Angel

Joss Whedon, co-creator of The WB’s Angel, told SCI FI Wire that former Buffy the Vampire Slayer supporting player Mercedes McNab (Harmony) will join the cast as a recurring player in the upcoming fifth season, one of many changes coming up. McNab’s Harmony and a second as-yet-uncast new recurring female character will join James Marsters’ Spike on the show, Whedon added in an interview at The WB’s fall press preview.

"Well, Spike and Harmony do have a history," Whedon said, referring to the vampire duo’s steamy affair on Buffy. "But that doesn’t mean they’ll necessarily hook up. It just means we love Mercedes, and we want to see more of her."

As for how Marsters’ character-who met a fiery end in the Buffy series finale last May-comes back, Whedon remained silent. "I can’t really give you much of a hint [as to how Spike will be integrated into the show], except that badly would be the word," Whedon said. "Because he sticks out like a sore thumb, which is exactly what we always hire him to do. I see him not fitting in. And that’s exactly what they need right now. Because, although they all have their separate agendas, to an extent, they’re a team. And when you’re a team, you need somebody to come in and f—k up the team."

In the coming fifth season, Angel will move out of its hotel set into a swanky, new set representing the Wolfram & Hart law firm, where Whedon said to look for West-Wing style camera movements. Whedon added that big changes are in store for the character of Charles Gunn, played by J. August Richards-a transformation that was foreshadowed in last season’s finale. "Yeah, he’s going to go through some interesting changes," Whedon said. "And again, we’ll find out early on what it is, but not exactly what it means. But, yeah, you know, Gunn is somebody that we felt was a little underutilized. J.’s an amazing actor. And we thought Wolfram & Hart would be the perfect venue to find a new side of him. So we’re shaking it up." Angel will return to its regular timeslot, Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT, in the fall.