Mac's Best Episodes · Hellmouth Central

1. Restless
Written and Directed by Joss Whedon.

A Stanley Kubrick/David Lynch film for the small screen. The foreshadowing is an amazing touch. “You think you know what’s to come, what you are? You haven’t even begun.” Joss Whedon took a chance and it paid off.

2. Once More, With Feeling
Written and Directed by Joss Whedon.

Where do we go from here? It moves us. It makes us be there in these moments. The all-singing, all-dancing classic. And in my opinion, the greatest musical ever made. Every song penned by Whedon to fit the seasonal storyline perfectly.

3. Hush
Written and Directed by Joss Whedon.

Cinematically breathtaking. The first beautiful structured episode of Buffy. The haunting score, the creepy Gentlemen, the almost 40 minutes of no dialogue. Everything about this episode should be put it in a hall of fame.

4. Chosen
Written and Directed by Joss Whedon.

The last episode. “Emotional” is the best way to describe it. Memories of past moments flood your senses while you watch. It’s a satisfying end to the greatest television show of all-time. Buffy smiles, the credits roll, the score drops and we are left in awe.

5. The Body
Written and Directed by Joss Whedon

I can barely write about this episode, it was simply unbearable to replay it in my mind. “The Body” is the most realistic portrayl of death I’ve ever seen. There is nothing that comes close to the emotion, the dramatic moments, and the incredible acting in this episode.

6. The Gift
Written and Directed by Joss Whedon

She saved the world a lot. The last 20 minutes are spectacular. Great fight scenes, great dramatic scenes.

7. Becoming 1&2
Written and Directed by Joss Whedon

The two-hour episode that MADE Buffy for me. This was the one that sent it from a “good show” to “the best”.

8. Graduation Day 1&2
Written and Directed by Joss Whedon

The Scoobies graduating, the drama of Buffy and Angel coming to an end, and a giant snake. What more can one ask for?

9. End of Days
Written by Doug Petrie and Jane Espenson.
Directed by Marita Grabiak.

The prelude to the end. Some of the best dialogue between the characters in the show’s history makes this a very special episode.

10. Dopplegangland
Written and Directed by Joss Whedon.

One of the funniest and most endearing episodes ever. The writing is perfect, and Alyson Hannigan’s performance is right on target.

11. Innocence
Written and Directed by Joss Whedon.

This is the one that gave Buffy a bigger audience. Gellar and Boreanaz shine as Buffy and Angel’s romance is abruptly put on hold.

12. Earshot
Written by Jane Espenson.
Directed by Regis Kimble.

A beautifully written and directed episode. After the columbine tragedy we needed to see something like this.

13. The Wish
Written by Marti Noxon.
Directed by David Greenwalt.

The alternate Buffyverse. Very slick and very cool. One of the best conceptual episodes.

14. Band Candy
Written by Jane Espenson.
Directed by Michael Lange

Probably the funniest episode of all-time. Tony Head’s performance stands out in this hillarious episode about the Sunnydale parents changing into teenagers for a night.

15. Two To Go/Grave
Written by Doug Petrie (“Two To Go”) and David Fury (“Grave”)
Directed by Bill Norton (“Two To Go”) and James A. Contner (“Grave”)

The two-hour season six finale may have saved this particular season from being a disappointing one. The scene with Xander and Willow on Kingman’s bluff is incredible.

16. Halloween
Written by Carl Ellsworth.
Directed by Bruce Seth Green.

A very funny episode, probably the first truly comedic one at that. One wonders why Ellsworth only wrote this one and then was never heard from again.

17. Surprise
Written by Marti Noxon.
Directed by Michael Lange.

The first part of the two-parter dealing with Angel’s turn to the dark side. High drama, terrific acting.

18. Lover’s Walk
Written by Dan Vebber.
Direced by David Semel.

Oz and Cordelia find out about Xander and Willow, as Spike comes to town and tries to ruin everything. Funny, dramatic and a whole lot of angsty-fun.

19. Conversations with Dead People
Written by Drew Goddard and Jane Espenson.
Directed by James A. Contner.

Unbelievably great direction. On the edge of terrifying, and extremely captivating. And I miss Webs.

20. Passion
Written by Ty King.
Directed by Michael Gershman.

I think what makes this episode better than what it really is is ASH and SMG’s acting. If it wasn’t for that, this would’ve been a letdown.

21. Prophecy Girl
Written and Directed by Joss Whedon.

The finale of the first season. After this episode, everyone who saw it was interested in Buffy.

22. Selfless
Written by Drew Goddard.
Directed by James A. Contner.

Anya’s incredible backstory told by a new writer who knows his BtVS. Three scenes stand out - Anya and Olaf, the song to Xander, and the Buffy/Anya fight scene.

23. Tabula Rasa
Written by Rebecca Rand Kirshner.
Directed by David Grossman.

Maybe the only episode RRK ever wrote that was any good (no offense). Very funny, but at the same time very depressing. There are some great lines in this one.

24. Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered
Written by Marti Noxon.
Directed by James A. Contner.

One of the most underrated episodes of all-time, also one of the funniest.

25. Something Blue
Written by Tracy Forbes.
Directed by Nick Marck.

Another hillarious episode as Willow does different spells on Giles, Buffy, Spike and Xander.

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