7.6/103,691 votes#1 - The Freshman
Season 4 Episode 1 - Aired 10/5/1999
Buffy feels like a fish out of water in her first year at college, but the mysterious disappearance of a fellow student puts her back in her element.
Director: Joss Whedon
Writer: Joss Whedon
7.5/103,659 votes#2 - Living Conditions
Season 4 Episode 2 - Aired 10/12/1999
Buffy finds herself at odds with her new roommate and is troubled by a series of disturbing dreams involving a soul-sucking demon.
Director: David Grossman
Writer: Marti Noxon
7.9/103,492 votes#3 - The Harsh Light of Day
Season 4 Episode 3 - Aired 10/19/1999
As Buffy gets to know a charming student named Parker, Spike searches obsessively for a possibly-mythical treasure.
Director: James A. Contner
Writer: Jane Espenson
8.4/103,876 votes#4 - Fear, Itself
Season 4 Episode 4 - Aired 10/26/1999
On Halloween, Buffy and her friends find themselves trapped inside a haunted frat house complete with real bats, zombies, and a terrifying demon.
Director: Tucker Gates
Writer: David Fury
6.3/104,006 votes#5 - Beer Bad
Season 4 Episode 5 - Aired 11/2/1999
Xander finds employment as a bartender at a pub where some of Buffy's friends turn into terrifying Cro-Magnon creatures.
Director: David Solomon
Writer: Tracey Forbes
7.9/103,536 votes#6 - Wild at Heart
Season 4 Episode 6 - Aired 11/9/1999
When Oz falls hard for a sexy singer who also happens to be a werewolf, he must choose between Willow and his own animal instincts.
Director: David Grossman
Writer: Marti Noxon
7.9/103,044 votes#7 - The Initiative
Season 4 Episode 7 - Aired 11/16/1999
Spike finds himself targeted by a group of commandos after he escapes from a military lab underneath the Sunnydale campus.
Director: James A. Contner
Writer: Douglas Petrie
7.9/103,674 votes#8 - Pangs
Season 4 Episode 8 - Aired 11/23/1999
On Thanksgiving, Buffy encounters the spirit of a Native American warrior whose people were wiped out by settlers.
Director: Michael Lange
Writer: Jane Espenson
8.9/104,293 votes#9 - Something Blue
Season 4 Episode 9 - Aired 11/30/1999
One of Willow's spells causes her statements to become reality, with consequences both entertaining and life-threatening.
Director: Nick Marck
Writer: Tracey Forbes
9.7/108,564 votes#10 - Hush
Season 4 Episode 10 - Aired 12/14/1999
When everyone in Sunnydale loses their voice, the Scooby Gang must silently solve the mystery of the monsters who stole their ability to speak.
Director: Joss Whedon
Writer: Joss Whedon
7.5/103,365 votes#11 - Doomed
Season 4 Episode 11 - Aired 1/18/2000
While attempting to redefine her relationship with Riley, Buffy must also stop demons that are determined to reopen the Hellmouth.
Director: James A. Contner
Writer: David Fury, Jane Espenson, Marti Noxon
8.2/103,519 votes#12 - A New Man
Season 4 Episode 12 - Aired 1/25/2000
Ethan Rayne returns to town and transforms Giles into a demon. Spike is the only one who can help.
Director: Michael Gershman
Writer: Jane Espenson
7.4/103,119 votes#13 - The I in Team
Season 4 Episode 13 - Aired 2/8/2000
Buffy teams with Riley after she is allowed access to the Initiative; Spike is targeted by commandos.
Director: James A. Contner
Writer: David Fury
7.0/103,184 votes#14 - Goodbye Iowa
Season 4 Episode 14 - Aired 2/15/2000
Tension erupts between Buffy and an ailing Riley as they pursue Professor Maggie Walsh's killer.
Director: David Solomon
Writer: Marti Noxon
8.4/103,614 votes#15 - This Year's Girl (1)
Season 4 Episode 15 - Aired 2/22/2000
Faith awakens from her coma and seeks revenge against Buffy.
Director: Michael Gershman
Writer: Douglas Petrie
8.9/103,951 votes#16 - Who Are You? (2)
Season 4 Episode 16 - Aired 2/29/2000
Having switched bodies with Buffy, Faith enjoys freedom. Meanwhile, Buffy finds herself at the mercy of the Watcher's Council.
Director: Joss Whedon
Writer: Joss Whedon
7.2/103,820 votes#17 - Superstar
Season 4 Episode 17 - Aired 4/4/2000
Buffy senses that something is amiss when Jonathan becomes a hero to everyone in Sunnydale.
Director: David Grossman
Writer: Jane Espenson
6.3/103,661 votes#18 - Where the Wild Things Are
Season 4 Episode 18 - Aired 4/25/2000
Buffy and Riley's passionate lovemaking energizes supernatural elements inside a frat house.
Director: David Solomon
Writer: Tracey Forbes
8.1/103,403 votes#19 - New Moon Rising
Season 4 Episode 19 - Aired 5/2/2000
Oz's return to Sunnydale leads to his incarceration by the Initiative and complicates the relationship between Willow and Tara.
Director: James A. Contner
Writer: Marti Noxon
8.0/103,341 votes#20 - The Yoko Factor (1)
Season 4 Episode 20 - Aired 5/9/2000
After joining forces with Adam, Spike drives a wedge between Buffy and her friends. Meanwhile, Angel's return to Sunnydale leads to a violent confrontation with Riley.
Director: David Grossman
Writer: Douglas Petrie
8.2/103,438 votes#21 - Primeval (2)
Season 4 Episode 21 - Aired 5/16/2000
Having gained control of Riley's mind, Adam sets in motion his plot to create an army of unstoppable soldiers and destroy the Initiative.
Director: James A. Contner
Writer: David Fury
8.6/104,729 votes#22 - Restless
Season 4 Episode 22 - Aired 5/23/2000
Buffy, Willow, Xander, and Giles experience dreams in which they are pursued by a mysterious figure.
Director: Joss Whedon
Writer: Joss Whedon
The Best Episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 4
Every episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 4 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 4!
Into every generation a slayer is born: one girl in all the world, a chosen one. She alone will wield the strength and skill to...
Genres:Sci-Fi & FantasyComedyDramaAction & Adventure
Season 4 Ratings Summary
"The Freshman" is the best rated episode of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" season 4. It scored 7.6/10 based on 3691 votes. Directed by Joss Whedon and written by Joss Whedon, it aired on 10/5/1999. This episode is rated 0.1 points higher than the second-best, "Living Conditions".