BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER S6E7 ONCE MORE, WITH FEELING 🤩

Before Joss Whedon became a household name, only to get canceled, he created the cult-classic TV series BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER. While the show sometimes suffers from network episodic bloat (145 episodes over seven seasons), one cannot deny what it did to help inspire and shape young adult television. The series had teen angst mixed with loss, love, and belonging. Yet, all of that was bottled up within the characters. That is until ONCE MORE WITH FEELING aired.

After six long seasons of following, Buffy, Xander, Willow, Rupert, Dawn, Spike, and Anya encounter a demon that forces them to sing all their emotions and darkest secrets. That plot mechanism is sheer freaking genius. As an audience member, we know the narratives of these characters and what has been kept secret, but none of the other characters do. So, after six pent-up seasons, the group sings, dances, and reveals their glorious emotions (even if they do include bunnies). Furthermore, the songs in this episode genuinely do sing!

Here’s a breakdown of my favorite songs in order:

I’ve Got a Theory / Bunnies / If We’re Together – I have instant smiles every time I hear this song. The lighthearted bunnies’ segue mixed with the bond of this team’s friendship and how they work together… only to be torn apart by their secrets at the end.
I’ll Never Tell – Anya and Xander start this upbeat song as a perfect couple and end it dancing off, knowing their secrets will break them up in the future (including “skeezy cheeses”).
Where Do We Go From Here – The sad closing song as our characters “know the end is near,” but they have to keep on fighting.
Standing – The mentor character realizes he’s shielding the kids from facing their demons. Giles is the dad we all wanted, and hearing his bittersweet solo of growing up should bring a tear to longtime Buffy fan’s eyes.
Something to Sing About – Even if Sarah Michelle Gellar doesn’t have much vocal range, this climatic song “gives me something to sing about!”
Walk Through the Fire – The montage song to end all montages, prepping the characters for the final showdown.
Under Your Spell / Standing – The mash-up you’ll want to “stay” for showcasing Anthony Head’s singing capabilities before he became everyone’s favorite villain in TED LASSO.
Going Through the Motions – The graveyard metaphor is gloomy perfection, with Buffy not feeling alive amongst the dead. And this song kicks us off on the episode’s musical journey.
Under Your Spell – The love song that should have everyone swooning for our two favorite witches.
What You Feel (Reprise) – The reprise surprisingly works better than the complete song.
What You Feel – The dancing is better than the expositional song explaining how the story works.
Rest in Peace – I love Spike, but I loathe this song.
The Parking Ticket / The Mustard – Silly songs showcasing why this plot mechanic should be used more often.
Dawn’s Lament – I don’t want to lament about Michelle Trachtenberg’s inability to sing. However, that’s why they minimized her songs and gave her the major dance numbers.

I encourage all new and old Buffy fans to watch this episode! As I get older, it continues to hit harder. Why? Because it forces our depressed protagonist to realize that living is more important than dying with vampires, demons, and musical numbers. I’ll gladly “Walk Through the Fire” yearly during October to watch one of the best TV episodes of all time.

The entire BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER TV series is available to stream on Hulu.