Buffy the Vampire Slayer has been off the air since 2003, but that hasn’t stopped fans from rewatching episodes on DVD or finding streaming services that carry them. With all things binge-able, fans have also set about ranking the couples in the series from best to worst – which is exactly what we’ve done here!
Leaving aside the continuation of the series in comic book form, as well as the Angel TV series spinoff, we took a look back at the trials, tribulations, relationships, and broken hearts that affected the Scooby Gang (as well as a few outside of it).
Perhaps it’s because the era the series captured (late ‘90s to early ‘00s) is so nostalgic, or perhaps it’s because, with all the supernatural elements and A+ writing, but the series still manages to hold up, almost two decades later! Maybe that’s why we’re still obsessed with ranking the Buffy couples, from stupid to soulmates.
15 Buffy & Parker Are Best Forgotten
Barely a relationship, but this was Buffy’s first foray into romance in college – it just sucks that it had to be with Parker, who was the kind of jerk far too many of us encounter. His fake “nice guy” schtick lured her in before he tossed her aside. Oh, and it gave us “Beer Bad”, one of the worst episodes of the series.
14 Spike & Harmony Were Unbalanced
Spike and Harmony were pretty hilarious to watch, except for all the times Spike treated her so horribly (which was most of the time)! We kind of loved her insistence on unicorn décor in his dank crypt and her silly nicknames for her peroxide beau, but in no universe did this pair ever belong together.
13 Willow & Kennedy Were The Worst
Anyone who came after Tara was sure to be met with disdain, but Willow and Kennedy just felt so forced as a couple – there was simply no spark. What did these two have in common besides liking girls? Kennedy’s pursuit of Willow felt uncomfortable while Willow was still so vulnerable, and she was an unlikeable character from the beginning.
12 Willow & Xander Made Us Cringe
Willow and Xander were fantastic as friends, but making them a couple? Not a chance. There was no chemistry between these two, and since this coupling came from cheating on both Cordelia and Oz, we can’t ever get on board. We’re glad these two only lasted for a handful of episodes.
11 Buffy & Riley Were Just Boring
Season 4 was not without its fair share of disappointments, and Riley Finn was definitely one of them. He was safe and boring, which was good for Buffy at the time, but then he simply couldn’t handle her power, because it made him feel less-than. Getting vampires to suck his blood to feel in control? Hard pass.
10 Faith & Robin Were Fiery
These two only got together for a brief period of time in season 7, but there was definitely something there for audiences to watch. Maybe it’s because both characters are so good-looking, or because Principal Wood was a guy who could hold his own around Faith, but we were kind of feeling them!
9 Xander & Cordelia Felt Kind Of Forced
Sorry to all the stans who rooted for this pairing, but we just weren’t into it. For the longest time, Cordelia treated Xander poorly, and it took forever for her to realize he was someone special. These two looked great together, but we can’t get behind a relationship that felt so unequal for so long.
8 Spike & Drusilla Were All Kinds Of Crazy
Drusilla was absolutely insane, but there’s no denying that her relationship with Spike had some substance. A relic from his past life, Dru’s Victorian nightgowns did really well with Spike’s whole shtick, and these two seemed to care for each other. Had Spike never been chipped, they might have lasted!
7 Willow & Oz Came To A Natural End
Oz finally made Willow feel like she was someone worth being noticed, and for that, they’ll always rank pretty high. However, he also cheated on her with a werewolf (after she had cheated on him with Xander), so these two were on shaky ground. Plus, while Oz was sweet, he didn’t have much personality beyond “cool guy in a band”.
6 Giles & Joyce Were Fun To Watch
Okay, their best moments were when they regressed during “Band Candy”, but there’s no denying the spark that arose between these two! We can absolutely see Joyce and “Ripper” having a fun relationship, especially since Giles became a father figure to Buffy over the years. Also, their couple name would be Joyles, which is the best!
