Sarah Michelle Gellar was the star of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” however the cult collection actually was an ensemble present — particularly because it went on. The important characters in “Buffy” grew from the titular slayer and her “Scoobies” to an intensive forged of beloved favorites who turned simply as integral to the present’s success and its enduring standing as one of many nice TV exhibits of the late-’90s/early aughts.
In that sense, it is not shocking that whereas Gellar was the lead, there have been a number of different forged members who appeared in virtually as many episodes because the star herself. Throughout seven seasons and 144 episodes, Buffy was joined most steadily by her shut associates Willow Rosenberg (Alyson Hannigan) and Xander Harris (Nicholas Brendon) — the unique Scooby gang. Then, there was her Watcher, Rupert Giles (Anthony Stewart Head), Scooby adoptee Cordelia Chase (Charisma Carpenter), and “large dangerous”-turned ally Spike (James Marsters). All these characters, and extra, turned essential to the collection in a method that makes it odd to assume they weren’t all there from the very first episode — and that is to say nothing of Emma Caulfield Ford’s Anya, Amber Benson’s Tara Maclay, David Boreanez’s Angel, Seth Inexperienced’s Oz, or Kristine Sutherland’s Joyce Summers, who was killed off in the “Buffy” episode that present creator Joss Whedon nonetheless considers one of the best factor he is ever completed.
However of this group, solely two forged members truly confirmed up in each single episode. Although he seems within the opening credit because of his important character standing, Nicholas Brendan’s Xander would not present up within the season 7 episode “Conversations with Useless Folks” — marking the one time he was absent from the collection. Of the unique crew then, that simply leaves Gellar and Hannigan, who every have a full 144 appearances to their names.
Buffy and Willow have been the true mainstays
It is slightly odd to notice that Xander simply missed out on being in each episode of “Buffy.” His absence from “Conversations with Useless Folks” was, nonetheless, not fully intentional. In keeping with an outdated BBC article, the unique plan was for Xander to come across a resurrected Jesse McNally (Eric Balfour). The character initially appeared within the first season of the present, earlier than being become a vampire and finally slayed by Buffy. “Conversations with Useless Folks” sees a number of characters assembly reincarnated variations of former associates and acquaintances, all of whom have been actually manifestations of season 7’s important antagonist The First Evil. Xander’s storyline would have seen him assembly Jesse however the thought was dropped for no matter cause — maybe scheduling points — making this the one episode to not characteristic Xander past the opening credit score sequence.
That signifies that Sarah Michelle Gellar and Alyson Hannigan are the one two “Buffy” actors to have appeared in all 144 episodes of the collection, having been in proof because the pilot episode in March 1997 all the best way as much as the collection finale in Could 2003. That is fairly an accomplishment, particularly if you happen to’re conversant in the allegations of office misconduct and abuse towards collection creator Joss Whedon, which arose lately and have made loving “Buffy” sophisticated for followers.
In the meantime, Anthony Stewart Head’s Giles is the one one who comes near Gellar, Hannigan, and Brendan, with 123 appearances throughout the collection. James Marsters appeared in 97 installments, whereas Emma Caulfield Ford’s Anya confirmed up in 85. Michelle Trachtenberg’s Daybreak Summers was current in 66 episodes, whereas Kristine Sutherland and David Boreanez are tied for 58. Charisma Carpenter managed 57 appearances as Cordelia Chase, whereas Amber Benson performed Tara Maclay in 47 episodes and Seth Inexperienced performed Oz in 40.
Gellar is the one Buffy star to really characteristic in each episode
When you check out the IMDB web page for “Buffy,” you may see that each Sarah Michelle Gellar and Nicholas Brendon are credited with showing in 145 episodes of the collection, whereas Alyson Hannigan is credited with simply 144. But when Willow and Buffy have been the one characters to look in each episode, what offers?
Effectively, Brendon was credited on “Conversations with Useless Folks,” which suggests IMDB counts that as an look. What’s extra, each he and Gellar appeared in the notorious unaired “Buffy” pilot, which just about killed the present earlier than it began. On this take a look at episode, Willow was truly performed by Riff Regan, however The WB ordered a number of modifications earlier than commissioning the present, together with recasting Willow. Thus, Alyson Hannigan was introduced in to exchange Regan, and the present was greenlit — even then solely after the short-lived “Savannah” was cancelled and WB wanted a mid-season substitute.
All of which signifies that whereas Brendon simply missed out on technically showing in each episode of Buffy because of his absence from “Conversations with Useless Folks,” he did seem within the unaired pilot, so it could possibly be argued that he appeared in simply as many episodes as Hannigan. What’s extra, the one “Buffy” star to really seem in each single episode of the present, together with the unaired pilot, is Sarah Michelle Gellar herself, who like Brendan has 145 credit to her identify, however truly appeared in each single certainly one of them.
