Buffy season 4

[WillsBabe]

Found myself at a loose end today and caught an episode of season 4 Buffy. I haven't seen this season since it first aired, and I have to say, on first watching back in the day I was so disappointed with this season. Anyway, I've just watched the final 5 epiodes of the fourth season and I was really very impressed. I really enjoyed the episodes and the characters. I think I disliked this season first time around because it somehow seemed flat after the gothic, hyper emotions of the third season. But the back end of the season didn't seem flat at all.

Anyone else have any thoughts on season 4? Better than you remembered on re-watching, or did you enjoy it the first time around?

 

[Ethros]

It's not the best season. It's not the worst.

The problem it presents for me is when I think of "Buffy Season X", I immediatly think of the arc/Big Bad of that season.
So "Season 3" and I think of Faith/the Mayor, "Season 5" and I think of Dawn & Glory. And with "Season 4" I always think of the Initiative. And there's just something about the look of them. All wearing their stupid green wooly jumpers and holding plastic toy like guns. They just looked really fake.
Apart from that the episodes are ok, Adam wasn't exactly the best villain ever, but it's allright

 

[Admiral_Young]

Yes this happened to me a while back as well. I re-watched the entire series again when recovering from my second foot surgery in the summer of 08 and I was struck how decent season four was after my first viewing it. I refuse to feel any change about season six though. Season Four's big bad is the Initiative and then of course Adam. I feel now on hindsight if Joss had did the Initiative maybe more like "Unit" then they would have come across better but I doubt it. Season Four really was about change and growing up. It just wasn't executed right IMO.

 

[Jetfire]

The only episodes I think worth re-watching from season 4 are;

Fear, Itself
Hush
A New Man
This Years Girl & Who Are You
Superstar
Restless

[edit] Forgot...The Harsh Light Of Day.

 

[Skellington]

Season 4 doesn't have a terribly good story arc compared to season 3 (but then again the Mayor and Faith was a winning combo). Its strengths lie largely in its standalone episodes, many of which are a pure joy to watch (eg Pangs, A New Man, Hush, Superstar, Restless). It looks great, too.

 

[Skellington]

Whoops, double post.

I'll take this opportunity to say that Xander's dream in Restless is some of the most surreal and entertaining moments in the show's history.

 

[Warp Coil]

Season 4 doesn't have a terribly good story arc compared to season 3 (but then again the Mayor and Faith was a winning combo). Its strengths lie largely in its standalone episodes, many of which are a pure joy to watch (eg Pangs, A New Man, Hush, Superstar, Restless). It looks great, too.

Indeed. Season 4 feels a bit awkward, and rightly so, because it was big transition year for the series. One of the major arcs that played through that year was the notion of change. The kids were out of high school now. Buffy and Willow were transitioning into college. Xander was transitioning into his parents' basement. Giles was out of work and had no idea what to do with his life. Familiar faces (Angel, Cordy, Oz) were leaving, while others were becoming more prominent (Spike, Anya) and new characters were coming to town (Riley, Tara).

The "big bad" for season 4 is one of the weakest. The Initiative and Adam just weren't really that fascinating or compelling. But the character stuff was great, and there are a ton of enjoyable individual episodes in this season ("Fear, Itself", "Pangs", "Something Blue", "Hush", "This Year's Girl", "Who Are You?", "Restless").

 

[Seven of Five]

Yeah, I agree that season 4 feels awkward because of so much change going on with the character dynamics, both old and new. I enjoyed nearly all of the development of the Scoobies post High School, but it was such a transistional period that required adjustment to.

The season doesn't feel very cohesive also due to the lack of a decent Big Bad and the relevant arc that usually comes with it. There are plenty of standalone episodes I enjoy though, and many standout moments. As a season though it is just pretty much there.

 

[Forbin]

An overall mediocre season with some truly outstanding individual episodes, which have already been mentioned. Restles may be my favorite season finale for its pure quirkiness. I especially love Buffy's defiant speach to the First Slayer.

Mm. Cheese.

 

[WillsBabe]

I thought there were a lot of subtleties in season 4 that I really enjoyed watching this afternoon. I really liked all the stuff addressing Willow's "hidden nature". I think we are lead to believe in Restless that her "hidden" aspects are her sexuality, but with hindsight, I rather think they are about her dark powers.

I found myself really liking Riley, a character I couldn't connect with at all first time around. He seemed likeable and genuine, a straight up guy with genuine worries about his relationship with Buffy versus her relationship with Angel. I like the way the writers introduced Buffy's relationship with Angel into the mix.

I really enjoyed Restless, an episode I thought was a total waste of space first time around. It had a hypnotic, sibilant qauality that I thought was well-done.

I thought the episode with Oz returning was well done, too, and the final scene really very moving.

All in all, I thought the episodes I saw in this season were a lot more subtle and grown up than I recall, and I was pleasantly impressed. I think the only aspect I didn't really care for was Spike. He seemed a bit of a spare part.

 

[Forbin]

I like Riley too. I think he was exactly the kind of BF Buffy needed - normal (well, almost normal).

The Initiative was rather ludicrous, though. If you're gonna have a government agency, why have its agents need to maintain secret identities in rather visible jobs? just have agents and leave it at that. Whedon et al have never had a clue how to write about government/military subjects.

 

[Seven of Five]

Totally agree about Spike. It was nice to have him there as he was good light relief, but his presence had no purpose whatsoever. The excuses they would keep inventing to keep him around grew thinner and thinner over time.

I really enjoyed Riley at first. I loved how goofy he was when he was first interested in Buffy and was trying to get advice from Willow, of all people, after Oz had skipped town. "She likes cheese." I think it's later on in the season when he became annoying - after his and Buffy's secrets were out in the open and he starting feeling all inferior. Though I suppose season five was when he became completely insufferable.

Willow easily has the best arc of the season I think. Oz leaving, coming to terms with her power and sexuality, and flourishing in her new environment.

 

[Pemmer Harge]

Season 4 is a mixed bag. On the one hand, the story arc and big bad are, essentially, rubbish in my opinion. Adam and the Initiative barely felt like a threat and I didn't find them at all compelling. That said, the characters and their group dynamic were still really good, most of the new/suddenly more important characters worked well and there were a fair few great episodes. It's not as good as Seasons 1,2,3 and 5, but I definitely prefer it to Seasons 6 and 7.

 

[mimic]

I really enjoyed Restless, an episode I thought was a total waste of space first time around. It had a hypnotic, sibilant qauality that I thought was well-done.

I had a similar experience. The first time around I thought "what the hell is this?!" and was shocked to learn it's a fan-favorite. Now I know what to expect, and really enjoy it.

 

[Too Much Fun]

This is my favourite season. Seems I'm in the minority on that one. I thought Adam was an weak villain (although Glory was ten times worse and the one in the last season was just as crappy), but aside from the weak villain, I think this is the most consistent season. Since I'm too lazy to write out titles now, I'll say I love the Faith and Buffy body switch episodes, the silent episode, the Jonathan episode, the Giles-as-a-demon episode, and the dream episode.

I love the Willow and Oz relationship, but I thought the episodes/arc that split them up were very well done too. I could relate to a lot of what they went through (despite not being a werewolf ). Tara was a rather lame character, but the increasing prominence of Anya was a huge bright spot in the season. I also like Riley and could relate to him (despite not being a demon hunting soldier ) and felt that Spike was used perfectly, even though the whole chip thing seemed to be a cheat at times.

I wish Spike had left for good after this season. I hated his role in the three seasons that followed...I think season 4 was the last season to use him right. He should have left, but fans liked the character too much and the cast liked the actor too much (which is understandable), but I don't think they came up with anything good and plausible for him to do in the subsequent seasons.

I think this season has more favourite episodes of mine than any other. Some people say taking the cast out of high school took away the show's appeal significantly, but I really like the changes that came with college. In the first episode, I thought the story of how Buffy was feeling alienated in college while Oz and Willow were fitting right in was fascinating and Sunday was an excellent one-shot villain.

 

[DonIago]

I haven't watched it in long enough that I don't feel qualified to comment, though I do remember liking Willow's development and ultimately (not initially) liking the introductions of Tara and Anya. Hush and Restless are obviously standouts (though Restless felt almost like filler coming on the heels of Primeval(?)).

I liked the Scooby Gang's solution to dealing with Adam, especially as it led to them realizing that they do all have valuable traits that they add to the group, something that was an issue for them for most of the season.

IIRC part of why the season's development may feel off is that Whedon intended to do more with Maggie Walsh, but things happened that led to her being killed off and other changes that weren't necessarily for the best. It seems likely that the focus on Adam wasn't the original plan for the season.

 

[Skellington]

An overall mediocre season with some truly outstanding individual episodes, which have already been mentioned. Restles may be my favorite season finale for its pure quirkiness. I especially love Buffy's defiant speach to the First Slayer.

Mm. Cheese.

Just remember - You wear it; it doesn't wear you.

 

[stonester1]

Found myself at a loose end today and caught an episode of season 4 Buffy. I haven't seen this season since it first aired, and I have to say, on first watching back in the day I was so disappointed with this season. Anyway, I've just watched the final 5 epiodes of the fourth season and I was really very impressed. I really enjoyed the episodes and the characters. I think I disliked this season first time around because it somehow seemed flat after the gothic, hyper emotions of the third season. But the back end of the season didn't seem flat at all.

Anyone else have any thoughts on season 4? Better than you remembered on re-watching, or did you enjoy it the first time around?

Loved it. The Buffyverse with a touch of the X-Files, Captain America and Frankenstein.

I think the sharp shift in so many elements soured some fans, as they didn't want to leave high school.

But it was over, kids. Time to move on.

 

[CaptMurdock]

I still love Season Four, precisely because it's such a transitional season where the old rules no longer applied. High school is over. Angel is gone; Buffy can finally explore relationships other than those with The Living Impaired. Oz leaves (in a heart-breaking episode) and Willow finds a new friendship with Tara, that develops into something more. Giles has to struggle with no longer being the school librarian and hardly even being Buffy's Watcher.

It's really hard to enjoy Xander's arc, though. Yes, he gets to sleep with Anya, but she's such a one-note character it hardly seems worth it. The Initiative and Adam are not the best of Big Bads, but they do the minimum needed to keep the season moving along. As several people said in this thread, it's the individual stories (e.g. Hush, Superstar, Restless) that make this season stand out.

 

[DS9Continuing]

I enjoyed it. I don't think Adam is that bad a villain - granted he may not have had as much personality as the Mayor or Glory, but then he was more of a concept than a character anyway. He was the counterpoint to the fracturing of the central group - literally a man made of different parts working together. So hence the joining spell at the end - Giles, Buffy, Willow and Xander also become one person. Thematically it's perfect, even if Adam wasn't quite as "fun" as he might have been.

What I do enjoy about season 4 is something I see in a lot of Buffy/Angel season constructions, and something that's become a hallmark of nuWho too. That is, the subtle thematic set-up in early episodes, which may seem unconnected to the main arc at first glance but which actually, almost undetectably, prepare the viewer to deal with the same issues in a greater context later.

For example, look at "Fear Itself" - a fun enough throwaway but not an arc episode, right? Except that all of the character issues explored are the ones that are building throughout the rest of the season, and even into later seasons.

"Beer Bad" - Buffy goes cave-girl, but still has her slayer instinct... and at the end of the season, we meet the first ever cave-girl with slayer instinct.

"Wild at Heart" - Another example of the animal that exists within, just like Buffy will confront the Slayer power inside herself and end up cutting herself off to supposedly protect others. Also, Willow resorts to magic as revenge when her emotions are hurt.

"Pangs" - the gang bicker and argue over their differences inside Giles' apartment, which they do again in much bigger circumstances at the end of the season.

"Something Blue" - more reckless magic from Willow, Giles hitting the sauce, Buffy and Spike "in love," etc.

And so on. I love kind of that stuff.