This 26-Year-Old Angel Episode is Still The Most Disturbing in the Show (& For Good Reason)

by

As a huge fan of both shows, I always found it fascinating how Angel really carved its own path after spinning off from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. It wasn’t just a change of scenery – moving the action to Los Angeles – but a real shift in mood. Angel got much darker and more serious, and honestly, some of the episodes were genuinely terrifying – far more disturbing than anything Buffy usually offered. In fact, one of the most shocking and frightening episodes of the whole series aired surprisingly early, right in the middle of the first season.

Originally inspired by The Exorcist, the episode “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” actually presents an even more disturbing take on demonic possession. What starts as a familiar story quickly becomes much darker. By the end, the episode leaves a deeply unsettling impression, suggesting that Angel’s victory isn’t a true defeat of evil, and perhaps such a victory is unattainable.

“I’ve Got You Under My Skin” Begins with a Suspected Possession

The fourteenth episode started with a seemingly straightforward rescue. After Cordelia had a premonition, Angel rushed to a quiet neighborhood and saved a young boy, Ryan, from being hit by a car. While Ryan and his parents were safe, Angel and his team felt there was more to the situation than met the eye.

Powerful beings usually don’t get involved in everyday human problems like car accidents, and this family is acting strangely, appearing secretive and anxious. The father seems unfriendly, suggesting Ryan might have been trying to get away from abuse. Given everything, Angel Investigations decides to look closer and discovers evidence that someone is possessed by a demon.

Angel quickly believes the father is the one being harmed, and fears a demonic force is controlling him while he abuses his family. To confirm this, they devise a plan to secretly put a magical powder in the family’s dinner, hoping it will force the demon to show itself.

Dinner with Angel and the Andersons is awkward, and Angel carefully makes sure everyone tastes the brownies he brought. The powder Angel used works, but surprisingly, it turns out Ryan is the one who’s possessed. This discovery, shown with some frightening imagery as the demon inside Ryan appears, leads into the truly scary events that make up the rest of the episode.

The episode “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” has a lot in common with the movie The Exorcist. Both stories show possession through pale skin and facial cuts. Similar to The Exorcist, the possessed character in this episode speaks with a strange, unnatural voice. Although the core idea is familiar, the mystery woven into the episode makes it more exciting and builds suspense.

Because Angel and the viewers joined the situation late, they’re left trying to figure out what actually occurred. The actors playing the family also give compelling performances, suggesting a troubled history that remains largely a mystery. Ryan’s father seems worn out and struggles to keep his anger in check.

The children’s mother is understandably devastated, deeply worried about Ryan’s safety, and desperately hoping for a positive outcome. As the exorcism begins, viewers become completely engrossed in the family’s plight, fearing for Ryan’s well-being and the fate of everyone involved.

Like the movie it’s based on, this episode is especially frightening because a child is both the victim and the cause of terrible violence. The makeup, visuals, and sound design also build suspense. By the middle of “I’ve Got You Under My Skin,” Ryan looks so different it’s easy to believe something evil is hiding inside him.

The Demon Taps into Every Character’s Fears

The story “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” is a truly frightening tale because it builds on events and past experiences within the series, specifically the characters’ emotional wounds. The demon’s ability to read minds allows it to exploit the fears and regrets of those trying to banish it, not only increasing the danger for everyone involved but also sowing discord and turning them against each other.

Though this episode mostly focuses on a standalone adventure and isn’t directly tied to the ongoing battle with Wolfram and Hart, it’s important for developing Angel and his team. Following the events in “Hero” and Wesley’s arrival in “Parting Gifts,” everyone is challenged to deal with what’s recently happened.

When the team starts the exorcism, led by Wesley, Angel is haunted by Doyle’s death and worried about putting another friend in danger. At the same time, Wesley is dealing with being fired by the Watcher’s Council because of his actions in Sunnydale during the last season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

He feels like a failure and is struggling with a difficult, demanding job. A demon takes advantage of his self-doubt, luring him into a dangerous situation where he’s nearly killed – impaled with a cross. Despite the dark events, the story does offer some lighter, humorous moments.

Cordelia goes to Rick’s Majick n’ Stuff looking for a box made by “blind Tibetan monks,” but ends up with one made by “mute Chinese nuns” – a funny moment that likely provides some relief for viewers. Despite this lighter touch, the episode is mostly filled with suspense and fear, keeping both the characters and the audience on edge.

Once the exorcism works and the demon is banished, it seems the nightmare is over. All that’s left is to destroy the now-physical evil, which the two main characters are well-equipped to handle. This is where the episode takes an unexpected turn, setting “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” apart from typical Exorcist copycats and making it one of the most unsettling episodes of Angel.

The True Evil of the Episode Is a Shocking Twist

Angel and Wesley were surprised to find the Ethros demon actually wanted to die. He hadn’t chosen to inhabit Ryan’s body – he’d been stuck there against his will.

When the demon moved in, it was horrified to discover that Ryan didn’t have a soul. The seemingly innocent child was actually a psychopath, completely lacking a conscience, empathy, or any sense of goodness. It turned out the boy, not the demon, was responsible for all the terrible events that had been troubling the family, and the demon had simply been trying to get away.

The episode alternates between this shocking discovery and a terrifying scene at the Anderson house, where Ryan is preparing to set his sleeping sister on fire. The relief viewers previously felt vanishes, and characters must urgently return to the family to try and stop him.

Even though Ryan is stopped and his sister is saved, the story ends with a heavy and unsettling feeling. The Anderson family is safe now that the truth is revealed, but they’ll all be deeply affected by what happened. It’s unclear how Ryan’s sister will recover from her brother’s actions, or how their parents will deal with the fact that he’s capable of such evil.

It’s important to remember that ordinary people are capable of awful acts. While Angel often dealt with supernatural evil, the most unsettling episode wasn’t about monsters – it focused on a completely human threat. The show’s scares from demons and possessions were effective, but it was the unexpected twist that truly made that particular episode stand out.

This unsettling episode of Angel felt particularly relevant and frightening, dealing with a horror that everyone experiences in life. It was a strong and fitting installment in the show‘s consistently dark and realistic tone.

5 Questions
Unmasking Evil: Test Your Knowledge of Angel’s Chilling Possession Tale
Your Top Score
—
Attempts
—
0
0
Report Error

Found an error? Send it so it can be corrected.

Read More

2026-04-22 06:39