By its very nature, Buffy the Vampire Slayer is a show that’s suitable for Halloween viewing, though some of its episodes fit the holiday more than others. The teen horror series is teeming with vampires, monsters, demons, ghosts, and other creatures typically associated with the spooky season and things that go bump in the night. With Halloween being the best time for marathons of scary movies and TV shows, a guide to the best Buffy the Vampire Slayer episodes to watch in this setting is in order.
There are actually three Buffy the Vampire Slayer Halloween episodes, so of course these installments fall into this category. Other suitable episodes may not have had Halloween in mind, but they’re particularly spooky or scary and fit the bill for the scariest night of the year. If Buffy the Vampire Slayer is in the cards this October 31, there are definitely certain episodes to consider watching.
10 I Only Have Eyes For You
There has to be at least one ghost-specific episode in any Halloween binge-watch of the show. Buffy the Vampire Slayer season 2, episode 19, “I Only Have Eyes for You,” sees Sunnydale High being haunted by the spirits of a former teacher and her student. The pair fell in love, but when the teacher tried to call their relationship off, the student killed her. The episode sees the current inhabitants of Sunnydale High being possessed by the ghosts and recreating that tragedy — and the haunting comes with a variety of other eerie goings-on, such as the food in the school’s cafeteria turning to snakes.
9 Normal Again
“Normal Again” is a particularly haunting episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer for very different reasons to most. Episode 17 of season 6 sees Buffy suffering the effects of a hallucinogenic venom, administered by a demon summoned by her arch-nemeses, Warren Mears, Andrew Wells, and Jonathan Levinson, aka The Trio. The venom leads Buffy to believe her life as the slayer has been an elaborate hallucination, and that she’s actually been a catatonic psychiatric patient for six years. The fact that the ending leaves the truth open to interpretation, meaning the entire show could be in Buffy’s mind, makes it even more harrowing.
8 The Wish
Buffy the Vampire Slayer season 3, episode 9, “The Wish,” chronicles the effects of a wish made by Cordelia. It’s the episode in which audiences are introduced to Anya. Still a vengeance demon at this point, she goads Cordelia into wishing harm to come to Xander. However, she wishes Buffy never arrived in Sunnydale instead, which turns the town into a vampire haven. The Master is in charge, Xander and Willow are vampires, there’s a nighttime curfew, and Giles leads the revolt against the creatures of the night. Halloween is the perfect time to be reminded of the hellscape that Sunnydale would be without the slayer.
7 Killed By Death
Buffy the Vampire Slayer season 2, episode 18, “Killed by Death,” features one of the most terrifying villains the show brought to life. Clearly inspired by Freddy Krueger, Der Kindestod is a child-killing demon only feverish people can see. When Buffy ends up in the hospital with the flu, she finds the creature preying on the sick children there. Buffy realizes Der Kindestod killed her cousin years ago and, after recovering, she injects herself with the virus so that she falls ill again but can see the monster in order to kill it. Giles comments that the creature “must be, uh, horrifying,” and he’s not wrong.
6 Nightmares
“Nightmares” is the 10th episode of the first season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and its title says everything. In the episode, due to the influence of the Hellmouth, the astral projections of a young boy in a coma cause the residents of Sunnydale’s nightmares to manifest in reality. Examples include a scary clown from Xander’s childhood, Giles’s worst nightmare of him failing as a Watcher resulting in Buffy being turned into a vampire, and Willow having to perform on stage. Few things could be more apt for Halloween, the one night of the year when nightmare creatures roam the streets.
5 Buffy Vs. Dracula
There’s no more iconic monster than the king of all vampires, Count Dracula. Countless people dress as the infamous lord of darkness every October 31, so Buffy vs. Dracula is a must-watch for Halloween night. Buffy the Vampire Slayer season 5’s opening episode sees Dracula’s arrival in Sunnydale, along with his infamous trio of existing brides and his “big honking castle,” with the plan to make Buffy his next bride. Of course, things don’t go his way, and the slayer sees him off handily, but it’s a suitably eerie episode for the holiday as he makes his ill-fated attempts to woo her.
4 Hush
“Hush” is without a doubt the most terrifying episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, introducing the villains known as the Gentlemen as they eerily float their way into Sunnydale. The fairytale ghouls go from town to town, stealing citizens’ voices, so they can cut out their victims’ hearts in silence. This makes for an intriguing, clever episode with a unique dynamic, as the Gentlemen render Buffy the Vampire Slayer‘s cast of characters unable to speak. It really is a genius installment and one of the finest television episodes ever produced. Most importantly, its scariness is perfect for Halloween.
3 All The Way
Buffy the Vampire Slayer season 6, episode 6, “All the Way,” sees Xander and Anya finally announcing their engagement, prompting a party for the couple taking place on Halloween night. However, the celebrations are interrupted by Dawn sneaking out with a friend to meet some boys who turn out to be vampires, which is one of Buffy’s worst fears come true. “All the Way” is the poorest of Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s three Halloween episodes, but even a poor Buffy episode is worth watching. This one still captures that Halloween vibe, so it’s definitely still essential for an October 31 viewing.
2 Fear, Itself
“Fear, Itself” is the fourth episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer season 4. Taking place on Halloween, it sees Buffy being convinced by her friends to attend a spooky party at a local frat house. There, thanks to the presence of a fear demon summoned by the frat boys, their fears come to life and the themed house of horrors becomes all too real. Ultimately, it’s revealed that the fear demon, Gachnar, is just a few inches tall, and Buffy humorously squashes him with her foot.
1 Halloween
The aptly titled “Halloween” is truly the best Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode to watch on the holiday. Season 2’s sixth episode sees Buffy and company recruited by Principal Snyder to accompany some young trick-or-treaters. However, the night goes awry when Ethan Rayne curses his shop’s Halloween costumes, resulting in Sunnydale’s residents turning into their costumes. Buffy loses her powers and becomes a harmless 18th century noble person and Xander’s role reverses, becoming her protector as a soldier. A blast from start to finish, this episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer is also one of the best ’90s teen show Halloween episodes.
