#which is highlighted more in AtS but DB is improved AND is given time to be his own character outside of buffy's shadow

[allthebestcowboyshavedaddyissues]

"SMG is the only one acting well in this scene" Angel is completely disoriented after months of not being himself and she stabs him within a minute of 'gaining consciousness'

#david is not the GREATEST actor in the world I'm not saying that #SMG is the best actor on the entire show and she has experience #but buffy is going through a much more emotional scene than angel because SHE KNOWS AND HE DOESN'T #that's PART of her agony he literally doesn't know what he's done yet and she's killing him just when she got him back #there's a difference between being a totally terrible actor and just having a character that is not as impactful as others #angel doesn't really get that type of time or development on buffy #he's merely her love interest and simultaneously/later on her Big Bad #he's not really considered much of his own person #and sure you can argue that DB isn't great in early seasons btvs #but to ME i think it's more about angel's character as we're first introduced to him #he's not had much social contact with others (he's awkward even when he is social) #which is highlighted more in AtS but DB is improved AND is given time to be his own character outside of buffy's shadow #i know a lot of you like to only view characters in the shipping sense and not as individual characters though so i won't bother arguing #this is just me stating my piece. okay.