Buffy The Vampire Slayer Vs. Angel: Which Show Is Better?
6. Performances
Where to even start with the plethora of staggering performances to grace these two wildly different shows?
The obvious place is with Sarah Michelle Gellar, whose portrayal of Buffy Summers improved every year and was never anything less than a masterclass, balancing her shattering vulnerability with her unflinching toughness and heroic selflessness.
But Gellar is aided at every turn by actors on fine form: James Marsters gives perhaps the best performance in the franchise as troubled vampire Spike; Alyson Hannigan is both heartbreaking and lovable; and Anthony Head, Nicholas Brendon, Amber Benson and Eliza Dushku stun in their respective, challenging roles.
On Angel, David Boreanaz channels the doom and gloom of the vampire with a soul, whilst the effervescent Charisma Carpenter, Alexis Denisof, and Amy Acker perfectly capture the tragedy and horror of the show's endless horrors.
And all of that's without getting into the show's many villains (Julie Benz, Juliet Landau, Claire Kramer, Adam Busch...) and other minor stars (Armin Shimmerman, Kristine Sutherland, Mercedes McNab...) who bless the screen. Buffy takes it as a whole, but honestly there's very little flaw holding back either show.
Winner: Buffy the Vampire Slayer.