Innocence

Season 2, Episode 14 (Episode 26 of entire series)

This episode marks the fall of Angel and Angel's return to evil! Buffy's and Angel's consummation led to a true moment of happiness, and the soul he was cursed with was removed. Yow! Also good continuity from the episode Halloween, where Xander is concerned. Oz tells Willow some romantic-type stuff, and Buffy and Co. bring about the demise of The Judge. This episode also marks the first time we see tension between Spike and Angel. Plus, Jenny Calendar outs herself as a gypsy to Giles and Buffy. Wow. wow. Wow.

Picks up where Surprise left off. Buffy awakens to find herself alone in Angel's bed, and we see Angel doubled over in pain near an alley. Also we see Dru having a vision about Angel. Turns out that Angel's moaning has alerted a chick in the alley, who goes over to help him. He says he's fine, then whips around to bite her. Angelus is back, baby!

Meanwhile, Buffy goes home and runs into her mom, who wonders if something's wrong. Buffy's alarmed because she thinks her mom may figure out that she wasn't at Willow's last nite. The gang's in the library, fretting about Buffy's whereabouts. Xander and Willow are ready to go to the factory to rescue her when she walks into the library. She tells the gang that the Judge is active, and that he's a force to be reckoned with.

Spike and Dru are waiting for the Judge to finish "preparing" so they can go destroy the world. Spike asks Dru what she saw regarding Angel..and in pops Angel, all smart-assy and cool. It takes a minute for Spike and Dru to realize that Angel is now soul-less. They find out when the Judge says that "there's no humanity in him." Dru's happy to have her sire back, and Spike is glad at first since it'll mean an easier time of beating the Slayer. Spike learns that Angel plans to torment Buffy, much like he tormented Dru.

Buffy's worried about Angel since no one's heard from him, and she goes to his place. There she's greeted by Mr. Insensitive Creep --yeah, you know he's just going by Angelus now -- but she doesn't realize that he's soul-less. He makes fun of her technique and pretty much is a jerk to her regarding the whole sex issue.

Meanwhile, Jenny's been to visit her uncle, and she learns that Angel may have lost his soul if he achieved one moment of happiness. Her uncle does a spiel about vengeance, and Jenny leaves.

Meanwhile, the gang's still researching how to take down the Judge, and Willow happens upon Cordy and Xander in a clinch. She's disgusted and horrified, and flees the scene with Xander chasing her. They have words in the hallway and Willow leaves.

Basically what happens is Willow comes back, she tells Xander things aren't okay between them, but the Judge prob is bigger than this. Xander has a plan and then a wiggins, and Angel appears in the shadows. He tells Willow to come towards him and sends Xander off to get the others. Jenny appears with a cross and tells Willow to walk away from Angel. Xander comes back, and they all witness Vamp-Out, Angel-style. Buffy shows up and tells Angel to deal with her, and he informs her that he wants to kill all her friends. Then he smooches her and takes off.

Back in the library, everyone's wigging. Buffy leaves, Xander tells them he has a plan, and we see Buffy go home and cry herself to sleep. She dreams of Angel who must never take a holiday; I mean, he even delivers cryptic messages in her sleep! Buffy sees Jenny in her dream and figures out the connection. She bursts into the computer room at school the next day and forces Jenny to dish the dirt. Jenny explains about the curse loophole and Buffy says that Jenny should recurse him. When she says she can't, Buffy tells her to take her to someone who can.

Next stop, the Uncle's room. Angel's come to kill him. It was probably gory.

Meanwhile, Xander's plan is put into action; he and Cordy sneak into an army base to steal a weapon while Willow and Oz are waiting outside in Oz's van. The big convo. between Willow and Oz happens, (See Willow and Oz Story Arc), and the gang makes off with the weapon. Xander delivers the weapon to Buffy, Buffy barks at Ms. Calendar to "get out" and the gang takes off for the warehouse.

After coming up empty at the warehouse, they head towards a mall/movie complex and Buffy takes out the Judge. Then she and Angel wail on each other, and although she can't yet kill him, she can and does do some damage below Angel's belt. Later Giles drives Buffy home, tells her he supports and respects her, and that's about it. Last scene? Buffy and Joyce are watching an old movie, Joyce gives Buffy a birthday cupcake and the whole scene is pretty solemn. Talk about your lousy birthdays.

1. Buffy used a big weapon from the army to blow the Judge to bits.
2. Buffy and Angel fought, she kicked him in the pelvic area, and left.

1. Xander retained all of the army knowledge he had in Halloween.
2. Angel's got no humanity left in him at all.
3. Vampires kill people; according to Spike, it's their "raison d'etre."
4. Oz can wait for Willow to smooch him in a non-empty way.