In the late 1990s, a groundbreaking television series emerged, forever altering the landscape of vampire TV series. “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” created by Joss Whedon, introduced audiences to the enigmatic Buffy Summers, a high school student with a destiny unlike the rest of her peers. Charged with the duty of battling the forces of darkness in her quaint hometown of Sunnydale, Buffy navigates her teen years trying to balance high school, relationships, and fighting vampires.
Thanks to the success Buffy had, the spin-off “Angel” was later released, featuring Angel and Cordelia and taking a darker and more mature turn.
Both of these shows hold significant cultural importance and are still relevant even two decades after their end. Viewers love to watch a young, up-and-coming Buffy kick vampires a$$, or Willow becoming a powerful witch. And a vampire with a soul? The Buffy universe certainly brought a fresh and innovative approach to the supernatural genre, blending elements of horror, comedy, drama, and romance into a captivating narrative tapestry.
Ranking The Best Characters in The Buffy Universe
With so many interesting and diverse characters in the Buffy-Angel universe, we can’t help but compare, analyze, and pick our favorites. So in this post, we are going to rank the top 10 best characters in “Buffy, the Vampire Slayer” and “Angel” and analyze their strengths and what sets them apart.
For this top, we are basing our choices on the traits that make each of them unique, on their likability, but most importantly, on the character arcs. The way the actors play also has an impact on our list. However, some of your favorite characters may not be in our top. Don’t get mad, this is just our opinion. So without any further fuss, let’s get into it.
#10 Rupert Giles
Our number 10 is Rupert Giles. Portrayed by actor Anthony Stewart Head, Giles serves as Buffy Summers’ Watcher, a mentor and guide who trains her in her duties as the Slayer. Giles is knowledgeable about demonology, magic, and occult lore, providing crucial support and guidance to Buffy and her friends in their fight against vampires, demons, and other supernatural threats. In other words, he is the “brain” of the gang.
Throughout the series, Giles evolves from a reserved and scholarly figure into a father figure for Buffy and the rest of the Scooby Gang, demonstrating his loyalty and dedication to their cause.
The most important strengths he brings into the “game” are:
- Knowledge and Expertise
- Mentorship
- Dedication and Loyalty – He is willing to make personal sacrifices and face danger head-on to protect them and ensure their success in battling against evil forces.
- Resourcefulness – He’s who you can count on for quick-thinking, creative solutions, and strategic planning.
#9 Willow Rosenberg
Initially introduced as Buffy Summers’ shy and bookish best friend, Willow (played by Alyson Hannigan) evolves throughout the series into a powerful and complex character. Gifted with great intelligence and an aptitude for witchcraft, Willow becomes an integral member of the Scooby Gang.
As she delves further into the world of witchcraft, her magical abilities grow exponentially. She evolves from a novice practitioner to one of the most powerful witches in the Buffyverse, mastering advanced spells and rituals to aid her friends in their battles against evil.
Her journey, however, is not an easy one. Perhaps the most dramatic transformation in Willow’s character comes during her descent into darkness in Season 6. After experiencing profound grief and loss, Willow taps into dark magic to seek vengeance, leading to a dangerous and destructive alter ego known as Dark Willow. This arc explores themes of addiction, power, and the consequences of unchecked rage.
Following her dark phase, Willow undergoes a journey of redemption and self-discovery. With the support of her friends, she confronts her inner demons and commits herself to using her powers for good.
#8 Fred Burkle
Winifred “Fred” Burkle (portrayed by actress Amy Acker) is introduced at the end of the second season of “Angel” and becomes a prominent member of the main cast.
Originally from Texas, Fred was trapped in a hell dimension called Pylea for five years before being rescued by Angel and his team. Despite her traumatic past, Fred retains her intelligence, kindness, and optimism. She possesses remarkable scientific expertise, particularly in physics and biology, which proves invaluable to Angel Investigations in their battles against supernatural threats.
Fred’s character arc involves her adjustment to life back on Earth, as well as her struggles with PTSD. She transforms from an awkward and shy young woman who needs saving into a confident and capable member of the Angel Investigations team. Over time, she forms close bonds with her colleagues, particularly with Wesley Wyndam-Pryce, with whom she develops a romantic relationship.
Compared to Giles, she is the natural genius type of character, while Giles is the intellectual, well-read, and experienced one.
#7 Charles Gunn
Charles Gunn, portrayed by actor J. August Richards, is introduced in the first season of “Angel”. He is a streetwise and resourceful vampire hunter who leads a team of demon-fighting vigilantes in the gritty underbelly of Los Angeles.
You may be wondering “why is Gunn better than Willow?” It’s a matter of opinions, of course, and we can’t help but be impressed by Gunn’s past and how he overcame poverty and adversity. He managed to survive on streets that were filled with supernatural danger, despite him being only human. And not only did he survive, but he built a small but incredibly brave street army that was prepared to take on any vampire and any challenge.
His fighting skills, sense of loyalty, and leadership qualities are what get Angel’s attention. Despite starting off on the wrong foot, with Angel being a vampire and all, case by case Gunn starts to form a close bond with Angel and his team. After all, they had the same mission of helping the helpless.
One of the most human characters on our list, Gunn also exhibits a no-nonsense attitude, which is the source of some entertaining and badass moments in the show.
#6 Angel
Portrayed by actor David Boreanaz, Angel begins his journey as a tormented vampire cursed with a soul, forced to grapple with the guilt and remorse of his past atrocities as the sadistic vampire Angelus. As Angelus, he was infamous for his cruelty and ruthlessness, delighting in inflicting pain upon his victims throughout centuries.
However, a Gypsy curse is inflicted upon him, restoring his soul and burdening him with the memories of his heinous deeds. With his newfound conscience, he dedicates himself to atoning for his sins by fighting against the forces of darkness and protecting the innocent.
Throughout both series, Angel undergoes significant character development and growth. He starts as a brooding and tormented figure burdened by his past sins, but over time, he learns to embrace his humanity. One of the biggest transformations is also the fact that he learns to work as part of a team united by the same mission.
As the series “Angel” progresses, he learns the importance of having a team by his side. Of not fighting alone. He becomes more humane by showing a wider range of emotions such as respect for his friends and wanting their respect as well. The person who plays the biggest role in his transformation is, in our opinion, Cordelia (NO, not Buffy!). She breaks the walls of his tortured persona and paves the way for him to loosen up and open up. Her presence brings lightness and humor to Angel’s life.
One of our favorite moments in the series is when Angel is desperate to regain Cordelia’s trust and forgiveness after he previously fired her, Wesley, and Gunn and disappeared from their lives. His attempts are probably the first time in the show that Angel shows emotions other than his usual broodiness. He cares about her feelings and what she feels and thinks about him matter to him.
#5 Spike
It was a close call between Angel and Spike, but in our opinion, Spike (played by actor James Marsters) is a slightly more nuanced character.
Also known as William the Bloody, Spike was originally introduced as a sadistic vampire known for his brutality and love of violence. Having already killed two Slayers, it’s no wonder he quickly became one of Buffy Summers’ most formidable adversaries.
However, his character undergoes significant development throughout the series. If he was purely bad in the beginning, over the seasons he becomes a morally ambiguous figure. You can’t quite place him in just one category anymore. He’s not all bad. Despite his violent tendencies and dark past, he demonstrates moments of compassion, selflessness, and genuine remorse, ultimately striving to atone for his sins and earn his soul.
What impresses us about Spike, and it’s what made the difference when putting him above Angel, is that he starts to become “good” out of his own free will. While Angel’s goodness is the product of a curse, Spike’s is the result of his own heart. And here’s the thing – in Buffyverse, all vampires are bad, they don’t have a soul. Yes, Angel has one, but that’s because he’d been cursed. But the general idea of the show is that vampires are innately evil.
So that’s why Spike’s sparks of goodness impress us so much and put him above Angel. Because the goodness doesn’t come from a spell or a curse. It comes from him. Buffy does play an immense role in his evolution though. Just like Cordelia plays in Angel’s. It’s his love-hate relationship with Buffy that ultimately leads to his redemption arc.
#4 Buffy Summers
Though a surprise for some, Buffy is not our number one pick. Portrayed by actress Sarah Michelle Gellar, Buffy starts the show as a young woman chosen to battle the forces of darkness, including vampires, demons, and other supernatural entities. Though a bit reluctant and preoccupied with teenage activities, we can tell that she possesses innate courage and a strong sense of morality.
Despite her rebellious faze and resenting her calling as the Slayer, Buffy was still a reliable force- something that we like about her character (we are kind of tired of the rebellious and irresponsible type of heroine). Throughout the series, however, she undergoes significant growth and development. She matures from a naive and insecure teenager into a confident and capable leader, learning to embrace her destiny as the Slayer and accept the sacrifices it entails.
If there is something we respect the most about Buffy, it’s her sense of sacrifice and duty. She gives up her dream of having a normal life, accepting that she can’t have that as a Slayer. She sacrifices romantic relationships, friendships, and opportunities for personal happiness in order to fulfill her responsibilities and protect the people she cares about.
Perhaps the most significant sacrifice Buffy makes as the Slayer is the willingness to risk her own life and confront death in order to save others. She faces countless dangerous situations and battles against powerful adversaries, risking everything to protect the innocent and uphold her duty as the Chosen One.
That being said, the reason Buffy is not our #1 is that this kind of growth, while admirable, is expected from a character like hers.
#3 Drusilla
This may be a bit unexpected, but we have to say that we are fascinated by Drusilla! In terms of acting, Juliet Landau takes the top spot, no doubt. In terms of characters, however, she takes the number three spot.
As you know, Drusilla is the one who sires Spike. For this reason, she holds a significant influence over him, shaping his beliefs, behavior, and loyalties. Despite their deep emotional connection, Drusilla and Spike’s relationship is fraught with jealousy and rivalry. For example, when they fight for dominance within their vampire “family”. Their relationship is a dark love story – they are two very different but equally destructive vampires who want the same thing: power.
As a character, Drusilla is depicted as a deeply disturbed and fragile figure, haunted by visions and prone to bouts of madness. She possesses psychic abilities, including precognition and the ability to perceive the future, which adds to her mystique and unpredictability.
Drusilla’s character is defined by her unpredictable and whimsical nature, as well as her sadistic tendencies and penchant for chaos. She revels in tormenting her victims and delights in spreading chaos and destruction wherever she goes.
Sure there are other vampires just as cruel, like Spike, Angelus, or Darla. But what sets Drusilla apart is the mystery and ambiguity she projects. How she carries herself oozing madness. Her presence alone is enough to scare us and her victims. She doesn’t even have to talk or do anything, because there’s something about her that scares the sh*t out of you.
Unlike Angel and Spike, Drusilla doesn’t evolve from bad to good. She stays true to her nature. But the uniqueness and the execution of the character is what got her #3 on our list.
#2 Wesley Wyndam-Pryce
There can only be two options for #1 and #2. The two characters that, in our opinion, evolved the most and have the most satisfying and visible transformations.
Wesley was first introduced in “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” during the third season, in the episode titled “Bad Girls” (Season 3, Episode 14). He arrives in Sunnydale as the replacement Watcher for Giles, who is fired by the Watchers’ Council due to his unorthodox methods. However, his by-the-book approach and lack of practical experience often clash with Buffy’s more intuitive and unconventional methods. In the end, Wesley’s ineffectiveness as a Watcher and his inability to adapt lead to his dismissal from the Watchers’ Council.
Though we may not have thought much of him in the beginning due to his bumbling, awkward, and officious demeanor, Wesley undergoes one of the most impressive changes in the Buffyverse. Even when he first appears in Angel, he’s still his usual clumsy and ineffective man we know from Buffy. He was the character no one took seriously and made fun of.
The biggest turnaround, however, comes after Angel fires him, Cordelia, and Gunn and leaves them to deal with the cases of Angel Investigations. Faced with the possibility of dissolving the group, Wesley is the one who steps up and assumes the role of the leader. The transition from a clumsy employee to a capable leader is smooth and doesn’t happen overnight. But in the end, when you compare Wesley before and Wesley after, the evolution is enormous.
#1 Cordelia Chase
There is no doubt in our mind that Cordelia Chase deserves the number one spot on this list. Portrayed by actress Charisma Carpenter, Cordelia starts off as a stereotypical popular and somewhat shallow high school student. She is the popular girl at Sunnydale High School, primarily concerned with her social status, appearance, and popularity.
Cordelia’s character serves as one of Buffy Summers’ main (human) antagonists during the early seasons of “Buffy, The Vampire Slayer”. She frequently mocks and belittles Buffy and her friends, often referring to them as “losers” or “freaks”.
Despite her initially antagonistic behavior, Cordelia does occasionally show moments of vulnerability and insecurity, hinting at a more complex character beneath her superficial exterior. She even becomes involved with Buffy and the gang and faces supernatural threats alongside them.
It is in “Angel”, however, that she reaches her potential and becomes the best version of herself. Forced to transition to a somewhat poor young woman living in LA, she becomes involved with Angel Investigations. Initially, she serves as the comic relief and moral support for the team.
Over time, Cordelia becomes increasingly competent and independent. She even develops her own supernatural abilities, like precognition. This makes her have visions of the people in trouble and their suffering, an experience that humbles her and makes her more empathetic. If at the beginning of Buffy she is a self-absorbed teenager, in Angel, she becomes a compassionate and heroic figure who cares about other people and sacrifices herself to save them.
Even though we are still not over the tragic turn her character arc takes, with her becoming the vessel for the higher being Jasmine, and in the end, sacrificing herself to save the world, she’s the best character in our opinion and a fan favorite for sure.
What do you think of our top? What are your favorite Buffy-Angel characters? Leave that in the comments. Before you go, check out more of our posts!
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