The Iconic (44-1)
- E. K.
- Jul 13, 2020
- 19 min read
Updated: Jul 6, 2021
These episodes prove that Buffy and Angel are criminally underrated shows. Sure, Buffy was massive hit and still has a huge following decades later, but it never really got the critical acclaim it deserved. Angel doesn’t even have a Rotten Tomatoes score. It’s a travesty because these shows are So. Fucking. Good.
44. Selfless
Buffy Season 7, Episode 5
Written by Drew Goddard
Directed by David Solomon
This Anya-centric episode is to be cherished since it’s the only one in the series. It features Anya from many time periods, including Scandinavian Viking "Aud", who is a true delight. But the bulk of the episode revolves around present-day Anya’s slaughter of a fraternity (“It’s like someone massacred an Abercrombie and Fitch catalogue"). Buffy decides to kill Anya, which sets up a fascinating discussion about Slayer ethics. Is it a double standard for Buffy to kill Anya but allow Spike to live? Does Buffy get a veto because she once killed Angel, even though she did it after allowing him to kill several people?
Side note: How did it take until Season 7 for someone to mention the fact that Xander lied to Buffy about Angel getting his soul back in "Becoming"? I feel like this should have gotten more traction.
43. Tabula Rasa
Buffy Season 6, Episode 8
Written by Rebecca Rand Kirshner
Directed by David Grossman
Definitely Buffy's best “accidental-magic-creates-shenanigans” episode. Come for memory-wiped Buffy calling herself “Joan”, stay for the image of Giles sword fighting a skeleton in a room full of bunnies summoned by Anya. And then forgive the melodramatic music montage at the end.
42. Restless
Buffy Season 4, Episode 22
Written & Directed by Joss Whedon
Joss Whedon crafted the perfect dream episode - it’s fun, poignant, layered, and full of foreshadowing. The Cheese Man deserves a major shout-out.
41. Prophecy Girl
Buffy Season 1, Episode 12
Written & Directed by Joss Whedon
Before Buffy really died, she…sort of died. “Prophecy Girl” really raises the stakes of killing the big bad to something incredibly personal as Buffy has to grapple with a prophecy that suggests her death is the key to defeating the Master. That scene where Buffy confronts Giles about being too young to die is heartbreaking and low-key one of SMG’s best scenes.
Side note: How did the school not close down when several students were found brutally murdered on campus? I have so many questions for the school administrators.
40. Deep Down
Angel Season 4, Episode 1
Written by Steven DeKnight
Directed by Terrence O’Harra
In this stellar Season 4 premiere, Wesley is now the show's anti-hero. He’s sleeping with Lilah, holding Justine hostage and searching for Angel's body in the ocean. It is precisely because he no longer cares about crossing ethical boundaries in order to do what’s “right” that he's able to rescue Angel from the bottom of the ocean. It’s badass, but also unsettling, which basically sums up Wesley for the rest of the series.
39. Reunion
Angel Season 2, Episode 10
Written by Tim Minear & Shawn Ryan
Directed by James Contner
I admit that the bulk of this episode’s iconic status comes from its shocking ending. When Angel coldly says “And I just can’t seem to care” while locking a group of lawyers inside a wine cellar to be murdered by Darla and Dru, I get chills. Wolfram & Hart clearly underestimated how far Angel is willing to go in his quest to eliminate evil. But the rub of it is, it wasn’t eliminating evil that Angel sought while he literally facilitated a massacre, it was vengeance.
38. Release
Angel Season 4, Episode 14
Written by Sarah Fain, Elizabeth Craft & Steven DeKnight
Directed by James Contner
The Faith/Wesley pairing in this episode is great, especially in the context of their respective arcs. They have both come a long way from when he was her (incompetent) watcher and she tortured him. It’s a testament to how far Wesley has devolved that his decision to stab a girl in the demon brothel for information shocks Faith. I could honestly watch a whole dark and gritty series about these two. I guess we get a bizarro version of this pairing in Dollhouse, but it's not the same.
37. You’re Welcome
Angel Season 5, Episode 12
Written and Directed by David Fury
Cordelia returns after the character assassination that was Season 4 for a lovely and much-needed send off. Honestly, it’s great to see her back as her old self, with the zingers and gratuitous cleavage. It culminates in a sweet moment when Angel gets a call that Cordelia has passed away and thanks her after she’s gone. Was it spirit Cordelia who came by to say goodbye? Does it matter? Nah. It was just nice to see her.
36. Graves
Buffy Season 6, Episode 22
Written by David Fury
Directed by James Contner
Despite the fact that this finale revolves around another baddy trying to destroy the world (this time it’s Willow, and her motives are just as unclear as some other villains), “Graves” contains some of the most moving moments of the series. The way Giles tenderly says “you cut your hair” when he sees Buffy after a long time away (and in the midst of a major crisis) is reason enough for him being the absolute best. But by far the most emotional moment is Xander’s simple yet beautiful yellow crayon speech, which ultimately saves Willow and the world.
35. Lineage
Angel Season 5, Episode 7
Written by Drew Goddard
Directed by Jefferson Kibbee
Wesley is one of my favourite characters, so it is no surprise that I love this episode. Wesley’s father comes to town, and he is a true asshole (he is such an asshole that a sociopathic cyborg impersonating him is spot on). He spends most of his time belittling Wesley, which in turn causes Wesley to regress into the clumsy spaz he once was. Yet even with all the resentment between them, it is still shocking when Wesley shoots the man he believes is his father repeatedly and without hesitation when his father threatens Fred. Damn.
34. Lovers Walk
Buffy Season 3, Episode 8
Written by Dan Veber
Directed by David Semel
It really only took Spike's drunken, crashing return to Sunnydale in the cold open to make this episode an instant favourite of mine. His return does two things: it forces everyone else to acknowledge their own heartbreak, and it is a reminder that James Marsters has amazing chemistry with every single character, including and especially Joyce. His speech about love – “You'll be in love till it kills you both. You'll fight, and you'll shag, and you'll hate each other till it makes you quiver, but you'll never be friends” – is revelatory for Buffy and Angel, who start to realize it will never work between them. On top of all that, Oz and Cordelia walk in on Xander and Willow making out (ugh) and then Cordelia gets impaled shortly thereafter. It really puts your bad breakups in perspective, doesn't it?
33. Reprise
Angel Season 2, Episode 15
Written by Time Minear
Directed by James Whitmore Jr.
Who knew that a spin-off about a broody vampire would entail some of the most complex philosophical examinations of good and evil on television? The elevator scene where Holland Manners explains that the end goal of evil forces is never to win, but to continue to exist, managers to be both nihilistic and hopeful at the same time. This conversation is the impetus for Angel sleeping with Darla to lose his soul, but it also will directly lead Angel to the realization that can’t beat Wolfram & Hart with brutal violence. He will have to find some other way.
32. Chosen
Buffy Season 7, Episode 22
Written & Directed by Joss Whedon
Turning all of the potentials into Slayers is the perfect ending to a series that explores the difficulties of being the "chosen one". Hooray for Slayers not having to work in isolation or being confined to one place when there are evil happenings all over the world. So many solid character moments in this episode, like the before battle D&D game or Andrew telling Xander that Anya “died saving my life." It’s honestly hard not to tear up at the final shot of Buffy giving a small smile after blowing up Sunnydale. That woman has been through too damn much.
RIP Sunnydale. You will always have the highest rate of brutal murders of high school students of any town, ever (well, save for the Hellmouth in Clevland).
31. Band Candy
Buffy Season 3, Episode 6
Written by Jane Espenson
Directed by Michael Lange
The best Ethan Rayne episode is also the silliest. Ethan uses mystical chocolate to make all of the adults in town behave like teenagers so that vampires can steal four babies from the hospital. Super dumb plan BUT the adults-as-teenagers thing is gold. Giles’ younger Ripper self is particularly glorious. I’d tune in to that spin-off for sure.
30. Lullaby
Angel Season 3, Episode 9
Written and Directed by Tim Minear
Darla and Holtz are great foils for each other. Darla is inherently evil, but she feels pangs of goodness and love because of the baby with a soul inside her. Holtz, on the other hand, professes to be a good guy but is content to work alongside evil forces so that he can get revenge on the man that killed his family. This contrast makes the final moments of the episode even more chilling, as Darla kills herself to save her child (“you died in an alley, remember?”) and Holtz decides not to kill Angel once he sees the baby, not out of mercy, but of a need to exact a more brutal revenge. Shiiiiiieet.
29. The Zeppo
Buffy Season 3, Episode 13
Written by Dan Veber
Directed by James Whitmore Jr.
Xander’s background story thwarting zombies and losing his virginity gets foregrounded and it is instantly iconic. Nicholas Brendon really shines as the relatable everyman who is often shuttled to the sidelines (when he's not being the worst in other episodes). Plus, the show does a great job making fun of itself by forcing all of the over-dramatic moments to the background - like snippets of Buffy and Angel having one of their “I love you but I might die” fights or catching glimpses of everyone fighting a Hellmouth monster through the library window. No wonder this is a fan favourite.
28. Destiny
Angel Season 5, Episode 8
Written by David Fury & Steven DeKnight
Directed by Skip Schoolnik
This episode is less about Angel and Spike competing to drink out of “the cup of perpetual torment” and more about unpacking their relationship. The flashbacks show how Angelus punished Spike for his sentimentality early on, which turned Spike into an even worse monster. The fight between them is not only one of the best choreographed fights in the series, it’s also the most psychologically intense.
27. Doppelgangland
Buffy Season 3, Episode 16
Written & Directed by Joss Whedon
A.K.A. the ultimate Willow episode. Alyson Hannigan gets to thrive in different roles and leather outfits: she is normal Willow, evil and slightly-gay vampire Willow (spoilers), and normal Willow pretending to be vampire Willow. Sooo many great moments, like her showing up to the Bronze dressed up as evil Willow with a chipper “Hi, I’m back!” or the scenes of various characters mourning her supposed-death, resulting in a favourite exchange of mine:
Xander: “She was so much better than me."
Giles: “Much, much better."
26. Spin the Bottle
Angel Season 4, Episode 6
Written and Directed by Joss Whedon
There have been episodes featuring characters mystically losing their memories, but none quite this good (and definitely none with the same amount of dick jokes). Lorne’s memory spell backfires and everyone reverts to their 18 year-old selves. Wesley, who is formidable badass at the start of the episode, returns to his bumbling and pretentious old ways, and it is delightful. Fred is a stoner. Angel is scared of cars. It's brilliant and hilarious.
25. The Wish
Buffy Season 3, Episode 9
Written by Marti Noxon
Directed by David Greenwalt
Turns out that without Buffy, Sunnydale is depressing AF. Xander and Willow are vampires (guess which one has a penchant for torture) and Angel is a captive of the Master, who is planning on starting a new era where vampires can leisurely drink human blood like it’s craft beer. Even Buffy is different – darker, and more isolated. There would be no musical episode in this darkest of timelines.
24. I Will Remember You
Angel Season 1, Episode 8
Written by David Greenwalt & Jeanine Renshaw
Directed by David Grossman
The one where Angel literally picks saving humanity over sex and peanut butter. Angel's brief stint as human with Buffy is sweet and romantic, but ultimately very sad because he decides to turn back time and remain a vampire so he can continue helping people. What really gets me is that he chooses to be the only one with the memory of the perfect day he spent with Buffy. It’s melodramatic to be sure, but so perfectly tragic that I love it anyway.
23. Orpheus
Angel Season 4, Episode 15
Written by Mere Smith
Directed by Terrence O’Harra
This episode is so good, not even Evil Cordelia can hamper its awesomeness. After intentionally drugging herself with mystical-heroin to capture Angelus, Faith and Angelus go on a dream-like journey through Angel’s past. This leads to a fascinating exploration of how Angel/Angelus function together. Angel does so much good because he is revolted by his past actions. On the flip side, Angelus is equally revolted by Angel’s good deeds and acts of penance. It’s also a delight to explore how well Willow fits in with the team when she arrives to re-ensoul Angel. I could watch her and Fred banter (Ahem: flirt) all day.
22. Fool for Love
Buffy Season 5, Episode 7
Written by Douglas Petrie
Directed by Nick Marck
The Spike episode to end all Spike episodes, “Fool For Love” is basically his origin story. It has flashbacks spanning decades, like back when Spike was a lovelorn young man known as “William the bloody…awful poet”. Pretty much every scene with James Marsters in this episode crackles with intensity, especially when he re-enacts how he killed two Slayers for Buffy. The fight scene between Spike and a Slayer in a 1970s New York subway car is one of the best Slayer fights in the series, which is saying a lot.
21. Sleep Tight
Angel Season 3, Episode 16
Written by David Greenwalt
Directed by Terrence O’Harra
This episode is basically a condensed Shakespearean tragedy. Everything Wesley does in this episode he does with the best of intentions, but he's just so. fucking. wrong. His conclusion that Angel will kill Connor is based on a false prophecy. He decides to move forward with his plan to kidnap Connor without telling any of his friends about the prophecy. He trusts Janine, who ultimately slits his throat. All of these decisions lead to Holtz abducting Angel’s son into a hell dimension. What is this show?
20. Soulless
Angel Season 4, Episode 11
Written by Sarah Fain & Elizabeth Craft
Directed by Sean Astin
I’ll take Angelus over almost any other villain because he is charismatic, observant and, most of all, he tells the truth. That is why this episode is can’t-look-away enthralling even though it consists almost entirely of people just talking to each other. Angelus taunts his friends about their relationships, feelings, and past personal failings. These taunts are made all the more intense by the fact that they are based off of observations he made when he had a soul. Angelus is so good in this episode, even his scene with Connor is fascinating, because of Connor's desire to see his dad only as evil. That, and because Angelus has this amazing line: “The first woman you boned is the closest thing you’ve ever had to a mother and you’re trying to kill your father … There should be a play”.
Side note: This episode was directed by Sam from Lord of the Rings. This episode would not have gotten very far without Sam.
19. The Prom
Buffy Season 3, Episode 20
Written by Marti Noxon
Directed by David Solomon
Gosh I love this episode. I cry every time Buffy wins the class protector award. I also cry when Buffy weeps into Willow’s lap after breaking up with Angel (Girl, I’ve been there). I pretty much cry the entire episode, except for that brilliant moment when the villain says he has a good reason to slaughter people at the prom with hell hounds, which turns out to be simple rejection. Sometimes you can only laugh at fragile masculinity.
18. Who Are You
Buffy Season 4, Episode 16
Written & Directed by Joss Whedon
Society is cursed with so many mediocre body-switching stories. Thankfully, this isn’t one of them. Everything about this episode is great, from SMG’s montage of Buffy-Faith (or is it Faith-Buffy?) trying to emulate Buffy in the mirror or all of the little Faith-isms she does while in Buffy’s body. Not to mention the immense growth Buffy-Faith goes through in the episode, from openly embracing bad behaviour to admitting her own self-loathing at the end. Did someone say redemption arc?
17. Are You Now or Have You Ever Been
Angel Season 2, Episode 2
Written by Tim Minear
Directed by David Semel
Two words to describe this episode would be “stunning” and “despair”. Turns out Angel was the victim of a mob-driven hanging in the 50s after he tried to save a mixed-raced woman's life at a hotel. Even though he knew the mob was driven by a Paranoia demon, he decided to leave it there to continue feeding on humans, sacrificing countless lives to serve his petty revenge. It’s shocking to know that Angel (not Angelus) did something that cruel, though it makes sense that present-day Angel would be drawn to live in that same hotel as a constant reminder of his past. The later episode “Reunion” suggests that he didn’t learn from his mistakes at all.
16. Sanctuary
Angel Season 1, Episode 19
Written by Tim Minear & Joss Whedon
Directed by Michael Lange
This is far and away the best of the Angel/Faith episodes. Angel puts his relationships on the line to try to help Faith, whom he understands on a level that no one else does (they have both tortured British Watchers, for one). Buffy understands least of all, and she and Angel are at odds in this episode more than ever before. While it’s hard to really choose sides in the argument since Faith did do abhorrent things, I find myself taking Angel’s side because his desire to try to help Faith is for all the right reasons. Angel has to believe in the possibility of redemption or he simply couldn't be who he is.
15. Shells
Angel Season 5, Episode 16
Written & Directed by Steven DeKnight
As far as deaths go, Fred’s is the most impactful in all the Buffyverse. Not just because Fred is awesome, but also because she doesn’t fully go away. Instead, her body is taken over by the ancient demon Illyria. This leads to more pain for those that loved her. Exhibit A: Wesley, who watched Fred die and is becoming his own shell of person as he deals with his grief. Possibly his saddest moment comes in the form of this exchange, after Wesley agrees to help Illyria survive in this world:
Illyria: “Is it because I look like her?”
Wesley: “Yes"
[Me: “GIVE EVERYONE AN EMMY RIGHT NOW”]
Side note: Angel has a problem with killing off female characters to enhance the emotional arcs of men. That is certainly true for Cordelia and Lilah, and to some extent with Fred. But I can't fully criticize Fred's death because it A) results in Illyria, a character that is fascinating in her own right, and B) Amy Acker gets to showcase her immense talent as Illyria, giving one of the best performances in the Buffyverse. I get excited for Illyria scenes because she is sooooo good. Does that excuse the problematic way the show handles female characters? Probably not. But it is an impactful storyline befitting of the dark and emotional nature of Angel as a show.
14. Conversations with Dead People
Buffy Season 7, Episode 7
Written by Jane Espenson & Drew Goddard
Directed by Nick Marck
It’s amazing that by the 7th season, Buffy can still do wholly original episodes.“Conversations with Dead People” involves little vignettes of different characters interacting with, well, dead people. The interactions are all devastating (and in Dawn’s case, pretty frightening) and have huge consequences for the remainder of the season. I love the different tones and styles of each of the stories, especially Buffy’s witty fight with Holden. Honestly, this episode had me from the special title card at the start.
13. Waiting in the Wings
Angel Season 3, episode 13
Written & Directed by Joss Whedon
Angel takes the team out to the ballet and the result is one of the most imaginative, immersive, and sexy episodes in Buffyverse. See: every scene with Cordelia and Angel in the mystical hot spot. At one point, Cordelia actually whispers in Angel’s ear “I’m only alive when you’re inside me." On top of the hotness, "WITW" brilliantly delves into the fine line between romantic rejection and obsession. First, with the vengeful ballet owner who forces his romantic obsession, a ballerina, to dance for him forever in ballet purgatory (she doesn’t dance, she echoes). But you can also see glimmers of this thin separation in Wesley, who sees Gunn and Fred kissing and briefly feels the same way as the ballet owner. In a way, this is the episode where Wesley starts to distance himself from the group. No false prophecy needed.
12. Passion
Buffy Season 2, Episode 17
Written by Ty King
Directed by Michael Gershman
Jenny’s redemption in the same episode as her murder? Classic Joss Whedon. I remember the shock of watching Angelus snap Jenny’s neck only half way through the episode. What remains is Giles’ revenge rampage after finding Jenny’s body sadistically staged by Angelus. Giles wielding a baseball bat on fire and beating Angelus is an amazing moment. But, of course, Buffy has to come and save his life. Their confrontation after Buffy punches Giles and tells him “You can’t leave me” is sob-inducing. The second half of Buffy season 2 is simply amazing.
11. Forgiving
Angel Season 3, Episode 17
Written by Jeffrey Bell
Directed by Turi Meyer
“Forgiving” is the engrossing final episode of the trifecta of awesome with “Loyalty” and ”Sleep Tight”. After Wesley’s actions cause Holtz to take Angel’s son away to a hell dimension, Angel is beside himself with a need for revenge. He kidnaps Linwood, nearly kills Lilah, and tries to kill Sahjan after making him corporeal. Most shockingly, after he learns that Wesley was actually trying to protect Connor, he tries to kill Wesley in the hospital. Nothing compares to Angel reminding Wesley that he still has his soul immediately before trying to suffocate him with a pillow. Wesley will never be the same after this moment.
Side note: Wesley will basically re-enact this moment in his own need for revenge against Gunn in “Shells”. How cyclical.
10. Graduation Day, Part One
Buffy Season 3, Episode 21
Written and Directed by Joss Whedon
It might come as a surprise that this episode is ranked higher than part 2, but I promise I have reasons (please see the blurb for part 2). I really like this episode because A) the Mayor is the Mayor and not a giant worm, and B) Buffy and Faith finally throw down in an epic fight. It’s genuinely shocking when Buffy plunges the dagger into Faith’s gut. Thankfully, for Faith fans like myself, she does not die, and the complicated relationship between the Slayers (which passes many a Bechtel test) will continue to fascinate well into Season 7.
9. Innocence
Buffy Season 2, Episode 14
Written & Directed by Joss Whedon
I’d hazard to say this is the first truly shocking episode in the Buffyverse. It’s hard to believe Joss Whedon could be so cruel to Buffy by turning Angel evil right after they have sex, but he went there. And it works because it makes things intensely personal for Buffy. Angelus is not a typical villain. He’s not bent on destroying the world for no discernible reason, at least not yet. Instead, he just wants to sadistically hurt those that Angel cared about because it reminds him of what it is like to have feelings. That makes him much more interesting, and terrifying, than most of the other villains in the series.
Side note: Giles' speech to Buffy about how she will always have his respect is yet another reason Giles is the best.
8. The Gift
Buffy Season 5, Episode 22
Written & Directed by Joss Whedon
“She saved the world. A lot.” Thus reads Buffy’s tombstone after she sacrifices herself to save the world. The battle leading up to Buffy’s sacrifice is pretty intense. The stakes are high because Glory is a formidable villain and Dawn’s life hangs in the bounds. Plus, Willow is now a pretty powerful witch, Giles pragmatically murders Ben (“Buffy’s a hero, you see. She’s not like us”), AND the Buffy bot is in the mix. It really would have been a perfect series finale, though I am grateful for Season 6.
7. Smile Time
Angel Season 5, Episode 14
Written by Ben Edlund & Joss Whedon
Directed by Ben Edlund
Angel turns into a puppet and it is as great as it sounds. He works with the others to defeat a gang of evil puppets who are involved in a scheme to suck the souls out of innocent television-watching children. The final puppet battle is indescribably awesome. Kudos to the show for making an episode about removing the souls of children hilarious and zany.
6. Becoming, Part Two
Buffy Season 2, Episode 22
Written & Directed by Joss Whedon
Unfortunately, I didn’t watch Buffy when I was a teenager. But if I had, I would never have fallen for that Twilight bullshit because this is a way better angsty-vampire romance. That moment when Buffy realizes Angel has his soul back and says “close your eyes” before killing him to save the world would have made my teenage heart explode. My adult heart pretty much does every time I watch it. The whole episode is a thrill-ride, with Spike and Buffy teaming up, Angelus torturing Giles and Buffy finally telling her Mom who she is. You couldn’t ask for a more interesting and emotional season finale.
5. Hush
Buffy Season 4, Episode 10
Written & Directed by Joss Whedon
The scene where Giles uses an overhead projector to explain what is going on – why people can’t talk, who the creepy gentlemen are – is one of the greatest scenes of television, ever (it’s up there with the “fuck” scene from the Wire). The Gentlemen are truly terrifying. I can barely even describe how well "Hush" mixes utterly terrifying imagery of the Gentlemen with many clever and hilarious incidents of miscommunication. What a masterpiece.
4. A Hole in the World
Angel Season 5, Episode 15
Written & Directed by Joss Whedon
"There's a hole in the world. Feels like we ought to have known".
If any single episode could be described as a journey, it’s this one. It begins with an innocuous argument about astronauts vs. cavemen and ends in utter devastation with Fred dying in Wesley’s arms. Much of that devastation is in the lead up. The team bands together to save Fred, and for a while it seems like they will be successful. But Angel and Spike discover the only way to save Fred would be to let thousands of others die, so they choose not to. In the end, many people are responsible for Fred's death. Gunn, for allowing the sarcophagus into the office just because he wanted to be special. The others are culpable too, for joining Wolfram & Hart in the first place.
3. The Body
Buffy Season 5, Episode 16
Written & Directed by Joss Whedon
“The Body” is one of the most interesting portrayals of grief and bereavement ever put to film. This episode really showcases the many ways people can respond to death. It’s not just sadness and anger, but also confusion, shock, and curiosity. The episode is shot in such an unconventional way, too, which makes for a disconcerting viewing experience. There is no score. There are jarring cuts to Joyce’s body. And bizarre shots, like Buffy only seeing half of the paramedics face as he talks to her, or a paper towel slowly absorbing Buffy’s vomit in a weird pattern. It may not be a perfect episode, but it is a brilliant one.
2. Once More, With Feeling
Buffy Season 6, Episode 7
Written & Directed by Joss Whedon
"OMWF" is the most ambitious episode of Buffy ever made. Sure, at times it doesn’t make sense (why can some people hear other people’s songs in some scenes but not others? ) but who the hell cares because it is so much fun to watch! The musical numbers are not just filler songs, either. Each song provides insight into how the characters are feeling. Tara’s song about being under Willow’s spell is incredible (the original and the reprieve) because it expresses just how sinister Willow’s mind-controlling spells are in a way that would not be possible with simple dialogue. Similarly, Buffy’s admission at the end that she was in Heaven, after which she tries to kill herself by dancing, is such a hard-hitting and necessary moment in the series (as is the fact that it's Spike who convinces her to live). But obviously, the best song is Anya’s heavy metal song about Bunnies. That shit is glorious.
Other amazing moments include:
*Spike singing "I hope she fries/I'm free if that bitch dies/I better help her out” before going to Buffy's aid
*Dawn starting to sing about how no one understands her but then getting promptly abducted because truly no one cares
*Anytime Giles sings. Giles <3
1. Not Fade Away
Angel Season 5, Episode 22
Written by Jeffrey Bell & Joss Whedon
Directed by Jeffrey Bell
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