The Ultimate Best and Favorite Episode Debate!

[rebeccaplant]

Alright guys! It's that time again. I say it's time for another one of our Favorite Episode debates. You can only choose ONE episode.

Hard, right? Rock and roll.

Discuss and argue your hearts out!

Remember to choose your favorite - not necessarily the 'best.' And please remember to explain why you think it's your all-time best and favorite episode of Buffy, ever!

I'm curious to see where we all differ (or agree!).

[BuffyisLife]

Wow, that's like asking me to pick a favorite child, if I had any children. I'm not sure I'll ever have permanent favorite episode, so what I am about to say will not always be true.

Right now I'm going to have to go with Once More With Feeling. I have had the songs stuck in my head for days now. Especially Spike's song, I love that one! I'll find myself humming the lyrics to every song from that episodes without even realizing I'm doing it. Also, I think its brilliant the way Joss Whedon made gave a reason for why people where bursting into song. He could have just gone the easy way out and gave no reason for them singing, but he created a reason I just loved it!

This episode makes me happy and sad all at the same time. Sad because everyone is hurt in some way by the end if it and happy because the songs are so great. Yes, right now, this episode is my favorite one of all time. That fact will no doubt change at a future date, but Once More With Feeling will also be one of my top favorites.

[xaphania]

I'm going to say Fool for Love. I love nearly everything about this episode - and even the Riley scenes are made bearable by the rest of the Scoobies (with the "choo choo!").

I love the insight into Spike's past, and being able to see his evolution from lovesick poet, to ruthless killer then finally at the end - the vampire in love with the slayer.

The back porch scene at the end - ahh, love it.

This is the episode I can watch again and again.

[gumgnome]

My favourite episode since it aired has been "Restless". There are so many reasons for this choice.
*It focusses entirely on the core Scoobie group. When these four are together, it always makes me so nostalgic for the library days and lighter times.
*Not only does it focus on them, it summarises their path to this point in the show. It's like a running commentary on everything important that has happened to the main characters.
*The humour is spectacular - everything from the Snyder/Brando scene (I've never been able to watch that scene in Apocalypse Now without snorting drink out of my nose ever since); to Joyce behind the wall; to Giles and Anya chastising Xander in French.
*We get the most random Giles singing moment of the series. Those few bars of music top anything in "Once More With Feeling* for me and came so unexpectedly the first time I heard it.
*Written and directed by Joss Whedon
*It breaks the normal season tradition for last episodes excellently and really came out of left field.

[hitnrun017]

Aug 4, 2009 5:36:09 GMT -5 gumgnome said:

My favourite episode since it aired has been "Restless". There are so many reasons for this choice.
*It focusses entirely on the core Scoobie group. When these four are together, it always makes me so nostalgic for the library days and lighter times.
*Not only does it focus on them, it summarises their path to this point in the show. It's like a running commentary on everything important that has happened to the main characters.
*The humour is spectacular - everything from the Snyder/Brando scene (I've never been able to watch that scene in Apocalypse Now without snorting drink out of my nose ever since); to Joyce behind the wall; to Giles and Anya chastising Xander in French.
*We get the most random Giles singing moment of the series. Those few bars of music top anything in "Once More With Feeling* for me and came so unexpectedly the first time I heard it.
*Written and directed by Joss Whedon
*It breaks the normal season tradition for last episodes excellently and really came out of left field.

This. 100% agreed. I also have to add the music and cinematography, it has to be the best looking episode, so beautiful. All the foreshadowing and symbols make the episode special too.

[Just Willow]

i also agree with Gumgnome!

buuuut, i'm not gonna say for sure the favorite ep of all Buffy fans, because that will be determined at the end of my Top Episodes Project! woohoo, one and a half more rounds!

[lightandmagic]

If I had to choose the best episode I would by and far choose The Gift. It was an amazing conclusion to a powerful storyline. Furthermore, on a critical level, I think it epitomizes Whedon's feminist message that he has been trying to tell throughout the whole Buffy series. From a teenager in an alley doubting her abilities because she is just a girl, to her ultimate selfless sacrifice to save the world is just such a poweful and inspiring message.

If I had to choose a favourite episode however, I would definitely pick Selfless. Anya has been my favourite television character for a long time, and she was so often ignored on the show and we finally got an insight into who she is and her past. It had fights, song, drama, comedy, this is the episode I can watch over and over again.

[willow333]

I have to go with OMWF for best episode ever. The music is great and the storyline is compelling. The storyline also has alot of depth for a musical. I can rewatch this episode over and over again.

[Johanne]

I think I would choose either Once more, with feeling or Restless... although it's really hard to pick just one episode.

[rebeccaplant]

First off, I'd like to say that this was a VERY HARD CHOICE (But that's the fun of it, eh?) between 'Pangs', 'Passion', and 'Tabula Rasa'. After much thought, I've chosen the later.

Why?

Not a popular choice, I know. Some fans think the humor is overrated, and I'll have to disagree.

I never, never get sick of this episode. The irony is just rich. I love how all the character's forget their memories and are forced to figure out who they are based on the current situation and who they are surrounded by. This episode is also ripe with foreshadowing. The episode explores the characters not as they are, but as they could be. Dawn and Buffy's connection is almost immediately apparent, demonstrating their love for each other. Spike and Buffy automatically trust each other, even though they've never "met." Whether Spike's proclamation about his "soul" is a foreshadow at his eventual destiny or an ironic comment on Angel is unclear, but it's BRILLIANT. This episode is classic Joss. Giles and Anya think they're married. It's classic, really. Comic genius. A welcome distraction from the dark rest of season 6. Despite having lost their memories, Tara and Willow are still into each other. The episode also contains some mighty quotable lines.

[Hellbound Hyperion]

Hush is one of my favorite pieces of cinema. I could watch it all day and never ever get bored.

[Greer]

My favorite episode of all time immediately goes to Passion.

First of all, we have the menacing and destructive relationship between Angelus and Buffy. Angelus has not played nice since reverting to his former self, but he has not really shown the extreme change that has occurred. He's killed a few random people as part of his feeding habits, but he hasn't hurt anyone in the gang yet. His drawings of Buffy, Jenny, and Joyce are taunting yet artistic in a serial killer way. It's sickening the extremes that Angelus will go to, to hurt Buffy and destroy her life. It's also very entertaining and draws one in immediately.

My favorite parts in the episode are Angelus's speeches regarding Passion and at the end of the episode, when Buffy and and Giles are standing in the graveyard. First, the speeches(I know they're not "speeches" per se, but for the sake of the episode, I'm going to consider them as such) are so haunting and hollow yet I believe they show the anger that Angelus has built up towards Buffy. He's speaking to the passion that is burning inside him with the hatred of love that he had formerly felt. It's so interesting to look at it from his perspective, as he is so passionate with hate as opposed to a passionate love.
The scene in the graveyard is one of my favorite scenes of the whole series. First of all, I adore hearing Tony Head's voice in the song "Remembering Jenny". It's grand. Secondly, I feel that this scene is one of the first times that Buffy is basically smacked in the forehead with the fact that she shouldn't have been so unjust and cruel to Jenny for so long, and that she really needed to muster up the courage and strength to kill Angelus. It's one of the many growing up situations that occur for her in this season, and it's beautiful in the way that it's a situation that increases the bond between her and Giles.

[gumgnome]

Aug 10, 2009 7:04:58 GMT -5 Greer said:

My favorite episode of all time immediately goes to Passion.

First of all, we have the menacing and destructive relationship between Angelus and Buffy. Angelus has not played nice since reverting to his former self, but he has not really shown the extreme change that has occurred. He's killed a few random people as part of his feeding habits, but he hasn't hurt anyone in the gang yet. His drawings of Buffy, Jenny, and Joyce are taunting yet artistic in a serial killer way. It's sickening the extremes that Angelus will go to, to hurt Buffy and destroy her life. It's also very entertaining and draws one in immediately.

My favorite parts in the episode are Angelus's speeches regarding Passion and at the end of the episode, when Buffy and and Giles are standing in the graveyard. First, the speeches(I know they're not "speeches" per se, but for the sake of the episode, I'm going to consider them as such) are so haunting and hollow yet I believe they show the anger that Angelus has built up towards Buffy. He's speaking to the passion that is burning inside him with the hatred of love that he had formerly felt. It's so interesting to look at it from his perspective, as he is so passionate with hate as opposed to a passionate love.
The scene in the graveyard is one of my favorite scenes of the whole series. First of all, I adore hearing Tony Head's voice in the song "Remembering Jenny". It's grand. Secondly, I feel that this scene is one of the first times that Buffy is basically smacked in the forehead with the fact that she shouldn't have been so unjust and cruel to Jenny for so long, and that she really needed to muster up the courage and strength to kill Angelus. It's one of the many growing up situations that occur for her in this season, and it's beautiful in the way that it's a situation that increases the bond between her and Giles.

I definitely agree with you about the Giles/Buffy bond in this episode. One of my favourite Giles/Buffy moments is when Buffy punches Giles after saving him. Then both of them crying on their knees, hugging one another, and Buffy's line "You can't leave me. I can't do this alone." Really tear-jerking stuff.
And karma for an ace description.

[XanderHarris]

Uhh, difficult. But I think I'd go with "Lie to Me". Yeah, it's not very extraordinary, but the theme it deals with and the dialogues, it's just amazing.

The dialogue between Giles and Buffy at the end in particular:
Buffy: Does it ever get easy?
Giles: You mean life?
Buffy: Yeah, does it get easy?
Giles: What do you want me to say?
Buffy: Lie to me.
Giles: Yes. It’s terribly simple. The good guys are always stalwart and true. The bad guys are easily distinguished by their pointy horns or black hats, and, uh, we always defeat them and save the day. No one ever dies and… everybody lives happily ever after.
Buffy: Liar.

It's just so well written and conveyed by the actors.
The most underrated episode ever.

[testingthetheory]

For me it's, S4 'Something Blue' It was clever and quick witted. One of the very few times we get to see Buffy giddy and happy with a guy - and I just love that the guy is Spike of all people. Their entire interaction is hilarious - before and after the spell.

Giles face when Buffy asks him to give her away - so touching, and really brings to the forefront thier relationship with each other.

In regards to continuity - I actually squealed when Amy materalised for 2 seconds. Pretty awesome fan moment.

[gumgnome]

XanderHarris - I absolutely love "Lie To Me" and wasn't aware that it was under-rated. I remember not being that thrilled by it when it first aired for whatever reason, but now I and my closest Buffy buddy consider it the moment when the show really blossoms into the marvellous thing that it will become.

It has one of the first truly conflicted villains, subplots beyond the main villain focus, an awesome showdown with Buffy in real peril, and as you give specific mention to, the powerful ending.

It also has some fantastic dialogue, one of my all-time favourite Xander lines is:

"This is Ford. My bestest friend of all my friends! Geez - doesn't she know any fat guys?!"

Pure genius.

testingthetheory - "Something Blue" has always been one of my favourites as well. Season 4 is the best season for me, and this episode encapsulates why. It is very experimental, but with clear plot-driving elements. It is also definitely one of the funniest episodes, probably second only to "Living Conditions" imo.

Classic moments for me are when Buffy realises that she's told Riley she's getting married to Spike (in fact the whole scene outside the bridal shop is superb), when Giles falls right after the line "Before somebody really gets hurt", the whole Spuffy nonsense.

As a Buffy/Riley fan (yes, we exist...) I also love the ending, when Buffy tries to pass off to Riley that she was kidding about getting married:
RILEY: I did not have fear in my eyes.
BUFFY: Yes you did. You were looking at me like I was a cartoon ball and chain.
RILEY: So you decided to tell me you're getting married.
BUFFY: Uh-huh.
RILEY: So, you're insane.
BUFFY: Uh-huh!
RILEY: But you're still single.
BUFFY: Yes.
So sweet! Also, I don't think SMG has ever looked better than she does in that scene. *drools*

Well, rant over, but really - great picks for eps you guys!

[Jsebold87]

Selfless has always been my favorite episode. I love that we finally learn more about Anya's past, and how she got into vengeance. It really put a lot more dimension into her character. Funny thing is that I used to dislike Anya so much before this episode, but after I saw it it completely changed my view on Anya. Now she's my favorite character, and Selfless is my favorite episode. I never grow tired of it.

Close runners up are Conversations With Dead People & Passion.

[gumgnome]

Jsebold87 - It was only when recently re-watching "Selfless" that I started to really enjoy it. Previously, I had always been very dissatisfied with the ending. I guess I can see why killing Halfrek hurts Anya more than killing her would, but always kinda saw that moment as a cheap get-out so that the writers wouldn't have to kill Anya off.
The fact that this may as well be the end for Anya really pressed that home for me when I saw the rest of S7, where she is one of a few previously main characters who doesn't have much of a part to play anymore. When Buffy asks Anya later in the season "Then why are you here?" and Anya silently sinks into the couch, that pretty much summed it up for me.

But, the episode does have some stunning moments. The Swedish scene (Emma Caulfield and Abraham Benrubi actually learned the whole thing in Swedish phonetically and deliver their lines excellently, certainly from a non-Swedish speaking person's perspective!) is pure hilarity, and D'Hoffryn has one of my favourite lines of the whole show with:
ANYA: Bar matron. A load bearing bar matron.
D'HOFFRYN: Is there any other kind?

I think this is one that will grow on me...

[rebeccaplant]

Great choices, guys. 'Passion' and 'Pangs' are almost tied with 'Tabula Rasa' for me.

[Iceeh★]

Selfless. a;dslaljgklafj I love this episode SO MUCH. It centers around my favorite fictional character ever, has an awesome fight scene, and a musical number! Plus, Buffy's "I Am The Law" speech.

"It's ALWAYS complicated. And at some point, someone has to draw the line, and that is always going to be ME. You- you get down on me for cutting myself off, but in the end, the slayer is ALWAYS cut off. There's no- mystical guidebook, no all knowing council- human rules DON'T apply. There's only me. I am the law."