Hey campers!
This year marks the twenty fifth birthday of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. You’ll learn through the course of Monster Camp that the show is quite literally my lifeblood and has been for nearly ten years. I found Buffy right before going to college, before I was able to truly accept and understand my queerness and gender nonconformity, before I understood what being an adult really meant. I’m excited to share a more in-depth piece to be published (in a dream publication!!!), so more about that soon.
For now, please enjoy a list of my top ten favorite episodes. These tend to change as more and more time goes on—maybe for its thirtieth anniversary the list will be completely different.
These are just in chronological order. If I had to rank them, we’d be here all day. As you can tell, a few are regarded as some of the best episodes of the entire show, and for good reason. But I also wanted to include some that might not be on your radar. Obviously, major spoilers are ahead! Let’s get into it.
The Wish (Season 3, Episode 9)
Who doesn’t love a multiversal apocalyptic moment, especially in the Buffyverse? We get Willow and Xander sporting some fangs, and a hardened Buffy who looks SO hot while serving some Lara Croft realness.
And um…hello, God? Are you there? It’s me, Beyza:
This is also the debut episode for Anya, one of my favorite Buffy characters of all time. Her journey throughout the show only gets better and better after each rewatch, and coming back to this episode always makes me look forward to watching her growth as a character.
Hush (Season 4, Episode 10)
Half silent movie, half nightmare fuel, “Hush” is one of my favorite episodes in terms of breaking the style and structure of Buffy. It all happens so naturally, and everything fits perfectly in to the story of season four. “Hush” also tests the entire casts acting chops—everyone proves themselves and their characters to be hilarious, confused, and terrified all at the same time. We also get some of the first glimpses into Willow and Tara’s relationship, marking it as an iconic piece of sapphic TV history!
If you aren’t scared of those motherfucking Gentlemen, I seriously applaud you. Some of the most terrifying Buffy villains ever shown on screen. And of course, we can’t forget:
Who Are You? (Season 4, Episode 16)
“Who Are You?” never gets enough love, in my opinion. This episode really confirmed my Buffy x Faith obsession, and the acting from SMG and Eliza Dushku was INCREDIBLE. They were both robbed at the Emmys, and I’ll forever be salty about it.
Also, just enjoy this gif…you’re welcome.
The Body (Season 5, Episode 16)
I don’t really have anything to add to the conversation about “The Body,” but I knew it had to be on this list. It’s too sad to be an absolute favorite episode of mine, but its cultural impact will always be something I’m grateful for and in awe of. It helps me understand loss. It’s one of the best episodes of television ever made.
The Gift (Season 5, Episode 22)
Now, THIS is one of my favorite Buffy episodes of all time, one that is worthy of its own post one day. Still sad, definitely. But the last few words that Buffy utters before she sacrifices herself for her sister Dawn have stuck with me for almost ten years:
“The hardest thing in this world is to live in it. Be brave. Live.”
I haven’t connected with a quote like I do with this one ever since I first heard it. It’s my mantra, it’s how I choose to live my life, and I think it’s made me a stronger person. This episode also opens up the plot of Buffy’s main arc for seasons six and seven, my favorite seasons of the show. It changed Buffy’s trajectory forever. It taught me to be brave. “The Gift” is truly that—a gift to anyone who watches it.
Once More, With Feeling (Season 6, Episode 7)
It’s not a Buffy top ten list without “Once More, With Feeling,” an episode that helped kickstart the trend of full-fledged musicals on television! OMWF has everything—catchy music that I still sing constantly (and badly), huge plot breakdowns, major character emotions and storylines that finally catch up with them, and bunnies!
Besides its iconic stylistic aspect, OMWF depicted one of the first sapphic love scenes on television. For that alone, A+++ AND a gold star from me. Thank you for everything, Alyson Hannigan and Amber Benson ❤️
Gone (Season 6, Episode 11)
I just LOVE “Gone.” The trio is one of the most realistic and unfortunately relatable “big bads” of the entirety of BTVS, and we get a closer look into their idiocracy and danger in this episode. “Gone” also beings to tackle one of the biggest arcs Buffy has during the show: adapting to being pulled out of heaven by the people she loves most.
The reason I love “Gone” so much is the same reason why I love season six. Buffy shares that while she still struggles with the idea of being alive, turning invisible taught her that she doesn't actually want to die. This is the beginning of Buffy owning her trauma, depression, and grief, and actually doing something about it. It means even more that Willow is the one to be there to experience it with Buffy and help her through it. At the end of the episode, Buffy and Willow get to take a moment to sit and reflect on their seemingly small but overall massive steps to overcoming the issues that have been following them thus far. It’s a beautiful episode, and I encourage everyone to revisit it!
Same Time, Same Place (Season 7, Episode 3)
TEARS. Just tears. What I just said about “Gone” can also be said about “Same Time, Same Place,” except switch Buffy for Willow and add what I think is the scariest Buffy villain, Gnarl. LOOK AT THIS FUCKER. Are you serious?!
This episode really feeds into the horror elements that are heightened in season seven, all while digging deep (not pun intended) into Buffy, Xander, and Willow’s friendship and past trauma from the Dark Willow era. Alyson Hannigan’s acting has never been better, and I cry every single time at this moment, one of the most gorgeous shots of the entire show:
Conversations with Dead People (Season 7, Episode 7)
Again, THE HORROR. As a proud Dawn stan, I’m so glad the character shows her true strength and perseverance in this episode. “Conversations with Dead People” IS Michelle Trachtenberg’s moment, and we don’t tell her that enough. Each individual silhouette leads the Scooby Gang to face what they fear (and miss) the most, and that leads to major breakthroughs for them all. It’s a (literally) haunting, captivating, and insightful look into each character’s journey as they all come to an uncertain end (besides Xander, but I’m not complaining about that).
Chosen (Season 7, Episode 22)
What can I even say? I’m crying while writing this. I just revisited “Chosen” with my partner who had never seen the series, and it’s still as poignant, raw, and bittersweet as you remember it to be.
How can you end a show like Buffy the Vampire Slayer? There’s no right or wrong way, I don’t think. “Chosen” is rushed, kinda messy, and we lost one of my favorite characters in the process (and also, Spike). And still, regardless of all that, I wouldn’t want anything different.
Buffy broke the guidelines for what it meant to be a Slayer. She made her own rules, not just during this episode or even this season. Her heroism is built upon the idea of building your own future, no matter the odds. That’s what makes her a hero, and that’s why she’s my hero. So with that, I leave you with her epochal question:
“Are you ready to be strong?”
And that’s the list! There are so many honorable mentions, “Graduation Day” parts 1 and 2, “Dopplegangland,” “Band Candy,” “Prophecy Girl,” I could go on and on. What do you all think? Are there any episodes on this list you absolutely agree or disagree with? Let me know in the comments! I need more Buffy stans in my life.
Need even more Buffy content? Check out the latest Fear Queers episode where we talk about the Buffy the Vampire Slayer movie from 1992 with the boys of My Bloody Judy!
As always, if you have any questions, you can email (or beep) me: hellomonstercamp@gmail.com.
Stay queer, spread fear,
Beyza 🎃 🖤