Angel Investigations Office

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

The office evolves significantly over time, reflecting the shifting dynamics of its occupants. In season 2 (2000–2001), Angel fires his employees Cordelia, Wesley and Gunn (secretly to protect them from this dark territory, as he later revealed to Lorne) and embarks on a vendetta against Wolfram & Hart. Eventually losing faith in his mission, Angel has sex with Darla in the hopes of losing his soul. Instead, he experiences an epiphany and realizes that the good fight is still worth fighting. A disgusted Darla flees L.A. and Angel reconciles with his friends, who eventually forgive him. In season 3 (2001–2002), Angel struggles with fatherhood when Darla returns pregnant with his child. When Darla kills herself to give birth, Angel is left to raise the baby Connor and protect him from those who wish to get their hands on a child of two vampires. False prophecies, time travel, and betrayal lead to Angel losing his infant son to an old enemy, Holtz, who abducts Connor into a hell dimension where time passes differently. Connor returns days later, fully grown and under the belief that Angel is a soulless monster. Holtz kills himself and Angel is framed for his death by Holtz's lover, prompting Connor to take revenge by sinking his father to the bottom of the ocean. In Angel's fourth season (2002–2003), Angel is rescued from the ocean by his former friend Wesley. As Los Angeles crumbles under signs of the apocalypse, Angel is forced to cope with the romantic relationship between his son and Cordelia. To find out more about the Beast terrorizing L.A., Angel Investigations remove Angel's soul and bring back Angelus after a vision from Cordelia suggests that Angelus has history with the Beast that Angel does not remember. Angelus escapes, kills the Beast for fun and wreaks havoc until an old friend, Willow, manages to return his soul for the second time. It is eventually revealed that Cordelia has been possessed by the Beast's master, Jasmine, a higher power who manipulated many events in Angel's life in order to be born in this world. When Angel restores free will and ruins Jasmine's plan, Wolfram & Hart offer him control of their L.A. branch as a reward for putting a stop to world peace. Angel accepts when they agree to rewrite Connor's memory.

In Their Own Story

Rain streaks against the grimy window of the fourth-floor office, casting long shadows over piles of case files scattered across the central table. Angel stands by the door, his eyes scanning the street below for any sign of movement, while Gunn flips through a phone book with a frown. The air smells faintly of stale coffee and old paper, a stark contrast to the supernatural energy crackling just beneath the surface. A sudden knock echoes through the room, not from the hallway, but from inside the walls themselves, signaling that whatever they are hunting has finally found them.

Reader's Guide

The office is typically depicted as a cramped, dimly lit space filled with clutter, including filing cabinets, maps of Los Angeles pinned to corkboards, and a central table often used for strategy meetings. It lacks modern amenities, relying on old computers and manual research methods that reflect the team's resourcefulness rather than their wealth. Supernaturally, the location is significant as a gathering point for those who fight in the shadows, acting as a beacon for allies and a target for enemies alike. Key events include the formation of the original team, the investigation into the Wolfram & Hart conspiracy, and the tragic moments where personal lives collide with their dangerous profession. In the broader plot, the office serves as the narrative engine for the crossover between the two series, grounding the high-stakes mythology in a relatable, urban setting. Its eventual destruction marks a turning point, symbolizing the end of an era and forcing the characters to adapt to a changing world.

Did You Know?

• Angel's first appearance in Buffy the Vampire Slayer is in 'Welcome to the Hellmouth', the first episode in 1997.
• The character Angel was created by Joss Whedon and David Greenwalt.
• Angel is portrayed by actor David Boreanaz.
• Angel ended its five-year run in 2004.
• In season 2 of Buffy, Angel and Buffy make love in the episode 'Surprise', which revokes his soul due to a moment of pure happiness.