Buffy The Vampire Slayer: Ranking Every Season Finale From Worst To Best

Season 5 is regarded by many as the best season outside of Buffy’s high-school years. And whilst some find Dawn a little annoying, the fifth season excels due to a great story arc centred around Glorificus – a goddess in human form.

The Gift is the best finale in terms of pure action. Each member of the Scooby Gang (including Spike) gets involved in the face-to-face combat as they attempt to rescue Dawn from Glory and her minions. The inclusion of Olaf’s hammer is a welcome addition to the proceedings – it makes Buffy and Glory’s confrontation more evenly matched and it’s immensely satisfying to see Buffy take down her rival.

The season 5 finale also stands out for its bold ending. There’s a finality to Buffy’s death which really hits home. Indeed, The Gift does not end on a positive note at all. The other characters mourn the loss of their friend before the episode concludes with a shot of Buffy’s grave.

Simply put, if season 6 and 7 hadn't gone ahead, The Gift would have been a brilliant way to end the show.