5 Fan-Favorite ‘Buffy The Vampire Slayer’ Characters We Hope Return For The Revival
More so than most TV revivals, speculation continues to run rampant about the upcoming reboot of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
With returning star Sarah Michelle Gellar teasing the return of some long-standing fan-favorite characters (including a few deceased heroes and villains), viewers can only wonder what surprises lay in store for them with Buffy’s imminent return to television.
As we await further details about which stars might return for the upcoming revival, we decided to take a look at Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s expansive past, detailing some of the many beloved characters we’d love to see pop up again in the long-awaited reboot.
Giles
The Obi-Wan to Buffy’s Luke, Rupert Giles served as Buffy’s dependable mentor throughout the entirety of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Initially introduced as an equally quirky and knowledgeable teacher, his close-knit relationship to Buffy eventually allowed him to become a surrogate father figure to the next generation’s Slayer. With Buffy essentially set to fulfill a role akin to Giles’ own in the new Buffy series, it’d certainly be interesting to see how Buffy and her former mentor’s dynamic has changed since viewers last saw him.
Faith
It’s always fascinating whenever a formerly antagonistic character experiences a redemption story arc, with Buffy’s Faith Lehane certainly no exception. A jaded and cynical Slayer whose personality and background differed drastically from Buffy’s own, Faith almost appeared as the Bizarro version of her blonde-haired counterpart, slipping into a formidable role as a villain shortly after her initial introduction. With much of the original series showcasing her gradual metamorphosis back into a sympathetic protagonist, it would be incredibly fascinating to see just how the years have weighed on Faith since her previous appearance.
Willow
Like Buffy herself, Willow Rosenberg underwent a massive transformation over the course of Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s expansive run. Initially introduced as the shy, softspoken, adorably nerdy best friend of Buffy, Willow slowly grew to become a veteran monster slayer in her own right, outfitting her with a newfound confidence to embrace both her positive characteristics and open sexuality. A fan-favorite character for this reason among many others, there’s little doubt fans would love to see Alyson Hannigan reprise her role in the upcoming series.
Angel
Like Romeo and Juliet before them, Buffy and Angel’s romance was fated never to be. Driven apart by their vastly different backgrounds as a Slayer and 18th century vampire respectively, Angel and Buffy nevertheless tried their best to make their relationship work, pooling their resources together to combat the sinister forces of the undead. Having received his own spin-off and extensive comic book exploration, it’s fair to say Angel remains one of the most popular creations in the entire Buffy universe, leaving his return to the reboot series almost guaranteed.
Spike
The other romantic rival for Buffy’s attention, Spike wore many different hats over the course of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Initially introduced as a vampiric villain, Spike ultimately became one of the Scooby Gang’s most important allies, not to mention a budding romantic interest for Gellar’s peppy vampire hunter. With the character’s demise and subsequent resurrection forming a significant part of the Angel spin-off series, it’s clear that there remains plenty of potential directions to take James Marsters’ bleached-blonde vampire in the Buffy revival series.
