Buffy The Vampire Slayer Vs. Angel: Which Show Is Better?
9. The Supporting Characters
Both Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel wouldn't be much without their ensembles, which are vastly different despite some major crossovers.
The big difference between the two show's supporting casts is how they compliment their protagonist. On Buffy, her nearest and dearest are a massive part of the Slayer's growth and survival, with the likes of Willow, Xander, Giles, Dawn, Angel and Spike informing the way she develops and enriching her story.
Angel tries to do this, too, using Cordelia, Wesley, Fred, and Gunn (as well as non-humans Lorne, Spike, and Doyle) to tether Angel to the real world, reminding him what he's fighting for and giving him added purpose.
The problem here is that whilst Angel grows massively because of those who fight and die beside him, many of them are at their most compelling away from him. Just think Wesley and Fred's ill-fated romance, Cordelia's power of foresight, and Gunn's turn as a know-it-all lawyer.
Buffy has no such issues, with each supporting player working both beautifully in their own subplots and in the Slayer's drama. For that reason, by a hair, Buffy the Vampire Slayer has to take this round, too.
Winner: Buffy the Vampire Slayer.