Cordelia Chase
Cordelia Chase is a fictional character created for the American supernatural television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer and its spin-off Angel, portrayed by actress Charisma Carpenter from 1997 to 2004.[1] [2] Introduced in the pilot episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer as a bold, sarcastic, and self-assured high school cheerleader who embodies social elitism at Sunnydale High, Cordelia initially antagonizes protagonist Buffy Summers while dating Xander Harris.[3] Following her family's bankruptcy and expulsion from Sunnydale, Cordelia relocates to Los Angeles aspiring to acting fame but pivots to employment at the detective agency Angel Investigations, where she evolves from a superficial secretary into a vital operative receiving painful prophetic visions from higher powers that direct the team's efforts against demons and other supernatural threats.[3] [4] Her defining character development—from an egocentric "mean girl" reliant on privilege to a selfless heroine capable of profound sacrifice—has been widely recognized as one of the series' strongest arcs, marked by her ascension to a higher being after aiding in the liberation of an enslaved demon dimension and her ultimate redemptive confrontation with corrupting influences in the narrative's climax.[3] [5]Appearances
In Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Cordelia Chase appears as a main character in the first three seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, from 1997 to 1999, portraying a quintessential high school mean girl who evolves into a reluctant ally of the Scooby Gang. Introduced in the series premiere "Welcome to the Hellmouth," which aired on March 10, 1997, she is depicted as Sunnydale High's most popular cheerleader, leading the exclusive clique called the Cordettes and routinely mocking less socially prominent students like Willow Rosenberg and new arrival Buffy Summers.[6][7] Her initial role functions as a social antagonist and foil to Buffy, highlighting themes of high school hierarchy through her blunt sarcasm and preoccupation with status and fashion.[8] Throughout Season 1, Cordelia's interactions with the supernatural world are marked by denial and self-preservation, such as when she witnesses Buffy staking a vampire but rationalizes it away until personally threatened. Her romantic involvement with Xander Harris begins in the season finale "Prophecy Girl," aired May 12, 1997, shifting her dynamic with the group as she dates the outsider despite social backlash from her peers.[6][9] In Seasons 2 and 3, the relationship experiences multiple ruptures, including a public breakup due to peer pressure in "Halloween" (October 31, 1997) and a definitive split after discovering Xander kissing Willow in "The Zeppo" (January 19, 1999), yet she gradually integrates into Scooby Gang activities, contributing to defenses against threats like vampires and the possessed students in "The Pack."[6] Season 3 highlights Cordelia's growing independence amid personal hardships, including her family's bankruptcy from her father's twelve years of unreported income taxes, forcing her to take a job at a fast-food restaurant to fund her prom dress in "The Prom" (May 11, 1999).[6] She participates in key confrontations, such as aiding in the battle against the vampiric ascension of Mayor Richard Wilkins during the high school graduation in "Graduation Day, Part Two," aired May 13, 1999, where she stakes her first vampire and helps evacuate students amid the chaos. Following the destruction of Sunnydale High, Cordelia departs for Los Angeles to pursue an acting career, marking her exit from the series after 54 episodes.[10][11]In Angel
Cordelia joins Angel Investigations in the series pilot episode "City of," which aired on October 5, 1999, initially serving as a secretary while pursuing her acting career in Los Angeles.[12] Following the death of Doyle, who passes his prophetic visions to her via a kiss, Cordelia begins receiving supernatural visions from the Powers That Be, guiding the team to individuals in peril and establishing her as a key operational asset alongside providing comic relief.[12] These visions, often debilitating and painful, underscore her growing commitment despite initial financial hardships, as the agency operates from modest hotel quarters amid poverty-level existence.[13] Throughout seasons 1 to 3, Cordelia evolves into a capable fighter, acquiring combat proficiency through training and field experience, while navigating romantic tension with Angel that culminates in mutual acknowledgment of deeper feelings.[13] Her sacrifices intensify, including enduring escalating vision-induced agony without relief, rejecting alternatives that would abandon her role, and briefly romancing the Groosalugg after their adventures in Pylea, which bolsters her confidence and agency.[13] In the season 3 finale "Tomorrow," aired May 20, 2002, Cordelia ascends to a higher plane of existence as a reward for her heroism, departing the earthly team after thwarting demonic threats.[14] Her presence diminishes in seasons 4 and 5 due to narrative shifts involving supernatural possession and a subsequent coma induced by the entity Jasmine.[15] Cordelia makes a limited return in the episode "You're Welcome," aired February 4, 2004, where she temporarily awakens to aid Angel against the resurrected Billy Blim, only for the storyline to reveal her permanent death from the coma shortly thereafter.[16][15] This arc concludes her direct involvement, shifting focus to the team's ongoing battles without her visions or grounding influence.[16]