Buffy The Vampire Slayer: Every Character Ranked Worst To Best

I know, I know - putting Dawn Summers above any of the previous entries (save Riley) is bordering on sacrilege, but the truth is that the younger Summers sister is actually a really compelling character whose development is tragically underrated.

Despite being one of the show's most despised characters, Dawn went through an awful lot in the final leg of the series, and managed to come out of each tragedy stronger and more mature than ever.

Sure, she was a shrill, naïve, immature kleptomaniac most of the time, but she was also a ball of energy formed into a person that, when killed, would open up a world-ending hell dimension. She also had an absent father, lost her mother, and had a sister who was never around because of her Slayer duties, which constantly put her in unwanted danger.

So maybe she deserves to be cut some slack.

By the end of the show, Dawn had grown past her most glaring flaws to become a brave and dependable young woman, a fighter and boundlessly loyal friend who often put her life on the line. She may have been tough to like in parts, but hell if she wasn't a great addition to the show overall.