Supernatural’ssecretBuffy the Vampire Slayercrossover episode is one of the show’s most charming, yet it’s too often overlooked. BothBuffy the Vampire SlayerandSupernaturalremain incredibly beloved, even cult-classic shows, and each had an impressive run.
Supernaturalwas on air from 2005 to 2020, andBuffyran from 1997 to 2003. While the shows therefore did not overlap, there were plenty ofSupernaturalepisodes that subtly (or not so subtly) featured majorBuffystars.One suchSupernaturalepisode was season 7, episode 5, “Shut Up, Dr. Phil,” and it was the perfectSupernatural-Buffycrossover.
James Marsters & Charisma Carpenter Play A Married Couple In Supernatural’s Unofficial Buffy Crossover Episode
“Shut Up, Dr. Phil” stars James Marsters and Charisma Carpenter, who played Spike and Cordelia Chase inBuffy the Vampire Slayer, respectively. InSupernatural, the actors portrayed Don and Maggie Stark, a warlock and a witch who had a rocky marriage, to say the least. In fact, the episode saw the two being violently antagonistic to one another.
In one particularly memorable scene, the woman who Maggie believes is having an affair with Don, Jenny, is making cupcakes. As she goes to take a bite of her cupcake, Maggie bewitches it, placing a tiny, beating heart in the center, which Jenny bites directly into and then (understandably) begins panicking.
Although that sounds gruesome, the episode is actually plenty of fun, with one marital feud involving Sam and Dean constantly trying to intervene, only for Don and Maggie to attack them in various ways and continue arguing. Particularly given this wasSupernatural’sLeviathan season, which is not largely considered one ofSupernatural’sbest seasons, this episode was a bright spot.
This was also perfect casting for both actors. InBuffy, both Spike and Cordelia were charming but also characters who were known to have an attitude and, particularly in Spike’s case, a darker side. They were therefore natural fits for this episode, and they even felt reminiscent of theirBuffycharacters.
Why “Shut Up, Dr. Phil” Is An Underrated Supernatural Episode
Although there have been a number ofmasterpieceSupernaturalepisodes, “Shut Up, Dr. Phil” is not often named as one of them. While it might not be up there with some of the franchise’s absolute best, such as “The French Mistake” or “Swan Song,” this is a great episode of the show, and it deserves more recognition than it gets.
In addition to these excitingBuffycameos, this episode contains many of the elements that makeSupernaturalso popular. It goes without saying that Jared Padalecki as Sam Winchester and Jensen Ackles as Dean Winchester both shine in the episode, but “Shut Up, Dr. Phil” also reflects just how creativeSupernaturalcould get with deaths.
After all, in the episode, one woman is murdered by a hair dryer at a hair salon overheating and keeping her trapped, and another character is killed by a phantom nail gun. The episode is also full ofSupernatural’sdark sense of humor, especially considering all these murders happen because two spouses are mad at each other.
Other Buffy Actors Have Guest-Starred In Supernatural
Although “Shut Up, Dr. Phil” is certainly one to watch, this is far from the onlySupernaturalepisode featuring stars ofBuffy the Vampire Slayer. Rather, there are manyBuffyverse actors inSupernatural, some of whom are major characters. One of the most notable is Felicia Day, who played Charlie inSupernaturaland Violet onBuffy.
Charlie was a criticalSupernaturalcharacter, as she became a true younger sister to Sam and Dean and got along with Dean particularly well. Arguably, hers was one of thesaddest deaths inSupernaturaloverall. Violet was a ‘potential slayer’ inBuffy the Vampire Slayer,and Day therefore had a key role to play in that show as well.
Yet another major actress to star in bothSupernaturalandBuffywas Amber Benson, who played Tara Maclay onBuffyand Lenore inSupernatural. In both shows, Benson’s character met a devastating end. InBuffy, Tara, who was the girlfriend of one of the show’s main characters, Willow, was tragically shot to death in front of Willow.
InSupernatural, Benson played Lenore, a vampire who was trying to do better than most and not kill humans. Sadly, she also died, as she realized she could no longer stop herself from feeding, and asked to be killed. There are myriad other actors who appear in both shows, including Mercedes McNab, Rob Benedict, and others.
It makes sense that the two shows have so much overlap, given they have so much in common thematically. Both are, of course, about the supernatural, but they also have deeper themes of family, sacrifice, and identity. The fact that they were released at relatively similar times only makes this all the more logical.
Therefore, those who are fans of bothSupernaturalandBuffy the Vampire Slayershould give “Shut Up, Dr. Phil” a second watch (or a first watch), as it not only stars two of the most beloved actors from the latter but is also one of the most underrated episodes of the former.
Buffy The Vampire Slayer
Cast
Buffy the Vampire Slayer is a television series created by Joss Whedon, focusing on Buffy Summers, portrayed by Sarah Michelle Gellar, a young woman chosen to battle against vampires, demons, and other supernatural forces while navigating the complexities of teenage life.
Supernatural
Supernatural is a television series that follows brothers Sam and Dean Winchester, who were raised by their father to hunt and combat supernatural entities after losing their mother to a demonic force. Traversing the American landscape in their ‘67 Chevy Impala, they face numerous paranormal threats.
