Becoming (part 1)

In which we witness Angel's past, despair for the future, and get really freaked out by Dru.

Official back-of-box synopsis:

A web of conspiracy, suspense and heartbreak surrounds Buffy as she determines the time has come to destroy Angel. Her destruction is complicated when Willow uncovers the secret that may restore him, but Angel would rather unearth the evil demon than return to Buffy.

From the old WB Buffy website:

PART 1 OF A HEART POUNDING SEASON FINALE -- A web of conspiracy, suspense and heart break surround the second season finale of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." Buffy determines the time has come to destroy Angel and must ascertain if she is ready to sacrifice all she knows to be true to do so, but her decision is further entangled when Willow uncovers the secret that may restore Buffy's former beloved. Elsewhere, Angel chooses to unearth an evil demon that could swallow the earth and all of the beings, rather than return to the arms of his former lover.

Links:

This episode's page at http://www.restlessbtvs.com/, the Restless BTVS Trivia Guide

This episode's page at http://www.vrya.net/bdb/, the Buffyverse Dialog Database

Cross-reference:

episodes in which other slayers die:

• Fool For Love
  In flashback, we see the death of Nikki and the unnamed Chinese Slayer
• this episode
  Kendra falls victim to Dru

episodes in which we learn the origin of major characters:

• Fool For Love
  The true story of Spike, not the one he tells
• Selfless
  Anya, the early years
• this episode
  Liam meets Darla in an alley in Galway

Cast:

• Sarah Michelle Gellar as Buffy
• Alyson Hannigan as Willow
• Nicholas Brendon as Xander
  

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• Anthony Stewart Head as Giles
• Charisma Carpenter as Cordelia
• David Boreanaz as Angel / Angelus
• Kristine Sutherland as Joyce
• Julie Benz as Darla
• Armin Shimerman as Principal Snyder
• James Marsters as Spike
• Juliet Landau as Drusilla
• Seth Green as Oz
• Bianca Lawson as Kendra
• Max Perlich as Whistler
• Jack McGee as Doug Perren
• Richard Riehle as Buffy's First Watcher
• Shannon Weller as Gypsy Woman
• Zitto Kazaan as Gypsy Man
• Ginger Williams as Girl
• Nina Gervitz as Teacher