Changes: Big Bad

Revision as of 21:50, 20 February 2020

The subject of this article is a recurring theme in the Buffyverse, and is told, either partially or completely, from a real-world perspective.

“I hate to break it to you, O Impotent One, but you're not the 'Big Bad' anymore. You're not even the 'Kind of Naughty'.”

―Alexander Harris^[src]

Big Bad is a term applied to describe major villains on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel. Specifically, it is usually accepted to refer to the single villain that, in each season of Buffy, is the dominant and final one.

The Big Bad is typically not only dangerous, as most of them threaten some version of apocalypse, but also help articulate the major themes of the season. Some of the Big Bads are built up and present from the season's beginning (or earlier) — i.e., the Master — and others are sprung as a surprise near the end of the season — i.e., Angelus.

For some of the show, the seasons followed a pattern in which lesser villains, presumed to be the Big Bad, are introduced, only to later lead to the more powerful surprise Big Bad: near the beginning of the season, a villain would appear to be a Big Bad and absorbs much of the heroes' attention, until, suddenly, this "Little Bad" is rid of and replaced by the Big Bad, usually about halfway through the season.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Big Bad is a term originally used by the Buffy the Vampire Slayer television series to describe a major recurring adversary, usually the chief villain or antagonist in a particular broadcast season. It has since been used to describe annual villains in other television series, and has also been used in scholarly work discussing Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

This pattern in action:

The Origin

As seen in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer film and the canon adaptation The Origin.

Season One

The Master is established as Buffy the Vampire Slayer season 1's biggest threat since the beginning, but isn't able to perform direct acts until the season finale. Until then, he commanded over the Order of Aurelius, in special the vampire Darla, to prepare and fulfill the prophecy for his return. When his battle against Buffy Summers finally takes place, the Master succeeds in killing the Slayer, and, alongside his minions, begins the apocalypse on Earth. Buffy, though, triumphs when she's resuscitated and become able to kill the Master herself.

Season Two

At the beginning of Buffy the Vampire Slayer season 2, the duo Spike and Drusilla arrive at Sunnydale to take place of the Master (and the Anointed One) as the new master vampires to defeat the Slayer. Their threat is manifested in direct battles and sending minions against Buffy and her friends, but it's not until the loss of Angel's soul that the season's Big Bad is revealed, who takes a place of leadership over the two vampires. Before the final battle, Angelus's apocalypse is opposed by Spike, who becomes a reluctant ally with the Slayer, and parts with Drusilla. Angelus is defeated by the restoration of his soul, and his apocalypse averted with his own death.

Season Three

In Buffy the Vampire Slayer season 3, the previously unseen mayor of Sunnydale is revealed as an apocalyptic threat, counting on the service of his allies Mr. Trick and Faith Lehane to prepare for his Ascension. Buffy deals with the vampire and the rogue Slayer, having the final battle against the Big Bad Richard Wilkins, who successfully became a pure demon. The Scooby Gang defeats him and his army of vampires with the help of the Class of '99, and exploded his demon form.

Season Four

In Buffy the Vampire Slayer season 4, the Scooby Gang is initially suspicious of the Initiative's operating mode, but it's not until Maggie Walsh attempt to kill Buffy Summers that their intentions are revealed. Her threat is short-lived, as Dr. Walsh's secret project, Adam, kills his own creator. As the Big Bad, Adam assumes the position of dominance in Sunnydale upon vampires, and attempts to cause the death of both humans and demons, in order to create an army of bio-mechanical demonoids.

Season Five

Glorificus is revealed as the biggest threat in In Buffy the Vampire Slayer season 5, not only for her apocalyptic intentions of opening all gates between dimensions, but her interests in sacrificing the Slayer's younger sister, Dawn Summers. The goddess counted on her minions assistance, but the Scooby Gang were also forced to deal against the Knights of Byzantium, due to their radically conflicting solutions against Glory. Despite being able to defeat the Goddess in the final battle, her apocalypse had already began, which Buffy averts with her own death.

Season Six

Despite the constant threat of the Trio against the Slayer during Buffy the Vampire Slayer season 6, specially their relentless leader Warren Mears, their own threat caused the manifestation of a Dark Willow Rosenberg. The witch not only then kills Warren, goes against the two remaining members, battle her own friends in the Scooby Gang, but she brings the beginning of her own apocalypse.

Season Seven

The First Evil returns in Buffy the Vampire Slayer season 7 with an attempt to completely eliminate the Slayer line, and gain corporeal form to dominate the Earth. For this, he counts on his minions, the Harbingers of Death, who spent the year attacking Potential Slayers; the priest Caleb, who orchestrated the First's attacks; and an army of Turok-Hans, against whom the Scoobies had their final battle.

Season Eight

In Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight, the Twilight persona was leader of a miscellaneous group manipulated to act against Slayers all over the world. Some notable members who posed direct threats against the Scooby Gang were Amy Madison, Warren Mears, and General Voll. The group was composed by humans and demons with their own intentions and agendas, but the seasons' final threat and Big Bad is revealed through the manifestation of the real Twilight, a dimension's sentience, who caused its own birth and Earth's consequential downfall. The apocalypse is only averted when Buffy destroys the Seed of Wonder, provoking the end of magic and Twilight's imprisonment in his own dimension.

Season Nine

The Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Nine Big Bads Simone Doffler and Severin teams up in order to invade the Deeper Well and concretize their own plans. The Siphon wishes to absorb magic enough to turn back time, potentially causing an apocalypse, while the rogue Slayer attempts to become an unnaturally powerful vampire. Simone awakens Maloker, the Old One father of vampires, but her Slaypire form is staked by Buffy. Maloker, though, imminently conquering Earth's surface, is only stopped by the power of the siphon's sacrifice, alongside Illyria, in the creation of the new Seed of Wonder.

Season Ten

In Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Ten, The unholy triumvirate of the Soul Glutton, the Mistress, and the Sculptor is formed in order to take vengeance of the Scooby Gang and command over an apocalypse on Earth. The Big Bad, though, is only revealed when D'Hoffryn himself manages to kill the demons, but also assassinating the Magic Council, in attempt to accumulate the power for himself, take vengeance from the Scoobies, and dominate the Earth. Through the magic rules of the Vampyr book, Buffy and her friends are able to defend themselves from the Lower Being, and successfully kill him.

Season Eleven

In Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eleven, Joanna Wise, leader of the Pandora Project, is revealed as the responsible for summoning the Shenlong. She did so in order to cause San Francisco's destruction and the public controversy on magic, with the final intention to have the power of a ruler in a world that no one would have access to magic but her. While confronted by the Scooby Gang, Wise once again summoned the dragon to absorb its power, but, with the Scoobies' help, it sough out its magic and devoured her. The battle and her confession being filmed, Wise and her Project were publicly exposed, the people involved were punished, and all policies regarding the supernatural reviewed.

Season Twelve

As seen in Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Twelve.

Angel

For the Angel series, the law firm Wolfram & Hart was the Big Bad present in the series; however, there were other major recurring threats that arose, those of which were either associates of Wolfram & Hart or a third party with its own agenda. While the format of the series didn't stick to an established Big Bad the way Buffy did, several characters and elements have represented significant season arcs, using the "Big Bad" term frequently. The pattern of this was as follows:

Angel & Faith

As seen in Angel & Faith.

Angel & Faith Season Ten

As seen in Angel & Faith Season Ten.

Season Eleven

As seen in Angel Season Eleven.

Spike

Asylum

As seen in Spike: Asylum.

After the Fall

As seen in Spike: After the Fall.

Spike

As seen in Spike series.

Behind the scenes

The term was based on a commentary in episode "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered", when Buffy Summers describes the newly soulless Angel as "the big bad thing in the dark". The expression "big bad" itself was first used on screen in episode "Gingerbread", in which Buffy said an occult symbol was harmless, "not a big bad".
"Big Bad" was notably often used in relation to Spike: Xander told him "I hate to break it to you, O Impotent One, but you're not the Big Bad anymore." ("Doomed"); he teased Harmony saying "Look at you, all puffed and mighty, thinking you're the new Big Bad." ("Real Me"); he refereed to himself while explaining "I just thought she'd be safer with Big Bad lookin' over her shoulder." ("Blood Ties"); Buffybot was programmed to say "Oh Spike, you're the big bad!" ("Intervention"); he explained "You can't feel it unless you're into the big bad — a witch or a vampire or—" ("Wrecked"); he declared about himself "Big Bad's back and lookin' for a little death." ("Beneath You"); and Kennedy told him "hate to say it, Big Bad, but you look like you can barely stand."
At the end of the Season 7 episode "Lessons", the First Evil appeared in the form of the previous seasons' Big Bads (or significant "little bads"), in reverse chronological order: Warren Mears (season 6), Glorificus (season 5), Adam (season 4), Richard Wilkins (season 3), Drusilla (season 2), and the Master (season 1).
A special cover for comic issue The Spread of Their Evil features Buffy fighting its most recent Big Bad with previous Big Bads (or significant "little bads") laying defeated: the Master, Spike, Drusilla, Angel, Richard Wilkins, Adam, Glorificus, Warren Mears, Caleb, Twilight, Severin, Simone Doffler, and D'Hoffryn.
The licensed reference book Buffy the Vampire Slayer Encyclopedia listed Buffy's Big Bad as: The Master/The Order of Aurelius, The Order of Aurelius/Angelus, Mayor Richard Wilkins, Adam, Glorificus, The Trio, Dark Willow, The First Evil, Twilight, Simone Doffler, and D'Hoffryn.

The term has been adopted by several other series:
- Wikipedia lists several examples.
- The Supernatural Wiki has a page on its own Big Bads.
- The TV Tropes Wiki lists many more examples.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Theme}}
-{{Quote|I hate to break it to you, O Impotent One, but you're not the 'Big Bad' anymore. You're not even the 'Kind of Naughty'.|[[Xander Harris]] (to [[Spike]])|Doomed}}
+{{Quote|I hate to break it to you, O Impotent One, but you're not the 'Big Bad' anymore. You're not even the 'Kind of Naughty'.|[[Alexander Harris]]|Doomed}}
 '''Big Bad''' is a term applied to describe major villains on ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]'' and ''[[Angel (series)|Angel]]''. Specifically, it is usually accepted to refer to the single villain that, in each season of ''Buffy'', is the dominant and final one.
-The Big Bad is typically not only dangerous, as most of them threaten some version of [[apocalypse]], but also help articulate the major themes of the season. Some of the Big Bads are built up and present from the season's beginning (or earlier) - i.e., [[Master|The Master]] - and others are sprung as a surprise near the end of the season - i.e., [[Angel]]us.
+The Big Bad is typically not only dangerous, as most of them threaten some version of [[apocalypse]], but also help articulate the major themes of the season. Some of the Big Bads are built up and present from the season's beginning (or earlier) — i.e., the [[Master]] — and others are sprung as a surprise near the end of the season — i.e., [[Angel]]us.
 For some of the show, the seasons followed a pattern in which lesser villains, presumed to be the Big Bad, are introduced, only to later lead to the more powerful surprise Big Bad: near the beginning of the season, a villain would appear to be a Big Bad and absorbs much of the heroes' attention, until, suddenly, this "Little Bad" is rid of and replaced by the Big Bad, usually about halfway through the season.
-==''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'': Big Bads and Little Bads==
+==''Buffy the Vampire Slayer''==
-Big Bad is a term originally used by the [[Buffy the Vampire Slayer]] television series to describe a major recurring adversary, usually the chief villain or antagonist in a particular broadcast season. It has since been used to describe annual villains in other television series, and has also been used in scholarly work discussing Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
+Big Bad is a term originally used by the ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' television series to describe a major recurring adversary, usually the chief villain or antagonist in a particular broadcast season. It has since been used to describe annual villains in other television series, and has also been used in scholarly work discussing ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer''.
 This pattern in action:
-===[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer (film)|The Movie]]/[[The Origin]]===
+===The Origin===
+As seen in the [[Buffy the Vampire Slayer (film)|''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' film]] and the canon adaptation ''[[The Origin]]''.
-*Big Bad
-**[[Lothos]]
+<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true" hideaddbutton="true">
-*Little Bad
-**[[Benny Jacks]]
-**[[Amilyn]]
-<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true">
 LOTHOS.JPG|Lothos|link=Lothos
 </gallery>
-<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true">
+<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true" hideaddbutton="true">
-Buffymp_leftygetsbenny.jpg|Benny Jacks|link=Benny Jacks
+Buffy the Vampire Slayer film vampire.jpg|Benny Jacks|link=Benny Jacks
 Amilyn.jpg|Amilyn|link=Amilyn
 </gallery>
-===[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer#Season One|Season One]]===
+===Season One===
+The Master is established as [[Buffy the Vampire Slayer season 1|''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' season 1]]'s biggest threat since the beginning, but isn't able to perform direct acts until the season finale. Until then, he commanded over the [[Order of Aurelius]], in special the [[vampire]] [[Darla]], to prepare and fulfill the prophecy for his return. When his battle against [[Buffy Summers]] finally takes place, the Master succeeds in killing the [[Slayer]], and, alongside his minions, begins the apocalypse on [[Earth]]. Buffy, though, triumphs when she's resuscitated and become able to kill the Master herself.
-*Big Bad
-**[[The Master]]
+<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true" hideaddbutton="true">
-*Little Bad
+BigBad TheMaster.jpg|The Master|link=Master
-**[[Darla]]
-**[[Order of Aurelius]]
-<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true">
-BigBad TheMaster.jpg|The Master|link=The Master
 </gallery>
-<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true">
+<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true" hideaddbutton="true">
 DarlaLittleBadS1.png|Darla|link=Darla
 BigBad OrderofAurelius.jpg|Order of Aurelius|link=Order of Aurelius
 </gallery>
-===[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer#Season Two|Season Two]]===
+===Season Two===
+At the beginning of [[Buffy the Vampire Slayer season 2|''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' season 2]], the duo [[Spike]] and [[Drusilla]] arrive at [[Sunnydale]] to take place of the Master (and the [[Anointed One]]) as the new master vampires to defeat the [[Slayer]]. Their threat is manifested in direct battles and sending minions against Buffy and her friends, but it's not until the loss of Angel's [[soul]] that the season's Big Bad is revealed, who takes a place of leadership over the two vampires. Before the final battle, Angelus's apocalypse is opposed by Spike, who becomes a reluctant ally with the Slayer, and parts with Drusilla. Angelus is defeated by the restoration of his soul, and his apocalypse averted with his own death.
-*Big Bad
-**[[Angelus]]
+<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true" hideaddbutton="true">
-*Little Bad
+Drusilla-Spike-Angel-promotional-images-buffy-the-vampire-slayer-12513259-2074-2560.jpg|Angelus|link=Angel
-**[[Spike]]
-**[[Drusilla]]
-<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true">
-BigBad Angelus.jpg|Angelus|link=Angel
 </gallery>
-<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true">
+<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true" hideaddbutton="true">
 BigBad Spike.jpg|Spike|link=Spike
-BigBad Drusilla.jpg|Drusilla|link=Drusilla
+Juliet (7).jpg|Drusilla|link=Drusilla
-BigBad Angelus.jpg
 </gallery>
-===[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer#Season Three|Season Three]]===
+===Season Three===
+In [[Buffy the Vampire Slayer season 3|''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' season 3]], the previously unseen mayor of Sunnydale is revealed as an apocalyptic threat, counting on the service of his allies [[Mr. Trick]] and [[Faith Lehane]] to prepare for his [[Ascension]]. Buffy deals with the vampire and the rogue Slayer, having the final battle against the Big Bad [[Richard Wilkins]], who successfully became a pure [[demon]]. The [[Scooby Gang]] defeats him and his army of vampires with the help of the [[Class of '99]], and exploded his demon form.
-*Big Bad
+<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true" hideaddbutton="true">
-**[[Mayor Richard Wilkins]]
+BigBad MayorWilkins.jpg|Richard Wilkins|link=Richard Wilkins
-*Little Bad
-**[[Faith Lehane]]
-**[[Mr. Trick]]
-<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true">
-BigBad MayorWilkins.jpg|Mayor Richard Wilkins|link=Mayor Richard Wilkins
 </gallery>
-<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true">
+<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true" hideaddbutton="true">
-LittleBad Faith.jpg|Faith Lehane|link=Faith Lehane
+LittleBad_Faith.jpg|Faith Lehane|link=Faith Lehane
 LittleBad MrTrick.jpg|Mr. Trick|link=Mr. Trick
 </gallery>
-===[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer#Season Four|Season Four]]===
+===Season Four===
+In [[Buffy the Vampire Slayer season 4|''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' season 4]], the Scooby Gang is initially suspicious of the [[Initiative]]'s operating mode, but it's not until [[Maggie Walsh]] attempt to kill Buffy Summers that their intentions are revealed. Her threat is short-lived, as Dr. Walsh's secret project, [[Adam]], kills his own creator. As the Big Bad, Adam assumes the position of dominance in Sunnydale upon vampires, and attempts to cause the death of both [[human]]s and demons, in order to create an army of [[bio-mechanical demonoid]]s.
-*Big Bad
+<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true" hideaddbutton="true">
-**[[Adam]]
-*Little Bad
-**[[Maggie Walsh|Dr. Maggie Walsh]]
-**[[The Initiative (organization)|The Initiative]]
-<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true">
 BIgBad Adam.jpg|Adam|link=Adam
 </gallery>
-<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true">
+<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true" hideaddbutton="true">
 S413 Maggie.png|Dr. Maggie Walsh|link=Maggie Walsh
 X07TI1001.jpg|The Initiative|link=The Initiative (organization)
 </gallery>
-===[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer#Season Five|Season Five]]===
+===Season Five===
+[[Glorificus]] is revealed as the biggest threat in In [[Buffy the Vampire Slayer season 5|''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' season 5]], not only for her apocalyptic intentions of opening all gates between dimensions, but her interests in sacrificing the Slayer's younger sister, [[Dawn Summers]]. The [[Higher being|goddess]] counted on [[Glory's minions|her minions]] assistance, but the Scooby Gang were also forced to deal against the [[Knights of Byzantium]], due to their radically conflicting solutions against Glory. Despite being able to defeat the Goddess in the final battle, her apocalypse had already began, which Buffy averts with her own death.
-*Big Bad
+<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true" hideaddbutton="true">
-**[[Glorificus|Glory]]
+S5stills081.jpg|Glorificus|link=Glory
-*Little Bad
-**[[Glory's Minions]]
-**[[The Knights of Byzantium]]
-<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true">
-BigBad Glorificus.jpg|Glorificus|link=Glory
 </gallery>
-<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true">
+<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true" hideaddbutton="true">
 Buffyjinx.jpg|Glory's Minions|link=Glory's Minions
-KnightsofByzantium.jpg|The Knights of Byzantium|link=Knights of Byzantium
+KnightsofByzantium.jpg|Knights of Byzantium|link=Knights of Byzantium
 </gallery>
-===[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer#Season Six|Season Six]]===
+===Season Six===
+Despite the constant threat of [[the Trio]] against the Slayer during [[Buffy the Vampire Slayer season 6|''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' season 6]], specially their relentless leader [[Warren Mears]], their own threat caused the manifestation of a Dark [[Willow Rosenberg]]. The [[witch]] not only then kills Warren, goes against the two remaining members, battle her own friends in the Scooby Gang, but she brings the beginning of her own apocalypse.
-*Big Bad
+<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true" hideaddbutton="true">
-**[[Dark Willow]]
+BigBad DarkWillowblackeyes.png|Dark Willow|link=Willow Rosenberg
-* Little Bad
-**[[Warren Mears]]
-**[[The Trio]]
-<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true">
-BigBad DarkWillowblackeyes.png|Dark Willow|link=Willow
 </gallery>
-<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true">
+<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true" hideaddbutton="true">
 BigBad WarrenMears.jpg|Warren Mears|link=Warren Mears
 BigBad Trio.jpg|The Trio|link=The Trio
 </gallery>
-===[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer#Season Seven|Season Seven]]===
+===Season Seven===
+The [[First Evil]] returns in [[Buffy the Vampire Slayer season 7|''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' season 7]] with an attempt to completely eliminate the Slayer line, and gain corporeal form to dominate the Earth. For this, he counts on his minions, the [[Harbingers of Death]], who spent the year attacking Potential Slayers; the priest [[Caleb]], who orchestrated the First's attacks; and an army of [[Turok-Han]]s, against whom the Scoobies had their final battle.
-*Big Bad
+<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true" hideaddbutton="true">
-**[[The First Evil]]
-*Little Bad
-**[[Caleb]]
-**[[Turok-Han]]
-<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true">
 BigBad FirstEvil.jpg|The First Evil|link=The First Evil
 </gallery>
-<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true">
+<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true" hideaddbutton="true">
+Harbinger01.jpg|Harbingers of Death|link=Harbingers of Death
-LittleBad Caleb.png|Caleb|link=Caleb
+Dirty Girls Caleb 01.jpg|Caleb|link=Caleb
 6.jpg|Turok-Han|link=Turok-Han
 </gallery>
-===[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight|Season Eight]]===
+===Season Eight===
+In ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight]]'', the [[Angel#Twilight|Twilight persona]] was leader of [[Twilight Group|a miscellaneous group]] manipulated to act against Slayers all over the world. Some notable members who posed direct threats against the Scooby Gang were [[Amy Madison]], Warren Mears, and General [[Voll]]. The group was composed by humans and demons with their own intentions and agendas, but the seasons' final threat and Big Bad is revealed through the manifestation of the real [[Twilight]], a dimension's sentience, who caused its own birth and Earth's consequential downfall. The apocalypse is only averted when Buffy destroys the [[Seed of Wonder]], provoking the [[end of magic]] and Twilight's imprisonment in his own dimension.
-*Big Bad
+<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true" hideaddbutton="true">
-**[[Twilight (character)|Twilight]]
-*Little Bad
-**[[Twilight Group]]
-<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true">
 TwilightEmbodiment.jpg|Twilight|link=Twilight
 </gallery>
-<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true">
+<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true" hideaddbutton="true">
-Twilight.jpg|Twilight, leader of the Twilight Group|link=Twilight Group
+Twilight.jpg|The Twilight persona|link=Angel#Twilight
+Twilight.png|Followers of Twilight|link=Twilight Group
 </gallery>
-===[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Nine|Season Nine]]===
+===Season Nine===
+The ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Nine]]'' Big Bads [[Simone Doffler]] and [[Severin]] teams up in order to invade the [[Deeper Well]] and concretize their own plans. The Siphon wishes to absorb [[magic]] enough to turn back time, potentially causing an apocalypse, while the rogue Slayer attempts to become an unnaturally powerful vampire. Simone awakens [[Maloker]], the [[Old One]] father of vampires, but her [[Slaypire]] form is staked by Buffy. Maloker, though, imminently conquering Earth's surface, is only stopped by the power of the siphon's sacrifice, alongside [[Illyria]], in the creation of the new [[Seed of Wonder]].
-*Big Bad
+<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true" hideaddbutton="true">
-**[[Simone Doffler]]
-**[[Severin]]
-* Little Bad
-**[[Maloker]]
-<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true">
 SimoneNoto.jpg|Simone Doffler|link=Simone Doffler
 Severin.jpg|Severin the Siphon|link=Severin
 </gallery>
-<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true">
+<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true" hideaddbutton="true">
 Maloker.png|Maloker|link=Maloker
 </gallery>
-===[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Ten|Season Ten]]===
+===Season Ten===
+In ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Ten]]'', The unholy triumvirate of [[the Soul Glutton]], [[the Mistress]], and [[the Sculptor]] is formed in order to take vengeance of the Scooby Gang and command over an apocalypse on Earth. The Big Bad, though, is only revealed when [[D'Hoffryn]] himself manages to kill the demons, but also assassinating the [[Magic Council]], in attempt to accumulate the power for himself, take vengeance from the Scoobies, and dominate the Earth. Through the magic rules of the ''[[Vampyr]]'' book, Buffy and her friends are able to defend themselves from the [[Lower Being]], and successfully kill him.
-*Big Bad
+<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true" hideaddbutton="true">
-**[[D'Hoffryn]]
+BigBad D'Hoffryn.jpg|D’Hoffryn|link=D'Hoffryn
-*Little Bad
-**[[The Soul Glutton]]
-**[[The Mistress]]
-**[[The Sculptor]]
-<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true">
-D'HoffrynPic.png|D'Hoffryn|link=D'Hoffryn
 </gallery>
-<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true">
+<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true" hideaddbutton="true">
 The Sculptor.jpg|The Sculptor|link=The Sculptor
 The mistress.jpg|The Mistress|link=The Mistress
@@ Line 168: / Line 128: @@
 </gallery>
-===[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eleven|Season Eleven]]===
+===Season Eleven===
+In [[Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eleven]], [[Joanna Wise]], leader of the [[Pandora Project]], is revealed as the responsible for summoning the [[Shenlong]]. She did so in order to cause [[San Francisco]]'s destruction and the public controversy on magic, with the final intention to have the power of a ruler in a world that no one would have access to magic but her. While confronted by the Scooby Gang, Wise once again summoned the dragon to absorb its power, but, with the Scoobies' help, it sough out its magic and devoured her. The battle and her confession being filmed, Wise and her Project were publicly exposed, the people involved were punished, and all policies regarding the supernatural reviewed.
-*Big Bad
+<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true" hideaddbutton="true">
-**[[Joanna Wise]]
-*Little Bad
-**[[Pandora Project]]
-<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true">
 Wise.png|Joanna Wise|link=Joanna Wise
 </gallery>
-<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true">
+<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true" hideaddbutton="true">
 B11-10-00a-al.jpg|Pandora Project|link=Pandora Project
 </gallery>
+===Season Twelve===
-==''Angel'': Big Bads and Little Bads==
+As seen in ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Twelve]]''.
-For [[Angel (series)|Angel]], the law firm [[Wolfram & Hart]] was the Big Bad present in the series; however, there were other major recurring threats that arose, those of which were either associates of Wolfram & Hart or a third party with its own agenda. While the format of the series didn't stick to an established Big Bad the way ''Buffy'' did, several characters and elements have represented significant season arcs, using the "Big Bad" term frequently. The pattern of this was as follows:
+<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true" hideaddbutton="true">
+Harth Fray.jpg|Harth Fray|link=Harth Fray
+</gallery>
+<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true" hideaddbutton="true">
+Mayor-snake.gif|Richard Wilkins|link=Richard Wilkins
+The Reckoning.png|Demon army|link=Reckoning
+</gallery>
+==''Angel''==
-===[[Angel (series)#Season One|Season One]]===
+For the ''Angel'' series, the law firm [[Wolfram & Hart]] was the Big Bad present in the series; however, there were other major recurring threats that arose, those of which were either associates of Wolfram & Hart or a third party with its own agenda. While the format of the series didn't stick to an established Big Bad the way ''Buffy'' did, several characters and elements have represented significant season arcs, using the "Big Bad" term frequently. The pattern of this was as follows:
-*Big Bad
-**[[Holland Manners]]
+===Season One===
-**[[Wolfram & Hart]]
+As seen in [[Angel season 1|''Angel'' season 1]].
-*Little Bads
+<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true" hideaddbutton="true">
-**[[Lindsey McDonald]]
-**[[Lilah Morgan]]
-**[[Lee Mercer]]
-<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true">
 Holland.jpg|Holland Manners|link=Holland Manners
 Wolfram and Hart Building.jpg|Wolfram & Hart|link=Wolfram & Hart
 </gallery>
-<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true">
+<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true" hideaddbutton="true">
 Lindsey_city_of.png|Lindsey McDonald|link=Lindsey McDonald
 Lilah.jpg|Lilah Morgan|link=Lilah Morgan
@@ Line 201: / Line 162: @@
 </gallery>
-===[[Angel (series)#Season Two|Season Two]]===
+===Season Two===
+As seen in [[Angel season 2|''Angel'' season 2]].
-*Big Bad
+<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true" hideaddbutton="true">
-**[[Darla]]
-*Little Bad
-**[[Drusilla]]
-**[[Holland Manners]]
-**[[Wolfram & Hart]]
-<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true">
 Darla.png|Darla|link=Darla
 </gallery>
@@ Line 217: / Line 173: @@
 </gallery>
-===[[Angel (series)#Season Three|Season Three]]===
+===Season Three===
+As seen in [[Angel season 3|''Angel'' season 3]].
-*Big Bad
+<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true" hideaddbutton="true">
-**[[Daniel Holtz]]
-*Little Bad
-**[[Sahjhan]]
-<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true">
 BigBad DanielHoltz.png|Daniel Holtz|link=Daniel Holtz
 </gallery>
-<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true">
+<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true" hideaddbutton="true">
 LittleBad Sahjhan.jpg|Sahjhan|link=Sahjhan
+Justine_Cooper.png|Justine Cooper|link=Justine Cooper
 </gallery>
-===[[Angel (series)#Season Four|Season Four]]===
+===Season Four===
+As seen in [[Angel season 4|''Angel'' season 4]].
-*Big Bad
+<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true" hideaddbutton="true">
-**[[Jasmine]]
+The Magic Bullet Jasmine 02.jpg|Jasmine|link=Jasmine
-*Little Bad
-**[[The Beast]]
-**[[Angelus]]
-<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true">
-BigBad Jasmine.jpg|Jasmine|link=Jasmine
 </gallery>
-<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true">
+<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true" hideaddbutton="true">
 LittleBad TheBeast.jpg|The Beast|link=The Beast
-S4 angelus.jpg|Angelus|link=Angelus
+S4 angelus.jpg|Angelus|link=Angel
 </gallery>
-===[[Angel (series)#Season Five|Season Five]]===
+===Season Five===
+As seen in [[Angel season 5|''Angel'' season 5]].
-*Big Bad
+<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true" hideaddbutton="true">
-**[[Circle of the Black Thorn]]
-*Little Bad
-**[[Lindsey McDonald]]
-**[[Marcus Hamilton]]
-<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true">
 BigBad CircleofBlackThorn.jpg|Circle of the Black Thorn|link=Circle of the Black Thorn
 </gallery>
-<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true">
+<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true" hideaddbutton="true">
 BigBad LindseyMcDonald2.jpg|Lindsey McDonald|link=Lindsey McDonald
 BigBad MarcusHamilton.jpg|Marcus Hamilton|link=Marcus Hamilton
 </gallery>
-===[[Angel: After the Fall|After the Fall]]===
+===''After the Fall''===
+As seen in ''[[After the Fall]]''.
-*Big Bad
+<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true" hideaddbutton="true">
-**[[Charles Gunn|Vampire Gunn]]
-*Little Bad
-**[[Demon Lords]]
-**[[Senior Partners]]
-<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true">
 Vampire gunn.jpg|Vampire Gunn|link=Charles Gunn
 </gallery>
-<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true">
+<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true" hideaddbutton="true">
 Demon lords.JPG|Demon Lords|link=Demon Lords
 ert.png|Senior Partners|link=Senior Partners
 </gallery>
-===[[Angel (IDW ongoing series)|Angel (IDW series)]]===
+===''Angel & Faith''===
+As seen in ''[[Angel & Faith]]''.
-*Big Bad
+<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true" hideaddbutton="true">
-**[[Myresto Mor]]
+BigBad Whistler.png|Whistler|link=Whistler
-*Little Bad
-**[[Rowant Mor]]
-<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true">
-JamesMyr.jpg|Myresto Mor|link=Myresto Mor
 </gallery>
-<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true">
+<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true" hideaddbutton="true">
-Rowant.jpg|Rowant Mor|link=Rowant Mor
-</gallery>
-===[[Angel & Faith]]===
-*Big Bad
-**[[Whistler]]
-*Little Bad
-**[[Pearl]]
-**[[Nash]]
-<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true">
-.jpg|Whistler|link=Whistler
-</gallery>
-<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true">
 Pearl.jpg|Pearl|link=Pearl
 Nash.jpg|Nash|link=Nash
 </gallery>
-=== [[Angel & Faith Season Ten|Angel & Faith Season 10]] ===
+===''Angel & Faith'' Season Ten===
+As seen in ''[[Angel & Faith Season Ten]]''.
-*Big Bad
+<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true" hideaddbutton="true">
-**[[Archaeus]]
+BigBad Archaeus.jpg|Archaeus|link=Archaeus
-*Little Bad
-**[[Drusilla]]
-<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true">
-Archaeus.jpg|Archaeus|link=Archaeus
 </gallery>
-<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true">
+<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true" hideaddbutton="true">
 AF10-18-00b.jpg|Drusilla|link=Drusilla
 </gallery>
-===[[Angel Season Eleven|Season 11]]===
+===Season Eleven===
+As seen in ''[[Angel Season Eleven]]''.
-*To be revealed
+<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true" hideaddbutton="true">
+A11-09-00a-al.jpg|Time travel paradox creature
+</gallery>
+<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true" hideaddbutton="true">
+A11-01-00a-a.jpg|Angelus|link=Angel
+</gallery>
-==''Spike'': Big Bads and Little Bads==
+==''Spike''==
-Spike received a lot of comic book series that have disputable canon, therefore creating official new Big Bads and treating it as some kind of a second spin-off.
-===[[Spike: Asylum]]===
+===''Asylum''===
+As seen in ''[[Spike: Asylum]]''.
-*Big Bad
+<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true" hideaddbutton="true">
-**[[Mosaic Wellness Center]]
-<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true">
 Mosaic Wellness Center.jpg|Mosaic Wellness Center|link=Mosaic Wellness Center
 </gallery>
+<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true" hideaddbutton="true">
+Wiseau.jpg|Wiseau|link=Wiseau
-===[[Spike: Shadow Puppets]]===
-*Big Bad
-**[[Smile Time (show)|Smile Time Japan]]
-<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true">
-shadowpuppetsTPB.jpg|Smile Time Japan|link=Smile Time (show)
 </gallery>
-===[[Spike: After the Fall]]===
+===''After the Fall''===
+As seen in ''[[Spike: After the Fall]]''.
-*Big Bad
+<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true" hideaddbutton="true">
-**[[Non]]
-<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true">
 Non.jpg|Non|link=Non
 </gallery>
-===[[Spike: The Devil You Know]]===
+===''Spike''===
+As seen in ''[[Spike (IDW series)|Spike]]'' series.
-*Big Bad
+<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true" hideaddbutton="true">
-**[[Tansy Fry]]
+Wolfram and Hart Building.jpg|Hart|link=Wolfram & Hart Las Vegas branch
-<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true">
+ert.png|Senior Partners|link=Senior Partners
-Tansy--2_pg23.jpg|Tansy Fry|link=Tansy Fry
 </gallery>
+<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true" hideaddbutton="true">
-===[[Spike (IDW series)]]===
-* Big Bad
-**[[Wolfram & Hart|Wolfram & Hart (Las Vegas)]]
-*Little Bad
-**[[John]]
-**[[Drusilla]]
-<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true">
-Wolfram and Hart Building.jpg|Wolfram & Hart (Las Vegas)|link=Hart
-</gallery>
-<gallery orientation="square" position="center" spacing="small" widths="150" navigation="true">
 John.jpg|John|link=John
 Spike4B.jpg|Drusilla|link=Drusilla
 </gallery>
-==Behind the Scenes==
+==Behind the scenes==
+*The term was based on a commentary in episode "[[Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered]]", when Buffy Summers describes the newly soulless Angel as "the big bad thing in the dark". The expression "big bad" itself was first used on screen in episode "[[Gingerbread]]", in which Buffy said an occult symbol was harmless, "not a big bad".
+*"Big Bad" was notably often used in relation to Spike: Xander told him "I hate to break it to you, O Impotent One, but you're not the Big Bad anymore." ("[[Doomed]]"); he teased Harmony saying "Look at you, all puffed and mighty, thinking you're the new Big Bad." ("[[Real Me]]"); he refereed to himself while explaining "I just thought she'd be safer with Big Bad lookin' over her shoulder." ("[[Blood Ties]]"); [[Buffybot]] was programmed to say "Oh Spike, you're the big bad!" ("[[Intervention]]"); he explained "You can't feel it unless you're into the big bad — a witch or a vampire or—" ("[[Wrecked]]"); he declared about himself "Big Bad's back and lookin' for a little death." ("[[Beneath You]]"); and [[Kennedy]] told him "hate to say it, Big Bad, but you look like you can barely stand."
-*The term was based on the episode "[[Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered]]," in which [[Buffy Summers]] describes the newly soulless [[Angel]] as "the big bad thing in the dark." The phrase "big bad" by itself was first used on screen in the episode "[[Gingerbread]]," in which Buffy says that an occult symbol is harmless, "not a big bad."
+*At the end of the Season 7 episode "[[Lessons]]", the First Evil appeared in the form of the previous seasons' Big Bads (or significant "little bads"), in reverse chronological order: Warren Mears (season 6), Glorificus (season 5), Adam (season 4), Richard Wilkins (season 3), Drusilla (season 2), and the Master (season 1).
+*A special cover for comic issue ''[[The Spread of Their Evil]]'' features Buffy fighting its most recent Big Bad with previous Big Bads (or significant "little bads") laying defeated: the Master, Spike, Drusilla, Angel, Richard Wilkins, Adam, Glorificus, Warren Mears, Caleb, Twilight, Severin, Simone Doffler, and D'Hoffryn.
-*"Big Bad" was then often used in relation to [[Spike]]: [[Xander]] told him "I hate to break it to you, O Impotent One, but you're not the Big Bad anymore." ("[[Doomed]]"), he refereed to himself while explaining "I just thought she'd be safer with Big Bad lookin' over her shoulder." ("[[Blood Ties]]"), Buffybot was programmed to say "Oh Spike, you're the big bad!" ("[[Intervention]]"), he explained "You can't feel it unless you're into the big bad - a witch or a vampire or-" ("[[Wrecked]]"), and he declared about himself "Big Bad's back and lookin' for a little death." ("[[Beneath You]]").
+*The licensed reference book ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer Encyclopedia]]'' listed ''Buffy''<nowiki/>'s Big Bad as: The Master/The Order of Aurelius, The Order of Aurelius/Angelus, Mayor Richard Wilkins, Adam, Glorificus, The Trio, Dark Willow, The First Evil, Twilight, Simone Doffler, and D'Hoffryn.
-*At the end of the Season 7 episode "[[Lessons]]," the [[First Evil]] appeared in the form of the previous six seasons' Big Bads (or significant "little bads"), in reverse chronological order: [[Warren Mears]] (season 6), [[Glorificus]] (season 5), [[Adam]] (season 4), [[Richard Wilkins]] (season 3), [[Drusilla]] (season 2), and [[The Master]] (season 1).
-*[[Darla]] was the only member of [[the Whirlwind]] to not play a significant antagonist role in the second season of ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer''.
-*The term ''big bad'' has been adopted by several other series:
+*The term has been adopted by several other series:
-**[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Wikipedia] lists [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_bad#In_other_series several examples].
+**''Wikipedia'' lists [[Wikipedia:Big bad#In_other_series|several examples]].
-**The [http://supernatural.wikia.com/wiki/Supernatural_Wiki Supernatural Wiki] has a page on [http://supernatural.wikia.com/wiki/Big_Bad Big Bads], listing out their respective seasonal antagonists.
+**The ''Supernatural Wiki'' has a page on its own [http://supernatural.wikia.com/wiki/Big_Bad Big Bads].
-**The [http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main TV Tropes Wiki] lists [http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/BigBad many more examples].
+**The ''TV Tropes Wiki'' lists [http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/BigBad many more examples].
+[[Category:Themes and concepts]]
-[[Category:Terminology]]
+[[Category:Big Bads| ]]
-[[Category:Big Bads|Big Bads]]
-[[Category:Real World]]