Some TV couples make us swoon, while others break our hearts. But every so often a love story comes along that does both—and becomes a major part of pop culture history. That’s exactly what happened when Buffy the Vampire Slayer introduced viewers to Buffy Summers, the chosen one played by Sarah Michelle Gellar in the ’90s television series, and Angel, the vampire with a soul, played by David Boreanaz. From the moment they locked eyes in a dark alleyway, it was clear this wasn’t going to be your average high school romance.
Throughout Buffy (1997 to 2003) and its spin-off Angel (1999 to 2004), both of which aired on the WB TV network, their relationship played out like a gothic romance set against an impending apocalyptic background. Think forbidden love, emotional yearning, moral dilemmas and, of course, tragic separation. It’s a tale that’s part Shakespeare, part Joss Whedon and entirely unforgettable. Whether they were kissing in graveyards, battling ancient evils, or silently walking away from each other for the greater good, Buffy and Angel’s love story captured the emotional weight and fantasy of being both in love and at war with yourself.
More than just a will-they/won’t-they dynamic, theirs was a romance that evolved with the characters. It was sweet and awkward in Season 1, passionate and doomed in Season 2, cautious and heartbreaking in Season 3—and then scattered across two separate series, haunted by what might have been. From crossovers and magical resets to soul-losing curses and one perfect day wiped from existence, it was a saga built on yearning and the painful realization that love doesn’t always conquer all. It does, however, endure.
And then there’s the legacy. More than 20 years later, Buffy and Angel are still held up as one of TV’s great tragic couples—the blueprint for so many “romantasy” pairings that followed. It’s messy. It’s mythic. And it’s very human.
Season-by-Season Breakdown of Buffy and Angel’s Relationship
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 1 (1997)
Buffy, still learning to embrace her destiny as a vampire slayer, meets Angel, a mysterious and brooding older man who provides cryptic guidance and helps her battle evil. Eventually, it’s revealed that Angel himself is a vampire, but one cursed with a human soul, leading to internal conflict as he wrestles with his guilt over the terrible things he’s done within his more than two centuries of undead life. Despite the danger, Buffy and Angel are drawn to each other and begin a tentative romance. Their connection is emotional and magnetic, even as they navigate their very different lives. The season sets the foundation for a complex and tragic love story that is a true example of classic romantasy.
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Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 2 (1997–1998)
Buffy and Angel’s relationship intensifies, leading to them consummating their love in the episode “Surprise” (Season 2, Episode 13). For Angel, it’s the first genuine happiness he’s felt in two centuries, but it’s exactly that happiness that triggers the loss of his soul due to the curse placed on him by members of the Romani clan. As a result, he reverts back to his soulless self, Angelus, a sadistic vampire who joins forces with vampires Drusilla (Juliet Landau) and Spike (James Marsters).
Angelus taunts Buffy, murders teacher (and Romani) Jenny Calendar (Robia LaMorte) and threatens Buffy’s friends and family. In the season finale, Buffy is forced to kill Angel to save the world just as his soul is restored, a heartbreaking climax to their romantic arc as she, after a final kiss, propels him into a vortex to hell.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 3 (1998–1999)
Angel is mysteriously resurrected in the “Faith, Hope & Trick” (Episode 3), but returns feral and broken as a result of his experience in hell. He hides from Buffy at first, and as he regains his emotional and physical strength, their relationship continues to be intense but strained due to the events of Season 2. Part of that strain comes from the reaction of her friends, who are not so quick to forgive him for what he did to them and Buffy. The duo ultimately realizes they cannot be together without compromising Buffy’s future. In the season finale, “Graduation Day, Part Two,” Angel leaves Sunnydale after helping Buffy defeat the town’s demonic Mayor. He walks away into the shadows after one last lingering look—the end of this chapter of their story.
Angel Season 1 (1999–2000)
Angel starts a new life in Los Angeles, continuing to seek redemption by helping the helpless. Buffy visits in crossover Episode 8 “I Will Remember You,” in which a demon’s blood turns Angel human. As a result, Buffy and Angel spend a perfect day together as humans, experiencing what their relationship could be. However, after he finds himself incapable of helping Buffy against a supernatural threat, Angel sacrifices his newfound humanity to restore the ability to carry out his mission. The world—with the exception of him—forgets about the events of the day, adding yet another tragic element to their relationship.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 4 (1999–2000)/Angel Season 1 (1999–2000)
Buffy and Angel struggle to remain part of each other’s lives while moving in separate directions. They cross paths in a two-part crossover: Buffy visits L.A. in “Sanctuary” (Angel, Season 1, Episode 19), confronting Angel about his new life. Meanwhile, Angel returns to Sunnydale in “Pangs” (Buffy, Season 4, Episode 8), but watches from the shadows.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 5 (2000–2001)/Angel Season 2 (2000–2001)
Buffy and Angel remain mostly apart. Buffy experiences personal tragedy with the death of her mother and growing responsibility for her sister Dawn. In “Forever” (Buffy, Season 5, Episode 17), Angel returns to provide comfort and they share a quiet night together. In Angel, he continues to battle demon law firm Wolfram & Hart and further define his role as a champion, deepening the distance between them.
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Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 6 (2001–2002)/Angel Season 3 (2001–2002)
Their lives are now fully separated. Following her death at the end of Season 5, Buffy is resurrected and struggles with depression born out of the fact that she realizes she was pulled away from heaven, which leads to a destructive relationship with Spike. Meanwhile, Angel becomes a father to Connor under chaotic circumstances. The duo briefly reconnect offscreen after Buffy’s resurrection—mentioned in both shows—but their relationship remains in the past, though feelings still linger beneath the surface.
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Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 7 (2002–2003)/Angel Season 4 (2002–2003)
As Buffy prepares for the final battle against the First Evil, Angel returns in the episode “Chosen” (Buffy Season 7, Episode 22). He brings an amulet that helps defeat the enemy and offers to stay and fight, but Buffy asks him to leave so she can lead her followers without emotional distraction. They kiss one last time, reaffirming their love.
Angel: Season 5 (2003–2004)
While Buffy does not appear in this season, her presence is felt. Spike is resurrected in the aftermath of events that concluded Buffy and joins Angel’s mission, leading to tension over Buffy’s affections. In “The Girl in Question” (Angel, Season 5, Episode 20), Angel and Spike go to Rome to find Buffy, only to discover she may be involved with another man. They ultimately leave her alone, realizing they must let her live her life.
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The series ends with Angel facing the apocalypse, his relationship with Buffy unresolved. This is no Disney fairytale and there is no happily ever after for either of them. Whether or not it will be touched upon again in the new Buffy the Vampire Slayer series is anybody’s guess.
Either way, Buffy and Angel remains one of the greatest romantasies ever.