Darla

As flashbacks document the tangled history between Angel (David Boreanaz) and Darla (Julie Benz), Angel tries to save his newly resurrected, now-human sire from Wolfram & Hart -- and from her own desire to become a vampire again. The vague stirrings of her newborn soul lead Darla to seek Angel's help, but lawyer Holland Manners (Sam Anderson) keeps her a virtual prisoner. With assistance from reluctant ally Lindsey McDonald (Christian Kane), Angel rescues Darla but refuses to turn her into a vampire, so she flees. In flashbacks, Darla is seen as a mortal in Virginia in 1609 -- a syphilitic prostitute turned into a vampire by ancient and powerful bloodsucker The Master (Mark Metcalf). Other scenes depict the first meeting between Angel and The Master; the bloody antics of Angel and Darla with Drusilla (Juliet Landau) and Spike (James Marsters); Darla murdering the gypsies who cursed Angel with a soul; and the soul-stricken Angel trying and failing to reunite with Darla during the Boxer Rebellion in China. Back in the present, the lawyers of Wolfram & Hart manipulate Darla into returning to Angel, with whom she engages in a long philosophical debate about pain, suffering, and redemption. Frightened and weak, she flees again, ordering Angel not to follow. Originally broadcast November 14, 2000, on the WB network, "Darla" marked season two, episode seven of the supernatural comedy drama. Spike is a regular character on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, while The Master has served as villain for several episodes of that series, most notably the entire first season.