Buffy Season Six...better than I remembered.
- Thread starter Skywalker
- Start date
This season was uneven, but it had some great episodes. Especially Normal Again.
I agree that freaking out at the last second was in-character for Xander given his family background, but I think both his characterization and Anya's would have been better served if Xander had decided that he would be better than his parents were and went through with the wedding after all. We probably wouldn't have gotten "Selfless" in S7, or at least not the way we know it, but that's a small price to pay.
Just finished the Buffy-thon with the last four episodes of season 7 on VHS (out of a charity shop - it's the only season we don't have on DVD) and it's not as bad as I remembered from when it was first on.
Oh, it's not as good as seasons 3-5, and the second quarter drags, but it's way better than season 6, and really works well once Giles is back, and especially when Faith and Caleb arrive.
Ah well, Angel season 3 and 4 await, and the Dr Who season 4 set at last...
Oh, it's not as good as seasons 3-5, and the second quarter drags, but it's way better than season 6, and really works well once Giles is back, and especially when Faith and Caleb arrive.
Ah well, Angel season 3 and 4 await, and the Dr Who season 4 set at last...
Whoa whoa whoa right there spinach chin, season seven may not be as "creative" as 3-5, but it IS a good deal more sound in it's narrative.
Well... maybe not more than 3...
BUT DON'T DIS ON IT, OR I'LL SEND YOU A 200x ACTUAL SIZE FEAR DEMON!!!
I just wrapped up Season 5 last night. The whole thing was definitely a lot better the second time around. I felt the emotional impact a lot more.
Heading to Walmart tonight to pick up Season 6 and 7. Even though I didn't like Season 6 too much, I might as well keep the Buffy-thon going.
Heading to Walmart tonight to pick up Season 6 and 7. Even though I didn't like Season 6 too much, I might as well keep the Buffy-thon going.
You'd have to be insane to want to marry Anya anyway with her track record.
Spinach chin?
I see it the other way around. It's exactly as creative and fun, but it still falls apart narratively in the second half.
Well, I broke down and bought Season 6, and since I spent the entire day nursing a hangover, I decided to watch a lot of it. I just finished up "Tabula Rasa."
Honestly, this season is a lot better than I remember. I still think the Nerds make retarded villains, but until this point they haven't played a very important role. Tara managed to become one of my favorite characters, and I enjoy her relationship with Dawn (who is a lot less annoying now that she's not whining about being the Key all the time).
One issue I do have is with Giles leaving. I know he did it the first time because Buffy was dead, and then he did it later to help Buffy stand on her own...but did he forget that there's still a Hellmouth underneath them? It just seems very irresponsible of him to leave Sunnydale knowing the evil that lurks there.
If I could change one thing about the arc of the season, however, I would get rid of the Nerds sooner and make Willow evil for a larger span of episodes.
Honestly, this season is a lot better than I remember. I still think the Nerds make retarded villains, but until this point they haven't played a very important role. Tara managed to become one of my favorite characters, and I enjoy her relationship with Dawn (who is a lot less annoying now that she's not whining about being the Key all the time).
One issue I do have is with Giles leaving. I know he did it the first time because Buffy was dead, and then he did it later to help Buffy stand on her own...but did he forget that there's still a Hellmouth underneath them? It just seems very irresponsible of him to leave Sunnydale knowing the evil that lurks there.
If I could change one thing about the arc of the season, however, I would get rid of the Nerds sooner and make Willow evil for a larger span of episodes.
I'd say for me the Season is mainly weak in the middle. Its starts out and ends good. There's some fluff with "All The Way", but it starts sagging with "Wrecked", then you have "Gone" which is a fun episode, but then the not-so-greatness creeps in with the six episode stretch from "Doublemeat Palace" to "Normal Again" (IMO)
I HATE Normal Again. Just something about it bugs me.
Plus, it just doesn't work. It may have in the early seasons, but the whole end was really hard to swallow for anyone who has seen at least one episode of "Angel."
Plus, it just doesn't work. It may have in the early seasons, but the whole end was really hard to swallow for anyone who has seen at least one episode of "Angel."
I also hate how "Normal Again" has suddenly had Buffy breifly been in a madhouse after Hemery and Before Sunnydale. Where in her parents were told the crazy stories of her vampire slaying. Then she came out and just "forgot it"
Hmm, I don't care if you're going through a major divorce, I doubt you'd just forget about your daughter going seemingly going crazy and having to go to an asylum. And Joyce certainly wouldn't seem the type for that.
And there are moments in episodes like in "Witch"
Joyce: Still, I just want you to know that, despite the problems you've had, I really...
Buffy: -Mom, you just don't get it. And, believe me, you don't want it. Y'know, there are just some things about being a Vampire Slayer that the older generation...
Joyce: A what?
Buffy: It's a... long story.
Joyce: Buffy, are you feeling well?
And "Bad Eggs"
Joyce: A little responsibility is all I ask. Honestly, don't you ever think about anything besides boys and clothes?
Buffy: Saving the world from vampires?
Joyce: I swear, sometimes I don't know what goes on in your head.
Which thus don't really work with it. Joyce would be thinking "oh christ she's relapsing"
Hmm, I don't care if you're going through a major divorce, I doubt you'd just forget about your daughter going seemingly going crazy and having to go to an asylum. And Joyce certainly wouldn't seem the type for that.
And there are moments in episodes like in "Witch"
Joyce: Still, I just want you to know that, despite the problems you've had, I really...
Buffy: -Mom, you just don't get it. And, believe me, you don't want it. Y'know, there are just some things about being a Vampire Slayer that the older generation...
Joyce: A what?
Buffy: It's a... long story.
Joyce: Buffy, are you feeling well?
And "Bad Eggs"
Joyce: A little responsibility is all I ask. Honestly, don't you ever think about anything besides boys and clothes?
Buffy: Saving the world from vampires?
Joyce: I swear, sometimes I don't know what goes on in your head.
Which thus don't really work with it. Joyce would be thinking "oh christ she's relapsing"
I'm really surprised at the criticism for "Normal Again". I really like the concept of the episode and I think it's one of the few bright spots of season 6. Despite the fact that Giles and Buffy laugh about it later, I think it really makes a lot of sense and is plausible as the truth...I like how they hinted that Buffy being in the institution may in fact be reality at the end.
It's one of the few season six episodes that I like watching repeatedly. Also, "Life Serial", which I think is a nice taste of the nerds at their most endearing (I love their movie/TV geek conversations/arguments in that one). Since I don't like the arc of season 6 until the very end when Willow goes all badass, the only other episodes I really appreciate in it are the high concept ones like those I mentioned and "Tabula Rasa".
It's one of the few season six episodes that I like watching repeatedly. Also, "Life Serial", which I think is a nice taste of the nerds at their most endearing (I love their movie/TV geek conversations/arguments in that one). Since I don't like the arc of season 6 until the very end when Willow goes all badass, the only other episodes I really appreciate in it are the high concept ones like those I mentioned and "Tabula Rasa".
The Rod Serling bit might have worked in a different situation, but not here.
As I said, if you've seen an episode of Angel, it just doesn't work. The implied logic would then be: Despite Buffy's hero complex, she created a whole second "world" within her 'universe" that she doesn't interact with, or really have nothing to do with at all. This whole "world" revolves at its own speed somewhere in the deep echelons of her mind.
I don't think so.
Or maybe some other nut in the asylum took on board her psychotic ramblings about her vampire boyfriend, and any crossovers between the series are just the two of them comparing crazy notes.
I really enjoyed the concept of the episode, that all this bizarre fantasy stuff might, in fact, be a bizarre fantasy. And for the most part it was done very well. However, I have to agree with Ethros as to the part where they ruined the episode:
The concept that Buffy was in a mental home for coming out about her slaying before we met her just doesn't fit in, it's a ridiculous retcon, and to be frank a completely unnecessary one. The episode would work just fine without it.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer is not a product of Buffy Summers' imagination. It's a product of Tommy Westphall's.
!Hey, it's got "Once More With Feeling," it's got "Spuffy," it's got the effective suggestion that Buffy's entire absurd "reality" is just a delusion - what's not to like?
The basic amorality of the Whedon "universe" becomes more clearly drawn as BTVS evolves, and there are moments where it's both stark and trivial in the sixth year.
Probably the fourth season is my least favorite of the series, and it was still great. This series is wonderful from beginning to end.
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