A classic series that helped revolutionize TV is Buffy the Vampire Slayer. At the time of its release, there were very few shows that could balance humor with horror, yet under the direction of Joss Whedon, Buffy accomplished this task, paving the way for many other series that followed.
As a horror show, it had a few Halloween specials--though less than one might think (only three of them over the course of its seven seasons). It also had a few other holiday specials. These holiday episodes varied in quality, but they were all still cause for celebration.
Best: Halloween
Buffy always balanced horror and comedy in equal parts, but as was a series about vampires and their respective slayer, it should be no surprise that Buffy had more holiday episodes dedicated to Halloween than to any other holiday. This one is, appropriately enough, entitled “Halloween.” While the title is not all that original, the premise proved to be every bit as dramatic as it was hilarious.
Buffy and her friends buy their costumes from a new store that has opened up in town. That night, everyone turned into whatever their costumes were. Buffy becomes the vapid Southern Belle she dressed as to impress Angel. Willow, who donned a white sheet over her suggestive costume, turns into the ghost that the sheet represented. In fact, not only does Xander become the combat-capable soldier he dressed as, but after reverting back to his normal self at the end of the episode, he retains his memories of what he knew as a soldier (including security codes). Meanwhile, every trick-or-treater dressed as a monster turned into their respective outfits, unleashing all hell on Sunnydale. The man responsible for the bewitched costumes turned out to be Giles’s former friend and fellow occultist, Ethan Rayne, and this episode marked his debut in the series.
Worst: All the Way
There were only ever three Halloween episodes in the series, but “All the Way” went out of its way to be the all-out worst. This marked the sixth episode of Season 6 and focused almost entirely on Dawn, who is arguably the most hated character in the whole series. She tries to get close to some boys and even has her first kiss. However, the boys turn out to be vampires (pretty predictable considering her sister did the same way back in the first season).
Like in any episode, there are several plot threads all interwoven into the narrative. There is a Halloween party at Buffy’s house where Willow uses magic to decorate, which eventually leads to Tara arguing with her over Willow’s excessive use of magic. Xander and Giles discuss Xander’s hopes for the future. Spike and Buffy even have some moments together. But all of it is forgettable, and worse, boring.
Best: Pangs
This episode involves the Scooby Gang preparing to celebrate their first Thanksgiving together since Buffy and Willow left for college. All of Season 4 is an exploration of Buffy’s journey through the world of college (and like the show’s protagonist, the series has quite a few growing pains in the transition from the end of her time in high school). “Pangs” is the 8th episode of the season, and marks a turning point for the characters. Buffy is determined to show she is a responsible adult who is able to make a Thanksgiving dinner, but Willow has come to the far more mature development of recognizing the genocidal history of the United States holiday.
Parts of this episode age well. Other parts are dated and problematic. The spirits of Native American Chumash warriors attack the Scooby Gang, shooting arrows into Giles’s apartment. There is genuine drama and fear as the group is pinned down and it really seems they might not get out alive (though, of course, they do). While vengeful Native American spirits are a tired trope that portrays the First Nation peoples as savages, it is commendable that the show tries to acknowledge the devastation unleashed against the Chumash people. Angel and Spike also make memorable appearances that add gravitas (and humor) to this episode.
Worst: Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered
The sixteenth installment of Season 12 is “Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered,” the only Valentine’s Day episode of the entire series. It is by no means a bad episode, but it has quite a bit of a cringe-factor. Dealing with the pain of Cordelia dumping him, Xander has the witch Amy Madison make a spell for him to win over Cordelia’s love. Unfortunately, it has the opposite effect, instead making every other woman in Sunnydale fall in love with him.
Buffy, her mom, and even the vampire Drusilla try to show their affections to Xander, throwing themselves at him to seduce him. When he spurns their advances, they begin attacking each other. They even try to kill Cordelia for breaking his heart and try to kill him if they cannot have him.
Best: Fear, Itself
“Fear, Itself” is the last of the three Halloween episodes (though the second one chronologically) and it is by far the scariest. It is the fourth episode of Season 4 and is a turning point when the season begins to really get its bearings. Oz is helping some fraternity boys set up their haunted house when one of them accidentally turns the entire building into an actual haunted house by activating the sigil they painted on the floor. The symbol in question is the Mark of Gachnar, used to summon the demon Gachnar.
Xander and the demon Anya end up going on a date, resulting in Anya’s hilarious choice of a costume as she dresses in a bunny onesie. Giles, no longer burdened with Watcher duties, dresses as a stereotypical Mexican charro. The Scooby Gang all go to the haunted house, where they struggle to pass multiple terrifying manifestations invoked by the Mark of Gachnar. Then, the fear demon himself appears—except that he is to scale with his image in the book, standing just a few inches high. For all his magic, Buffy crushes him underfoot.
Worst: Amends
“Amends” is the only Christmas episode of the series, and is the tenth installment of Season 3. It is one of the more serious episodes, as Angel confronts the ghosts of his past, haunted by memories of all he has done—and haunted by a literal ghost. However, Angel is not Scrooge, and this somber episode is incredibly depressing compared to most Christmas episodes—or most Buffy episodes. Of course, the ghost that haunts Angel is not as it seems, and turns out to be an entity called the First.
There are a number of romantic subplots, including Oz and Willow coming to terms with what they mean to one another, while Xander is grieving after his breakup with Cordelia even as she cruelly reminds him of the worst aspects of his family life. This entire episode allows characters to grow and confront aspects of themselves during the holiday break. The episode has problems, but it is not flat out bad. It is just not one of the better holiday episodes. Interestingly, “Amends” was advertised with a commercial for a 1-800-Collect call-in sweepstakes that had the amazingly campy on-the-nose title “A Buffy Christmas.”