The Big Picture Despite the underwhelming 1992 film of the same name, Buffy the Vampire Slayer quickly proved to be one of the smartest and most exciting genre shows in television history. Combining the parameters of a coming-of-age high school narrative with a flesh-out world of demons and vampires, series creator Joss Whedon earned a significant fanbase for the larger “Buffyverse.
Angel took a different direction than Buffy the Vampire Slayer when the titular character formed a detective agency with the former watcher Wesley Windham-Pryce , the Sunnydale high school graduate Cordelia Chase , the rogue demon hunter Charles Gunn , and the sensitive demon Lorne . Although initially the gang at “Angel Investigations” is approached by various clients that need their help, Angel becomes aware of a critical prophecy in the season one finale, “To Shanshu in L.A.
“Reprise” Changed the Tone of ‘Angel' The disturbing message of “Reprise” was befitting of a series as dark as Angel and helped further distance it from the more adolescent-friendly style of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. While each season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer featured a signature “Big Bad” that Buffy and her allies had to defeat, Angel showed that heroism is more complex than simply defeating an evil villain.