Buffy’s Most Heartbreaking Episode Isn’t the One Fans Usually Mention
When Buffy the Vampire Slayer fans debate the saddesst episode of the show, the Season 5 episode “The Body” almost always wins out. The groundbreaking episode focused on Joyce’s tragic death, and fans widely regard it as the most heartbreaking hour of Buffy. “The Body” us a realistic depiction of grief, shock, and loss when Buffy unexpectedly finds her mother dead on the couch, and it rightfully earned acclaim from citics and fans alike.
While “The Body” may be Buffy‘s most realistic tragedy, it isn’t necessarily the saddest. Long before the show became known for its emotional gut punches and cruel twists of fate, Season 2 included the saddest episode of the series. 28 years ago, one of Buffy‘s most important early storylines resulted in a tragic ending, and “Becoming (Part 2)” delivered a devastatng finale.
“Becoming (Part 2)” Was a Brutal End to Angelus’ Storyline
Fans Never Saw It Coming
After losing his soul early in Season 2, Angel transforms back into the evil Angelus and spends months tormenting Buffy and the Scooby Gang. As “Becoming” begins, Angelus is preparing to awaken the demon Acathla, which would drag the entire world into a hellish dimension. Buffy is forced to stop him, but she also struggles with mounting pressure from the Scooby Gang, the police, and her increasingly strained relationship with her mom.
“Becoming (Part 2)” shifts between spectacle and emotion. There are sword fights, magical rituals, and apocalyptic stakes, but the episode never loses sight of Buffy and her struggles. The guy punch comes in the episode’s final moments; just as Willow restores Angel’s soul and Buffy gets the man she loves back, it’s revealed that the portal to hell is already open. Angel is confused and completely unaware of what has happened, but to save the world, Buffy is forced to kill only moments after getting him back. She kisses him, tells him she loves him, and sends him into hell. It’s a brutal ending to Buffy Season 2.
“The Body” Is Painfully Authentic, But It Isn’t as Devastating as “Becoming (Part 2)”
There’s no Denying “The Body” Is a Masterpiece
There’s no denying that “The Body”‘s portrayal of death and grief is an absolute masterpiece. Without vampires, magical solutions, or sudden victories, Joyce’s sudden demise is incredibly painful. Buffy, Dawn, and The Scoobies struggle to process the loss, operating in complete silence and giving raw performances that make the episode feel incredibly real. It’s reputation as a powerful and emotional episode is completely deserved, but heartbreak and authenticity aren’t the same thing.
“The Body” is so upsetting because it reflects a universal experience. On the other hand, “Becoming (Part 2)” weaponizes hope. For nearly an entire season, audiences watch as Angelus terrorizes Sunnydale and Buffy suffers. The finale then offers audiences a brief glimpse of hope and optimism, only to snatch it away a moment later. Buffy ends up losing the person she loves and is forced to be the one who sends him away. The tragedy isnt just the loss of an iconic character, as it also utilizes its cruel timing to upset viewers even more.
“Becoming (Part 2)”s emotional cruelty is exactly what elevates it above other sad Buffy episodes. The finale scene sees Buffy totally alone, having saved the world at the cost of her own happiness. Angel’s death has a lasting impact on Buffy the Vampire Slayer; the trauma drives the titular Slayer from Sunnydale at the start of Season 3, strains all of her relationships, and becomes a defining moment in her growth from teenager to hero. Even after Angel eventually returns, Buffy’s emotional damage remains. Whereas “The Body” forces the Buffy characters to deal with a death that’s already happened, “Becoming (Part 2)” watches them respond in real time. The Season 2 finale undeniably alters Buffy to a darker, more mature series, so much of the DNA of later seasons simply wouldn’t exist without Angel’s heartbreaking death.
Original article at Game Rant
