Buffy: the Vampire Slayer did a masterful job of weaving dangerous enemies, interesting major villains, and character relationships into a satisfying and emotional network of story arcs. Each season had a self-contained major threat that was dealt with by the end of the season. There were also story arcs that spanned the series. It was a plotting structure that I haven’t seen matched in any other show.
A few years ago, I tried to make a list of the best Buffy episodes. Unfortunately, I could only narrow it down to about a third of them. I wanted a more concise list. So, for this post, I limited myself to one episode per season. I chose them based on the number of storylines they touched, as well as their impact on the series. An interesting side effect was that several of these episodes wind up doing a lot of the summarizing a person might need to understand what’s happening.
I admit, I had to get opinions and input from a couple friends for several of the seasons. One of them, Cole, has a blog at http://coleikerd.hubpages.com/
There are spoilers below. Big Spoilers. I have tried to save surprises both for these episodes and the ones in between. Actually, there are entire storylines not touched upon here. But, just to be absolutely clear, SPOILER ALERT. If you would like to avoid my spoilers, I have the short list of episodes, but you really must stop reading after that.
Season 1: Episode 7, “Angel”
Season 2: Episode 22, “Becoming, Part II”
Season 3: Episode 8, “Lover’s Walk”
Season 4: Episode 20, “The Yoko Factor”
Season 5: Episode 19, “Tough Love”
Season 6: Episode 21, “Two to Go”
Season 7: Episode 22, “Chosen”
Season 1: Episode 7, “Angel”
Previously on Buffy: The Vampire Slayer: Buffy, the one person in all the world “with the strength and skill to fight the vampires” faces down a variety of evils with her friends Xander, Willow, Giles, and a mysterious stranger named Angel.
This episode sets Buffy and Angel’s relationship, and provides us with clarity into Angel’s past. We get a peek at how easy it is for Buffy’s mom (and the rest of the world) to explain away the world of weirdness. The Bronze features prominently throughout the series, but not so much in these episodes. And Xander hates on Angel.
Season 2: Episode 22, “Becoming, Part II”
Previously on Buffy: The Vampire Slayer: Angel turned evil and caused chaos. He joined forces with a vampire couple named Spike and Drusilla.
This episode opens with Buffy returning from a trap designed to distract her from an attack on her friends. By the end of the episode she has made an alliance with an enemy, fallen out with her mother, and faced down an old flame. Willow starts down a dark path. And Xander hates on Angel.
Season 3: Episode 8, “Lover’s Walk”
Previously on Buffy: The Vampire Slayer: Xander began dating Cordelia. Willow began dating Oz. Angel came back, but is no longer evil. There is a second slayer in town, Faith.
Spike, seeking a way to win Drusilla back, returns to Sunnydale. The most critical factor in this episode is the number and weight of the evolving relationships. And Xander hates on Angel. Just, more subtly. In the background. Without words.
The man playing golf is the mayor of Sunnydale.
Season 4: Episode 20, “The Yoko Factor”
Previously on Buffy: The Vampire Slayer (and the spinoff, “Angel”): Buffy and her friends started college. Giles is no longer Buffy’s watcher. A secret military organization is operating in Sunnydale. Buffy’s new boyfriend is part of them – or was, but has been kicked out. The big bad for the season convinces demons to work together and cause a great amount of chaos. Xander is dating a former vengeance demon, Anya, who is afraid of bunnies.
I did my best to not allow my list of favorites episode to influence my list of critical episodes. Every episode of Buffy contributes in some way to the overall storylines in a complex yet fairly easy to follow (if you watch the episodes) web. Okay, there are a couple in the first season you wouldn’t have to watch, and wouldn’t miss much from.
This episode opens with Buffy returning from Los Angeles, where Angel has been operating. They...had a disagreement. The main plot has a metaphorically toothless Spike, now a tacit part of the Scooby Gang, causing some good old fashion chaos at the direction of this season’s big bad. It also features: Giles singing, Xander hating on Angel, Riley hating on Angel, Angel hating on Riley… Pretty much everyone hating on everyone. A fun fight fest. And an annoyed duck face.
An episode so big it spills over, “To Be Continued” style to the next one.
Season 5: Episode 19, “Tough Love”
Previously on Buffy: The Vampire Slayer: A powerful and dangerous enemy named Glory is in Sunnydale, looking for a key that will allow her to unlock a hellish dimension. That key is in human form, created via a spell by monks trying to keep it from her. Glory eats brain energy. She also kicks Buffy’s butt six ways from Sunday. Buffy’s mother dies. (S5, Ep6: The Body). Giles buys a magic store and hires Xander’s girlfriend, Anya. Spike is still in the group, and has earned a certain measure of trust.
Buffy and Dawn never exactly have a smooth relationship, but this one is an early hint of just how wrong it can go. Buffy and her sister are still heavily struggling with their mother’s death. We see a little deeper into Willow and Tara’s relationship. Glory gets pretty creepy/scary. Willow takes another dark turn.
Season 6: Episode 21, “Two to Go”
Previously on Buffy: The Vampire Slayer: Xander leaves Anya at the altar. Anya returns to what she once was: a vengeance demon. Giles moves back to England, and leaves the shop to Anya. After some complications in his relationship with Buffy, Spike has run off to find himself. A group of three…well, nerds…teamed up to take over Sunnydale. Two wound up in jail, one got free and shot both Buffy and Tara. Willow is not pleased. It’s fair to say she is as pissed off as anyone in the series gets. She took gruesome revenge on the man who shot Tara. Then, she decides to continue her vengeance on his two accomplices.
This episode sees part of the apex of the dark path that Willow has been following. Fueled by grief and vengeance, she becomes a dark force they have little, if any, hope of stopping. Notice how her hair goes black when she’s charged with evil magic.
Season 7: Episode 22, “Chosen”
Previously on Buffy: The Vampire Slayer: Into every generation, a slayer is born. One girl with the strength and skill to hunt the vampires and the demons. But many girls have the potential to be slayers; they certainly could be called. An entity which identifies itself as the First Evil has been killing off these potential slayers. This entity can appear as anybody who has died, and mess with people’s minds, but can’t touch anything. (Did I mention that Buffy died? Don’t worry. She got better. But there’s also a second actual slayer because of it. Her name is Faith.) In return, they have gathered at Buffy’s house for protection. Jonathan becomes a…hostage of sorts, and a part of the good guys. Anya is human again. Willow has been recovering from her time as the villain. And everyone you don’t see onscreen has left Sunnydale. (They just don’t realize why.)
This episode features an awkward conversation about cookies, a daring plan, and a game of Dungeons and Dragons. No, they don’t say the name of the game. I recognize the books. Plus, he’s referred to as the dungeon master, which only applies to D&D. The last five minutes of this show is what got me watching the series. How, I wondered, could this be so different from that awful movie? (Seriously. Have I mentioned I didn’t like the movie?) There is an amusing reference back to the second episode.
There are so many characters and stories that converge on this last episode. If you only see these seven episodes, you have the basic story, but you have missed so much.
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