24 Reasons "Angel" Was Perfect — In Honor Of Its 20th Anniversary

    October 5th marks 20 years since Angel premiered!

    Jamie Jirak
    by Jamie Jirak

    BuzzFeed Contributor

    1. Killing Doyle:

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    Buffy had many devastating deaths, but the fact that Angel killed off a series regular in EPISODE NINE was bold as heck.

    2. "I Will Remember You":

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    Buffy and Angel's most romantic moments wrapped up in one juicy/heartbreaking episode.

    3. The Return of Wesley...

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    While the loss of Doyle will always hurt, bringing back Buffy's goofy Watcher-turned-Rogue Demon Hunter was when Angel really took off.

    4. ...And his perfect character arc:

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    Wesley had the best arc in the Buffyverse. Over time he became rugged and bold without ever losing that nerdy edge. Watching him die so soon after losing Fred will always sting (in the best way). WE STAN FOREVER!

    5. Angel & Cordy's Chemistry:

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    Even if you're not Team Cangel, there's no denying how well they worked together onscreen.

    6. Wolfram & Hart:

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    The idea that the ever-looming big bad was an evil law firm will always be brilliant.

    7. Charles Gunn:

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    The coolest guy in the entire Buffyverse. He was just as sexy killing vamps on the street as he was spouting law jargon for Wolfram & Hart.

    8. The Return of Darla:

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    Resurrecting Angel's sire, who he killed in the seventh episode of Buffy, was iconic and led to some of the show's strongest episodes.

    9. Lorne:

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    There's nothing more charming than a demon with empath powers who runs a karaoke bar. That boy could SING!

    10. This:

    View this video on YouTube
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    Watching Angel sing Barry Manilow will never not be funny.

    11. And This:

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    Taking the show to Lorne's home dimension at the end of season two was PEAK fun. Especially since it included Joss Whedon dancing.

    12. Winifred Burkle:

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    We all love Cordy, but the show was lacking in ladies and Fred was an ideal addition.

    13. "Waiting in the Wings":

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    A flawless episode. (And the start of this whirlwind love triangle.)

    14. Faith vs. Angelus:

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    There's nothing more exciting than getting to watch Angel's evil side, and the fact that Faith was able to redeem herself before returning for the end of Buffy made this the ultimate crossover.

    15. "Spin the Bottle":

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    This episode had "Tabula Rasa" vibes, which is HIGH PRAISE. Watching the characters revert to their teenage selves will never get old.

    16. This:

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    Fred and Willow flirted ONE TIME and we'll never get over it.

    17. And this:

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    Erasing everyone's memory of Connor was the smartest thing the show ever did, and it allowed the character to return with a clean slate and some long overdue likability.

    18. Season Five:

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    Buffy might be better overall, but season five of Angel is the best Buffyverse season HANDS DOWN.

    19. The Return of Spike:

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    The chemistry between Spike and Angel is PALPABLE, which is why the next-best season in the Buffyverse is Buffy's second season.

    20. Cordy's Goodbye:

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    If you didn't cry yourself to sleep the night "You're Welcome" aired, are you even a real fan?

    21. Harmony Kendall:

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    She provided so many much-needed laughs.

    22. "Smile Time":

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    Angel gets turned into a puppet. There's nothing more to say.

    23. Illyria:

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    The devastating loss of Fred mixed with the absolute badass power of Ilyria was the perfect emotional storm. The only episode more earth-shattering than "A Hole in the World" is Buffy's "The Body," which is saying A LOT.

    24. The Finale:

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    BEST SERIES FINALE EVER. There's a misconception that the show's cancellation led to a cliffhanger ending, but that's false. Read Whedon's explanation here.

    Do you have any favorite Angel moments that aren't on the list? Tell us in the comments!

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    Happy 20 years, Angel!