Bangel: This, to me, is my favorite relationship on any T.V. show or movie ever. I know not everyone is crazy about Bangel, and that's fine, but it's just about perfect to me. I found watching the series, I just lived and died with Buffy and Angel. Maybe because I've always identified with both of them so much, but everything they did struck a chord with me. The way Angelus was worked in was some of the best television I've ever seen. And on a pretty personal level, if you take away the whole "going evil" part, having a relationship like that with someone like Buffy would finally give me some peace.
Spuffy: People always say you can't be both a Bangel and a Spuffy, but I am 🙂. From S5 on, I was pulling for Spike big time. It was obviously very different from Bangel, but thas't fine. I mean, it's hard not to like Spike, and throughout the ups and downs of his relationship with Buffy, I was always into it. You know what I liked best about Spuffy? That they shouldn't be together. Spike is totally in love with her, but she doesn't love him back, or at least, not in the same way. And that isn't a criticism. The ending to Spuffy is one of my favorites ever.
Ruffy: Not a fan. I didn't like Riley, I found him boring. He just couldn't follow up Angel. Every time, especially after "I will remember you", that he was with Buffy, I just kep thinking that should be Angel. Although, to be fair, I liked the way he left.
Sprucilla: Awesome. By far the funniest couple of either series. I really liked Spike and Drusilla. I just wish we saw more of Dru. "You can't see the stars love. That's the ceiling. And it's day."
Dangel: I found them really interesting. I certainly wasn't rooting for them, but it was really drawing to see the history they had. I never believed that Angel loved her though, but that he wanted to save her, and by extension save himself. That was the best part of Dangel to me.
Cangel: I'm also a Cangel. After Buffy and Angel, Cordy is probably my favorite character of either series (although Spike is up there too). I thought the way that she became the absolute soul of AI was very cool to see, and she never lost her humor. I have a tough time describing Cangel. On the one hand I don't think that Angel loved her as much or with the same passion as he did Buffy, but I don't think that he ever had a truer friend than Cordy. I wanted them to get together though. I think that Cordy might have been Angel's favorite person ever, and vice-versa.
Frunn: I thought they were fine. Nothing special, but that was the point of them. They were a nice, normal couple (or well, as normal as they could be). It was nice to see a romance that wasn't an epic, end-of-the-world affair.
Fresley: I LOVE Fresley. It's the saddest ship', bar none. At least with Bangel we got to see how happy they were together. With Wes and Fred, that only happened for one episode. The way Fred dies is so heart-wrenching. And the transformation Wes goes through, and the way he latches onto Illyria, was so sad but so powerful. And his death, where Illyria lies to him? I cry every time.
Wes+Lilah: I think this was a great ship' for Wes' character development. I think he cared for Lilah, or grew too, but it was clear as day that she wasn't who he wanted. And I think that Lilah loved him.
Woz: Everyone loves Tillow, but I've always been an Oz guy. To me, Oz is always the one for Willow. I love the early seasons, and there was such a sweet innocence to Willow and Oz (a lot like Bangel and Xander+Cordy) that I've always had a soft spot for.
Xander+Cordy: I was surprised initially how much I liked them together. When they get together (which may have been the best "get together" scene ever), I still wasn't a huge fan of Cordy (that sure changed), but the little things were done so well to show that she really did love Xander. When Buffy's in the hospital for example, Xander and Cordy fight and she storms out. But the next scene she comes back to sit with him and brings donuts. Loved it.
Coyle: This is the one ship' I always wanted to go longer. Doyle was the man, and his crush on Cordy was awesome. It's funny, for as much as I love Cangel, I always think of Cordy with Doyle. And the way it ended, Doyle's "I guess we'll never know" speech, that was as good as any death I've ever seen, right up there with Wes and Jack from LOST.
To me, the best part about Buffy and Angel are the relationships. All of them, even the ones I didn't touch on, like Lindsey and Darla or Giles and Jenny, are the product of some of the best characters in T.V. history. Even the minor characters have remarkable depth to them.
