Polygon revisits divisive Buffy the Vampire Slayer episodes, arguing that hindsight has made their ambitious storytelling and emotional complexity more appreciable.

– ‘Dead Man’s Party’ makes Buffy’s friends and mother confront the consequences of her disappearance.
– ‘Hush’ uses a 27-minute dialogue-free sequence to explore isolation and communication.
– ‘This Year’s Girl’ employs dreamlike storytelling to examine Faith’s revenge and foreshadow Dawn.
– ‘Normal Again’ is presented as a thought-provoking episode that challenges viewers’ understanding of Buffy’s reality.