(born in
Pylea ), also known as "The Host", is a
Fictional Character created by
Joss Whedon for the cult
Television program, ''
Angel ''. The character is portrayed by
Andy Hallett .
Krevlornswath of The Deathwok Clan was born in the demonic dimension, Pylea. Lorne, as he preferred to be called, wasn't like his fellow Deathwok clan demons; bloodthirsty "
Champion s" constantly undertaking
Quest s against evil. He was a gentle soul who did not share his kin's prejudice against humans (or "cows" as they were called in his world). Lorne would rather flirt with the female demons and enjoy life than train to be a "fighter". Lorne also enjoyed beauty, art, and even music, which was difficult considering his world had no music. He refused to train his innate mystical senses to learn to hunt beasts and was considered the shame of his clan.
In 1996, he happened upon a dimensional portal and was sucked through it. He landed in
Los Angeles and discovered music and culture like he never imagined. He learned to hone his mystical senses to read people's auras, but found it easiest to do so when they sang, baring their souls. He decided to open up a karaoke bar on the spot he arrived on Earth, an old abandoned building. He contracted the Transuding Furies to cast a sanctuary spell on the spot, which stopped any demon violence from occurring on it. He named the bar Caritas, the Latin word for mercy. The bar became a success from the ambigiously evil Los Angeles undergroundscene. To most who visited the bar, he was simply called "The Host". He later stated that he didn't use the name "Lorne" in this dimension, because his striking green skin prompted people to make
Lorne Greene jokes.
Lorne was always reluctant to help out
Angel and the other heroes of the series, though his essential goodness usually won out over his reticence. Lorne's complex and often surprising personality fit well by a series that delighted in thwarting the viewers' expectations. However, in the show's fifth and final season, Lorne's kindness was slowly replaced by a growing cynicism and self-loathing of his position of positive "cheerleader" for Angel and friends. When Lorne's close friend, Fred, was murdered and her body usurped by an ancient demon god, Lorne became filled with despair which he kept secret from the rest of his equally heartbroken friends. By the conclusion of the series, Lorne announced he was leaving Los Angeles after carrying out his part in Angel's scheme to destroy the
Circle Of The Black Thorn . This included betraying and murdering long time enemy turned ally
Lindsey McDonald , who in his final words muttered at the unfairness of being killed by Lorne and not his longtime rival Angel.
In his final scene, after shooting Lindsey with a silenced pistol, a disgusted and broken Lorne walks off into the darkness.
Lorne can read people's auras, and their futures. He uses this power to set them on their path in life. He can also read their thoughts and emotions when he does this. He has excellent hearing, and can hear outside the normal human range. Lorne seems to be immune to the intoxicating effects of normal alcohol, but is effected by certain magical brews. He can also generate tones painful to human hearing, and at the right frequency to cause light bulbs to shatter and spark.
Lorne never embarked in any notable romantic relationships during his time on the show. Due to his flamboyant appearance and his flirting with Angel (although he flirted with nearly every main character on the show), many fans speculated that Lorne was in fact
Gay . The series never made any claims about Lorne's sexuality and Hallett himself intentionally left it vague; saying that Lorne loved "all humans". However, because Lorne is from an alternate dimension where even his own mother has a beard, the traditional norms of gender and sexuality can not really apply. Nevertheless, the character worked well as a metaphor for any misunderstood
Outcast with his poor treatment by his family and those who believe all demons are inherently evil frighteningly similar to the homophobic mentality.
Lorne has appeared in:
''
Angel ''
Lorne became a series regular in the show's fourth and fifth seasons. He appeared in the opening credits from the season four episode, ''Release''. He appeared in 76 episodes overall. He has made guest appearances in the episodes:
Season 2 (2000, 2001) - ''Judgment'', ''First Impressions'', ''Dear Boy'', ''Guise Will Be Guise'', ''The Trial'', ''Redefinition'', ''Happy Anniversary'', ''Reprise'', ''Epiphany'', ''Disharmony'', ''Dead End'', ''Belonging'', ''Over The Rainbow'', ''Through The Looking Glass'', ''There's No Place Like Plrtz Glrb''.
Season 3 (2001, 2002) - ''Heartthrob'', ''That Vision Thing'', ''That Old Gang Of Mine'', ''Fredless'', ''Offspring'', ''Lullaby'', ''Dad'', ''Birthday'', ''Provider'', ''Waiting In The Wings'', ''Couplet'', ''Sleep Tight'', ''Forgiving'', ''Double Or Nothing'', ''The Price'', ''A New World'', ''Benediction'', ''Tomorrow''.
Season 4 (2002, 2003) - ''Deep Down'', ''The House Always Wins'', ''Slouching Towards Bethlehem'', ''Supersymmetry'', ''Spin The Bottle'', ''Apocalypse Nowish'', ''Habeas Corpses'', ''Long Day's Journey'', ''Awakening'', ''Soulless'', ''Calvary'', ''Salvage''.
