I'd argue it was more a call back than foreshadowing. Forshadowing means to hint at something you plan to do later. At the time, the idea of Illyria wasn't in Joss's mind. It wasn't till after he saw Acker perform Shakespeare that he thought about changing her character.
Twiska Brand
2025-03-27 13:34:35 +0000 UTC
Just wanna add: You guys may wanna pay attention to the opening credits starting next episode ^_^
Ariel17
2025-03-21 04:42:53 +0000 UTC
#SundayRundown #Angel
Fred’s death here and the title of this episode (Shells) was foreshadowed in season 4. In the episode 4x20 (Sacrifice) Fred and Gunn are talking about how Angel has cut himself off from his emotions while on the run from Jasmine:
Gunn- “You heard Angel. Feelings don’t enter it anymore.”
Fred- “That the world we’re fighting for? The right to be heartless, an uncaring shell, to be dead inside?
Then they talk about their shared guilt over killing the professor and then Fred disagrees with Angel’s approach by saying she allows herself to feel those emotions, even negative ones like guilt when she tells Gunn: “well I don’t know about you, but…I’d take that over being a shell any day.”
Ariel17
2025-03-21 04:41:21 +0000 UTC
Also fun fact: Illyria was derived from the Shakespearean play “Twelfth Night” and a relatively modern high school comedy “She’s the Man” starring Amanda Bynes was a retelling of that play. The school name was Illyria. So Angel has something in common with an Amanda Bynes movie.
Why do I know this? Well because I’m an encyclopedia of bullshit 😃
Ren Davis
2025-03-21 00:10:52 +0000 UTC
#SundayRundown
Joss Whedon is a big Shakespeare fan and liked to host Shakespeare parties at his house. Going to these parties was how you maintained status within his inner circle. Amy Acker was very well-liked and, I believe, is still close to Whedon to this day (alongside Alexis Denisof and Alyson Hannigan who are the godparents to one of his children).
During one of these parties, Acker impressed Whedon by playing Lady Macbeth, so he started thinking of ways to retool the show to give Acker a regal character to play. In comes Illyria, a demon god-king of the Old World. He told Acker that he would be killing Fred off, which she just smiled in shock and said okay, but then he said that she would still stay on the show as another character. It was a nice change of pace for her to flex her acting muscles as Illyria.
Ren Davis
2025-03-21 00:10:22 +0000 UTC
Might be my fave episode of this season. The introduction to Illyria, her dynamic with Wesley, some cool action, new lore, pacing and even the editing and scene transition.
Kudos to Amy Acker whose physicality and line delivery is incredible in this completely new role and to Alexis Denisof who switches between bottom pit of grief, cold badassery and quick wit in dealing with a GOD. His facial expressions were so heartbreaking 😢
Chris K.
2025-03-20 23:28:33 +0000 UTC
Well now I need to watch Dr. Horrible again
Joe Traupman
2025-03-20 22:10:05 +0000 UTC
#sundayrundown
Remember when Wes was a bumbling goofball?
Now everyone's scared he could turn around and just murder anyone at any moment.
This poor guy... but his arc is unparalleled. It happened so slowly over many years... but he's the opposite of who he was, and imo it's completely earned.
Bisibia
2025-03-20 20:58:37 +0000 UTC
It's insane to me that the writer's room for angel in the fifth season was equal parts "Let's rip their hearts out and tap dance on them while wearing cleats" and "This week, let's just make the villain a bad horse."
Smash Bran'Discootch
2025-03-20 20:16:53 +0000 UTC
I can’t believe that here are people that watch Buffy but have never watched Angel. I think it’s just as good and episodes like this one are the reason why. Joss knows how to subvert expectations and hit you in the feels.