Summary
When the character of Buffy the Vampire Slayer first appeared on screens in 1992’sBuffy the Vampire Slayermovie, few viewers expected her to have such a lasting impact. The movie was something of a flop, and it would take another 5 years for the formula to be perfected in the televisedBuffy the Vampire Slayerseries. Buffy,gifted with supernatural strength, is tasked with ridding the world of vampires—and definitely isn’t supposed to date them.
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Because vampires are prominent antagonists in bothBuffy the Vampire Slayerand its spin-off series,Angel, the franchise has treated viewers to some truly horrific bloodsucking foes. From villains plucked from classic fiction to valley girls turned evil,Buffy the Vampire Slayeris home to a huge gallery ofpowerful vampiric threats.
8Harmony Kendall
Some peoplepeak in high school, but some don’t even survive it. Harmony Kendall is turned into a vampire during her graduation ceremony, and the undead airhead goes on to play a significant role in theBuffymythos. From hooking up with fellow vampire Spike and locating a powerful vampire artifact to becoming Angel’s secretary, Harmony maintains a presence throughout bothBuffyand its spin-off,Angel.
However, Harmony never overcomes her love for high school drama. Her frequent betrayals of her allies leave her isolated and without their trust, and her need for conflict often stands in the way of any goal she hopes to achieve.
7The Turok-Han
The Turok-Han, referred to as “ubervamps” by the Scooby Gang, is an earlier evolutionary form of vampire. As such, this breed of vampire is far more demonic thanpopular culture’s standard bloodsuckers. Buffy struggles to best a single Turok-Han during their initial encounter and is horrified to learn that Sunnydale contains thousands of the creatures.
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Yet despite the Turok-Han’s increased strength and resistance to typical vampire deterrents (crosses have no effect on them, and staking them is difficult), they have a violent reaction to sunlight and do not appear to be particularly intelligent. Therefore, the Turok-Han horde is eventually bested, although not without significant casualties.
6Vampire Willow
Buffy the Vampire Slayeris not shy about drawing on tropes from other genre properties. As such, it was only a matter of time before the show did its own twist onStar Trek’s mirror universe scenario. In “The Wish,” a vengeful demon creates a reality where the town of Sunnydale is overrun with vampires, including vampiric versions of the show’s heroes.
The most notable of these is the sadistic Vampire Willow, whose choices (bothin terms of fashionand morals) could not be more dissimilar to her human counterpart. Although this version of Willow is soon defeated, her behavior foreshadows a latent darkness in the heroic Willow.
5Dracula
Dracula is an enduring presence in vampire-centric media. Since being introduced in Bram Stoker’s 1885 novelDracula, the character has appeared in movies, video games (including the long-runningCastlevaniaseries) and even inspired a math-teaching Muppet.With such a legacy, it’s only natural that the classic monster also appears inBuffy the Vampire Slayer.
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Season 5’s “Buffy vs. Dracula” depicts Vlad the Impaler as something of a celebrity in the vampire world. He’s able to use his hypnotic powers to seduce Buffy and to turn Xander into a Renfield-esque manservant. However, his hypnotism only works up to a point, and Buffy is able to regain control of herself. Dracula, however, does not die easily; whenever he is staked, he simply reforms.
4Drusilla
Along with fellow vampires Angel, Spike, and Darla,the gothically styled Drusillarepresents one member of the Whirlwind, a powerful gang of ruthless vampires. Tortured by Angel before he turned her into a vampire, the unhinged Drusilla now experiences glimpses of the future. When she first appears inBuffy, she is in a severely weakened state, although she soon recovers.
Once restored to full health, Drusilla easily dispatches a Slayer, Kendra. While Drusilla rarely engages her enemies in direct combat, she is nonetheless a fearsome opponent, and her troubled nature means that it’s difficult to guess what she’s going to do next.
3Darla
The vampiric Darla plays only a minimal role inBuffy the Vampire Slayer, being dispatched by Buffy only a few episodes into the show’s first season. However, as well as holding the distinction of being the first vampire to appear in the series, Darla plays a key role in the show’s backstory; she is the vampire responsible for corrupting Angel.
Darla’s impact on her victim’s life is further explored inAngelwhen the character returns from the dead in human form. However, she is turned into a vampire once more. Although she is staked (again), she conceives a son with Angel, before sacrificing herself so that the child, Connor, can safely be born.
2Spike
Spike, a name he earned by hammering railroad spikes through the heads of his victims, is one of history’s most vicious vampires. He holds the rare distinction of having killed multiple Slayers. However, even he is not immune to Buffy’s charms, and the two eventually begin a torrid relationship.
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Although an accomplished fighter, Spike is implanted with an electronic chip that prevents him from harming humans. This shortcoming results in him becoming an uneasy member of the Scooby Gang, asdemons are still fair game. Spike’s greatest weakness is that he is, at heart, a hopeless romantic, albeit one with a seriously messed up approach to love.
1Angel
The course of true love never runs smoothly, and this is certainly true for the vampire Angel, who experiences a rocky romance with Buffy. Angel, who once committed heinous acts, is cursed with a soul. This leaves him wracked with guilt and working to redeem himself one demonic punch-up at a time, although achieving redemption is easier said than done.
Following the return of his soul, Angel also displays an impressive moral strength. For example, he destroys a powerful ring in “Into the Light,” reasoning that he has not yet earned the right to use it. As such, Angel has more convictions than just about every other vampire put together, as well as unquestionable physical strength.
