This episode is so appropriate considering Season 8.


It’ll happen again in Becoming II.

I never thought Angel was lying about that. As shown in Becoming Part I when he first gets his soul restored, he's very confused about what's happening. I think it takes a while for him to get his bearings. So the comparison doesn't quite play out for me. Xander is clearly lying while I think Angel is genuinely bewildered, but will remember if given enough time.