Ranking the 8 Most Haunting Episodes of Buffy The Vampire Slayer

Highlights

Buffy the Vampire Slayer's "Once More, With Feeling" showcases a dark musical that reveals characters' hidden anxieties and horrifying confessions.

"Bad Girls" delves into the detrimental impact of rebel Slayer Faith on Buffy, ultimately rescuing her from the brink.

"Normal Again" blurs the boundaries of reality as Buffy is deceived into perceiving her heroic escapades as mere product of her imagination, leaving viewers to form their own interpretations.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer is widely regarded as a groundbreaking show in television history for various reasons, such as its progressive feminist themes and its masterful use of storytelling. Nevertheless, one of its most enduring legacies is the unique dialogue style known as "Buffyspeak," characterized by its clever infusion of pop culture references, sass, and sincere emotional expressions.

This distinctive dialogue style gives Buffy the Vampire Slayer a singular tone, allowing it to tackle complex issues with both skill and playful humor. However, it is important to note that not every episode of Buffy solely relies on witty banter. The series also delves into difficult subjects and explores some truly haunting depths.

Warning: Spoilers Ahead

8. "Once More, With Feeling"

Season 6, Episode 7

Musicals often receive criticism for their cheesiness. However, Buffy the Vampire Slayer's "Once More, With Feeling" proves that the genre can be utilized to convey a dark narrative while maintaining intricately choreographed song and dance sequences. A demon forces the inhabitants of Sunnydale to expose their deepest secrets through the medium of music, leading to unsettling consequences.

During an upbeat duet between Xander and Anya, the couple unveils their hidden worries about the future of their relationship. Giles discovers that he has become a hindrance to Buffy's personal growth. Shocking her friends, Buffy herself confesses that they had plucked her out of Heaven when they cast a spell to revive her. Adherents of musicals appreciate how this art form enables characters to express their emotions sincerely, and "Once More, With Feeling" truly exemplifies this. However, the revelations presented in the episode are far from joyful.

7. "Bad Girls"

Season 3, Episode 14

The arrival of Faith, a rebellious Slayer, in the third season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, permanently disrupts the established order of the series. In stark contrast to Buffy, Faith prefers solitude over relying on her friends and exhibits sexual assertiveness instead of practicing modesty. However, the most significant divergence lies in Faith's readiness to exploit her Slayer abilities.

Yet if Faith is Buffy's opposite, she is also her alter ego. The episode "Bad Girls" highlights the ease with which the seemingly pure Buffy can be influenced by Faith's reckless behavior, leading to tragic and far-reaching consequences. In this way, the episode explores the darker aspect of the main Slayer but ultimately rescues her from the edge when the situation becomes truly grave.

6. "Normal Again"

Season 6, Episode 17

The television show Buffy the Vampire Slayer presents a unique and captivating premise that must be seen to be fully understood. In one particular episode of the show's dark sixth season titled "Normal Again," the writers skillfully embrace this unconventional concept. Buffy is deceived into believing that her extraordinary adventures are merely figments of her imagination, suggesting that she is not the Slayer but rather a mentally unstable young woman with an overactive mind.

This mind-bending storyline is the result of the Trio, a group of criminal geeks who devise various schemes to undermine Buffy's resistance. By the conclusion of the episode, Buffy returns to the "real" world. However, the episode playfully alludes to the possibility that this reality is nothing more than a fantasy, leaving it open for viewers to form their own conclusions.

5. "Anne"

Season 3, Episode 1

Following the events of the previous season, Buffy's third season commences with her escape from Sunnydale to Los Angeles. She adopts a new identity and holds a job as a waitress in a diner, striving for a semblance of a regular life. However, her tranquility is disrupted when a familiar individual from her past reawakens her obligation to battle the malevolent forces.

4. "Passion"

The exploration of how society consumes and discards vulnerable young individuals remains pertinent in the episode. Additionally, its somber theme and urban backdrop would heavily influence the overall atmosphere of the subsequent spin-off series Angel, which premiered the following year. "Anne" fundamentally delves into the journey of self-discovery and the harrowing destiny that befalls those who lose themselves in a bustling metropolis, concerns that continue to strike a chord.

Season 2, Episode 17

Buffy the Vampire Slayer is known for its gripping blend of deadly demons and bloodthirsty vampires, but it is the complicated romantic relationships of its main character that provide much of the show's dramatic depth. One particular storyline that brings these two elements together is the Angelus arc in the second season. In this arc, Buffy's vampire boyfriend is cursed and transformed into a merciless serial killer.

Among the episodes that explore this arc, "Passion" stands out as the most disturbing. In this installment, Angelus ruthlessly murders the beloved recurring character Jenny Calendar, and then cruelly manipulates her lifeless body to inflict emotional trauma upon her lover, Giles, when he discovers it. The intention of the show's writers was to showcase the true monstrosity that Angel had become, and with "Passion," they undeniably achieved this goal.

3. "Earshot"

Season 3, Episode 18

The early seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer utilized their high school backdrop to delve into teenage-related topics such as the risks of online dating and the sensation of being overlooked in social settings. However, it wasn't until the episode "Earshot" that the show addressed the tragically perennial issue of school shootings—and the timing couldn't have been worse.

"Earshot," the eighteenth episode of the show's third season, where Buffy acquires the ability to delve into people's thoughts, was originally scheduled to air. However, due to the tragic events of the Columbine High School Massacre that occurred a week earlier, the network had to alter its plans. Although the episode's plot revolves around a misdirected school shooting (in reality, a misunderstood student contemplating suicide), the decision to pull "Earshot" from the broadcast lineup still holds weight.

2. "Seeing Red"

Season 6, Episode 19

The "Seeing Red" episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer's sixth season highlights the series' worst extremes and disappoints many fans. This pivotal episode embodies the dark and edgy themes of the season, resulting in a predictably negative outcome. Current media criticism often discusses the "fridging" trope, which involves sacrificing one character to advance another's storyline, and "Seeing Red" perfectly exemplifies this trope. It suggests that the lightheartedness and wit that defined Buffy have been replaced by a focus on characters' misery and the destruction they bring upon each other. Despite the show's usual ability to navigate different tones, it falters in this episode.

1. "The Body"

Season 5, Episode 16

One of the standout episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer is "The Body," which is not only the darkest but also one of the best installments of the series. This poignant episode revolves around the death of Buffy's mother, Joyce, and draws inspiration from the personal experiences of writer Joss Whedon, who himself dealt with the loss of his mother. What makes it even more impactful is that Joyce's passing is not the result of supernatural forces like demons or curses; rather, it is a devastating consequence of an aneurysm. The raw exploration of grief in this episode is achingly brutal and leaves a lasting impression.

Prior episodes have explored

Buffy's powerlessness when confronted with the harsh realities of the world. Despite possessing supernatural strength, she is ill-equipped to confront challenges that cannot be resolved through physical combat. This weakness is exemplified in its rawest form in this heart-wrenching television episode. "The Body" stands as the darkest installment of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, not due to supernatural threats, but rather because it delves into the painfully real aspects of life.

New version:

The content is about a TV series called "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" that was released on March 10, 1997. It was created by Joss Whedon and features a talented cast including Sarah Michelle Gellar, Alyson Hannigan, Charisma Carpenter, Seth Green, David Boreanaz, James Marsters, Nicholas Brendon, and Anthony Stewart Head. The show falls under multiple genres including action, horror, drama, and comedy. It ran for a total of 7 seasons and had a total of 144 episodes.