This really should be a novelization: [link]

Hmm. But really, Buffy only opened the door to the Gay World. It was Angel that was set there.

I'm still not familiar enough with the full body of Buffy to be able to name episodes I would use to lift me out of specific moods, generally, though i have found myself itching to watch Tabula Rasa on more than one occasion. Something about the sheer funny of it most of the way through followed by the total, if melodramatic, downer of the end really works for me, but I couldn't really put a finger on what moods inspire the desire.

Heh, I remember when that aired originally, some of the buffistas loved it and others hated it with the fiery passion of 1000% suns. Also, it was the first ep after OMwF, so I think that contributed to some not liking it much.

That said, what Gris said above is how I feel about SOMETHING BLUE and PANGS (those aren't so much with the downer ending, though).

I'm with FrankenBuddha-Something Blue and Pangs, while they don't restore my faith in humanity or anything, are guarenteed mood-lifters for me. Add in Intervention, and I'm good to go.

I am an fan of Espensodes, though. I am always so surprised that she didn't write Something Blue.

I don't so much turn to whole specific episodes as to assorted Cordelia bits from Season 3 when I need a pick-me-up. Like her utter insensitivity to the Buffy/Angel relationship angst, or the way she repeats everything she thinks almost word-for-word in "Earshot."

Which brings up something about my enjoyment of television in general. Usually I can't stand obnoxious self-absorbed characters, but on rare occasions (like Cordelia, and Jane from the BBC Coupling) they're over-the-top enough to hit me the exact opposite way and make me love them dearly.

My favorite pick-me-up episode, just for sheer silliness, is Band Candy. Cracks me up every time. "Is there a Billy Joel concert in town?"

I just watched Band Candy over the weekend. I love that ep.

"Call me Snyder. Just the last name. Like Barbarino. Oh, I'm so stoked!!"

"You are so cool. You're like Burt Reynolds."

"Whoa, Summers, you drive like a spaz!"

"Oh my God! What was I thinking when I bought the geek machine?"

"Whoa, Summers, you drive like a spaz!"

Hee! That's another one of my favorite lines. That, and when Joyce says of the coat, "It's so Juice Newton."

A lot of Band Candy is watch-from-the-hall for me, especially Snyder.

Ditto. There are like two lines by Giles, and then those of the villains, that don't make me cringe.