10 Best Performances In Buffy The Vampire Slayer

Buffy the Vampire Slayer is packed with some truly unforgettable characters, and behind each of them is a confident and seamless actor bringing them to life. From anti-heroes to straight-up villains, to comedy side-kicks to socially inept demons, every character has something to love. Watching them grow on screen is a blast.

For many, it's simply astounding the level of talent, passion and intensity goes into the roles. The following list will have a look at the very best acting performances Buffy the Vampire Slayer has to offer, focusing on the way the character grew over the show, the way they suit the tone of shifting episodes, and the simple brilliance of their best moments. From good guys to bad guys and everyone in between, there are plenty to choose from.

Unfortunately, since there as so many great performances, some will have to be relegated to honourable mentions, though not one of these actors is anything short of brilliant: Seth Green as Oz; Kristine Sutherland as Joyce Summers; Amber Benson as Tara Maclay; Claire Kramer as Glory; Harry Groening as Richard Wilkins; Charisma Carpenter as Cordelia Chase; and so many more that could have made the cut.

The following list contains spoilers.

This may seem an odd starting point, but put away your feelings for Season Six for a second and think back to just how much you hated the arrogant, slimy, misogynist that was Warren Mears. A lot, right? Of course a lot; he killed Tara, assaulted and then killed his ex-girlfriend, and tried (repeatedly and without remorse) to kill Buffy and her friends.

Warren, simply put, is the worst Buffy has to offer, since he is just a guy. There's nothing demonic about him, he's not possessed, he has a soul. Maybe. And yet watching Adam Busch is a revelation. He carries Warren through everything, from bursts of anger, nerdy goofiness and pitiful begging. Sure, he starts off relatively annoying - more of a nuisance than a real threat - but as the season builds he grows from pathetic and useless to cold and evil in a blink.

Think about it: He's able to pull off a line as funny as "We're your arch-nemesiseses" and then kill a main character (and nearly Buffy) with no shed of empathy. One minute, you're laughing. The next, your cursing at the TV. In other words, Adam Busch nailed it.