Buffy The Vampire Slayer

Before we say goodbye to ``Buffy the Vampire Slayer’’ this week (grr . . . argh), let’s look back at some of the best and worst episodes of its seven seasons.

We’ll just have to hope the finale, airing Tuesday at 8 p.m. on UPN’s WSBK (Ch. 38), can live up to past high points.

Trying to pick the best of a magnificent series such as ``Buffy’’ is a tough assignment. With sincere apologies to all the episodes that could have made the cut, here’s one writer’s opinion of the best:

1,2,3. The Joss Whedon Triumvirate: Series creator Whedon has written and directed some killer episodes, but his legacy likely will be three episodes that stretched the boundaries of the hourlong format. ``Hush’’ (Dec. 14, 1999) featured 29 minutes without dialogue; ``The Body’’ (Feb. 27, 2001) focused on the absolute sorrow following the sudden death of Buffy’s mom; and ``Once More, With Feeling’’ (Nov. 6, 2001) proved that a musical episode was not only possible but could be perfect.

4. ``Innocence’’ (Jan. 20, 1998): After sleeping with Buffy and experiencing a moment of true happiness, Angel (David Boreanaz) loses his soul and becomes the evil Angelus (demonstrating Boreanaz’s range as an actor). A perfect example of how the show could subtly work an obvious metaphor - Sex changes a relationship! - to dizzying heights.

5. ``Becoming, Part 2’’ (May 19, 1998): In the second season finale (and, it could be argued, the series’ best season finale to date), Buffy accepts the fact she has to kill Angelus to save the world. The following exchange epitomizes the series: Angelus has the slayer backed to the wall with a sword at her throat, and he says, ``No weapons, no friends, no hope. Take all that away, what’s left?’’ Buffy opens her eyes and says, ``Me.’’

6. ``The Wish’’ (Dec. 8, 1998): In this haunting episode, vengeance demon Anyanka (Emma Caulfield) makes her first appearance, granting Cordelia’s (Charisma Carpenter) wish that ``Buffy Summers had never come to Sunnydale.’’

7. ``Fool for Love’’ (Nov. 14, 2000): Buffy demands that Spike (James Marsters) tell her how he managed to kill two slayers. In flashback sequences, viewers learn how Spike got his nickname and his leather jacket.

8. ``The Gift’’ (May 22, 2001): The slayer, at peace, realizes death is her gift and runs toward the portal, bringing a breathtaking end to season five and the series’ run on the WB.

9. ``Who Are You’’ (Feb. 29, 2000): It’s a freaky Tuesday when Buffy and slayer-gone-bad Faith (Eliza Dushku) swap bodies to devastating and at times hilarious effect.

10. ``Something Blue’’ (Nov. 30, 1999): When a heartbroken Willow (Alyson Hannigan) uses magic for personal gain, everything she says comes true. The results foreshadow much of what will play out over the next three-and-a-half seasons.

Even great series have their bad hours. Here are some of the worst episodes to come out of the Hellmouth:

1. ``Doublemeat Palace’’ (Jan. 29, 2002): In need of cash, Buffy goes to work at a burger joint and has sex with Spike by the Dumpster behind the restaurant. There are some places fans weren’t prepared to see their heroine go.

2. ``Wrecked’’ (Nov. 27, 2001): The series suffered when it hit a metaphor a little too hard. In this case, Willow’s addiction to magic is mirroring a drug addiction (note the magic crackhouse). Inconsistent with how magic had been portrayed on the series previously and way too simplistic for savvy viewers, this episode was the worst of an uneven season.

3. ``Beer Bad’’ (Nov. 2, 1999): See metaphor problem above. In this season-four nadir, college students turn into Cro-Magnons after drinking beer. Episode bad.

4. ``Buffy vs. Dracula’’ (Sept.26, 2000): Even when played by the seductive Rudolf Martin, a legend was no match for the slayer in this nonstarter of a fifth-season premiere.

5. ``First Date’’ (Feb. 11, 2003): Ashanti, who guest stars as Xander’s (Nicholas Brendon) demon date, should stick to duets with Ja Rule.