Angel co-creator is wrong to say Buffy the Vampire Slayer is less dark and complex

The Mary Sue

David Greenwalt, who co-created the Buffy spinoff with Joss Whedon, told EW for its Angel reunion issue: "Buffy has this wonderful purpose and fights evil, but still wants to go to the prom and get the right dress. Angel is a much darker and, in a sense, more complex character." To which Kate Gardner responds: "Look, I get that hard-boiled Los Angeles noir with vampires is always going to be a little darker than high schooler with superpowers, but to write Buffy off as not being as complex or dark because she wants to go to prom? That’s a stunning misjudgment of a character that Greenwalt wrote. Buffy is definitely complex, and she barely had to brood to be so. As Angel wallowed in his desire for redemption, Buffy got stuff done...Buffy also tackled some incredibly dark episodes without losing sight of both the show’s innate hope and what makes it so unique. Even the musical episode deals with abusive relationships and growing up. This is not to say that Angel didn’t tackle equally grim subjects. But to say that Buffy is somehow less complex than Angel because she wants to go to prom? That’s a disservice to the character and to heroines who trend towards the feminine."