First issues first: Buffy the Vampire Slayer was not an ideal present, a lot in the identical approach that mainly each long-running present that tended to have 20+ episodes per season was imperfect. There’s a excessive stage of high quality right here, usually talking, however amount was additionally a necessity for these behind Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and it did end in a couple of hours of tv that have been less-than-amazing.
However… these episodes have been uncommon. Most of what this coming-of-age/supernatural horror/motion/romance/fantasy/comedy/drama present needed to supply was superb, after which generally, what it needed to supply was actually nice. When Buffy the Vampire Slayer was at its greatest, few tv reveals may come near feeling as satisfying or emotionally resonant. And, of its actually nice episodes, the next simply so occurred to be the very biggest.
10
“The Want”
Season 3, Episode 9 (1998)
So, with a rating like this, a very good many episodes are going to be people who ahead the story not directly, or in any other case show notably dramatic. However there are additionally some extra “one-off” form of episodes which might be worthy of being counted among the many better of the very best that Buffy the Vampire Slayer ever aired, together with Season 3’s “The Want,” which is a spotlight of what may effectively be the present’s most constant season.
In “The Want,” issues get a bit It’s a Fantastic Life, with Cordelia wishing to see a world the place Buffy had by no means come to Sunnydale, which is granted by Anya in her first look (and effectively earlier than she grew to become a principal character). Most of it takes place in an additional nightmarish alternate universe, and although issues do in the end return to regular, seeing horrible issues occur to so many principal characters, even when not everlasting, continues to be distressing. That being mentioned, a lot of the episode can also be very humorous. Buffy the Vampire Slayer is simply that form of present.
9
“Chosen”
Season 7, Episode 22 (2003)
After which on the opposite finish of one thing like “The Want” is “Chosen,” which is, as Buffy the Vampire Slayer‘s finale, naturally one of the vital dramatic episodes of your entire present. Buffy hadn’t been too shy about killing off characters earlier than, however all bets are off throughout the closing battle depicted on this episode, with the aforementioned Anya dying abruptly and tragically, and Spike sacrifices himself, too.
Although, with Spike, he did get higher, and ended up stealing many scenes when he made the soar to Angel, changing into a principal character on that present for its closing season. However, um, again to “Chosen”… yeah, it’s nice. It performs issues secure (outdoors all of the loss of life) and satisfies within the methods you’d anticipate a sequence finale to. It goes large, has coronary heart, brings some previous characters again, and feels fittingly climactic, all issues thought of.
8
“Tabula Rasa”
Season 6, Episode 8 (2001)
The sixth season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer is controversial for some comprehensible causes, positive, nevertheless it’s additionally largely overhated and, in another methods, greater than a bit of misunderstood. It goes darkish and feels miserable, positive, however there have been so many devastating issues that occurred in Season 5 that it was solely becoming {that a} sure diploma of distress lingered. Being a younger grownup and having no course in life sucks, and this season of the present captures that feeling virtually too successfully.
It is not devoid of enjoyable, although, as a result of Season 6 does even have episodes like “Tabula Rasa,” which is interesting as a self-contained bottle episode (with tons of reminiscence loss inflicting comedic chaos) of types, although it nonetheless furthers the story of the season fairly drastically and itself proves to be an efficient aftermath to the musical episode of Season 6. As for that musical episode… effectively, its time will come, inside this rating. Relaxation assured.
7
“Commencement Day: Half 2”
Season 3, Episode 22 (1999)
There are 4 season finales featured on this rating, and actually, those that aren’t right here (for season 1, season 4, and season 6) are all so good that they are nonetheless worthy of honorable mentions. Nonetheless, these ones aren’t fairly as wonderful as “Commencement Day: Half 2,” which is the episode that in the end wraps up the entire “Buffy and her pals at highschool” a part of the general sequence.
After this, issues transfer to school for a bit, after which break free from there and focus extra on the distress of being a younger grownup set adrift on this planet. But it surely’s “Commencement Day: Half 2” that serves as an ideal final hurrah for the primary setting of the primary three seasons, feeling like a formidable climax, providing motion spectacle, and being an general persistently thrilling episode. Additionally, as a farewell to Cordelia and Angel (the latter no less than as a principal character on Buffy the Vampire Slayer), it’s very efficient.
6
“Innocence”
Season 2, Episode 14 (1998)
The first season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer actually confirmed hints of greatness, however aside from the Season 1 finale, issues didn’t get actually superb till Season 2. The second season of the present was extra mature and impressive, and “Innocence” is a good indication of that, given this episode units in movement the occasions that come to outline a lot of an already nice season’s immense again half.
In episode 13, Angel is modified into Angelus as a result of he skilled a second of happiness, and so in “Innocence,” he emerges as the last word large unhealthy of the season. He rejoins some very previous pals, Spike and Drusilla, all of the whereas treating Buffy like absolute dust, though they have been beforehand deeply in love (earlier than he was Angelus). Anyway, Buffy goes by way of emotional hell, however then by episode’s finish, she’s wielding a rocket launcher and being much more badass than ever earlier than. It’s equal elements iconic and great.
5
“Hush”
Season 4, Episode 10 (1999)
Although there’s a great deal of supernatural stuff in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, it wasn’t all the time very scary… with some exceptions. One thing like “Hush,” plus a handful of different episodes, have been scary sufficient to make Buffy the Vampire Slayer no less than partially deserving of being known as a horror present, with the villains on this explicit episode being demons who trigger everybody in Sunnydale to lose their voices, then go round harvesting hearts.
It has the sensation of a nightmare all through, and is notable for taking part in out virtually totally with out dialogue (you get a bit of on the episode’s begin and finish). But additionally, “Hush” manages to search out a great deal of comedy with such an outlandish premise, and it’s a testomony to how nice the episode is that it’s one of many present’s scariest and funniest episodes, concurrently. Additionally, even when the villains are monsters of the week, “Hush” nonetheless builds the narrative for the season as an entire, notably because it pertains to Buffy and her moderately uninteresting post-Angel boyfriend, Riley.
4
“The Present”
Season 5, Episode 22 (2001)
“The Present” is a outstanding episode for causes which might be very apparent to anybody who’s watched it. The episode was the one centesimal within the present’s run, and was made in a approach that might’ve had it function a really bittersweet finale for the present as an entire, given it in the end has Buffy sacrificing herself to save lots of the world, however not coming again to life after a couple of minutes the best way she did in Season 1’s “Prophecy Woman.”
It took a couple of months for her to come back again, seeing as Season 6 did finally come to fruition, however that doesn’t dilute the ability of her sacrifice right here. It’s additionally an episode that comprises what’s arguably the strongest Buffy the Vampire Slayer quote, when Buffy tells her sister, Daybreak, that: “the toughest factor on this world… is to dwell in it… Be courageous. Reside. For me.” Simply good, actually.
3
“The Physique”
Season 5, Episode 16 (2001)
If anybody appears to be like at you humorous once you say that Buffy the Vampire Slayer would possibly effectively be considered one of the best dramas in TV historical past, simply present them “The Physique,” and so they’ll most likely come round. Admittedly, it really works greatest in the event you perceive simply how devastating and surprising the loss of life right here is for the characters of the present, however even with out context, it’s nonetheless a strong exploration of the way it feels to obtain devastating information, within the second.
As a have a look at grief, few works of fiction are as brutal and genuine as “The Physique.” It really works much more as a dramatic episode as a result of the loss of life right here is so peculiar, and since earlier than this, most individuals on the present who died perished due to one thing supernatural. That is an episode that claims, “No, loss of life might be mundane and one thing that occurs out of nowhere, and that is the way it feels.” It’s not a enjoyable or notably rewatchable episode, positive, however it’s nonetheless an unimaginable one.
2
“As soon as Extra, with Feeling”
Season 6, Episode 7 (2001)
In comparison with “The Physique,” “As soon as Extra, with Feeling” is an effective deal extra enjoyable… for essentially the most half. It’s the long-lasting musical episode of the present, however even with a crazy premise that sees all of Sunnydale breaking into music at random, it nonetheless furthers the general drama of the season, and in addition has a revelation relating to Buffy’s resurrection that’s actually fairly upsetting.
It may be in comparison with “Hush” due to the high-concept nature of the premise, nevertheless it completely nails what would possibly’ve failed in lesser fingers, and emerges as an plain spotlight of your entire present within the course of. Even in the event you dislike most film musicals, you will most likely discover “As soon as Extra, with Feeling” exhausting to withstand in the event you’re a fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer general, because it’s such a novel solution to proceed constructing on what the (once more, divisive) sixth season was already doing.
1
“Turning into (Half 2)”
Season 2, Episode 22 (1998)
So far as reveals that started within the Nineties and completed within the 2000s go, each Buffy the Vampire Slayer and The Sopranos would possibly effectively be the easiest. And, simply because the latter present had considered one of its best episodes be the finale for Season 2 (“Funhouse”), so does Buffy the Vampire Slayer have an distinctive episode that concluded its second season: “Turning into (Half 2).”
This is without doubt one of the most vital hours for your entire present, bringing a couple of heartbreaking conclusion to the superb overarching storyline of the season, all of the whereas creating this sense of “nothing being the identical” going ahead. It is not as soul-crushing as “The Physique,” nevertheless it’s a unique type of emotion being gone for right here; extra of a tearjerker than one thing prone to trigger despair. However the heightened melodrama of all of it suits the highschool setting and the relative youth of the (non-vampire) characters. Ultimately, it’s an episode that totally established Buffy the Vampire Slayer as an all-time nice present, totally laying to relaxation any fears that nice episodes previous to this had by some means been flukes or anomalies. It’s a textbook instance of the right way to stick the touchdown for an entire rattling season of tv.
First issues first: Buffy the Vampire Slayer was not an ideal present, a lot in the identical approach that mainly each long-running present that tended to have 20+ episodes per season was imperfect. There’s a excessive stage of high quality right here, usually talking, however amount was additionally a necessity for these behind Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and it did end in a couple of hours of tv that have been less-than-amazing.
However… these episodes have been uncommon. Most of what this coming-of-age/supernatural horror/motion/romance/fantasy/comedy/drama present needed to supply was superb, after which generally, what it needed to supply was actually nice. When Buffy the Vampire Slayer was at its greatest, few tv reveals may come near feeling as satisfying or emotionally resonant. And, of its actually nice episodes, the next simply so occurred to be the very biggest.
10
“The Want”
Season 3, Episode 9 (1998)
So, with a rating like this, a very good many episodes are going to be people who ahead the story not directly, or in any other case show notably dramatic. However there are additionally some extra “one-off” form of episodes which might be worthy of being counted among the many better of the very best that Buffy the Vampire Slayer ever aired, together with Season 3’s “The Want,” which is a spotlight of what may effectively be the present’s most constant season.
In “The Want,” issues get a bit It’s a Fantastic Life, with Cordelia wishing to see a world the place Buffy had by no means come to Sunnydale, which is granted by Anya in her first look (and effectively earlier than she grew to become a principal character). Most of it takes place in an additional nightmarish alternate universe, and although issues do in the end return to regular, seeing horrible issues occur to so many principal characters, even when not everlasting, continues to be distressing. That being mentioned, a lot of the episode can also be very humorous. Buffy the Vampire Slayer is simply that form of present.
9
“Chosen”
Season 7, Episode 22 (2003)
After which on the opposite finish of one thing like “The Want” is “Chosen,” which is, as Buffy the Vampire Slayer‘s finale, naturally one of the vital dramatic episodes of your entire present. Buffy hadn’t been too shy about killing off characters earlier than, however all bets are off throughout the closing battle depicted on this episode, with the aforementioned Anya dying abruptly and tragically, and Spike sacrifices himself, too.
Although, with Spike, he did get higher, and ended up stealing many scenes when he made the soar to Angel, changing into a principal character on that present for its closing season. However, um, again to “Chosen”… yeah, it’s nice. It performs issues secure (outdoors all of the loss of life) and satisfies within the methods you’d anticipate a sequence finale to. It goes large, has coronary heart, brings some previous characters again, and feels fittingly climactic, all issues thought of.
8
“Tabula Rasa”
Season 6, Episode 8 (2001)
The sixth season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer is controversial for some comprehensible causes, positive, nevertheless it’s additionally largely overhated and, in another methods, greater than a bit of misunderstood. It goes darkish and feels miserable, positive, however there have been so many devastating issues that occurred in Season 5 that it was solely becoming {that a} sure diploma of distress lingered. Being a younger grownup and having no course in life sucks, and this season of the present captures that feeling virtually too successfully.
It is not devoid of enjoyable, although, as a result of Season 6 does even have episodes like “Tabula Rasa,” which is interesting as a self-contained bottle episode (with tons of reminiscence loss inflicting comedic chaos) of types, although it nonetheless furthers the story of the season fairly drastically and itself proves to be an efficient aftermath to the musical episode of Season 6. As for that musical episode… effectively, its time will come, inside this rating. Relaxation assured.
7
“Commencement Day: Half 2”
Season 3, Episode 22 (1999)
There are 4 season finales featured on this rating, and actually, those that aren’t right here (for season 1, season 4, and season 6) are all so good that they are nonetheless worthy of honorable mentions. Nonetheless, these ones aren’t fairly as wonderful as “Commencement Day: Half 2,” which is the episode that in the end wraps up the entire “Buffy and her pals at highschool” a part of the general sequence.
After this, issues transfer to school for a bit, after which break free from there and focus extra on the distress of being a younger grownup set adrift on this planet. But it surely’s “Commencement Day: Half 2” that serves as an ideal final hurrah for the primary setting of the primary three seasons, feeling like a formidable climax, providing motion spectacle, and being an general persistently thrilling episode. Additionally, as a farewell to Cordelia and Angel (the latter no less than as a principal character on Buffy the Vampire Slayer), it’s very efficient.
6
“Innocence”
Season 2, Episode 14 (1998)
The first season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer actually confirmed hints of greatness, however aside from the Season 1 finale, issues didn’t get actually superb till Season 2. The second season of the present was extra mature and impressive, and “Innocence” is a good indication of that, given this episode units in movement the occasions that come to outline a lot of an already nice season’s immense again half.
In episode 13, Angel is modified into Angelus as a result of he skilled a second of happiness, and so in “Innocence,” he emerges as the last word large unhealthy of the season. He rejoins some very previous pals, Spike and Drusilla, all of the whereas treating Buffy like absolute dust, though they have been beforehand deeply in love (earlier than he was Angelus). Anyway, Buffy goes by way of emotional hell, however then by episode’s finish, she’s wielding a rocket launcher and being much more badass than ever earlier than. It’s equal elements iconic and great.
5
“Hush”
Season 4, Episode 10 (1999)
Although there’s a great deal of supernatural stuff in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, it wasn’t all the time very scary… with some exceptions. One thing like “Hush,” plus a handful of different episodes, have been scary sufficient to make Buffy the Vampire Slayer no less than partially deserving of being known as a horror present, with the villains on this explicit episode being demons who trigger everybody in Sunnydale to lose their voices, then go round harvesting hearts.
It has the sensation of a nightmare all through, and is notable for taking part in out virtually totally with out dialogue (you get a bit of on the episode’s begin and finish). But additionally, “Hush” manages to search out a great deal of comedy with such an outlandish premise, and it’s a testomony to how nice the episode is that it’s one of many present’s scariest and funniest episodes, concurrently. Additionally, even when the villains are monsters of the week, “Hush” nonetheless builds the narrative for the season as an entire, notably because it pertains to Buffy and her moderately uninteresting post-Angel boyfriend, Riley.
4
“The Present”
Season 5, Episode 22 (2001)
“The Present” is a outstanding episode for causes which might be very apparent to anybody who’s watched it. The episode was the one centesimal within the present’s run, and was made in a approach that might’ve had it function a really bittersweet finale for the present as an entire, given it in the end has Buffy sacrificing herself to save lots of the world, however not coming again to life after a couple of minutes the best way she did in Season 1’s “Prophecy Woman.”
It took a couple of months for her to come back again, seeing as Season 6 did finally come to fruition, however that doesn’t dilute the ability of her sacrifice right here. It’s additionally an episode that comprises what’s arguably the strongest Buffy the Vampire Slayer quote, when Buffy tells her sister, Daybreak, that: “the toughest factor on this world… is to dwell in it… Be courageous. Reside. For me.” Simply good, actually.
3
“The Physique”
Season 5, Episode 16 (2001)
If anybody appears to be like at you humorous once you say that Buffy the Vampire Slayer would possibly effectively be considered one of the best dramas in TV historical past, simply present them “The Physique,” and so they’ll most likely come round. Admittedly, it really works greatest in the event you perceive simply how devastating and surprising the loss of life right here is for the characters of the present, however even with out context, it’s nonetheless a strong exploration of the way it feels to obtain devastating information, within the second.
As a have a look at grief, few works of fiction are as brutal and genuine as “The Physique.” It really works much more as a dramatic episode as a result of the loss of life right here is so peculiar, and since earlier than this, most individuals on the present who died perished due to one thing supernatural. That is an episode that claims, “No, loss of life might be mundane and one thing that occurs out of nowhere, and that is the way it feels.” It’s not a enjoyable or notably rewatchable episode, positive, however it’s nonetheless an unimaginable one.
2
“As soon as Extra, with Feeling”
Season 6, Episode 7 (2001)
In comparison with “The Physique,” “As soon as Extra, with Feeling” is an effective deal extra enjoyable… for essentially the most half. It’s the long-lasting musical episode of the present, however even with a crazy premise that sees all of Sunnydale breaking into music at random, it nonetheless furthers the general drama of the season, and in addition has a revelation relating to Buffy’s resurrection that’s actually fairly upsetting.
It may be in comparison with “Hush” due to the high-concept nature of the premise, nevertheless it completely nails what would possibly’ve failed in lesser fingers, and emerges as an plain spotlight of your entire present within the course of. Even in the event you dislike most film musicals, you will most likely discover “As soon as Extra, with Feeling” exhausting to withstand in the event you’re a fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer general, because it’s such a novel solution to proceed constructing on what the (once more, divisive) sixth season was already doing.
1
“Turning into (Half 2)”
Season 2, Episode 22 (1998)
So far as reveals that started within the Nineties and completed within the 2000s go, each Buffy the Vampire Slayer and The Sopranos would possibly effectively be the easiest. And, simply because the latter present had considered one of its best episodes be the finale for Season 2 (“Funhouse”), so does Buffy the Vampire Slayer have an distinctive episode that concluded its second season: “Turning into (Half 2).”
This is without doubt one of the most vital hours for your entire present, bringing a couple of heartbreaking conclusion to the superb overarching storyline of the season, all of the whereas creating this sense of “nothing being the identical” going ahead. It is not as soul-crushing as “The Physique,” nevertheless it’s a unique type of emotion being gone for right here; extra of a tearjerker than one thing prone to trigger despair. However the heightened melodrama of all of it suits the highschool setting and the relative youth of the (non-vampire) characters. Ultimately, it’s an episode that totally established Buffy the Vampire Slayer as an all-time nice present, totally laying to relaxation any fears that nice episodes previous to this had by some means been flukes or anomalies. It’s a textbook instance of the right way to stick the touchdown for an entire rattling season of tv.
