Angel's Seasonal Villains: A Ranking from Worst to Best

Summary

Angel's villains have a darker and more morally ambiguous tone compared to Buffy the Vampire Slayer's evildoers hell-bent on world domination.

In season 5 of Angel, the Circle of the Black Thorn is portrayed as the main villain, yet their characterization and defeat leave much to be desired. On the other hand, Wolfram & Hart, a formidable law firm concealing demonic activities, emerges as the true ultimate adversary, instilling an air of unpredictability for our hero.

Angel aired for five seasons, from 1999 to 2004, showcasing a variety of peculiar and marvelous villains, including a handful of impressive big bads. This spin-off of Buffy the Vampire Slayer possesses a notably distinct and darker tone compared to its predecessor, which is widely acclaimed as one of the greatest TV shows ever. The adversaries in Angel epitomize the contrasting nature of the two series. While the concept of a "big bad" can be subjective, at least one antagonist in Angel per season fittingly fulfills that role.

The villains in Buffy the Vampire Slayer primarily consist of wicked individuals driven by a quest for global domination, with Buffy acting as the force of good, striving to thwart their plans. Although Angel's big bads do include some truly wicked characters, they also encompass morally ambiguous entities and individuals who hold personal grudges against Angel, stemming from his dark past. Assigning them a ranking undoubtedly presents an intriguing challenge, as Angel and the Buffy universe as a whole portrayed some of the most exceptional TV characters of their generation.

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5. The Circle Of The Black Thorn (Season 5)

Angel season 5's primary adversary, the Circle of the Black Thorn, constitutes an enigmatic consortium of malevolent individuals boasting substantial and diverse sources of power. This power may manifest through mystical or supernatural means, financial affluence, political leverage, or other yet unknown origins. Regrettably, they rank as the program's most underwhelming antagonists, as their fleeting appearances across a mere couple of episodes failed to corroborate their rumored power. In fact, as Angel himself expressed, when isolated, they prove to be nothing more than ordinary demons. Conversely, the season's secondary foe, Marcus Hamilton, posed a far greater menace.

The Circle's objective was to bring about the apocalypse, serving as the earthly agents of Wolfram & Hart's Senior Partners. Nevertheless, their scheme was thwarted when Angel went undercover within their ranks, feigning allegiance to their cause. As a team member, his deception even fooled his close friends, who genuinely believed he wanted to join the Circle. However, Angel uncovered their secrets and exposed the charade to his allies. Subsequently, he devised a plan to eliminate each member of the Circle individually, with individuals like Charles Gunn and Lindsey McDonald defeating them in combat relatively effortlessly.

4. Jasmine (Season 4)

Jasmine, an enigmatic entity beyond human comprehension, is a renegade member of the Powers That Be - supreme beings who were the original inhabitants of Earth, overseeing humanity. Craftily manipulating a convoluted series of events, Jasmine orchestrated the convergence of Connor and Cordelia Chase, birthing herself into a tangible form on Earth. Her purpose was to bestow tranquility upon the planet, yet this noble ambition exacted a substantial toll upon its inhabitants.

Jasmine possesses the ability to cast a spell over anyone she encounters, whether through visual or auditory means. Once under her influence, individuals surrender their freedom, devoting their lives to her without question and experiencing a state of bliss. However, this comes at a cost, as she must transform into a formidable creature with tentacles to consume people in order to maintain her power. She also manipulates Angel into becoming his malevolent alter ego, Angelus, as part of her larger plan to regain control. Additionally, she unleashes the Beast, a secondary antagonist in season 4, to cause chaos and destruction. Though Jasmine is intriguing, her motives and methods are deeply flawed.

3. Darla (Season 2)

Darla made her debut in the first season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, appearing in the very first scene. The episode "Angel" quickly established that she is Angel's sire and their history together spans centuries, revealing their complex relationship. In a surprising twist, Angel took the life of Darla to protect Buffy. However, in the first season finale of Angel, Wolfram & Hart brought Darla back to life in order to use her against Angel, positioning her as the main antagonist in the show's second season. However, their plan didn't go as expected. Darla returned as a human on the brink of death from the same disease she suffered from before becoming a vampire: syphilis.

Still, her return only further complicated things for Angel. She managed to infiltrate his thoughts, but rather than engaging in a battle with her as Wolfram & Hart had hoped, his sole focus became saving her. This decision led to the involvement of Drusilla, who was called in to sire her once again, causing chaos and devastation throughout Los Angeles. Following a passionless night with a despondent Angel, she unexpectedly became pregnant, and the presence of the baby's soul brought her a newfound sense of love. However, aware that she would be unable to love the child once it was born, she chose to sacrifice herself in an act of redemption after giving birth. This deeply personal connection with Angel proved to be powerful, although it came at the cost of something new;

2. Daniel Holtz (Season 3)

Daniel Holtz, an 18th-century vampire hunter, possessed an impressive kill count as he relentlessly pursued Angelus. Angelus and Darla committed the heinous act of breaking into Holtz's home, murdering his wife and infant son, and transforming his daughter into a vampire. Consumed by a desire for vengeance, Holtz ultimately accepted a proposition from the demon Sahjhan. Sahjhan promised Holtz the opportunity to exact his revenge at the right moment by placing him under a mystical state of suspended animation. In the year 2001, Sahjhan awakened Holtz from this state, leading him on a quest to confront Angel. Surprisingly, despite his intentions, Holtz became the central antagonist in Angel's third season, even though he himself was not inherently evil.

Despite learning that Angel had regained his soul and was trying to make amends for his past, Holtz continued to torment him. He gathered support from demons and demon hunters, but instead of killing Angel, he decided to exact revenge by targeting his loved ones. Holtz began by attacking Angel's friends and then came up with a devastating plan - he kidnapped Angel's infant son, Connor.

This led to a tense showdown involving Angel, Holtz, Sahjhan, and Wolfram & Hart, as the latter group also wanted possession of Connor. Reluctantly, Angel agreed to allow Holtz to take Connor through a portal, in order to prevent Wolfram & Hart from getting their hands on him. Despite Holtz promising to take care of the child, the pain of losing his son nearly destroyed Angel, making Holtz an formidable antagonist.

1. Wolfram & Hart (Season 1)

The best villains are those that instill genuine doubt in the hero's ability to defeat them. Wolfram & Hart does exactly that. This influential and interdimensional law firm disguises itself as a front for a group of ancient demon leaders known as the Senior Partners. Throughout all five seasons of Angel, they consistently pose a threat, with Angel even joining their ranks as the head of the Los Angeles branch. In season 1, they are without a doubt the main antagonists, launching constant attacks on Angel and his allies.

Wolfram & Hart's resources are virtually limitless, with branches in major cities worldwide and connections to countless dimensions. They willingly represent the most despicable individuals, whether human or demon, displaying no shame in their clientele. In the Buffyverse, Wolfram & Hart arguably stands as the ultimate overarching villain. Watching Angel reveals the firm's vast influence and power, suggesting that many of the major adversaries faced by Buffy the Vampire Slayer were likely clients of Wolfram & Hart at some point.