Buffy the Vampire Slayer has garnered critical acclaim both during its initial run at the turn of the century, and in the nearly two decades since its conclusion. And for good reason: with complex characters with fantastic senses of humor, incredibly distinctive dialogue, and an inventive approach to teen-life-as-horror that reworked old tropes and invented new ones.
But viewers can find fault with even Buffy's most acclaimed episode - Season 5's "The Body" (9.8), in which Buffy reels from her mother's unexpected death. And equally, even the show's worst episode - Season 4's "Beer Bad" (5.8), whose silly premise involves Buffy reverting into a Neanderthal - has plenty to offer diehard fans.
Highest-Rated Did Wrong: Giles Has Barely Any Lines
By Season 5, Giles' role as a surrogate father to Buffy is well-established, with the Sunnydale Library and then the Magic Box shop proving to be homes away from home for the young Slayer. But Buffy's Watcher takes a definite backseat in this landmark episode.
As the only remaining elder in Buffy's life, it's surprising that he doesn't get a scene with Buffy like Tara does, where he's able to offer the fans know he's more than able to give. Especially considering his painful loss of Jenny Calendar some three seasons prior, he may have had some wise words for the grieving Slayer.
Lowest-Rated Did Right: A Creative Monster Of The Week
With seven seasons full of monsters-of-the-week, Buffy had to repeat itself at times - and vampires and demons naturally abound in the series. So when an episode features a never-before-seen kind of antagonist, it's notable.
In "Beer Bad," beer-loving students transformed into cavemen uniquely feature as the main threat to the Scoobies' safety, although the campus bar's owner is the mastermind behind the change. The choice of monster makes the episode's tone far less scary, and far more winningly silly, than many other Buffy episodes.
Highest-Rated Did Wrong: Buffy's About-Face
Over the course of the series, fans see Buffy endure all kinds of heartbreaking and stress-inducing trials. But when faced with her mother's corpse at the beginning of "The Body," Buffy displays perhaps the most vulnerability ever on the show.
It's an interesting choice, then, for Buffy to suddenly adopt a stoic and serious persona for the remainder of the episode. Of course, putting on a brave face in dealing with trauma is a very normal response. But this episode in particular, with its insurmountable and impossibly painful challenge, could have delved more deeply into how Buffy was feeling aside from wanting to appear strong for Dawn's sake.
Lowest-Rated Did Right: Showed Sarah Michelle Gellar's Comedy Chops
Even in a show where realism is thrown out the window, "Beer Bad" is definitely one of Buffy's more ridiculous episodes. The upside of this frivolous tone is the opportunity and unique acting challenge it gives Sarah Michelle Gellar - to embody a Neanderthal version of the show's eponymous heroine.
Gellar shines even with stunted lines like the episode's title phrase "beer bad" (which becomes a recurring joke in the series) and nails the lumbering physical comedy necessary for the role.
Highest-Rated Did Wrong: Little Affection Between Buffy And Dawn
"The Body" is undeniably an episode themed around touch: Buffy snaps at Giles for touching Joyce's body when it should be left undisturbed, and the final moments finds Dawn reaching towards Joyce's cold cheek in the morgue. It's a little odd, then, when faced with the death of their mother, Buffy and Dawn aren't shown giving each other much physical .
The scene where Buffy breaks the news to Dawn at school, or the later one where the Scooby Gang kills time in the hospital waiting room, would have been ripe opportunities for more of a connection between the often feuding sisters.
Lowest-Rated Did Right: Xander Becoming A Bartender
In "Beer Bad," Xander becomes a bartender at the UC Sunnydale campus watering hole. It's a plot line that makes complete sense for him, considering that many of his friends are attending college while he's decided to dive into the workforce. This new development for Xander allows him to be in the middle of the episode's action - perhaps even more than he'd like.
This arc is dropped for Xander, but it could have easily resulted in him securing a job at the Bronze. Although the Scoobies' resident funnyman ends up in construction, it's curious that he didn't more thoroughly explore this profession.
Highest-Rated Did Wrong: A Supernatural Twist
It's right there in the title - Buffy is all about the monsters. But "The Body" is unique in its focus on almost entirely human matters. Unusually for the show, a main character dies from completely natural causes, and it absolutely puzzles the Scoobies' most supernatural character - former vengeance demon Anya.
But in the episode's final moments, a vampire rises in the morgue and attacks Dawn, who's poking around in the hospital. Although vampires are a huge part of the show, it could have been even more impactful - and ironically even more challenging for the characters - for this episode's hurdles to be heartbreakingly normal.
Lowest-Rated Did Right: Issues With Willow And Oz's Relationship
This episode marks the beginning of a pivotal time in Willow and Oz's usually strong relationship. Although Oz's nature as a werewolf posed problems in Season 3, he seems to have his dual personality under control by this time. But in "Beer Bad," he can't hide his fascination for Veruca even from his girlfriend, leading to a rift in their relationship that will culminate in Oz leaving Sunnydale.
Although it's a sad storyline for Willow and Oz fans, a break from Willow's high school boyfriend is undeniably necessary for her to grow out of her meek personality into the confident and powerful witch who she was always meant to be.
Highest-Rated Did Wrong: Why Is Buffy So Unprepared In A Life-Threatening Situation?
It's not at all surprising that the usually unflappable Slayer feels absolutely helpless when her mother's life is on the line - and it's effective in making viewers feel terrified. But, if only for the sake of realism, shouldn't Buffy have more training in R or related life-saving procedures?
As someone whose calling in life is protecting innocent humans from dangerous supernatural forces, it's somewhat unrealistic that Buffy wouldn't know anything about how to respond in a medical emergency or a situation in which the death of an innocent is suspected. Of course, Buffy deserves all the credit in the world for responding how she does, but the episode clearly sacrifices some rationalism for emotional impact.
Lowest-Rated Did Right: Parker Getting His Comeuppance
"Beer Bad" was seen by some as a bit of a heavy-handed PSA against alcohol and casual sex. Even though the episode's messaging is somewhat flagrant, the storyline that finds Buffy spurned by her callous one-night stand Parker does benefit from a satisfying conclusion.
For one, Willow gives him a serious scolding. For her part, when Buffy is faced with the image of Parker helpless in a raging fire, even her most primitive self is motivated to rescue him - but when he delivers a heartfelt apology after the fact, Neanderthal Buffy fittingly responds with her club.