Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s Best Episode Aired 25 Years Ago Today & the Show Was Never the Same After It

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While Buffy the Vampire Slayer boasts many memorable episodes, choosing the very best is subjective. Several stand out as particularly strong, showcasing the show’s range. Episodes like the eerie, silent ‘Hush,’ the unexpected musical ‘Once More With Feeling,’ and dramatic season finales like ‘Becoming – Part 2’ and ‘The Gift’ are all frequently cited as favorites.

In my opinion, the best episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer – and one of the greatest hours of television ever – is Season 5, Episode 16, “The Body,” which originally aired on February 27, 2001. The episode begins with Buffy discovering her mother, Joyce, has died unexpectedly on the couch. What makes this episode so powerful is that, unlike previous deaths on the show, there’s no supernatural villain to fight – it’s a simple, heartbreaking human loss.

Why “The Body” Is Buffy The Vampire Slayer’s Best Episode

What makes “The Body” so powerful is how different it is from other Buffy episodes. It cuts away all the usual supernatural elements and focuses on pure emotion. The real monster in this episode isn’t a vampire – it’s grief, and it’s something Buffy can’t simply fight her way out of.

This episode centers on the main characters and how they cope with Joyce’s death. While Buffy telling Dawn the news is incredibly emotional, Anya’s reaction stands out as particularly powerful. As a former demon, she struggles to grasp the concept of a life simply ending, and this moment is both true to her character and a moving exploration of the suddenness and incomprehensibility of death.

Sarah Michelle Gellar delivers what is likely her best performance ever in this episode. We’re accustomed to seeing Buffy as a strong, fearless fighter, but here she faces an unbeatable enemy. The vulnerability Gellar portrays – especially in the heartbreaking line, “Mom? Mom? Mommy?” – and the raw shock and sadness in her expressions make this one of the most moving and human moments in a show generally focused on the supernatural.

This episode features impressive filmmaking techniques. Similar to “Hush,” sound—or the lack of it—is used to great effect, creating a quiet and unsettling atmosphere that reflects the characters’ loss. The episode also cleverly manipulates how we perceive reality, showing Buffy imagining happier times with her mother through disorienting visuals, which mirrors the confusing nature of grief.

This moment was a major turning point in the series, one of several instances where the show evolved beyond its established patterns. Like when Angel transformed into Angelus, or when Joyce passed away, this event dramatically changed the story. Buffy had already left high school, but this forced her to mature much faster than she expected. She was already dealing with the huge responsibility of being the Slayer, and now she’d also have to take care of herself, her sister Dawn, and manage the household.

This storyline goes beyond simply battling monsters; it explores the realities of hospitals, funerals, financial burdens, and the complexities of life – making previous threats seem easy. Buffy has faced death for years, but this is where she truly confronts and understands it, and what’s required to keep living. It’s fitting that, soon after, she makes the selfless sacrifice for Dawn, delivering the poignant line: “The hardest thing in this world, is to live in it.”

While seasons 6 and 7 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer weren’t considered the show’s best, they were still engaging and thought-provoking, tackling some of the series’ most difficult subjects – something the show could explore fully after Joyce’s death. The episode “The Body” is widely considered the show’s finest moment and remains a high point for the entire Buffy universe.

All seven seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer are available to stream on Hulu.

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2026-02-27 20:41