15 Most Shocking Buffy The Vampire Slayer Moments

You knew this one was coming. It had to. The thing that makes Joyce Summers’ death so incredibly shocking and cruel is the fact that it wasn’t a supernatural end. Dying suddenly from a brain aneurysm, Buffy comes home to find her mother on the couch, and what follows is the most emotional gruelling hour of the entire show.

The first scene, filmed in one continuous shot, shows Buffy’s reaction and her attempts to comprehend what’s happening.

Focus then switches to her friends, all reeling from the news. Willow struggles to find an outfit to wear, not wanting to disrespect Joyce or Buffy; Dawn is told the news by Buffy at school; Xander punches a wall; and Anya, a former demon still adjusting to human life, gives a completely heart-wrenching and human speech about how stupid and pointless death is.

It’s a very sad episode as a whole. Brilliantly written, directed and sporting some of the show’s best acting thanks to Sarah Michelle Gellar, it’s very nearly the most shocking part of the show. Almost…