Buffy The Vampire Slayer Vs. Angel: Which Show Is Better?
3. Consistency
Buffy the Vampire Slayer, with seven seasons compared to Angel's five, has a much tougher time where consistency is concerned, and it's easier to spot its weaker moments.
Whilst seasons one and (most of) season two are cheesy but brilliant, and seasons three and five are almost unblemished in their conflict and ability to shift between characters and villains, seasons four, six and seven suffer massively from some troubling tonal issues.
That's not to say these seasons are in any way bad -- far from it -- but their lesser moments still stick out like sore thumbs when assessed as a whole. Who, after all, found themselves riveted by Adam and the Initiative, or the exploits of the Trio?
Angel's not off the hook, either, mind you. Though the first three seasons are exceptionally well structured and constantly daring, and season five is easily its best, season four's needlessly dark tone and choppy character assassinations are even more unforgivable than Buffy's controversial sixth chapter.
Another close call, then, but in the end Angel takes this round, balancing its tone and overarching story more competently than Buffy did, flaws bedamned.
Winner: Angel.