Wow. Someone Created a "Best Whedon Characters" List That I Almost Approve Of
The List is Here, but I'll break it down for you:
15. Dr. Horrible
I'm glad Dr. Horrible was mentioned. We only got forty-five minutes of him, but in those forty-five minutes Joss did the sympathetic villain protagonist better than anyone did before (I may be wrong about this, comment if you know of a better sympathetic villain protagonist)
14. Cordelia Chase
Cordelia should have been higher, in my opinion. If Angel was the Vampire with a Soul, Cordelia was the Mean Girl with a Heart. I think her transformation from Regina George 90's Edition on BtVS to sympathizing seer on AtS felt real to me - Regina George will eventually have to grow up, and we were granted the chance to see what Cordelia was like when she wasn't a spoiled teenager. Season 4 may have been structurally sound, but I didn't enjoy it for what it did to her. However, "You're Welcome" was a fitting goodbye after what Joss put her through - seeing her one last time gave us a chance for closure. And I only like Angel when Cordelia's around. Behold the power of Cordelia Chase.
13. Andrew Wells
This one I'm okay with. Andrew (+ Anya) was the comic relief of season seven. I've read a scholarly essay that said Andrew was a mocking mirror for fandom to see itself after chewing Marti Noxon up and spitting her out about season 6. Andrew is the fan that never grows up, and this piece argued that Joss was censuring a fandom that was so incredibly childish. I don't know if I agree completely, and I think that's a bit reductionist, because I feel he was more than just someone to laugh at/with. He was proto-Abed, someone who was aware of his reliance on popular culture to relate to people, and I'd like to think that, like Abed, Andrew finally felt comfortable in his own skin. Whether or not he's gay is another subject.
12. The Mayor
I've got no problem with the Mayor being on the list. He's another sympathetic villain, or at least a likable one, and he was one of the elements that made season 3, with the sturm und drang drama of the Bangel relationship overarching everything, bearable.
11. Kaylee Frye
This one? I love Kaylee. But I'd switch her with Cordelia.
10. Angelus
This is the only form of David Boreanaz on this list. Angel is not included, only his douchebag asshole self. This makes me happy.
9. Jayne Cobb
Ehh. Well, he wouldn't make my list, but I guess it's okay he's on here. Maybe not in the top 10, but he was very entertaining.
8. Anya Jenkins
Anya Jenkins being recognized as the glorious creation she is. No one ever gives Anya enough credit, so I'm quite happy with her appearance.
7. Willow Rosenberg
Willow doesn't do anything for me personally, but she did have one of the most interesting arcs and redemption stories on the show (even if it demonstrated how exclusive the Scooby Gang is - Willow kills someone and almost ends the world, and she gets a welcome home sign written in yellow crayon, but Spike has to die to finally be considered worthy? Double standard, thy name is Scooby).
6. Rupert Giles
Giles is my favorite Core Four Scooby after Buffy. I'm okay with this.
5. Faith Lehane
Faith. I loved Faith as a creation of made of self-loathing. She was so complicated, and I loved her redemption arc and the relationship she has with Buffy. Another element that made season 3 bearable.
4. Mal Reynolds
I know Firefly is the holy grail, and there would be a riot if Mal didn't make the top five. Nathan Fillion has established himself as a geek god, and his affection for the role is infectious. Also, I may be getting this shirt for Comic-Con. Smugglers ftw.
3. Spike
Spike appreciation in mainstream media goes a long way to making me happy. This article makes me ecstatic (SPIKE AS MVP!), so Spike getting the bronze medal here is a joyous occasion, and gives all the haters the middle finger.
2. Wesley Wyndham-Price
My only quibble is I'd personally switch Spike and Wes, but seriously, he has one of the best transformations on the show (pocochina can tell you all about it). He may not be one of my all-time favorite characters, but I have to acknowledge that Alexis was amazing as Wes, and he was as complicated in an almost Shakespearean way. Oh, and if you feel like crying, watch this.
1. Buffy Summers
My girl. Forever and ever amen.
So yeah. No Tara and no Dawn, but I wouldn't expect them to be on any lists anyway, because they create a more quiet kind of stanning - a warm, fuzzy, intimate kind, instead of a shout-it-from-the-rooftops kind. And they get a lot of hate, so someone trying to make a definitive list wouldn't include them. And to be honest, I can't objectively say they should be included as created characters - they'd go on my "favorite characters" lists rather than my "best characters" list.
15. Dr. Horrible
I'm glad Dr. Horrible was mentioned. We only got forty-five minutes of him, but in those forty-five minutes Joss did the sympathetic villain protagonist better than anyone did before (I may be wrong about this, comment if you know of a better sympathetic villain protagonist)
14. Cordelia Chase
Cordelia should have been higher, in my opinion. If Angel was the Vampire with a Soul, Cordelia was the Mean Girl with a Heart. I think her transformation from Regina George 90's Edition on BtVS to sympathizing seer on AtS felt real to me - Regina George will eventually have to grow up, and we were granted the chance to see what Cordelia was like when she wasn't a spoiled teenager. Season 4 may have been structurally sound, but I didn't enjoy it for what it did to her. However, "You're Welcome" was a fitting goodbye after what Joss put her through - seeing her one last time gave us a chance for closure. And I only like Angel when Cordelia's around. Behold the power of Cordelia Chase.
13. Andrew Wells
This one I'm okay with. Andrew (+ Anya) was the comic relief of season seven. I've read a scholarly essay that said Andrew was a mocking mirror for fandom to see itself after chewing Marti Noxon up and spitting her out about season 6. Andrew is the fan that never grows up, and this piece argued that Joss was censuring a fandom that was so incredibly childish. I don't know if I agree completely, and I think that's a bit reductionist, because I feel he was more than just someone to laugh at/with. He was proto-Abed, someone who was aware of his reliance on popular culture to relate to people, and I'd like to think that, like Abed, Andrew finally felt comfortable in his own skin. Whether or not he's gay is another subject.
12. The Mayor
I've got no problem with the Mayor being on the list. He's another sympathetic villain, or at least a likable one, and he was one of the elements that made season 3, with the sturm und drang drama of the Bangel relationship overarching everything, bearable.
11. Kaylee Frye
This one? I love Kaylee. But I'd switch her with Cordelia.
10. Angelus
This is the only form of David Boreanaz on this list. Angel is not included, only his douchebag asshole self. This makes me happy.
9. Jayne Cobb
Ehh. Well, he wouldn't make my list, but I guess it's okay he's on here. Maybe not in the top 10, but he was very entertaining.
8. Anya Jenkins
Anya Jenkins being recognized as the glorious creation she is. No one ever gives Anya enough credit, so I'm quite happy with her appearance.
7. Willow Rosenberg
Willow doesn't do anything for me personally, but she did have one of the most interesting arcs and redemption stories on the show (even if it demonstrated how exclusive the Scooby Gang is - Willow kills someone and almost ends the world, and she gets a welcome home sign written in yellow crayon, but Spike has to die to finally be considered worthy? Double standard, thy name is Scooby).
6. Rupert Giles
Giles is my favorite Core Four Scooby after Buffy. I'm okay with this.
5. Faith Lehane
Faith. I loved Faith as a creation of made of self-loathing. She was so complicated, and I loved her redemption arc and the relationship she has with Buffy. Another element that made season 3 bearable.
4. Mal Reynolds
I know Firefly is the holy grail, and there would be a riot if Mal didn't make the top five. Nathan Fillion has established himself as a geek god, and his affection for the role is infectious. Also, I may be getting this shirt for Comic-Con. Smugglers ftw.
3. Spike
Spike appreciation in mainstream media goes a long way to making me happy. This article makes me ecstatic (SPIKE AS MVP!), so Spike getting the bronze medal here is a joyous occasion, and gives all the haters the middle finger.
2. Wesley Wyndham-Price
My only quibble is I'd personally switch Spike and Wes, but seriously, he has one of the best transformations on the show (pocochina can tell you all about it). He may not be one of my all-time favorite characters, but I have to acknowledge that Alexis was amazing as Wes, and he was as complicated in an almost Shakespearean way. Oh, and if you feel like crying, watch this.
1. Buffy Summers
My girl. Forever and ever amen.
So yeah. No Tara and no Dawn, but I wouldn't expect them to be on any lists anyway, because they create a more quiet kind of stanning - a warm, fuzzy, intimate kind, instead of a shout-it-from-the-rooftops kind. And they get a lot of hate, so someone trying to make a definitive list wouldn't include them. And to be honest, I can't objectively say they should be included as created characters - they'd go on my "favorite characters" lists rather than my "best characters" list.