10 Overlooked Buffy The Vampire Slayer Episodes That Are Secretly Classics
With so many classic episodes to choose from, it's easy to overlook these absolute corkers.
Across seven densely packed seasons, Buffy the Vampire Slayer was an absolute tour-de-force of drama, horror, and finely-tuned scissor kicks.
Centering on the exploits of the quick-witted, super-strong valley girl Buffy Summers and her never-ending battle against the forces of evil, the show gave us some truly unforgettable storylines and expertly written characters that have found themselves permanently preserved in the highest pantheon of pop culture.
Many of the show's episodes have gone down in history for their innovative narrative design and forward-thinking momentum, but amongst stalwart classics such as Hush, The Body, and the undeniably epic The Gift, there are many lesser-known episodes that still manage to encapsulate the show's core ethos in strange and exciting ways.
Said episodes are the subject of this list, and whilst they may find love within the die-hard fan community, they will likely be lost on more casual viewers. Be they comedy stories of lust, or hard-fought battles against powerful foes, the episodes featured here typically get overlooked when the discussion of the show's best episodes are hotly debated over a couple of beers.
Best sharpen those stakes guys, because things are about to go bump in the night.
SPOILERS AHEAD!
10. Him (Season 7, Episode 6)
Him has the honour of being the last standalone episode before season seven knuckles down and becomes an all-out apocalypse storyline, and what a treat it is.
Him tells the story of a high-school student RJ whose lucky varsity jacket has the ability to charm any woman it comes into contact with - as such, this means that Buffy, Dawn, Anya, and Willow all fall under its spell and soon find themselves resorting to extreme measures to win his heart.
Despite its inherent silliness, the episode still manages to touch upon heady themes and really does hark back to the early seasons where supernatural shenanigans were always metaphors for the trials and tribulations of being a teenager. Whilst Willow resorts to magic, Anya to robbing a bank, and Buffy to violence (a-la rocket launcher), it's Dawn's decision to try and end her life that really pummels you in the feels department - turning what is an otherwise lighthearted affair into something much more meaningful and poignant.
For what is a supposedly disposable episode, Him is the last great-hurrah for the show's comedy and drama elements to shine before settling in for a truly dark and epic finale.