Champions

Guestage_87

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Alright, so there is this one word thrown out alot in the Buffyverse and that is "champion" Who is a champion? What makes a champion? Do you just have to fight evil? Here's my list of defintely and maybe champions, feel free to add or object:

Angel- Pretty much the most obvious one, vampire with a soul fights for the powers that be, saved the world or helped saved the world several times. Helps the helpless, blah blah blah. But he might lose the champion name soon.

Spike- Love him or hate him, Buffy chose him as her champion on the hellmouth and he has done his fair share of helping save the world, sometimes even without his soul.

Xander- Although, not the obvious choice, he is truly a champion at least when it comes to Buffy's perspective. He brought her back to life in season 1, he rescued Giles in S2 and didn't tell Buffy about Willow's spell which was wise, he was a key figure in the battle against the mayor, he was the heart of Uber Buffy in season 4, he stopped Willow with his love in S6 and he was with Buffy until the end of the battle on the hellmouth in S7. Hell, he even lost an eye for the cause, a cause that he could've just walked away from at any point. He was the only real person without any superpowers or role in the group, he kept Buffy moving. That's damn well champion enough.

Grooslaug- He was a champion in Pylea and even aided Angel. Although, not the smartest character, he was defintely brave and galant. Not sure if that's enough, but he was refered to many times as a champion.

Sid- Alright, this is the one that most people are going to flame me about. But before being turned into a dummy he fought demons and vampires and the such and even continued to fight after he was placed in the body of a dummy.

The Luchadors for "Numero Cinco"- Again, a very obscure choice, but they were refered to as champions like Angel and his crew back in the days. Most of them fought to their deaths and even came back from the grave to fight the aztec demon.

The Slayer line- I guess you can call any slayer a champion, so it fits.

Pig in the basement- the truest champion of all.
 
I think Champions have to be super powered. While Xander is of course a hero, I don't think he's a champion.
 
I have to disagree with WatcherWes, I think if you saved the world(for the people), basically sacrafice your self for the greater good, you are a champion. You dont need super powers to be a champion or to fight evil. Xander saved the world once and was ready to sacrafice his life to save his friend(who was ending the world).
 
Hostile_17 said:
Xander- Although, not the obvious choice, he is truly a champion at least when it comes to Buffy's perspective. He brought her back to life in season 1, he rescued Giles in S2 and didn't tell Buffy about Willow's spell which was wise, he was a key figure in the battle against the mayor, he was the heart of Uber Buffy in season 4, he stopped Willow with his love in S6 and he was with Buffy until the end of the battle on the hellmouth in S7. Hell, he even lost an eye for the cause, a cause that he could've just walked away from at any point. He was the only real person without any superpowers or role in the group, he kept Buffy moving. That's damn well champion enough.

Completely agree!! Xander could of left at any point. He could of lead the normal life. But he didn't he fought the fight.
 
COMPLETELY agree with Primal Slayer...Xander IS a champion, and a hero...he saved the world man!
 
Gunn... He used to be anyway, leading his gang hunting vampires in the streets of LA, with the least of means doing as much good as possible.

One question though, what is the definition of a champion in this context?
 
I guess everyone mentioned above is a champion on some level...But Angel is the most important one🙂
 
I think there's a distinction between being a hero and a champion. I think from the context we've been given on both shows, a Champion has to be super powered. Buffy and Angel's conversation in Chosen seemed to suggest that.
 
I think Xander is truly a champion because he was the one who didn't have special powers. And yet he is still a champion. I don't think a champion has to have super-powers. I think a person who is a hero without them, is truly a champion.
 
here's the way I see it. All champions are heroes. Not all heroes are champions. I think that becoming a champion can be the next step for some heroes, but not all. The Groosalugg, Buffy, Spike, and especially Angel are all champions. All those I previously mentioned, plus people lke Wesley, Gunn and Xander are heroes. Being a champion isn't out and out better than being a hero, it's just a different journey that not as many go on.
 
I agree with you, WatcherWes. But are you saying that a champion helps people with superpowers while a hero is still the same as a champion only without superpowers? What if a 'hero' is fighting the apocalypse without superpowers? Is Giles considered a champion, then? He stopped Dark Rosenberg with superpowers. And he's a hero by doing that. Or is a champion someone who protects people for the greater good and averts apocalypses? Xander and Willow do that. Will has superpowers; is she considered a champion too?
 
Angel said it in "Chosen".

Someone stronger then human, but with a soul. A Champion

A hero and a champion are not one in the same. A champion is someone with powers fighting to protect others. A hero is someone *generally without powers* doing what they think is right against impossible odds. This in many respects makes a hero > Champion. Champions can just handle bigger issues 🙂.

Buffy / any slayer is not a champion. They are slayers again a big difference. Slayers are predestined demon killing machines. They come with built in super strength, endurance, healing factor and instinctual fighting abilities. They are heros not champions.

Buffy is the greatest slayer of all time. She is still THE slayer even with so many slayers running around. She trancends both Champion and Hero. She is something greater then both.

And Spike > Angel ::evil2::
 
I want to question why Spike is considered a champion. He may be one now, but I don't think he was truly one before. He is stronger than human with a soul, but many cast and crew members have said that he only tried to be good for Buffy. It was all for Buffy. As in, he saved the world for Buffy. Is being a champion helping others because you're motivated by helping the greater Good or can you be a Champion if you're only helping people for a specific person?
 
I don't think WHO or WHAT you do it for is really as important. If I had super powers and chose to do good it would be for my children...the ones I love more than the world in general. I see what Watcher Wes is saying actually. But, opinions are like...oops...um...everyone is intitled to their own opinion...heros...champions...they all rock!

P.S. Spike can be my champion any day!
 
I'll try to clarify. Heroes aren't just champions without superpowers. They are kind of a notch below champion. Angel is both a hero and a champion. You can be super powered and just be a hero. But being a super powered hero means you have the chance to become a champion eventually.
 
Why do they need to have the superpower element in order to be a champion? Or do they need to have supernatural powers rather than superhuman powers?
 
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