snick_backup (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
snick_backup) wrote2010-06-16 09:31 pm
snick_backup) wrote2010-06-16 09:31 pm
Entry tags:
Snick's Official, Absolutely Objective, Entirely Rational Top Ten
Logo TV having collated the results of their Best Buffy Episodes poll, this having caused a fannish rumpus about same, and I having paperwork of every kind on which I should instead be working, this is clearly the time to post my own top ten list (and honorable mentions).
In order by season, these are the eps not necessarily with the most artistic merit but the ones which I love rewatching over and over and over...
I Only Have Eyes For You - AKA, reason 1 how Marti Noxon is awesome. I couldn't care less about angsty ghosts possessing people, but the gender reversal turnabout here that completely recasts (heh) the story we thought we were watching blows my mind every single time. Honest, one of these days I will write a big fat meta about the many ways this episode is amazing.
Killed By Death - Hey, I'm allowed to be idiosyncratic, right? This may be my all-time favorite "Buffy is my hero" episode. She's in the hospital, which holds plenty of childhood terrors, and she's feeling less than perky, and yet she's still all about tracking down that evil and saving the innocents. Sacrificial plunge from a height is one thing; sleuthing after monsters while you feel icky is whole other brand of heroism. Also: "Frog fear!", second only to "Tiny, tiny babies" as a diversionary tactic; and Xander's 'white knight' scene, which is one of his high points of the series, IMO. Plus the Kindestod is quite effective. (Also gross.)
Lovers Walk - Yanno, this ep is all about the angst and the unfaithfulness and the breakups, and yet I only ever think of it as comedic. It's all Spike's fault - as, I'm given to understand, most difficulties in the Buffyverse are. The launching point for many a Spuffy smutfest; I'm still waiting for a fic that actually convinces me of these two at this point.
The Zeppo - The first time I saw this, I was underwhelmed. What's that about, self? *whaps* Hilarious and fabulous. All the angst of typical BtVS, but from the outside. Pretty much a brilliant skewering, and also some very nice Xander heroics.
The Wish - AKA, reason 2 how Marti Noxon is awesome. It's canon AU! With Larry as a white hat, Buffy as One Tough Chick, and Willow way scarier as a fangy skank than she ever was when she tried to end the world. I love the look at what Buffy might have become instead. I love the alternateness of it, basically.
Superstar - The credits! The Jonathan cereal! The Jonathan globe! The world without shrimp! Again, a structural turnabout that skews the perspective on, well, everything. And that opening music!
Restless - I thought this was pretentious and nonsensical the first time through. I have since reconsidered. Basically: the man who loves dream sequences writes an ep of (almost) nothing but. Hilarious, creepy, poignant, complex, visually arresting, just plain gorgeous, a summation of the show thus far with foreshadowing for the future. Better with every rewatch. My only regrets are: not enough Spike, no Faith.
Fool For Love - The episode that finally sold me on this show. The final scene that makes me cry every. single. time. The beginning of the BtVS fan you see before you today.
Once More, With Feeling - Dude.
Sleeper - A recent addition, courtesy of the rewatch and much fangirling by the members of the "We Love S7" club. (You know who you are.) I still have troubles with a lot of Spike's development in S7, but this? This is everything I could want.
---
The Honorable Mentions:
Lie to Me
Consequences
The Initiative
Something Blue
Hush
Intervention
The Gift
Bargaining
After Life
Storyteller
Conclusion: You notice how many of those play with structure and POV, or are otherwise high-concept? Yeah. I'm predictable.
In order by season, these are the eps not necessarily with the most artistic merit but the ones which I love rewatching over and over and over...
I Only Have Eyes For You - AKA, reason 1 how Marti Noxon is awesome. I couldn't care less about angsty ghosts possessing people, but the gender reversal turnabout here that completely recasts (heh) the story we thought we were watching blows my mind every single time. Honest, one of these days I will write a big fat meta about the many ways this episode is amazing.
Killed By Death - Hey, I'm allowed to be idiosyncratic, right? This may be my all-time favorite "Buffy is my hero" episode. She's in the hospital, which holds plenty of childhood terrors, and she's feeling less than perky, and yet she's still all about tracking down that evil and saving the innocents. Sacrificial plunge from a height is one thing; sleuthing after monsters while you feel icky is whole other brand of heroism. Also: "Frog fear!", second only to "Tiny, tiny babies" as a diversionary tactic; and Xander's 'white knight' scene, which is one of his high points of the series, IMO. Plus the Kindestod is quite effective. (Also gross.)
Lovers Walk - Yanno, this ep is all about the angst and the unfaithfulness and the breakups, and yet I only ever think of it as comedic. It's all Spike's fault - as, I'm given to understand, most difficulties in the Buffyverse are. The launching point for many a Spuffy smutfest; I'm still waiting for a fic that actually convinces me of these two at this point.
The Zeppo - The first time I saw this, I was underwhelmed. What's that about, self? *whaps* Hilarious and fabulous. All the angst of typical BtVS, but from the outside. Pretty much a brilliant skewering, and also some very nice Xander heroics.
The Wish - AKA, reason 2 how Marti Noxon is awesome. It's canon AU! With Larry as a white hat, Buffy as One Tough Chick, and Willow way scarier as a fangy skank than she ever was when she tried to end the world. I love the look at what Buffy might have become instead. I love the alternateness of it, basically.
Superstar - The credits! The Jonathan cereal! The Jonathan globe! The world without shrimp! Again, a structural turnabout that skews the perspective on, well, everything. And that opening music!
Restless - I thought this was pretentious and nonsensical the first time through. I have since reconsidered. Basically: the man who loves dream sequences writes an ep of (almost) nothing but. Hilarious, creepy, poignant, complex, visually arresting, just plain gorgeous, a summation of the show thus far with foreshadowing for the future. Better with every rewatch. My only regrets are: not enough Spike, no Faith.
Fool For Love - The episode that finally sold me on this show. The final scene that makes me cry every. single. time. The beginning of the BtVS fan you see before you today.
Once More, With Feeling - Dude.
Sleeper - A recent addition, courtesy of the rewatch and much fangirling by the members of the "We Love S7" club. (You know who you are.) I still have troubles with a lot of Spike's development in S7, but this? This is everything I could want.
---
The Honorable Mentions:
Lie to Me
Consequences
The Initiative
Something Blue
Hush
Intervention
The Gift
Bargaining
After Life
Storyteller
Conclusion: You notice how many of those play with structure and POV, or are otherwise high-concept? Yeah. I'm predictable.