Episodes: Hush
Another entry in a recurring series about specific television episodes. Some of these are all-time greats from popular series, others are memorable to me. Today's episode is from Season 4 of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." The genesis of "Hush" lies in one of the core strengths of Buffy the Vampire Slayer : its dialogue. Creator Joss Whedon and his writers created witty banter that was a driving force in every episode. We could count on Buffy's quips and one-liners, Xander's sarcasm, and Giles's dry observations. Whedon wondered, though, what would happen if that was taken away. Enter The Gentlemen, ghouls inspired by the Grimm Brothers who steal the voices of the citizens of Sunnyvale. The episode is silent for much of its running time as the characters try to navigate how to defeat the monsters without saying a word. It makes for compelling television. "Hush" is one of Buffy's finest hours, possible its very best. Inventive and frighte...