Buffy vs. Angel: Which was a better show?!

[mike1491]

For those who may not know, Angel didn't have a proper ending because the show was cancelled after the season finale of season 5.

 

[EI-221]

I always watched Buffy around Buffy. I never liked the main character - she's like a piece of soggy toast with a stake. The Scoobies, the villains, and the weird monsters of the week were the main attraction for me.

With Angel, I actually liked Angel. I mean, he was a little sad & fussy too, but it wasn't quite as annoying. Also, I think David Boreanez is a better actor than Sarah Michelle Gellar. AND on top of all that, you had the great supporting characters and weirdness.

This is almost exactly how I feel. I loved both, but found the cast of Angel to be a lot more likable. My favorite character in either series is without a doubt Anya, but the melodrama from Buffy herself as well as issues I had with Willow's character (Tara deserved way better than her) stopped me from loving the cast as a whole.

Of course there were always moments when characters from Angel would make me mad at their actions, but I didn't end the show disliking anyone. For my tastes it also felt like the cast complimented each other a lot better. I felt like all the cast members added something to each other while the cast of Buffy didn't.

I also liked how Angel was a lot less black and white. There weren't the "good guys" and the "bad guys". This was especially apparent after season 4. After looking back on it, was Jasmine really that bad?

 

[falconfan]

The Trio certainly had far less razzle dazzle than most of the Big Bads in Buffy history but they were drawn that way intentionally. Season 6 was all about shades of grey. As Buffy became an adult and had to function in the real world life simply became less clear cut, black and white. And although the Trio wasn't as powerful other worldly force, they were ultimately just as dangerous as them. I mean they killed one of the Scoobies, which is something few other big bads can lay claim to. Moreover their humanity greatly complicated Buffy's ability to deal with them. She couldn't stake them or kill them. It harkened back to a concept that wasn't really explored since "Ted" in season 2.

 

[SuprSonic]

I also liked how Angel was a lot less black and white. There weren't the "good guys" and the "bad guys". This was especially apparent after season 4. After looking back on it, was Jasmine really that bad?

Well, Jasmine was eating people.

 

[diamondstar]

Well, Jasmine was eating people.

Jasmine took away my Cordelia. For that the bitch is the most vile of them all. At least villains like Lilah Morgan and Glory were likable. Also to comment on the poster who mentioned Tara being too good for Willow. Personally why did Willow had to be a lesbian in the first place? It was SO left field and don't give me her alternate universe self crap either.

 

[Poozy1]

The thing I liked about Angel was actually to see Cordelia grow so much! My favorite character in Angel.

 

[J-23]

Buffy, hands down. Angel was difficult to watch because the personalities were exponentially less compelling. Not a single one of them was Lead Character material. Angel was terribly inconsistent; Fred was sweet but forgettable; Gunn was a non-entity; Wesley was ineffectual; and Doyle, Lorne, and Cordelia don't count.

 

[diamondstar]

The thing I liked about Angel was actually to see Cordelia grow so much! My favorite character in Angel.

Angel ruined Cordelia. I was SO disgusted considering her rivalry with Buffy that she would even fall for him. I know in the Buffy series, Cordy had feelings for Angel. However upon knowing what Angel and Buffy did should had been enough for Cordy to not even think about him like that.

 

[Anton98]

Personally why did Willow had to be a lesbian in the first place? It was SO left field and don't give me her alternate universe self crap either.

I agree. It pissed me off how Oz and Willow broke up then all of a sudden Willow was into girls. What about her pondering after Xander forever...

Anyway, Buffy was the best. Angel had its moments but for the most part, I found it dull. Buffy had its dark scary moments as well as funny moments too. I will be honest when I say I didn't like season 4 until the halfway mark with the initiative, and "Hush", that episode is one of my top favorites.

 

[falconfan]

A lot of people explore their sexuality after high school. I don't think there's anything weird about that conceptually. Also it's not like she decided she was a lesbian in one episode. She didn't know what she felt for Tara but she knew their was a connection. Their storyline in "Hush" is all about overcoming the labels and terms we slap on situations to make them make sense. Because they couldn't use words those pretenses were also gone and when things came to just action it was clear as day what they felt. Oz and Willows relationship did come to an abrupt end but that was because Seth Green choose to leave the show.

As for Cordy I will NEVER forgive Angel for the way they treated her. They did my girl wrong. Couldn't come up with any story for her for a long time and then they sent her off in such a horrible fashion. Cordy deserved to go out with a bang not a whimper, it's her right as a core original Buffy character.

 

[Ram]

Buffy hands down. I don't want to like Angel because Cordelia died in it.

 

[Ram]

^ That reminds me. I don't want to like Buffy because Tara died!

Angel and Buffy are both excellent. I like Buffy a little more, I don't why.

 

[diamondstar]

Cordelia fans, keep in mind that had she remained on Buffy she would continue to simply be a bumbling idiot sidekick to Buffy's slayer and on Angel she got to be a part of the team for real. She got to essentially be the female lead. She would have never been able to grow on Buffy.

I can to a degree agree with this. However, I prefer a living Cordy over a dead one. Besides it was Cordy who brought out the best in Buffy like a true rival.

 

[diamondstar]

^ First let me just say your post hurt my feelings Stacy Not because I disagree with you, but it's because I do. I just REALLY REALLY loved Cordy and like Prue Halliwell it broke my heart seeing her go. As for the comic, meh. I read a few Buffy and a few Angel and they both sucked hard. However, I did enjoy Spike for awhile until the arc with him and Eddy "The sexy blue skinned demon". Furthermore it puzzles me why that loser Illryia is still alive?

 

[Ryuukie]

Buffy. The cast was perfect together.

 

[falconfan]

No one can really say what would or wouldn't have happened. I doubt that Cordielia would've been relegated to being a one dimensional bitch. I mean they had already started filling out her character as early as season 2. My assumption is she would've picked her relationship with Xander back up and taken the Anya role. (And we all know how that ended up for Anya). In her stay at Buffy Cordy's roles were two fold 1) Damsel in distress 2) blunt comic foil. The roles were picked up by Dawn and Anya. Dawn clearly had her own importance but Anya didn't. She was always like an accessory to Xander's story and smart money says she was there to fill a Cordy shaped hole.

I personally don't have a problem with the fact she died. What bothers me is the WAY she died. They seemed to run out of ideas with her so they shuffled her around a million places and then when she did die instead of being a huge impactful time (as the death of a female lead should be) it was overshadowed by all that Jasmine nonsense.

 

[Ram]

Now, how do you guys feel about the comic books??

IMO, they are really bad. Too ridiculous that I don't bother associating it with Buffy.

 

[falconfan]

I think Anya did bring some stuff that the other characters weren't able to. She was more experienced in the mythology than most of the other characters were and had a lot of background knowledge on the supernatural. She was usually pretty good whenever it came to exposition, or for introducing elements/ideas into a plot point.

Thing is Giles could've done all of that. Granted they used Anya for exposition or when they needed an extra mystical type but that seemed to be only because they had her. With Anya in play they were required to fill her out, make her more rounded and generally useful. But would she have been there if they didn't need a romantic interest for Xander? I don't think she would. When they broke up the writers seemed to struggle with where to put Anya.

 

[Saybrooke]

Buffy was way better in my opinion (watching as I type ) I couldn't really get into Angel. Buffy was the main reason I watched the show.

I also loved the relationship between Willow and Tara <3 I can't think of a more amazing tv couple, gay or straight.

Glory = best villain!

 

[SLOPPYSECONDS]

is catch sum buffy ans angel ans is tedious shit
but it is tv of folk in reduce of life wot enjoy cause
so no worry

but in da buffy wot not see all is catch 3 dudes wot make funny haha
ans loony girl wot play demon or loony demon ans she not loony but only loony in story ans was like much a dude with da big member


of course if like tv stuff please no read this wot may cause ya ta turn inta purple onion ans make ya hair pink

TV program is interestin wot many folk eat of lands much

buffy ans angel was lucky fa me ta take time ta fast forward their efforts

may da folk ins tv thang recova one day their a forgetfulls

thankyou