Angel turned bad and reverted to his infamous vampire persona, Angelus, due to a specific condition tied to the Romani curse that restored his soul. A moment of true happiness was the catalyst that ripped his soul away, unleashing his evil side.
The Curse of Angelus
For over a century, Angel was a soulless, brutal vampire known as Angelus. After murdering a Romani girl, her tribe cursed him by restoring his soul, tormenting him with the guilt of his past atrocities. This curse bound him, preventing him from experiencing genuine happiness.
The Fatal Condition
The terms of the Romani curse stipulated that if Angel were to experience a moment of true, unadulterated happiness, his soul would be instantly ripped from him, transforming him back into the cruel, sadistic Angelus. This condition was designed to ensure his perpetual suffering, as any attempt at a normal, joyful existence would inevitably lead to his undoing.
The Trigger: A Moment of Pure Happiness
The pivotal moment that led to Angel's transformation occurred when he made love with Buffy Summers. This was a profound experience of intimacy and joy for him, fulfilling the condition of the ancient curse.
- Instantaneous Pain: Immediately after this shared moment of happiness, Angel was racked with agonizing pain as his soul was violently ripped from his body.
- Reversion to Evil: Without his soul, Angel fully reverted to Angelus, losing all remorse, empathy, and the heroic qualities he had developed.
- Immediate Malice: The change was instantaneous and evident in his actions. For instance, he killed a passer-by in the street who simply offered to help him, demonstrating his immediate return to murderous depravity.
- Reunion with Old Allies: Embracing his evil nature, Angelus sought out his former sadistic companions, Spike and Drusilla, at the factory. Even the powerful entity known as the Judge, designed to incinerate any being with a trace of humanity, was unable to harm him because Angel had completely transformed back into the purely evil Angelus.
This event marked a significant turning point, not only for Angel but for all those connected to him, as the threat of Angelus re-emerged with devastating consequences.
