Throwback Tuesday: Dark Angel

Over this past weekend, the El Rey Network aired a marathon of all 43 episodes of the 2000-2002 TV series Dark Angel that starred Jessica Alba as Max Guevara, a genetically-enhanced super-soldier who escaped from a covert facility known as Manticore, who ends up living in a post-apocalyptic Seattle where she tries to live a normal life while eluding those seeking to get her back and find her brothers and sisters who also escaped.

The cast of the show for its two seasons on the air included Michael Weatherly (NCIS), Jensen Ackles (Supernatural), Kevin Durand (Lost and The Strain), Richard Gunn (Granite Flats), Alimi Ballard (CSI), Martin Cummins (When Calls the Heart), J.C. MacKenzie (Hemlock Grove), Ashley Scott (Jericho), Valerie Rae Miller (Reaper) and veteran actor John Savage.

In watching much of that marathon over a relaxing weekend, it dawned of me just how many guest stars on Dark Angel eventually made their way onto the Sci-Fi Channel (now Syfy) hit series Battlestar Galactica as well as many other sci-fi/fantasy and other dramatic series.

First, let’s take a look at just some of those Battlestar Galactica (BSG)-Dark Angel alums:

Left to Right: Aaron, Alessandro, Kandyse and Ty

Aaron Douglas – He had a small role in a season two episode of Dark Angel, playing a clerk at a seeding hotel while he played the series regular role of Chief Galen Tyrol (also one of the humanoid Cylons) on BSG.

Alessandro Juliani – He appeared as Druid in the first season of Dark Angel while he played Lt. Felix Gaeta on BSG.

Kandyse McClure – She played Annie Fisher, the blind neighbor and love interest of Joshua (Durand) in season two of Dark Angel while she portrayed Petty Officer (later Lt.) Anastasia Dualla, the wife of Lee “Apollo” Adama (series regular Jamie Bamber) on BSG.

Ty Olsson – He appeared briefly in two episodes of Dark Angel while playing Captain Aaron Kelly on the BSG series and Osiris Helmsman in the Blood & Chrome TV movie.

Left to Right: Grace, Tahmoh, Ryan and Rekha

Grace Park – She appeared briefly in the season two premiere episode of Dark Angel while having the series regular role of Lt. Sharon “Boomer” Valerii on BSG.

Tahmoh Penikett – He had a small role in what would serve as the series finale of Dark Angel and played the series regular role of Lt. Karl “Helo” Agathon on BSG.

Ryan Robbins – He appeared as Arnie Haas in two episodes of Dark Angel while he played Charlie Connor in seven episodes of BSG.

Rekha Sharma – On Dark Angel she had the recurring role of Coroner Beverly Shankar while she was Tory Foster (one of the humanoid Cylons) on BSG.

Left to Right: Sebastian, Keegan, Sam and Rick

Sebastian Spence – He played Charles Smith in one episode of Dark Angel and then went on to portray Lt. Noel “Narcho” Allison on BSG.

Keegan Connor Tracy – She appeared as Rain in the same episode as Sam Witwer (see below) while she played Jeanne in a little over a handful of BSG episodes.

Sam Witwer – He played the Manticore “vampire” named Marrow on Dark Angel while he played the ill-fated Crashdown on BSG.

Rick Worthy – He appeared as Lt. Clemente in the very last episode of Dark Angel while he portrayed Simon, the “doctor” who experimented on Starbuck (series regular Katee Sackhoff), on BSG.

And then there are the following more recognizable faces who appeared on Dark Angel and then showed up on other notable dramas and box office films:

Left to Right: Nicki, Cameron, Chris and Jesse

Nicki Aycox – She was in the season finale of the first season of Dark Angel, playing X5 Syl, but she is best known for playing Meg on Supernatural.

Cameron Bright – He was a little boy when he appeared as the adopted son of Max’s clone in a second season episode of Dark Angel and then went on to appear in Stargate: SG-1 and the Canadian series Motive as well as the movies X-Men: The Last Stand and The Twilight Saga franchise.

Chris Gauthier – He had a blink and you’ll miss him role in a season one episode of Dark Angel and later appeared in the popular recurring role of Vincent in Eureka as well as roles in the short-lived Harper’s Island and roles in Once Upon a Time and Smallville.

Jesse Hutch – He appeared as a mermaid man in a season two episode of Dark Angel and has since gone on to appear in Arrow, Kyle XY and most recently Cedar Cove.

Left to Right: Tyler, Meghan, Lauren and Samantha

Tyler Labine – He actually appeared in two different roles on Dark Angel, as a messenger in the pilot episode and as Cyril the Biochemist in a second season episode; and he has gone on to star in the short-lived Invasion, the fan favorite Reaper and the online series Deadbeat.

Meghan Ory – She was in a season two episode of Dark Angel and went on to appear as Ruby/Red Riding Hood on Once Upon a Time and the short-lived drama Intelligence.

Lauren Lee Smith – She was Sketchy’s fiancée on the pilot episode of Dark Angel and later starred in the syndicated series Mutant X and more recently the three-night Syfy event series Ascension.

Samantha Smith – She was in one episode of the first season of Dark Angel and is best known for being the mom and Sam and Dean (Jared Padalecki and Ackles) on Supernatural.

Kristin Bauer van Straten – She appeared in the pilot episode of Dark Angel as an unwanted paramour of Sketchy (Gunn) and, of course, appeared as Pam De Beaufort on True Blood and is now Maleficent on Once Upon a Time.

Rainn Wilson – He appeared in a season one episode of Dark Angel, as the odd-ball Phil who provided Logan with his eko-skeleton; and, of course, went on to appear in the popular comedy The Office and will be seen in the new FOX drama Backstrom.

Colin Cunningham and Sarah Carter – They both appeared in one episode each of the second season of Dark Angel and went on to star alongside each other as Pope and Maggie (respectively) on Falling Skies.

Enuka Okuma and Missy Peregrym – They also appeared in separate episodes of the second season of Dark Angel and then went on to star alongside each other as Traci and Andy (respectively) on the Canadian cop drama Rookie Blue.

Did you watch Dark Angel for the two seasons it was on FOX? What did you like best about the show? Do you miss the series? Please share your thoughts on Dark Angel below.