I Will Remember You (Angel)

"I Will Remember You" is a song featured in the second season of the television series Angel, a spin-off of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The song is performed by Sarah McLachlan, and its use in the Angel episode of the same name significantly impacts the narrative and emotional core of the story.

The song's inclusion is diegetic, meaning it exists within the reality of the television show. Angel (David Boreanaz) and Buffy Summers (Sarah Michelle Gellar) share a day together in Los Angeles after Buffy makes a trip to visit. During this time, Angel accidentally absorbs Buffy's temporary superhuman strength, making him invulnerable and unable to be near her without risking her safety.

"I Will Remember You" plays over a montage of Angel and Buffy spending their final moments together before Angel seeks a way to reverse the effects of absorbing her strength. The song underscores the bittersweet nature of their situation: they are finally able to be close and experience a normal day, but it is ultimately fleeting and unattainable in the long term due to Angel's vampire nature and the threats they constantly face.

The lyrics of the song, dealing with themes of loss, memory, and enduring love despite separation, resonate deeply with the characters' circumstances. The song amplifies the sense of sacrifice and acceptance that defines their relationship, as Angel chooses to give up his brief experience of normalcy and Buffy's strength in order to protect her and maintain the world's balance.

The episode and the song's use within it are considered particularly poignant and memorable by fans of both Angel and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, contributing to the show's exploration of mature themes and complex relationships. The song's association with the episode often evokes feelings of longing, sacrifice, and the enduring power of memory within the context of the Buffyverse.