10 Most Underrated Buffy The Vampier Slayer Episodes

Following Buffy’s revelation that she was in heaven and Willow, Xander, Anya and Tara pulled her away from her newfound peace, Willow and Tara find their relationship on the rocks. This is Season Six at its most menacing.

Simply put, Willow is using too much magic and has even resorted to using it on her loved ones to make her own life better. The final nail in the coffin is when she uses a memory spell on Tara so she’ll forget a recent spat. Willow promises to stop using magic but succumbs to her addiction quickly, and her latest spell sees Willow and all her friends forget who they are.

There’s a lot to unpick from such a vast and sweeping episode. It’s funny watching everyone interact without knowing each other; Spike thinks he’s Giles’ son; Willow and Xander think they’re together; Buffy calls herself Joan and Spike takes on the name Randy Giles. But despite this level of classic comedy, the end of the episode is the saddest the series has ever been. Giles and Tara leave; Willow is left alone, addicted to magic and increasingly friendless; Spike and Buffy get together, and though this should lead to rejoice from many fans, it is a sombre revelation.

All of this, played in a montage over Michelle Branch’s song “Goodbye to You”, make this episode an emotionally devastating tour-de-force. Funny, sure, but dark and moving, and it gets bonus points for having a loan shark which is actually a shark.