15 Best Angel Episodes
4. A Hole In The World (Season 5, Episode 15)
"There's a hole in the world. Feels like we ought to have known."
A Hole in the World easily rivals Buffy's The Body as the franchise's most emotionally devastating episode. After investigating a strange sarcophagus in Wolfram and Hart's science lab, Fred Burkle finds herself infected with an unknown substance that slowly begins to kill her. The rest of the gang race to save her, with varying results.
Angel and Spike venture to England, where they find the mythical Deeper Well and learn the only way to save Fred is to let thousands of people die. Gunn learns the sarcophagus was put in the lab because he signed for it. And Wesley, having just gotten together with Fred, stays by her side as she slowly fades away.
A Hole in the World comes with shock after shock, ending with Fred's body being taken over the ancient demon Illyria. It's full of action, it's harsh, it's funny, and it's cruel. It's also one of the best episodes of the show.
On a happier note, the episode does start with Angel and Spike arguing about who would win in a fight - cavemen or astronauts. So it's not all sad...