On March 10th it will be 20 years since Buffy the Vampire Slayer first aired with Welcome to the Hellmouth, since becoming one of the biggest cult hits to ever be called a cult hit. Apart from being my favourite TV show, Buffy is also one of the smartest, funniest and nuanced horror shows of all time and with it came multiple episodes that have gone done in the great pantheon of TV classics.

However, The Body, Hush and Once More with Feeling aside, the show has plenty of other great episodes that get far less attention. Here’s to the unsung greats, the ones people don’t tend to talk about.

Spoilers!

1. Gingerbread – S3E11

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When Buffy’s Mom Joyce comes on patrol and discovers the bodies of two children, she begins a group to outlaw all references to the occult in Sunnydale.

Apart from being pretty funny, for a while, it’s quite shocking to see Buffy’s slayer life be torn apart. Giles has his books confiscated and anybody with even the slightest connection to magic is taken for questioning, even Willow. It’s a witch hunt episode basically and though the ending hits the reset button (Imagine this story but as a season-long arc) it makes for a pretty interesting and compelling episode.

2. Helpless – S3E12

Exploring the father-daughter relationship between Buffy and Giles, Helpless drains Buffy of her powers as part of a horrendous test started by the Watchers Council and implemented by Giles. The tension between them is real as Buffy feels completely betrayed by her surrogate father yet when he refuses to take the test any further, losing his job in the process, the episode tenderly acknowledges their strong bond.

It also features one of the most ingenious vampire kills of the show as Buffy tricks Zachary Kralik into drinking holy water. Nasty!

3. The Freshman – S4E1

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Season four feels tonally very different from the previous high school years and it’s immediately felt in this season opener. Smartly choosing to focus on Buffy’s feelings of isolation and loneliness as she begins college the episode is strewn with fantastic imagery, on point writing and excellent performances.

The key villain Sunday is snarky and delightful whilst the re-introduction of characters like Giles and Xander are tinged with humour and pathos. A great beginning to a bold new future for the Buffster.

4. Fear Itself – S4E4

Fear Itself is one of the best examples of Buffy as a proper horror show as the Scoobies take part in an on-campus haunted house. Apart from having delightfully eerie music (courtesy of Christophe Beck) and fantastic sound design, the episode also wonderfully sets up the drifting apart of the gang that will take up the season’s key story arc.

Also, Anya as a bunny and Giles with a chainsaw is always a win.

5. The Initiative – S4E7

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As maligned as the Initiative storyline eventually became (primarily due to Adam) it’s building story at the beginning of season four was intriguing and helped to set the show on a brand new course. It gave Spike his chip, told us Riley was one of the commandos and featured a number of funny and action packed scenes.

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