9. Hush Buffy the Vampire Slayer (S4E10)
Whilst not particularly one moment in an episode, this is a musical moment in the series as a whole and has made the cut purely because it redefined the way people thought about what exactly music can do for a TV episode. Hush sees a group of demons known as The Gentleman come to Sunnydale and steal everyone's voices so they cannot scream when their organs are taken out. It was written by series creator, Joss Whedon, as a challenge to himself because critics had said the show's success was mainly down to the strength of the script. Fair play Mr Whedon as it results in an episode that is regularly recognised as ground-breaking. There are a mere 17 minutes of dialogue in the 44 minute episode and the only thing heard in the remaining minutes is Christophe Beck's hauntingly effective score. It must've been a tall order to write a score that perfectly conveyed what was happening on screen, encompassing the mood and the characters' interactions to such a degree that the audience is always directed to react appropriately without any need for dialogue at all. Beck rose to the challenge, saying he knew he 'was in for a treat and a nightmare.' And he pulls it off in style as his music ensures both the lighter confused moments and the terrifying scenes elicit the fitting responses from the audience and make it an entirely gripping experience. Whilst the strong writing and acting also contribute to the success of this episode, it would not have worked had the music not been so influential and it's this combination that often leads to this episode being ranked in both critics' and fans' top ten episodes of all time.