Who gave the best or your favorite acting performance in Buffy the Vampire Slayer?

James Marsters turned a two-bit throwaway character designed to be written off into a fan favorite. But the show was primarily a success thanks to SMG's Buffy. Not sure the show makes it beyond a season or two without her. Beyond them the show didn't rely on amazing performances and some were legitimately terrible actors in the cast. Many in the Buffy cast didn't really have careers after the show ended besides Boreanaz, Dushku, and Amy Acker.

Amy Acker didn't really show her potential on Buffy/Angel until Illyria appeared but I'd argue her career since has proven she's a versatile performer who is the best actress in the cast.

and Alyson Hannigan

I voted for Hannigan because I consider Willow the most loveable character on the show... plus she was the most authentic cryer.

^ she cryin' like that all cuz she lost her flute

Funny because I've been rewatching Buffy a lot lately. I voted for Marsters, but easily could have gone with Hannigan. SMG also did great in the lead role.

I also just watched a video on why Xander is just the worst character, and now I can't help but see that when I watch him.

I should vote for Marc Blucas just to be a contrarian.

Riley gets a lot of unfair hate. 4th season Riley was great. Joss and the writers did him dirty in the 5th season, turning him into a bit of a whiner (the opposite of who he was in the 4th season).

The acting wasn't that strong overall, Anthony Steward Head is a good actor and Alyson Hannigan shined in that one story arc, but rest was something between solid and good enough.

I've been watching random episodes a lot on the FreeVee Buffy channel.

I just read an article about the reboot that included this

I think that revisionist critics have seized on the premise that Joss Whedon always said that Xander's character was his surrogate in the show's world, and so now they want to rip Xander as a way of going after Whedon.

I voted for Giles. Learning that Anthony Stewart Head's real accent was basically Spike's accent was amazing and hilarious.

I didn't vote for her (I haven't actually voted yet at all), but Michelle Trachtenberg got shit on a lot for her Dawn character. I thought she was actually quite good in the role. Especially the episode where she found out she was "the key", and slashed her own wrists to see if she was even human or not.

Never watched Buffy but voted Eliza because she's cute.

Anthony Head, by far...but he had the most experience coming into this show, so that makes sense.

As a Buffy fan I disagree with your selection, but as a man I agree with your selection whole-heartedly.

I always thought SMG was perfect on the show, so I voted for her. Hannigan, Marsters, and Head were also fantastic. I don't remember anyone else standing out as particularly strong, but I wouldn't say anyone was terrible either.

I'm kinda surprised that Boreanaz and Hannigan (and maybe Green) seemed to have the most post-show success, I'm not sure I would've guessed that while it was airing.

David Boreanaz is a good-looking, muscular dude, who's over 6 feet tall. You don't have to have Brando's acting chops to be the leading man on a typical procedural series.

I'm surprised that anyone has as successful career after Buffy/Angel. It was a teenie show on a small network and while it had an impact on the pop culture 20 years ago, it wasn't a huge success. Most actors from teenie shows vanish after some horror flicks, especially if they weren't good actors to beginn with. David Boreanaz struck gold twice after Angel, that's rare for most TV actors and I'm quite curious if he can find a successful show again.

white male privilege

Let's not forget Nathan Fillion. He was obviously a smaller part of the Buffyverse, but like Boreanaz the start of two very popular television shows.

My instinctual response to this question was "none of the above".

you never watched the series or have no idea what good acting is, SMG was excellent as Buffy and had many strong dramatic episodes

I've seen the first five seasons. She's fine, but not extraordinary or anything.

There are few tv series where the acting is better than in Buffy.