The Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot (or revival, according to director Chloé Zhao) has fans talking. Besides Sarah Michelle Gellar, which other stars will return? Who won't return? Given Joss Whedon's absence, will the reboot damage Buffy's reputation as one of the most iconic and transformative TV shows of its time? Oh, the questions!

Here's what I do know: Whether you've been a fan since the '90s or are discovering Buffy for the first time, once you've watched certain scenes, they stick with you long after the credits roll. I've documented 10 of my favourites below.

#10: When Joyce (Buffy's mother) dies

The Body is one of the most impactful TV episodes I've ever watched. A show centred around the Slayer and vampires, demons, and the forces of darkness is obviously going to include a lot of death. But deaths that aren't at the hands of supernatural forces are few and far between in Buffy. 

Everything about this episode hits like a punch to the gut:

• The panic when Buffy discovers her mum lying motionless on the couch. The "Mummy" line always gets me. (I'm Australian, so "Mommy" if you're American.) 
• The use and absence of sound to convey shock, grief and the reality that Buffy's friends don't know what to do or say.
• Buffy telling Dawn and going from sister to guardian in a moment.

#9: When Buffy fires a rocket launcher at the Judge

To me, this scene is vintage Buffy. Watch for yourself. 

The line, "That was then, this is now," lands as Buffy grabs the rocket launcher and proceeds to blow the Judge into a million pieces in the mall. (Yes, you read correctly, the mall.) And for all the Xander haters out there, without him and his commando knowledge, this scene would never exist. I also immensely enjoy Angelus' face when he first sees Buffy fire the bow and arrow, and later when he starts running for his life alongside Drusilla. 

#8: When Oz leaves Willow

What struck me when rewatching the entire show again was how abrupt Oz's departure was. I understand this was mainly due to behind-the-scenes negotiations with Seth Green, but as a viewer, you feel Willow's heart breaking into a thousand pieces. We've all been there if we've lived long enough. Oz's dry, deadpan humour was memorable, and he never tried to be anyone but himself. Of course, his departure ultimately paves the way for Tara's introduction, which is a pivotal storyline in the Buffyverse.

#7: When Angelus kills Jenny Calendar

Let's address the giant elephant in the room: I don't believe the series covered Miss Calendar's death particularly well. Angelus' brutality and Jenny's death were glossed over (he snaps her neck). The scene when Giles finds Jenny's body is important because it shows Angelus' cruel nature and Giles' devastation. Instead of enjoying a romantic night in with Jenny, Giles walks into a crime scene.

#6: When Anya dies in the final battle

This is another death the series glosses over. I understand Emma Caulfield made it crystal clear she was done with playing the character, but there was no grieving for Anya. Her death was a blink or you'll miss it moment.

Prophecy Girl is the season one finale. The prophecy is simple: Buffy faces the Master, and she dies. I quite enjoy the book throwing in this scene and telling Angel to "pay attention!"

Technically, the prophecy is correct, given that Buffy drowns. However, Xander revives her (another wink at all the Xander haters out there), and she ultimately defeats the Master. This paves the way for season two and one of the juiciest episodes, When She Was Bad. Who can forget that dance scene with Xander at The Bronze?!

#4: When we learn Spike got his soul back

For the record, I am a Buffy and Angel fan. I never liked the Spike and Buffy storyline. I understand why the writers took this direction with the character, but Spike was better as a villain in my opinion. When Spike rocks up again in season seven, he's not the same Spike. We soon discover why he seems mad. 

Instead of getting the chip The Initiative inserted into his head removed, he got his soul back from a demon named Lloyd in Africa. This changes everything now for Spike and Buffy, and we definitely see a change in Spike's character in the latter stages of season seven.

#3: When Buffy and Dark Willow battle

I love witchy, regular Willow, but Dark Willow is something else! I see Willow's addiction to magic as a metaphor for the things humans can become addicted to. Tara's death tips Willow over the edge, and wow, Dark Willow has some power! Besides Buffy versus Angelus, this is the best battle of the entire series if you ask me because it is personal. My favourite quote from Dark Willow, "Get off, super b*tch!" 

#2: When Buffy dies (the second time)

"Dawn, the hardest thing in this world... is to live in it. Be brave. Live. For me," - Buffy

"Death is your gift." This advice from the first Slayer makes more sense as season five continues. Kudos to the writers for daring to introduce an entirely new character into the series as though she's always been there. We soon learn that Dawn is not what she seems (aka an annoying teenager played incredibly well by the late Michelle Trachtenberg). Dawn is the Key, made out of Buffy's blood by monks. The Key is a mystical energy that can open portals between dimensions. To cut a long story short, the Key is on Glory's (a god from a hell dimension) wish list so that she can return home. As an aside, I think the writers lost their way a bit with Ben's character. There was far more potential there.

#1: When Buffy kills Angelus

Angelus: "That's everything, huh? No weapons, no friends, no hope. Take all that away, and what's left?"

Buffy: "Me!"

I need two videos for this moment. There's the battle between Angelus and Buffy, and then there's the moment when Willow's spell works and Angel's soul returns to his body. It's too late, of course.

If someone asked me to play a scene that explains why I love Buffy the Vampire Slayer so much, even all these years later, I'd play the first clip. As a kid watching Buffy for the first time, this was an inspiring moment that stuck with me. The understanding that, at some level, we're always alone anyway, and we are always ok. And as a 38-year-old woman approaching midlife, this is the scene I rewatch when I feel like my life is falling apart or things are not going to plan (both happen quite often).

As for the following clip, it doesn't need a lead-in or explanation.

Think I've missed a scene or a pivotal moment from the series? Never fear. I have more Buffy the Vampire Slayer-inspired posts to come!

Slayer-inspired journal prompts