1. Spike
Without a doubt, the best supporting character in the Buffyverse is Spike (James Marsters). Spike started off as a legendary, evil vampire who had killed two previous slayers before encountering Buffy - who he also planned to kill. But it wouldn't pan out that way and Spike and the slayer would clash on numerous occasions, both nearly killing each other several times, until Spike was rendered unable to hurt humans by the Initiative - a government organisation devoted to stopping the threat of demons. It was shortly after that when he started developing an obsession with Buffy as the chip that the Initiative put in his head began to served as a conscience. He became less evil and starting helping the Scoobies on occasion - mostly for his 'love' of the slayer. However, his old ways would reappear when he nearly raped Buffy, at which point he realised he had to do something about his behaviour and sought out his soul. He took part in the demon trials - a series of painful challenges - in order to have his soul returned, after which he went insane, but soon became a valued and useful member of Buffy's team. He sacrificed himself to save the world in the last episode of
Buffy the Vampire Slayer, before returning to the screen in
Angel, where he would also fight on Angel's side in the build-up to (and indeed in) the final battle in Los Angeles. Spike was simply the best character on either show. He was hilarious and some of his one-liners will go down in television history.
So, no Dawn Summers, no Joyce Summers, no Tara Maclay, no Andrew Wells, no Riley Finn, no Allen Francis Doyle, no Harmony Kendall, no Connor, no Lindsey McDonald, no Robin Wood, no Drusilla, no Darla... no sign of countless others either. Controversial or correct? Let us know your thoughts in the comments box below!And please feel free to follow me on Twitter.