15 Buffy The Vampire Slayer Episodes To Skip On A Rewatch

"Buffy the Vampire Slayer" is one of the best projects ever to grace the small screen. Created by Joss Whedon, the series was based on the movie of the same name, but took the concept of a teenage vampire killer to new heights. The show had an exceptional impact and ultimately changed television and fandom forever. You can't talk about inventive TV writing without bringing up "Buffy." From campy '90s effects to deep emotional arcs, the show hit every mark that makes a supernatural series excellent. However, no show is perfect, and there are a handful of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" episodes that can be skipped on a rewatch.

Most of the series' 144 episodes are great, but there are some that do not represent its typically high caliber. While some feature choices that are frustrating, others are major downers that are not always worth repeating. For the record, that does not include "The Body." While that is easily the most depressing episode of the series, it is considered by many to be the best, and you can't skip the best. After careful consideration, we have chosen 15 episodes that you do not need to revisit if you have already seen "Buffy the Vampire Slayer."

Some "Buffy" fans might argue that the 1st season is the weakest due to its "monster of the week" format. However, while there are not as many grand moments, Season 1 is undeniably fun, and so gloriously '90s. That is why only one of the season's 12 episodes made our skip list. "Never Kill a Boy on the First Date" sees Buffy try to have a new romance amidst her duties as a slayer, and it is ultimately a forgettable entry.

The episode is centered on Buffy's date with Owen (Christopher Wiehl), who she later dumps when she realizes he was attracted to the danger. While there are some cute moments, the action does not measure up to the rest of the season. The attempts to hide the supernatural world from Owen are not particularly clever, and considering the character is never seen or heard from again, he is not exactly someone fans are eager to revisit. This episode also introduces The Anointed One, who is a famously dull character. It is hard to see a boring little boy as a legitimate threat. 

We do have to shout out "Never Kill a Boy on the First Date" for featuring one of the show's most iconic lines: "If the apocalypse comes, beep me." However, six words are not enough to save the episode from this list.

In "Reptile Boy," Buffy and Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter) attend a frat party and are offered up as human sacrifices to the demon, Machida. While "Buffy" usually does an excellent job balancing teen drama with otherworldly elements, this one puts a little too much focus on the obnoxious college guys. Machida is cool, but he barely gets any screen time.

It is always great to see more Cordelia in an episode, but she is a little too harsh in "Reptile Boy." Watching her use Buffy to get closer to guys is beneath everyone involved. The frat party antics are also tedious. At one point, Xander (Nicholas Brendon) is forced into women's clothes in an unoriginal hazing ritual. Using a bra and lipstick to humiliate a guy was not funny in 1997, and it is not funny now.

Ultimately, if you look back on an episode and are not anticipating spending time with the characters who dominate the runtime, it probably means it's one to skip. It is unpleasant watching a bunch of bros pull a fast one on Buffy, even if she does best them in the end.

"Killed by Death" is a bizarre episode wedged between two fantastic ones: "Passion" and "I Only Have Eyes For You." Buffy falls ill and gets sent to the hospital, where she discovers a demon is killing sick children. This random entry completely stalls the momentum caused by the show's first truly tragic death.

While the kid-killing demon, der Kindestod, is genuinely terrifying, everything else about the episode is vexing. Not only does it awkwardly cut into one of the series' best arcs, but there is also a storyline about Buffy's young cousin who died. This is unnecessary backstory for Buffy, who has already been through hell. It is also the only time this cousin (who Buffy was supposedly close to) is ever mentioned.

Buffy can only see the demon when she has a high fever, which is a creative idea that unfortunately is not executed interestingly. Watching her stumble around a hospital when her former lover is out murdering her friends is irksome. Just jump right into "I Only Have Eyes For You," which packs a real emotional punch without inventing dead relatives.

"Anne" is probably the most controversial choice on this list. The Season 3 premiere is by no means a bad episode, but it is not the most rewatchable. Buffy is now living in Los Angeles, and her life away from her mother and friends is a depressing one.

While it can be nice to watch Buffy rediscover herself throughout "Anne," her journey is not an entertaining way to kick off a season. It is sad to see Buffy's friends without her, and vice versa. "Anne" proves that the characters balance each other in a perfect way, and it makes you yearn for their reunion.

All of the significant emotions the characters are feeling over Buffy's absence are well-covered in the next episode, "Dead Man's Party." By skipping "Anne," you are not missing any vital information. The episode deserves recognition, but that does not mean you have to watch it every single time.

"Beauty and the Beasts" is a rare weak episode of Season 3. While it does have a strong message about escaping domestic violence, the execution is pretty sloppy. A brutal murder has the gang thinking Oz (Seth Green) may have been the culprit while in werewolf form. Meanwhile, Angel (David Boreanaz) has returned from a hell dimension, and Buffy suspects he could be the killer. There are just a few too many misunderstandings and hackneyed misdirects to make for a compelling episode.

Amidst the killings, Buffy has casually started dating Scott (Fab Filippo), and his friends Pete (John Patrick White) and Debbie (Danielle Weeks) become the episode's focal point. Turns out, Pete is the killer. While one-off "Buffy" villains are common, this episode tries to convince you Debbie and Pete are people we care about. Unfortunately, that is just not the case.

In addition to being a drab episode, Buffy's romance with Scott feels like a means to an end. He is not exactly an interesting pick for her, which is why he is often forgotten.

There are extreme highs and lows in "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" Season 4, but if you skip certain episodes, it flows quite beautifully. "Living Conditions" is genuinely funny to some viewers, but others find the A-plot to be grating. Buffy's new college roommate is driving her crazy, and she is convinced her roommate is a demon.

Buffy ends up being correct, but she is uncharacteristically unlikable while uncovering the truth. Her unserious descent into madness could be perceived as a fun change from what she usually deals with, but everyone is just a little too annoying in this episode.

Even if you do enjoy the roommate shenanigans of "Living Conditions," the main reason to skip this one is because of Parker's (Adam Kaufman) introduction. It is safe to say he is arguably the worst of all Buffy's romantic counterparts. He treats her terribly, and she does not handle the rejection with much grace. If you skip all the episodes featuring their main interactions, it genuinely improves the season.

"The Harsh Light of Day" is getting cut because it is such a Parker-heavy episode. Buffy has a lot of bad luck when it comes to men, but the Parker arc is insufferable. She sleeps with him, and he immediately blows her off. While this is a very relatable situation, it is a bummer watching Buffy fall for such a cad.

Interestingly, writer Jane Espenson previously named this as one of her favorite episodes. It's a well-written display of heartbreak, but the fact that Buffy doesn't immediately see through Parker's nonsense is a tough pill to swallow. Watching him play her, especially once you know what's coming, is borderline painful. Parker is easy to hate, and it is our right to skip over him for a more enjoyable rewatch.

This episode also attempts to juxtapose three different romantic arcs, and it makes women seem desperate in a way that does not fit the show's overall message of empowerment.

"Beer Bad" is considered by many to be the worst episode of "Buffy." Buffy is still sad about Parker blowing her off after they slept together, so she decides to drown her sorrows in beer. Of course, this is Sunnydale, which means a night of drinking can't be normal. The beer at the local pub is contaminated and turns Buffy and her new drinking buddies into cavemen.

Having to watch Buffy act like a neanderthal is, quite frankly, asinine. The whole episode is an embarrassing PSA against alcohol, which is such a lame choice for characters who are in college. "Drink responsibly" is a good message for young people, but "beer bad" has DARE energy.

The only good thing about this episode is how Willow (Alyson Hannigan) calls out Parker for being a player. However, the theme of this list's Season 4 episodes is skipping Parker's big moments, so good riddance.

"Where the Wild Things Are" is a notoriously bad episode of the series. Buffy has officially started dating Riley (Marc Blucas), and the two can't keep their hands off each other. In fact, their sex gets so intense that it causes repressed spirits to start haunting a fraternity party, which throws everyone's sexual urges out of whack. It is not quite anti-sex in the way "Beer Bad" is anti-drinking, but it is pretty cringey.

The effects of the haunting make the characters act puritanical in upsetting ways. Every moment that occurs during this party will give the viewer second-hand embarrassment. It also affects Tara (Amber Benson), and watching her recoil from Willow so early in their relationship is unpleasant.

Unfortunately, one of the season's best moments is hidden inside this terrible episode, which is Giles (Anthony Stewart Head) singing "Behind Blue Eyes." Thankfully, you can watch that scene on its own via YouTube, because four glorious minutes are not enough to save the other 40.

Riley is a major source of contention in the "Buffy" fandom. Most would agree he is the least interesting out of Buffy's three main suitors. However, some viewers like him for his genuine sweetness and love for Buffy. While his farm boy heroism is charming, Riley's insecurities start to become bothersome in Season 5. "Out of My Mind" is an especially irritating entry in Riley's arc.

In the episode, the aftereffects from Riley's time at the Initiative start to take their toll. His refusal to accept help and his machismo attitude about keeping the strength that is making him unwell is frustrating to watch. After some nice moments in Season 4, this is the turning point that leaves Riley unlikable until he leaves town in "Into the Woods."

During the episode, Buffy also recruits Spike to help save her beau, but Spike has his own agenda. Spike's obsession with killing Buffy was starting to wear thin at this point in the series. The only saving grace of the episode is when he dreams about her and realizes he has caught feelings. The dynamic of his fixation finally shifts, and it is for the better. Unfortunately, Spike's sexy dream is tacked onto the very end of an unremarkable episode.

Most fans will agree that the death of Buffy's mother, Joyce (Kristine Sutherland), is the most devastating thing to happen on the show. "The Body" is a masterpiece, but some of the episodes leading to her passing are a struggle. "Shadow" is another example of an episode that is not terrible, but definitely skippable.

A lot of "Shadow" is about waiting around. Waiting to find out what is wrong with Joyce. Waiting to learn more about the season's big bad, Glory (Clare Kramer). Meanwhile, Riley's reckless behavior gets more obnoxious. He has been feeling shut out from Buffy, which is valid, but his hurt feelings do not exactly make for thrilling TV.

While all of that is happening, Buffy is trying to protect her new key-turned-sister, Dawn (Michelle Trachtenberg), from Glory. Buffy ends up chasing down a snake-like demon called the Spawn of Sobek that Glory sent to track the key. Up close, the demon is an awesome practical puppet. However, the full-body shots of him slithering around make for some horrendous CGI, which is an uncommon misstep for the show.

Buffy has to face a lot of real-life problems in Season 6. In addition to being the Slayer, she now has to worry about bills and supporting her little sister. "Doublemeat Palace" sees her working at the local fast-food restaurant, which is quite depressing. Audiences tune in to supernatural shows to escape reality, not be reminded of their soul-sucking day jobs.

While Buffy settles into her new job slinging burgers, she starts to suspect something is amiss at the restaurant. Buffy is always right in these situations, and the episode clearly wants you to have fun with that, but the reality is just too grim. Buffy had to drop out of college to take care of her sick mother, then her mother died, and then she died. Getting resurrected just to work a minimum-wage job is not something anyone wants to see for their hero.

Pat Crawford Brown is irrefutably memorable as "Wig Lady," but we do not have much else positive to say about the episode. Even during the sillier moments, it is hard not to focus on how disheartening it all is. Buffy and Spike hook up outside of the Doublemeat, and even that is sadder than sensual.

Before Dark Willow became the true big bad of Season 6, the Trio was spending most of the time trying to take down Buffy. Watching three nerds attempt to best the Slayer ranges from amusing to annoying, but they truly did their most evil work in "Dead Things." Warren (Adam Busch) mind-controls and then kills his ex-girlfriend, and tries to pin the murder on Buffy.

While this episode does showcase just how dangerous and vile incels can be, the Trio's behavior is challenging to watch. They take away a woman's autonomy for the sake of fun, and while the episode is very clear on the fact that what they are doing is wrong, it is revolting to watch.

Meanwhile, things for Buffy continue to get bleaker as she thinks she came back from the dead "wrong." When Tara (Amber Benson) confirms Buffy is not actually different, Buffy breaks down. She realizes her bad choices are not the result of any side effects from being dead. Basically, "Dead Things" hits on a lot of important topics, but it is not exactly a laugh riot.

"The Killer in Me" is a messy, foolish episode that brings down Season 7, which is already a bit wishy-washy and overcrowded with new characters. When Tara was killed in the previous season, some fans believed it ruined the show. It certainly ignited debates about the "bury your gays" trope and left fans devastated for Willow.

The writers decided to give Willow another shot at love with Kennedy (Iyari Limon). Ultimately, it backfired, and most people were not supportive of the new romance. Even if you enjoy them together, the episode focused on their pairing is pretty bad.

When Willow and Kennedy kiss for the first time, Willow turns into Warren. The curse is reversed when Willow forgives herself, but everything that happens to get her there feels forced. Willow does a lot of self-reflecting in the final season, but this was a total miss. The pairing of Kennedy and Warren is awkward and does not serve any of the characters involved.

Throughout "Buffy," Xander became known for being a demon magnet. In "First Date," he meets a woman named Lissa (Ashanti), and jokes about her possibly being evil, which turns out to be the case. The whole storyline feels like a retread and is a disappointing use of such a cool guest star.

Xander is not the only one dating someone new in this episode. Buffy goes out with Sunnydale High's new principal, Robin (D.B. Woodside). The duo does not have much romantic chemistry, but it cool when it's revealed he's the son of a Slayer. The season had spent too much time teasing that he might be evil, so it was nice to get the confirmation that he was on Buffy's side. However, doing it on a date is an uncomfortable choice considering she is so much like his mother and he is her boss.

Having two main characters date people of color was a welcome turning point for "Buffy," so it is a shame that the episode turned out to be so skippable. At least Robin gets another chance at romance later in the season with Faith (Eliza Dushku), which is a better pairing.