Throughout its seven seasons, Buffy the Vampire Slayer was known for surprising twists, but one stands out as particularly impactful. The show didn’t hesitate to shock audiences with big reveals and heartbreaking moments – like the introduction of Dawn and her true identity, Joyce Summers’ death, Tara Maclay’s murder, Buffy and Spike’s relationship, and the return of the First Evil. These twists created some of the series’ most memorable episodes, and one of the earliest major surprises is a perfect example of this.
In January 1998, Buffy the Vampire Slayer aired a memorable two-part episode: “Surprise” on January 19th, followed by “Innocence” the next day. These episodes form a single, powerful story—considered by many to be among the series’ most shocking and heartbreaking—where Angel loses his soul after being intimate with Buffy, transforming him into the villainous Angelus.
Angel Becoming Angelus Was One Of Buffy’s Greatest Twists
The episode “Surprise” opens with Buffy having a dream about Drusilla, which is a smart way to set the stage for what’s to come. This dream sequence is cleverly revisited throughout the episode as Buffy experiences more visions that start to become reality. This builds a strong sense of unease and dread, and it happens alongside the increasing romantic tension between Buffy and Angel. The way these two storylines – the growing fear and the budding romance – are interwoven is intentional, because their connection culminates in a particularly shocking moment after they become intimate.
David Boreanaz is fantastic in this episode, seamlessly shifting between Angel’s typical serious demeanor and a truly gleeful villain. His portrayal of Angelus is exceptionally cruel, and that cruelty is powerfully contrasted by Sarah Michelle Gellar’s performance, which conveys both confusion and deep pain. The episode brilliantly showcases not only the tragic romance between Angel and Buffy, but also the idea that fate and love aren’t always compatible.
As a huge movie and TV fan, what always struck me about this show is how brilliantly it used monsters to represent the messiness of teenage relationships and growing up. The moment Angel turned evil after being with Buffy was particularly powerful. It wasn’t just about sex; it came from a place of genuine happiness and love, which made the betrayal even more heartbreaking. Honestly, that event completely changed the show, pushing it to a whole new level of storytelling that I hadn’t seen before on TV. It felt like a real turning point.
The show started as a lighthearted vampire series, but after the episodes “Surprise” and “Innocence” (especially with the events of the latter), it took a much more serious and dramatic turn. It went from following typical TV and genre conventions to becoming a true tragedy where anything could happen. The impact of this turning point was crucial; later plot twists wouldn’t have been as effective without the emotional weight and shocking events established here.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer is available to stream on Hulu.
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2026-01-19 21:10