The way an episode ends is extremely meaningful on many levels. Its most straightforward purpose is to wrap up the story that had been unfolding on the screen in a way that is either satisfying or thought-provoking. The other purpose is to keep viewers interested so they would keep watching. When Buffy the Vampire Slayer first aired, it would go out weekly, meaning the story had to be compelling enough to make viewers want to tune in either seven days later or up to three months between seasons.

Streaming still needs to keep viewers interested enough to continue binging, which is why the show has been doing so well thanks to Buffy being one of the rare shocking Buffy the Vampire Slayer moments that left them wanting more.

10 "Chosen"

Season 7, Episode 22

The final iconic episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer resonated with the audience on many levels. It was always going to be emotional, but the hope was it would do justice to a beloved series that changed the face of television in many ways. The Big Bad of season 7 had been tormenting the Scooby Gang in some truly terrible ways, and the final fight saw them all unite for one last time. The stakes were high, although seeing as Buffy had already died twice, there was a hope that it would be third time lucky.

Having some familiar faces reunite felt apt, with Angel making an appearance and stirring up some additional romantic tension, which made Buffy's final interaction with Spike feel that much more special. The moment Willow was able to tap into her spell and awaken the slayers within all the potentials was a beautiful moment, especially considering all the darkness she went through in the previous season. And, the shot of the survivors standing side by side, with Buffy gazing at the giant crater that once was her home, made the whole journey feel that much more epic.

9 "Buffy vs. Dracula"

Season 5, Episode1

The show was known for its strong season openers. From the emotionally moving "Anne" to the series-reinvigorating "The Freshman," there would often be quite a bit of weight to the subject matter tackled. The start of season 5, however, was much more tongue-in-cheek and camp. Having avoided crossovers with other famous figures from the monster genre, the show finally introduced the most well-known vampire of all, Dracula. As an episode, it was not necessarily the most memorable plot-wide, although there were a few humorous moments between the Slayer and the famous Count.

Dawn's introduction as Buffy's sister, as they both shout "mom" as if they'd known each other their whole lives, was intriguing and a great way to keep viewers on their toes.

But the ending is what changed everything. As Buffy returns home from her adventures, she sees a new, unknown character making herself comfortable in her home. The viewers were not sure whether this was another demon, or other danger, but are left with something even more mind-boggling. Dawn's introduction as Buffy's sister, as they both shout "mom" as if they'd known each other their whole lives, was intriguing and a great way to keep viewers on their toes.

8 "Lie to Me"

Season 2, Episode 6

One of the stronger standalone episodes that the show had produced, the story introduced a person from Buffy's past, who the audience initially thought of as a friend, but turned out to be much more sinister. Jason Behr was a big fixture of 1990s TV, so the audience would have reacted positively towards his character, so the twist felt that much more impactful. The plot was quite moving and thought-provoking, dealing with death on a more human level rather than a supernatural one.

Before there was "The Body," there was the story of a teen who was dying of a savage illness that would leave him unrecognizable and in pain. His actions were selfish and reckless, but his motivation was also very complex and sad. As his friend, Buffy had to deal with all these emotions on a more personal level. So, when she has that final conversation with Giles, a person she trusts and looks up to, she just wants him to comfort her and lie. Having Sarah Michelle's voice over the closing credits just adds to the poignancy of the scene.

7 "Checkpoint"

Season 5, Episode 12

The Slayer's Council had always been an interesting institution within the show. It seemed shrouded in mystery for the most part, with its exact day-to-day dealings unknown, but whenever a member of the institution would show up, there was something interesting to unpack. Giles was the audience's first ever connection to the council, with some more droplets occurring with the introduction of Kendra and Faith. The episode where Buffy was brutally tested on her 18th birthday was one of the first indicators of how cruel of an organization it was.

Season 5 dealt a lot with themes of growing up and Buffy coming into her power, seeing as she was one of the longest-serving Slayers ever. Giles' role was also being reevaluated with him having much less of an influence over Buffy as well as the other Scoobies. So, to have a full episode tackling the bureaucracy of the council and their feeble attempts to control this powerful woman was a long time coming. The way Buffy stands up to them at the very end was filled with fist-punch moments and a lot of applause.

6 "Homecoming"

Season 3, Episode 5

The episodes that took place at Sunnydale High had that magical mix of supernatural occurrences and teen drama that felt very compelling. Additionally, anytime Buffy and Cordelia shared scenes, the amount of sass and wisecracks was off the scale. This is one of the most fun episodes of the show's run that has some stand-out action, laugh-out-loud humor, and some top-notch high school politics. As the two compete for Homecoming queen, they also get embroiled in "Slayerfest '98."

Excellent montages of campaigning for votes are juxtaposed with the demons and vampires preparing their weapons. As the two strong young women lock horns (figuratively), they end up in a limo together, forced to communicate. But this last-minute switch means they are then forced to fight for their lives instead of the crown. It is a joyous 45 minutes from start to finish, and seeing Buffy and Cordelia covered in blood and dirt only to find out that the t winners are the two other candidates. Their collective eye rolls are the cherry on top of the TV-gold cake.

5 "Fear Itself"

Season 4, Episode 4

For a show that dealt with witches, monsters and demons, there was not much additional need to theme it for Halloween specifically. But there were a few episodes that did focus on the spooky season specifically, and this episode in particular, had one of the funniest endings of them all. The plot focused on the gang locked in a haunted house, facing their biggest fears and trying to overcome them in order to stop a ferocious demon from materializing. The build-up feels very scary, with the demon bringing about plenty of trepidation.

The trials they face are also quite harrowing, which makes the threat of this unknown monster feel like a very big one. Everything in the structure of the episode mirrors any other story where they find themselves in life-or-death situations. So, when the big reveal finally happens, with the camera slowly panning across the frightful figure, the twist is an absolutely genius comedic gag. As it turns out to be absolutely tiny, with a squeaky voice, miniature stature, Buffy simply stomps it out with her foot.

4 "Surprise"

Season 2, Episode 13

In one of the show's more heartbreaking cliffhangers, this emotional episode saw so many huge plot points happen that set up the story for the latter half of the season. Spike and Drusilla's plan is discovered, Buffy loses her virginity to Angel, and viewers are introduced to a new villain. But, it turns out to be a very familiar face. Not much was known about Angel's curse, with only small implications as to how he came about having a soul.

What the audience was not expecting was for the romantic lead of the show and a big part of the Scooby Gang to suddenly not only feed on a human being, but do so with absolute joy and relish. The scene where he transforms was shocking and certainly lived up to the title of the episode. It was the audience's first glimpse of Angelus, and they did not know what to expect. As the credits were about to roll with Angelus exhaling the smoke from his lips, it was an ending that was as thrilling as it was disturbing. A game-changer.

3 "Once More, with Feeling"

Season 6, Episode 7

Many shows have tried and failed to create the perfect musical episode, and while they are always controversial, Buffy the Vampire Slayer managed to create one of the best. While it feels odd for the characters to be singing and dancing, the way that the humor is mixed into the rather impressive performances makes it work very well. It also helps that the reason for all the song and dance is tied to an actual supernatural being. The episode also manages to move the plot along in a very important way.

It is revealed that Buffy was ripped out of Heaven, which is why she has been feeling off. It allows Xander and Anya to hash out some of their problems. It gives Tara and Willow one of the most romantic moments of their relationship. When everything comes to a close, songs like "Walk Through the Fire" and "Give Me Something to Sing About" are filled with confessions and revelations. And the epic kiss between Buffy and Spike is like something out of an Old Hollywood musical, fitting perfectly with the theme of the episode.

2 "Hush"

Season 4, Episode 10

As one of the highest-rated Buffy episodes, and an absolute fan favorite, "Hush" has many amazing moments before the audience gets to the end. The villains are some of the most frightening in the history of the show, with the Gentlemen's creepy smiles and sinister motives haunting viewers' dreams for over 25 years. Tara and Willow share a special moment, and there is a lot said with very few words, as most of the story happens in silence.

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The episode is also where Buffy and Riley find out about each other's secret identities, but cannot discuss it properly due to the spell that sees everyone lose their voice. It is a poignant moment that has a huge bearing on the future of the whole season, as the viewers did not know all that much about the Initiative yet. So, when the day is saved and everybody can talk again, the couple sits down to have "the talk." But the episode masterfully ends with both of them at a loss for words as they stare blankly around the room.

1 "The Gift"

Season 5, Episode 22

When this episode, one of the single best episodes in a fantasy TV series ever, aired, the future of the show was relatively uncertain. There was a possibility that this was the end, or at the very least, it would move to a different network, with potentially new rules and changes to the look and feel of the show. It turned out to be the latter, so the finality of the actual "end" was not as heartbreaking as it was when it initially aired. The season saw Buffy take on an actual goddess with some of the strongest powers that she had faced at that point.

It ultimately ends with Buffy sacrificing herself for her sister and the rest of the world, dying in the process.

She lost her mother, gained a sister, and took on more responsibility than anyone of that age should have to. The finale is packed with many epic fights and a secret plan that almost works. But it ultimately ends with Buffy sacrificing herself for her sister and the rest of the world, dying in the process. While she may have also "died" in Buffy the Vampire Slayer in "Prophecy Girl," seeing her tombstone made it much more painful. It was a fitting end for an iconic hero, and the inscription was perfect, as she did, indeed, save the world a lot.