15 Best Buffy The Vampire Slayer Episodes
9. Becoming (Season 2, Episodes 21 & 22)
"Even if you see 'em coming, you're not ready for the big moments."
Buffy and Angel's season two arc is one of the show's most excruciating and brilliantly written plotlines, with all of its emotional power coming to a head in the epic two-part finale, Becoming.
Teaming up with Spike, Buffy mounts one last attack against her former flame, knowing what she has to do. Meanwhile, Willow and the others take part in a ritual which may restore Angel's soul, meaning Buffy won't have to kill him.
In a tragic twist of fate, the ritual works, only for Buffy to kill Angel anyway after a heartfelt goodbye. It's one of the show's most devastating moments, ending with Buffy leaving town to deal with what she's done.
Like all the best Buffy episodes, Becoming shows just how far Buffy is willing to go to see her duty through, even if she's not fully able to deal with the consequences.