Worst Episode Ever

[lightandmagic]

As much as we all love Buffy, there are definitely episodes that just aren't that great and in many ways are cringe-inducing. So, what episode is just painful for you to watch, or an episode that you just completely skip over when watching through Buffy?

My nomination for worst episode ever is by and far Hell's Bells. This whole love doesn't exist or rather the destruction of happiness in every couple at this point was deinitely getting tired. Then you take a couple that clearly care for each other very much, and yes, they both definitely are a bit frightened of the concept and do have some problems. But pretty much every relationship does. The whole plot was contrived and ridiculous, with a theme that's been done in this show a million times before.

Also, the episode just drags on and on. The whole fight scene between the Harris's and the demons is just absolutely ridiculous. In fact, you would think that with such an incredibly embarrassing family Xander would just elect to not have any of them there. Or the bare minimum.

Xander's nightmare scene of his married life is just so painful to watch. Not because it's sad or anything but because it's so over the top, cheesy and absurd.

Augh. I just hate hate hate this episode. Not marrying Xander and Anya was a huge mistake on the writer's part. They did it to create drama and heartbreak, but instead it just came off as poor writing. It also irrepairably damaged Xander's character for me, I was never a huge fan of him, but after this moment, he never had a chance of me liking him ever again. End rant.

So, what episode (or episodes, I guess) is the worst in your opinion?

[willowsummers]

I liked Hell's Bells. I thought it was funny at times and terribly sad. I really felt for Anya. I guess Joss Whedon does make everybody's relationships suck but, I guess I relate to it too. lol It did make me very mad at Xander because I felt like his only problem was he wasn't comfortable enough with his own self and that was such a shame.

My worst episode is Where The Wild Things Are. I know everybody probably knows that by now but it really is. The first time I watched Buffy I had an attitude towards Riley, so that contributed, though I don't so much anymore. But it was gratuitous sex, a stupid plot and just a waste of film to me.

[willow333]

I dislike Doublemeat Palace and Wrecked.

Doublemeat Palace was just a ridiculous episode with no real character development.

I dislike Wrecked because of where they went with Willow's character. I hate what happened between her and Dawn. It makes me cringe to watch the episode!

[henzINNIT]

OP already nailed it. Hells Bells. Embarrasing episode.

[Rebecca]

Living Conditions. One of the stupidest episodes by far IMO.

In defense of Hells Bells, it's always cringe-worthy for me, but not because of the caliber of the episode, but it's content. I think the ep has some merit in character development for both Anya and Xander.

By contrast, I just skip Living Conditions when I rewatch S4.

[Jaz ♀♀]

I hate "Seeing Red" (except the first 5 min) and it's definitely hard for me to sit and watch the whole episode. Tara gets shot and dies, and Spike attempts to rape Buffy....it's a horrible gut-wrenching episode IMO.

Also in season 1 "I Robot, You Jane", I think is a stupid episode for Willow's character....IMO shes way smarter than to fall for a online-boyfriend and to blow off her friends concerns....that's one episode I don't watch a lot.

[mergedloki]

Honestly, and i'm sure i'll catch flak for this,

I REALLY didn't like the series finale.

I mean yes I know the show had to go out with a bang (or a high kick and stake thru the heart as it were lol) but come on so now there's what? 50000 slayers in the world. Thereby completely ruining the uniqueness of buffy herself.

meh, just always bugged me.

[gumgnome]

Interesting choices so far: I agree with "Where the Wild Things Are", definitely one of the weakest. "I Robot, You Jane" is one of the embarassing S1 episodes that makes me cringe. "Wrecked" definitely comes out of nowhere and is distinctly dissatisfying.

However, I disagree with some choices. I do agree with the idea that Xander leaving Anya in "Hell's Bells" seems contrived just to continue the rule of "no-happy-characters" on the show, but I don't think the episode itself is poor or unentertaining. I personally find the visions of Xander's future to be harrowing, rather than cheesy.

I like "Doublemeat Palace". I think it's a funny episode and another step on the decline for Buffy (the character) in the season.

"Living Conditions" is actually one of my favourite episodes. It's the funniest ep in the whole series for me and embodies the unique, experimental style that made S4 the best season of the show.

Just because "Seeing Red" is painful to watch surely doesn't make it a technically weak episode?

I agree that "Chosen" is a disappointing finale for the whole show and one of the weaker season finales in general, but again, I don't think that this makes it one of the worst episodes of the whole show.

My additions to the list would have to be:
"Teacher's Pet" - another one of the really cringe S1 episodes.
"Beer Bad" - what were they thinking?!
"The Killer in Me" - I really dislike the monumental character changes that take place for Amy - so now she's actually a bad-guy? When did that happen? The fact that she knows about Rack immediately upon becoming human again in S6 suggests that she was seeing him in S3, before the events of "Gingerbread". Jeez - she really dove into the deep-end magic-wise didn't she? I find her character in Season 6 and 7 mystifying. She seems to be there for the convenience of the writers entirely. Plus, specific to this episode, I'm still not entirely sure how it resolves itself. Kennedy seems to be powerless to stop Amy and then what exactly?

[HannahSlayer]

Beer Bad gets on my nerves.
& Normal Again is a good episode but I've been an avid Buffy fan since I was eight and I saw that episode when I was around ten and it kinda got to me.

[The Girl In Question]

I second Where the Wild Things Are...it's a horrible episode. I only rewatch it for a couple of hilarious scenes.

[gumgnome]

Dec 4, 2009 22:09:45 GMT -5 HannahSlayer said:

& Normal Again is a good episode but I've been an avid Buffy fan since I was eight and I saw that episode when I was around ten and it kinda got to me.

Jeez - i can imagine! I was 17 when I saw "Normal Again" and it kinda got to me!

[Randi Giles]

For me I thinking it's between Checkpoint and Doublemeat Palace. These are two episodes I watched the least.

[Daina]

Dec 4, 2009 4:56:48 GMT -5 mergedloki said:

Honestly, and i'm sure i'll catch flak for this,

I REALLY didn't like the series finale.

I mean yes I know the show had to go out with a bang (or a high kick and stake thru the heart as it were lol) but come on so now there's what? 50000 slayers in the world. Thereby completely ruining the uniqueness of buffy herself.

meh, just always bugged me.

There were only about 2000, currently about 1500 going by the comics I believe.

I agree with Doublemeat Palace, that story line was silly, I really don't like Dead Man's Party either.

[buffyfan21]

For me it would be Seeing Red and Wrecked. Hands down. Empty Places definitely falls in there as well.

[Wyndam]

"Where the Wild Things Are" as it's pretty much unwatchable (except for the scene where Giles sings).

A close second is "Hell's Bells" simply from a story standpoint. There wasn't really any good reasons to break Anya and Xander up. It's at least watchable though, because Emma is pretty great in it. Don't even get me started on Spike's date though. Jesus.

[henzINNIT]

Dec 3, 2009 13:17:25 GMT -5 Rebecca said:

Living Conditions. One of the stupidest episodes by far IMO.

I think the roomate thing was essential for the season. The guy I live with at the moment makes this all the more relevent lol

[Darth Rosie]

I love Living Conditions. It's one of my all time guilty pleasures.
Amends is one of the episodes I like the least. I just hate Christmas in anything on TV. (I like Christmas in my family though.)

[buffyfan21]

Dec 11, 2009 0:33:56 GMT -5 Wyndam said:

"Where the Wild Things Are" as it's pretty much unwatchable (except for the scene where Giles sings).

I don't get the hate for this ep, besides the Buffy/Riley sex-capades (which, let's face it, we could all do without!) this ep does actually have some pretty funny moments, among them being the interaction between Anya/Spike - possible foreshadowing to S6 perhaps? And as you mentioned, there is Giles' singing, which I adore! Everybody's reactions to this is comedy gold!

As for worst ep, I would definitely throw the Killer in Me in the mix as well. Ok, maybe it is not the "worst" ep, but definitely a least fave of mine. The combination of Kennedy plus Warren is almost too much for me - my two most disliked characters in the verse!

[gumgnome]

The only line in "Where the Wild Things Are" that I'm a big fan of is when Spike enters the party and Xander says "What a surprise! Hostile 17! Hey everybody, if it isn't Hostile 17!" Cracks me up.

[buffyfan21]

Dec 11, 2009 13:01:21 GMT -5 gumgnome said:

The only line in "Where the Wild Things Are" that I'm a big fan of is when Spike enters the party and Xander says "What a surprise! Hostile 17! Hey everybody, if it isn't Hostile 17!" Cracks me up.

Yeah, that is funny. And I love that Spike is always trying to get out of it by saying, "no, I'm just an old pal of Xander's here." cracks me up every time!