The Top 5 Supporting Characters in a Joss Whedon TV Series

Whether creating iconic TV series like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel or short lived ones like Firefly and Dollhouse, Joss Whedon's shows have always offered viewers a wealth of interesting characters. And given Whedon's propensity for creating character driven shows, some of his most beloved and popular characters have come out of the ranks of the supporting cast. Though these types of lists are by their very nature subjective, here is my list of the top 5 supporting characters in a Joss Whedon series:

Jayne Cobb (Adam Baldwin) Firefly:

Before staring in the hit TV series Chuck as NSA Agent John Casey, Adam Baldwin brought to life the loveable hired gun, Jayne Cobb in Firefly. Smarter than he was ever given credit for, with a love for his mother (who he still sent part of his pay to), and loyalty that at times went to the highest bidder, Jayne Cobb was often used as the comic relief in the series, endearing him to many "browncoat" fans during the show's tenure. The character's shiniest moment probably takes place in the episode titled "Jaynestown," where due to an unfortunate chain of events stemming from a foiled heist, Jayne becomes a Robin Hood type hero to a village full of mudders (mud diggers). The mudders go as far as immortalizing Jayne in the folk song, "Hero of Canton, the Ballad of Jayne Cobb," which offers the following lyrics:

"He robbed from the rich and he gave to the poor

Stood up to the Man and he gave him what for

Our love for him now ain't hard to explain

The Hero of Canton, the man they call Jayne! "

Though the series ran briefly in 2002, the character's popularity is such that you can still find Jayne Cobb's knitted hats, and t-shirts on the internet for sale to this day.

Spike/William Pratt (James Marsters) Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Angel:

One needs to look no further than the fact that Spike was used as a highly successful supporting character in both Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel, to know that the peroxide-haired vampire belongs on any list of memorable Whedon characters. Spike was at his best when we was the love-struck vampire pinning away for the affections of the slayer in the fifth season of Buffy, a discovery he makes in the episode, "Out of my Mind." Intelligent and articulate, Spike had a dry, sarcastic sense of humor and a penchant for tagging those around him with nicknames. Though Buffy Summers truly returns his love, Spike nevertheless gives his life (or undead existence as the case may be) for her in the series final episode, when he destroys the Hellmouth. Later on Spike is brought back again to the land of the living, as a ghost-like character in the series Angel.　

Anya Emerson/Jenkins ( Emma Caulfield) Buffy the Vampire Slayer:

More often then not, comic relief on Buffy the Vampire Slayer came courtesy of one of the members of the "Scoopy Gang," of which the former vengeance demon Anya was perhaps the funniest. After arriving in Sunnydale to punish Xander Harris for having cheated on Willow, Anya goes on to become a regular member of the gang, one who despite being a demon, has a fear of bunnies, a love of money and capitalism, and her own way of speaking which mixes an air of evasiveness with wording that is often too sharp and precise. Her fluency in language such as Old Norse only adds to the off-beat charm of the character. Probably at her best when she was in love with Xander, Anya is nevertheless stranded at the alter by her true love in the season six episode, "Hell's Bells."

Topher Brink (Fran Kranz ) Dollhouse

The resident genius and chief programmer at the L.A. Dollhouse, Topher's work is woven into the central plot of Dollhouse. Topher is the reason that the sociopath known as Alpha is imprinted with a composite of personalities, and his work is also the reason the world comes close to an apocalyptic ending, though he saves it from such an ending himself. Yet beyond the fact that he plays a key role in the series, it's Topher's quirky personality that adds much needed humor to the show. Amoral and childish in nature and apt at sprinkling his life within the Dollhouse with toys, games, and a refrigerator full of snacks, Topher Brink's lack of professionalism flows contrary to the tone that the Rossum corporation sets for the Dollhouse. In the end, without Topher, Dollhouse would have been just another show which took itself a bit too serious.

River Tam (Summer Glau) Firefly

Before she was a terminator devoid of all human emotions in the Sarah Conner Chronicles, Summer Glau was the emotionally damaged, highly intelligent, telepathic, teenage killing machine River Tam. Glau, who also appeared in Whedon's Angel and Dollhouse, played the role with all the quirky mannerism, over the top emotions, and bone chilling eeriness that would make her a Sci-Fi favorite for years to come. Although River's fighting skills aren't truly showcased until the theatrical release of the movie Serenity, she does foreshadow what is to come when she takes out three soldiers with three shots (while shooting with her eyes closed) in the episode "War Stories," making good on her saying that, "no power in the 'verse" can stop her.

Sources:

www.dollhouse.wikia.com/wiki/Topher_Brink

www.firefly.wikia.com/wiki/River_Tam

www.firefly.wikia.com/wiki/The_Ballad_of_Jayne_Cobb

www.firefly.wikia.com/wiki/Jayne_Cobb

www.buffy.wikia.com/wiki/Anya_Jenkins