Joss Whedon’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer celebrates it’s 15th anniversary today, and it still stands as my absolute FAVORITE TV show off all time, and I don’t anticipate it ever loosing that spot. With that being said, I decided to write up a list of my top 10 episodes, but I’m going to do this in two lists…the first 10 episodes are going to be the obvious choices that almost every Buffy fan would say are the top episodes of the series, and the second set is going to be the top 10 episodes that aren’t necessarily the obvious choices. So here we go…obvious choices first, and no particular order (it was too hard to decide)!! Leave some comments on your opinions of top episodes!!
1. The Wish – “I wish Buffy Summers had never come to Sunnydale.” This episode was one that I watch several times in a row the first time I saw it. In this episode we are introduced to Anyanka (Anya) a wish granting demon for scorned women. Cordelia tells Anya everything started going wrong in her life after Buffy showed up in Sunnydale, and wishes Buffy had never come…Cordy is brought to a world where Buffy never arrived in Sunnydale, the town is overrun with vampires, Xander and Willow are vampires, Angel is help prisoner, the Master is alive, and plans to turn the town of Sunnydale into a mass production plant of human blood.
So much happens in this episode and it’s amazing to see the impact Buffy has had on Sunnydale, and the end of the episode still is one of my favorite moments in the series as we watch all of the character die (weird right?…but Xander finally gets to stake Angel, Oz kills Willow without knowing what they had in another world, and the Master takes out Buffy, meaning a new slayer would be called.)
2. Once More With Feeling – “Where do we go from here?” The town of Sunnydale suddenly becomes musically inclined when a demon arrives who put a spell on the town, causing everyone to sing their feelings.
You can’t help but love this episode, no matter your opinions of the actors/actresses singing abilities. Fans of the show still celebrate this episode though Rocky Horror Picture Show style showings of the episode.
3. Becoming Pt. 2 – “Close your eyes.” This is a huge episodes as slayer Kendra has just been killed, Spike and Buffy align for the first time, Joyce finds out that Buffy is a slayer, Buffy has lost everything, she has her final fight with Angel, before killing his after he just got his soul back.
This is one of those episodes that I have memorized I’ve watched it so many times. The sword fight is one of my favorite fights in the entires series, the Christophe Beck’s musical score is amazing, and it’s an incredibly emotional episode.
4. Chosen – Make your choice. Are you ready to be strong?” The final episode of Buffy, when Buffy turns all the potential into full powered slayers and takes on the source of all evil.
This episode has one of the largest fights in the series, and leaves sums up the main point of the series…all woman have the ability to be strong!
5. The Gift – “The hardest thing in this world is to live in it.” Originally thought to be the final episode of the series after the WB cancelled the show, we see Buffy sacrifice herself for her sister and the world.
Another amazing score by Christophe Beck is featured in this episode, and it’s another incredibly emotional episode, as Buffy reflects on her time as a slayer, Giles kills a human, and the Scoobies loose their Slayer.
6. Hush – “Can’t even shout, can’t even cry” This is the silent episode of Buffy, as the Gentlemen arrive in Sunnydale and steal the voices of everyone in the town.
7. Restless – “I wear the cheese, it does not wear me.” We see the Scooby gang in a dream world, being hunted by the First Slayer. Oz reappears in this episode in Willow’s dream, and we get to see her back in her outfit from season 1, which is a great throwback. We also finally get to see the First Slayer. This episode is also great, because Joss got to really take advantage of using a dream world.
8. Prophecy Girl – “You have fruit punch mouth.” This is the first season finale for the series, and also the first time that Buffy is killed…causing a new slayer to be called. Many would say this is the first time that Buffy truly showed what it had to offer, as the episode is fairly dark and emotional as Buffy struggles to avoid her destiny after hearing she is prophecized to die at 16.
9. The Body – “You’re not supposed to move the body.” Buffy’s mom dies in this episode, and this is an extremely strong episode that captures the feeling of loosing a loved one so well that it’s eerie.
10. Graduation Day Pt. 2 – “Fire bad, tree pretty.” Buffy graduates and blows up her high school, Angel leaves town …o yeah and the Mayor becomes a giant snake demon. A lot of milestones are reached in this series and it’s the last episode before Buffy enters into college and transitions into becoming an adult, and let’s not forget Harmony gets turned into a vampire!!!!
This post brought back some memories (yes, I’m old enough to have watched Buffy when it was new). Hope you also take a look at “Angel”, the Buffy spinoff.
Yes I love Angel as well!! I’ll have to write a 10 ten list for that as too!!
you would do a list like this!
HAHA and more to come!!