In Angel Season 2, Episode 12, “Blood Money,” the war escalates. The body count rises. And Angel finally feels the consequences.

Angel’s scorched-earth campaign against Wolfram & Hart draws a brutal response. When an assassin known as the Lockley Slayer is unleashed, the cost of Angel’s isolation becomes painfully clear. His mission may be righteous—but the collateral damage is mounting, and the people he pushed away are paying the price.

Meanwhile, Cordelia, Wesley, and Gunn struggle to protect themselves without the man they once trusted, Lindsey tightens his grip on the board, and the line between justice and vengeance blurs even further. This is the episode where Angel learns that going it alone doesn’t make you stronger—it just makes you easier to hurt.

Redemption isn’t free.

And the invoice is written in blood.

In Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 5 Episode 12, “Checkpoint,” The Watcher’s Council returns. Buffy runs the meeting. And the power dynamic finally snaps.

The Watcher’s Council storms back into Buffy’s life with demands, tests, and that familiar air of condescension—only this time, things go very differently. As Buffy learns more about Glory and what she’s truly up against, she also realizes something crucial: she doesn’t answer to them anymore.

What follows is one of the most satisfying confrontations in the entire series. Buffy doesn’t yell. She doesn’t fight. She simply states facts—and in doing so, reclaims her agency as the Slayer. It’s a turning point not just for Season 5, but for Buffy as a character.

This is the episode where Buffy stops asking for permission.

And the Council finally understands who holds the power.

Angel is gone.

Something colder is wearing his face.

And the rules no longer apply.

In “Redefinition,” Angel’s shocking turn in Reunion isn’t undone—it’s doubled down on. Cutting himself off from Cordelia, Wesley, and Gunn, Angel steps fully into a morally gray war against Wolfram & Hart. He lies. He manipulates. He hurts people he cares about. And for the first time, the line between hero and monster feels dangerously thin.

Meanwhile, Cordelia and Wesley are left reeling, Gunn is pushed to the margins, and Lindsey realizes—far too late—that Angel isn’t playing the game anymore. He’s trying to burn it down from the inside.

This is not a redemption story.

This is a redefinition of what fighting evil might cost.