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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 fight the vampires, demons, and the forces of darkness; to stop the spread of their evil and the swell of their number. She is the Slayer.

Genres:Sci-Fi & FantasyComedyDramaAction & Adventure
Networks:The WBUPN

Season 4 Ratings Summary

The best episode of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" season 4 is "The Freshman", rated 7.6/10 from 3648 user votes. It was directed by Joss Whedon and written by Joss Whedon. "The Freshman" aired on 10/5/1999 and is rated 0.1 point(s) higher than the second highest rated, "Living Conditions".

  • The Freshman
    7.6/10 3,648 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

  • Living Conditions
    7.5/10 3,615 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

  • The Harsh Light of Day
    7.9/10 3,448 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 for a ring that, according to legend, makes the wearer invincible.

    Director: James A. Contner

    Writer: Jane Espenson

  • Fear, Itself
    8.4/10 3,824 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

  • Beer Bad
    6.3/10 3,952 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

  • Wild at Heart
    7.9/10 3,494 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

  • The Initiative
    7.9/10 3,003 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

  • Pangs
    7.9/10 3,628 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

  • Something Blue
    8.9/10 4,229 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

  • Hush
    9.7/10 8,461 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

  • Doomed
    7.5/10 3,325 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

  • A New Man
    8.2/10 3,472 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

  • The I in Team
    7.4/10 3,077 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

  • Goodbye Iowa
    7.0/10 3,142 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

  • This Year's Girl (1)
    8.4/10 3,567 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

  • Who Are You? (2)
    8.9/10 3,895 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

  • Superstar
    7.2/10 3,772 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

  • Where the Wild Things Are
    6.3/10 3,615 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

  • New Moon Rising
    8.1/10 3,360 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

  • The Yoko Factor (1)
    8.0/10 3,298 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

  • Primeval (2)
    8.2/10 3,393 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

  • Restless
    8.6/10 4,673 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