Dear Boy

After the build-up of the past several episodes, Angel (David Boreanaz) finally comes face to face with Darla (Julie Benz), his vampire sire, who was recently resurrected by evil law firm Wolfram & Hart. As it turns out, however, she's been brought back as a human in an attempt to manipulate him into turning evil again. The entire reunion is staged by Darla and lawyer Lindsey McDonald (Christian Kane) as a cruel trap in which Angel is duped into thinking Darla may actually be someone else entirely -- a normal human woman named Diedra Cramer. The ruse even convinces Detective Kate Lockley (Elisabeth Rohm), who tries to protect "Diedra" from Angel. Eventually, Angel kidnaps Darla and she confesses all, attempting to seduce him and destroy his soul in the process. He warns her that as a human she has a soul now, too, and will experience endless regret for her 400 years of bloodshed as a vampire. Unconvinced, Darla declares, "God doesn't want you, but I still do," then escapes into the sunlight, leaving Angel despondent. Meanwhile, the rest of the crew learns about Darla's resurrection, and Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter) and Wesley (Alexis Denisof) must bring Gunn (J. August Richards) up to speed on Angel's propensity for reverting to the evil Angelus whenever he experiences a moment of true happiness (see Buffy the Vampire Slayer, "Innocence"). Flashbacks also chronicle Angelus and Darla's reign of terror in Victorian England and their corruption and vampirification of the delicate Drusilla (Juliet Landau). Originally broadcast October 24, 2000, on the WB network, "Dear Boy" marked season two, episode five of the supernatural comedy drama.