The fifth episode of Fox’s thriller Memory of a Killer finally pulled back the curtain on Angelo Doyle’s past, and the answers explain so much about the man he has become. Titled “Betrayal,” the episode that aired on Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, took viewers five years into the past to show the exact moment Angelo’s life took a dark turn he could never reverse. The episode also made the danger he faces in the present feel more urgent than ever.
Patrick Dempsey’s hitman character has been hiding a lot since the series began. He juggles being a loving father to his pregnant daughter Maria (Odeya Rush) and a cold-blooded killer working for his old friend Dutch (Michael Imperioli) . But the biggest secret has always been why Angelo keeps working even though he clearly wants out. Episode 5 provided the heartbreaking answer.
The Flashback That Explains Everything
The structure of “Betrayal” was smart. It kept jumping between the present day, where Angelo is struggling with his early-onset Alzheimer’s symptoms, and a key moment from five years ago. In the present timeline, Angelo is on another assignment from Dutch, trying to complete a hit. But his failing memory causes him to suddenly recall that pivotal day from his past.
That day, five years ago, started with Angelo visiting his brother Michael (Richard Clarkin) . The scene took place at Dutch’s restaurant. Michael was playing the piano, and Angelo came to check on him. When Angelo mentioned he was planning to quit the hitman business for good, Michael’s reaction was not one of joy but of fear. Michael reminded Angelo what happened to the last person who tried to walk away from Dutch. “That’s what leaving looks like,” Michael told him, referring to a gruesome fate Angelo knew all too well.
The mood shifted completely when Angelo brought up a medical appointment. It was then that Michael revealed the truth. He had been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s. The news hit Angelo like a physical blow. Here was his brother, the person closest to him, facing a future of losing his mind. And Angelo’s dream of leaving the criminal world suddenly felt impossible.
The Life-Changing Decision
The episode’s title, “Betrayal,” makes sense after watching how things unfolded. Faced with his brother’s diagnosis, Angelo realized he could not walk away from Dutch. He needed the money to care for Michael. He needed the resources to put him in a good facility. More than that, he needed to keep Michael safe, and crossing Dutch was a death sentence, not just for Angelo but for everyone he loved.
Angelo made the choice to stay. He buried his desire for a normal life and committed fully to being Dutch’s most reliable asset. But the betrayal in this episode worked on multiple levels. By staying, Angelo felt he was betraying himself and his hope for a future with his family. He also had to betray his own moral compass, continuing to kill even though he hated it, all to protect a brother who would eventually forget who he was.
The flashback also clarified why Angelo has never told Dutch about his family. In the present day, Angelo’s late wife and daughter Maria remain a secret from Dutch. After seeing how Dutch operates and hearing Michael’s warning five years ago, Angelo knew that revealing his family would put them directly in the line of fire. Dutch uses people’s weaknesses against them, and family is the biggest weakness of all.
How the Past Connects to the Present
While Angelo was reliving this painful memory during his hit in the present day, the episode also showed how that past decision haunts him now. His brother Michael is in a care facility, largely unresponsive to the world. Angelo visits him regularly, sitting by his side even though Michael does not recognize him anymore.
The cruel twist is that Angelo is now showing the same symptoms. His memory lapses are getting worse. He forgets small things, and during the hit in this episode, the flashback was so vivid it disrupted his focus. The disease that took his brother’s mind is now taking his own. The sacrifice Angelo made five years ago, giving up his freedom to care for Michael, may have been for nothing if he ends up in the same condition.
The episode also reminded viewers of the immediate dangers Angelo faces. FBI Agent Linda Grant (Gina Torres) is getting closer to the truth. Dutch is unaware that Angelo’s memory is failing, which makes Angelo a liability. And someone attacked his daughter, meaning the wall between his two lives has already been broken.
Release Schedule and Streaming Details
For viewers who missed the broadcast, Memory of a Killer Episode 5 is available to stream on Hulu as of Feb. 24, 2026. The show airs live on Fox every Monday at 9 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. CT.
Here is the full remaining schedule for Season 1:
- Episode 5 “Betrayal”: Feb. 23 (already aired)
- Episode 6: March 2
- Episode 7: March 9
- Episode 8: March 16
- Episode 9: March 23
- Episode 10: March 30
The series has a total of 10 episodes in its first season.
Viewers in different regions can catch the show through various platforms. In the United States, it airs on Fox and streams the next day on Hulu. For those without cable, services like Fubo, DIRECTV, and Sling TV offer free trials or low-cost passes to watch the episodes live. In Australia, the series streams on Stan at the same time as the U.S. broadcast.
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What This Means for Angelo Going Forward
The events of “Betrayal” set up a very tense second half of the season. Angelo’s memory is his biggest enemy now. If he forgets something crucial during a job, Dutch will not forgive him. If he forgets to protect his identity, the FBI will catch him. And if he forgets the faces of the people threatening his daughter, Maria could pay the ultimate price.
The flashback also showed that Angelo has been running from his problems for five years. He stayed in a life he hated to protect his brother, but his brother is now gone in every way that matters. Angelo is still working for Dutch, still killing, and still hiding. The question the episode left viewers with is whether Angelo will finally try to escape again, or if he will accept that this life is all he has left.
With only five episodes remaining, the pace is only going to get faster. The Ferryman, the person who shot Maria, is still out there. Dutch’s patience is wearing thin. And Angelo’s mind is deteriorating. Every second counts now.
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