History Recap / AngelS01E22ToShanshuInLA

* EitherOrProphecy: "Shanshu" is an ambiguous word that means both "life" or "death." Though it appears to indicate Angel's doom, it actually seems to refer to his reward from the Powers that Be--a mortal life and a natural death at the end of it.

* TheReveal: O hi Darla!

* BookEnds: Both the pilot and the first season finale culminate in a scene where Angel confronts Wolfram & Hart's team on Cordelia's behalf (to protect her from Russell Winters in the pilot, to retrieve the scroll that will heal her here). Each scene features Lindsey lording his superiority over Angel. Lindsey then suffers a BreakTheHaughty moment (via Angel pushing out a window in the premiere and Angel cutting his hand off in the finale) as Angel accomplishes what he came to do before strolling triumphantly out the door.

* AnArmAndALeg: Looks like Lindsey's the one who got "severed."

* BlackCloak: Vocah.

* CoolMask: Vocah.

* EvilSoundsDeep: Vocah.
* FacialHorror / PleaseKeepYourHatOn: Right before delivering his killing blow, Angel pries off Vocah's metal mask, revealing a maggot-infested face.

* NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast: Vocah, "the Bringer of Calamity".

* BookEnd: Both the pilot and the first season finale culminate in a scene where Angel confronts Wolfram & Hart's team on Cordelia's behalf (to protect her from Russell Winters in the pilot, to retrieve the scroll that will heal her here). Each scene features Lindsey lording his superiority over Angel. Lindsey then suffers a BreakTheHaughty moment (via Angel pushing out a window in the premiere and Angel cutting his hand off in the finale) as Angel accomplishes what he came to do before strolling triumphantly out the door.

--> '''Wesley:''' ''[to Angel]'' I may have made a tiny mistake. The word Shanshu that I said meant you were going to die? Actually I think it means that you are going to ''live''.

In a dark alley, two police officers notice Detective Kate Lockley has shown up. The duo make light of her propensity for listening in on the police scanner for supernatural activity. Kate tells them to stay put, ignoring their offers for backup, "or a Ouija board." Hardy har. As she walks past a dumpster, Angel emerges with a homeless bag lady on his arm. She scurries off while Angel stops to chat with Kate. She demands to know what Angel killed, and he begrudgingly tells her it was a slime demon. Kate gets hostile, telling Angel that all she cares about is ridding the city of his kind. She hasn't forgotten that his "kind" who killed her father. And off she stomps.

* DarkestHour: All of Angel's allies are incapacitated or killed.

* ProphecyTwist

** Darla's resurrection mirrors [[Recap/BuffyTheVampireSlayerS3E3FaithHopeAndTrick that of Angel]] in the third season of ''Buffy''. Both characters emerge shivering, stark naked, and traumatized by their stints in Hell. Seems a moment of FridgeBrilliance that foreshadows that Darla has been resurrected [[AngelS02E05DearBoy as a human]].

Inside the Oracles' realm, Mr. and Mrs. Oracle are ticked off. They hate these kinds of intrusions. The camera pans, revealing that it's not Angel but Vocah who has crossed heir threshold. The demon states that a "new order" is coming, and a scythe materializes from behind his back.

* DarkestHour

* EitherOrProphecy: "Shanshu" is an ambiguous word that could mean "life" or "death." Though it appears to indicate Angel's doom, it actually seems to refer to his reward from the Powers that Be--a mortal life and a natural death at the end of it.

* SummoningRitual: A bunch of monastic-robe wearing types summon Vocah right outside Wolfram & Hart's building. "The Raising" is a more convoluted ritual.
* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: OK, not really "Suck", but Angel tears into Kate for blaming everything bad that happens on him just because she's having trouble coping with the BrokenMasquerade. Given she was sniping at him [[SkewedPriorities soon after both his friends were hospitalised]], it's actually quite justified.

** Darla's resurrection mirrors [[Recap/BuffyTheVampireSlayerS3E3FaithHopeAndTrick that of Angel]] in the third season of ''Buffy''. Both characters emerge shivering, stark naked, and traumatized by their stints in Hell.

* GondorCallsForAid: A brief appearance by Gunn in the third act. Angel tasks him with guarding Welsey and Cordelia at the hospital while Angel hunts down the guy who put them there.

* RuleOfThree: While reading the Words of Anatole at Coredlia's bedside, Wesley concludes the passage by repeating "Unbind!" three times.

Meanwhile, the folks at Wolfram & Hart are conjuring up a demon (Vocah) who has come to separate Angel from the PTB. Vocah gripes, "You '''lost''' the scroll of Aberjian?" Holland explains that it was stolen, and Lilah adds that Angel hasn't had time to fully study it. Lindsey offers to get it back - it was his error. Vocah angrily states that he will retrieve it himself. He asks who has it, and Holland says with a hint of embarrassment, "Angel." Vocah reiterates that he was summoned for "The Raising", and without the scroll, he can't perform The Raising. Lilah says that they're aware of the irony.

Uncomfortable scene at Angel Investigations, with everybody waiting for David to pack off and leave, which he finally does. Wesley finally locates a reference to Shanshu in his books - it means death. Angel doesn't even glance up from his book. Ho hum. Wesley assures him that the jury's still out, so it's a good thing that Angel's not concerned. ...Not even remotely concerned.

The next morning, Wesley confesses that the prophecy - while not exactly good news - doesn't alarm him nearly as much as Angel's ''reaction'' to that news. Death doesn't bother him, because there's nothing in life he wants. Angel arrives from downstairs, and Cordy asks if he wants some coffee. He doesn't, so she offers him a doughnut. Angel chuckles and insists, "I don't want anything." Cordy looks stricken. Wisely, Wesley exits stage left, saying he's off to the rare book store to confirm his findings. On his way out, Wes suggests that Angel go consult the Oracles again, but Angel doubt they'll tolerate any more visits.

Angel is downstairs locking up the Scroll in his weapons cabinet when he senses a disturbance in his apartment. He doesn't have time to investigate, however, as the phone rings - It's the hospital. Angel hurries off. The Demon steps up to the cabinet and easily breaks the lock, taking the Scrolls and leaving something in its place.

Inside a Mausoleum, five vampires are chained to a large wooden crate with iron bars, while a bunch of hooded monks watch an incantation led by Vocah. Outside W&H. Lindsey, Lilah and Holland are getting into limos as Lilah wonders if they're late. Holland says it's better to be fashionably late to a ritual - the blood rites drag on forever. Angel watches from the bushes, and as they drive off he follows.

Wesley sits by Cordelia's bedside, reading from the Words of Anatol. Angel looks at Cordy's hand and sees that Vocah's mark is gone: Cordy has come out of her daze. She confides to Angel that she "saw them all -- so much pain", and that they have to help them. Angel assures her that they will.

Flash-forward to Cordy's apartment, two days later. Wesley, still looking at his books, mutters, "Oops." He may have made a tiny mistake. As a vampire isn't alive, he technically can't ''die'' -- the Shanshu is saying that Angel will get to ''live'' before he dies. That he will become human. Angel smiles. That'd be nice. A nonplussed Cordy points out that as tiny mistakes go, that's NOT one. Nevertheless, this is a positive development.

!!Tropes
* AnArmAndALeg: Looks like Lindsey's the one who got "severed".

--> '''Wesley:''' ''(to Angel)'' I may have made a tiny mistake. The word Shanshu that I said meant you were going to die? Actually I think it means that you are going to ''live''.
--> '''Cordelia:''' Okay, as tiny mistakes go...that's not one.

* BrickJoke: The prophecy mentions a number of "fiends" that are due to unleashed upon the world before Angel can regain his humanity; one of the demons is due to arise in Reseda. In Cordelia's glimpse into her alternate life ("Birthday"), she drives to Reseda and discovers the root cause of the demon's summoning - a teenage girl pouring diet soda on a black magic tome.
** Angel responds with a cold stare when Cordelia suggests getting him a puppy. In ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' it's mentioned that Angelus once did something nasty to a puppy to celebrate St Valentine's Day.

** The Fang Gang discovers that Lindsey has been promoted to Junior Partner at Wolfram and Hart. He made his choice to stay with the DarkSide.
** The Oracles from "I Will Remember You" pay the price for their habitual rudeness.
** Darla's resurrection mirrors that of Angel in the third season of ''Buffy''. Both characters emerge shivering, stark naked, and traumatized by their stints in Hell.

-->'''Cordy:''' Pain...killer...
-->'''Wes:''' (writing) Painful killer demon...

-->'''Wes:''' Oh (runs to get painkillers)

* ContinuityNod: The building directory in Angel's office also lists John Folger, DDS (previously mentioned in "Somnambulist").
* CrisisOfFaith: Angel and Holland Manners unknowingly competing for the soul of Lindsey. Holland remarks that Lindsey is having a "crisis of faith", and Angel later accuses him of having no faith in the world.

* DeathIsCheap: The Raising is a ritual outlined in the Scrolls of Aberjian which is used to raise a great evil from Hell. Wolfram & Hart hoped to raise someone that would lure Angel away from his mission - namely, Darla.

* DoubleMeaning: The Senior Partners being pleased about Lindsey's 'sacrifice' is, on the surface, about him losing his hand for their cause, but it could also mean a blood sacrifice - a penance made to appease the Senior Partners for losing the Shanshu Prophecy.
* EitherOrProphecy

* {{Invisibility}}: Vocah walks amongst the crowd of a flea market in board daylight, totally unnoticed.
** On the other hand, it's likely they just assume he's a street performer like the silver-painted mime shown earlier.
* MacGuffinDeliveryService: Wolfram & Hart (however briefly) reclaiming the Scroll which Angel stole from them.
* MarkOfTheBeast: The Voach places his mark on Cordelia, thus opening her mind to endless visions of all those suffering or in danger.

* MeaningfulEcho: Cordelia and Wesley spend the episode batting around reasons why Angel doesn't seem to want anything out of life. Following her mental breakdown, a deeply-shaken Angel stands at Cordy's bedside and pledges to save her -- that he "needs" Cordy to come back.
* NakedOnArrival: Darla.

* ShoutOut: The title is a clear reference to ''Film/ToLiveAndDieInLA''.

* SinisterScythe
* StuffBlowingUp
* SummoningRitual: A bunch of monastic-robe wearing types summon Vocah right outside Wolfram & Hart's building. "The Raising" is a more convoluted version of this trope.

-->'''Kate''': I'm glad we're not playing friends anymore, 'cause I am real sick and tired of your attitude. There's a little thing called the law--
-->'''Angel''': This isn't about the law, this is about a little thing called life. Now I'm sorry about your father, but I didn't kill your father, and I'm sick and tired of you blaming me for everything ''you'' can't handle! You wanna be enemies? ''Try me''.

* YouKilledMyFather: Played with during Kate's scenes with Angel. She holds him responsible not just for her father's murder, but for every nefarious act committed by demons in her city.

'''Angel''': This isn't about the law, this is about a little thing called life. Now I'm sorry about your father, but I didn't kill your father, and I'm sick and tired of you blaming me for everything ''you'' can't handle! You wanna be enemies? ''Try me''.

* BaitAndSwitchComment / {{Understatement}}
--> '''Wesley:''' ''(to Angel)'' I may have made a tiny mistake. The word Shanshu that I said meant you were going to die? Actually I think it means that you are going to live.
--> '''Cordelia:''' Okay, as tiny mistakes go...that's not one.

** The Fang Gang discovers that Lindsey has been promoted to Jr. Partner at Wolfram and Hart. He made his choice to stay with the DarkSide.

* ThisMeansWar: Angel to Kate in their last scene together.

Meanwhile, the folks at Wolfram & Hart are conjuring up a demon (the Vocah) who has come to separate Angel from the PTB. Vocah gripes, "You '''lost''' the scroll of Aberjian?" Holland explains that it was stolen, and Lilah adds that Angel hasn't had time to fully study it. Lindsey offers to get it back - it was his error. The Vocah angrily states that he will retrieve it himself. He asks who has it, and Holland says with a hint of embarrassment, "Angel." Vocah reiterates that he was summoned for "The Raising", and without the scroll, he can't perform The Raising. Lilah says that they're aware of the irony.

Inside the Oracles' realm, Mr. and Mrs. Oracle are ticked off. They hate these kinds of intrusions. The camera pans, revealing that it's not Angel but the Vocah who has crossed heir threshold. The demon states that a "new order" is coming, and a scythe materializes from behind his back.

The next day, as Cordy strolls through a flea market looking for a gift for Angel, the Vocah invisibly brushes up against her. Screaming in pain, she collapses on the ground and is inundated with hundreds of visions all at once.

* BlackCloak: The Vocah.

* CloseupOnHead: Following Wesley's suggestion that Angel go consult the Oracles again, we SmashCut to the Oracles delivering their trademark spiel about how indignant they are at being called upon by lower beings. The camera pulls back to reveal that their visitor is not Angel, but the Vocah.

* CoolMask: The Vocah.

* EvilSoundsDeep: The Vocah.
* FacialHorror / PleaseKeepYourHatOn: Right before delivering his killing blow, Angel pries off the Vocah's metal mask, revealing a maggot-infested face.

* {{Hammerspace}}: The Vocah has a seemingly-infinite supply of scythes.

* {{Invisibility}}: The Vocah walks amongst the crowd of a flea market in board daylight, totally unnoticed.

* SpellMyNameWithAThe: The Vocah, again.
* SpiderSense: Angel sensing the evil presence of David Nabbit. This is echoed later in the episode when Angel stops and turns in his basement, sensing The Vocah. Similarly, The Vocah is alone in his sensing Angel's imminent attack on the mausoleum.

* SummoningRitual: A bunch of monastic-robe wearing types summon the Vocah right outside Wolfram & Hart's building. "The Raising" is a more convoluted version of this trope.

* WallJump: During the duel with Angel, The Vocah does a ''Matrix''-style jump between two wall corners.

* GenreSavvy: When David says, "Any minute, [a demon] could walk through that door," all three of our heroes look towards the door, [[TemptingFate as if expecting it to happen]].

Flash-forward to Cordy's apartment, two days later. Wesley, still looking at his books, mutters, "Oops." He may have made a tiny mistake. As a vampire isn't alive, he technically can't ''die' -- the Shanshu is saying that Angel will get to ''live'' before he dies. That he will become human. Angel smiles. That'd be nice. A nonplussed Cordy points out that as tiny mistakes go, that's NOT one. Nevertheless, this is a positive development.

* AnArmAndALeg: Looks like Lindsey's the one who got "severed". [[spoiler:No biggie; in Season Two, the Senior Partners harvest him a new one from a dead employee]].

Flash-forward to Cordy's apartment, two days later. Wesley, still looking at his books, mutters, "Oops." He may have made a tiny mistake. As a vampire isn't alive, he technically can't 'die'. The Shanshu is saying that will Angel get to ''live'' before he dies - That he will become human. Angel smiles. That'd be nice. A nonplussed Cordy points out that as tiny mistakes go, that's NOT one. Nevertheless, this is a positive development.

* TheReveal: O hai Darla!

* [[SwordFight Scythe Fight]]
* ShoutOut/[[spoiler:Foreshadowing]]: The title is a clear reference to ''Film/ToLiveAndDieInLA''. [[spoiler: Sure enough, it turns out that it isn't just a reference, instead being completely identical.]]

* [[ThrowingYourSwordAlwaysWorks Throwing Your Scythe Always Works]]: Lindsey discovers it first-hand.

* WhamLine: "We're all very pleased you're here. I know it's very confusing, but it'll be a lot better soon...Darla."

* DoubleMeaning: The Senior Partner's being pleased about Lindsey's 'sacrifice' is, on the surface, about him losing his hand for their cause, but it could also mean a blood sacrifice - a penance made to appease the Senior Partner's for losing the Shanshu Prophecy.