Rimmer, that was one of my favourites too. With Spike, people think he was so noble and great, and to an extent, that's true...but he has always kinda looked after Spike first. Even when he was 'domesticated' and went to get back his soul, he did it because he wanted to be with Buffy, not because he genuinely wanted it back. But Angel would sacrafice anything for the greater good (even the shan-shu prophecy), no matter how much it hurt him. He is all about attonement, and wanting to make up for his past.
I love so many epsiodes, and I really enjoyed the Plylean trilogy at the end of season two with Joss Whedon as Numphar, who does the dance of joy
But the dynamic between Spike and Angel in season 5 was great..it was like a brotherly bond. There was some annimosity there, but also a lot of love...well hidden love, but it was there nonetheless (the epsiode 'Girl in Question was hillarious....too bad I always saw Buffy as a bit of a **** who both men deserved better than ).
Wesley was one of my favourites too, and Illyria....I felt so bad for Wes. Things went terrible for him. Betrayed by his friends, and when he finally gets his dream girl....well, yeah. Illyria was a fantastic character, with a fantastic performance from Acker that was so different from Fred (I like the episode where she turns into Fred and Wesley is mortified). I truly believe as she became more human, she developed feelings for Wesley, as he did her. In fact I recall Joss or someone saying in Season 6, Fred would have come back and Wesley would have had to choose, despite the fact he had grown feelings for Illyria. I think that would have been interesting.
Also was I the one who was really choked up by Wes/Illyria's final scene?
One of the most moving moments I have ever seen in any medium.
I also like how they introduced Hamilton as kinda a metaphore for the WB Network excs
Holtz was one of my favourite villains, because he wasn't a 'villain' per say. He did bad things, but his reasons were actually quite justified, even if he did take it too far at times.
Also you guys, a poll; who takes it, astronaughts or cavemen?
As for why this show was one of my favourites of all time (and of all Joss' shows) need I say more than...SMILE TIME????