Top 5 Female Joss Whedon Characters Not Named Buffy

Dear Joss, I am a huge fan. Ever since Buffy the Vampire Slayer came into existence I have loved your style and vision. I am overjoyed that you are back on TV with your new project Dollhouse. I can't wait to see what you have in store for us and am thankful you have Eliza Dushku and Amy Acker as part of your cast. So, in honor of this new endeavor, I wanted to provide a list of the Top 5 female characters, who aren't Buffy, which you have given to television fans everywhere:

5 - Winifred Burkle (Amy Acker ) - Not since Nate the Great have we seen someone in the detective game with such a fondness for pancakes. Probably the smartest character in Whedon's family, but boy could she go off on a tangent. You couldn't help but love "Fred" which made it all the more heartbreaking when her relationship with Gunn crumbled. But, tragedy didn't stop there. As she died in Wesley's arms while transforming into Illyria, she cemented herself as one of the most endearing characters to grace Joss Whedon's collection.

4 - River Tam (Summer Glau) - Joss has always created strong women with a touch of crazy and none of them represented those characteristics more that River Tam. Introduced to us on the television series Firefly, she hit her stride when the show was cancelled and was subsequently made into the full length feature film, Serenity. This child prodigy and ultimate fighting champion was the definition of "a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma." But at significant moments she became beautiful due to her sincere vulnerability.

3 - Darla (Julie Benz) - The rock that the most handsome of men broke upon, Darla, like Milady de Winter is the personification of the dark heart within a woman. Add the bloodthirsty nature of the vampire, and you have a recipe for unbridled darkness. For centuries she terrorized Europe until Angel killed her to save Buffy. But after being brought back from death under mysterious supernatural circumstances for Season 2 of Angel she became pregnant. With Angel's son growing in her womb, she once again learned how to feel, and we felt for her. Before our eyes we watched her revel in the love of her child. And her sacrifice of herself so that her son could live left a lasting impression of humanness. She was unique and beautiful, and her bond with Angel only solidifies the fact that her character is worthy to be remembered.

2 - Faith (Eliza Dushku) - What is a story of Slayers and Vampires without a slayer gone rogue? Consumed by guilt after accidentally killing a man she thought to be a vampire, Faith wreaked havoc amongst Buffy's crew and almost killed Angel with a poisoned arrow. But, it was her descent into the darkness and her dramatic ascent back into the light that allows her to stand out among all Joss' female creations. She was strong willed, powerful, sexy, and self destructive, but in the end she walked through the proverbial fire and found herself safe on the other side.

1- Willow (Alyson Hannigan) - There really is no character in the menagerie of Joss Whedon's heroine gallery who should hold a higher rank than Willow. She had an innocence and power that makes her one of the most beloved yet most feared characters in the Buffy / Angel universe. Her goodness is matched only by the darkness she holds deep within her. She has made fans both laugh hysterically and cry uncontrollably. But, in the end she is what we all look for in a best friend.

Whatever the order though, all these characters have similar traits which are endearing. They are all brave. They all stand independent and three dimensional with depth and breadth. Volumes worth of stories could be written about each. So, as Dollhouse begins its run on television, I will hope that Echo may one day find herself somewhere on this list. After episode 1 it looks promising.

Just don't forget that these women also moved alongside great male characters that were just as unique, strong, and heroic. Maybe one day I will rank them as well. Until that day, always a fan!