Well, this is a risky undertaking. I’m damned if I do, and I’m damned if I don’t on a lot of these decisions. The ranking and inclusion of some of these episodes may make some gentle readers cranky, and the exclusion of others (or their presence on the bottom 10 list) may enrage the rest of you. But generally I am far too conservative to break any rules or test any boundaries, so I think you’ll find most are the popular faves and that I lack any real or new opinion of my own. Having said that, I did think on this for a somewhat extended period of time and didn’t consult other reviews or ratings before making my decisions. I just happen to be a wallflower. Or a sunflower. Or whatever the flower is that makes me a sheep. Controversially perhaps though is that my numero uno episode isn’t a Joss/Joss masterpiece, or even a Noxon wonderscript (who isn’t included at all!) but two lesser known of the Buffy crew. So, without further ado… the honourable mentions.

Superstar (417)

Written by Jane Espenson, Directed by David Grossman

Jonathan, the nerd and poster-boy victim of Sunnydale High during the days of the scoobies, is a superhero who fights vampires better than our Buffster, went to medical school before graduating high school, and also starred in The Matrix.

I love Jonathan. Especially in the earlier days when he was an occasional character, and always played the loveable victim, an innocent regular high school Joe. Earshot is another fave, but just doesn’t quite make this list. I was really stoked when they brought Jonathan back as a regular, evil nemesis status aside.

This episode came after turbulent times, with two tense episodes involving a revengeful Faith, and the humour was exactly what was needed. Jonathan’s inclusion in the opening credits was perhaps one of the nicest eccentricities of this episode, and very whedon-esque.

WILLOW: I don’t care if it is an orgy of death, there’s still such a thing as a napkin.

Something Blue (409)

Written by Tracey Forbes, Directed by Nick Marck

Willow casts a spell to have her will done, to heal her heart after the departure of Oz, but it backfires and she inadvertently wills Giles blind, Xander a demon magnet, and Buffy and Spike engaged to be married.

Ok, this episode was just plain fun. In the scheme of things, it placed between ‘Pangs’, an episode where angel returns to town in all his mysterious and broody glory, and ‘Hush’, indisputably one of the creepiest episodes of BtVS so far. A hearty spot of hilarity is just what audiences needed, similar to the way ‘Doublemeat Palace’ sought to break up the darkness that filled a good stretch of season six, but ‘Something Blue’ was actually effective in doing so.

The guest appearance of Elizabeth Anne Allen as Amy for all of 3 seconds had me laughing out loud, and though the Spike and Buffy engagement was cheesiness at its best, it still brought a smile.

SPIKE: This is the crack team that foils my every plan? I am deeply shamed.

Restless (422)

Written and Directed by Joss Whedon

After a hard days work killing the indestructible Adam, the gang settle in for a video night, and promptly all nod off into dreamland. A somewhat chaotic dreamscape then ensues, complete with monsters and near-death experiences for all.

This episode has to at least get a mention purely for the cheese man. One of the most memorable / quirky / hilarious moments in the Buffy saga — completely irrelevant and entirely Joss. In case you have no idea what I am talking about, each character goes through a different dream sequence but in each appears a dude with sliced cheese. I don’t know why I find this so damned funny, but I do. Especially in Buffy’s sequence where she is in the middle of a desert, talking to the essence of the first slayer, and along comes a balding guy in tweed who dangles some cheese in her face and then disappears offscreen again. Absurd and utterly golden.

Other high points: The wry smile on Oz’s face as he whispers something to an amused Tara (seeing Oz in any episode is a high point, but this scene with Tara plays on the intriguing contrasts between them), Spike in tweed, and the lovely precursor to ‘Tabula Rasa’ with Giles declaring he is like a son, and of course, Spike hiring himself out as an attraction and the brilliant array of poses he strikes for adoring cameras.

GILES (singing): It’s strange, it’s not like anything we’ve faced before / It seems familiar somehow / Of course / The spell we cast with Buffy must have released some primal evil that’s come back seeking / I’m not sure what / Willow, look through the chronicles for some reference to a warrior beast / I’ve got to warn Buffy / There’s every chance she might be next / And Xander / help Willow / And try not to bleed on my couch / I’ve just had it steam-cleaned…

Continued in part two…

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This entry was posted by the illustrious Shannon Jones on Monday, March 10th, 2003. It concerns such pressing issues as . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.