Summary
Buffy the Vampire Slayerremains a milestone series in television history for several reasons, fromits then-cutting-edge feminist themesto its excellent use of long-form storytelling. However, one of the most enduring legacies of the series is its so-called “Buffyspeak,” a witty blend of cultural references, sass, and heartfelt emotional declarations.
This style of dialogue lendsBuffy the Vampire Slayera distinctive tone that addresses complex issues with an approach that is as deft as it is tongue-in-cheek. However, not every episode ofBuffyis defined by quip-filled antics. The series also dealt with tough topics and went to some truly dark places.
8"Once More, With Feeling"
Season 6, Episode 7
Musicals are often criticized for being cheesy, butBuffy the Vampire Slayer’s “Once More, With Feeling” demonstrates thatthe format can be used to tell a dark talewithout compromising on the elaborate song and dance routines. A demon compels the residents of Sunnydale to reveal their deepest secrets via the medium of song, with troubling results.
An upbeat duet between lovebirds Xander and Anya reveals the couple’s hidden anxieties about the future of their relationship; Giles realizes that he has become an obstacle to Buffy’s growth; Buffy herself confesses, to the horror of her friends, that they wrenched her out of Heaven when they cast a spell to bring her back to life. Musical devotees maintain that the form allows characters to speak from the heart, and this is certainly true in “Once More, With Feeling”, but the revelations are far from cheerful.
Season 3, Episode 14
The introduction ofthe rebellious Slayer FaithinBuffy the Vampire Slayer’s third season alters the status quo of the series forever. In many ways, Faith is Buffy’s opposite: rather than relying on her friends, she is a loner; she is sexually aggressive, rather than moderately chaste; most of all, she is willing to abuse her Slayer powers.
Yet if Faith is Buffy’s opposite, she is also her alter ego. “Bad Girls” demonstrates how easily the apparently pure Buffy can be corrupted by Faith’s reckless ways, with tragic and far-reaching results. As such, the episode delves into the dark side of the titular Slayer but pulls her back from the brink when things get really serious.
6"Normal Again"
Season 6, Episode 17
Buffy the Vampire Slayeris a quirky premise for a television show and one that has to be seen to be believed. The show’s writers leaned into this incongruity with “Normal Again,” an episode of the show’s notoriously dark sixth season. Buffy is tricked into believing that her adventures are hallucinations—she isn’t the Slayer but is rathera mentally ill young womanwith an overactive imagination.
This reality-bending plot is the fault of the Trio, a gang of criminal nerds who come up with various ploys to overcome Buffy’s resistance to their plans. By the end of the episode, Buffy is back in the “real” world, although the episode does cheekily hint that this is only a fantasy and that Buffy really is deluded. In the end, it’s up to the viewers to draw their own conclusions.
5"Anne"
Season 3, Episode 1
The first episode ofBuffy’s third season picks up where the second season left off, with Buffyhaving fled Sunnydale for Los Angelesafter sending her lover, Angel, to hell. Living under an assumed identity, Buffy waits tables at a diner and attempts to live a normal life—until a familiar face from her past drags her back into the fight against the forces of evil.
The episode’s exploration of how society chews up and spits out the young and vulnerable remains relevant, while its dark theme and urban setting would inform the tone of the spin-off seriesAngelwhen it debuted the following year. At its core, “Anne” is a story about carving out an identity and the terrible fate of those who lose themselves in the big city, concerns that continue to resonate.
4"Passion"
Season 2, Episode 17
Buffy the Vampire Slayerisfull of deadly demonsand hungry vampires, but much of the show’s dramatic potential is generated by its titular character’s complicated romantic relationships. These two strands are unified in the second season’s Angelus arc, in which a curse transforms Buffy’s vampire boyfriend into a merciless serial killer.
While this arc spans several episodes, “Passion” is its most disturbing installment. It sees Angelus brutally murder popular recurring character Jenny Calendar before dramatically arranging her body to traumatize her lover, Giles, when he discovers it. The show’s writers aimed to demonstrate how truly monstrous the corrupted Angel could be—with “Passion,” they succeeded.
3"Earshot"
Season 3, Episode 18
Early seasons ofBuffy the Vampire Slayermade extensive use of their high school setting to explore issues pertinent to teenagers, from the dangers of online dating to feeling invisible in social situations. Yet it was not until “Earshot” that the series tackled the sadly perennial theme of school shootings—and it couldn’t have picked a worse time.
“Earshot,” in which Buffygains the power to read minds, was due to be shown as the eighteenth episode of the show’s third season. However, the tragic occurrence of the Columbine High School Massacre a week before the broadcast forced the network to change its plans. The episode’s apparent school shooting is a red herring (an unpopular student instead plans his suicide), but the removal of “Earshot” from the schedules still makes a lot of sense.
2"Seeing Red"
Season 6, Episode 19
The worst excesses ofBuffy the Vampire Slayer’s sixth season are on display in “Seeing Red,” a pivotal episode that sets out to murder one character and ruins another for many fans of the series. The season’s push towards dark, edgy themes culminates here, with predictably ugly results.
Contemporary media criticismhas much to say about the “fridging” trope (in which one character dies to motivate another’s arc), and “Seeing Red” is a textbook example. If this episode is to be believed, the quippy days ofBuffyare over—this is now a show about miserable people ruining one another’s lives.Buffyfrequently leaps from tone to tone, but it’s safe to say that it stumbles here.
1"The Body"
Season 5, Episode 16
Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s darkest installment is also one of its best. “The Body,” which focuses onthe death of Buffy’s mother, Joyce, was inspired by writer Joss Whedon’s own experiences of maternal loss. It’s an achingly brutal exploration of grief, made all the more shocking by its mundane nature: Joyce is not killed by a demon or curse, but instead dies as the result of an aneurysm.
Prior episodes explored Buffy’s impotence in the face of the real world. Despite her supernatural strength, she is ill-equipped to face problems that can’t be solved by punches and kicks. This deficiency is never starker than in this tragic hour of television. “The Body” isBuffy the Vampire Slayer’s darkest episode, not because of supernatural threats but rather because it’s all too real.
