Television has evolved in tremendous ways when it comes to the prevalence of genre programming, but one of the biggest trailblazers in the area was the 1990s’ Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Buffy was groundbreaking television, both in terms of its depiction of strong heroines and its approach to vampires and other supernatural creatures on TV.
Buffy was a major player for all seven of its seasons, which would go on to birth a successful spin-off and a lengthy comic book expansion. Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s influence on genre television is undeniable, but the series also put several notable actors on the map and kicked off their careers. However, not everyone on Buffy can be the Chosen One.
10 Nailed It: James Marsters Transforms Spike From A Bit Player To A Soulmate
Buffy the Vampire Slayer is a series that would often head into a season with a detailed plan regarding the direction of the narrative, but some of the show’s most exciting turns are when production takes a chance and improvises. One of the biggest examples of this is how Spike, a character who was only supposed to be a minor nuisance for a few episodes, grows into a main character not only on Buffy, but also on its spin-off, Angel. Spike’s development as a character is purely because of how magnetic James Marsters is in the role.
9 Fell Short: Nicolas Brendon’s Xander Harris Conjures Diminishing Returns
If Buffy only ran for three seasons then Xander Harris’ character arc would actually be quite poetic. Buffy begins with Xander as a symbol of what’s safe and ordinary. He’s often the source of comic relief or pent-up sexual frustration. Nicholas Brendon plays this frustrated, useless side of Xander well and season three’s “The Zeppo” is the actor’s highlight. Xander becomes progressively tangential to Buffy, which results in less inspired work out of Brendon. Both the character’s direction and the actor’s performance become a letdown. In the end there’s pity left for Xander, not appreciation.
8 Nailed It: Alyson Hannigan’s Willow Rosenberg Evolves As A Witch And Performer
Alyson Hannigan proves herself to be one of the stronger performances to come out of Buffy and she’s found consistent work after her exit from the genre series. Hannigan’s Willow initially represents a softer side to Buffy’s clique, but she evolves into a more confident and intense individual as she becomes more proficient with magic.
Willow can sometimes be given stereotypical storylines, but her dark turn at the end of season six highlights the actress’ range. The grieving and soul searching that Willow goes through in the final season are some of the best acting in Buffy.
7 Fell Short: Michelle Trachtenberg Is Dealt A Tough Hand As Dawn That Never Fully Clicks
Season five of Buffy is incredibly ambitious with its structure and it takes a major swing with the introduction of Buffy’s younger sister, Dawn. Buffy acts as if Dawn has always been around, which is a clever strategy, but it doesn’t change the fact that the character is still largely a bratty responsibility. Michelle Trachtenberg does feel more confident as Dawn by the end of the series, but she’s still often treated like a plot device more than a functional character. The canonical Buffy comics that follow the series only push Dawn down a more confusing path.
6 Nailed It: Giles Is A Stalwart Mentor Who Exudes Calm Thanks To Anthony Stewart Head
Buffy was able to become a breakout hit because it properly tapped into the WB’s teenage demographic with a show that cleverly used the high school experience as a metaphor for the supernatural. Buffy is full of young faces, but Giles is the exception as the stuffy–yet essential–mentor figure to Buffy’s Slayer. Anthony Stewart Head plays Giles with the perfect amount of trust. A lesser actor would result in Giles disappearing, but Head’s performance makes sure that Giles’ perspective remains an important part of Buffy. Even the moments where Giles feels like he’s going through the motions carry emotional weight.
5 Fell Short: Marc Blucas Taps Into Riley’s Everyman Nature, But It’s Not Enough
Season four of Buffy is all about change, both in terms of Buffy’s personal life as she heads into college, but also for the show itself as Angel leaves for his own spin-off. This leads to the debut of Marc Blucas’ Riley, who becomes Buffy’s new romantic partner for the next two seasons.
The whole appeal of Riley is that he’s supposed to be a “normal” change of pace for Buffy, yet he eventually reveals his own supernatural secrets. Blucas does reliable work as Riley, but it’s the character’s stilted nature and Buffy’s desire for more that holds him back.
4 Nailed It: Emma Caulfield Helps Anya Grow From Disaffected Demon To Humane Human
Emma Caulfield’s Anya is another instance of a character who was only supposed to have a fleeting role in Buffy, only for her to become an essential part of the cast. It’s easy to underestimate Caulfield’s work on the series since Anya’s former demon nature typically reduces her to non-sequitur comic relief. However, it’s this same schism that gives her incredibly dramatic material to work through, whether it’s her doubts over her marriage with Xander, or the heartbreaking monologue on death that she delivers after Joyce Summers’ passing.
3 Fell Short: Adam Busch’s Awkward Intensity Makes Warren Mears An Uncomfortable Presence
Season six of Buffy the Vampire Slayer remains the show’s most polarizing year. The season forgoes its standard “Big Bad” and instead focuses more on the pains of growing up and the destructive decisions that individuals can inflict upon themselves. Season six does cobble together its own “Legion of Doom,” which is made up of neglected nerds who were formerly wronged in the series. Adam Busch’s Warren Mears leads the pack, and ultimately kills Tara. Busch only gets to bring out Warren’s sniveling and defensive side, which makes him easier to hate, but it doesn’t positively portray Busch.
2 Nailed It: Faith’s Conflicted Duplicity Becomes So Fascinating Because Of Eliza Dushku
Some of the most electric storytelling in Buffy the Vampire Slayer occurs during the third season when Buffy must face another Slayer, Faith. The juxtaposition between Buffy and Faith is enlightening and it better clarifies Buffy’s journey and what she wants to do with her power. Eliza Dushku is such a natural fit for the role of Faith and she gives Sarah Michelle Gellar a run for her money. It’s easy to see why Faith doesn’t just return in Buffy, but that she also becomes a recurring presence on the spin-off, Angel, too.
1 Fell Short: Iyari Limon’s Potential Slayer Kennedy Never Finds Her Footing
Buffy’s final season is an unfortunate mixed bag that begins with so much premise, but reaches a middling place that robs the season of its momentum. A major issue with the season is the introduction of a gaggle of Potential Slayers. Many of these Potentials amount to background characters and cannon fodder, but Iyari Limon’s Kennedy turns into a new love interest for Willow. Kennedy’s entitled attitude is abrasive, but she’s also a poor replacement for Willow’s lost Tara. Limon isn’t able to make Kennedy rise above her difficult circumstances and the character annoys more than she excites.
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