Angel

’Let’s just say we are setting the bar very high.’

David Boreanaz checks in for a very rare and exclusive chat about what he’s gonna deliver in season 5 of Angel, his plans for Spike and, last but not least, the truth behind those Buffy rumors.

The WB: Let’s just cut to the chase. What can you tell us about season 5?
David Boreanaz: "We’ve been to some dark places, haven’t we? (Laughing) And it’s been extremely challenging for me personally and for everybody on the show. But we had to go through those places to get to where we are now. Going forward, I’d say our biggest challenge is in trying to meet the expectations we’ve set for the show. We are in the axis of evil now. We are actually running it ourselves. We have this powerful system at our disposal. Now we just have to figure out how to use those resources correctly. Let’s just say we are setting the bar very high."

The WB: So, what’s the deal with Spike?
DB: "He’s playing in Angel’s big world now. It was inevitable. Inside, he’s really a big city guy. He had no choice but to get outta that small town. They are old, old friends. There’s a lot of angst. There’s a lot of conflict. There’s a lot of humor. Needless to say, his return is going to make for some good hours this season."

The WB: Is Angel ever going to find true love again?
DB: "Well, Angel’s love life is very sporadic. One moment of true happiness can lead to many souls being killed off very fast. (Laughing) It’s up and down. He doesn’t really have a prescription for it. His one true love is Buffy. Always will be, and, uh, it’s going to be difficult for him to find somebody who can top that."

The WB: But Angel will try to top that, right?
DB: "Who knows? We’re definitely going to experiment with him in the fifth season. We’re going to be throwing characters at Angel. None have worked, so far. At least not like they have worked with Buffy."

The WB: Speaking of which: Will she or won’t she be jumping into the mix?
DB: "I think she will come back. And I think you’ll see Spike and Angel heading right back into that love triangle thing."

The WB: That sounds intense.
DB: "Angel is not going to be as heavy as it was in the past. It’s really a show that has everything now. There’s action, there’s adventure, there’s love, there’s romance. It’s going to be packed with quick jabs rather than long punches this year."

The WB: And what about Connor?
DB: "Last we saw him, I basically gave him his family, the mother and father he always wanted. Angel is now making a natural progression away from his son, but that’s not to say that he won’t pop up. He still doesn’t know who Angel is, so that makes it interesting."

The WB: Rumor has it you are going to be directing this season too?
DB: "It’s true. I will be directing an episode at some point this year. It will be a first for me. I’m not sure yet which one it will be. My guess is it will be closer to mid-season. Will it be a pattern? I don’t think so. I think I’ll stick to the acting."

The WB: Has parenthood changed your approach to Angel and your career in general?
DB: "It has made me feel more complete. Watching your child develop every second of the day is the best thing in the world. It makes life simple, which it should be."