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falafel_musings) wrote2012-01-07 09:51 pm
falafel_musings) wrote2012-01-07 09:51 pm
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My Buffy 'Best of' Lists (Part 1)
As with any new fandom, I feel the need to celebrate with obnoxious favourites lists.
Tomorrow I'm posting my Favourite Character Top 10. Can you guess who'll be on the list?
My Top 10 Favourite Buffy the Vampire Slayer episodes
10. Normal Again (6x17)
"In her mind she's the central figure in a fantastical world beyond imagination."
Why? Because it offered a scarily convincing explanation for all the freakish apocalyptic events in Buffy verse for a whole six seasons. Because I was serious torn over which reality I thought Buffy should stay in.
9. Doppelgangland (3x16)
"I'm so evil. And skanky. And I think I'm kinda gay."
Why? Because it was the first episode that really defined Willow as a compelling heroine in her own right. Because it foreshadowed both Willow's dark side and her lesbianism. Because Willow looked hot in black leather and red lace. Because Vampire Willow's dusting was hilarious.
8. Storyteller (7x16)
"Why can't you just masturbate like the rest of us?"
Why? Because it took us from the campy storybook world of Andrew's deluded imagination right to that chilling final video diary where Andrew gets real and confesses that he killed his friend, he can't hope to survive and he deserves to die. And because how can you not love an episode that has the Trio skipping about in togas singing 'We are as Gods'.
7. Hush (4x10)
"You're gonna die screaming but you won't be heard."
Why? Because floating silent smiling monsters who cut out your heart are seriously scary. Because it was Tara's first episode and her chemistry with Willow was so much more palpable without dialogue. Because Giles's informative illustrations are the best.
6. Conversations with Dead People (7x7)
"Can I spend the night alone?"
Why? Because it was stylistically so compelling as both a tribute to Tarantino movies and The Sopranos therapy sessions. Because I always love it when Buffy chats with the vampires she's fighting in the graveyard. Because it's the one episode where I loved the First Evil. Because I squeed when the nerds showed up. Because I really loved that final song.
5) Passion (2x17)
"It lies in all of us. It will stir, open up its jaws and howl."
Why? Because it was the first episode of Buffy that really got me excited for how dark the show could go. Because it featured the first major death of the series. Because Angelus leaving Jenny's body in Giles's bed surrounded by candles and rose petals is so horrifically cruel it was impressive. Because I love any episode where Buffy and Giles hug. Because Drusilla tries to feed Spike her new puppy.
4. Fool for Love (5x7)
"I know I'm a bad poet but I'm a good man."
Why? Because it's the single best character study episode the show has ever done. Because William the Bloody kind of breaks my heart. Because Spike/Dru are the best vampire couple ever. Because there was a time when Spike's sad little unrequited crush on Buffy was touching. Because vampires and slayers do like to dance.
3. Once More with Feeling (6x7)
"I want the fire back."
Why? Because it's a frickin musical episode amid of the doom and darkness of S6. Because the songs are catchy, funny and perfect character studies of everyone in the main ensemble. Because even though only Giles and Tara have particularly good voices, the cast pulls off the singing and dancing so well. Because this episode featured the best demon ever. Because bunnies aren't cute like everybody supposes.
2. Restless (4x22)
"There's trees in the desert since you moved out and I don't sleep on a bed of bones."
Why? Because the show finally dared to have a season finale where Buffy wasn't trying to prevent an apocalypse. Because the surreal paranoid quality of dreaming is perfectly captured and just like the songs in OMWF the dreams work as striking character studies for the core four. Because that's the best production of 'Death of a Salesman' I've ever seen. Because Giles sings in it. Because I rather love the first Slayer.
1. The Body (5x16)
"I was having fruit punch. And I thought, well...Joyce will never have any more fruit punch. Ever."
Why? Because it is the most frightening and honest episode, not just of Buffy, but of any show I've seen. Because I've never seen grief depicted in such a raw tangible way on a TV show. Because the acting in this episode is stunning. Because Anya's speech is the single best bit of writing in the whole show. Because Dawn's last line will never stop haunting me. Because I love Joyce and mourned her too. Because...why did this episode not win some kind of an Emmy? It's incredible.
Honorary Mentions
(I tried to choose one apocalyptic finale for my list...but couldn't pick a favourite between these four!)
Becoming (2x21-22), The Gift (5x22), Grave (6x22) and Chosen (7x22)
My Favourite Seasons (Ranked)
(Yeah...I may be the only Buffy fan in the world who didn't much love S3)
Season 5
Season 6
Season 4
Season 2
Season 7
Season 3
Season 1
10. Normal Again (6x17)
"In her mind she's the central figure in a fantastical world beyond imagination."
Why? Because it offered a scarily convincing explanation for all the freakish apocalyptic events in Buffy verse for a whole six seasons. Because I was serious torn over which reality I thought Buffy should stay in.
9. Doppelgangland (3x16)
"I'm so evil. And skanky. And I think I'm kinda gay."
Why? Because it was the first episode that really defined Willow as a compelling heroine in her own right. Because it foreshadowed both Willow's dark side and her lesbianism. Because Willow looked hot in black leather and red lace. Because Vampire Willow's dusting was hilarious.
8. Storyteller (7x16)
"Why can't you just masturbate like the rest of us?"
Why? Because it took us from the campy storybook world of Andrew's deluded imagination right to that chilling final video diary where Andrew gets real and confesses that he killed his friend, he can't hope to survive and he deserves to die. And because how can you not love an episode that has the Trio skipping about in togas singing 'We are as Gods'.
7. Hush (4x10)
"You're gonna die screaming but you won't be heard."
Why? Because floating silent smiling monsters who cut out your heart are seriously scary. Because it was Tara's first episode and her chemistry with Willow was so much more palpable without dialogue. Because Giles's informative illustrations are the best.
6. Conversations with Dead People (7x7)
"Can I spend the night alone?"
Why? Because it was stylistically so compelling as both a tribute to Tarantino movies and The Sopranos therapy sessions. Because I always love it when Buffy chats with the vampires she's fighting in the graveyard. Because it's the one episode where I loved the First Evil. Because I squeed when the nerds showed up. Because I really loved that final song.
5) Passion (2x17)
"It lies in all of us. It will stir, open up its jaws and howl."
Why? Because it was the first episode of Buffy that really got me excited for how dark the show could go. Because it featured the first major death of the series. Because Angelus leaving Jenny's body in Giles's bed surrounded by candles and rose petals is so horrifically cruel it was impressive. Because I love any episode where Buffy and Giles hug. Because Drusilla tries to feed Spike her new puppy.
4. Fool for Love (5x7)
"I know I'm a bad poet but I'm a good man."
Why? Because it's the single best character study episode the show has ever done. Because William the Bloody kind of breaks my heart. Because Spike/Dru are the best vampire couple ever. Because there was a time when Spike's sad little unrequited crush on Buffy was touching. Because vampires and slayers do like to dance.
3. Once More with Feeling (6x7)
"I want the fire back."
Why? Because it's a frickin musical episode amid of the doom and darkness of S6. Because the songs are catchy, funny and perfect character studies of everyone in the main ensemble. Because even though only Giles and Tara have particularly good voices, the cast pulls off the singing and dancing so well. Because this episode featured the best demon ever. Because bunnies aren't cute like everybody supposes.
2. Restless (4x22)
"There's trees in the desert since you moved out and I don't sleep on a bed of bones."
Why? Because the show finally dared to have a season finale where Buffy wasn't trying to prevent an apocalypse. Because the surreal paranoid quality of dreaming is perfectly captured and just like the songs in OMWF the dreams work as striking character studies for the core four. Because that's the best production of 'Death of a Salesman' I've ever seen. Because Giles sings in it. Because I rather love the first Slayer.
1. The Body (5x16)
"I was having fruit punch. And I thought, well...Joyce will never have any more fruit punch. Ever."
Why? Because it is the most frightening and honest episode, not just of Buffy, but of any show I've seen. Because I've never seen grief depicted in such a raw tangible way on a TV show. Because the acting in this episode is stunning. Because Anya's speech is the single best bit of writing in the whole show. Because Dawn's last line will never stop haunting me. Because I love Joyce and mourned her too. Because...why did this episode not win some kind of an Emmy? It's incredible.
Honorary Mentions
(I tried to choose one apocalyptic finale for my list...but couldn't pick a favourite between these four!)
Becoming (2x21-22), The Gift (5x22), Grave (6x22) and Chosen (7x22)
My Favourite Seasons (Ranked)
(Yeah...I may be the only Buffy fan in the world who didn't much love S3)
Season 5
Season 6
Season 4
Season 2
Season 7
Season 3
Season 1
Tomorrow I'm posting my Favourite Character Top 10. Can you guess who'll be on the list?