Buffy The Vampire Slayer: Every Major Relationship Ranked Worst To Best

Initially, Buffy and Riley made a great couple. It might to hard to accept that now, knowing how their relationship would eventually end up, but in season four their compatibility was very strong.

Both demon hunters leading double lives, they made for a formidable pair, and their bond helped Buffy move on from her fraught, tragic relationship with Angel, and her cruel betrayal at the hands of sleazy Parker earlier in the season.

However, once big bad Adam entered the picture and the Initiative were revealed to be far from the good guys they claimed to be, the cracks started to show in their relationship. Riley proved to have a seriously fragile ego, which caused him to feel jealous of Buffy's power and her previous romance with Angel.

Their weaknesses were increased in season five, when they failed to communicate basically any of their feelings to each other, until finally their relationship exploded and Riley left Sunnydale. They had their bright spots, but not enough to save them from their failings.