Slayers, Vamps and Space Hookers: The Hottest Women of Whedon

Joyce Summers - Buffy

The Chosen One: The Chosen One's mom, anyway.  Kristine Sutherland played the (somewhat) oblivious but fiercely protective Joyce Summers, mother to a slayer.

Her Stake in Things: Joyce remained mostly unaware of the demonic side of Sunnyville or her daughter's nightly routine until Buffy was attacked by vampires in front of her at the end of the second season, after which it's hard to keep that lie going.  While not entirely understanding or approving, Joyce eventually accepted slayer-dom and attempted to maintain a normal life at her art gallery until news of a brain tumor struck.  The tumor alerted her to the fact that Dawn wasn't really hers, but rather glowing green energy and stuff, a revelation she accepted until dying suddenly of an aneurysm on her couch.  And as if that's wasn't devastating enough, she totally boned Giles on the hood of a cop car.  Twice.

So Long Sunnydale: Kristine seemed to have returned to academic duties of her own, taking an interest in photography and only taking small roles in Commanche Moon and New Amsterdam post-Buffy.

Anya Jenkins - Buffy

The Chosen One: Resident bunny bigot and girlfriend/ex-fiancee to the dashing one-eyed Xander Harris. 

Her Stake in Things: Originally a Vengeance Demon Granting wishes to scorned women everywhere, Emma Caulfield's Anyanka lost her powers and fell head over hooves for Xander, remaining his girlfriend until the ill-fated wedding in season six, whereby she resumed her wicked ways.  She couldnt bring herself to hurt the one-eyed wonder, but the reunion was short-lived due to her unceremonious bisection in the Hellmouth's final battle.

So Long Sunnydale: Emma's biggest post Buffy role came in 2003's blip on the radar horror-fest Darkness Falls.  Reportedly, she passed on the audition for the the role of Starbuck on Battlestar Galactica as well.  Frak.

Vi - Buffy

Mag - Dollhouse

Penny - Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog

Dr. Who? - Felicia Day has the distinction of being one of the women appearing in the most Whedon-Verses as potential vampire-slayer Vi, techno-warrior Mag, and Penny, the object of both Dr. Horrible and Captain Hammer's affections.

Everything You Ever: Vi remained one of the few potential slayers to survive the Buffy series finale, along with Mag surviving the techno-pocalypse of Dollhouse's series finale.  Penny was not so lucky on the other hand, as a random casualty of Dr. Horrible's exploding death ray, and catalyst for his fall from grace.

On The Rise: Felicia can currently be seen in her award-winning online sitcom The Guild, chronicling the lives of MMORPG players and all-around nerds everywhere.  Truly a girl after all our hearts.

Harmony Kendall - Buffy / Angel

The Chosen One: Mercedes McNab played the vapid and self-obsessed teen cheerleading queen Harmony, second only to Cordelia, before graduating to play the vapid and self-obsessed teen vampire Harmony throughout the rest of the series, eventually moving onto Angel.

Her Stake in Things: After shuffling off that pesky mortal coil, Harmony went on to annoy the underworld as a vampire, particularly her undead sometime-love interest Spike, who attempted to stake her with more than just his...ahem.  After failing miserably as a villain, Harmony moved onto sunny (for humans, anway) Los Angeles, taking a secretary position with Wolfram and Hart.  And sure, she might have betrayed Angel in the end, but what woman could resist Adam Baldwin?

Leaving Los Angeles: Mercedes hasn't lost her taste for the demonic, appearing in both Supernatural and the short-lived Reaper. 

Cecily / Halfrek - Buffy

The Chosen One: Actress Kali Rocha first appeared as young William (Spike)'s obsession, the effulgent Cecily before gaining more prominence as Anya's vengeance demon gal-pal Halfrek.

Her Stake in Things: Cecily originally motivated the young William to seek comfort in the fangs of Drusilla by spurning him, but it wasn't until season seven's "Older and Far Away" that vengeance demon Halfrek and she were implied to be the same entity.  Halfrek provided a sympathetic ear to Anya (when she wasn't fulfilling the wishes of scorned children), before demon boss D'Hoffryn brutally murdered her as punishment for undoing Anya's frat-house massacre.

So Long Sunnydale: Kali's gone on to notable guest stints in short-lived Teachers and Grey's Anatomy, but is easily remembered for her stubborn flight attendant in Ben Stiller's Meet the Parents.

Catherine Madison - Buffy

The Chosen One:  Mother to uber-witch Amy Madison, and all around WILF, Robin Riker's Amy Madison.

Her Stake in Things: One of the earliest villains Buffy would face, Catherine personally lived the stereotype of a faded teen cheerleading queen with a failed marriage and a disappointing daughter.  Fortunately, Catherine found a way to break the mold by trying something new: possessing her own daughter's body to relive the glory days.  But hey, if that doesn't work, you can always sabotage the competition right?  That is, until a spell gets deflected back at you and imprisons you in one of your trophies.  Oh well, things could be worse.  They could blow up the school.

So Long Sunnydale: Best known for her own glory days as a soap opera star, Robin Riker returned to daytime with a long-running stint on The Bold and the Beautiful.

Justine Cooper - Angel

The Chosen One: Laurel Holloman satisfied her hatred of vampires in Angel's Justine Cooper, a member of Daniel Holtz' anti-fang militia.

Her Stake in Things: Justine took to killing vampires after the murder of her twin sister, eventually falling in with a scorned man from Angel's past, Daniel Holtz.  She aided in his revenge plot by abducting Angel's infant son and fulfilling Holtz' last murderous wishes, before being kidnapped and tortured by Wesley.  She was eventually let go, deciding to go on living rather than continue her quest for vengeance.

Leaving Los Angeles: Laurel didn't take to the stake very well, if you know what we mean.  Ms. Holloman remains best known as Tina Kennard on the sapphic Showtime drama The L Word.

Senator Helen Brucker - Angel

The Chosen One: Stacey Travis' Senator Helen Brucker didn't mind making a power-play or two during her appearance late in Angel's final season.

Her Stake In Things:  Alluding to being an ancient demon, this Senator sought Angel's help in smearing her competitor's campaign, also securing a slot for him in the Circle of the Black Thorn in the process.  While she may have gotten an axe to the head in the end, her vampire cronies got the better of Gunn during the final battle.

Leaving Los Angeles:  Since Angel, Stacey's best recognized for her stint on Desperate Housewives, and the thriving Sons of Tuscon.  Or not.

Gwendolyn Post - Buffy

The Chosen One: Someone needed to watch this Watcher, because Serena Scott Thomas' Gwendolyn Post wasn't afraid to get her hand dirty.

Her Stake In Things: Gwendolyn entered the scene claiming to be a holier-than-thou Watcher to the troubled Faith, only to turn the other hand with a side-mission of uncovering a powerful demon glove artifact for her own use.  You should never let them see your hand though, as Buffy...ahem...separated Gwen from her power and left her to fend off the very lightning she had conjured.  Dust to dust.

So Long Sunnydale: You may have caught Serena in Nip/Tuck or Wicked Wicked Games, but we'll always remember her hand-iwork with James Bond as Dr. Molly Warmflash in The World Is Not Enough.