Am I The Only One Who Hated Season 6?
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jeansebergmustdie
Townie
Granted,
I should read all of the above posts before stating any thesis but I read a handful and I think we're all repeating a lot of the same points. With that in mind, here's my take on the season, and with any luck there are a couple new or at the very least nicely worded thoughts to contribute.
I have mixed feelings about the whole 'Buffy/Spike' saga. On one hand, it seems a little out of character for Buffy to be so cruel considering they finally reached 'an understanding' at the end of season five. However, Buffy's going through tremendous amounts of crap and blaming herself for the bulk. And as mentioned above the Angel thing was tremendously different. Angel had a soul. The gang struggled with trusting Angel again, and while compared to how Spike was dealt with it was fairly brief. But it's television and the writers had to balance having a new Cordelia tension and getting the audience to feel empathetic towards Spike. I would love it if Buffy had been always well meant and never straying but that's just not true to life. Without internal conflict and mistakes there would be no growth for Buffy. Without character growth, there's not much of a show. And she does grow. All throughout season seven Buffy is trying to make amends with Spike; and forgive him. Let's not forget that prior to the attempted rape Spike's been anything but perfect. He manipulated Buffy and took advantage of the fact that she was so emotionally torn up. He victimized Buffy, and while she could have handled it better: She's human. She instead lashed out at him even further because of her own self-hatred. I'm sorry but if anyone on this board claims to be above taking out their insecurities/doubts and self-criticism on another human- "they're either lying or not very bright". We all do it, or have done so and in some cases to lesser degrees than others. The combination of Buffy's trauma and Spike using this as a device of power caused her to do so to a rather extreme degree.
Having said all that; Season 6 was desperately in need of that spark Spike went out to get. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for Buffy being depressed and out of character given the context. It was fun, fitting, and a rather wonderful change of contrast- but come on..... There's no question that the season lacked the witty and fresh dialogue that the bulk of the series contained, and I feel that many of the plot elements could have been done with a lot more sparkle. I understand that the 'big bad' was life but please. What's Buffy without a bunch of diabolically funny villains to juicy up the plot? The flesh eating granny penis? Surely we've seen better. And as for the whole dark Willow... Yes, that was hinted to with Willow's magic abuse but honestly it could have used a few more episodes to properly develop, a few more glimpses of a Dark Willow brewing surely would have helped a great deal to heighten the suspense of the arch.... As clever as 'super bitch' was, there's no doubt in my mind that if Joss had been around a little more for the season there wouldn't be nearly as much pitter patter between viewers as to whether or not the show lost it's charm. If any.
I should read all of the above posts before stating any thesis but I read a handful and I think we're all repeating a lot of the same points. With that in mind, here's my take on the season, and with any luck there are a couple new or at the very least nicely worded thoughts to contribute.
I have mixed feelings about the whole 'Buffy/Spike' saga. On one hand, it seems a little out of character for Buffy to be so cruel considering they finally reached 'an understanding' at the end of season five. However, Buffy's going through tremendous amounts of crap and blaming herself for the bulk. And as mentioned above the Angel thing was tremendously different. Angel had a soul. The gang struggled with trusting Angel again, and while compared to how Spike was dealt with it was fairly brief. But it's television and the writers had to balance having a new Cordelia tension and getting the audience to feel empathetic towards Spike. I would love it if Buffy had been always well meant and never straying but that's just not true to life. Without internal conflict and mistakes there would be no growth for Buffy. Without character growth, there's not much of a show. And she does grow. All throughout season seven Buffy is trying to make amends with Spike; and forgive him. Let's not forget that prior to the attempted rape Spike's been anything but perfect. He manipulated Buffy and took advantage of the fact that she was so emotionally torn up. He victimized Buffy, and while she could have handled it better: She's human. She instead lashed out at him even further because of her own self-hatred. I'm sorry but if anyone on this board claims to be above taking out their insecurities/doubts and self-criticism on another human- "they're either lying or not very bright". We all do it, or have done so and in some cases to lesser degrees than others. The combination of Buffy's trauma and Spike using this as a device of power caused her to do so to a rather extreme degree.
Having said all that; Season 6 was desperately in need of that spark Spike went out to get. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for Buffy being depressed and out of character given the context. It was fun, fitting, and a rather wonderful change of contrast- but come on..... There's no question that the season lacked the witty and fresh dialogue that the bulk of the series contained, and I feel that many of the plot elements could have been done with a lot more sparkle. I understand that the 'big bad' was life but please. What's Buffy without a bunch of diabolically funny villains to juicy up the plot? The flesh eating granny penis? Surely we've seen better. And as for the whole dark Willow... Yes, that was hinted to with Willow's magic abuse but honestly it could have used a few more episodes to properly develop, a few more glimpses of a Dark Willow brewing surely would have helped a great deal to heighten the suspense of the arch.... As clever as 'super bitch' was, there's no doubt in my mind that if Joss had been around a little more for the season there wouldn't be nearly as much pitter patter between viewers as to whether or not the show lost it's charm. If any.
Tranquillity
That'll put marzipan in your pie plate bingo
but it was hinted at...since season two. Whichcraft became Willow's rout to 'specialness'. it let her move from being the big geek she thought she was into a magic mama. She thought it made her more important than plain old ordinary non-magic Willow. It made her feel powerful. Its all about the power. From Earshot onwards every time Buffy is incapacitated Willow takes command - she becomes the boss (Earshot, Weight of the World, Bargaining). In Fear Itself she says she isn't the 'sidekick'. She wants to be a leader and powerful in her own right and When people critcise her use of magic she turns nasty. i read a really excellent characeter study of Willow once (can't remember where at the mo, sorry) that suggested that she never really expected Buffy's resurection to be successful (they used lots of quotes to support this notion so it was very convinving) that it was done so that she could legitimately claim the leadership of the group. And when it does work it has the duel consequnces of feuling both Willows belief in her own power and resentment towards Buffy for still being in the position of leader. So when dark Willow emerges after Tara's death it quickly moves beyond her grief into the power struggle with Buffy because it has been brewing for so long.
I love season six - it's not always pleasent, it's often uncomfortable but it's certainly compelling.
jeansebergmustdie
Townie
I know it had been hinted to. If I'm not mistaken that's what I wrote. I just feel that the evil Willow storyline had been expanding and snowballing ever since Becoming (the curse: channeling such dark magics, etc... The Giles warning that echoed), and then *poof* three episodes are expected to properly ermm... 'develop' (for lack of a better word) the big bad Willow? I just didn't feel that anything was handled with the same finesse that most of the show's storylines and dialogue were. Just my opinion. And I'll agree with you, season six was a beautiful premise; it just could have been handled better.
Edmund Blackadder
Scooby
Erm what?
We have 4 years building, a season showing this (Willow was showing signs way before she turned, it's not foolish to say that Willow was 'Dark' from the beginning of the season in the sense that she was in the full throws of addiction and doing what was necessary to fill the addicts needs - THEN she lost Tara and the whole thing broke her even more) and then another season with Willow dealing with the Fallout.
This wasn't a neat little three episode character progression, this was one point of a really long character arc.
I already posted here but I want to add on.
I didn't really like the spuffy thing....it was hard to watch especially when I started to get the feeling that Buffy didn't REALLY love spike (I know we could have many disagreements here but thats just what i thought) But yes, if you look at season 6 as one big thing, I REALLY liked it. My fave season all the way!! I loved evil willow-that was the best, and then there was my all-time fave ep OMWF!!! Anya/Xander was terribly sad but it was very well done🙂 Doublemeat palace was funny and Dawn wasn't as whiny as in season 5. I liked Willow/Tara in this season too! Only i almost cried when tara died.
I was glad that Xander was the one in the end who brought Willow back to the side of good. Xander was always seen as useless, the one without superpowers, but here he got to shine🙂🙂
The "Trio" was cool but I got a bit fed up with them I must say...I couldn't STAND warren, not really sure why and Andrew is SUCH loser.... lol
So thats my opinion on season 6!!😀
I didn't really like the spuffy thing....it was hard to watch especially when I started to get the feeling that Buffy didn't REALLY love spike (I know we could have many disagreements here but thats just what i thought) But yes, if you look at season 6 as one big thing, I REALLY liked it. My fave season all the way!! I loved evil willow-that was the best, and then there was my all-time fave ep OMWF!!! Anya/Xander was terribly sad but it was very well done🙂 Doublemeat palace was funny and Dawn wasn't as whiny as in season 5. I liked Willow/Tara in this season too! Only i almost cried when tara died.
I was glad that Xander was the one in the end who brought Willow back to the side of good. Xander was always seen as useless, the one without superpowers, but here he got to shine🙂🙂
The "Trio" was cool but I got a bit fed up with them I must say...I couldn't STAND warren, not really sure why and Andrew is SUCH loser.... lol
So thats my opinion on season 6!!😀
Jaded Wolf
Going all Schoolyard
No you're not the only one. While I won't say "hate", a strong dislike of this season is how I feel. Don't get me wrong, I'll still watch it because it adds to the mythos but it's not one of my favorites. It was too serious this season and the whole Spike/Buffy dominatrix/rape angle sat a little uncomfortable with me. The few highlights of this season was the musical and when Willow ripped the skin off of Warren. There was just too much "down in the dumps" theme going on with this one. I know Joss' direction with it and why he did what he did but eh... The other good thing I can definetely say about this season is that it set up the foundation for a perfectly good season 7!
Kimz
Into every generation...
I loved series 6!
i can see how its a lot darker than the others, but thats not always a bad thing.
i think it got a lot of negative unfair reviews in terms of how dark joss made it compared to the other seasons, but i for one think its always great to constantly change something, makes it all the more exciting. Plus a lot of the other seasons are pretty light and easy going, its good to have some dark undertone now and then.
This season had a lot of awesome light hearted episodes as well tho thrown in...obv the musical and the likes of tabula rasa 🙂 so not all doom n gloom
i for one love this series...plus massive spuffy fan here haha...and james marsters pretty much naked, not a bad thing in my book 😉
x
i can see how its a lot darker than the others, but thats not always a bad thing.
i think it got a lot of negative unfair reviews in terms of how dark joss made it compared to the other seasons, but i for one think its always great to constantly change something, makes it all the more exciting. Plus a lot of the other seasons are pretty light and easy going, its good to have some dark undertone now and then.
This season had a lot of awesome light hearted episodes as well tho thrown in...obv the musical and the likes of tabula rasa 🙂 so not all doom n gloom
i for one love this series...plus massive spuffy fan here haha...and james marsters pretty much naked, not a bad thing in my book 😉
x
Lou
Scooby
Maybe my view is different because I'm with Spike, I don't think Buffy didn't love him. I think she DID, but she didn't want to for weird and obscure reasons that just make her Buffy.
Granted, I could be tainted by the fact that I adore Spike and Buffy was never one of my favorite characters.
Buffy always has this black and white way of looking at the world that doesn't work well in the real world and also doesn't work in her world. One where she's allowed to screw up and make mistakes, but the people around her shouldn't. She gets so miffed at Xander and Willow, even when they just didn't tell her that Angel asked them to look into the whole Ford thing in Season 2. She gets mad at Giles for not telling her about his past in "The Dark Age". She gets all upset at Jenny because of not telling her what she didn't even know about Angel and the curse. But, she can just up and LEAVE when her Mother doesn't deal well with the Slayer thing and act like a brat when she comes back and people are ticked. And lies when Angel comes back.
And this just GROWS for season upon season.
She was always so black and white about Angel too. Personally, I'd have been looking for the curse from Day ONE when he turned bad and certainly would have been looking for a patch for that loophole too. But, NOOOO.
I think Spike gave her what she wanted. He was good at giving space and not pushing when he knew he shouldn't. He was supportive and, even with her protests, he seemed to know what she wanted and needed.
You can't say that by Season 6...this wasn't a girl that needed SERIOUS THERAPY. World ending, aside, more therapy than Willow and/or Amy and maybe even Warren. There is a reason she let Spike in, and that was because he understood. That and he was the only one she felt like she could show she wasn't always "Miss I Do Everything Right" to. Not REALLY the only one, but in BUFFY'S mind, the only one.
I suppose I can see that, in a way. There are certainly things I would tell my friends that I wouldn't want to bop into the kid's school and tell their teachers. But, Buffy's issues were a BIT overblown. She seemed to WANT to see herself a certain way, Dawn a certain way, be totally blind to Willow's issues, and wanted to see Spike in one way...mostly being "EVIL" and looking past anything he'd ever done that was "good".
Personally, I think she DID love him...she just wouldn't admit it because she's a bit of a mental case and he didn't fit in her black and white world.
Maybe that's why I like the season so much. Because it's like it all hits the fan. While Buffy's not paying attention and not being honest about her insecurities about herself and refusing to see that not everyone is either all good or all evil, Xander's relationship goes down the toilet, Anya goes back to being a demon, Willow loses Tara, then goes absolutely nuts, and Buffy's not even on top of things to realize that maybe Warren should be at the TOP of her radar because he's actually insane.
I think the season is EXTREMELY representative of real life...minus she demons. It's some serious insight into what happens when you aren't honest with yourself and get so wrapped up in hiding your feelings that you're then blind to the world around you. Something Buffy, Willow, Xander and even Dawn are all guilty of in this season. It's a season about being honest and realizing your own faults. If they had, Buffy might have realized that Spike wasn't really "bad", that she wasn't supposed to be all perfect and strong all the time. Willow would have listened to Tara and eased off the magic. Xander would have been honest and talked to Anya about his feelings before the wedding. Dawn wouldn't have felt so ignored and started stealing. And Spike may have realized earlier that a soul might be a plan.
And, whether it ends up being a favorite of yours or not, I think it was necessary for the series to make it to season 7....and further.
Granted, I could be tainted by the fact that I adore Spike and Buffy was never one of my favorite characters.
Buffy always has this black and white way of looking at the world that doesn't work well in the real world and also doesn't work in her world. One where she's allowed to screw up and make mistakes, but the people around her shouldn't. She gets so miffed at Xander and Willow, even when they just didn't tell her that Angel asked them to look into the whole Ford thing in Season 2. She gets mad at Giles for not telling her about his past in "The Dark Age". She gets all upset at Jenny because of not telling her what she didn't even know about Angel and the curse. But, she can just up and LEAVE when her Mother doesn't deal well with the Slayer thing and act like a brat when she comes back and people are ticked. And lies when Angel comes back.
And this just GROWS for season upon season.
She was always so black and white about Angel too. Personally, I'd have been looking for the curse from Day ONE when he turned bad and certainly would have been looking for a patch for that loophole too. But, NOOOO.
I think Spike gave her what she wanted. He was good at giving space and not pushing when he knew he shouldn't. He was supportive and, even with her protests, he seemed to know what she wanted and needed.
You can't say that by Season 6...this wasn't a girl that needed SERIOUS THERAPY. World ending, aside, more therapy than Willow and/or Amy and maybe even Warren. There is a reason she let Spike in, and that was because he understood. That and he was the only one she felt like she could show she wasn't always "Miss I Do Everything Right" to. Not REALLY the only one, but in BUFFY'S mind, the only one.
I suppose I can see that, in a way. There are certainly things I would tell my friends that I wouldn't want to bop into the kid's school and tell their teachers. But, Buffy's issues were a BIT overblown. She seemed to WANT to see herself a certain way, Dawn a certain way, be totally blind to Willow's issues, and wanted to see Spike in one way...mostly being "EVIL" and looking past anything he'd ever done that was "good".
Personally, I think she DID love him...she just wouldn't admit it because she's a bit of a mental case and he didn't fit in her black and white world.
Maybe that's why I like the season so much. Because it's like it all hits the fan. While Buffy's not paying attention and not being honest about her insecurities about herself and refusing to see that not everyone is either all good or all evil, Xander's relationship goes down the toilet, Anya goes back to being a demon, Willow loses Tara, then goes absolutely nuts, and Buffy's not even on top of things to realize that maybe Warren should be at the TOP of her radar because he's actually insane.
I think the season is EXTREMELY representative of real life...minus she demons. It's some serious insight into what happens when you aren't honest with yourself and get so wrapped up in hiding your feelings that you're then blind to the world around you. Something Buffy, Willow, Xander and even Dawn are all guilty of in this season. It's a season about being honest and realizing your own faults. If they had, Buffy might have realized that Spike wasn't really "bad", that she wasn't supposed to be all perfect and strong all the time. Willow would have listened to Tara and eased off the magic. Xander would have been honest and talked to Anya about his feelings before the wedding. Dawn wouldn't have felt so ignored and started stealing. And Spike may have realized earlier that a soul might be a plan.
And, whether it ends up being a favorite of yours or not, I think it was necessary for the series to make it to season 7....and further.
R
Randy Giles
[No message]
LadyLavinia
Scooby
What does Angel possessing a soul have to do with Buffy's relationship with Spike in S6? If possession of a soul truly mattered to Buffy about whom she sleeps with . . . that only tells me that she had far to go in regard to becoming mature.
By the way, I believe that Season 6 was one of the better ones of the series. To be honest, Buffy's struggles on the road to maturity during Seasons 4-7 struck me as being more interesting than her foray into adolesence in the first three seasons.
Lou
Scooby
I disagree just for fun. I think of myself as quiet mature but having a soul is one of those pesky things I try to make sure is there before I sleep with someone. In fact, Spike probably wouldn't have made the cut for me...as much as I would like to say he would. I have a checklist!
Dinner (_)
Beer (_)
Kinda Cute (_)
Funny (_)
Doesn't Live In Cemetary (_)
Condoms (_)
Soul (_)
Nearby Burger King For Breakfast (_)
Rowan Hawthorn
Potential
Wanting the person you're sleeping with to not be a soulless, evil monster shows a lack of maturity? Man, that is so f***ed up.
Hey, for all you women out there who get restraining orders against your doper/gangbanger/abusive boyfriends: you ladies need to just grow up, already, and stand by your men.
Sheesh....
Elithustra
Be with the one you love
I think there were a lot of things in Season Six that were less than desirable. For me, the Glory story line wasn't all that crash hot. Tara's death. Don't even get me started on how much I strongly hated that.
I actually liked the whole Spike/Buffy thing, I think it had been coming for a long, long time! But thereagain, that's just me!
Rowan, I sincerely hope you're joking.
I actually liked the whole Spike/Buffy thing, I think it had been coming for a long, long time! But thereagain, that's just me!
Rowan, I sincerely hope you're joking.
There were some okay episodes of Season 6, such as the amazing musical they put together, kudos to the cast and crew for the musical, however most of the season that time was dark, darker than usual for Joss's taste in the world of Buffy. Dawn was threatened by peer pressure and was going crazy, along with Spike who tried to rape Buffy in the end. It was a mixed emotions, especially when they had Willow turn evil with ultimate power which if she was capable of doing that before, that means the only reason she didn't do any of that was because she had Tara. So when Tara was gone, all morality died with Willow at that point. Only Xander could have brought her back to the path of good. People seem to miss that point a lot when discussing this particular season, that if in fact Xander hadn't been there for Willow, Willow may have found a way to end if not the world then at least Sunnydale and begin to put doom on the rest of the world with her frustrations at not having Tara anymore. Tara was her balance, and as we all know, she lost that balance when Warren shot Buffy and the bullet went through and hit Tara. The gods Willow called forth to bring Tara back failed, now my question is, if she had that the first time when Buffy died by going through the force fields that electrocuded her (however that's spelled) why didn't she call upon Cyrus then? (I think that's right) to bring Buffy back, if she was that into the Wicca connection? She would have been able to save Buffy... or was that just done on purpose to throw everyone off?