Parting Gifts

After the tragic sacrifice of Doyle (Glenn Quinn) (see "Hero"), Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter) and Angel (David Boreanaz) deal with the emotional fallout of their friend's death. Soon, Cordelia learns of a strange side effect of the final kiss Doyle gave her: She is now experiencing the same painful visions he used to. Shortly thereafter, a telepathic demon named Barney (Maury Sterling) shows up at the office looking for protection from an assassin. Angel leaves Cordelia with Barney and heads out to investigate. Soon, he learns that the assassin is none other than Wesley Wyndam-Pryce (Alexis Denisof), who briefly served as Watcher for Buffy and Faith (see Buffy the Vampire Slayer, "Bad Girls") and is now a self-styled "rogue demon hunter." Angel learns that Wesley isn't hunting Barney; he's actually hunting a Kungai demon who wants to steal Barney's powers. But as the plot thickens, it turns out that Barney himself is actually the thief -- and that he's trying to auction off Cordelia for her newfound powers. A Wolfram & Hart lawyer wins the prize, but Wesley and Angel arrive just in time to save Cordy from being turned against her will into a blind oracle. Originally broadcast December 14, 1999, on the WB network, "Parting Gifts" marked season one, episode ten of the supernatural comedy drama. Although he's billed as a guest star for this episode, Alexis Denisof joins the cast permanently beginning with the next installment, "Somnambulist.".