Waiting in the Wings

When Angel (David Boreanaz) decides to take the gang out to see his favorite ballet troupe, everyone gets all gussied up. Angel is shocked, however, when the performance -- and the performers -- are identical to one he remembers from over a century ago. During intermission, he and Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter) go to investigate and learn that it's a case of sorcery. The jealous Count Kurskov (Mark Harelik) has encased his unfaithful prima ballerina (Summer Glau) in a temporal loop, dooming her to perform Giselle over and over again for him. Angel and Cordy piece this together between make-out sessions; possessed by the spirit of the ballerina and her long-dead lover, they go at it like hormone-addled teenagers. This causes Angel no small discomfort thanks to his real-life romantic feelings for Cordy. Meanwhile, Wesley (Alexis Denisof) and Gunn (J. August Richards), who are both vying for the affections of Fred (Amy Acker), get caught up in a less idyllic, more violent aspect of the Count's spell. When Fred kisses the injured Gunn, it takes the wind out of Wesley, but eventually the gang reunites and defeats the count. Wesley isn't the only guy to suffer romantic disappointment: Back at the hotel, just as Angel is feeling Cordy out about her feelings for him, her old flame the Groosalugg (Mark Lutz -- see "There's No Place Like Plrtz Glrb") shows up to sweep her off her feet. Originally broadcast February 4, 2002, on the WB network, "Waiting in the Wings" marked season three, episode 13 of the supernatural comedy drama.