Here is a very simple example of what I am trying to do Athlete.save(athlete,function(result) { $scope.athlete = result.athlete; }); The issue is that the $scope.athlete variable does not update in my view. In order to get it to update I have to do this Athlete.save(athlete,function(result) { $scope.athlete.fname = result.athlete.fname; $scope.athlete.lname= result.athlete.lname; $scope.athlete.gender= result.athlete.gender; .... }); This gets annoying very quickly. With the first block of code it's as if angular does not know that my $scope.athlete variable has been updated. This function is triggered from an ng-click, not some jquery call, I am doing it the angular way as far as I know. here is a simpler case I made: http://plnkr.co/edit/lMCPbzqDOoa5K4GXGhCp