Time has been very kind to 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer,' a show whose cult of rabid fans has grown steadily as the profile of its creator, Joss Whedon, has gotten larger. Blending fantasy, horror, adventure and comedy into one witty and weighty package, the saga of Buffy Summers is one of television's greatest accomplishments, a show with such incredible highs that it makes most serialized storytelling look downright stagnant. Few casts have been this lovable and have shown so much growth. Few seasons have showcased such an incredible sense of how to pay off a lengthy arc.

In short, picking the 10 best 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' episodes of the whole seven-season, 144-episode run is a difficult task.

These 10 are our personal favorites and we feel that they represent the show at its absolute best. However, there are a couple dozen more that deserve to be here just as much. Cutting it down was a difficult task, but hey, we're experts. We know how to make those tough decisions.

And, of course, SPOILERS for the entire show lurk below...