kapelos	...	Roland Meeks
Tommy Hinkley	...	C. Mulvihill - Private Investigator
Brett Rickaby	...	Denver Bookstore Owner
Scott Thompson Baker	...	Actor
J.P. Manoux	...	Bellman
David Kagen	...	Salesman
Terrence Beasor	...	Older Man
Julie Araskog	...	Over the Hill Whore
Tom Beyer	...	Blacklisted Writer
Eve Sigall	...	Old Judy

Storyline

After running across it, Angel is vaguely familiar with an abandoned building, the Hyperion hotel. At his request, Wesley and Cordelia discover that Angel used to be a tenant in the hotel in the 1950s. At that time, Angel was pulled into a sticky situation with a woman hiding her past which lead to an unfortunate end. In the present day, Angel and the team attempt to rid the hotel of its demons.

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Genres:

Action | Drama | Fantasy | Thriller

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Certificate:

TV-14

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 October 2000 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Griffith Park Observatory, Griffith Park - 4730 Crystal Springs Drive, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Mutant Enemy, David Greenwalt Productions, Kuzui Enterprises

Technical Specs

Runtime:

44 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

4:3

Did You Know?

Trivia

Cordelia and Westley mention that the hotel bellhop's name was Frank Gilnitz. "Gilnitz" is a name that was often used for incidental or unseen characters on "The X-Files" (1993) (usually with the first name John); it became a running joke on that show. The name was an amalgam of the names of longtime X-Files writers John Shiban, Vince Gilligan, and Frank Spotnitz. The writer of this Angel episode, Tim Minear, was a writer and story editor for "The X-Files".

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Goofs

A flashback to 1952 shows a woman who embezzled $11,000. When the money is shown, it is in the new $20 bills that weren't issued until 1996.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Wes: The Hyperion Hotel. It appears to be abandoned.
Angel: Sixty eight rooms, sixty eight vacancies.
Wes: In California Spanish, deco influence. I'd say built in the late nineteen twenties.
Angel: That'd be my guess.

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Connections

References Psycho (1960)

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Soundtracks

"Hoop-De-Doo"
(uncredited)
Performed by Perry Como

User Reviews

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."

I'll preface my review by saying this: Are You Now or Have You Ever Been is one of the best episodes of Angel. It's a great hour of television period.

The episode starts with Angel asking Wesley and Cordelia to investigate the Hyperion Hotel. This hotel was the building he stumbled on in the prior episode and clearly recognized. It turns out Angel was a resident there in 1952. He discovers a demon which feeds off paranoia resides there and is manipulating the tenants into suicide, murder and all manner of mayhem.

I love this episode partly because it explores the idea that doing nothing can be just as bad as doing evil. Beyond his journey toward redemption, Angel does what he does because it's the right thing to do; because he has a unique ability to help people. Angel Investigations: We help the helpless.

An old movie buff like myself enjoys the references to Rebel Without a Cause. That's what Angel is in the 1952. He hasn't dedicated himself to the cause of good yet. This episode highlights the fact that there's nearly a hundred years between when Angel is cursed with a soul and when he surprises Buffy in an alleyway and says he wants to help her fight evil.

The journey, post-soul, from lost soul to savior was a long one.