Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Characters/Regulars: Difference between revisions

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.
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* [[Berserk Button]]: Faith was this for Buffy for a good while. [[Wrongfully Accused|Can't]] [[Rape Is a Special Kind of Evil|possibly]] [[Violently Protective Girlfriend|imagine]] [[Grand Theft Me|why]].
* [[Berserk Button]]: Faith was this for Buffy for a good while. [[Wrongfully Accused|Can't]] [[Rape Is a Special Kind of Evil|possibly]] [[Violently Protective Girlfriend|imagine]] [[Grand Theft Me|why]].
* [[Big Brother Instinct|Big Sister Instinct]]: To Dawn.
* [[Big Brother Instinct|Big Sister Instinct]]: To Dawn.
* [[Blessed With Suck]]
* [[Blessed with Suck]]
* [[Book Dumb]]: To an extent. Truth be told, much of her Book Dumbness comes from just being too busy saving humanity to study.
* [[Book Dumb]]: To an extent. Truth be told, much of her Book Dumbness comes from just being too busy saving humanity to study.
* [[Braids of Action]]: Buffy, when on patrol, has the "two-braids" version. Alternate Buffy, from "The Wish," as the "one-braid" version.
* [[Braids of Action]]: Buffy, when on patrol, has the "two-braids" version. Alternate Buffy, from "The Wish," as the "one-braid" version.
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* [[Clingy Jealous Girl]]: Frequently jumping to conclusions about Angel frolicking with his vampire honeys. Her jealous nature was tempered in later relationships, partly because she wore the pants by that time.
* [[Clingy Jealous Girl]]: Frequently jumping to conclusions about Angel frolicking with his vampire honeys. Her jealous nature was tempered in later relationships, partly because she wore the pants by that time.
* [[Cool Loser]]: Although it should be noted that the resident [[Alpha Bitch]] ''does'' scout her out to be one of the "cool girls" when she first arrives in Sunnydale.
* [[Cool Loser]]: Although it should be noted that the resident [[Alpha Bitch]] ''does'' scout her out to be one of the "cool girls" when she first arrives in Sunnydale.
* [[Cursed With Awesome]]
* [[Cursed with Awesome]]
* [[Cute Bruiser]]
* [[Cute Bruiser]]
* [[A Date With Rosie Palms]]: She admits to thinking of her boyfriend before moving to Sunnydale, listening to the song "I Touch Myself." [[Blatant Lies|Before claiming not to know what the song meant]].
* [[A Date with Rosie Palms]]: She admits to thinking of her boyfriend before moving to Sunnydale, listening to the song "I Touch Myself." [[Blatant Lies|Before claiming not to know what the song meant]].
* [[Dating Catwoman]]: Bangel and Spuffy.
* [[Dating Catwoman]]: Bangel and Spuffy.
* [[Deadpan Snarker]]
* [[Deadpan Snarker]]
* [[Death Is a Slap On The Wrist]]: Twice. The second time however there was a price to pay, namely part of her sanity causing her to go off the rails.
* [[Death Is a Slap on The Wrist]]: Twice. The second time however there was a price to pay, namely part of her sanity causing her to go off the rails.
* [[Did You Just Punch Out Cthulhu?]]: When [[Badass Adorable|Willow's]] punching arm is sore Buffy is usually the one to do this, taking out the invincible Judge, Mayor, Glory and Caleb.
* [[Did You Just Punch Out Cthulhu?]]: When [[Badass Adorable|Willow's]] punching arm is sore Buffy is usually the one to do this, taking out the invincible Judge, Mayor, Glory and Caleb.
* [[Disappeared Dad]]: Divorced
* [[Disappeared Dad]]: Divorced
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* [[Heaven Seeker]]: In Season 6.
* [[Heaven Seeker]]: In Season 6.
* [[The Hero|The Heroine]]
* [[The Hero|The Heroine]]
* [[Hero With Bad Publicity]]: A tragic irony is that Joyce and Principal Flutie assume Buffy is a juvenile delinquent, when she's actually trying to do the right thing.
* [[Hero with Bad Publicity]]: A tragic irony is that Joyce and Principal Flutie assume Buffy is a juvenile delinquent, when she's actually trying to do the right thing.
** And then in Season 8 she literally has bad publicity, while the vampires are [[Villain With Good Publicity|Villains With Good Publicity]].
** And then in Season 8 she literally has bad publicity, while the vampires are [[Villain with Good Publicity|Villains With Good Publicity]].
* [[Heterosexual Life Partners]]: With Willow
* [[Heterosexual Life Partners]]: With Willow
* [[High School Hustler]]
* [[High School Hustler]]
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* [[Informed Flaw]]: Buffy does not really resemble the character type she is [[Word of God|supposedly]] subverting -- the girly blonde cheerleader who gets killed by the monster in a [[Horror]] film. She is not a cheerleader (and, outside of one episode in the first season, shows no interest in becoming one), is not slutty or particularly flirty (she is a serial monogamist with only four sexual partners in the seven-year series), does not drink especially often and (after the first season) does not even wear skirts or dresses very often. A flashback eventually reveals that she fit the cheerleader image a bit more in the years before the series began, but in a lot of respects, she is much more like the classic [[Final Girl]] than monster fodder.
* [[Informed Flaw]]: Buffy does not really resemble the character type she is [[Word of God|supposedly]] subverting -- the girly blonde cheerleader who gets killed by the monster in a [[Horror]] film. She is not a cheerleader (and, outside of one episode in the first season, shows no interest in becoming one), is not slutty or particularly flirty (she is a serial monogamist with only four sexual partners in the seven-year series), does not drink especially often and (after the first season) does not even wear skirts or dresses very often. A flashback eventually reveals that she fit the cheerleader image a bit more in the years before the series began, but in a lot of respects, she is much more like the classic [[Final Girl]] than monster fodder.
** It is indicated that she ''started out'' as the girly bimbo cheerleader, but that becoming [[The Chosen One]] kind of put an end to much of that. The show doesn't start until ''after'' she has [[Took a Level In Badass|Taken A Level In Badass.]]
** It is indicated that she ''started out'' as the girly bimbo cheerleader, but that becoming [[The Chosen One]] kind of put an end to much of that. The show doesn't start until ''after'' she has [[Took a Level In Badass|Taken A Level In Badass.]]
* [[It Sucks to Be The Chosen One]]
* [[It Sucks to Be the Chosen One]]
* [[Jack Bauer Interrogation Technique]]: She has her moments, notably the time she used a cross and a vampire's burning throat, actually doing what the [[Trope Namer]] only threatened.
* [[Jack Bauer Interrogation Technique]]: She has her moments, notably the time she used a cross and a vampire's burning throat, actually doing what the [[Trope Namer]] only threatened.
* [[Kick Chick]]
* [[Kick Chick]]
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* [[Not Himself|Not Herself:]] [[Once an Episode|Once a season,]] beginning with her stressing over The Master, then getting over the traumatic events that ended with her killing Angel. A demon tries to steal her soul, she has to deal with her Retconned sister, she sacrifices herself to save her sister only for her friends to bring her back to life (and pull her from heaven to hell on earth) and crack under the pressure of trying to command.
* [[Not Himself|Not Herself:]] [[Once an Episode|Once a season,]] beginning with her stressing over The Master, then getting over the traumatic events that ended with her killing Angel. A demon tries to steal her soul, she has to deal with her Retconned sister, she sacrifices herself to save her sister only for her friends to bring her back to life (and pull her from heaven to hell on earth) and crack under the pressure of trying to command.
* [[Oblivious to Love]]: Seeing her on her first day at Sunnydale High caused Xander to fall head over heels, literally, as he crashes into a railing. Buffy, however, is completely clueless as to his feelings.
* [[Oblivious to Love]]: Seeing her on her first day at Sunnydale High caused Xander to fall head over heels, literally, as he crashes into a railing. Buffy, however, is completely clueless as to his feelings.
** Subverted in ''Season Eight'', when Buffy's loneliness and need for stability compels her to go to Xander. Xander declines, having long since decided he and Buffy are [[Better As Friends]].
** Subverted in ''Season Eight'', when Buffy's loneliness and need for stability compels her to go to Xander. Xander declines, having long since decided he and Buffy are [[Better as Friends]].
* [[Only a Flesh Wound]]: Buffy. Sword. Gut. ''Chosen''.
* [[Only a Flesh Wound]]: Buffy. Sword. Gut. ''Chosen''.
* [[Only Mostly Dead]]: Buffy in "Prophecy Girl."
* [[Only Mostly Dead]]: Buffy in "Prophecy Girl."
* [[The Other Darrin]]: To anyone who's seen the movie.
* [[The Other Darrin]]: To anyone who's seen the movie.
* [[Person As Verb]]: The inimitable Buffyspeak.
* [[Person as Verb]]: The inimitable Buffyspeak.
* [[Pint-Sized Powerhouse]]
* [[Pint-Sized Powerhouse]]
* [[Platonic Life Partners]]: With Xander
* [[Platonic Life Partners]]: With Xander
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* [[Vitriolic Best Buds]]: With Faith in the third season up until Faith [[Face Heel Turn|joined the Dark Side.]]
* [[Vitriolic Best Buds]]: With Faith in the third season up until Faith [[Face Heel Turn|joined the Dark Side.]]
* [[Waif Fu]]
* [[Waif Fu]]
* [[Wake Up, Go to School, Save The World]]
* [[Wake Up, Go to School, Save the World]]
* [[Weakness Turns Her On]]: She quite enjoys [[Florence Nightingale Effect|nursing Angel back to health]], and says that Riley looked "even cuter when you're all weak and kitteny". In the Season 8 Comics we discover one of Buffy's sexual fantasies involves Angel and Spike chained to her; Buffy is dressed in a [[Naughty Nurse Outfit]].
* [[Weakness Turns Her On]]: She quite enjoys [[Florence Nightingale Effect|nursing Angel back to health]], and says that Riley looked "even cuter when you're all weak and kitteny". In the Season 8 Comics we discover one of Buffy's sexual fantasies involves Angel and Spike chained to her; Buffy is dressed in a [[Naughty Nurse Outfit]].
* [[What the Hell, Hero?]]: EVERYONE freaks out on her when she comes back from running away (Xander, Willow, and Joyce in particular) to the point where she wants to run away again. Willow and a group of zombies crashing her house while she's getting her lecture keeps her from doing so, much to everyone's relief.
* [[What the Hell, Hero?]]: EVERYONE freaks out on her when she comes back from running away (Xander, Willow, and Joyce in particular) to the point where she wants to run away again. Willow and a group of zombies crashing her house while she's getting her lecture keeps her from doing so, much to everyone's relief.
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** [[Hand Blast]]
** [[Hand Blast]]
** [[Healing Hands]]
** [[Healing Hands]]
** [[Playing With Fire]]
** [[Playing with Fire]]
** [[Teleporters and Transporters|Teleportation]]
** [[Teleporters and Transporters|Teleportation]]
* [[Stupid Sexy Friend]]: Willow finally gets together with Xander. When they're both with other people.
* [[Stupid Sexy Friend]]: Willow finally gets together with Xander. When they're both with other people.
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* [[Abusive Parents]]: Not explicitly abusive ''per se'', but they're definitely not loving parents. His father is also, at least verbally and emotionally, abusive of his mother.
* [[Abusive Parents]]: Not explicitly abusive ''per se'', but they're definitely not loving parents. His father is also, at least verbally and emotionally, abusive of his mother.
* [[A Day in The Limelight]]: Several, perhaps most notably "The Zeppo."
* [[A Day in the Limelight]]: Several, perhaps most notably "The Zeppo."
* [[Adorkable]]
* [[Adorkable]]
* [[Annoying Arrows]]
* [[Annoying Arrows]]
* [[Author Avatar]]: According to Nicholas Brendan, his character is based on Joss Whedon in high school, which is why Xander "gets all the good lines." They also dress alike.
* [[Author Avatar]]: According to Nicholas Brendan, his character is based on Joss Whedon in high school, which is why Xander "gets all the good lines." They also dress alike.
** That would explain Xander's avowed fetish for [[Spandex, Latex, or Leather|spandex]]. And his [[X Men|taste in comics]].
** That would explain Xander's avowed fetish for [[Spandex, Latex, or Leather|spandex]]. And his [[X-Men|taste in comics]].
* [[Badass Normal]]: ''This'' carpenter can dry-wall you into the next century!
* [[Badass Normal]]: ''This'' carpenter can dry-wall you into the next century!
* [[Basement Dweller]]: In Season 4.
* [[Basement Dweller]]: In Season 4.
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* [[I Want My Beloved to Be Happy]]: He eventually reconciles himself to Buffy seeing him as a friend.
* [[I Want My Beloved to Be Happy]]: He eventually reconciles himself to Buffy seeing him as a friend.
** In Season Eight, Buffy briefly comes onto him. However, Xander recognizes that she's looking for a warm body, not love, and reaffirms that they are friends only.
** In Season Eight, Buffy briefly comes onto him. However, Xander recognizes that she's looking for a warm body, not love, and reaffirms that they are friends only.
* [[In With the In Crowd]]: Due to possession by hyena spirits in "The Pack." He got better.
* [[In with the In Crowd]]: Due to possession by hyena spirits in "The Pack." He got better.
* [[I Just Want to Be Special]]
* [[I Just Want to Be Special]]
* [[The Lancer]]
* [[The Lancer]]
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* [[Number Two]]: To Buffy in the Slayer Organization.
* [[Number Two]]: To Buffy in the Slayer Organization.
* [[Odd Friendship]]: With Dracula. Xander even taught him how to motorbike.
* [[Odd Friendship]]: With Dracula. Xander even taught him how to motorbike.
* [[Overshadowed By Awesome]]: Giving him a sense of kinship with Dawn.
* [[Overshadowed by Awesome]]: Giving him a sense of kinship with Dawn.
* [[Perpetual Poverty]]
* [[Perpetual Poverty]]
* [[Platonic Life Partners]]: With Buffy and Willow
* [[Platonic Life Partners]]: With Buffy and Willow
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* [[Scars Are Forever]]: His eye.
* [[Scars Are Forever]]: His eye.
* [[Screw Learning, I Have Phlebotinum]]
* [[Screw Learning, I Have Phlebotinum]]
* [[Shipper On Deck]]: For Buffy and Riley.
* [[Shipper on Deck]]: For Buffy and Riley.
* [[Stupid Sexy Friend]]: Xander only awakens to his love for Willow when they're both going steady. With other people.
* [[Stupid Sexy Friend]]: Xander only awakens to his love for Willow when they're both going steady. With other people.
* [[Talking the Monster To Death]]: How he beat {{spoiler|Willow}} in Season 6.
* [[Talking the Monster to Death]]: How he beat {{spoiler|Willow}} in Season 6.
* [[Team Dad]]: To the new Slayers in Season 8. Any Slayer who ever seems depressed or on the verge of a [[Heroic BSOD]] is always quickly cheered up by Xander.
* [[Team Dad]]: To the new Slayers in Season 8. Any Slayer who ever seems depressed or on the verge of a [[Heroic BSOD]] is always quickly cheered up by Xander.
* [[This Looks Like a Job For Aquaman]]: As foreman on the Sunnydale High 2.0 construction project, he has intimate knowledge of its blueprints. He's also handy at building barricades at Chez Summers.
* [[This Looks Like a Job For Aquaman]]: As foreman on the Sunnydale High 2.0 construction project, he has intimate knowledge of its blueprints. He's also handy at building barricades at Chez Summers.
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* [[Grandpa What Massive Hotness You Have]]
* [[Grandpa What Massive Hotness You Have]]
* [[Guile Hero]]
* [[Guile Hero]]
* [[Hard Head]] / [[Tap On the Head]]: Giles tends to get knocked out, but never suffers any brain damage (well, not counting some WMG's about S7).
* [[Hard Head]] / [[Tap on the Head]]: Giles tends to get knocked out, but never suffers any brain damage (well, not counting some WMG's about S7).
{{quote| ""I know I'm back in America now; I've been knocked unconscious."}}
{{quote| ""I know I'm back in America now; I've been knocked unconscious."}}
* {{spoiler|[[Heroic Sacrifice]]}}: {{spoiler|Giles got between a Twilight possessed Angel and Buffy as they fought near the Seed of Wonder, wielding the Scythe to try and destroy the Seed himself and end Twilight's invasion of Earth, or get killed by Twilight and give Buffy the motivation she needed to take the Scythe and end things herself.}}
* {{spoiler|[[Heroic Sacrifice]]}}: {{spoiler|Giles got between a Twilight possessed Angel and Buffy as they fought near the Seed of Wonder, wielding the Scythe to try and destroy the Seed himself and end Twilight's invasion of Earth, or get killed by Twilight and give Buffy the motivation she needed to take the Scythe and end things herself.}}
* [[Heel Face Turn]]: Pre-series-he used to be pretty much evil in his younger days, practicing dark magic and stuff like that and and was known as Ripper.
* [[Heel Face Turn]]: Pre-series-he used to be pretty much evil in his younger days, practicing dark magic and stuff like that and and was known as Ripper.
* [[Helping Would Be Killstealing]]: Giles in the sixth season of ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]''. {{spoiler|He chose to abandon Buffy because he felt that she was limiting herself by clinging to him in a immature way.}} In principle he had good reasons, but he chose to make his stand right in the middle of a crisis, and forbade everyone else from helping Buffy. That can only vaguely be justified by him following musical logic at the time.
* [[Helping Would Be Killstealing]]: Giles in the sixth season of ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]''. {{spoiler|He chose to abandon Buffy because he felt that she was limiting herself by clinging to him in a immature way.}} In principle he had good reasons, but he chose to make his stand right in the middle of a crisis, and forbade everyone else from helping Buffy. That can only vaguely be justified by him following musical logic at the time.
* [[Hopeless With Tech]]
* [[Hopeless with Tech]]
* [[Hot Librarian]]
* [[Hot Librarian]]
* [[I Am Very British]]: In the second episode, he asks Willow to "wrest more information from that dread machine... That was a bit...British."
* [[I Am Very British]]: In the second episode, he asks Willow to "wrest more information from that dread machine... That was a bit...British."
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* [[Mentor Occupational Hazard]] : In the comics, at least.
* [[Mentor Occupational Hazard]] : In the comics, at least.
* [[Midlife Crisis Car]]
* [[Midlife Crisis Car]]
* [[The Mind Is a Plaything of The Body]]: When transformed into a Fyarl demon in "A New Man," Giles experiences the demon's natural violent urges.
* [[The Mind Is a Plaything of the Body]]: When transformed into a Fyarl demon in "A New Man," Giles experiences the demon's natural violent urges.
* [[Mr. Exposition]]: Gets parodied in "Restless" when he ''sings'' his latest exposition.
* [[Mr. Exposition]]: Gets parodied in "Restless" when he ''sings'' his latest exposition.
* [[Names to Run Away From Really Fast]]: "Ripper."
* [[Names to Run Away From Really Fast]]: "Ripper."
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* [[The Patriarch]]
* [[The Patriarch]]
* [[Poisonous Friend]]: Acts as this on occasion.
* [[Poisonous Friend]]: Acts as this on occasion.
* [[Put On a Bus]]
* [[Put on a Bus]]
** [[Commuting On a Bus]]
** [[Commuting on a Bus]]
* [[The Smart Guy]]: Giles knows something about everything. Except synchronized swimming.
* [[The Smart Guy]]: Giles knows something about everything. Except synchronized swimming.
* [[Smart People Play Chess]]
* [[Smart People Play Chess]]
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{{quote| ''"For a hundred years, I offered an ugly death to everyone I met, and I did it with a song in my heart."''}}
{{quote| ''"For a hundred years, I offered an ugly death to everyone I met, and I did it with a song in my heart."''}}


Vampire cursed with a soul, and Buffy's first [[Love Interest]]. Loses his soul in Season 2, becoming a formidable [[Big Bad]] with a love of torture (both physical and psychological). Later got [[Angel (TV)|his own show]].
Vampire cursed with a soul, and Buffy's first [[Love Interest]]. Loses his soul in Season 2, becoming a formidable [[Big Bad]] with a love of torture (both physical and psychological). Later got [[Angel|his own show]].


He returned to Buffy in the Season 8 comics, and will be co-starring with Faith in an upcoming comic series called ''Angel and Faith''.
He returned to Buffy in the Season 8 comics, and will be co-starring with Faith in an upcoming comic series called ''Angel and Faith''.
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** Giles' profile on Angelus suggests that he will lash out at everything that made him feel human. Buffy tops the list.
** Giles' profile on Angelus suggests that he will lash out at everything that made him feel human. Buffy tops the list.
* [[The Atoner]]
* [[The Atoner]]
* [[Back for The Finale]]
* [[Back for the Finale]]
* [[Be Careful What You Wish For]]: Liam always wanted to get out of Galway and see the world. So naturally, he jumped at Darla's offer to see it together.
* [[Be Careful What You Wish For]]: Liam always wanted to get out of Galway and see the world. So naturally, he jumped at Darla's offer to see it together.
* [[Big Bad]]
* [[Big Bad]]
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* [[The Champion]]: He appointed himself as Buffy's guardian shortly after she was called as a Slayer.
* [[The Champion]]: He appointed himself as Buffy's guardian shortly after she was called as a Slayer.
* [[The Corrupter]]: Angelus, in his past.
* [[The Corrupter]]: Angelus, in his past.
* [[Cursed With Awesome]]: His soul.
* [[Cursed with Awesome]]: His soul.
* [[Curse Escape Clause]]: Angel is cursed with a soul [[Can't Have Sex Ever|until he has a moment of perfect happiness]]. (Hey, [[Exact Words|the curse isn't specific!]]) Buffy helps break the curse, and then needs to find a way to repair it.
* [[Curse Escape Clause]]: Angel is cursed with a soul [[Can't Have Sex Ever|until he has a moment of perfect happiness]]. (Hey, [[Exact Words|the curse isn't specific!]]) Buffy helps break the curse, and then needs to find a way to repair it.
* [[Dangerously Genre Savvy]]
* [[Dangerously Genre Savvy]]
* [[Deuteragonist]]
* [[Deuteragonist]]
* {{spoiler|[[Dying As Yourself]]}}: Reversed when he came back.
* {{spoiler|[[Dying as Yourself]]}}: Reversed when he came back.
* [[Enemy Within]]: Angelus
* [[Enemy Within]]: Angelus
* [[Evil Is Hammy]]
* [[Evil Is Hammy]]
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* [[Friendly Neighborhood Vampire]]
* [[Friendly Neighborhood Vampire]]
* [[Hell-Bent for Leather]]: Angelus' leather pants.
* [[Hell-Bent for Leather]]: Angelus' leather pants.
* [[Hoist By His Own Petard]]: In every sense of the word. Buffy {{spoiler|runs him through with a replica of his own blessed sword, which in turns sucks him through his own hell portal}}. Putting a damper on this irony is the knowledge that {{spoiler|Angel suffers the fate reserved for Angelus}}.
* [[Hoist by His Own Petard]]: In every sense of the word. Buffy {{spoiler|runs him through with a replica of his own blessed sword, which in turns sucks him through his own hell portal}}. Putting a damper on this irony is the knowledge that {{spoiler|Angel suffers the fate reserved for Angelus}}.
* [[Hollywood Tone Deaf]]: On his own show, which displays his more vulnerable sides in a way the original show doesn't.
* [[Hollywood Tone Deaf]]: On his own show, which displays his more vulnerable sides in a way the original show doesn't.
* [[Jekyll and Hyde]]
* [[Jekyll and Hyde]]
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* [[Stealth Hi Bye]]
* [[Stealth Hi Bye]]
{{quote| '''Xander:''' Okay, that's ''it''. I'm putting a collar with a little bell around that guy.}}
{{quote| '''Xander:''' Okay, that's ''it''. I'm putting a collar with a little bell around that guy.}}
* [[Suicide By Sunlight]]: Attempted.
* [[Suicide by Sunlight]]: Attempted.
* [[Terms of Endangerment]]: You can always tell when he's crazy because he refers to Buffy as "Buff."
* [[Terms of Endangerment]]: You can always tell when he's crazy because he refers to Buffy as "Buff."
* [[Token Heroic Orc]]
* [[Token Heroic Orc]]
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{{quote| ''"Tact is just not saying true stuff. I'll pass."''}}
{{quote| ''"Tact is just not saying true stuff. I'll pass."''}}


Started out as the [[Alpha Bitch]], before joining the Scooby Gang and eventually being spun off to ''[[Angel (TV)|Angel]]''.
Started out as the [[Alpha Bitch]], before joining the Scooby Gang and eventually being spun off to ''[[Angel]]''.
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* [[All Women Love Shoes]]: Her passion for footwear is noted on several occasions.
* [[All Women Love Shoes]]: Her passion for footwear is noted on several occasions.
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* [[Mean Character, Nice Actor]]: Charisma Carpenter is noted for her many outreaches to fans, most prominent of which is that, unlike most of her co-stars, she absolutely refuses to charge for an autograph any conventions she attends.
* [[Mean Character, Nice Actor]]: Charisma Carpenter is noted for her many outreaches to fans, most prominent of which is that, unlike most of her co-stars, she absolutely refuses to charge for an autograph any conventions she attends.
* [[Ms. Fanservice]]
* [[Ms. Fanservice]]
* [[Put On a Bus]]: To L.A.!
* [[Put on a Bus]]: To L.A.!
* [[Rich Bitch]]
* [[Rich Bitch]]
* [[Riches to Rags]]: When her father loses all his money.
* [[Riches to Rags]]: When her father loses all his money.
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* [[Characterization Marches On]]: Her social prowess rivaled Cordelia in her first couple of appearances, [[No Social Skills|then she swung in the complete opposite direction]] once she started appearing regularly.
* [[Characterization Marches On]]: Her social prowess rivaled Cordelia in her first couple of appearances, [[No Social Skills|then she swung in the complete opposite direction]] once she started appearing regularly.
* [[The Comically Serious]]
* [[The Comically Serious]]
* [[Death Is Dramatic]]: Heavily subverted, to the point of it arguably being a [[Dropped a Bridge On Him|bridge-dropping]].
* [[Death Is Dramatic]]: Heavily subverted, to the point of it arguably being a [[Dropped a Bridge on Him|bridge-dropping]].
* [[De-Power]]: Twice.
* [[De-Power]]: Twice.
* [[Dyeing for Your Art]]: Originally a brunette (her hair color as a human), but later went blonde.
* [[Dyeing for Your Art]]: Originally a brunette (her hair color as a human), but later went blonde.
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* [[Humanity Ensues]]
* [[Humanity Ensues]]
* [[Humans Are Bastards]]: Why it was easy for her to be a vengeance demon. Three years of fighting alongside the Scoobies allowed her to see the goodness in people and made it hard to go back to vengeance.
* [[Humans Are Bastards]]: Why it was easy for her to be a vengeance demon. Three years of fighting alongside the Scoobies allowed her to see the goodness in people and made it hard to go back to vengeance.
* [[In Love With the Mark]]
* [[In Love with the Mark]]
* [[Literal Genie]]
* [[Literal Genie]]
* [[Literal Minded]]
* [[Literal Minded]]
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* [[Look What I Can Do Now!]]: Oz gains near-total mastery over his werewolf side by the time he returns, able to stand directly under a full moon without transforming.
* [[Look What I Can Do Now!]]: Oz gains near-total mastery over his werewolf side by the time he returns, able to stand directly under a full moon without transforming.
* [[Not a Morning Person]]: He sleeps until 3PM.
* [[Not a Morning Person]]: He sleeps until 3PM.
* [[Only Known By Their Nickname]]
* [[Only Known by Their Nickname]]
* [[Our Werewolves Are Different]]
* [[Our Werewolves Are Different]]
** [[Hulking Out]]: When he learns of Willow and Tara's relationship.
** [[Hulking Out]]: When he learns of Willow and Tara's relationship.
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* [[Playing Against Type]]: So [[Seth Green]] isn't the [[Plucky Comic Relief]]?
* [[Playing Against Type]]: So [[Seth Green]] isn't the [[Plucky Comic Relief]]?
** The comic relief is his unruffled reaction to pretty much everything.
** The comic relief is his unruffled reaction to pretty much everything.
* [[Put On a Bus]]
* [[Put on a Bus]]
** [[The Bus Came Back]]: "New Moon Rising".
** [[The Bus Came Back]]: "New Moon Rising".
* [[Real Men Wear Pink]]: Literally in the season 2 finale. He also occasionally wears a t-shirt over his monk's robes, which makes it seem he's wearing a skirt.
* [[Real Men Wear Pink]]: Literally in the season 2 finale. He also occasionally wears a t-shirt over his monk's robes, which makes it seem he's wearing a skirt.
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* [[Spiky Hair]]
* [[Spiky Hair]]
* [[Split Personality Takeover]]: Comes very close to invoking this voluntarily after it appears his struggles against his werewolf self are futile.
* [[Split Personality Takeover]]: Comes very close to invoking this voluntarily after it appears his struggles against his werewolf self are futile.
* [[The Mind Is a Plaything of The Body]]: The closer it is to sunset on a full moon night, the harder it is to resist his most primal urges.
* [[The Mind Is a Plaything of the Body]]: The closer it is to sunset on a full moon night, the harder it is to resist his most primal urges.
* [[The Nose Knows]]
* [[The Nose Knows]]
* [[The Quiet One]]
* [[The Quiet One]]
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{{quote| ''"I may be love's bitch, but at least I'm man enough to admit it."''}}
{{quote| ''"I may be love's bitch, but at least I'm man enough to admit it."''}}


British vampire who served as the villain for early Season 2. Was planned to die, but his status as [[Ensemble Darkhorse]] saved him. He showed up in one episode in Season 3 before returning for good in Season 4. Had a chip in his head that prevented him from hurting humans, so he joined up with the Scoobies for survival and so he could get his kicks by fighting demons. Eventually fell in love with Buffy, and had a twisted relationship with her in Season 6. Got a soul at the end of Season 6 and made a [[Heroic Sacrifice]] in the finale. Reappeared on ''[[Angel (TV)|Angel]]''. He is Tropetastic.
British vampire who served as the villain for early Season 2. Was planned to die, but his status as [[Ensemble Darkhorse]] saved him. He showed up in one episode in Season 3 before returning for good in Season 4. Had a chip in his head that prevented him from hurting humans, so he joined up with the Scoobies for survival and so he could get his kicks by fighting demons. Eventually fell in love with Buffy, and had a twisted relationship with her in Season 6. Got a soul at the end of Season 6 and made a [[Heroic Sacrifice]] in the finale. Reappeared on ''[[Angel]]''. He is Tropetastic.
----
----
* [[Anti-Hero]]: [[Sliding Scale of Anti-Heroes|Type V]]. Turns Type III after getting his soul back.
* [[Anti-Hero]]: [[Sliding Scale of Anti-Heroes|Type V]]. Turns Type III after getting his soul back.
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* [[Breakout Character]] / [[Breakout Villain]]
* [[Breakout Character]] / [[Breakout Villain]]
* [[Break the Haughty]]: For a guy that cocky, his face sure does seem to be a fist-magnet.
* [[Break the Haughty]]: For a guy that cocky, his face sure does seem to be a fist-magnet.
* [[Bruiser With a Soft Center]]
* [[Bruiser with a Soft Center]]
* [[Brutal Honesty]]
* [[Brutal Honesty]]
* [[Can't You Read the Sign]]: A sign saying BEWARE OF DOG is shown behind Spike on [[Running Gag|several occasions]].
* [[Can't You Read the Sign?]]: A sign saying BEWARE OF DOG is shown behind Spike on [[Running Gag|several occasions]].
* [[Closet Geek]]: Develops an unlikely passion for ''[[Passions]]''.
* [[Closet Geek]]: Develops an unlikely passion for ''[[Passions]]''.
* [[Closet Sublet]]: With Anya gone, Spike ignominiously moves into a 'spare room' in Xander's apartment.
* [[Closet Sublet]]: With Anya gone, Spike ignominiously moves into a 'spare room' in Xander's apartment.
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* [[Cool Bike]]: That he stole from a demon biker in Season 6.
* [[Cool Bike]]: That he stole from a demon biker in Season 6.
* [[Deadpan Snarker]]
* [[Deadpan Snarker]]
* [[Depending On the Writer]]: Spike's level of evilness after being chipped seems to depend on who's writing him. Borders on [[Heel Face Revolving Door]].
* [[Depending on the Writer]]: Spike's level of evilness after being chipped seems to depend on who's writing him. Borders on [[Heel Face Revolving Door]].
* [[Drop in Character]]: In Season 4 and 5 after he's chipped.
* [[Drop in Character]]: In Season 4 and 5 after he's chipped.
* [[Embarrassing Nickname]]: "William the Bloody" actually refers to his bloody awful poems.
* [[Embarrassing Nickname]]: "William the Bloody" actually refers to his bloody awful poems.
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* [[Freudian Excuse]]: Two of them. The first was Spike sired his mother, who he adored, only for her to try and seduce him as a vampire, leading to him being forced to stake her. Naturally this would be very traumatic and likely sent him off the rails.
* [[Freudian Excuse]]: Two of them. The first was Spike sired his mother, who he adored, only for her to try and seduce him as a vampire, leading to him being forced to stake her. Naturally this would be very traumatic and likely sent him off the rails.
** The second is Angelus. It's been discussed in the show that Angelus made Spike a [[Complete Monster]] and Spike hated that Angelus did so in order for there to be someone as disgusting as he was before as Liam and after as a vampire.
** The second is Angelus. It's been discussed in the show that Angelus made Spike a [[Complete Monster]] and Spike hated that Angelus did so in order for there to be someone as disgusting as he was before as Liam and after as a vampire.
* [[Friendly Neighborhood Vampire]]: [[Trope Namer]], though it was on ''[[Angel (TV)|Angel]]'' and he was being [[Deadpan Snarker|sarcastic]].
* [[Friendly Neighborhood Vampire]]: [[Trope Namer]], though it was on ''[[Angel]]'' and he was being [[Deadpan Snarker|sarcastic]].
* [[Fully-Embraced Fiend]]
* [[Fully-Embraced Fiend]]
* [[The Glasses Got to Go]]: Needed them while alive, with no explanation given as to why he doesn't need them afterward.
* [[The Glasses Got to Go]]: Needed them while alive, with no explanation given as to why he doesn't need them afterward.
* [[Good Is Not Nice]]
* [[Good Is Not Nice]]
* [[Guilty Pleasures]]: [[Dawsons Creek]] and [[Passions]].
* [[Guilty Pleasures]]: [[Dawson's Creek]] and [[Passions]].
* [[Heel Face Turn]]: [[Character Development|Slowly over the course of four seasons]].
* [[Heel Face Turn]]: [[Character Development|Slowly over the course of four seasons]].
* [[Heroic Comedic Sociopath]]
* [[Heroic Comedic Sociopath]]
* [[Heroic Sacrifice]]: [[Angel (TV)|He gets]] [[Unexplained Recovery|better]].
* [[Heroic Sacrifice]]: [[Angel|He gets]] [[Unexplained Recovery|better]].
* [[Hero With an F In Good]]: In Seasons 5 and 6.
* [[Hero with an F In Good]]: In Seasons 5 and 6.
* [[Hidden Depths]]: He's surprisingly good at predicting Willow's behavior.
* [[Hidden Depths]]: He's surprisingly good at predicting Willow's behavior.
* [[I Am Very British]]
* [[I Am Very British]]
* [[I Just Want My Beloved to Be Happy]]: In Season 9, he wants Buffy to have as normal a life as possible and is avoiding any romantic entanglement with her because of it. He even says he would be thrilled if Detective Dowling wanted to date her. Both Dowling and Eldre Koh can tell that he's still carrying a torch, however.
* [[I Just Want My Beloved to Be Happy]]: In Season 9, he wants Buffy to have as normal a life as possible and is avoiding any romantic entanglement with her because of it. He even says he would be thrilled if Detective Dowling wanted to date her. Both Dowling and Eldre Koh can tell that he's still carrying a torch, however.
* [[Jerk With a Heart of Gold]]: After his [[Badass Decay]] got well underway.
* [[Jerk with a Heart of Gold]]: After his [[Badass Decay]] got well underway.
* [[Knight of Cerebus]]: When Spike comes crashing through the Sunnydale welcome sign, gets out of his car and says "Home sweet home", it marks the beginning of the storyline that takes the entire series in a darker direction.
* [[Knight of Cerebus]]: When Spike comes crashing through the Sunnydale welcome sign, gets out of his car and says "Home sweet home", it marks the beginning of the storyline that takes the entire series in a darker direction.
* [[Knight in Sour Armor]]: After his [[Heel Face Turn]].
* [[Knight in Sour Armor]]: After his [[Heel Face Turn]].
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* [[Spotlight-Stealing Squad]]: Like it or not, Spike eventually became the center of gravity for the entire cast. This started out gradually, kicking into overdrive once Marti Noxon took the helm. There's a reason it's just him and Buffy on the Season 7 box.
* [[Spotlight-Stealing Squad]]: Like it or not, Spike eventually became the center of gravity for the entire cast. This started out gradually, kicking into overdrive once Marti Noxon took the helm. There's a reason it's just him and Buffy on the Season 7 box.
** On the other hand, many viewers hold this opinion of all of Buffy's boyfriends [[Die for Our Ship|who aren't Angel]]. "Something Blue" routinely ends up on Best Episode lists solely due to Buffy/Spike's short-lived (and magically-inspired) 'engagement', thanks in no small part to their immediate chemistry... in marked contrast to (yep) Buffy's ''then''-boyfriend Riley Finn, who is mostly detested by fans. Sensing a pattern here?
** On the other hand, many viewers hold this opinion of all of Buffy's boyfriends [[Die for Our Ship|who aren't Angel]]. "Something Blue" routinely ends up on Best Episode lists solely due to Buffy/Spike's short-lived (and magically-inspired) 'engagement', thanks in no small part to their immediate chemistry... in marked contrast to (yep) Buffy's ''then''-boyfriend Riley Finn, who is mostly detested by fans. Sensing a pattern here?
* [[Stalker With a Crush]]: How he acts initially after falling in love with Buffy.
* [[Stalker with a Crush]]: How he acts initially after falling in love with Buffy.
* [[The Starscream]]: First to the Anointed One, then to Angelus, both successfully.
* [[The Starscream]]: First to the Anointed One, then to Angelus, both successfully.
* [[Start of Darkness]]: "Fool for Love".
* [[Start of Darkness]]: "Fool for Love".
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* [[There Is Another]]: Spike gradually takes on 'Angel' mantle in Seasons 5-7, whereupon he get treated to guilt, hallucinations, [[Reduced to Ratburgers|eating rats]] -- the works.
* [[There Is Another]]: Spike gradually takes on 'Angel' mantle in Seasons 5-7, whereupon he get treated to guilt, hallucinations, [[Reduced to Ratburgers|eating rats]] -- the works.
{{quote| '''Robin Wood:''' Because [[Entertainingly Wrong|the military gave him a soul]]?}}
{{quote| '''Robin Wood:''' Because [[Entertainingly Wrong|the military gave him a soul]]?}}
** He still caught a lot more breaks that Angel did. When Angel got his soul back, he was obliged to let himself be shackled to the wall of an empty house. Spike gets tied up [[Chained to A Bed|in Buffy's bedroom with nice soft rope]].
** He still caught a lot more breaks that Angel did. When Angel got his soul back, he was obliged to let himself be shackled to the wall of an empty house. Spike gets tied up [[Chained to a Bed|in Buffy's bedroom with nice soft rope]].
* [[This Is for Emphasis, Bitch]]: What's he [[Stalker With a Crush|doing outside Buffy's house]]? Five words or less. He's "Out. For. A. Walk." *[[Beat]]* "[[This Is for Emphasis, Bitch|Bitch]]."
* [[This Is for Emphasis, Bitch]]: What's he [[Stalker with a Crush|doing outside Buffy's house]]? Five words or less. He's "Out. For. A. Walk." *[[Beat]]* "[[This Is for Emphasis, Bitch|Bitch]]."
* [[Throwing Off the Disability]]: Ends up in a wheelchair after a church organ falls on him, but he gets better in a few episodes' time.
* [[Throwing Off the Disability]]: Ends up in a wheelchair after a church organ falls on him, but he gets better in a few episodes' time.
* [[Token Evil Teammate]]: Especially in Season 4 and part of Season 5.
* [[Token Evil Teammate]]: Especially in Season 4 and part of Season 5.
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* [[Trademark Favorite Food]]: Aside from blood obviously, he fancies those onion blossoms and buffalo wings served at The Bronze, even though he can't digest them. He also likes to sprinkle Wheatabix into his blood bags for "texture."
* [[Trademark Favorite Food]]: Aside from blood obviously, he fancies those onion blossoms and buffalo wings served at The Bronze, even though he can't digest them. He also likes to sprinkle Wheatabix into his blood bags for "texture."
* [[Trenchcoat Brigade]]
* [[Trenchcoat Brigade]]
* [[Tsundere]]: After he develops a crush on {{spoiler|Buffy}}. "[[Musical Episode|First he'll kill her, then I'll save her... No, I'll save her]], ''[[If We Survive This|then]]'' [[Musical Episode|I'll kill her...]]" Played shallowly in his fling with Harmony, where the Deredere is mostly an act, partly a rebound crush, and the Tsuntsun is because she's ''[[It's All About Me|just]] [[Motor Mouth|that]] [[Spanner in The Works|annoying]]''.
* [[Tsundere]]: After he develops a crush on {{spoiler|Buffy}}. "[[Musical Episode|First he'll kill her, then I'll save her... No, I'll save her]], ''[[If We Survive This|then]]'' [[Musical Episode|I'll kill her...]]" Played shallowly in his fling with Harmony, where the Deredere is mostly an act, partly a rebound crush, and the Tsuntsun is because she's ''[[It's All About Me|just]] [[Motor Mouth|that]] [[Spanner in the Works|annoying]]''.
{{quote| Spike to {{spoiler|Buffy}}, after he's caught [[Stalker With a Crush|lurking outside her house]]: "And I never really liked you anyway, and [[Lame Comeback|and you have stupid hair]] (''[[Beat]]'') [''Leaves'']."}}
{{quote| Spike to {{spoiler|Buffy}}, after he's caught [[Stalker with a Crush|lurking outside her house]]: "And I never really liked you anyway, and [[Lame Comeback|and you have stupid hair]] (''[[Beat]]'') [''Leaves'']."}}
* [[Wall Glower]]
* [[Wall Glower]]
* [[Warrior Poet]]: Literally, although the latter isn't really showcased until Angel.
* [[Warrior Poet]]: Literally, although the latter isn't really showcased until Angel.
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''"..[[Last-Second Word Swap|Petroleum]]."''|Riley and Buffy}}
''"..[[Last-Second Word Swap|Petroleum]]."''|Riley and Buffy}}


Initiative soldier and Buffy's [[Love Interest]] in Season 4 (and early Season 5). [[Put On a Bus]], but came back for an episode in Season 6, and later on a recurring basis in the comics.
Initiative soldier and Buffy's [[Love Interest]] in Season 4 (and early Season 5). [[Put on a Bus]], but came back for an episode in Season 6, and later on a recurring basis in the comics.
----
----
* [[Badass]]
* [[Badass]]
** [[Badass Abnormal]]: When on the Initiative [[Super Serum]].
** [[Badass Abnormal]]: When on the Initiative [[Super Serum]].
** [[Badass Normal]]: After being taken off the [[Super Serum]].
** [[Badass Normal]]: After being taken off the [[Super Serum]].
* [[Battle Couple]]: Riley is eager to form one with Buffy, but she finds his lack of superpowers cramps her style and his inability to measure up makes Riley feel inadequate even as a [[Love Interest]]. When Riley returns for one episode ("[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV)/Recap/S6 E15 As You Were|As You Were]]") in Season 6, he's married a [[Badass Normal]] [[Action Girl]], forming a new Battle Couple.
* [[Battle Couple]]: Riley is eager to form one with Buffy, but she finds his lack of superpowers cramps her style and his inability to measure up makes Riley feel inadequate even as a [[Love Interest]]. When Riley returns for one episode ("[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Recap/S6 E15 As You Were|As You Were]]") in Season 6, he's married a [[Badass Normal]] [[Action Girl]], forming a new Battle Couple.
* [[Dogged Nice Guy]]: In Season 6 when he returns to find Buffy working in a dead-end job and sleeping with Spike, Riley refuses to condemn her for it, instead giving Buffy the encouragement to start pulling her life back together.
* [[Dogged Nice Guy]]: In Season 6 when he returns to find Buffy working in a dead-end job and sleeping with Spike, Riley refuses to condemn her for it, instead giving Buffy the encouragement to start pulling her life back together.
* {{spoiler|[[Face Heel Turn]]}}: In the comics.
* {{spoiler|[[Face Heel Turn]]}}: In the comics.
** {{spoiler|Except not really. He was spying for Buffy.}}
** {{spoiler|Except not really. He was spying for Buffy.}}
* [[The Easy Way or The Hard Way]]: "We can do this the hard way, or the fatal way."
* [[The Easy Way or the Hard Way]]: "We can do this the hard way, or the fatal way."
* [[Fantastic Drug]]: Became addicted to having his blood sucked by vampire prostitutes. And no, that is not an [[Unusual Euphemism]].
* [[Fantastic Drug]]: Became addicted to having his blood sucked by vampire prostitutes. And no, that is not an [[Unusual Euphemism]].
* [[Farm Boy]]
* [[Farm Boy]]
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* {{spoiler|[[The Mole]]}}: In the comics.
* {{spoiler|[[The Mole]]}}: In the comics.
** {{spoiler|[[Reverse Mole]], actually.}}
** {{spoiler|[[Reverse Mole]], actually.}}
* [[Put On a Bus To Hell]]
* [[Put on a Bus to Hell]]
** [[The Bus Came Back]]: "As You Were".
** [[The Bus Came Back]]: "As You Were".
* [[Romantic Runner-Up]]: He does have a successful relationship with Buffy for some time, but it's made plain that she doesn't love him the way she loved Angel.
* [[Romantic Runner-Up]]: He does have a successful relationship with Buffy for some time, but it's made plain that she doesn't love him the way she loved Angel.
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* [[Cousin Oliver]]
* [[Cousin Oliver]]
* [[Cosmic Retcon]]
* [[Cosmic Retcon]]
* [[Cursed With Awesome]]: While being a giant and centaurette were annoying to her, she at acknowledged they had some good points. Being turing into a doll though... not so much.
* [[Cursed with Awesome]]: While being a giant and centaurette were annoying to her, she at acknowledged they had some good points. Being turing into a doll though... not so much.
* [[Dawson Casting]]: Considering how much the show made use of it, Dawn was a pleasant aversion; Michelle Trachtenberg started playing the 14-year-old at 14. Probably done to ensure that she would look younger than her sister.
* [[Dawson Casting]]: Considering how much the show made use of it, Dawn was a pleasant aversion; Michelle Trachtenberg started playing the 14-year-old at 14. Probably done to ensure that she would look younger than her sister.
** Ironically, she became taller than her by Season 7.
** Ironically, she became taller than her by Season 7.
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* [[The Not Love Interest]]
* [[The Not Love Interest]]
* [[Rapunzel Hair]]
* [[Rapunzel Hair]]
* [[Remember the New Guy]]: {{spoiler|Actually a subversion}}.
* [[Remember the New Guy?]]: {{spoiler|Actually a subversion}}.
* [[Screaming Woman]]
* [[Screaming Woman]]
* [[Shipper On Deck]]: ''Hardcore'' Willow / Tara fangirl.
* [[Shipper on Deck]]: ''Hardcore'' Willow / Tara fangirl.
* [[The Smart Guy]]: She took a role like this in Season 7.
* [[The Smart Guy]]: She took a role like this in Season 7.
* [[Sticky Fingers]]
* [[Sticky Fingers]]

Revision as of 08:21, 8 April 2014


Buffy Anne Summers (Sarah Michelle Gellar)

 "Cool! Crossbow! Check out these babies. Goodbye stakes, hello flying fatality."

The Slayer, main character, and leader of the Scooby Gang (except when she was absent or dead). Started out as a reluctant Slayer, but grew to accept her destiny. For much of the show's run, she was the only really combat-capable character. Died twice.

  • Action Girl
  • All Girls Want Bad Boys: Lampshaded by Buffy herself in "Something Blue" when she worries that a nice, safe relationship would lack the intensity. She falls in love with both Angel and Spike, but her Dogged Nice Guy boyfriend Riley Finn ends up leaving because Buffy doesn't love him as much as he loves her.
    • Deconstructed by Spike in "Never Leave Me".

 "You like men who hurt you. You need the pain we cause you. You need the hate. You need it to do your job, to be the Slayer."

 "Dates are things normal girls have. Girls who have time to think about nail polish and facials. You know what I think about? Ambush tactics. Beheading. Not exactly the stuff dreams are made of."

Willow Rosenberg (Alyson Hannigan)

 "You're the Slayer and we're, like, the Slayerettes!"

Buffy's best friend. Started out as The Smart Guy, but eventually became an extremely powerful witch. Came out in Season 4, and is one of the most recognized lesbian characters in fiction.

 Xander: You need a life in the worst way.

 Willow: It's a little binding. I guess vampires really don't have to breathe. Gosh look at those.

 Vamp Willow (looking Willow over): Well, look at me. I'm all fuzzy.

  • Teen Genius
  • Tempting Fate: Almost a Running Gag with her.
    • "Dead Man's Party": Talking about it isn't helping. We might as well try some violence. (zombies crash into the house)
    • "Beer Bad": Men haven't changed since the beginning of time. (cavemen burst in)
    • "Triangle": I wish Buffy were here. (Buffy enters)
    • "Two to Go": There's no one on this earth who has the power to stop me now. (Giles blasts her with a fireball)
  • Trademark Favorite Food: Mocha coffee.
  • Tragic Womance: Her refusal to lose Buffy pushes her to take more risks with magic than ever before. The resurrection leaves her so high off success that she responds to Giles's concern with threats, setting most of her season six arc into motion.
  • Unlucky Childhood Friend
    • Completely subverted in that when she and Xander do get together, she decides she doesn't want him. Then, when she was in a rut with Oz, she discovered that she prefers Tara. She actually has a tendency to make the other person the Unlucky Childhood Friend.
  • Unstoppable Rage: Willow goes into one when Glory sucks Tara's mind, and again when Warren shoots and kills Tara.
  • Villainous Widow's Peak: Willow wears one naturally. It becomes this once she morphs into Dark Willow.
  • What Could Have Been: Word of Joss says the door was left open for either Xander or Willow to come out of the closet. Willow's backdoor was set up in "Doppelgangland" (see Wishverse Willow), and let's not forget Xander and Larry ("Your secret's safe with me!"). Seth Green left the show to pursue other projects, and this sealed Willow's fate.
  • What the Hell, Hero?: In Season 6, Dawn slaps her after almost killing her in a car crash and Tara leaves her after she screwed with Tara's head.
    • Tara left her because she promised to not do magic for a week but couldn't last even a day.
      • And the Mind Rape, and take into consideration that Glory did something similar to Tara in Season 5.
  • Why Did It Have to Be Frogs?: Suffers from Ranidaphobia.
  • You Are in Command Now: Took charge of the Scoobies when Buffy was absent or incapacitated; most notably between Seasons 2-3 and 5-6.


Alexander LaVelle "Xander" Harris (Nicholas Brendon)

 "I don't like vampires. I'm gonna take a stand and say they're not good."

Buffy's other best friend. Unlike Willow, Xander never gained any powers (apart from some military training). He had a crush on Buffy early on.

  • Abusive Parents: Not explicitly abusive per se, but they're definitely not loving parents. His father is also, at least verbally and emotionally, abusive of his mother.
  • A Day in the Limelight: Several, perhaps most notably "The Zeppo."
  • Adorkable
  • Annoying Arrows
  • Author Avatar: According to Nicholas Brendan, his character is based on Joss Whedon in high school, which is why Xander "gets all the good lines." They also dress alike.
  • Badass Normal: This carpenter can dry-wall you into the next century!
  • Basement Dweller: In Season 4.
  • Beard of Sorrow: Grows one shortly after Renee's death in Season 8.
  • Body Motifs: Xander is the one who sees everything, so Caleb pokes out one of his eyes.
  • Book Dumb
  • Butt Monkey: Quite possibly the Trope Namer.
  • The Captain: Come Season 8, he's the de facto leader of the international Slayers' organization because of his uncanny ability to bring out the best in his girls. See The Heart below.
  • Cartwright Curse: Of his four major love interests, three are dead: Cordelia, Anya, and Renee, and all his other possible love interests turned out to be demons trying to kill him. Hopefully Dawn will have better luck.
  • Class Clown: His personality in the early seasons. In "The Prom," he complains about not winning the Class Clown award.
  • Combat Pragmatist: In a world where most people think they need to use swords, stakes, axes, and other similar melee weapons, Xander come up with the idea to use a rocket launcher to kill the Judge.
  • Crouching Moron, Hidden Badass
  • Deadpan Snarker: Even among an entire cast of snarkers, Xander reigns supreme.
  • Easy Amnesia: Exploited. After Xander is possessed by hyenas, he tells Buffy and Willow he has no memory of it, but when Giles confronts him, he confesses that he was lying so he wouldn't have to talk about it.
    • In Season 2 he inadvertently reveals he was lying.
  • Embarrassing Middle Name
  • Even Nerds Have Standards: His interactions with Andrew Wells.
  • Eyepatch of Power: After he loses his eye in Season 7.
  • Eye Scream: See above.
  • The Face: He lacks the supernatural powers of his teammates, but is best friends with Buffy and Willow to the end. His storylines tends to revolve around interpersonal relationships, and, as the most consistent of the Scooby Gang, he interacts with everyone.
    • The Heart: It's made clear more than once that Xander's strength doesn't lie in battle or conjuring spells, but in his interpersonal skills which hold the group together and keep them sane despite all the insanity swirling around them. He brought Willow back from the brink by telling her he loved her.
  • Fatal Attractor: All of his dates are demons. All of them.
    • In the last Season, it is revealed that he and Willow devised a secret phone code for "My date's a demon who's trying to kill me."
  • Hormone-Addled Teenager:

 Cordelia: Does looking at guns make you wanna have sex?

Xander: I'm 17. Looking at linoleum makes me wanna have sex.

    • And when Buffy reads his mind:

  "What am I going to do? I think about sex all the time. Sex. Help. Four times five is thirty. Five times six is thirty-two... Naked girls. Naked women. Naked Buffy. Oh, stop me."

Rupert Giles (Anthony Stewart Head)

 "You're not, by any chance, betraying your secret identity just to impress, um, cute boys, are you?"

Buffy's Watcher. Very British. Originally just Mr. Exposition, turned out to have quite a past. Also played Team Dad to the Scoobies.

  "'Do you like my mask? Isn't it pretty? It raises the dead.' Americans!"

 ""I know I'm back in America now; I've been knocked unconscious."

  • Heroic Sacrifice: Giles got between a Twilight possessed Angel and Buffy as they fought near the Seed of Wonder, wielding the Scythe to try and destroy the Seed himself and end Twilight's invasion of Earth, or get killed by Twilight and give Buffy the motivation she needed to take the Scythe and end things herself.
  • Heel Face Turn: Pre-series-he used to be pretty much evil in his younger days, practicing dark magic and stuff like that and and was known as Ripper.
  • Helping Would Be Killstealing: Giles in the sixth season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. He chose to abandon Buffy because he felt that she was limiting herself by clinging to him in a immature way. In principle he had good reasons, but he chose to make his stand right in the middle of a crisis, and forbade everyone else from helping Buffy. That can only vaguely be justified by him following musical logic at the time.
  • Hopeless with Tech
  • Hot Librarian
  • I Am Very British: In the second episode, he asks Willow to "wrest more information from that dread machine... That was a bit...British."
  • I Did What I Had to Do
  • I Need a Freaking Drink: "It's all right... I have more scotch."
  • In-Series Nickname: "Ripper."
  • Killed Off for Real: In the comic, and in a way mirroring Jenny Calendar's death no less.
  • Last-Name Basis: The only people who call him "Rupert" are his romantic interests and Spike.
  • Laser-Guided Amnesia: While in London during Season 6, Giles did a spell to bind a demon, but it required him to lose the memory of one of the happiest days in his life. That day was the day he fell in love with Jenny Calendar, leaving him with a heartache that he felt would never go away, even though he had no idea what the memory was about.
  • Limited Wardrobe: A Watcher scoffs at fashion! One tweed suit is all you need.

 Jenny: Do you own anything else?

Giles: Uh well, not as such, no.

 "Because I've sworn to protect this sorry world, and sometimes that means doing what other people can't. What they shouldn't have to."

 Giles: But that's the thrill of living on the Hellmouth! There's a veritable cornucopia of fiends and devils and ghouls to engage! (Beat) ...Well, excuse me for finding the glass half-full.

Angel, né Liam (David Boreanaz)

 "For a hundred years, I offered an ugly death to everyone I met, and I did it with a song in my heart."

Vampire cursed with a soul, and Buffy's first Love Interest. Loses his soul in Season 2, becoming a formidable Big Bad with a love of torture (both physical and psychological). Later got his own show.

He returned to Buffy in the Season 8 comics, and will be co-starring with Faith in an upcoming comic series called Angel and Faith.

  Buffy: Skip it. I don't have a puppy, I don't want to know. Skip it.

  • Knight of Cerebus: Sort of. The previous villains certainly weren't harmless, but the show did become darker once Angelus was unleashed.
  • Large and In Charge: Angel's a pretty big guy. Good thing he's on our side! ...oh, wait.
  • Loophole Abuse: He gets into the high school to kill Jenny Calendar using this: Vampires can only enter buildings by the personal invitation of the owner or the owner's family, but apparently the sign above the school, which reads "Enter, all ye who seek knowledge" in Latin, qualifies as an invitation.
  • Love Interest: To Buffy.
  • Love Makes You Evil: Literally.
  • Manipulative Bastard
  • Mayfly-December Romance
  • Mind Rape: His specialty. What he did to Drusilla is much, much worse. Actually, Angelus arguably crossed the line from the start by massacring his entire hometown, family included.
  • Mr. Fanservice: He really is something to look at, and he's often chained up and shirtless. He's even been tortured by a vampire dominatrix more than once.
  • Mysterious Protector
  • Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: Creating the Twilight dimension by screwing Buffy, which let thousands of demons invade Earth, which resulted in the destruction of the Seed of Wonder and removed all magic from the world.
  • Not Himself: When he loses his soul after having sex with Buffy.
  • Of Corpse He's Alive: Any fool can eat somebody. Angelus likes to make art with the corpse afterward. He infamously posed Jenny Calender like a doll in Giles' bed (staging the scene to resemble a romantic interlude), and tricked a man into thinking his slain sons were still "asleep".
  • Omnicidal Maniac
  • Politically-Incorrect Villain: Angelus' constant jibes at the wheelchair-bound Spike. He's got a million of 'em, ladies and gentlemen.
  • The Punishment: MAN can those gypsies hold a grudge.
  • Psychotic Smirk
  • Rescue Romance: Strikes one up with Buffy, in Season One.
  • Redemption Equals Death: Just as he casts off the Angelus persona, Buffy runs him through with a sword and he gets pulled into Hell by Acathla.
  • Reduced to Ratburgers: By the time Whistler found him, Angel was homeless and scrounging off of rat blood. (To add insult to injury, he has difficulty catching one.)
  • Restraining Bolt: One moment of bliss will turn him psychotic.
  • Shirtless Scene: The man likes his tai chi.
  • Shoo Out the Clowns: Poor Spike is left to rot in a wheelchair while the significantly less cuddly Angelus steals the spotlight.
  • Sidekick Graduations Stick
  • Spiky Hair
  • Stalking Is Love: Angel has definite tendencies in that direction, in both his evil and not-evil incarnations.
    • He actually met and fell in love with Buffy when she was 15. He then stalked her for a year before revealing himself.
    • And he's still up it on the fifth season of Angel, despite being burdened with a desk job! (He has "a source" keeping tabs on her in Italy.)
  • Star-Crossed Lovers: With Buffy.
  • Stealth Hi Bye

 Xander: Okay, that's it. I'm putting a collar with a little bell around that guy.

  • Suicide by Sunlight: Attempted.
  • Terms of Endangerment: You can always tell when he's crazy because he refers to Buffy as "Buff."
  • Token Heroic Orc
  • Tragic Monster
  • Vegetarian Vampire
  • Villain Cred: Even the Master held Angelus in high regard, intending to appoint him Dragon. The Mayor was keen to have Angelus on his team, as well.
  • Warrior Poet: More like a warrior man of letters -- well-read, multilingual and a talented artist.
  • Weak but Skilled: As far as credible villains go, Angelus is not that much stronger than normal vampires. He's been in the game for two hundred years though, with his greatest asset (aside from a viciousness that would make The Joker proud) being his mind, which he uses to full effect.
  • "Well Done, Son" Guy: As a human, Liam was held in contempt by his father, who believed that his son would never amount to being anything else but being a lazy, promiscuous drunk. When he became Angelus, he sat out to prove his father wrong by making a name for himself, namely by becoming the most famboyantly sadistic vampire ever recorded in human history.
  • What the Hell, Hero?: After he gets exposed as Twilight, everybody has this reaction to him, especially after it is revealed he was an Unwitting Pawn to a evil dimension trying to end the world. After he gets possessed by the real Twilight and kills Giles and Buffy is forced to destroy the Seed of Wonder is destroyed to stop the destruction of the world, the only ones willing to associate with Angel and not try to kill him are Buffy and Faith, and Buffy doesn't even want to be around him anymore.
  • Who Wants to Live Forever?

Cordelia Chase (Charisma Carpenter)

 "Tact is just not saying true stuff. I'll pass."

Started out as the Alpha Bitch, before joining the Scooby Gang and eventually being spun off to Angel.

  "Actually, I'm looking forward to it. I do well on standardized tests." (Beat) "What? I can't have layers?"

 Xander: You're talking about messing with powerful magic, and you're weak.

Willow: I'm okay.

Xander: You don't look okay. (to Cordelia) Does she?

Cordelia: You should listen to him. The hair, it's so flat, and the lips...

Anya, née Aud (Emma Caulfield)

 " I was feared and worshipped across the mortal globe and now I'm stuck at Sunnydale High. A mortal! A child! And I'm flunking math."

Originally a 1,120-year-old vengeance demon who lost her powers and eventually joined the Scooby Gang. Was a Love Interest for Xander for three seasons before their relationship ended, and she went back to being a Vengeance Demon. Lost her powers and rejoined the Scoobies in early Season 7.

  • Annoying Younger Sibling: Her relationship with Willow is meant to be like this; despite being thousands of years older than Willow, she's more naive and immature, which Willow is frequently annoyed by.
  • Ascended Extra: Originally intended as a one-shot character for "The Wish."
  • Badass: When a vengeance demon. However, she did kill a few demons and vampires as a normal human.
  • Being Evil Sucks
  • Break the Cutie: From "Hell's Bells" on.
  • Brutal Honesty: "I hate us! Everybody's so *nice*. Nobody says what's on their mind."
  • Cannot Tell a Joke: Though, with little doubt, she's the funniest character from Season 4 onwards.

 Anya: OK. A man walks in to the office of a doctor. He's wearing on his head-- um, oh wait, there's a duck. Is that right?

Heckler: YOU SUCK!

Anya: Quiet! You'll miss the humorous conclusion.

Daniel "Oz" Osbourne (Seth Green)

 "Huh. A werewolf in love."

Guitarist for a local band who became a werewolf, as well as Willow's boyfriend. Left in early Season 4. Nigh-impossible to faze. In the comics, he married a fellow werewolf with whom he had a son. Together they teach other werewolves to conquer their demons. He later assisted the Slayer Organization during the Twilight crisis.

Spike, né William Pratt (James Marsters)

 "I may be love's bitch, but at least I'm man enough to admit it."

British vampire who served as the villain for early Season 2. Was planned to die, but his status as Ensemble Darkhorse saved him. He showed up in one episode in Season 3 before returning for good in Season 4. Had a chip in his head that prevented him from hurting humans, so he joined up with the Scoobies for survival and so he could get his kicks by fighting demons. Eventually fell in love with Buffy, and had a twisted relationship with her in Season 6. Got a soul at the end of Season 6 and made a Heroic Sacrifice in the finale. Reappeared on Angel. He is Tropetastic.

 "I know it looks like a closet but it's a room now."

 Joyce: Honey, did you somehow, unintentionally, lead him on in any way? Send him signals?

Buffy: Well, I do beat him up a lot. For Spike, that's like third base.

 Spike: I may be love's bitch, but at least I'm man enough to admit it.

 "Effulgent"?

  • Suspiciously Similar Substitute: Spike was initially demoted to comic relief as a way of filling the gap left by Cordelia. Joss felt the absence of both Cordy and Oz left the heroes without a dissenting voice.
  • There Is Another: Spike gradually takes on 'Angel' mantle in Seasons 5-7, whereupon he get treated to guilt, hallucinations, eating rats -- the works.

 Robin Wood: Because the military gave him a soul?

 Spike to Buffy, after he's caught lurking outside her house: "And I never really liked you anyway, and and you have stupid hair (Beat) [Leaves]."

 Spike: "So you'll give me what I want. Make me what I was. So Buffy can get what she deserves."

Demon: "Very well. We will return...your soul."

 Glory (about Spike): What the hell is that, and why is its hair that color?

Riley Finn (Marc Blucas)

"So, what have you got going on tonight?"

"Patrolling."

"Patrolling?."

"..Petroleum."
—Riley and Buffy

Initiative soldier and Buffy's Love Interest in Season 4 (and early Season 5). Put on a Bus, but came back for an episode in Season 6, and later on a recurring basis in the comics.

Dawn Summers (Michelle Trachtenberg)

 "We destroyed The Mall? ...I fought on the wrong side."

Buffy's younger sister who was Cosmic Retconned into existence in Season 5. Was actually a Key that could open dimensional barriers. Spent two seasons as The Chick before becoming The Smart Guy.

  "Dawn's in trouble. Must be Tuesday."

  "Everyday was like the end of the world. She doesn't get worked up like that over you."

    • Or to her sister:

  "Buffy, Spike's completely in love with you."

Tara Maclay (Amber Benson)

 "I want my room to be Willow-friendly."

Willow's love interest in Seasons 4-6. Also a capable witch, and a lot wiser about her powers than Willow. Killed off in Season 6. She and Willow are the longest-lasting lesbian couple in network television history, and one of the best known.

 "Oh my God, I'm cured! I want the boys!" (pretends to run off, only to collapse giggling into Willow's arms)

 Joss: Yeah... this is porn.

  "Sweetie, I'm a fag. I've been there."

 Tara: I am, you know.

Willow: What?

Tara: Yours.

  • White Sheep
  • Wise Beyond Her Years: Despite being the most innocent of the Scoobies, Tara takes the revelation of Joyce's death much more like an adult than any other member of the gang. We later learn it's because her own mother died when she was 17, so she's been through this before.
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