You're obviously a lot more anti-Angel than I. ;) I don't see the manipulation at all - I see a guy in love for the first time in 200+ years and too weak to walk away until he is prodded by everyone.
That's not to say that he's perfect - he refuses to accept Buffy's break-up in 'Lovers Walk' initially, and the way he makes decisions for both of them because he thinks he has to is not very nice.
That said, the "Are you still my girl?" comes after pretending to be Angelus to see if Faith really has working for the Mayor, and Buffy was seriously wigged after the all the smooches. She needed 'some space' and Angel was desperate to know that their relationship wasn't broken - or rather, that her love hadn't gone away.
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That's not to say that he's perfect - he refuses to accept Buffy's break-up in 'Lovers Walk' initially, and the way he makes decisions for both of them because he thinks he has to is not very nice.
That said, the "Are you still my girl?" comes after pretending to be Angelus to see if Faith really has working for the Mayor, and Buffy was seriously wigged after the all the smooches. She needed 'some space' and Angel was desperate to know that their relationship wasn't broken - or rather, that her love hadn't gone away.