![]() ![]() The combination of the music, the setting of the Bronze, and the vampires slowly advancing on Sunnydale’s teens sent chills down my spine, and I would never forget it. Darla twirls in slow-motion as she approaches, and the song seems to stretch out over the moment-the beginning of the show’s first major conflict, and a statement of what the show was going to be. This darkly epic song signifies the real beginning of Buffy, as it memorably plays over the scene where Darla leads the vampires to the Bronze in the two-part pilot. So, here they are, not ranked, but presented in chronological order: “Ballad for Dead Friends” by Dashboard Prophets (Season 1, Episode 2, “The Harvest”) When choosing my top 20, I obviously focused on the quality of the songs, but I also took into account how effective their use was in the show, whether they stood out as being particularly memorable, and how they enhanced significant moments. ![]() I’m also counting Anya’s song from “Selfless” as part of “Once More, With Feeling”, even though it occurred as a flashback in a later episode. That’s a musical in its own right and a whole other thing. Nothing from “Once More, With Feeling”, otherwise things would just get ridiculous. In picking my top 20 songs from Buffy, I had to establish a few rules. In this way music played a central role in Buffy, and helped to shape the show’s unique style and identity. They had a knack for finding lesser-known talent, and would often have these bands perform on the show at the Bronze, often playing more than one song in an episode while the characters hung out and dealt with whatever drama they were facing. "Once More, with Feeling" is not only the best episode of Buffy, it's one of the best moments of television.While Buffy included the occasional well-known song, for the most part Joss Whedon and his team sought out smaller, alternative bands to provide the show’s music. Oh, and Anya's fear of bunnies is finally explained (I totally get it!). Spike's part in Walk Through the Fire: "I hope she fries, I'm free if that b*** dies!/ I better help her out." Actually, Spike's everything in this episode was pretty much golden. Some favorite moments: In the demon battle, Giles very seriously says, "She needs backup!" and Tara/Anya run to Buffy's aid as backup dancers. There was much of the characteristic comedy and wit that fans of the show have come to love. The entire cast did a wonderful job- they're not professional singers, which makes the musical feel all the more authentic and true to the Buffyverse. I also have to give credit to Sarah Michelle Geller for remaining faithful to her character- as the lead, her performance could have made or broken the show, and she was solid. Tara's "Under Your Spell" ode to Willow in her soft new age voice is unexpected and beautiful. Spike's corny rock ballad "Rest in Peace" is hilarious, shining a light on his angsty feelings toward Buffy. The music is catchy, and perfectly suited to their respective characters. It's pivotal to the season, with revelations that are best expressed in song. The musical format works so well because of the cohesiveness of the music and plot- there is no filler song, just as this episode is not an "extra". The opening credits and muted old Hollywood aesthetics set the tone for the show. ![]() But this episode exemplifies the daring, artistic spirit that made Buffy such a cultural icon. ![]() As a fan of musicals, I'm always wary of TV musical episodes- so much can go so terribly wrong. ![]()
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