Why ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ musical episode is best ever

Twenty years ago this week, “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” aired “Once More, With Feeling,” an all-out musical episode that many believe to be the best ever made. But the one for which I know ALL the lyrics and still sing them from my chest is Spike’s heartbreaking “Rest in Peace.” That song had so much meaning and emotion, propelling the story and helping anyone understand how — spoiler alert — Buffy could end the episode by doing much more than “whisper in a dead man’s ear.” Brown: If I had to pick a favorite, I’d go with “Walk Through the Fire” — the number Buffy leads as she heads to take on the big bad — for how it captures everyone’s inner conflict building towards what you think you know is coming, plus the quippy quotable asides present even in song. This episode came at a time where queer representation on TV was basically nonexistent, so every little thing that happened between them on “Buffy” was one that I’d cling to. James Marsters as Spike in “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” Lee: After watching “Once More, With Feeling,” I’d love to see more shows trying their hand at incorporating original music, rather than covering existing songs. Even “The Simpsons” went full musical in its season premiere this year — original songs and all — with an episode about Marge’s past as a high school stage manager.