22 Years Ago, an Iconic Buffy Character Had Their Final Appearance (And It Was Bittersweet for Everyone)

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Buffy the Vampire Slayer began as a popular show with a dedicated fanbase and eventually expanded into a larger universe with a rich history. A spin-off series, Angel, added even more depth to the teen horror world created by Joss Whedon. While the Buffyverse has many memorable moments, 22 years ago, a long-time character made their final appearance in an emotional episode that moved both the actors and viewers to tears.

On February 4, 2004, the TV show Angel broadcast its 100th episode, titled “You’re Welcome.” This episode was also the last appearance of a key character, Cordelia Chase, played by Charisma Carpenter, effectively ending her storyline in the series.

Cordelia Chase Returned, Just to Say Goodbye Again

In Season 4, Cordelia Chase was taken over by a powerful entity named Jasmine. While they managed to remove Jasmine, it left Cordelia in a coma. She stayed that way for most of Season 5, and didn’t wake up until the show’s 100th episode—though it wasn’t quite what it seemed.

The surprising reveal in the “You’re Welcome” episode isn’t that Cordelia Chase returns from death, but that she transforms into something more. It’s her spirit that comes back to help Angel through a difficult time, reminding him of his heroic purpose before she departs Earth. As her physical body dies, she shares a touching farewell with Angel and then fades away from the world.

Cordelia Deserved Better (& Can Still Get Justice)

Many fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer still feel upset about how the character Cordelia was treated on Angel. Cordelia first appeared in Buffy as a popular, often mean-spirited cheerleader who rivaled Buffy Summers. Over time, she evolved into a key member of the group fighting against supernatural forces. When she moved to Los Angeles to be on Angel, the show initially explored a somewhat awkward romantic tension. However, fans were excited to see Cordelia develop into a skilled monster hunter.

Things took a strange turn after the first season of Angel. The show introduced a melodramatic romance between Cordelia and Angel, and actress Charisma Carpenter was often required to perform increasingly dramatic scenes depicting Cordelia’s visions and resulting health struggles, leading to a storyline involving pain medication and a fabricated terminal illness. This culminated in Cordelia being effectively removed from the main action, sent to a mysterious realm where she experienced amnesia, regressed to a childlike state, and was eventually possessed. While on the Higher Plane as “Jasmine,” Cordelia engaged in controversial actions, including a relationship with Angel’s son, Connor, which upset many viewers. Ultimately, the character ended up in a coma.

Viewers often felt Cordelia was an underappreciated character. Actress Charisma Carpenter later revealed that working on Buffy the Vampire Slayer was a very negative experience due to creator Joss Whedon’s behavior, and in 2021, she publicly described him as a “vampire” in a statement about her time on the show.

Carpenter described how her former colleague attacked her personally, ridiculed her faith, falsely accused her of trying to ruin the show, and then fired her after she had given birth. She explained that this happened during a special time as a new mother, and it completely ruined her happiness. She metaphorically referred to this person as a ‘vampire’ who stole all the joy from the experience.

Although Charisma Carpenter felt unappreciated in her original role, her character, Cordelia, continued on in the Angel comic book series, After the Fall. Now, with the upcoming Buffy reboot, Carpenter is hoping to reprise her role. She told IGN she’s excited for the fans and believes the new series will be great, and she’s really hoping Cordelia can be included in this new version of the show.

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2026-02-04 23:14