10 Most Overrated Buffy The Vampire Slayer Episodes
Are these classic Buffy episodes really as great as everyone says they are?
There are 144 episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and this vast catalogue has given fans plenty to talk about since the show ended back in 2003.
We all love to discuss our favourite and least favourite episodes, endlessly debating the pros and cons of this extraordinary collection of fantastical, coming-of-age adventures. Though there’ll never be a solid consensus amongst Buffy fans, certain episodes crop up again and again during these conversations.
When it comes to the most overrated Buffy episodes, there are no obvious choices – the fan favourites are all packed with stellar moments. However, there are still some episodes that are given more praise than they deserve even if we don’t want to admit it.
Sometimes, we love an episode so much we refuse to acknowledge the flaws. It’s an easy mistake to make, but some of the Scooby Gang’s greatest adventures do suffer from the occasional misstep, such as clunky dialogue, a subpar story concept, or a flat delivery from a cast member.
But despite these issues, the following episodes are still fantastic examples of what makes this show so special…
10. Buffy Vs. Dracula (Season 5, Episode 1)
Season 5 gets the show back on track after the patchy quality of the previous season. The plot is more focused, the villains are more interesting, and the heroes are more developed.
It’s just a shame the first episode is a bit of a misfire. Buffy has to face the most well-known vampire in history: Dracula, and whilst there’s nothing terrible in this episode, the tone is far too goofy. This might have worked back in Buffy’s first three seasons, but it just feels out of place here.
Dracula isn’t scary – he’s cheesy, and he never feels like a legitimate threat, even when he manages to sink his teeth into Buffy’s neck. The dialogue isn’t particularly good, either – it’s almost as if the writers were trying to parody this legendary villain.
If you’re going to bring Dracula to the screen, he should be a source of terror, not amusement.