Written by Lewis Mainwaring

Buffy The Vampire Slayer first aired on American television (The WB) on March 10th 1997.

Today marks 18 years since Sarah Michelle Gellar first picked up a stake and ‘Buffy Summers’ and her ‘Scooby Gang’ began ridding Sunnydale of vampires, demons and the forces of darkness.

The supernatural drama ran for a total of seven seasons, 144 episodes; ultimately becoming one of the biggest cult shows ever.

More than a decade since the last episode aired (May 20th 2003) the show, it’s characters, storylines and actors are still adored by fans of the show.

Many who acted on the show are regulars at conventions where they get to meet fans worldwide (I myself have been lucky enough to meet Anthony Head and Juliet Landau – who played Giles and Drusilla on the show).

Here’s my top 3 Buffy episodes:-

3) The Gift – S5 E22 – May 22nd 2001

The fifth season finale, the 100th episode and potentially the shows final ever episode after being dropped by The WB – thank god for UPN.

The Scooby Gang considers plans to foil Glory, but can only suggest killing Buffy’s sister Dawn before Glory uses her in the ritual, which Buffy refuses to consider.

Buffy frees the captive Dawn just as the portal between dimensions opens due to Glory’s rituals. Dawn is willing to sacrifice herself to seal the portal, but Buffy, throws herself into the portal, which closes when she dies.

This episode it one of my favourites for many reasons including Buffy’s realisation that ‘Death is her gift’.

2) The Body – S5 E16 – February 27th 2001

In The Body, Buffy comes home to find her mother dead on the living room couch. And everything that follows is so painfully real. Buffy’s not a superhero in this episode, she’s just a girl who is losing her mother far too early.

This episode it truly spectacular and the level of acting it truly amazing!

1) Passion – S2 E17 – February 24th 1998

This episode represents the point of no return for Angel who at this point was back to his vampiric ways as Angelus. Throughout the second season after Angel loses his soul, there’s always this lingering feeling that he will become ‘good’ again with minimum casualties! That ends here.

Jenny Calender, computer teacher/Romani witch and Giles major love interest is trying to translate a spell that will restore Angel’s soul – this doesn’t end well ! Joss Whedon made a really significant decision in this episode that when Angel kills her, he just snaps her neck and doesn’t even drink from her, which hammers home the fact that this is a murder rather than an animalistic killing.

Passion is a darkly brilliant and it one of the best in the shows existence.

What’s your favourite Buffy episode ? Let me know in the comments section.