Just so there is no confusion: I'm only including characters from shows, movies, and seasons I have seen. So sorry to any Dollhouse or Angel fans that might be reading. I might make an updated list later when I've seen more of Joss Whedon's catalog. But, for now, enjoy my current list!
THE LIST
10. Phil Coulson
Let me start my list with an exception to my own rules. SHIELD Agent Phil Coulson is not technically a Joss Whedon character. While he first appeared in Jon Favreau's Iron Man, I think we can all agree that it was Whedon's Avengers that solidified Coulson as pop culture phenomenon. Actor Clark Gregg continued his role as Agent Coulson in the Whedon-produced Marvel's Agents of SHIELD television show, so I think that gives me the go ahead to put him on this list. Coulson himself is an earnest and often hilarious character that exemplifies the human side of the cool and collected SHIELD spy agency. His willingness to bend the rules and put himself on the line for the betterment of all mankind makes Coulson rise above the rest of his comrades. At the same time, his quirks, such as a pension for straight-faced sarcasm and a fanboy obsession with Captain America, make him a likable and endearing hero that doesn't need superpowers to prove himself one.
9. Jayne Cobb
The cast of Firefly is a diverse bunch of misfits that transcend the traditional character stereotypes and find their own niches. Jayne, the Serenity's own shoot-first-ask-questions-later security expert, keeps up a thick facade of a meat-headed simpleton that is only in it for the money. However, as the show's single season progress, the layers of Jayne's character are peeled back revealing a loyal and honest man that can't hide his true feelings for his fellow shipmates. Jayne's slow and subtle transformation, not to mention an impeccable sense of humor, makes him one of Whedon's most likeable characters, and Firefly certainly wouldn't be the same show without him.
8. Xander Harris
The world of Buffy is filled with superpowered heroines and undead monsters, so you can imagine how hard it would be to be the "normal guy" amongst the supernatural and superhuman. However, Xander Harris pulls it off with incredible aplomb. Xander begins the show as the unlucky-in-love friend of Buffy who strikes out with not only Buffy but with his best friend Willow and first girlfriend Cordelia. He feels lost and useless among his superpowered friends who sometimes see him as a liability. However, as the show progresses, Xander finds his own as the heart of the Scooby Gang, helping Buffy soothe her dark side and giving her the confidence and purpose she needs to save the day. "The Zippo," a Xander-centered episode from the third season of Buffy, is my favorite episode of the show, as it shows what Xander does while Buffy and the team are off fighting evil. The fact that Xander is as memorable a character as he is without superpowers or magical abilities shows how fantastic of a Whedon character he really is.
7. Kaywinnit Lee Frye
While Xander is the heart of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Kaylee is the heart of Firefly. She is positive, honest, and always willing to see the best in everyone she meets. Whedon, instead of making her a jaded example of the dangers of being trusting, makes Kaylee's intuition an amazing creedence. Everything that Kaylee believes is true in the world of Firefly, from her beliefs about Mal's motivations and her intuitions about Simon and River. Jewel Satire's performance is charming, joyful, and never fails to make me smile, proving that Whedon has an incredible knack of finding the right roles for the right actors. No one will play Kaylee like Jewel and her performance is one of the many reasons that Firefly is so rewatchable.
6. Angel
Amongst all of the memorable supporting characters from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel is the only one to get his own spin-off show. That, if anything, should be a sign of how memorable of a character Angel is. He is a vampire that was cursed with the regaining of his soul, giving himself back his consciousness and guilt for his actions as a vampire. Cursed with eternal youth, Angel is placed in Sunnydale to be the protector of Buffy and, surprise, ends up falling for her. However, his attempts to form a permanent relationship with Buffy end in tragedy, forcing Angel to run to Los Angeles and find a new path for himself. The incredible range of David Boreanaz's acting is what sells the role of Angel, as he flirts between broody and mysterious and devious and devilnare. Even when his storylines fall into the realm of soapy nonsense, the character of Angel is as intriguing and original as Buffy the Vampire Slayer gets.
5. Buffy Summers
Joss Whedon knows how to write main characters. They aren't always perfect and they are not always necessarily heroes. However, Buffy Summers is Joss Whedon's best hero. She struggles with self-doubt and loss of innocence while always kicking absolute butt in every episode of the show. Sarah Michelle Gellar's incredible athletic abilities add so much to the kinetic and fervent energy of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, bringing the show a head and shoulders above the typical high school or supernatural drama. Buffy's life is a rollercoaster ride of tragedy and triumph and every inch of it is incredibly entertaining. Her transformation from flighty cheerleader to gritty vampire slayer is a sight to behold.
4. Billy/Dr. Horrible
Joss Whedon's process of writing memorable heroes is nearly the same for his memorable villains. He builds up a character as a hero and then tears them down to the level of villainy, and there is no better example of this than Dr. Horrible. Played flawlessly by the incredible Neil Patrick Harris, Dr. Horrible's tragic journey from redeemable rouge to flat out supervillain is one that has left quite a bad taste in many of my friends' mouths. Whedon breaks all convention with Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog's not-so happy ending, which betrays our avid cheering for Billy's redemption with his full-on transformation into evil. It almost seems unfair how much Whedon get us to like Billy while clearly stating he is the villain of the tale. Any character that can illicite the reaction that Dr. Horrible does certainly deserves to be on this list.
3. Spike
While Xander, Angel, and Buffy are all fantastic characters, my favorite character from Whedon's vampire-slaying classic is James Marsters' Spike. The main villain of the second season of Buffy, Spike is a dramatic vampire who wants nothing more than to live life his way. However, as the show progresses, Spike, and Marsters' performance, blooms into something incredible. As evidenced by the fantastic "Lovers Walk" episode in which he helps Buffy and Angel discover that not everything is as doomed as it seems, Spike's character is dynamic and undeniably larger than life. James Marsters steals the spotlight in every single scene in every single episode that he is in, outshining even Buffy as the show's interesting character. When Angel leaves the show, Spike begins to fill his shoes as the show's main vampire. Spike will always be Marsters' iconic character and is further proof that Weldon's directing brings out the best in his actors.
2. Hoban Washburne
There are very few things to dislike about Wash. He's funny, he's likeable, he's dynamic, clever, loyal, and Serenity's never-flinching guiding light. His relationship with Zoe grounds the crew in a family-like dynamic, keeping Mal and Zoe's relationship from getting tangled in a heavy-handed love triangle. From the very first moments that the viewers get to see Serenity, the connection between Wash and the ship is clear. The ship is not meant to be a transport vessel, just as Wash is not meant to be an outlaw circling the Outer Planets for whatever jobs the crew can find. However, through a loyal to Zoe and to Mal, Wash finds a purpose on the Serenity that is beyond anything that he was meant to do. His story and character arcs are charming and unforgettable. Wash is also, without a doubt, Alan Tudyk's signature role as no other role in TV or film has been able to showcase his scene stealing as well as Wash.
1. Malcolm Reynolds
I would call Mal, the fearless captain of the Serenity, Joss Whedon's best hero, but, simply put, he is not one. His moral compass twists and turns too much for a hero's title. However, this very quality makes Malcolm Reynolds Whedon's most iconic, most memorable, and most dynamic character. The entire show of Firefly is anchored on Nathan Fillion's electrifying portrayal of Mal and his unpredictable nature reflects the unexpected twists and turns of the show that keep the viewer locked into and waiting for some kind of resolution. Mal will surprise you with the choices he will make, one minute willing to put himself on the line for Simon and River and, the next, kicking some goon into Serenity's turbines. Everything you feel about Firefly and all the tremendous cult show status that the show sustains is all due to Mal in one way or another, whether it's the intensity he brings to the show or they way he inspires those around him to fight for what they believe in.
Thanks for reading everyone!
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