The '90s and early 2000s had some of the best supernatural shows, ranging from Charmed to Ghost Whisperer. What made these series so great were not only the enticing storylines but the iconic characters as well. When it comes to thought-provoking characters two TV shows that did it the best were Buffy The Vampire Slayer and its spinoff Angel. Many of these Buffyverse characters made an impact in pop culture and continue to do so today.
Now fans want to know which of these characters are the best of the best so they have taken to Ranker to place their votes. From the queen bee turned, Cordelia Chase, to the soulful singing demon, Lorne, these characters were not only out of the box in of their personalities/backgrounds, but also had amazing storylines that are still talked about to this day.
Tara
Tara was introduced during the fourth season of Buffy The Vampire Slayer, where she soon became Willow's girlfriend. However, she grew to be much more than that as she was also a powerful witch, who helped Willow come into her own with her powers. Tara, unfortunately, met her demise after she was shot to death by Warren.
Fans loved Tara because she was such a selfless character. She would risk it all to save her loved ones and would not think twice in doing so. A prime example is when Tara refused to tell Glory who was the key, which caused Glory to absorb her sanity, causing Tara to lose her mind.
Faith
Faith was the troubled slayer, who caused nothing but drama in the beginning for Buffy. She started as an ally to the Scooby Gang but was turned to the dark side once she met the Mayor. However, years later, she eventually found her way and ended up fighting alongside Buffy and the rest of the slayers during the final battle.
While Buffy was the Slayer who stuck to the rules, Faith was the complete opposite. She did things her way and didn't have a care in the world. That's what fans loved about her; she was a character who was rough around the edges and also had a troubled past, but, she was also a free spirit. Faith's turn to the dark side and the fights between herself and Buffy were the highlights of season 3.
Angel
Angel was one of the OG's, and the first true love of Buffy. He had a complicated life along with being a vampire. He also started as one of the good guys, then turned evil, moved to LA, had a son, fell in love with Cordelia, and did so much more.
Angel started as the mysterious vampire but evolved into a full-fledged leader his team could count on. Once he formed his new team in LA, fans saw a different side of the hero. Angel suddenly had friends and allies that helped him turn into a charismatic and funny guy. Fans also loved how hard he tried to be a father to Connor and they were able to see the trials and tribulations a person can face when raising a teenager.
Lorne
Lorne ed Angel and the gang during season 2, where he quickly became a helpful ally after ing Angel Investigators. He helped save Cordelia from Pylea and was a big help in looking after Connor when he was an infant. During the final season, Lorne kills Angel's nemesis, Lindsey, but not before telling Angel that he was done with Angel Investigations.
Fans loved that Lorne was a breath of fresh air. He was a happy-go-lucky demon, which is rare in the Buffyverse and was also the comedic factor in many of the episodes. The turning point for his character happened when Fred died. Fans saw a darker side to Lorne and were intrigued to see how he dealt with such a dark moment in his life.
Anya
Anya was introduced as the vengeance demon who lost her powers and became mortal. While human, she experienced love, loss, and many other emotions that she was not accustomed to. Her life came to an end during the series finale of Buffy The Vampire Slayer when she was killed fighting in the final battle against the First Evil.
Not only was Anya was the comedic relief on the series, but fans also loved the depth her character received throughout the seasons and many felt bad for what Anya had to go through, from only looking out for herself to doing anything to protect her friends and comrades.
Cordelia
Cordelia started as the mean girl/queen bee of Sunnydale High and quickly became a force to be reckoned with. She experienced so much from ing the Scooby Gang to later becoming a part of Angel Investigations. She ed away during season 5 of Angel, but not before helping Angel get back on track to becoming the hero she once knew.
Fans can't get enough of Cordelia because she is arguably the most developed character in the Buffyverse. She was a normal high school student, a half-demon, and later became possessed by a higher being. Her witty comments were also a fan favorite, as well as her epic romance with Angel.
Willow
Willow was one of the founding of the Scooby Gang. She was introduced as a soft-spoken high school student and quickly became an all-time powerful witch. Her expertise in magic also helped Buffy and the rest of the slayers defeat the First Evil during the series finale.
Willow was a joy to watch, not only because she had a positive impact on the LGBTQ+ community, but also her character changed so drastically throughout the entire series. It was as if fans got to see Willow grow up and become the hero she was always meant to be. One of the biggest moments was when she turned evil for a second and Willow fought her best friend Buffy.
Giles
Rupert was the parental figure when it came to the Scooby Gang. As Buffy's Watcher, he fought by her side and tried to teach and protect her to the best of his ability.
Fans loved that Rupert was a father figure to Buffy since her biological dad did not play a big part in her life, but it wasn't all smiles between the two. Their relationship portrayed a real relationship between a father and daughter. A prime example is when fans got to see Rupert give Buffy tough love when she started noticing she had lost her way after being brought back to life.
Buffy
Buffy was introduced as the girl who wanted nothing more but to be a cheerleader in high school but knew she had a duty to fulfill as the slayer. She experienced lots of love as well as lots of loss and even lost her way at times. Buffy always pulled through and along with the help of her friends defeated the First Evil.
Fans were able to see Buffy grow up right before their eyes, but what they loved about this character was how she faced struggles like anyone else, even though she was the slayer. She experienced sorrow after her mother died and grief when she was brought back to life, forced to face the hardships of being an adult in the real world.
Spike
The once villain turned hero. It's hard to believe Spike and Buffy were once mortal enemies, but the vampire was able to turn his life around. After he obtained his soul and sacrificed himself, he was brought back to the living and became and member of Angel Investigations, fighting alongside his rival Angel.
Spike was evil, but he also brought this comedic factor with him that fans loved. When his character started developing more, viewers noticed that deep within himself he truly wanted to be one of the good guys, as well as gain the affection of Buffy. Even though Spike became a hero, he still kept his bad-boy persona that fans fell in love with from the start.