Thread:Jester of chaos/@comment-30829344-20170802214734

Warren is unique for Buffy, however, the show was dark but comedic and focused mostly on monsters and demons as enemies with the rare human villain here and there (usually as more behind the scene types or hidden antagonists, so Buffy didn't have to kill them (exceptions being the assassins hired by Spike but they were exceptions, not the rule) ).

Warren changed the show by having a human antagonist who started comedic but went extremely dark extremely fast and after he shot the gang and killed Willow's girlfriend the show was altered and became much more grimdark over comedy.

the Dark Willow parts had very little comedy, it was also unique in that the true Big Bad of that portion was meant to be "life itself", with Warren being the spark to the metaphorical flame.

so while dark Buffy was still a "light horror" and more accurately a kind of comedy-horror-drama mash-up with superhero elements.. until Warren came along.. then it "matured" considerably.. it would later return to some more comedy elements but the tone of the show had forever darkened and Warren allowed for the introduction of beings like Caleb, since humans were now acceptable Big Bads.. something the earlier show shied from as they didn't want Buffy killing humans. 