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* Punching out the [[Monster Clown]] in ''Nightmares''.
** Let's not forget the taunting afterwards!
{{quote|
* Saving Buffy's life in 'Prophecy Girl', and forcing Angel, who'd already given up, to get back on his feet and do likewise.
* Tackling the possessed zookeeper in 'The Pack'. Xander is less than two seconds after snapping out of the hyena spell, and is up against a man possessing supernatural strength and resilience enough to fight a Slayer on even terms (as Xander, when possessed, had just done earlier in the episode). Except this man is also holding a knife to Willow's throat, which means Xander is going to body-check his ass into the hyena cage without even breaking stride.
'''Angel'''
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== Season Two ==
'''Buffy'''
* In "Bad Eggs", when Buffy climbs out of the Mother Bezoar she has just killed, covered in goo, and gives Lyle Gorch a glare that sends him running.
{{quote|
''[Buffy crawls out, gives Lyle a'' look'']''
'''Lyle:''' "All right. It's over." }}
* Buffy confronting Jenny in "Innocence". Having just recovered from her [[Heroic BSOD]], Buffy walks into school, goes straight to Jenny's classroom, grabs Jenny by the neck and slams her down onto her desk ''in front of Giles and the entire class''.
** On the DVD commentary, Joss' comment for this scene is "I love how violent this is."
* "Innocence" reminds this troper why he used to like this show.
{{quote|
'''Buffy:''' That was then. [takes out the rocket launcher] This is now.
Drusilla and Angel run for cover as the Judge looks blankly.
'''Judge:''' What's that do?
[BOOM!] }}
** And Buffy's reaction to killing what it took an army to take down before? "Best present ever."
** [[Joss Whedon]] [[Word of God|had gone on record]] that he loved Buffy here more than any other time.
* A little later in the same episode, there's the spectacular, vicious, emotional battle between Angelus and Buffy that sees Buffy finally holding a stake over Angelus, frozen in hesitation, unable to kill him, and [[Tempting Fate|as he gloats]]...
{{quote|
'''Buffy''': (''delivers possibly '''the most''' satisfying [[Groin Attack]] on all network television, which leaves Angelus paralysed on the floor in breathless agony, and walks away without looking back'') Give me time. }}
* Buffy vs Angelus in "Becoming, Part 2"
{{quote|
'''Buffy:''' (Catches Angelus' sword [[Barehanded Blade Block|with HER BARE HANDS]]) Me. }}
'''Willow'''
* Willow in "The Dark Age":
{{quote|
'''Xander'''
* The entire episode of "Halloween" from S2. When Buffy is turned into a helpless 18th-century woman and Willow becomes a ghost, he becomes a badass M16-wielding, fatigues-wearing soldier. In the course of about twenty minutes he gets to kick monster ass, rock-and-roll with an M16, beat up a jock-turned-pirate who constantly picks on him, impress the resident hot airhead cheerleader, and even stand up to Spike.
* "Killed by Death":
{{quote|
'''Xander''': Maybe not. Maybe that security guard couldn't either. Or those cops... or the orderlies... But ''I'm'' kinda curious to find out. You game?
'''Angelus''': Buffy's White Knight. You still love her. It must just eat you up that I got there first.
'''Xander''': You're gonna die. And I'm gonna be there.
'''Angelus''': Tell her I stopped by.
''(And then Angelus, the vampire who slaughtered nuns for fun, took on Holtz, and God knows who else, WALKED AWAY!)'' }}
** His bit below in ''When She Was Bad'' was great. Here, here [[Took a Level In Badass|Xander's balls dropped about a foot, and tripled in size.]]
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* The first time Ethan shows up, we haven't really seen much evidence of Giles' [[Former Teen Rebel]] self. So when he shows up in Ethan's shop and proceeds to absolutely kick his ass-- in a state of [[Tranquil Fury]] no less-- it is both unexpected and ''amazing''.
* While wrestling a vampire, Giles gets a crossbow bolt to the back. His reaction? He rips it out and stabs the vampire in the heart with it.
* This editor cheered when Giles went after Angelus and company singlehandedly. ''With a flaming baseball bat.'' Remember that at this point, the Big Bad is a two hundred year old vampire who '''even the Master and the (literally invincible) Mayor were afraid of.''' And considering that Giles has no super powers, spends his days in a library and has pretty much been the Useless Mentor up until his girlfriend dies, that's saying a lot about his badass level. The Badass Scale officially exploded at this point, even if Angelus recovers a minute later.
** I repeat, a ''flaming baseball bat.''
*** You can tell from the look on his face. That wasn't Giles. That was Ripper.
*** Another awesome thing about the scene is how Spike restrains Drusilla from rushing to Angelus' aid, and just sits there with a little smirk on his face watching the flaming baseball bat hit Angelus in the head over and over.
* In "Becoming, Part 2", after Angelus has been torturing him for information on how to waken Acanthla, Giles appears to be about to crack...and then comes out with this line:
{{quote|
** Then he glares Angelus down. And calls him a pillock.
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'''Cordelia'''
* Cordelia snaps at Harmony in "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered":
{{quote|
'''HARMONY''': I'm not a sheep.
'''CORDELIA''': [["The Reason You Suck" Speech|You're a sheep. All you ever do is what everyone else does just so you can say you did it first. And here I am, scrambling for your approval, when I'm]] ''[["The Reason You Suck" Speech|way]]'' [["The Reason You Suck" Speech|cooler than you are cause I'm]] ''[["The Reason You Suck" Speech|not]]'' [["The Reason You Suck" Speech|a sheep.]] I do what I wanna do, and I wear what I wanna wear. And you know what? I'll date whoever the ''hell'' I wanna date. ....No matter how lame he is. }}
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* Drusilla picking up and carrying Spike at the end of "What's My Line" part 2.
* Drusilla taking out Kendra The Vampire Slayer with a swipe of her fingernail in "Becoming: Part 1".
* ''School Hard''. [[Mama Bear|Joyce Summers]]. Fire axe.
{{quote|
** Which gets reference in the season finale.
{{quote|
'''Spike''': Er... You hit me with an axe one time. Remember, er, "get the hell away from my daughter"?
'''Joyce''': Oh. So, do you live here in town? }}
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* Killing the vamp from "Helpless" by switching his water with holy water. Made more impressive how smart and creative it is since she is completely powerless against an insanely psychotic vampire who already has her mother locked up. Said vampire had also killed two people who worked for The Council prior.
* Buffy gets a CMOA, as well as a CMOF and CMOH, in The Prom. Hurting from Angel breaking up with her, she is disinterested in a student, Tucker, training hell hounds to attack the prom, until the Scoobies begin getting scared and upset about their night being ruined, driving Buffy to action.
{{quote|
** The script says Buffy is looking determined. Full of new purpose. And a little bit crazed, which Xander comments on.
{{quote|
** Later, after finding Tucker, we get this exchange.
{{quote|
'''Giles''': Buffy, they're right. You need-
'''Buffy''': To see tail lights. Hit the door. I've got everything under control.
'''Oz''': Buffy, it makes sense to -
'''Buffy''' (deadly): Have. A nice. Time.
'''Willow''': Okay then.
'''Xander''': See ya. }}
* Buffy [[Bully Hunter|scares off a group of bullies]] with what can be interpreted as a [[Slasher Smile]].
'''Willow'''
* In "Doppelgangland", she enters an entire bar full of vampires dressed as her ruthless vampire alternate universe self and attempts to bluff the entire group into believing she's an evil, murdering vampire; successfully, until Anya intervenes.
* Vamp Willow getting the vamps who attacked her to work for her.
{{quote|
'''Minion Vamp:''' There must be a mistake. We were sent after a human!
'''Vamp!Willow:''' Who do you work for?
'''Minion Vamp:''' I'm not tellin' you a thing!
'''Vamp!Willow:''' *snaps one of his fingers* Who do you work for?
'''Minion Vamp:''' Aggh! Wilkins! The Mayor!
'''Vamp!Willow:''' *breaks another finger* Who do you work for?
'''Minion Vamp:''' ... you. }}
** Earlier in the episode Snyder gets Willow to tutor a student. Said student goes after her when she's at the Bronze rather than doing all the work for him. Slight problem is this is Vamp!Willow.
{{quote|
* Willow's rant to Faith in "Choices":
{{quote|
'''Willow:''' It's way too late. You know, it didn't have to be this way. But you made your choice. I know you had a tough life. I know that some people think you had a lot of bad breaks. Well, boo hoo! Poor you! You know, you had a lot more in your life than some people. I mean, you had friends in your life like Buffy. Now you have no one. You were a slayer and now you're nothing. You're just a big, selfish, worthless waste. }}
** And note that Willow says that when she's all alone in the center of the Big Bad's minion-filled stronghold, before she has any useful combat magic, and while facing the knife-wielding evil superpowered Faith.
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** Not only does she kill the vampire guarding her, she does it by levitating a pencil behind him and driving it through his heart when he's got her backed up against the wall and is about to drink her blood.
* The above speech from 'Choices'? Is Willow's ''second''-best speech from that episode. Here's the best one, from where Willow reveals to Buffy that she's chosen to go to college at UC Sunnydale.
{{quote|
'''Willow:''' What do you mean, I can't?
'''Buffy:''' I won't let you.
'''Willow:''' Of the two people here, which is the boss of me?
'''Buffy:''' There are better schools.
'''Willow:''' Sunnydale's not bad. And I can design my own curriculum.
'''Buffy:''' Okay, well, there are safer schools. There are safer ''prisons''. I can't let you stay because of me.
'''Willow:''' Actually, this isn't about you. Although I'm fond, don't get me wrong. The other night, you know, being captured and all, facing off with Faith. Things just, kind of, got clear. I mean, you've been fighting evil here for three years, and I've helped some, and now we're supposed to decide what we want to do with our lives. And I just realized that that's what I want to do. Fight evil, help people. I mean, I think it's worth doing. And I don't think you do it because you have to. It's a good fight, Buffy, and I want in. }}
'''Xander'''
* This commenter considers Xander's line "I like the quiet" from "The Zeppo" to be pretty awesome, but apparently the writers and fans largely disagree.
** If that wasn't Xander's crowning moment of badassery, I don't know what is.
** Agree wholeheartedly. That line, and that episode, are Xander's crowning moment.
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* Angel cracking Faith's head open with a shovel as she was raping and killing Xander.
* When Angel reveals that he's been pretending to have lost his soul:
{{quote|
'''Angel:''' Second best. }}
** Cue [[Oh Crap]] look on Faith's face.
* Angel saving Giles and Wesley from Balthazar.
{{quote|
'''Angel''': [[Big Damn Heroes|His name's Angel]]. }}
* From "Earshot" (Buffy's been infected by a demon, and the heart of a second demon of the same species contains the cure)
{{quote|
(Cut to Angel unleashing a furious attack on the second demon. [[No-Holds-Barred Beatdown]] ensues.) }}
'''Giles'''
* In ''Dead Man's Party'', Giles threatens Principal Snyder to let Buffy back in school. He's wearing Ripper's little smile, the one that says, "Please give me an excuse to hurt you, you tiny slug of a man."
{{quote|
'''Giles:''' *slams Snyder against a cupboard* Would you like me to convince you? }}
* Giles in the third-season episode 'Wish.' He destroys Anyanka's power center almost entirely on faith that the other world "will be better. [[Crapsack World|It has to be.]]"
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'''Spike'''
* Though the "Fool For Love" episode of ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]'' is a good latter-day attempt, Spike gets his in the final scene of "Lover's Walk" where, after a [[Montage Out|montage]] of every other character's brooding [[Wangst]], you see him in his car streaking off into the desert sun to find Drusilla, rocking out to the Sex Pistols' version of "My Way".
* Spike's deconstruction of Angel and Buffy's relationship in "Lover's Walk" needs to be quoted:
{{quote|
'''Anya'''
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'''Oz'''
* Season 3, episode 4: "Beauty and The Beasts". Jealous boyfriend Pete confronts Oz, who's locked in the book cage, about Debbie. Oz tries to warn Pete away by saying that something is about to happen that Pete "probably won't believe", then Pete morphs into Hyde-Pete and lays a smackdown on Oz for several minutes. At one point, Oz manages to put a bit of space between them, and he looks out the window to see the sun dip below the horizon. Cue CMOA: "Time's up. Rules change." Were-Oz proceeds to unleash a full-fledged [[No-Holds-Barred Beatdown|wolf-fu style asskicking]] that only ends, fortunately for Pete, when Oz gets distracted and tries to attack Willow and Faith.
* In "Choices", when Willow gets taken by Faith, Buffy wants to trade the Box of Gavrok for her best friend. Wesley refuses to let her do this because it's exchanging thousands of lives for one person, and everyone present - Wesley, Buffy, Giles, Xander, even Angel - begin shouting their opinions, standing around arguing. Oz, after wordlessly staring at Wesley through his speech, calmly stands up, walks over the vase he and Xander prepared for the Box-destroying ritual, grabs the pedestal, and sends the entire thing flying into the wall, smashing it to pieces. It's quickly decided afterwards to trade the Box for Willow.
'''Cordelia'''
* Cordelia facing down Lyle Gorch in "Homecoming", where she delivers an absolutely unforgettable (and incredibly ballsy) monologue.
{{quote|
'''Lyle''': Wife!
'''Cordelia''' Whatever. The point is, I haven't even broken a sweat. See, in the end, Buffy's just the runner-up. ''I'm'' the Queen. You get me mad, (gets in his face and glares at him) what do you think I'm gonna do to you?
'''Lyle''': Later. }}
** Keep in mind that Lyle thought Cordelia was a slayer in this scene, and she was playing to that misconception. In other words, bluffing her ass off - which, in some people's opinions, makes it even ''more'' awesome.
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* Killing the vampire who killed her Watcher with a really large stake.
* Having learnt that Scott has dumped Buffy, Faith goes in to bat for her, grossing out his current girl with claims of having several STDs. Buffy's other friends...do sweet jack all.
* It's a villainous CMOA, but still counts: Faith has one of the best fights ever choreographed on the series with Buffy in 'Graduation Day Part 1', where Buffy needs the blood of a Slayer to save Angel from Faith's poisoning of him. After Buffy wins by stabbing Faith in the guts, Faith stays upright on sheer willpower despite the giant knife-sized hole in her vital organs -- just long enough to deliberately take a header off a three-story roof down into a passing dump truck, leaving her body unavailable for Buffy to use. Faith ends up in a months-long coma from this, but still manages to steal Buffy's prize from her despite her victory in battle.
'''Other'''
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* When Parker breaks up with Buffy after a one night stand Willow goes to tear him a new one. He starts putting the moves on her, and she plays along a bit, before rocking him by seeing through his act.
* This was on CMOF, but it's worth repeating here.
{{quote|
''(Riley looks back at her, very surprised)''
'''Willow:''' A vague disclaimer is nobody's friend. Have fun. }}
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'''Giles'''
* The frat house sealed Buffy and friends inside and their worst fears are coming true ([[Recycled Script|again]])? All the doors and windows have vanished? Frat house, meet Giles. [[Chainsaw Good|With a chainsaw]].
{{quote|
'''Anya:''' You can do that?
'''Giles:''' ''(pulls a chainsaw out of his bag)'' I can. }}
* Giles' "Exposition Song" in "Restless", aided by ASH having a really good singing voice.
{{quote|
'''Spike'''
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'''Other'''
* Harmony driving away Spike in "Pangs"
{{quote|
== Season Five ==
'''Buffy'''
* The episode "Checkpoint," where after a full episode of being made to feel inferior by the [[Zen Survivor]] Watcher's Council, the ditziest [[Big Bad]] ever to appear on the show, and a crazy [[Knights Templar]] army of [[Well-Intentioned Extremist|Well-Intentioned Extremists]], Buffy gives a perfectly calm, almost deadpan set of demands to the council's lead [[Deadpan Snarker]], punctuated by a thrown broadsword. This troper's roommates' ears are still ringing from his cheering. The scene in all its awesomeness:
{{quote|
'''Buffy:''' [''places sword over his notes''] "There isn't gonna be a review."
'''Quentin:''' "Sorry?"
'''Buffy:''' "No review. No interrogation. No questions you ''know'' I can't answer. No hoops, no jumps, [''Nigel opens his mouth to speak, Buffy turns to him''] and no interruptions. [''begins pacing''] See, I've had a lot of people talking at me the last few days. Everyone just lining up to tell me how unimportant I am. And I've finally figured out why. Power. I have it. They don't. This bothers them. ...Glory came to my home today."
'''Giles:''' "Buffy, are you-?"
'''Buffy:''' "Just to talk. She told me I'm a bug, I'm a flea, she could squash me in a second. Only she didn't. She came into my home and we talked. We had, what in her warped brain, probably passes for a civilized conversation. Why? Because she needs something from me. Because I have power over her. You guys didn't come all the way from England to determine whether or not I was good enough to be let back in. You came to beg me to let ''you'' back in. To give your jobs, your lives, some semblance of meaning."
'''Nigel:''' "This is beyond insolence-"
'''Buffy:''' [''flings broadsword, which just barely misses him''] "I'm fairly certain I said no interruptions."
'''Xander:''' [''whispers''] "That was ''excellent''."
'''Buffy:''' "You're Watchers. Without a Slayer, you're pretty much just watching ''Masterpiece Theatre''. You can't stop Glory. You can't do anything with the information you have, except maybe publish it in the ''Everyone Thinks We're Insane-O's Home Journal''. So here's how it's gonna work. You're gonna tell me everything you know. And then you're gonna go away. You'll contact me if and when you have any further information about Glory. The Magic Shop will remain open. Mr Giles will stay here as my official Watcher, reinstated at full salary-"
'''Giles:''' [''coughs''] "Retroactive."
'''Buffy:''' "-To be paid retroactively from the month he was fired. I will continue my work with the help of my friends-"
'''Lydia:''' "I-I-I... don't want a sword thrown at me, but-but civilians, I - we're talking about children."
'''Buffy:''' "We're talking about two very powerful witches and a thousand-year-old ex-demon."
'''Anya:''' "Willow's a demon?!"
'''Phillip:''' "And the boy? No power there."
'''Buffy:''' "The ''boy'' has clocked more field time than all of you combined. He's part of the unit."
'''Willow:''' [''whispers''] "That's Riley-speak."
'''Xander:''' [''whispers back, grinning''] "I've clocked field time."
'''Buffy:''' "You all may be very good at your jobs. The only way we're gonna find out is if you work with me. You can all take your time thinking about that. But I want an answer right now from Quentin, 'cause I think he's understanding me."
'''Quentin:''' [''clears throat''] "Your terms are... acceptable." }}
* Buffy nonchalantly pushing Doc off Glory's tower in the season 5 finale.
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'''Willow'''
* The show gets a meta-example in that any other show would have made a big stunt out of Willow and Tara's first kiss, if they let it in at all. This got put in in a completely natural way, and not sexualized.
* [[Punctuated!
** Even people who hate Dark Willow love this line.
** This line is actually made even better because it's not Dark Willow, but just an EXTREMELY tweaked-off normal, sweet, happy, gentle Willow.
*** '''Glory''': What's this, bag of tricks?
{{quote|
** The moment is especially awesome as it's the first time anybody has hurt Glory, at all. If Willow hadn't burned through her power so quickly, who knows what she could have done?
** Buffy's pretty good at punching out vampires, demons and the [[Big Bad]]. Willow [[Did You Just Punch Out Cthulhu?|punches out]] ''gods.''
** A great Dark Willow moment: "Jonathan. Andrew. You boys like magic, don't you? [[Shock and Awe|ABDA KADABRA]]."
* Another great Willow moment was in the previous episode, "The Weight of the World". With Dawn kidnapped by Glory, Buffy catatonic, and Tara having lost her mind, Willow's finally had enough when Xander and Spike start fighting. After forcing them apart with magic, she takes charge, berating them. The entire time her voice is nearly deadpan, but containing a fury that leaves even Anya and Spike afraid to piss her off.
{{quote|
* This:
{{quote|
'''Buffy:''' I killed Dawn.
'''Willow:''' Hello, your sister? Not dead yet! But she will be soon, if you don't come back to us.
'''Buffy:''' What if I can't?
'''Willow:''' Then I guess you're right. You really did kill your sister. ''[turns to walk away]''
'''Buffy:''' Where are you going?
'''Willow:''' Where you're needed. You coming? }}
* Willow got a Crowning Moment in the Season 5 finale, when Glory, noticing Tara (who had been driven insane by her) wandering around amongst her minions and contemptuously asking her "What are you doing here?", Willow calmly walks up beside her and replies in a tone somehow both deadpan and with barely suppressed rage "She's with me", before grabbing Glory's head and sucking away all of the energy keeping her mentally composed and redirecting it to Tara, thus simultaneously and instantly healing her lover and blasting a ''hellgod'' across a construction yard, significantly weakened.
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'''Xander'''
* Despite being taunted by Spike for being utterly normal, and thus utterly useless in a fight (specifically, Spike calls Xander a "glorified bricklayer", to which Xander responds weakly, "I'm also a pretty good bowler"), Xander accompanies the rest of the gang to the construction-site lair of Glory the Hell-God. And at a critical moment in the fight, he knocks the Glory through a wall with a wrecking ball.
{{quote|
'''Audience:''' '''"OH HELL YEAH!!!"''' }}
* The whole gang had an Awesome moment in 'Family', but Xander's contribution is a particular favorite of mine;
{{quote|
'''Xander:''' And I swear by your [[Sarcasm Mode|full and manly beard]], you're gonna break something trying. }}
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* The episode "Tough Love" has one of Giles' best CMOA. After finding one of Glory's minions spying on them, Giles tells Anya and Willow to get twine to tie him up, and proceeds to engage in off screen violence. The minion quickly decides singing like a canary to be the wiser of the two options. Best part? When asked what happened, Giles/Ripper cooly responds with, "He changed his mind."
** Immediately preceding making him talk, Giles reveals that he's known the whole time that the minion was spying on them, keeping up a conversation with Willow and making her feel better about herself after a fight with Tara, then wrenches open and slams the door so hard he knocks the minion unconscious.
** Giles' killing of Ben at the end of "The Gift", both for what he says and what he does:
{{quote|'''Ben''': She could've killed me.
'''Ben''': ...us?
(Giles, without changing expression, reaches over and covers Ben's mouth and nostrils with his hand, suffocating him to death.) }}
'''Spike'''
* The episode "Fool for Love" is Spike's Crowning Moment. An entire episode of Spike taunting and jeering as he explains his history, and tells Buffy in extensive detail how he brutally killed two of her predecessors.
{{quote|
'''Buffy''': You think we're dancing?
'''Spike''': That's all we've ever done. And the thing about the dance is, you never get to stop. Every day you wake up, it's the same bloody question that haunts you: is today the day I die? Death is on your heels, baby, and sooner or later it's gonna catch you. And part of you wants it. Not only to stop the fear and uncertainty, but because you're just a little bit in love with it. Death is your art. You make it with your hands, day after day. That final gasp. That look of peace. Part of you is desperate to know: What's it like? Where does it lead you? And now you see, that's the secret. Not the punch you didn't throw or the kicks you didn't land. Every Slayer... has a death wish. Even you. The only reason you've lasted as long as you have is you've got ties to the world... your mum, your brat kid sister, the Scoobies. They all tie you here but you're just putting off the inevitable. Sooner or later, you're gonna want it. And the second- the ''second''- that happens...you know I'll be there. I'll slip in... have myself a real good day.
{{spoiler|He didn't have a good day. He promised Buffy and himself that he would enjoy her dying, and it destroyed him.}} Joss Whedon, you Bastard }}
* Spike had more than his fair share, but that's what happens when you're the [[Badass Longcoat]].
{{quote|
'''Spike''': [Pauses, then, counting on his fingers] Out... for... a... walk. [Pauses again] ...Bitch. }}
* "Intervention". Spike gets tortured by a [[Physical God|hellgod]] that no one has been able to beat, and the only thing he has to do to save himself pain is tell [[Blondes Are Evil|Glory]] where the Key is. ''And he doesn't do it.'' Because he couldn't hurt the real Buffy by betraying Dawn.
** Not to mention he escapes ''by himself''. When the scoobies show he just has to figure out how he's getting out the elevator, past the henchmen and to his crypt, in broad daylight. Notably the scooby gang showed up to ''kill him before he could talk''.
* Spike's contribution to protecting Tara from her family in 'Family' was awesome in its fast-thinking and unorthodox creativity. When Tara's father contemptiously calles her something akin to a demon-spawn, Spike walks up to Tara and ''punches her in the nose''. How can punching a girl be a [[C Mo A]]? Because it triggers Spike's shock-chip, prooving that Tara is actually human. Which means that Spike not only promptly worked out how his curse could for once prove usefull but also volunteered to suffer another fit of head-splitting pain just to help a human.
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'''Anya'''
* Anya's soliloquy in "The Body".
{{quote|
** This is the only moment on television to make this (male) troper cry. Twice.
* In "The Gift", Anya tries to keep everyone going with forced optimism and keeps trying to get the group to think of ideas. Spike and Giles are annoyed by her and rudely tell her to think of something herself. Without missing a beat, she comes up with the Dagon Sphere and Olaf's Hammer, two artifacts that made a huge difference in the fight with Glory.
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'''Other'''
* The Scoobies facing down Tara's family in "Family".
** Except for Spike, who makes a point, as everyone else is doing their "You'll hafta go through ME first" routine, of saying "You won't hafta go through me, I don't really care". (And then Xander emphasizes: "You'll have to go through all of us... [[My Friends and Zoidberg|except Spike]].")
*** Though Spike ''did'' do his bit when he strikes Tara, proving that she's entirely human due to him feeling pain via the chip in his brain (not a pleasant thing). He didn't ''have'' to do it, the family was already on the debate's losing end... One can't help but feel that despite still being (mostly) evil, his not caring was [[Suspiciously Specific Denial|coming to be a state of denial by this point]] (well, that or simple spite for [[Big Screwed-Up Family|the sort]] [[Straw Misogynist|of people]] the McClays seem to be. Either way, it's a pretty cool moment.)
** Should be noted this is taking place at the end of an episode in which Tara is painfully aware that she doesn't quite 'fit in' with the group.
{{quote|
'''Buffy''': We're ''family''. }}
* I'm not sure this was intentional, but I and my inner feminist found Harmony's speech to Spike in ''Crush'', coupled with her shooting him with a crossbow, pure, utter, awesome.
{{quote|
* The scientist pretending to remove Spike's chip by first distracting Harmony.
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* Killing the monster in "Normal Again" by punching through it's chest.
* In one corner we have Buffy, the slayer, the embodiment of female empowerment. In the other, Warren, the ultimate misogynist who's made himself invincible. The winner?
{{quote|
** Buffy destroys his magic orbs before he's [[Punched Across the Room]].
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'''Willow'''
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'''Xander'''
* Xander at the end of season 6 [[Talking the Monster to Death|confronting Willow]]
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'''Angel'''
'''Giles'''
* Giles's return to Season 6:
{{quote|'''Dark Willow''': It's all about the power. And there's no one on Earth with the power to stop me.
(an explosion of light sends her ''flying across the room'')
'''Giles''': [[Tranquil Fury|I'd like to test that theory]]}}.
'''Spike'''
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'''Tara'''
* Saving Willow from a biker demon in season 6 episode 2 by burying an axe in his back.
{{quote|
'''Anya'''
'''Dawn'''
* Season 6 finale, where Buffy and Dawn are fighting the earth monsters: Dawn takes a hit and goes down, losing her sword; Buffy sees her fall, but is unable to help. Then, just as the monster moves in for another attack on Dawn...she somersault-rolls past it (in a very Buffy-like move) and lands next to her sword--which she uses to decapitate the monster in a single stroke. Buffy can only stare in disbelief.
{{quote|
'''Other'''
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* Buffy's speech at the end of "Bring On The Night", made all the more epic by the fact that when she makes this speech, she's battered and bruised, and manages to look the stronger for it.
* Buffy killing Caleb with the scythe.
{{quote|
'''Buffy:''' [[Pre-Mortem One-Liner|Who does nowadays]]? }}
* Buffy's little look from side to side after she cuts Caleb in half from the groin up.
{{quote|
'''Buffy:''' [[A Worldwide Punomenon|"He had to split."]] (cracks up) }}
* The series finale: Buffy getting stabbed, collapsing onto the ground, taunted by The First Evil about the wound being mortal, then standing up and just ignoring it. "I want you to get out of my face." Incredibly Awesome Pun, anybody?
** In addition, the fact that she gets up in slo-mo with that epic look on her face and the rousing music brewing in the background and then SLICES THREE TUROK-HAN OFF A CLIFF.
{{quote|
* "That's right. They're trapped. Terrified. Meat for the beast. That's all they've been doing for days - running away from an enemy that can't be killed. But, see, I don't believe that. I'm the Slayer. I always find a way. I'm the thing that nightmares have nightmares about. And right now, you and me are gonna show them why."
'''Willow'''
* Willow's [[Badass Boast]] to Andrew in "Never Leave Me"
{{quote|
* In the finale, Willow {{spoiler|using her magic to unlock all the Potentials' powers}}, complete with white-haired glowing Willow, "Oh. My. Goddess.", and an appropriate summation when the spell is over and Willow flops to the floor, exhausted: "That was nifty."
'''Xander'''
* Xander when comforting Dawn at the end of ''Potential.''
{{quote|
* Xander gets a series long CMOA simply for surviving. Buffy's a slayer and she died, twice. Willow's a witch and the most powerful character on the show. Anya's a demon {{spoiler|and she died.}} Spike's a vampire {{spoiler|and he died.}} Xander's human, arguably not even a [[Badass Normal]], and he's survived.
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'''Anya'''
* Everybody should know how badly Buffy cracked after The First drove a potential to suicide. Basically, she goes beyond [[Drill Sergeant Nasty]] in an epic "everyone sucks but me" speech. Well later, when her arch nemesis Faith shows up, reformed, wanting to help and the potentials wanting her over Buffy she spits it and leaves. We gotta give Anya this for her thoughts.
{{quote|
'''Dawn'''
* Dawn to Spike in the second episode of Season Seven:
{{quote|
'''Spike''': Yeah. What's your point?
'''Dawn''': You know, I probably can't take you in a fight, even with a chip in your head, but if you ever hurt my sister, you're going to wake up on fire.
'''Spike, shortly after, to Buffy''': When did your sister get unbelievably scary? }}
* Dawn's speech to Amanda in "Potential", and the subsequent act of sheer guts when she hands over the stake to Amanda, while ''facing down a vampire and six Bringers''.
* Toward the end of season 7, Buffy sends Dawn out of town, getting Xander to pretty much kidnap her to keep her away from the apocalypse. Buffy leaves a touching letter with Xander for Dawn, she reads the note and we hear Buffy narrate what's written on the note - then the narration cuts off midway through, as Dawn tosses the note aside, tazes Xander, takes control of the car and turns right around to go back and fight the evil. And later surprised Buffy turns around to see angry Dawn (who's literally just walked up behind her). She stares at Dawn for a moment, then Dawn kicks her in the shin.
** Which ''hurts'' Buffy, before Dawn calls her a dumbass. Considering her actions over the season this can be very cathartic.
** The best bit of this is when you expect a ridiculous Buffy speech but she just says "...if you get killed, I'm telling."
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* Buffy killing a demon with a Crucifix.
* Amy's gloating that [[Nothing Can Stop Us Now|nothing can stop her]]. Enter [[Big Damn Heroes|Willow]].
{{quote|
** Giant Dawn stepping on Amy, with a [[Precision F-Strike]] [[Bond One-Liner]].
* Faith killing two gargoyles, despite completely wrecking her hands.
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{{reflist}}
[[Category:Live
[[Category:Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]
[[Category:Awesome]]
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