Buffy the Vampire Slayer: 30 favourite episodes

A couple of months ago I watched through the entirety of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I totally loved the show and expressed that exact sentiment in a piece I wrote shortly after finishing it. Now, though, I’ve decided to do something a little more ambitious and put together a list of my thirty favourite episodes from the series. Initially, I thought this list would be really difficult to compile (as there are so many great episodes) but once I got going the whole thing sort of fell into place rather easily.

It’s not a list of “The Greatest Episodes of Buffy” because obviously everyone has different ideas on what those are. These are my personal favourites and while I must say I’ve got a slight tendency towards some of the more comedic episodes, overall I hope you’ll find this to be a fairly balanced rundown and maybe you’ll even agree with what I’ve picked.

30 — Passion (Season 2, Episode 17)
If for some reason you’d got this far with Buffy and weren’t convinced that Angelus is a cruel, heartless murderer then ‘Passion’ is what would change your mind. The episode serves as evidence that Season 2 has a more threatening enemy and that the characters we know and love are not safe. It’s the first time that Buffy kills off a regular cast member that isn’t evil and the way that Angel then displays Jenny’s body to Giles has got to be one of the more disgustingly sick things ever done on the show– it’s all in aid of giving us a clear view of Angel’s own personal brand of mental torture.

29 — Prophecy Girl (Season 1, Episode 12)
I wasn’t a huge fan of the first season because it’s mostly standalone episodes that are amusing but ultimately not that compelling (you’ll notice this is the only Season 1 episode on the list). However, the finale is something quite different — I’d actually say it’s the first truly brilliant episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. It paves the way for what’s to come (especially in Buffy’s reaction to her prophesied death) and it does so in such a way that it sets a high standard for the remainder of the series.

28 — Lovers Walk (Season 3, Episode 8)
I suppose I like this one because I’m a Spike fan and this is his only appearance in season 3. It’s not just that, though, this episode is funny and it contains some key moments for many of the characters. The events of ‘Lovers Walk’ result in repercussions for the relationships of the show — including Buffy’s first realisation that she and Angel are a doomed couple and the shocking end to Xander and Cordelia’s relationship (which I’ll admit had me seriously worried when I first watched it).

27 — Band Candy (Season 3, Episode 6)
I value the episodes where Buffy makes its cast break away from what they usually are required to do (that’s why ‘Tabula Rasa’ and ‘The Wish’ both made the Top 15 of my list). In sixth episode of Season 3, all the adult cast members act like children and what results is really quite entertaining. Giles and Joyce are both hilarious and Principal Snyder is surprisingly funny too. However, with the demon Lucronis demanding a tribute of newborn babies, this episode still has its much needed sense of danger.

26 — Something Blue (Season 4, Episode 9)
Anyone who loves the idea of Spike and Buffy being together must enjoy ‘Something Blue’! The notion of the two of them as a married couple is something rather fantastically bizarre and I really enjoyed watching it play out onscreen even though it was never destined to be. This one also provides great foreshadowing to the devastation that Willow’s spells can cause when gone awry.

25 — Who Are You? (Season 4, Episode 16)
This episode could have very easily been terrible… and it would have been if it weren’t for top-notch performances from Sarah Michelle Gellar and Eliza Dushku. In this episode Faith and Buffy switch bodies, meaning that Buffy has to escape from the Watcher’s Council and Faith has to convince everyone she’s Buffy long enough to escape altogether. Both actresses are actually really convincing at playing the other’s character, I particularly loved watching Faith attempt to live out Buffy’s life (or rather, her impression of Buffy’s life!).

24 — School Hard (Season 2, Episode 3)
‘School Hard’ sees the first appearance of two of my favourite characters, Spike and Drusilla (also probably one of my favourite relationships of the show). It also marks the second season apart from the first by giving us enemies that are both more interesting and more threatening (it’s telling that the ‘Anointed One’ ends up dead by the episode’s end). From this episode onwards, I think Buffy becomes a much more compelling show.

23 — Storyteller (Season 7, Episode 16)
Both genuinely funny and kind of emotional, this episode is perfectly placed in the overall story arc of Season 7. It does provide a bit of a break from the drama but still gives us the scene where Andrew comes to terms with the fact that he killed Jonathan — I don’t know about you, but I definitely felt for the misguided ex-Trio member in that moment.

22 — Halloween (Season 2, Episode 6)
This is one that proves how fantastic Buffy is when it comes to pulling off its standalone episodes. Ethan Rayne casts a spell to make everyone who bought a Halloween costume from his shop become what that costume represents (turning Buffy into a eighteenth century noblewoman, Willow into a ghost, etc.). It’s great to see Xander act as a soldier (which gives him skills he will come to use later on in the series) and it’s an important episode for Willow as she gains some much needed confidence by taking charge of the gang for the first time.

21 — Intervention (Season 5, Episode 18)
As weird as it is for Spike to have Warren make him his own personal Buffy sex-toy, I actually find the Buffybot completely hilarious. I also love how Spike is prepared to put himself in harm’s way to protect Dawn and Buffy, it speaks volumes for the strength of his character that he was happy to take a beating to keep them safe. ‘Intervention’ also features some more backstory of the First Slayer and the revelation that death is the Slayer’s gift, something that’s really rather important in the grand scheme of things.

20 — Him (Season 7, Episode 6)
Season 7 gets very few opportunities for independent comedic episodes and while that’s a good thing for the overall story arc, it left me really appreciating offerings like ‘Storyteller’ and ‘Him’. In Episode 6 we see a love-charm (from high school football player RJ Brooks) ensnare Buffy, Dawn, Anya and Willow. What results is an episode that’s full of laughs and is a winner in every way a good standalone episode should be.

19 — Normal Again (Season 6, Episode 17)
‘Normal Again’ is one of the most interesting episodes of Buffy. It shows us a scenario in which Buffy herself is insane, actually living inside a mental asylum and having delusions of a life in which she constantly saves the world from vampires and demons. Even though I don’t think the show is trying to make the viewer question the reality that we’ve come to know, this open-ended episode certainly makes you ponder that notion and it makes for an intriguing look into Buffy’s mind.

18 — Potential (Season 7, Episode 12)
I should make it clear that I, unlike a number of Buffy fans, really like Dawn. I’m not totally insane or anything and I know she’s really whiny and irritating during Season 5, but she reminds me of my own little sister and for that I can’t help but love her. So ‘Potential’ makes the list because it’s a great Dawn episode. It’s good that the focus is sometimes on the members of the gang that aren’t usually under the spotlight. And I really love how Xander acknowledges and recognises the difficulty of not “being special” in a touching moment that tops off one of my favourite episodes.

17 — Family (Season 5, Episode 6)
It would be really difficult to decide on my favourite characters of Buffy (much harder than picking my favourite episodes!), but I can be very certain that Tara would be near the top of the list. I can’t really put into words how I felt when she suddenly died at the end of Season 6 (“very very upset” doesn’t quite say it). This episode, ‘Family’, shows how a supporting player of the series can step up to own an episode and also has many important things to say about friendship (because Tara’s friends are her true family). Honestly, the moment when the gang stand up to defend Tara against her family will forever warm my heart.

16 — The Zeppo (Season 3, Episode 13)
Xander is a character that, despite his lack of special abilities, plays a very significant part in Buffy. ‘The Zeppo’ is a much-deserved Xander-centric episode which Nicholas Brendon carries off very well. The shift in narrative style is a real success and it’s great to watch the nearing on ridiculous self-parody of Buffy’s struggle to avert the apocalypse (complete with opening Hellmouth and multi-headed monster) while Xander protects the school from a bomb-plot (by Jack O’Toole and his “raised-from-the-dead” friends). It deserves to be this high on the list because it’s a really key episode for Xander and it alludes to the later significance of the character’s emotional strength.

15 — Innocence (Season 2, Episode 14)
How can you not enjoy the first appearance of Angelus? ‘Innocence’ is a great episode that really showcases David Boreanaz’s skills as he totally flips his character from brooding to wickedly evil, suddenly becoming Season 2’s “Big Bad”. It’s one that’s set on one of Buffy’s birthdays and it sees her learn some more about growing up. Joss Whedon has said that it’s his favourite episode, and it’s definitely one of mine. Plus, Buffy fires a rocket launcher at a demon — that alone is easily enough to get it on this list!

14 — Tabula Rasa (Season 6, Episode 8)
As I mentioned earlier, I really enjoy that this cast are able to so convincingly leave their comfort zones. Memory-loss can either play out as very annoying or very interesting onscreen and thankfully here it’s the latter. Willow misjudges a spell to alter Tara’s memory and ends up wiping the memories of the whole group. Although the plot is mostly throwaway humour (which I quite like), the threads from the previous episode are carried through successfully and surprisingly Giles telling Buffy he has to return to England is only the second most heartbreaking moment in an episode that sees Tara tell Willow that their relationship isn’t going to work out.

13 — Grave (Season 6, Episode 22)
This really comes coupled with ‘Two To Go’ as the incredible Season 6 finale. When I watched it first time round, I have to admit I was definitely still recovering from the events of ‘Seeing Red’ and getting used to Dark Willow as a character. Nevertheless, the whole thing is outstanding: from Dawn finally getting to kick some ass, to Spike getting his soul back and most importantly, Xander helping to bring Willow out of the darkness that had consumed her. I think it’s probably the most emotional season finale because it deals with stories on a character-level rather than truly evil enemies hell-bent on destroying the earth.

12 — Conversations With Dead People (Season 7, Episode 7)
This is an exceptional Buffy episode that features multiple stories (Buffy fighting a vampire that psychoanalyses her, Willow being confronted by the ghost of Cassie, Dawn dealing with an evil force within her home and both Jonathan and Andrew returning from Mexico) that are almost completely isolated from one another. It’s incredible that this actually works and keeps the viewer just as interested in each of the separate stories. It also marks an important appearance for the First Evil as it becomes the “Big Bad” for the concluding season.

11 — Doppelgangland (Season 3, Episode 16)
‘Doppelgangland’ is an episode that gives Alyson Hannigan a good chance to show off her diversity and in doing so it has its fair share of surprising and funny moments. It’s another “Willow’s-spell-gone-wrong” kind of an episode and this time, she accidentally summons her own vampire doppelganger from an alternate world into Sunnydale. It’s intriguing to spot just how much foreshadowing there is from Joss Whedon in episodes like this, especially in how Willow’s doppelganger is evil (see: end of Season 6) and that she’s “kinda gay” (see: Season 4 onwards).

10 — Becoming — Parts 1 & 2 (Season 2, Episodes 21 & 22)
This great season finale is just full of big moments in the history of Buffy. It’s got loads of Angel flashbacks, the surprising death of Kendra, the first time that Spike ever helps Buffy, the first time that Willow really uses magic and that fantastic sword duel between Buffy and Angel that ends with him being sucked into a hell dimension. At the episode’s end, the titular character catches a bus out of Sunnydale leaving the bar set very high for all subsequent Buffy finales.

9 — Lies My Parents Told Me (Season 7, Episode 17)
I’m a big Lost fan, so it’s no surprise that I see the value of flashbacks and parental issues in a narrative. This episode of Buffy has got some absolutely superb flashbacks and evidently Spike’s got more than a couple of mother issues. The backstory is actually very interesting and I really enjoyed the awesome showdown (despite its predictable outcome) between Principal Wood and Spike. It’s another great Season 7 episode that just builds up the momentum towards the series finale.

8 — Restless (Season 4, Episode 22)
It’s unfortunate that some might not realise how good ‘Restless’ is until the second time they watch it. However, it’s probably among the most fascinating episodes of television that has ever aired. It’s full of significance and foreshadowing while it captures the atmosphere and landscape of a dream perfectly. I like how people and places all converge together in the weird way (but totally normal whilst you’re dreaming) that your mind creates in a dream.

7 — Graduation Day Parts 1 & 2 (Season 3, Episodes 21 & 22)
I think Season 3 is probably the strongest overall season of Buffy, it certainly keeps its story thread exciting whilst balancing just the right amount of standalone episodes. Every season has a great finale and this one is no exception. In the episode that sees the destruction of Sunnydale High (for the first time, at least), Faith and Buffy battle it out in a captivating one-on-one fight and the entire senior class help to defeat the Mayor (post-Ascension). It’s a seriously cool episode that brings the brilliant third season to an impressive conclusion.

6 — The Wish (Season 3, Episode 9)
As someone who’s getting kind of crazy about Fringe, I’m really into the notion of “the-road-not-taken” and I just find everything about ‘The Wish’ incredibly interesting. Here we get to see what Sunnydale would be like if Buffy had never come (due to a wish made by Cordelia). One reason that I think it’s so cool is because the characters in this world aren’t different incarnations of the characters we know, they’re the same characters who have made different choices — intriguing, right? It also marks the first appearance of the wonderful Anya and shows us what Willow and Xander would be like if they were vampires. ‘The Wish’ is a rather exceptional episode and it’s definitely my favourite from Season 3.

5 — Chosen (Season 7, Episode 22)
The Buffy series finale was always going to make this list — the only real question was just how high up it would be! ‘Chosen’ is a tremendous episode that provides the most fitting conclusion imaginable to the show. In it, Buffy and the gang bring the final fight to the First Evil as Willow harnesses the power of the Slayer’s battle-axe to bestow the potential Slayers with actual Slayer abilities. The fight scene that results doesn’t disappoint and the final moments are more than a little emotional (to say the least). The series finale as a whole is one of the most compelling and exciting episodes that Buffy the Vampire Slayer has to offer and is a brilliant end to the show.

4 — The Body (Season 5, Episode 16)
I think Season 5’s ‘The Body’ is one of the most daring episodes of television that exists. The entire episode shows the aftermath of the death of Buffy’s mother. This is something that doesn’t happen by some demon or evil force, but by a very normal brain aneurysm. Straightaway, things become very realistic; the episode has no music, and the events of a behind-the-scenes look into death are even slightly mundane. However, this only strengthens it as a powerful piece of drama, a cold and uncomfortable view of grief that’s hard to watch. I found it heartbreakingly upsetting. Emotional performances are delivered by all the cast, most notably Alyson Hannigan in the scene where Willow can’t decide to wear to visit Buffy and Emma Caulfield in Anya’s tearjerking monologue that follows shortly after. Ultimately, I think it’s impossible to be a Buffy fan and not respond by feeling sadness for the characters during this cold and painful episode.

3 — Once More, With Feeling (Season 6, Episode 7)
The musical episode of Buffy is far more than just a bit of singalong fun. It works on a level far beyond the music because having the characters be unable to control their vocal chords leads them to revealing some concealed truths. The most significant one being Buffy telling her friends that when she was dead, she was in heaven not, as previously presumed, some hell dimension. Before I watched the show I had been sceptical as to whether a musical episode could even work in a drama. It works because it’s not just a throwaway device, it’s actually an important plot point (‘Once More, With Feeling’ is a pivotal episode in Season 6). Above all, the songs for the episode are beautifully written, conveying the dark message disguised under catchy, happy music.

2 — The Gift (Season 5, Episode 22)
Is the ‘The Gift’ Buffy’s best finale? I certainly think so. It hits with the impact of a series finale and, of course, it could have very easily been one. ‘The Gift’ represents the culmination of the first five seasons of the show. To defeat Glory, the skills of every member of the Scooby Gang are required, everyone (despite their earlier conflicts) helps Buffy to save Dawn (team-effort is such a huge theme of the series). What results is emotionally powerful, fast-paced and action-packed. This episode is full of significant and memorable moments for the series and it is my favourite of all the season finales that the show has provided.

1 — Hush (Season 4, Episode 10)
‘Hush’ is a perfectly balanced mixture of everything that makes Buffy such an outstanding TV show. At times it’s incredibly amusing, at others it’s downright terrifyingly creepy. This is the “silent” episode of Buffy; it’s “silent” because of the presence of an evil group of demons (known as The Gentlemen) that cause the residents of Sunnydale to lose their ability to talk. This leaves Buffy and the gang needing to defeat The Gentlemen and get everyone their voices back before the demons can collect the seven human hearts they want. In my opinion, this instalment is one of the best written pieces of drama ever on TV, and some of the actors even give their defining performances on the show. It strikes the balance very well, with the laugh-out-loud moments as the team struggle to find ways to communicate and the scary moments with perhaps Buffy’s most frightening demons. Honestly, it’s a mind-blowing episode that unsurprisingly frequently tops lists just like my one here.