#04: Season 7, Episode 15 – “Get It Done”
Thanks to the very epic conclusion of Season 5, many fans have no love for Seasons 6 and 7. However, Season 7 does hold a fair number of strong episodes and, arguably, is a more fitting ending to the Buffy tale than Season 5.
Nevertheless, even with episodes like “Help,” “Conversations with Dead People,” “Storyteller,” and, of course, “Chosen,” the winner has to be “Get It Done.”
While this is in no small part due to my love for origin stories, “Get It Done” is admittedly the mother of origin stories—it doesn’t give us Buffy’s origins, but dates back to the creation of the first Slayer as well as the formation of what can be considered the first iteration of the Watcher’s Council. It also reintroduces and enforces the themes of female oppression and their rise against social norms—something that we see come full circle in the series finale.
#03: Season 4, Episode 22 – “Restless”
Had it not been for my personal dislike for the Season 4 bad guys and, in general, anything Initiative related, this would rank a lot higher. Nevertheless, “Restless” ranks as my favourite episode of all time (closely followed by “Anne”).
While the first 77 episodes of Buffy already made it clear that the show’s pretty damn great with some of television’s greatest talents working on it, “Restless” is a testament to not only the cast but to Joss Whedon as a director. And even though it was already clear that The Boss was a truly prodigious writer, his directorial chops were on full display here.
Set almost entirely in a dreamscape, “Restless” isn’t just a daring episode on television, it was an episode that experimented with a format of story-telling that allows shows like Legion to exist today.
Despite my issues with the Big Bad(s) of the season, it nevertheless rises to the third spot thanks to episodes like “Fear, Itself,” “Something Blue,” “A New Man,” the 2-part return of Faith in “This Year’s Girl” and “Who Are You,” “Superstar” and, of course, the classic “Hush.”
#02: Season 2, Episode 08 – “The Dark Age”
Yeah, probably not the episode most people would expect, but it’s truly an unsung gem.
Many would argue that Season 2 of Buffy is the best of the series, and they wouldn’t be wrong. With episodes like “School Hard,” “Lie to Me,” both “Surprise” and “Innocence,” “Passion,” “Killed by Death,” “I Only Have Eyes for You,” and “Becoming” parts 1 and 2, the season clearly does stand above most others.
Nevertheless, “The Dark Age” takes a special place for diving deeper into Rupert Giles’ past (something previously hinted to in “Halloween”) turning the once ‘fuddy-duddy’ mentor into easily the biggest badass in any room. It’s also the second appearance of Ethan Rayne, Giles’ old buddy and pretty much his anti-thesis, a dark Watcher of sorts.
The popularity of this episode also spawned the long-lasting rumours of a Giles-driven prequel series entitled Ripper.
We’re still waiting, Joss.
#01: Season 3, Episode 01 – “Anne”
There’s something about television shows and their third seasons—somewhat of a make or break quality to it. With Buffy, it was all make.
From iconic plot lines like the Ascension, to the departure of Angel to his own show (arguably one of the best spin-offs since Frasier), and the introduction of fan favourite characters like the Mayor and Faith, to the first indication of Spike’s prolific future with the show, there is a lot to love about Season 3. Nevertheless, the season premiere, “Anne,” stands out the most.
Finally focusing on the idea of how a Slayer is meant to be—friendless and family-less—we experience the darkness of their destiny and see that while being a Slayer is fated, being a hero is still a choice. And for those who followed through with Angel, ‘Anne’ continues being a significant character…
Other episodes that deserve highlight are “Faith, Hope & Trick,” “Band Candy,” “Lovers Walk,” “The Wish,” “Amends,” “Helpless,” “The Zeppo,” “Doppelgangland,” and “Graduation Day” parts 1 and 2.
And the only proper way to end anything Whedon:
