Best “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” Episode
The TV series “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” aired 144 original episodes from March 1997 to May 2003 on two now-defunct TV networks, the WB and UPN, which would ultimately merge to become the CW. That’s fitting, because “Buffy” essentially provided the blueprint for the bulk of what would air on CW – and other teen-skewing networks – for decades to come. There were teen dramas before “Buffy,” and there were supernatural dramas before “Buffy,” but there were no real teen supernatural dramas before this series. Now there are more teen supernatural dramas than there were vamps emerging from the graveyards of Sunnydale, California. While showrunner Joss Whedon’s legacy has become complicated, as a series “Buffy” still deserves its cemetery flowers. So join us as we go back to the crypt and attempt to unearth the best “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” episode of all time.
Episodes discussed: “Once More, With Feeling” (S6 E7); “Tabula Rasa” (S6 E8); “The Wish” (S3 E9); “Chosen” (S7 E22); “The Gift” (S5 E22); “Bad Girls” (S3 E14); “Band Candy” (S3 E6); “Doppelgangland” (S3 E16); “Hush” (S4 E10); “Something Blue” (S4 E9); “Becoming Pt. 1” (S2 E21); “Becoming Pt. 2” (S2 E22); “The Body” (S5 E16); “The Prom” (S3 E20); “Prophecy Girl” (S1 E12); “Graduation Day Pt. 2” (S3 E22)
Join host Eric Rezsnyak, Joelle Boedecker, Karissa Kloss, and Kate Racculia as they discuss and debate 16 of the most legendary episodes of the original “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” TV series.
Play along at home by finding the listener bracket here. Make a copy for yourself, fill it out, and see if your picks match up with ours!
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Round 1 Match-Ups:
Not a Patreon subscriber? Here’s a primer on how we came up with the bracket.
Match-Up 1: “Once More, With Feeling” (S6 E7) (1) vs. “Tabula Rasa” (S6 E8) (4)
Match-Up 2: “The Wish” (S3 E9) (3) vs. “Chosen” (S7 E22) (2)
Match-Up 3: “The Gift” (S5 E22) (1) vs. “Bad Girls” (S3 E14) (4)
Match-Up 4: “Band Candy” (S3 E6) (3) vs. “Doppelgangland” (S3 E16) (2)
Match-Up 5: “Hush” (S4 E10) (1) vs. “Something Blue” (S4 E9) (4)
Match-Up 6: “Becoming Pt. 1” (S2 E21) (3) vs. “Becoming Pt. 2” (S2 E22) (2)
Match-Up 7: “The Body” (S5 E16) vs. “The Prom” (S3 E20) (4)
Match-Up 8: “Prophecy Girl” (S1 E12) (3) vs. “Graduation Day Pt. 2” (S3 E22) (2)
Want to play along at home?
Download the Listener Bracket and see if your picks match up with ours!
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Episode Credits
Host: Eric Rezsnyak
Panelists: Joelle Boedecker, Karissa Kloss, Kate Racculia
Producer: Bob Erlenback
Editor: Bob Erlenback
Theme Music: “Dance to My Tune” by Marc Torch
