5. Passion (2×17)
Of any episode of Season 2, “Passion” would definitely be the its darkest hour.  It’s episodes like this one that shows how dark Whedon and his writers will go.  Jenny Calender’s death was the first real death in the series of a major character.  It’s a very poetic episode and is one of the few that has a character do voice-over narration.  In the case of “Passion” it is Angelus, the evil soulless version of Buffy’s first love Angel. Making Angel evil early on shows that BtVS is not afraid to pull any punches.
I tend to latch onto and care for one particular character in every show I watch and in this show it is Giles. Â The scene where he sees Jenny dead makes this episode. Â It’s a huge moment in the Buffy/Giles relationship when he crashes into Angelus’ hideout and she comes to save him. Â The acting in this episode all around was a step up from the first season and this episode showed how far the actors would go to make it believable.
Most excellent list! Anyanka’s death in The Chosen always got to me too…
Personally, I always had a soft spot for The Zeppo.
Thanks!! I also love The Zeppo, Storyteller, and Superstar. This was a hard list to make for sure.
So glad that Hush is on here – it has always been my favorite – nothing like The Gentleman to make life a little creepier.