Angel was a cult favorite supernatural drama television series that aired on The WB network from 1999 to 2004. The show ran for 5 seasons and a total of 110 episodes over the course of its initial run. Let’s take a closer look at how long Angel lasted and key details about its time on the air.
When Did Angel Premiere?
Angel made its debut on October 5, 1999 with the aptly titled pilot episode “City Of”. This followed the vampire Angel, played by David Boreanaz, as he left Sunnydale and Buffy the Vampire Slayer behind to move to Los Angeles. The show was a spin-off from Buffy, allowing Angel’s character to continue after Buffy ended its third season earlier in 1999.
How Many Seasons Did Angel Have?
In total, Angel spanned 5 seasons on The WB network from 1999 until 2004. Here is a breakdown of when each season aired:
| Season | Year(s) |
|---|---|
| Season 1 | 1999-2000 |
| Season 2 | 2000-2001 |
| Season 3 | 2001-2002 |
| Season 4 | 2002-2003 |
| Season 5 | 2003-2004 |
As this table shows, Angel progressed steadily through 5 seasons over the course of its 6 year run. Each season aired during the typical fall through spring TV schedule, with new episodes airing from October through May generally. There were no major delays or breaks between seasons of the show during its original airing.
How Many Episodes Did Each Season of Angel Have?
In addition to lasting 5 seasons, Angel also produced a total of 110 episodes. The number of episodes per season varied, though most had 22 episodes which is typical for a full season order. Here is a breakdown of how many episodes there were per season:
| Season | Episodes |
|---|---|
| Season 1 | 22 |
| Season 2 | 22 |
| Season 3 | 22 |
| Season 4 | 22 |
| Season 5 | 22 |
| Total | 110 |
Season 3 is notable for having two extra “bonus” episodes that aired in addition to the normal 22 episode order. So in total with those extras, Season 3 contained 24 episodes. Otherwise, each season maintained a full 22 episode order during the show’s original run.
When Did Angel End?
Angel’s series finale aired on May 19, 2004 with an episode titled “Not Fade Away”. This brought the show’s run to an end after 5 seasons. The finale tied up lingering storylines though also left room for potential future stories had the show continued. While it was not definitively the “end” for the characters, it did serve as the final episode of Angel’s original 110 episode order.
The cancellation of Angel after Season 5 was somewhat controversial at the time among fans. It was perceived that the show was ended right as the creative team hit their stride in the fifth season. However, declining ratings ultimately led The WB network to cancel Angel to refocus efforts on newer shows. While disappointing to fans at the time, the fact that Angel made it 5 full seasons is still an achievement for a cult favorite series.
Were There Any Angel Spin-Offs or Revivals?
Since the show ended in 2004, there have not been any major revivals or direct spin-offs of Angel. The characters and universe have lived on primarily through expanded universe materials like comics:
- Angel comics were published by IDW Publishing from 2005 to 2011 which continued Angel’s story after the television show.
- In 2018, 20th Century Fox resumed publishing new Angel comics stories and seasonal arcs through Boom! Studios.
These expanded comics have allowed Angel’s story to continue for dedicated fans. But no official television revival or spin-off has happened as of 2023, nearly 20 years after Angel went off the air.
Angel, along with its parent show Buffy, remain influential cult hits that impacted the television landscape. But the shows themselves have not yet been rebooted or revived on the scale of many other major genre series. Their original 5 season runs remain their definitive on-screen versions at this time.
How Does Angel’s Run Compare to Buffy?
As a spin-off of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, it is natural to compare Angel’s longevity to its parent show. Here is how Angel’s 5 season run stacks up against Buffy’s:
| Show | Seasons | Episodes | Original Run |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buffy the Vampire Slayer | 7 | 144 | 1997 – 2003 |
| Angel | 5 | 110 | 1999 – 2004 |
While Buffy ultimately lasted longer at 7 seasons, Angel still had an impressive 5 season run of its own. Spanning over 100 episodes and 6 years on the air, Angel developed into a beloved show in its own right outside of just being a “Buffy spin-off”. Its shorter run compared to Buffy makes sense given its later start, but 5 seasons is still a milestone for a genre drama series.
Conclusion
In total, Angel aired for 5 full seasons spanning 110 episodes between 1999 and 2004. It maintained season orders between 22 and 24 episodes throughout its run. While ending just as the writers seemed to hit their peak, Angel’s original 5 seasons still represent a complete story ark for the characters that resonates with fans even today. Lasting half a decade and over 100 episodes is an achievement, especially for a supernatural cult series airing on a smaller network like The WB. While eclipsed by the longer run of its parent show Buffy, Angel remains an influential and beloved series in its own right that made the most of its 5 years on the air.