Buffy The Vampire Slayer Vs. Angel: Which Show Is Better?
4. Themes
There are several overarching themes that drive the development and tone of both Buffy and Angel. Both are very similar, in a lot of ways, but their execution less so.
For Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the key themes of acceptance, friendship, and doing what is right get more powerful each season. Faced with death, sacrifice, turbulent relationships, and the daunting threat of high school, Buffy, Willow, Xander et al are each forced to combat the real world with the evil lurking under the surface.
It's a very tough juggling act, and one Buffy has no trouble finding an empowering message of hope under its horrific melodrama.
Angel's main theme is clear from day one: atonement. Angel spends five seasons fighting evil to overcome his past sins, and his allies constantly work to keep him on the righteous path. It's much more bleak than Buffy, less empowering and more hopeless, but still viciously compelling.
It's a close round, then, but overall Buffy's mix of real-world drama and supernatural mystery has to take the crown. Close, but not close enough.
Winner: Buffy the Vampire Slayer.