Buffy the Vampire Slayer is rightfully considered one of the most iconic shows ever produced and contains a lot of incredible moments that can make all sorts of emotions come out. When a show has such a huge and devoted fanbase as Joss Whedon’s Buffy, pleasing every fan with an adequate ranking is pretty much impossible, so it is what it is.
Here are some of the most memorable moments in Buffy the Vampire Slayer that will hit you right in the feels (again).
1. The Slayer Awakening
In the show’s final season, we get to witness Buffy and her Scooby Doo gang face the ultimate, primordial evil. Unlike the yappy Glory, the First Evil was able to destroy the Watcher’s Council and then release an army of ancient vampires to hunt dormant slayers. So, what can one Slayer do to counter that? Buffy and Willow did some magic stuff, which awakened the Slayer powers within all of them. Sadly, that’s pretty much where the show ends, but thank goodness, the story continued in the comics, with Buffy leading a whole army of rookie Slayers against the evil forces.
2. Angel Goes to Hell
When you have vampires and other unholy creatures breathing down your neck every hour of every day, dating is tough. But you know what they say: “If the normies aren’t cutting it, it’s time to date a brooding vampire.” Cue in Angel, a vampire with a soul who will go to hell if he ever experiences true happiness. Technically, Angel’s body would revert to the evil Angelus, but his soul would remain in hell. A night of passion with Buffy brought true happiness, forcing him to decide between killing Angelus and allowing the world to collapse. If it hadn’t been for Willow’s timely spell that restored his soul, Angel would have been a goner.
3. Sunnydale High Gets Blown Up
The first 3 seasons are known as the “high school years,” as they were more focused on Buffy and her friends’ high school problems. Even though the later seasons got much darker, it is impossible to forget the graduation episode, where Buffy took it up a notch and blew up the school but also saved a bunch of people from an evil monster.
4. Faith Casually Kills A Random Bystander
Eliza Dushku’s portrayal of Faith in the Buffyverse is undeniably unpredictable. Her Slayer powers awakened when Buffy technically died that one time, and after that, Buffy became sort of a mentor to her. However, things took a turn when Faith unintentionally stabbed a random guy in the heart, mistaking him for a vampire. Eventually, Faith turns away from Buffy and joins the Mayor, who showers her with presents and support, leading to a showdown between the two Slayers. The whole arc of Faith going through this mental break is amazing to watch, even if the evil Mayor is kinda lame at times.
5. Spike’s Final Sacrifice
Buffy’s plan to awaken the slayers was a success, but even with that army of badass superhuman warriors, the First Evil was too much to handle. But leave it to Spike to have the final word. This lowly vampire sacrificed himself to defeat the First, saving Buffy and the world. Such redemption arcs are always fun to watch because we’ve followed his character’s development for six years by then. Some cried, others cheered, but we all agree that Spike’s journey from zero to hero is one of the best in the whole show.
6. Willow and Tara’s First Kiss
How big of a deal was Willow and Tara’s first kiss on screen? Well, for starters, the network was refusing to include it and asked Whedon to cut the kiss from the episode. Thankfully, Joss threatened he’d quit the show, so the bosses had to listen. Secondly, the kiss between these two characters finally gave the fans a definitive answer about Willow’s sexuality. All their efforts paid off when, later, Willow and her future girlfriend Kennedy were part of the first lesbian sex scene on primetime TV.
7. Tara Dies In Front Of Willow
But sadly, Willow and Tara’s happiness didn’t last long. In season 6, we didn’t get the Ultra Evil Bad Guy Demon, and instead we got a series of unfortunate events that led to Warren accidentally shooting Tara while trying to off Buffy. This broke Willow mentally and pushed her into deep grief and despair. This season proves one need not be an ancient demon to be evil. All it takes is one bad day.
