Angel Season 5 takes place 2003-2004. After creating all the slayers, Buffy is gone gallivanting all over the world. This time period is mainly about Angel’s team running Wolfram & Hart.

I created this page because I wanted a simple reference that showed all the Buffy and Angel Episodes, along with all the comics, and maybe some of the books – and their nominal viewing/reading order.

Contents: Jim’s Analytical and Comprehensive Order for Buffy
Full Chronology at the Buffyverse Wiki // Optimal Viewing Order: Buffy/Angel Episode Watching Guide

TPB/Show	Story/ Episode Title	Angel Season 5
	A5Ep1: Conviction	Timeframe: The end of the episode takes place 3 weeks after the final episode of Buffy. Maybe September 2003, putting the end of Buffy at about August 2003.
	A5Ep2: Just Rewards	Timeframe: Three weeks after the closing of the Hellmouth in the final Buffy episode. Maybe September 2003, putting the end of Buffy at about August 2003.
	A5Ep3: Unleashed	Timeframe: October 2003. Shortly after Spike appears, and not long before Halloween. (The full moon this year was in mid-October, and it is noted that this episode takes place 4 months prior to Smile Time which is in mid-February.)
	A5Ep4: Hell Bound	Timeframe: October 2003. Shortly after Spike appears, and not long before Halloween.
	Wesley: Spotlight	Timeframe: Fall 2003 TPB: Angel Omnibus v1 (IDW, 2008)  Origin: Spotlight IDW 5-part mini (2006)  Notes: The 5 Spotlight issues take place at different times during the Buffy/Angel Chronology. Wesley takes place toward the beginning of Angel Season 5 while Wes is annoyed by Fred’s relationship with Knox, and Spike is still immaterial, but has stopped disappearing.
	A5Ep4: Life of the Party	Timeframe: October 31, 2003. The party (and episode) ends the morning after Halloween.
	A5Ep6: The Cautionary Tale of Numero Cinco	Timeframe: Beginning of November 2003. Immediately after Halloween – Day of the Dead.
	Spike vs Dracula Chapters 1-5	Timeframe: Chapter 1 starts in the past about the time Angelus was cursed by the Romani. Chapter 5 takes place first week of November 2003. TPB: Spike Omnibus (IDW, 2009) Origin: Spike vs Dracula IDW 5-part mini (2006) Notes: The 5th chapter takes place a few days after the Angel Numero Cinco episode based on the dates at the beginning of the chapter (in a letter dated Nov 3, there is mention of the following Thursday which is Nov 6). While only the 5th chapter takes place during Angel Season 5, I recommend reading the whole story at this time. The first 4 chapters are all pre-Buffy and act as a flashback. The story is fantastic if read in a single sitting. (And I can hear Edna Mode saying, “And that’s why you don’t wear capes!”)
	A5Ep7: Lineage	Timeframe: End of 2003; not long after the previous episode (probably end of November 2003).
	A5Ep8: Destiny	Timeframe: November/December 2003.
	Pencils & Paperclips	Timeframe: Sometime before the beginning of Angel Season 5 TPB: none Origin: Masks IDW anthology (2006) Notes: Read this now as a flashback immediately after the Angel episode Destiny. You’ll know why once you read it.
	A5Ep9: Harm’s Way	Timeframe: December 2003. It seems like it takes place immediately (the next day) after the episode Destiny, putting the Spike one-shots after this.
	Spike: Old Times	Timeframe: Soon after the Angel Episode Harm’s Way. TPB: Spike Omnibus (IDW, 2009) Origin: Spike: Old Times IDW one-shot (2006) Notes: A little insight into Spike’s origin, and his past ties with another Buffy character.
	Spike: Old Wounds	Timeframe: Soon after the Angel Episode Harm’s Way. TPB: Spike Omnibus (IDW, 2009) Origin: Spike: Old Wounds IDW one-shot (2006) Notes: Learn about when Spike was previously in LA.
	Angel: Auld Lang Syne	Timeframe: January 2004. TPB: Angel Omnibus v1 (IDW, 2008)  Origin: Auld Lang Syne IDW 5-part mini (2006-2007) Notes: I think this place take during Season 5 rather than a year later where the Buffy Chronology places it. Angel is alone in LA and he’s surprised to see Spike. Spike seems kind of new to the “hero” thing. They’re spoiling for a fight. Plus, all the dead people who show up died before this point; no one who dies over the next year shows up.
	A5Ep10: Soul Purpose	Timeframe: January 2004.
	A5Ep11: Damage	Timeframe: January/February 2004. Six months after the final Buffy Episode. If that was in August 2003, it would put this in February. I’m really liking this whole season. But I love this episode that has Spike asking, what is redemption? And is real redemption possible?
	Spike: Lost and Found	Timeframe: February 2004. Not long after the Angel Episode Damage. TPB: Spike Omnibus (IDW, 2009) Origin: Spike: Lost and Found IDW one-shot (2006) Notes: Interesting callback to the first season episode In the Dark. And taking place after Damage, it’s easy to see why Spike makes some of the decisions he does.
	A5Ep12: You’re Welcome	Timeframe: February 2004.
	A5Ep13: Why We Fight	Timeframe: February 2004.
	A5Ep14: Smile Time	Timeframe: Mid- to late February 2004. (A week or so after Valentine’s Day.)
	Angel: Smile Time	Timeframe: Mid- to late February 2004. (A week or so after Valentine’s Day.) TPB: Angel: Smile Time collection (IDW, 2009) / Angel Omnibus v2 (IDW, 2011)  Origin: Angel: Smile Time IDW mini series (2008-2009) Notes: Graphic novel adaptation of Smile. Time. With a couple of interesting deleted scenes. I show both collections here because the Smile Time trade contains stories not found elsewhere, though the primary story is in both books.
	Angel: Mystery Date	Timeframe: Mid- to late February 2004. (A week or so after Valentine’s Day.) TPB: Angel: Smile Time collection (IDW) Origin: Masks IDW one-shot (2006) Notes: A sweet breakfast date taking place the morning immediately after Smile Time.
	Angel: All the Time in the World	Timeframe: End of February 2004. TPB: Angel: The End (IDW, 2011) Origin: Angel: Yearbook Dark Horse anthology (2011) Notes: Takes place over a several days starting after Smile Time and ending the night before A Hole in the World.
	A5Ep15: A Hole in the World	Timeframe: March 2004. Immediately after Angel: All the Time in the World, which was immediately after Smile Time, which was immediately after Valentine’s Day.
	A5Ep16: Shells	Timeframe: March 2004. Immediately after A Hole in the World.
	Angel: A Hole in the World	Timeframe: March 2004. TPB: Angel Omnibus v2 (IDW, 2011)  Origin: A Hole in the World, IDW mini (2009-2010) Notes: Comic adaptation of A Hole in the World and Shells. It doesn’t seem to add much to the episodes – I was hoping it might fill in some emotion or add to the story.
	Unacceptable Losses	Timeframe: March 2004. TPB: Angel Omnibus v2 (IDW, 2011)  Origin: Masks IDW anthology (2006) Notes: Not long after Shells. Wesley is obviously attached to Illyria and Angel sends her on a fool’s errand.
	A5Ep17: Underneath	Timeframe: March/April 2004. Not long after Shells as Gunn is still in the hospital. Though Angel says that Lindsey has been in hell for “months”.
	Spotlight: Illyria	Timeframe: April 2004. TPB: Angel Omnibus v1 (IDW, 2008)  Origin: Spotlight IDW 5-part mini (2006)  Notes: The 5 Spotlight issues take place at different times during the Buffy/Angel Chronology. Illyria takes place later in Season 5 not long after Illyria appears and as she’s trying to learn what it’s like to be human.
	Spike: Asylum	Timeframe: April 2004. TPB: Spike Omnibus (IDW, 2009)  Origin: Spike: Asylum IDW 5-part mini (2006-7) Notes: Interesting to see Spike in his journey figuring out what it is to be a hero, at the same time Illyria is trying to figure out what it is to be human.
	A5Ep18: Origin	Timeframe: April 2004. I really liked how this played out!
	Spotlight: Connor: Inheritance	Timeframe: Spring 2004. TPB: Angel Omnibus v1 (IDW, 2008)  Origin: Spotlight IDW 5-part mini (2006)  Notes: The 5 Spotlight issues take place at different times during the Buffy/Angel Chronology. Connor takes sometime in the spring of 2004 not long after the episode Origin.  It’s a good read after that episode.
	A5Ep19: Time Bomb	Timeframe: April 2004.
	Spotlight: Gunn	Timeframe: April 2004. TPB: Angel Omnibus v1 (IDW, 2008)  Origin: Spotlight IDW 5-part mini (2006)  Notes: The 5 Spotlight issues take place at different times during the Buffy/Angel Chronology. Gunn takes place later in Season 5 after Time Bomb.
	Fallen Angel: Reborn	Timeframe: April 2004. TPB: Fallen Angel: Reborn (IDW, 2010)  Origin: Fallen Angel: Reborn IDW 4-part mini (2009)  Notes: While the Buffy Chronology puts this after The Girl in Question, I think it’s a few days after Time Bomb, but prior to The Girl in Question. This is a great story for filling in a bit of Illyria’s history – it’s a good add to Illyria’s mythology. And cool that it’s a crossover with a completely different series.
	A5E20: The Girl in Question	Timeframe: April/May 2004. It wasn’t until I was writing the notes for Fallen Angel: Reborn, above, that I realized the name of this episode had a double meaning!
	Spike: Shadow Puppets	Timeframe: May 2004. TPB: Angel: Smile Time collection (IDW, 2009) / Spike Omnibus (IDW, 2009)  Origin: Spike: Shadow Puppets IDW 4-part mini (2007)  Notes: I love that this explores what Spike thinks it means to be a hero. That may be my favorite thing about this season of Angel. And again, at the same time, Illyria is exploring what it means to be human. I sound redundant, but after I watched this season through my second time, those things really had an impact on me. (I show both collections here because the Smile Time trade contains stories not found elsewhere, and this story is in both books.)
	A5E21: Power Play	Timeframe: May 2004.
	A5E22: Not Fade Away	Timeframe: May 2004.
	Angel: Not Fade Away	Timeframe: May 2004. TPB: Angel Omnibus v1 (IDW, 2011)  Origin: Angel: Not Fade Away IDW 3-part mini (2009)  Notes: Adaptation of the final Angel episode.