Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel the Vampire

[hopefuldreamer]

That one's definitely somewhere in my top 20. It's my 4th favorite of S7, right behind Conversations with Dead People, Selfless, and Lies My Parents Told Me.

People are always so down on S7, but to me it has some of the best individual episodes. There are only one or two aspects I didn't like about that season, tbh, and I still preferred it overall to S6, S4 and S1 (though 4 & 6 also had a couple of my fave episodes sprinkled in).

In fact, it's kinda funny with this show - in general, I find that the seasons with the weaker arcs are the ones with my favorite individual episodes. So the greatness of the show kinda balances out across the seasons, lol.

I loved Selfless. It's without doubt my favourite Anya episode, and is only second to 'Chosen' to me for season 7.

 

[Speedball]

After reading the last Angel and Faith comic, I really want to see the BBC go ahead with Ripper. I had completely forgot about it until I saw that reference. Seeing Giles in 70’s or 80’s UK would be awesome.

 

[flickchick85]

I loved Selfless. It's without doubt my favourite Anya episode, and is only second to 'Chosen' to me for season 7.

Well, considering the only other Anya-centric episode I can think of is Triangle (which seemed just as focused on Xander and Willow as her), I'd say she was long overdue.

I mean, I know she's played a major role in plenty of episodes, but it seems like they barely ever focused an episode on her. Selfless is the only true Anya-centric episode I can recall, which is probably a major reason I love it...aside from the fact that it's just all-around awesome.

 

[Sawyer]

Selfless was the first brand new episode of Buffy I ever saw, so I'll always have a high opinion of it.

I'm still sad I got into the series so damn late.

 

[Primal Slayer]

Ya you should be.

There is nothing like watching a show during its first run.

Still wish that Joss wouldve let Xander/Anya be happy and get married and deal with those ups and downs. They shouldve been able to be the one happy thing to come out of living in that world.

 

[O'Haire]

Still wish that Joss wouldve let Xander/Anya be happy and get married and deal with those ups and downs. They shouldve been able to be the one happy thing to come out of living in that world.

Joss not killing off a happy couple? LOL

It's the one thing from him that is getting kind of annoying. Everyone expects it these days. Not really a surprise anymore when it happens.

I would be more shocked if he actually let a couple live happily ever after.

 

[Sawyer]

Ya you should be.

There is nothing like watching a show during its first run.

Still wish that Joss wouldve let Xander/Anya be happy and get married and deal with those ups and downs. They shouldve been able to be the one happy thing to come out of living in that world.

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[Primal Slayer]

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But ya Joss does need to change it up a little bit and let there be some happiness.

 

[Marvolo]

So I'm watching some older tv shows that I've never seen and buffy is one of them. I'm about done with season 1 and I'm really liking it. Its dated and somewhat cheesy but its a fun show. Somehow I've managed to remain largely unspoiled too.

 

[Spike014]

So I'm watching some older tv shows that I've never seen and buffy is one of them. I'm about done with season 1 and I'm really liking it. Its dated and somewhat cheesy but its a fun show. Somehow I've managed to remain largely unspoiled too.

Season two gets far more better.

 

[hopefuldreamer]

Well, considering the only other Anya-centric episode I can think of is Triangle (which seemed just as focused on Xander and Willow as her), I'd say she was long overdue.

I mean, I know she's played a major role in plenty of episodes, but it seems like they barely ever focused an episode on her. Selfless is the only true Anya-centric episode I can recall, which is probably a major reason I love it...aside from the fact that it's just all-around awesome.

That's true actually, though I'd never really thought about it because the show was always so good at developing it's characters that it doesn't feel like she was under developed because of it.

I wish they'd been allowed to be happy too.

IMO the two most heartbreakingly romantic moments on the show were Xander's speech to her in Into the Woods:

Xander: [to Anya] I've gotta say something, 'cause I don't think I've made it clear. I'm in love with you. Powerfully, painfully in love. The things you do, the way you think, the way you move... I get excited every time I'm about to see you. You make me feel like I've never felt before in my life. Like a man. I just thought you might wanna know.

And Anya practising her vows in Hell's Bells:

Anya: Okay. For the last time. I, Anya, want to marry you, Xander, because I love you and I'll always love you. And before I knew you, I was like a completely different person. Not even a person, really. And I had seen what love could do to people, and it was hurt and sadness. Alone was better. And then, suddenly there was you, and... you knew me. You saw me, and it was this... thing. You make me feel safe and warm. So, I get it now. I finally get love, Xander. I really do.

Their love was the most honest and consistent through the series, even after Xander screwed it all up.

It made Selfless a more powerful episode, and it made

Spoiler

Anya's death in Chosen the saddest for me on the show.

Cause I really wanted them to end up together.

 

[Havok83]

Season two gets far more better.

Agreed. Season 1 was the worst and if you like that then you will love whats to come after. It really kicks into high gear with season 2

 

[AxlsAppetite]

Wrong. The season with Riley was the worst....because..he..was..in it.

 

[hopefuldreamer]

Wrong. The season with Riley was the worst....because..he..was..in it.

He was in Season 4 too!

The problem with Riley in season 5 was that without the Initiative, he had absolutely no purpose.

I didn't like the character at first, but re watching over the years he did start to grow on me. And in season 5, I felt for him a bit. Especially because I think he was right about Buffy not loving him as much as he loved her - made me a bit more sympathetic.

Season 5 is probably my worst too though. But more for how annoying Dawn was than Riley.

There were some gems tho - The Body, Fool for Love, The Weight of the World, The Gift. That's about it tho really, off the top of my head.

 

[Havok83]

Wrong. The season with Riley was the worst....because..he..was..in it.

Riley was great. Loved him. Notice how Season 1 is the only one that doesnt have a single vote in the thread's poll. Even the 2 Riley seasons have several. Season 1 just wasnt that great but it was a good starting point for the series

Season 5 is probably my worst too though. But more for how annoying Dawn was than Riley.

There were some gems tho - The Body, Fool for Love, The Weight of the World, The Gift. That's about it tho really, off the top of my head.

Wow. I used to go back and forth between what was my favorite, 3 or 5. 5 is just brilliant. The overall story arc was one of the best and the writing was top notch. 5 was so great for so many reasons and I thought would have been a fitting end to the series were it to not come back for 2 more seasons

 

[Mogwai]

which season did willow go full-on wiccan and go after the goddess and the 3 nerds?

 

[Primal Slayer]

That would be season 5 for Glory and Season 6 for the nerds.

 

[Havok83]

Glory.....best Big Bad ever!

 

[AxlsAppetite]

The First was the biggest bad in my opinion.

 

[hopefuldreamer]

Wow. I used to go back and forth between what was my favorite, 3 or 5. 5 is just brilliant. The overall story arc was one of the best and the writing was top notch. 5 was so great for so many reasons and I thought would have been a fitting end to the series were it to not come back for 2 more seasons

Now, can I just start this by saying - there is no such thing as a bad season of Buffy in my eyes. When I say season 5 is my least fave, that still makes it better than most tv shows

It's just that I prefer the others more.

Here's my season by season breakdown.

Spoiler

Season 1 (Ranks 5th out of 7) - I love for it's 'retro' quality. It has some of my favourite classic character lines, and everyone was at the extremes of their character - Giles was his most bookish, Willow her most timid, Cordelia her most shallow etc. The only episode out of the whole season that I would not claim to 'love' is 'I Robot, You Jane'.

Season 2 (Ranks 1st) - This is when the show really kicked it's heels in deep. Kicking off with an episode like 'When she was bad' that for me defined the show as one that doesn't just sugar coat over the effects of the trauma these people are going through.

Heavy emotion, adrenaline, twists and turns. Memorable characters like Spike, Drusilla, Kendra, Ethan Rayne etc. Some of the best baddies of the series (Der Kinderstod is still today the scariest Demon on Buffy to me!)

And Angelus. Wow, that was one heck of a storyline. Not to mention there were some of the best 'hell yes' moments ever I.e 'No weapon forged can hurt me!' 'That was then.' *picks up rocket launcher* 'This is now'

Season 3 (Ranks 3rd) - Faith. I'd almost say 'nuff said' but there is plenty more. She was a fantastic character though Angel back from Hell. Wesley was a great addition to the cast (especially what followed in Angel). The Mayor (probably my fave big bad) had such a great mix of terrifying, insane and 'public face'. And there are a lot of excellent stand alone episodes in the mix, probably more so than any other season. I loved Dead Man's Party, Homecoming, Band Candy, Helpless, The Zeppo, Earshot, The Wish, Dopplegangland, Amends, Gingerbread, The Prom etc.

Season 4 (Ranks 4th) - I deeply connected with this season when I went to university. I felt exactly like Buffy. Lost, hated my room mate, fell for a *****e. So season 4 was kind of like my comfort food for a while there . I don't particularly love Adam as a big bad, but the Initiative was an interesting idea and it began Spike's transformation from 'baddie' to casual annoyance I also particularly loved the handling of Oz leaving and then the introduction of Tara. We have the incredible 'Hush', the big blow that was 'This Year's Girl/Who are you?' and some of my personal favourite comedy episodes like 'Living Conditions' and 'Beer Bad' and other great episodes like ' 'The Yoko Factor' and 'Restless' (which I could write about for hourse )

In Season 5 (Ranks 7th) - the whole dynamic of the show sort of shifted. Unlike most who would claim that Season 6 was depressing, I found Season 5 much more depressing, and in a way I didn't connect with as much (see season 6 description for more on that).

Obviously everything that was going on with Joyce contributed. But also Buffy dealing with the secret about Dawn as well as money problems and giving up on school, Riley moping about and self harming, Spike moping around and then getting a Buffy sex toy, Tara loosing her mind, and Glory... Well she had so many horrible things to say about human nature.

There are particular episode I loved. Family, Fool for Love, Spiral, The Weight of the World, The Gift.

But it's the series that, on a whole, a revisit the least. And yeah, I find Dawn pretty darn annoying, especially in season 5.

Season 6 (Ranks 2nd) - One of my favourite seasons because it was 'depressing' in a way that I related to it a lot at the time, unlike season 5.

I think the big difference is that in Season 5, all this horrible stuff was being thrown at them (and us as the audience) and it was relentless and almost unfeeling in places. By the end of season 5, I felt she very much deserved to die rather than have to live like that anymore!

Whereas Season 6 was kind of like the recovery from that. How each character finally caved into the last 6 years of trauma and what they each did to deal with it. And each persons 'way' was a really interesting look into how people deal with their emotions in reality.

Buffy sleeping with Spike, Tara leaving and Willow's eventually abusing magic like a class A drug and turning evil, Dawn's cleptomania, Xander letting his paranoia ruin his wedding day, Anya going back to being a Demon and sleeping with Spike, Giles leaving, Spike's attempted rape etc etc. It was the fall out.

It didn't matter that the 'big bad' was just a bunch of geeks... Cause the real big bad they were fighting that year was their own demons... The Trio just provided some comedy IMO.

All that emotion made the last episodes ending just one of the most powerfully emotional bits of television. The way Xander talked Willow out of destroying the world will never fail to have me blubbering like a little girl, and Buffy and Dawn emerging to see the beautiful scenery... It really showed that they'd finally worked through all of it and could now find a way too continue on.

Which was reflected then in season 7 (Ranked 6th) - where we got back some of the structure that had been missing. High school was back, the 'big bad' linking right back to season 3, and then the introduction of a whole army of girls which just brought everyone closer together. They all felt stronger because of what they'd overcome in season 6. And I loved Andrew's journey

Season 7 ended perfectly as well. Absolutely perfectly.

 

[SuperFerret]

I just started Season 5 in my rewatching via Netflix (having missed most stuff post-Season 3 in its original run, but caught up on some plot points via reruns), and it really seems like this is the moment the show jumped the shark.

 

[Sawyer]

Season Five is my third favorite season, after 3 and 2.

 

[flickchick85]

Wow. I used to go back and forth between what was my favorite, 3 or 5. 5 is just brilliant. The overall story arc was one of the best and the writing was top notch. 5 was so great for so many reasons and I thought would have been a fitting end to the series were it to not come back for 2 more seasons

Wow, this is my opinion exactly. LOVE season 5. And s3. And s2. And all except s1. But 5 and 3 are constantly flip-flopping as my fave.

Marvolo, you have no idea what you're in for. t: As I just stated above, I hated s1, yet I completely love this series because the later seasons were that much of an improvement. I've since developed a certain appreciation for s1, but it truly can't compare to the others. Just out of curiosity, are you planning to watch Angel as well? Because once you get to season 4 of Buffy (which is when the spin-off started), the two shows ran parallel to each other and contained several interweaving storylines. It certainly makes for a more complete viewing experience. Plus, Angel's a great show in it's own right, so I highly recommend it.

 

[Scarecrow_King]

I actually liked Angel more than I liked Buffy.

 

[Sawyer]

Season 1 was good fun, but it had nowhere near the level of writing as the next six seasons.