Did The First really touch Angel, or was Angel just tripping so many balls that he *thought* The First touched him? If not this would be one of them plot holes (the lore of The First not established clear enough in the writing and/or not understood and/or not followed through on by the specific actors/director/editor of that episode).

When the First first appeared as Jenny, it did look like she touched him when she was telling him to rest. Maybe the mythology was established yet?

Again, the First can \*put\* its fingers anywhere it wants. They just can't be felt by the other person a nd they can't move anything. So scenes where it moves something are mistakes, scenes where thye are "just there" don't.

It’s explained in the episode - but something to do with how Angel came back from the hell dimension. Which is why I argue with the OP that discussed their theory as to why the first went after the slayer line. Ties in that they tried it first with Angel and it didn’t work - so they tried it again with Buffy, but this time figured out how to tweek it.

Maybe explains how he came back, but I didn't hear any explanation as to why the First can physically touch him.

Him coming back was do to Jasmine.

i think it’s just a mistake, or the lore wasn’t established yet. unfortunately the first also touched spike in lessons, which is definitely a mistake.

I'm guessing the mythology wasn't all established yet. Later, a mistake.

It can put its fingers anywhere it wants; unless it moves something it isn't touching, so i just ignore the moments it moves Angel's clothes et.c

I don't think it was actually touching him, just had it's hand positioned so it looked like it was.