15 Most Important Buffy The Vampire Slayer Episodes
2. Grave (Season 6, Episode 22)
Having just killed Warren, Dark Willow badly injures Giles and sets out to trap Buffy and end the world. As Buffy and Dawn battle supernatural creatures whilst stuck in a grave, Xander races to his best friend in one last-ditch effort to save her from herself.
In one of the show's most emotional moments, Xander saves the day by appealing to the goodness in Willow's heart, giving her a sweet speech about a yellow crayon and their enduring friendship. Willow's fallout from her time as the show's Big Bad forms the basis of her season seven development.
Grave also sees Buffy realise that Dawn is no longer the little girl she pictures, but a tough as nails teenager who is able to hold her own and doesn't need protecting. If that wasn't enough, the episode ends on a major cliffhanger in which Spike completes his demon trials and has his soul returned to him.