I'm curious what y'all feel are the strengths and weaknesses of the early and later seasons. Buffy has amazing continuity but it still feels like two different shows at times from the early years to the later. (By early seasons I mean the first 3 and later seasons I mean the last 3. I'm not sure where to include Season 4 since it was a transition year).
Scooby Dynamic - Although I love Anya and Tara, I prefer the Scooby dynamic from the high school years the most. Everyone seemed to be closer and I enjoyed the interrelationships between everyone more. Giles was also more prominent.
Romances - This is a tough one. I hate to be wishy washy but I honestly can't choose.
Individual Character Development - The later seasons win hands down. I feel we get to know all the core characters as individuals much better than we did in the early years. Although there is still relationship drama, this doesn't overshadow individual development like I feel it did early on.
Season Big BadsWhile I find the villains of the later seasons much more menacing, I prefer the early seasons' big bads because I grew emotionally attached to them and they were more fun to watch.
Writing - I think I prefer the writing lineup of the early Seasons. Overall the show seemed to have more direction and was more cohesive.
Stand Alone Episodes I feel the early seasons suffered from the "monster of the week" disposable villains far too often making many episodes too forgettable (Bad Eggs)while the later seasons actually made enough significant character evolvements during those stand alones to warrant them meaning something.
Special Effects/Film Quality - The special effects and film quality of the later seasons is so much more superior to the early seasons that it makes me wish Buffy had had a much larger budget early on.
SettingsI prefer the hangouts of the Library and high school to the Magic Box and Buffy's house but that might just be nostalgia.
Likability of the CharactersI find all of the characters more likable, sympathetic and admirable in the early seasons. Too many of them make choices in the later seasons that, while understandable, hurt my admiration for them.
I wanted to watch Buffy since I first heard of it in 1998 but didn't have cable so I began watching it in 2001 when it moved to UPN (which my local channels got for some reason). It also began airing reruns on the weekends so I began watching Seasons 1,3 and 6 all at the same time. Some people seem to prefer the era that they began watching the show in but that can't really apply to me.
Scooby Dynamic - Although I love Anya and Tara, I prefer the Scooby dynamic from the high school years the most. Everyone seemed to be closer and I enjoyed the interrelationships between everyone more. Giles was also more prominent.
Romances - This is a tough one. I hate to be wishy washy but I honestly can't choose.
Individual Character Development - The later seasons win hands down. I feel we get to know all the core characters as individuals much better than we did in the early years. Although there is still relationship drama, this doesn't overshadow individual development like I feel it did early on.
Season Big BadsWhile I find the villains of the later seasons much more menacing, I prefer the early seasons' big bads because I grew emotionally attached to them and they were more fun to watch.
Writing - I think I prefer the writing lineup of the early Seasons. Overall the show seemed to have more direction and was more cohesive.
Stand Alone Episodes I feel the early seasons suffered from the "monster of the week" disposable villains far too often making many episodes too forgettable (Bad Eggs)while the later seasons actually made enough significant character evolvements during those stand alones to warrant them meaning something.
Special Effects/Film Quality - The special effects and film quality of the later seasons is so much more superior to the early seasons that it makes me wish Buffy had had a much larger budget early on.
SettingsI prefer the hangouts of the Library and high school to the Magic Box and Buffy's house but that might just be nostalgia.
Likability of the CharactersI find all of the characters more likable, sympathetic and admirable in the early seasons. Too many of them make choices in the later seasons that, while understandable, hurt my admiration for them.
I wanted to watch Buffy since I first heard of it in 1998 but didn't have cable so I began watching it in 2001 when it moved to UPN (which my local channels got for some reason). It also began airing reruns on the weekends so I began watching Seasons 1,3 and 6 all at the same time. Some people seem to prefer the era that they began watching the show in but that can't really apply to me.
