I think Perkins' take on it is mine. Angel's love for Buffy may have burned a little brighter in that first year, while they were a couple, but I don't think it was sustainable. And by the time he really got into the mission instead of skulking around and helping occasionally, they weren't really a couple anymore. I see his heroic actions from that point on as more guilt/making amends-motivated than inspired by Buffy.

Buffy.

Angel killed Darla for her.

Remember how very near a thing that was at the time, despite Angel being nominally committed to fighting evil at that point.

Darla. Her turning him set the course for his entire (un)life. Without Darla, he's Liam, an obscure 18th century Irish squire. Maybe he grows up/into his role in society, maybe not.

Without Darla, B/A never happens.

Who do you think was more important to Angel, Darla or Buffy?

I'm having a preposition issue. TO Angel or FOR Angel? Because I think that the answer is different.

I was wondering if someone would, Vortex. I think you can make it one or both, as you see fit.

If it's who was more important TO Angel, I'd say Buffy, hands down. If for no other reason that he staked Darla to save her. When Buffy needed him, he was there.

When you say FOR Angel, that's a tossup. On the one hand, Buffy made him want to be a better man. OTOH, we wouldn't be where we are if it wasn't for Darla.

Darla.

After he left Darla, he spent a hundred years eating rats in gutters. After he left Buffy, he sulked for a year or two and then started looking for a new sweetie.

Only 'cause he had a TV show.

After he left Darla, he spent a hundred years eating rats in gutters. After he left Buffy, he sulked for a year or two and then started looking for a new sweetie.

ooh, good point. But, in all fairness, he was all soul having for the first time, so that was apparently all traumatic. Though it only took Spike half a season or so to get over it.

Though it only took Spike half a season or so to get over it.

Spike had issues, but they were not the same issues that Angel had. Plus, he'd already had couple of years of not being able to be so evil, and then tried to be actively good for a bit.

Darla.

After he left Darla, he spent a hundred years eating rats in gutters. After he left Buffy, he sulked for a year or two and then started looking for a new sweetie.

Yes, of course this ignores that it was Buffy who inspired him to get out of the gutter, and he didn't even know her, then. It also ignores that when Darla tried to take him back (in the BtVS s1 episode Angel,) that he didn't go.

edited to correct parens