The 10 Greatest Episodes Of Buffy The Vampire Slayer

20 years ago, there appeared on our TV screens a chosen one. She alone stood against the vampires, the demons and the forces of darkness. She was Buffy the Vampire Slayer. And she saved the world. A lot. Joss Whedon's masterpiece might have ended back in 2003 (now you feel old), but its ardent fanbase has only grown over time, with new viewers falling for the show in the decade and a half since. It's not everyday that a TV series defied genre (it's a horror-comedy/teenage drama with bits of superhero fiction thrown in there, too) expectations (the musical episode! the silent episode!) and broke down barriers with its focus on female empowerment and groundbreaking inclusion of gay relationships. Not to mention its huge legacy, as many popular TV shows of today are either helmed by Buffy writers or inspired by Whedon's work (Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Doctor Who, Supergirl, Grimm, Supernatural, etc.). So, in honour of the Slayer's 20th anniversary, let's take a trip back to the Hellmouth and look at the 10 finest episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. 10) Chosen - Season 7, Episode 22 Not many fans will say that season seven if Buffy's finest run - after so many years, it had slightly lost steam - but thankfully, Whedon still managed to pull a terrific series finale out of the hat that gave us everything we wanted. Or, at least, everything we needed. There's a massive final battle, shocking, tragic deaths and just about every major character dynamic on the show is wrapped up with admirable finesse and economy. Plus, the ultimate hero of the episode is Spike - the favourite character of about 90% of Buffy fans - who destroys the whole of Sunnydale as he sacrifices himself to save the world. But at the heart of the episode is the idea that, after seven years of being the Slayer, Buffy gets to share her power with every potential Slayer in the world. Like all the best Buffys, it works on both a character level - finally, Buffy's burden is lifted - but also on a metaphorical one - women across the world can now feel as empowered as her. 9) The Wish - Season 3, Episode 9 Yes, TV shows and movies have cribbed the plot of It's A Wonderful Life more times than we can count, but that doesn't mean that, if approached in the right way, some freshness and invention can't be injected into the old concept. Chiefly, this episode's depiction of a Sunnydale without Buffy is a chance to dive into a Bizarro-World where everything has gone to seed without the Slayer to protect it. There are some great twists and surprises - e.g. alt-Buffy having her neck viciously snapped by the Master - but the star of the episode is Vampire Willow. Alyson Hannigan excels at playing a sultry, psychopathic version of the usually loveably dorky Willow. In hindsight, the character also foreshadows Willow's turn to the darkness in season 6. "The Wish" was so good it spawned a sequel that same season, "Doppelgangland," which sees Vampire Willow travel to the regular dimension. More of an out-and-out comedy, it's remarkably almost as good as its predecessor. 8) Innocence - Season 2, Episode 14 The beating heart of Buffy was always how it used the supernatural as an allegory for the drama of teenage life. For instance, in Buffy, high school really is hell as Sunnydale High is situated on a Hellmouth. Season 2's "Innocence" is the finest example of this as it sees the shocking moment when Angel loses his soul and turns evil. After sharing a night of passion on Buffy's 17th birthday, the couple's "moment of perfect happiness" breaks the curse that made Angel good and reverts him to his demonic self. It's a huge turning point in the show's narrative, but it's also a genius metaphor for the tragic sexual experiences that many face in reality. That's not to suggest that this is a dour, 'Very Special Episode' type, as there's lots of demon-slaying fun to be had, too. In fact, the episode gives us one of Buffy's most badass moments when she destroys the evil Judge with a rocket launcher. That's our Slayer. 7) The Gift - Season 5, Episode 22 "The Gift," Buffy's 100th episode, was initially intended to be the show's series finale, but it was ultimately resurrected on a different network (moving from The WB to UPN). We're glad we got two more seasons out of the show, of course, but this would have been a very strong way for the series to bow out. The episode as a whole is a blast, but it's the emotional final scene that lifts it into greatness. As Buffy's most dangerous enemy, the hell goddess Glory, plans to start the apocalypse, Buffy sacrifices herself to save the world, and more importantly, her sister. Her last speech to Dawn is one of the character's best: "The hardest thing in this world is to live in it. Be brave. Live. For me." Buffy's heroic self-sacrifice remains one of the show's most dramatic and definitive moments. Obviously, she was resurrected the following season, but her death still cast a long shadow over the series, as Buffy's subsequent depression was the major arc of season 6. 6) Graduation Day (Parts One and Two) - Season 3, Episodes 21 And 22 As great as the later seasons were, Buffy's golden years were definitely the first few seasons that revolved around the turmoil of surviving high school. Thankfully, they ended with a bang - literally - in season 3's epic two-part finale. The grand threat of the episode is brilliantly aligned with the gang's own experiences - just as the evil Mayor Wilkins ascends into his demonic form, Buffy and the others are ascending into the next stage of life and into adulthood. Plus, it all ends in the symbolic destruction of the high school, which is partly a rite of passage for the characters and also a bit of vicarious wish fulfillment for the audience. Elsewhere, there's a terrific Slayer vs. Slayer fight between Buffy and Faith, tender moments with Willow and Oz and a final serving of Buffy/Angel drama before the vamp went off to headline his own spinoff show (which is also totally worth checking out, by the way). 5) Restless - Season 4, Episode 22 There aren't many TV shows out there that would have the imagination and the bravery to shunt the usual big action-packed finale an episode earlier and instead end the season on a surreal, poetic near-Lynchian dream episode. Buffy the Vampire Slayer, though, is one of them. As a dangerous force worms its way into the Scoobies' dreams, we get a look inside the heads of Buffy, Giles, Xander and Willow. Unlike a lot of movies and TV shows we can think of, Whedon actually portrays dreams realistically - on the surface, they're full of random events and moments, but if you analyze them you can find some deeper meaning within. "Restless" is an episode stuffed to the rafters with foreshadowing - Joyce's death, Dawn's arrival - and symbolism (the hopes and fears of the four central characters). Fans often overlook this outing, but it's definitely one of the smartest and most re-watchable in the series. 4) Becoming (Parts One and Two) - Season 2, Episodes 21 And 22 By now, it's probably become clear that Buffy is home to some of the best season finales in television - it did originate the idea of the season-long story arc, after all. It's a tough call, but the finest of the lot has to be season 2's "Becoming." There are many reasons for this, but ultimately it's the best because of the personal connection to Buffy, as she has to fight her former lover for the sake of the world. "Becoming" also includes two hugely significant moments that would go on to change the show, namely Buffy's mother Joyce finding out that her daughter's the Slayer and the first time that Buffy teams up with Spike - foreshadowing his later turn to the good side. The most enduring part of the two-parter, though, is the heartbreaking climax, as Buffy is forced to send Angel to hell, even though he's finally got his soul back. It's not all about kicking ass and quipping when you're a superhero. Sometimes you have to make terrible choices for the greater good. 3) Hush - Season 4, Episode 10 As Buffy is often praised first and foremost for its unique style of quip-filled dialogue, a silent episode of the show could have been a terrible idea. Instead, it allowed Whedon to stretch his hand at delivering some visual storytelling, sight gags and some downright chilling horror. "Hush" is primarily remembered as the scariest episode of the lot, due to the ever-grinning, snappily-dressed Gentlemen. These monsters, that steal your voice so they can cut out your heart without you screaming, are literally the stuff of nightmares and one of the most memorable monsters-of-the-week in TV history. But "Hush" also excels in other ways, too, such as its clever exploration of how verbal communication is far less efficient than physical communication - as several couples grow closer over the episode due to the lack of speech. 2) The Body - Season 5, Episode 16 If you know someone who thinks that Buffy is just a throwaway teen show, then show them season 5's "The Body." For our money, it's one of the most mature, most emotionally-devastating episodes of television we've ever seen. For once, nearly all the supernatural elements of the show are pushed to the side as the episode documents the day that Buffy's mother dies, and we witness each of the Scoobies deal with their grief in different ways. Alyson Hannigan and Emma Caulfield deserve kudos for their scenes, but Sarah Michelle Gellar is the star of the show, as we see Buffy go through the whole emotional spectrum - confusion, heartbreak, anger - of losing a loved one. Whedon's writing and direction are also exemplary. Drawing from his own experiences of loss, he paints a very unsentimental, stripped-back presentation of death. There is a strong argument that "The Body" is Buffy's greatest achievement as a piece of filmmaking and storytelling, but it isn't likely to be one that you re-watch endlessly, as it's just too damn sad. 1) Once More, With Feeling - Season 6, Episode 7 The total reverse of "The Body" in the fun factor is "Once More, With Feeling" AKA the musical episode. Joss Whedon had always intended to do one since creating the series, and he finally rose to the challenge in season 6, where it provided a welcome spot of light in a very dark run. Not only that, but it's probably the best episode of the whole show. Far from being a lightweight outing where the cast get to dance about and sing some songs, "Once More, With Feeling" is clearly made with more care and love than just about any other episode. Whedon uses the structure of the musical to reveal the inner turmoil of each of the characters, with several damaging lies coming out by the episode's end. And its all done with some incredibly catchy songs songs that sport emotive, hilarious and multi-layered lyrics. Though it wasn't the very first musical special of a TV show, it's roaring success surely inspired the trend for them that followed - e.g. The Flash is about to attempt one very soon. None of them, though, have come close to matching the heights that Buffy the Vampire Slayer did.