Joss Whedon: His TV Shows Ranked From Worst To Best

4. Angel

Angel was so much more than a Buffy spin-off by the time it ended its run, but it remains more difficult to sell than its parent show, in part because it so drastically changed during its time on air. It was once a fairly middle-of-the-road procedural with supernatural elements, and then it metamorphosed into a serialised fantasy show with its own mythology and rich characters. Those who enjoy Buffy's earlier seasons don't necessarily warm to early Angel, but those who do might find themselves alienated as the series twists itself into something else. When Angel was on form it produced some fantastic arcs, of which the most famous is Wesley's transformation from awkward comic relief to dark anti-hero. It also continued Cordelia's rehabilitation from ditsy bimbo to a competent and self-assured woman who supported Angel with genuine compassion, and paired ensouled Spike with Angel for some excellent comedic scenes in the final season. The stellar episodes which expanded upon Angel's relationship with Faith laid the groundwork for the comic Angel & Faith, easily the best of the Buffyverse comics. While teen drama was never quite expunged from Buffy, Angel threw off the shackles of its palatable initial premise as quickly as it could and asked viewers to trust the writers or be left behind. The series rewards investment in both its characters and its storylines, but the price is a loss of accessibility for those who might want to jump in.