Team Angel, no question in my opinion. In the episode, A Hole In The World, we see Spike, Angel put aside their petty rivalry, as do Wes and Gunn, to save the woman they all love. To comfort her. It's incredibly powerful from a metaphorically standpoint, yet their are no moments like that in the scooby gang, I found.
In Empty Places, their is that painful hospital scene with Xander. We see Willow attempt so much to comfort him, and buffy is talking to him about his diet. Anya and Dawn, who love and care for Xander so much, are not there. Anya and Dawn are helping with the potentials. But yeah, there is an apocalypse. The mission is what matters, right? Yet the problem is that the scooby gang gets so wrapped up in the mission, the apocalypse, that they forget their friendship.
And who can forget Willow- her love of magic was driven for a need to be something more than who she was felt she was, yet it was just dismissed by everyone around her as a simple addiction.
Communication wise, yeah, Team Angel as well. Look at Wes in Billy. After he tried to kill Fred, even though it was mystical, when Fred talks to him, he can admit to his shame. Prior to the episode, he can talk to Cordelia about his attraction to Fred.
Friendship wise, Team Angel. Is there a Waiting In The Wings moment, where they all hang out as friends, that isn't at a graveyard? There were a couple of moments at the bronze, but from then, it was restricted to birthday parties. Never hanging out for the sake of hanging out, never doing something completely different- kind of like a friendship - rut, if you get what I mean.
I think they continue to work well as a group up to Buffy's death. I think the major disconnect comes after Buffy dies.
When the Scoobies brought her back, they were pretty proud of themselves, they would have been expecting praise for that act, and it's not something they ever got, not with any meaning in it.
Then they find out that Buffy was in Heaven and know the reason why they didn't get the praise they wanted, but they wouldn't ever comprehend what being in heaven meant for Buffy, I think they still would have been looking for that praise.
Buffy on the other hand, turned from them. She didn't want to tell them she was in heaven, and after it was revealed, she still pulled away. She was the one that put the gap between them, choosing to seek comfort in Spike for that year.
Then in season 7, she basically becomes their dictator, she doesn't treat them with any kind of respect that her gang should have gotten, they got delegated to basically someone she had to protect just like the potentials. She keeps mentioning that Spike is the next best thing to her, which shows how stupid Buffy is.
In season 5 when they run from Glory, she brings Spike saying he's the only one that can take on Glory next to her - this is just not the case, Spike plays no major role in protecting them, Willows magic shield does all the work, and Willow is the only one that actually takes her own when she sucks Tara's brain.
Same in season 7, we're constantly getting told how important Spike is, but again it's Willow that is the biggest player when it comes to the battle. Spike may have taken out the Army, but Angel could have worn that necklace.
Spike doesn't actually bringing anything that only he could bring to the table. Whereas, Willow is an immensely powerful witch, it's safe to say that no one else could have done what Willow did. Willow should have always been number 2, with Giles and Xander there for guidance.
Instead because they actually disagree with her, she chooses in Spike, knowing he's just going to agree with whatever she wants.
I don't think the blame lies with the scoobies, or at least not all of it, I think Buffy's own decisions lead them in the direction they took.
that was a really great, awesome post. I agree with everything you wrote, particularly about buffy trusting spike in season 5- if anything happened, it would be Willow who could protect Dawn.
I dont agree Willow knew what she was doing when she made the dession to stay at Buffys side and help fight evil and to help people. Wes was a bum and a bummbling moron when he first joined Angel group granted he got better but not by much
The fang gang are second string when it comes down to it
Dictator/Leader Buffy who ends up saveing the world
Or Angel who ends up working for a evil law firm and sending LA to hell? who would you work for?
I think you are way harsh on Wes. His heart was always in the right place, and by Lineage, he becomes such a badass, the way he shot his robot father was like... wow... the conviction in his eyes, was incredible. He was pretty much the Scooby Gang's punching bag in Graduation Part 1 & 2, which wasn't fair. He had demon knowledge, and did contribute.
As for Dictator vs Evil Law Firm... I'm still gonna go with Team Angel. The whole ''dictator/ tough love'' was extremely flawed. The idea that a tough love speech can motivate or make a change for the better is simply baby psychiatry.
Which group was made up of better people? AI gets a slight edge here, even though a number of their characters were in both series, although Willow played a pivotal part in returning Angel's soul in both series. Cordelia is an interesting case in point - she was not much more thant the usual high school bitca in Buffy but acquired abilities in Angel. Similarly, Wesley, who was no more than a buffoon in Buffy became the man who could make the hard decisions in Angel and finally died a heroic death. Faith was a criminal on Buffy and a valuable asset on Angel. The best organizations help people grow.
That was such a great last sentence... the best organizations help people grow. I agree with everything you wrote. As a side note, I don't think the fact they needed Willow to restore Angel's soul as a reason for the Scooby Gang. Willow's magic is essentially an asset, a weapon. Like in Innocence, the stolen rocket launcher. Simply not having the thing you need at the time, and having to resort to asking or stealing, to save the day, doesn't say much, imo, who is more powerful. If that makes sense.
