Who Did it Best?

It seems that every era of television consists of borrowed plot lines. All series have an episode involving a ghost; all series have an episode where someone is robbed, etc.

In the 90's, the fantasy TV shows graced us with more used plot lines. They stole them from each other, and ran them into the ground... which we're grateful for.

So, here they are, for us to decide...

WHO DID IT BEST?

Disclaimer: I wrote this in the early 2000's, (long, long ago when I used to watch Smallville,) saved it on my computer, and then decided to share it with you today.

Borrowed episode #1.
An episode where someone gets split in half, creating for themselves an evil twin.
Which seasons used this plot?
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER
In the episode, a super slick Xander takes on a slob Xander.
SMALLVILLE
In the episode a super evil Lex Luthor (Michael Rosenbaum, right,) battles a not-so evil one.
Who did it best?
Smallville. Seeing a Lex Luthor who wasn't being nice to Clark was like peeking into the future. Although the Buffy episode was funny, it was a little Xander-heavy.

Borrowed episode #2.
An episode with Groundhog's Day syndrome.
Which seasons used this plot?
XENA
In the episode Xena must turn a tragic Romeo & Juliet situation into a happy ending before she can have a tomorrow.
X-FILES
Hardly able to realize it, Molder (David Duchovny, left with Scully/Gillian Andersen,) re-lives the same doomed and boring bank robbery.
BUFFY
Jonathan and friends distract the slayer with a very long repetitive day.
Who did it best?
Xena. Her patience wears thin and we get to see her do something she's always wanted to do... kill Joxer.


Borrowed episode #3.
An episode with vampires.
Which seasons used this plot?

XENA
Xena is bit in this boring episode with Bacci.
X-FILES
Molder throws his sunflower seeds to buy some time in this hilarious vampire episode told backwards and with different versions from both Molder and Scully.

SMALLVILLE
Lana is turned into a vampire-like diseased woman by her sorority sisters, but Brainiac's confession to Clark that there's no such thing as vampires is the only interesting thing that happens. (Brainiac is played by Buffy's James Marsters, aka Spike... a vampire. [Right with Buffy/Sarah Michelle Geller.])
BUFFY
There are lots of episode with vampires, but we're not counting any of them.
Who did it best?
X-Files. Who knew vampires were so funny?



Borrowed episode #4.
An episode with a body switch.
Which seasons used this plot?

SMALLVILLE
A dying, old, Kryptonite infected man bent on living forever switches bodies with Clark. Wish granted!
SMALLVILLE (That's right. They do it twice.)
While Lex's evil dad, Lionel, is in prison, he switches bodies with Clark, miraculously healing himself of kidney failure.
XENA

After her stint in the Underworld, Callisto (Hudson Leick, left,) with the help of Ares, switches bodies with Xena for the best reason: revenge.
X-FILES
Thanks to the nexus of the universe, when Modler switches bodies he is forced to act like a suburban husband and father.
BUFFY
Faith switches bodies with Buffy in order to stay alive. Uck, typical Faith.
Who did it best?
The second Smallville, because if Lionel's in Clark's body he'll find out what Clark is capable of!!!! Oh phew, it looks like, once again, nobody's remembering anything!


Borrowed episode #5.
An episode with possession.
Which seasons used this plot?

XENA
Xena possesses Autolycus' (Bruce Campbell, below,) body so the King of Thieves can steal her body away from the cremate-happy Amazons.
SMALLVILLE
The school's most popular senior dies and possesses everybody, then chooses Chloe's body to enact her Carrie-like revenge.
Who did it best?

Despite all the revenge in the Smallville episode, this one goes to Xena. Any episode with Bruce Campbell gets extra points, plus when Chloe tries to act evil it's just pitiful.


Borrowed episode #6.
An episode where the geek is hot.
Which seasons used this plot?

XENA
Aphrodite has a bell, which when rung turns Joxer into Studly Joxer.
BUFFY
Xander, with the help of the witch Amy, casts a love spell on Cordilia which backfires. Every girl in Sunnydale besides Cordilia ends up helplessly obsessed with Xander.
Who did it best?
Joxer actually transforms into a different person, while Xander is only seen differently. While both episodes are hilarious, this one goes with Joxer, because his change is greater and it's just fantastic television.