As we conclude our Buffy Mini-Series on Patreon, here is the definitive list of the best Buffy the Vampire Slayer episodes, as chosen by Becky and Mike…
Passion (2.07)
“Sorry Angel, changed the locks.”
Angel’s melodramatic voiceover. Jonathan coming into the library with the nerve to ask for an actual school book. Willow teaching computer class. Giles being super hot when he’s hurt and angry. The pet fish casualties. Vampire dick-swinging from Angel and Spike. The guy at the magic shop’s fake accent, and the Orb of Thesula (so damn fragile). The slasher chase - one of the most overtly ‘horror’ moments in the whole show. The opera and roses at Giles’ house. The saddest phone-call of all time, viewed through Buffy’s window. The flaming baseball bat. The way your heart shatters into a million pieces when Buffy and Giles hold each other on the floor outside the Bronze.
I Only Have Eyes For You (2.19)
"To forgive is an act of compassion, Buffy. It's not done because people deserve it. It's done because they need it."
It’s always nice to see a Sadie Hawkins dance in anything involving American teens. Further evidence that guns are never good. 1950s emotional ghost lovers. The song on the record player. The teacher trance-writing ‘Don't walk away from me, bitch’ on the blackboard. Xander’s locker monster. Giles and Willow agreeing that Jenny would never be so mean. The candles and the curtain of wasps. Buffy and Angel’s heart-wrenching gender-swap possession. The reveal that Spike can walk!
Becoming (2.21 & 2.22)
“There’s moments in your life that make you…that set the course of who you’re gonna be.”
The oldy worldy vampire flashbacks. Darla! Willow helping Buffy get through the semester. Snyder angry in the lunchroom. The yellow floppy disc. Xander’s tone-deaf self-righteousness. Kendra and Mr Pointy. Buffy slo-mo running in her iconic blue coat. Willow’s first spellcasting and Oz not speaking Latin. Buffy coming out to her mom. Spike switching sides. Swordfight! Sarah Maclaughlin and the dungarees of despair.
Band Candy (3.06)
“Ooh, Copper’s got a gun!”
Buffy playing mom and dad (Joyce and Giles) off each other. Topless tai chi. Ethan Rayne and Mr Trick teaming up. Horny Joyce and Ripper smoking and listening to records (he lights both cigarettes!) Joyce’s new coat (complete with handcuffs). Teen Snyder. The incredibly evil plan of feeding babies to a huge demon. Joyce saying she’ll write Buffy a note for her SATs.
The Wish (3.09)
“I wish us into Bizarro Land and you guys are still together?"
Cordelia burning pictures of Xander, and her phenomenal break-up outfits. Prada or Payless. Buffy not taking sides against Cordy. The moment veiny Anyanka turns and says “Done”. Oz and Larry as The White Hats. The Master’s espresso cup of blood. Buffy’s scar. Vampire Willow wanting to play with the puppy. How dare a man summon Anyanka? Xander as ‘human’ shield. Buffy having her neck broken and slo-mo falling to the ground. The Scoobies back together in the better world.
Doppelgangland (3.16)
“Say, you all didn’t happen to take a bunch of drugs did ya?”
Schoolgirl Anya. Willow floating the pencil, and asking Snyder if he wants her and Percy to breed? Faith calling Wesley “Princess Margaret”, and her new Slayer digs. Magic in spell-gone-wrong shocker. Vampire Willow back and better than ever. The Scoobies when they think she’s dead. Xander shaking the cross. She’s a blood-sucking fiend… look at her outfit! The gay licking. Vamp Willow dusted by Oz!
Earshot (3.18)
“I was just wondering, were you planning on killing a bunch of people tomorrow? Oh, it’s for the yearbook.”
Aspect of the demon... what if it’s a boy demon? Everyone’s thoughts in the library. Buffy’s revelation about the hood of the police car… Twice?! Oz always turning straight to the obits in the school paper. Buffy’s parkour up to the clock tower. Her life on occasion sucking beyond the telling of it. Poor, sweaty Jonathan. Xander and the poisoned Jell-o. Buffy fighting the lunch lady and the most obvious body double of all time - skinny man in a tabard. Giles walking into the tree.
Graduation Day (3.21 & 3.22)
“Nothing will ever be the same. Nothing."
Harmony and Willow signing each other’s yearbooks. Anya’s demon days coming in handy, and then her just nope-ing right out of town. The Mayor wanting to eat Buffy and Giles’ appropriate reaction of *checks notes* stabbing him in the chest with a fencing sabre. Willow and Oz getting it on. Buffy telling the Council and Wesley to GTFO. The Mayor’s box of crunchy snack spiders and Faith being sad about losing her best knife. And then Buffy giving it back to her. Angel deliriously coming onto both Oz and Willow. Slayer blood! Wesley and Cordelia’s gross kiss. Mayor Wilkins’ evil determination to do his whole speech. Flamethrowers! High school go boom. Well gosh.
Hush (4.10)
“Can’t even shout, cant even cry, the gentlemen are coming by…”
Buffy dream, never good. Olivia! The wicca group and Tara’s zig-zag parting. The expensive dry-wipe boards. Dumb soldiers in the lift. Buffy and Riley finally locking lips. Proper scary monsters. Doug Jones! The literal perfection of the OHP scene - the music, the drawings, Anya’s popcorn, Willow’s eagerness, boobies and Buffy miming. Willow and Tara and the soda machine. Buffy’s scream. The new lovers sitting in silence.
This Year’s Girl (4.15)
“What did you think, I’d wake up and we’d go for tea? You tried to gut me, blondie.”
Another dream, never good! Faith foreshadowing little sis. Spy nurse. February 25th. “Try it Red, you lose an arm”. Spike loving that Faith’s so dangerous to the Scoobies because he hates them. The Harlot lipstick. “Hi Mom, hi honey”. 1630 Revello Drive, destroyed by slayer fight. Body swap doohickey. Five by five.
Once More With Feeling (6.07)
“They got the mustard out.” - Townsfolk
She's not even half the girl she… owww! Bunnies. Spontaneous combustion. Dawn’s ballet. Sweet’s weird chin. Tara and Giles planning their departure through the power of song. The henchman just talking. Mostly filler. Tara and Anya providing back-up. Buffy’s heaven bombshell. Big kiss finale.
Honourable mentions for seasons 1, 5 and 7
S1. Prophecy Girl, Witch, Nightmares
S5. Crush, The Body, The Gift
S7. Conversations with Dead People, The Killer In Me, Storyteller