Circle of the Black Thorn

Infobox Buffyverse Group


Title=The Circle of the Black Thorn
First=Power Play
Last=Not Fade Away
Creator=Joss Whedon
Name=The Circle of the Black Thorn
Purpose=Maintaining "man's inhumanity to man"
Arm of the Senior Partners
Membership=
Key members
Archduke Sebassis (Deceased)
Izzerial the Devil (Deceased)
Cyvus Vail (Deceased)
Senator Helen Brucker (Deceased)
Potentate Ed of the Fell Brethren (Deceased)
Sahrvin Clan Leader (Deceased)
Angel (Betrayed and either murdered or had killed the rest of the members, membership terminated by the Senior Partners.)

The Circle of the Black Thorn is a secret society in the television show "Angel."

Description

The members of the Circle, the self-fashioned "Black Thorns", act as the earthly instruments of the Senior Partners, charged with being the driving force behind Wolfram & Hart's apocalyptic plans and dedicated to keeping the wheel of "man's inhumanity to man" perpetually spinning. The members of the Circle do this not from a belief in evil per se, but because being a Black Thorn allows them to amass power for themselves and wield that power with impunity. As an associated organization, Wolfram & Hart works closely with the Circle and performs a number of services for its members.

The Circle's lineup in 2004 is: Archduke Sebassis; Senator Helen Brucker; Cyvus Vail; Ed, Grand Potentate of the Fell Brethren; the leader of the Sahrvin Clan; Izzerial the Devil; and three other men whose names were never mentioned. Their latest recruit was Angel.

Thanks to a vision given to him by Cordelia Chase,cite episode | title = You're Welcome | episodelink = You're Welcome (Angel episode) | series = Angel | serieslink = Angel (TV series) | airdate = February 4, 2004 | season = 5 | number = 12] Angel learns that the Circle represents the true powers behind Wolfram & Hart's apocalypse.cite episode | title = Power Play | episodelink = Power Play (Angel episode) | series = Angel | serieslink = Angel (TV series) | airdate = May 12, 2004 | season = 5 | number = 21] After a lengthy investigation, Angel learns that he could only draw the attention of the Circle by sacrificing his role as Champion and killing one of his lieutenants. Taking advantage of subsequent events, Angel allows the Circle to believe that he is responsible for the death of Fred and her subsequent possession by Illyria.

In the following months, Angel pretends to become corrupted by his position at Wolfram & Hart. He helps the Fell Brethren acquire a baby to be used as a sacrifice on the child's thirteenth birthday in "Time Bomb,cite episode | title = Time Bomb | episodelink = Time Bomb (Angel episode) | series = Angel | serieslink = Angel (TV series) | airdate = April 28, 2004 | season = 5 | number = 19] he offers the firm's services in discrediting one of Senator Brucker's political rivals by brainwashing him to become a paedophile,Power Play] and sends a demon assassin after Drogyn the Battlebrand, guardian of the Deeper Well.Power Play] After suitably impressing the Circle members, Angel is granted a seat in the Circle following an initiation ritual that includes the murder of Drogyn, and Angel drinking his blood.Power Play]

While pleased that Angel is now one of them, the Circle remains wary that Angel could try to betray them as a way to fulfill the Shanshu Prophecy. They demand that Angel renounce his possible destiny, and Angel signs away his right to fulfill the prophecy, taking advantage of the fact that the Circle cannot comprehend that Angel would do good simply for its own sake rather than for a reward.cite episode | title = Not Fade Away | episodelink = Not Fade Away (Angel episode) | series = Angel | serieslink = Angel (TV series) | airdate = May 19, 2004 | season = 5 | number = 22]

After Angel reveals his machinations to the "Angel Investigations" team, after spending their last days on Earth doing whatever they want to do, they set out with Angel on a mission to destroy the Circle as an indirect attack on the Senior Partners; the Partners may be eternal and forever, but with this attack, Angel intends to show them that they will still never control everything no matter how powerful they become. Angel secretly poisons the Archduke Sebassis via the slave demon the duke drinks from, subsequently killing Marcus Hamilton- the liaison to the Senior Partners, although apparently not an actual member of the Circle himself- with the aid of his son Connor by drinking Hamilton's blood and thus acquiring at least some of his strength. Izzerial and the three unnamed members are slaughtered by Illyria. The leaders of the Sahrvin Clan, including its Representative in the Circle, are slain by Lindsey with the aid of Lorne (Lorne subsequently killing Lindsey). Although he is killed in the process, Wesley manages to kill Cyvus Vail with the aid of Illyria, Illyria briefly transforming into Fred to allow Wesley to say goodbye to her. Spike wipes out the Fell Brethren and their Grand Potentate Ed while rescuing the infant they had desired to sacrifice. Gunn fights past the vampires staffing Senator Brucker's office and kills her with an axe to the head, although he himself is badly wounded in the process.Not Fade Away]

In the aftermath of the Circle's defeat, Angel, Spike, Gunn and Illyria gather in the alley behind the Hyperion Hotel, where they face an army of demons sent to destroy them as vengeance for their actions against the Circle. As seen in comic book continuation "", the Senior Partners sent all of Los Angeles to Hell as a punishment."Angel: After the Fall", November 2007 - ongoing]

Writing

*According to the DVD commentary for "Not Fade Away", the symbol of the Circle of the Black Thorn was inspired by a soda bottle cap ring (the plastic ring that helps prevent product tampering) that was turned inside out.

References

ee also