15 Best Buffy The Vampire Slayer Episodes

Few shows have such a vast fandom as Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Running for seven seasons between 1997 and 2003, Buffy captured the undying attention of audiences worldwide with its brilliant, now iconic characters and often ingenious storylines.

Throughout its run, there were numerous great episodes of the show. The emotional journeys of Buffy Summers, Willow Rosenberg, Xander Harris, Angel and Spike were staggering achievements in their day, and remain just as compelling and fantastic as they were when the show was still on air. The vampires, ghosts, Big Bads and demons are all just as scary and unsettling as they were, as well.

But Buffy is a show about much more than what goes bump in the night - it's a show about good vs evil, of course, but it's also a show about teenagers tackling high school and confronting life's obstacles. Amongst the death and carnage, themes such as identity, friendship, sacrifice and morality never stray too far, with each big theme tackled head-on with both intelligence and charm.

The following list is dedicated to the 15 best episodes that Buffy the Vampire Slayer has to offer, from the most impressive Monster of the Week episodes to the show's most striking assessments of its biggest recurring themes. Some spoilers follow.

"I'm sixteen years old. I don't wanna die."

Prophecy Girl was the finale of the show's first season. In her first year at Sunnydale High, Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) comes face-to-face with The Master (Mark Metcalf), an ancient vampire intent on opening the Hellmouth and bringing about the end of the world. With her friends beside her, the Slayer also learns of a prophecy foretelling her death.

Needless to say she's having a pretty bad day, the episode sees Buffy rise to the challenge and go after the Big Bad regardless of the consequences, knowing she's the only one who can stop The Master from completing his plans.

In the ensuing fight, she is in fact killed, only to be revived by a love-lorn Xander (Nicholas Brendon), giving her another chance to take her new nemesis down.

Prophecy Girl captures every aspect of what makes Buffy such a great show. On the one hand, you have the selfless bravery of the Slayer; the attachment her watcher, Giles (Anthony Stewart Head) has formed with her; and the help she gains from having her friends in her corner. It's funny, dramatic, dark and moving, and perfectly sums up what the show is about at its core.