What are your 'essential' Buffy episodes?

[gloominous]

I watched Buffy during its original run and have always been a big fan but my best friend has never seen it. All the episodes are currently on Prime and she mentioned the other night that she'd be amenable to a 'highlights' version.

Obviously I have my own favourite episodes which I've returned to (many, many times) over the years but I've never rewatched all seven seasons in chronological order. So I wondered what everyone else would consider to be the essential episodes of each season that would give a complete newbie a sense of the overall story?

Obviously the ideal scenario is that she'll love it so much that she binges the whole thing without me but I like to be prepared

Hush
Tabula Rasa
Once More With Feeling - I hated this episode the first time, I think the more you watch it the more it grows on you!

Hush
Passions (I have a line from this tattooed on me!)
The body
Smashed

oh and Band Candy is funny as!

Hush
Tabula rasa
Once more

Love this series got so excited seeing it on prime. Thought my teen daughter would love it to. But not so much 😢

Watching once more with feeling right now.

I don’t know the titles but my absolute favourite episode is Buffy in the mental hospital - freaks the shit out of me and makes the whole series real.

Hush and Once More With Feeling obviously brilliant.

The one where Xander is split in half.

Dark Willow plunging her hands into the books.

My favourite line out of every episode ever made is Spike “out for a walk...bitch”

Love Buffy so much.

Thanks 10IAR I keep saying a strong (properly strong physically and mentally) female lead in a leather jacket and boots who’s only interactions with males is a teacher type who respects her fully and a fawning weaker make who she saves but doesn’t snog was bloody groundbreaking and all teenage drama that comes after it owes it a debt. Ok, it maybe hit me at the right time and I might be overegging it BUT I don’t think so.
Willow was a ‘classic’ wallflower clever girl until she realised she was gay and her personality sprung forth. Buffy ended it with Angel even though she loved him and even though he didn’t want her too - what a great message. Knowledge was always a vital component. Power wasn’t about money or looks.

I am more passionate about it that I should be maybe. Oh buggerit lets get prime on.

Parsleyisntfood I completely agree with everything you said! As a teenager in the 90s to see girls/women taking control and finding their own way in the world was pretty exciting (it sounds a bit silly nowadays I know).

Also Joyce was Buffy's role model, she was pretty feisty herself and I thought that was cool in an era where single Mums were portrayed negatively.

I loved the dynamic between Willow and Tara, they were made for each other! Although I've often quoted Willow and Oz's "blue haired little old lady in Istanbul" chat too.

Most of all I loved that the oddballs, the misfits and the kind of weird kids ended up saving the world, more than once!

Buffy doesn’t get the respect it deserves for changing the language of a generation of school girls.

Also for normalising gay relationships. The series was an enormous, powerful influence on my son as he went through his teens. Joss Whedon - I owe you massively, you are a deity.

I have the Scythe from S7 tattooed on the back of my calf with the quote “She alone will have the strength” from S1

Passions (I have a line from this tattooed on me!)

Is it "Without passion we'd be truly dead"?!

@TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross yep

I think it would be hard to get the gist of the whole story from just a few episodes but I'd suggest:

From Season 1 - Welcome to the Hellmouth, The Harvest, Angel, Prophecy Girl

Season 2 - School Hard (introduction of Spike and Drusilla), Halloween, What's My Line (both parts), Surprise, Innocence, Passion, Becoming (both parts)

Season 3 - Anne, Faith Hope and Trick, Lover's Walk, The Wish, Bad Girls (for the whole Faith going bad storyline), The Prom, Graduation Day both parts

I'll think of the rest for the other seasons later

Out of sight, out of mind. S1 ep11 (I think)

The one where the girl becomes invisible because nobody notices her. Creepy

I have been watching it from the beginning with dd. She absolutely loves it. Season one looks a bit dated but it is still really good.

I like 'Witch' to start with, it really gets going with that episode imo. Then 'Becoming' both parts. Season 3 'The Wish'. Season 4 definitely 'Hush', Season 5 all of it as it is my favourite season. Season 6 'OMWF' and "Tabula Rasa" and Season 7 the one Andrew narrates that I can't remember the name of.

Storyteller is the episode Andrew narrates.

Thanks! I am rubbish at remembering the names of episodes. Or actual quotes even.

HumphreyCobblers I'm the opposite, I can name titles and quotes but no actual useful information

I loved that episode though, so that may be my excuse

Angel
School Hard
Innocence
Revelations
Band Candy (funny)
The two part season 2 finale
Killed by Death
Graduation Day Parts 1 & 2 (season 3 finale episodes)
Hush
This Year's Girl
The Body
Once More With Feeling
Tabula Rasa
Smashed
Wrecked
Showtime
Lies My Parents Told Me
All of the last 3-5 episodes of the series

I bloody love Buffy.

I can't tell you how much I have enjoyed sharing it with DD. She is in awe of my Buffy knowledge (not quotes though ).

Can I nominate anything with Riley Finn for Worst Episode Ever. God he irritated me!

@CalmDownPacino YES. He aggravates the fuck out of me

He was so bloody beige! I mean, I get that they had to bring in the anti-Angel, but Riley was so bland!

And the chest beating man possessiveness of Buffy between him and Angel was vomit inducing.

I have never watched it! I am going to so i am not reading this thread!! Would it be ok for a mature 11yo?

YFIBU

your friend is being unreasonable!

You can't just watch highlights, it's not make any kind of sense!