Joss Whedon brought new life to David Boreanaz's tortured vampire with a soul in Buffy the Vampire Slayer's spin-off series, Angel; the creator chose his character for a very specific reason.
Angel was introduced in season 1 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer as the Slayer's primary love interest, sparking the forbidden love between a human girl and a vampire. While their love was doomed from the start, Angel's dedication to helping the Slayer learn about and fight the forces of darkness made him securely on her side rather than an enemy until a perfect moment of happiness in season 2 caused him to lose his soul again, which resulted in him becoming the evil Angelus once more. During this character arc, which saw Angel rise to the ranks of Big Bad—the term for the primary enemy in a season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer—Buffy was tormented with the inevitability that she might have to kill her lover.
Not only was this an opportunity for Boreanaz to show his range as an actor with a completely different side of the character, but it opened Whedon up to the realization that he could do more than just serve as a foil to his lead actress. There were many spin-off shows discussed throughout Buffy the Vampire Slayer's seven season run, all of which failed except Angel, which saw success for five seasons from 1999 to 2004 before being abruptly canceled by The WB. However, given the rich universe Joss Whedon created for Buffy and the other supporting cast, his decision to give Angel his own show was sparked by one key episode that allowed him to see Boreanaz's true potential—and the character—in a completely different light.
How Joss Whedon Knew David Boreanaz Could Carry Angel
Angel is a darker show than Buffy the Vampire Slayer, set in the gritty, crime-filled streets of Los Angeles. Angel rises as an unlikely champion for the downtrodden and hopeless, working as a private investigator under the cover of darkness. He left Buffy after season 3, and while there were several crossovers between the two shows—and even characters from Buffy who became mainstays on Angel—his relationship with Buffy was never the same after he lost his soul. One pivotal moment not only for Buffy and Angel, but for the show, was a standalone episode that saw both characters addressing their relationship with different elements of vulnerability that transpired through ghostly possession.
Season 2, episode 19, "I Only Have Eyes For You", follows a tragic love story between a student named James who was having an affair with his teacher, Grace, in the 1950s. Grace and James' spirits still roam the halls of Sunnydale High School and occasionally possess students to play out their last moments together—James killed Grace, then killed himself. Since Angel was currently Angelus at the time, and had just murdered Giles' girlfriend and fellow Sunnydale High teacher Jenny Calendar, the episode made it seem like their encounter at the school would provide James with the perfect host to occupy: Angel. However, the tables were turned when Buffy was possessed by James' spirit and Angel was possessed by Grace. The reason for James' anger toward his former lover was her decision to break off their relationship and Buffy and Angel were going through their own version of a very nasty separation.
The pivot for Boreanaz to play the soft-spoken, warm, and compassionate Grace opposite Buffy's tormented, heartbroken teenage James was what showed Whedon that he had the emotional range to support his own TV show. In a 20th anniversary interview with EW, Whedon said: “I watched David very emotionally, unabashedly, and poetically playing a woman, and in that moment was like, ‘This guy can anchor a show’ ". Angel's character growth on Angel is entirely about redemption, and without Buffy in his life, he's able to showcase a softer side of himself and even expresses moments of humor. No longer was he relegated to stoic brooding in the shadows as a default setting; he is able to show a wide range of emotions despite the show's darker setting, and came into his own, creating a solitary path to heroism.