Buffy The Vampire Slayer Vs. Angel: Which Show Is Better?
5. Pilot & Finale
When it comes to making any TV show, two of the toughest things writers face are starting things on a high, and ending the story in a satisfying way.
Buffy's pilot episode comes as a two-parter in "Welcome to the Hellmouth" and "The Harvest," which competently introduces audiences to Buffy Summers, her new and out-of-their-depth friends, and the dangers they're all set to face going forward. With humour and clever horror homages, it captures the tone of the show without flaw.
Its finale, "Chosen," has more flaws -- villains with inconsistent powers, an ambiguous ending with more plotholes than it wants to admit -- but it still works to give effective send-offs to its key players.
Angel, on both fronts, is close to perfect. The pilot, "City Of," subverts expectations by having Angel fail in his mission to protect someone, and with its moody script effortlessly lets audiences know the show will be far more mature and unpredictable than Buffy's coming-of-age drama.
The finale, "Not Fade Away," allows its characters to face the Apocalypse, only to brilliantly run the credits before the final battle actually begins, reminding fans the fight will never be over. Angel takes this one. No notes.
Winner: Angel.