Betrayal Bites

I really miss this show. Buffy the Vampire Slayer has perhaps the most diverse, metaphor-rich rogues gallery that any primetime hero has ever encountered. The Slayer has fought and trounced hundreds of supernatural bad guys, but throughout her seven seasons on TV, there were the powerful Big Bads, major players in the scheme of things. Some of them were the toughest villains that Buffy had to face, because they were once her friends, lovers and allies. Spike a.k.a. William the Bloody (above) was once a ruthless vampire who later fell in love with her. He was forced to join her group at first, but later assisted them voluntarily. Magic-addicted Willow (right), meanwhile, snapped after her witch lover, Tara, was killed. The once-timid sorceress went on a mystical rampage to avenge her senseless death. The bloodsucker with a soul, Angel (below), was Buffy's first boyfriend. After having sex with her, a curse removed his soul and transformed him into her terrifying tormentor. There were other turncoats: Faith was poised to be the replacement Slayer, but her insecurities led her to side with Sunnydale's evildoers. Occasional werewolf Oz and vengeance demon Anya were also the Slayer's trusted teammates. They have caused considerable damage, but all of them were ultimately redeemed, some of them willingly sacrificing themselves for the salvation of the world. The show's mythology is rich with these conflicted characters, and its redemption aspect permeated its spinoff series, Angel, as well.

Thank you Buffyworld for the pics.