A memorable episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer is Season 6’s “Once More With Feeling,” the musical episode. At the end of Season 5, Buffy sacrificed herself for her sister, Dawn, and her friends. Season 6 shows her friends and Dawn having difficulties living without her; on top of this Willow is convinced that Buffy is in some hell dimension. Using dark magic, Willow brings her back to life. However, her return isn’t all hugs and rainbows.
The musical episode serves as a way to reveal what most of the characters are hiding, so we are ranking them based on that, the musicality of the song, and the fun (or drama) of each one. We’re limiting it to the main songs, so sorry mustard guy, but the “They Got the Mustard, Out!” won’t be on this list.
Dawn’s Ballet/What You Feel
Dawn is captured by Sweet, the musical demon. She begins her song as more of a dance, moving around and away from the demon-heads. Then Sweet comes out and explains what is going to happen in song. His big reveal is information, not anything emotional.
What makes this scene brilliant is its parallels to an old 1980s film, Legend, where the heroine is seduced by the devil and a dress. It also begins in a dance and ends in a dress. However, it is considerably scarier.
Where Do We Go From Here
This is the group sing-a-long that happens at the end of the episode after Buffy’s big reveal. After knowing these hidden secrets, can they all work together as they always did? Even Spike is in the sing-a-long until he realizes that he doesn’t have to be. Buffy eventually leaves as well. It’s an upbeat sounding song about a fracture in their friendship, and while it is good–it is more forgettable than others on this list.
Under Your Spell
Now, Amber Benson’s (Tara) voice is a dream. It’s clear in this episode that certain actors are very gifted singers like her. Other actors worked hard to sing, but it’s easy to tell that singing didn’t come as naturally to them.
This is a love song from Tara about how she feels with Willow. It’s pretty, sweet, and clever. The way that Benson pauses when she sings, “You make me complete,” tells the viewer a little inside information. However, the big reveal hasn’t happened yet in this song. We’ll save that for the duet.
I’ll Never Tell
Anya and Xander have a seemingly upbeat song about their relationship. However, both (but especially Xander) are having doubts about the relationship. This is revealed through singing and dancing. The way the scene is shot, neither character is aware of what the other one sang, meaning that it isn’t a big reveal yet.
Standing
Cue Buffy’s training montage where it’s clear that she’s going through the motions. During her training, Giles questions himself if he should stay. He’s worried that he’s not helping her but standing in her way. Anthony Head (Giles) is such a gifted singer, and this self-reflection is something that Giles would do. Right now, it is a question. Later on, in the duet, it becomes more of a certainty.
I’ve Got a Theory/Bunnies/If We’re Together
This medley of three different songs is wonderful. The first song, “I’ve Got a Theory,” adds humor to their process of trying to figure out what this musical demon is doing, and who it is. Anya adds even more needed humor when she thinks that bunnies (what she fears most) could be behind it all. This results in a full-out rock ballad, “What’s with all the carrots, what do they need such good eyesight for anyway? Bunnies, bunnies, it must be bunnies!”
Then they move on to a touching song began by Buffy, “If We’re Together.” Buffy sings, “What can’t we face if we’re together. What’s in this place that we can’t weather.” The others join in later. Buffy even quips at one point, “It’s do or die. Hey, I’ve died twice.” In this song, we can tell that Giles is thinking that this is the old Buffy back, and maybe there is hope after all. Maybe he can stay.
Walk Through the Fire
This is one of the songs where we get a little more insight into Buffy’s state of mind. The others have left her alone to get Dawn, and although she’s going to save her sister, she’s still going through the motions. She sings about how she walks through the fire, but it doesn’t burn her. She’s numb, but she wants to return to her feelings as she sings, “I want the fire back.”
Under Your Spell/Standing Reprise
And now, one of the most beautiful duets and reveals! Tara discovers that she was quite literally under Willow’s spell as Willow made her forget their fight. Heartbroken, she sings, “I’ve been through hell. Willow, don’t you see, there’ll be nothing left of me.” Seeing as Tara’s mind was invaded by Glory in Season 5, and her own family tried to harm her, she has indeed been through hell.
Giles sings about how he needs to leave Buffy, whom he regards as a daughter. Both characters come to that conclusion–they need to leave their loved ones. Giles and Tara achingly belt out, “I wish I could stay.” The message is a big reveal and bittersweet. But what also makes this song higher on the list is that Benson and Head’s voices work so well together.
Rest in Peace
Spike gets his moment to rock-out, giving actor James Marsters the chance to showcase his music and singing chops. It makes sense that Spike’s solo song wouldn’t be a soft love ballad or a cheery musical dance number. There is no, “They got the mustard out!” for him.
“Rest in Peace” shows his split feelings. On one hand, he sings to Buffy, “Let me rest in peace. Let me take my love and bury it six feet deep.” Then, on the other hand, his voice gets soft as he talks about following her and how he’s willing to do anything for her. At one both tender and angry moment, he sings, “If my heart could beat, it would break my chest!” He feels in limbo with Buffy, and he wants her to leave him alone (but not really).
Going Through the Motions
While this song connects to depression, there are also funny moments in it. Buffy is hunting and feels like she’s just going through the motions, a common feeling for someone with depression.
Even those that she’s hunting notice she’s going through the motions as they sing, “She ain’t got that swing.” Buffy sings back, “Thank you for noticing,” and kills them. This makes it seem that the monsters are more aware of her emotional state than her friends are.
Give Me Something to Sing About
In this song, Buffy has to reveal to her friends that they ripped her out of heaven, “There was no pain, no fear, no doubt ’til they pulled me out of heaven.” It’s a painful song and the biggest reveal of the episode.
Luckily, she’s saved from self-destruction by both Spike and Dawn, who convince her to live. It’s a fast-paced song with great musicality and timing. When we hear Buffy sing, “So give me something to sing about, please,” we feel the weight of that. As we know from her other songs, she wants to feel alive, to be back to normal, but everything just feels like hell right now.
