The writers below are ranked based on the average quality of their episodes after taking into account when the episodes aired. Only writers who wrote at least two episodes by themselves are in the list. Writers who wrote fewer than two episodes by themselves are combined into the "Other Writers" category. Writers are given half credit for episodes that they co-write with another person except for "Calvary," for which each of the writers gets one-third credit. For the purposes of best and worst episode, writers get full credit/blame for solo and co-written episodes. Elizabeth Craft and Sarah Fain are treated as if they are a single writer.
The number in parentheses can be thought of as being the "Joss bonus." It represents how many more points episode written by this person would get if it were written by Joss Whedon instead. Lower numbers suggest that the writer is almost as good as Joss Whedon. High numbers suggest that Joss Whedon could have done a much better job. By definition, Joss Whedon gets a 0 on this statistic. This interpretation assumes that the writer of the episode is the main cause of the episode's quality.
Wrote 5.5 Episodes
Best Episode: "Not Fade Away" (81.55 points)
Worst Episode: "Conviction" (50.69 points)
Wrote 2.5 Episodes
Best Episode: "Five By Five" (77.71 points)
Worst Episode: "The Shroud Of Rahmon" (46.73 points)
Wrote 15 Episodes
Best Episode: "Hero" (72.39 points)
Worst Episode: "That Old Gang of Mine" (46.97 points)
Wrote 3 Episodes
Best Episode: "I Will Remember You" (78.40 points)
Worst Episode: "Blind Date" (49.43 points)
Wrote 2 Episodes
Best Episode: "RM W/A VU" (57.41 points)
Worst Episode: "Guise Will Be Guise" (55.34 points)
Wrote 10 Episodes
Best Episode: "You're Welcome" (85.17 points)
Worst Episode: "The House Always Wins" (47.30 points)
Wrote 9.83 Episodes
Best Episode: "Orpheus" (77.65 points)
Worst Episode: "Blood Money" (45.77 points)
Wrote 8.33 Episodes
Best Episode: "Damage" (65.30 points)
Worst Episode: "Why We Fight" (44.65 points)
Wrote 12.5 Episodes
Best Episode: "I Will Remember You" (78.40 points)
Worst Episode: "She" (42.24 points)
Wrote 3.5 Episodes
Best Episode: "Damage" (65.30 points)
Worst Episode: "Why We Fight" (44.65 points)
Wrote 4.5 Episodes
Best Episode: "Smile Time" (76.16 points)
Worst Episode: "Life of the Party" (49.43 points)
Wrote 4 Episodes
Best Episode: "In The Dark" (Douglas Petrie: 63.54 points)
Worst Episode: "She" (Marti Noxon: 42.24 points)
Wrote 10.33 Episodes
Best Episode: "Not Fade Away" (81.55 points)
Worst Episode: "The Cautionary Tale of Numero Cinco" (45.07 points)
Wrote 2.5 Episodes
Best Episode: "Hero" (72.39 points)
Worst Episode: "Expecting" (45.01 points)
Wrote 2 Episodes
Best Episode: "Carpe Noctem" (51.56 points)
Worst Episode: "Provider" (45.34 points)
Wrote 3.5 Episodes
Best Episode: "Reunion" (67.70 points)
Worst Episode: "Blood Money" (45.77 points)
Wrote 7 Episodes
Best Episode: "Soulless" (62.88 points)
Worst Episode: "Unleashed" (43.41 points)
Wrote 2 Episodes
Best Episode: "Eternity" (51.10 points)
Worst Episode: "The Bachelor Party" (43.91 points)
Wrote 2 Episodes
Best Episode: "Dad" (48.61 points)
Worst Episode: "Double or Nothing" (43.60 points)
With the exception of Drew Goddard, most writers from Buffy do better on Angel than they do on Buffy. Overall, the writers account for 22.7% of episode quality beyond what can be explained by when an episode aired.