How would the Buffyverse have been different if Angel had never left Sunnydale?

[Robb Stark]

Let's say that at the end of S3, Angel can't bring himself to leave, and decides to stay. How would things have been different? Pretty broad question, I know. Would Doyle have come to Sunnydale instead? What would have happened with Spike? Would he have still fallen for Buffy?

 

[BuffyElevated]

I think it's a pretty fair assumption that if Angel had stayed in Sunnydale, we never would have met the characters that were introduced to us on "Angel" (which would have made me sad, since I love Doyle and was so happy with Wesley's character development on AtS).
Also, I think that Riley might have only been a minor character in Season 4 instead of a love interest for Buffy. The Spike/Buffy interaction would have definitely been a lot more interesting for me if Angel was still hanging around as well. That would have definitely kicked the love triangle thing up a notch.

 

[AmelRIOT]

I found that intresting about the Spike/Buffy with Angrl hanging, to be fair I think it wouldn't happen, because the way Buffy was in season 6 she wasn't just hurt about coming back but that her mum is dead, Giles has left, Angel wasn't there etc all the people who looked after her were dissappering so if Angel was still there I don't think she would of gone to Spike she would of gone to Angel as he has been in the same situation only coming back from hell. I think Spike would of left Buffy in season 4 or maybe got staked cause of Buffy and Angel wouldn't of let him hang around. And I do think Buffy and Angel would of gotten back together and plus I think Joss would of made Angel turned into human for a season and then back to a vampire. Even though I love Bangel with all my heart I do love Angel series. But I would of liked Angel come back in season 6 as a regular.

 

[Hale Caesar]

Xander and Giles would have even less to to say in seasons 5-7

 

[The Scourge]

After mocking him mercilessly, Angel would have staked a chipped Spike. Buffy/Riley never would have happened. Angel would stay forever broody and remain without any friends of his own. He would continue to exist to serve Buffy's story.

Doyle would have showed up to try and convince Angel to learn some independence and become a leader, with limited success.

Cordelia would have been killed by Russel Winters. Wesley would roam the country as a rogue demon hunter. Gunn would have stayed with his gang. Fred would be trapped in Pylea. Lorne would be better off. Lindsey would never have lost his hand (or sanity). Lilah would have been passed over for Lindsey and killed by a still-living Holland Manners.

Wolfram & Hart would be unopposed in LA.

The First would win, as the Scoobies only won because W&H gave them the amulet.

 

[VisionGirl]

The First would win, as the Scoobies only won because W&H gave them the amulet.

I don't think I agree with that. The scythe spell is what activated all the Potentials, and if they had retreated into the daylight and the Uber Vamps had followed, they would have got incinerated anyway. But you're right in that the amulet closed the hellmouth. If not for the amulet, Buffy & co might still be dealing with Uber Vamps & other baddies from the Hellmouth.

In IDW's final Angel comic, Angel Yearbook, Angel is given the opportunity to choose his own reality. The entity that gives him that choice says that she can make it so that he never left Sunnydale, and that he & Buffy are still together. However, Cordelia dies upon coming to LA, Gunn would be the protector of LA until he dies young, Wesley saves people as a wandering rogue demon hunter, Spike becomes a champion of LA although not with Buffy, Fred never left Pylea, and Connor doesn't exist. Angel's answer: "I came to Los Angeles. I found a family. That's what happened. This is the life we've made." Spike: "And we'll bloody well fight for it."