Buffy The Vampire Slayer: 10 Great Moments In Mediocre Episodes
Even the weakest episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer feature some terrific moments...
Despite its humble beginnings, Buffy the Vampire Slayer grew into a cultural phenomenon with seven seasons and more than 100 episodes. Most of the time, the show excels thanks to the sharp writing, the strong performances, and the unique tone of the story.
But like many iconic television shows, Buffy the Vampire Slayer is far from perfect. Every season has several mediocre episodes that suffer from a weak premise, pacing issues, forgettable villains, or even a combination of all three. Whilst such episodes aren’t flat-out terrible, they often leave us feeling disappointed.
Yet it’s all too easy to dismiss these disappointing episodes and overlook the positives they have to offer. Most of Buffy’s weakest adventures contain at least a couple of great moments, ranging from heartfelt, emotional exchanges to unexpected twists. There are also some light-hearted moments that elevate an otherwise forgettable episode with some well-placed humour.
These great moments are a testament to the quality of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Even when the show is at a bit of a low point, it still manages to impress us with some exceptional storytelling.
10. Buffy And Faith Get To Know Each Other (Season 3, Episode 4)
Season 3 is the most consistent season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but it still has a couple of rough patches. The fourth episode – though far from terrible – is let down by a dumb villain and a couple of vanilla romance scenes between Buffy and her new boyfriend Scott.
But towards the start of the episode, we do get a nice exchange between Buffy and Faith. Despite their disagreements in the previous episode, the two of them bond over a humorous conversation about man’s internal nature.
The conversation also highlights a key difference between the two Slayers. Faith, who’s had a much more difficult upbringing, has a cynical view of men, describing them as “beasts”. Buffy, on the other hand, is more optimistic about her new relationship.
As well as being a neat segue into the main theme of the episode, this conversation is a snapshot of Buffy and Faith’s contrasting personalities. Beneath the friendly banter, these young ladies hold conflicting values about love, pleasure, and human nature.