Do you think Btvs is the greatest show ever?

[Washburne]

As always I ramble too much and my thoughts go everywhere.

Most of us is here because of this show, one way or another. But how do you rank it and why? You see it as the best show ever, does it make your top 5, top 10? Do you make it a logical or emotional (I love it hence it's (one of) the best ever) decision?

Liking or loving a show isn't the same as thinking it's the best ever. But it can be. Where do you stand? As most fans we want others to see the greatness that we do. Maybe not the whole world but isn't it a great feeling to get a sceptical hooked on the show? How do you feel when people refuse to watch it for what ever reason or if they do give it a chance and still don't like it? No big deal, they're idiots, you take it as an insult (how can they not appreciate something this great)?

What make a show great? What make Btvs great? Is a show great even if you only love (really love) half of the seasons/episodes?

Story?
Dialogue?
Characters?
How the actors portray the characters? Because lets be honest. No matter how great a character is written without an actor doing it justice it's nothing.
The chemistry between the actors?
Special effects? Depending on what kind of show. Would Avatar be considered so great if it wasn't for the special effects?
The directing?
How hot the actors are?
Consistency in quality?
The settings?

The possible reasons can be a lot more and I want you to mention more even if it isn't what's most important for you.

One thing about Btvs seem clear. If this board is any indication the show is far from perfect. There's load of things we dislike or even hate. Be it characters, relationships, events/actions or even whole seasons. I guess it comes from wanting what we love to be perfect. But do we want perfect? What would perfect mean? It sure wouldn't be the same for everyone. Is not being perfect a part that make a show great? In the way of always getting what we want. How interesting would a show be if it all the time went the way you wanted? You want it to give you emotions don't you? How many/much "bad" things before it outweighs, even if just a little, what you love about the show?

I love Btvs. I do. It's not my favourite show and I wouldn't say it's the best show of all time. I can't guarantee that it would make my current top 5 list of best shows but it's still in my top 10. Not a very popular thing to say around a place like this. But does it have to be "if it isn't your top choice I'll look down on you" which sometimes seem to be the case. Just because I think some other shows are better it doesn't mean that I think Btvs is bad. Huge, huge difference.

 

[sisterofmercy]

It's definitely in my top 3. It's a show that I can watch repeatedly and not get bored, only Stargate and Friends can do that for me really. Plus I like the characters for the most part and you can relate to the characters as they grow up quite a bit. I watch TV to escape, so anything that allows me to do that completely is a perfect show for me. It doesn't have to be amazing or anything, it just has to keep my interest (I have a very short attention span).

 

[Username]

Buffy The Vampire Slayer is my favorite TV show, and I do think it's the greatest show that I have ever seen. There are things and events in the show that I am not that fond of but as a whole I think it's excellent, I love the dialogue and the characters.. and I don't how to explain it, I've seen lots of other shows but most of them, no disrespect to people here who likes them, but shows like OneTreeHill, OC, Gossip Girl or whatever, they're so empty... Buffy's not.
I'm a big fan of plenty of other series but Btvs is safe on top.

 

[Skanky Vamp]

It is not quite in my top ten.. the thing that would put it on my top list is definitely the dialogue and the speed at which it is delivered.

 

[VisionGirl]

Buffy The Vampire Slayer is my favorite TV show, and I do think it's the greatest show that I have ever seen. There are things and events in the show that I am not that fond of but as a whole I think it's excellent, I love the dialogue and the characters.. and I don't how to explain it, I've seen lots of other shows but most of them, no disrespect to people here who likes them, but shows like OneTreeHill, OC, Gossip Girl or whatever, they're so empty... Buffy's not.
I'm a big fan of plenty of other series but Btvs is safe on top.

I have to say that I agree. BTVS/ATS just combine soooo many great elements...suspense, humor, great dialogue, great acting, fantastic storylines, action, use of language, use of music, ponderings about the nature of life/purpose/the soul/family/friendship, etc. I like a lot of different shows for different reasons, but it's hard to find television that really combines all of those things together. That's not to say that I think every moment of the 8 years of shows is fabulous, that would be too much to ask. 🙂 But clearly so much of it is. And I think that's a rarity.

(Just to let you know, other shows that I think are great & that I've been a huge fan of: M*A*S*H, ER, Friends, Will & Grace, Law & Order SVU, Hill Street Blues, Sex & the City, Sopranos, etc)

 

[Skanky Vamp]

BTVS just combine soooo many great elements...suspense, humor, great dialogue, great acting, fantastic storylines, action, use of language, use of music, ponderings about the nature of life/purpose/the soul/family/friendship, etc. I like a lot of different shows for different reasons, but it's hard to find television that really combines all of those things together.

The problem though, in my eyes, is when you have so many great elements you dont have a strength in either one. I never got the suspense part, it did have humorous bits but it wasnt "funny", i mentioned the dialogue in my previous post, I never thought the acting was great (there may have been great performances but the acting as a whole was not great), the storylines were not fantastic when you compare them to similar genre shows, the action was secondary, the use of language goes back to dialogue... I think the show tried to be everything, and it ultimately failed to crack my top 10 as a result. Excluding the dialogue which I would say is second to only one other show.

 

[StarSlayer]

As much as I love BtVS and do think it is a brilliant show, I can't say it's the greatest show ever. Personally, on a critical level, I don't like to rate something as "The Best Movie Ever," or "The Best TV Show Ever," because something new always comes along that could be just as great. That doesn't mean it undermines the value of other films/shows that came before it, just that it expands upon the creative process. However, I will say this. BtVS is one of the greatest shows ever and definitely in my top 5! 😀

 

[TheVoid68]

^Out of interest, which show?

In answer to the OP, I would not say that BtVS is the greatest show ever. That title would have to go to Doctor Who.

 

[Marisa]

Buffy and Angel definitely make my top five list. Do I think it is the best show ever nope. I don't think any show can really be the best there is always going to be that one thing.
I have another show or two that are tied with these two so it isn't my all time favorite but it is pretty close.

 

[Goby]

Story? Yes! The writing is good from Season 1 through Season 2.5, then it hits AMAZING!!! Sure, there were a few bumps (like Kennedy), and bad episodes here and there (Beer Bad/Caveman), but at least 95% of the shows after Season 2.5 are AMAZING!

Dialogue? Great!

Characters? Outstanding!!!! The show went from "Monster of the Week" to character driven episodes. That's why there are so many Bangle/Tillow/Killow/Spuffy/Ruffy threads. That's why SMG's absolute HOTNESS really isn't relevant after Season 1... we love Buffy for all her traits, both good and bad. Same with all the other characters.

How the actors portray the characters? All the actors are amazing except Xander. He was not a great actor, but with such amazing stories and lines, he's still a great character. I love Anya and Xander and bought their love completely. Every actor with the exception of Xander and Kennedy was great.

The chemistry between the actors? The Season 6 finale would have never worked if there was no chemistry between Xander and Willow. Same with Bangle, Spuffy, and Tillow. Is there any doubt that Tara and Willow loved each other? Their first kiss brought tears to my eyes and is one of the best small or big screen kisses EVER!

Special effects? Wow cares? I hated the CGI of the snake, but besides that, it was the story that made the show.

The directing? Amazing!

How hot the actors are? Buffy is a 10+, yet when I see her, I see strength, courage, loyalty to friends and family, and fearlessness. Her beauty was nice in Season 1, but by Season 2, I didn't care. I love Buffy for her innards.

Willow OTOH, is stunningly beautiful. Yes, I love Willow and I'm not afraid to admit it. 🙂. Anya is hot too. And Joyce (yes, I'm that old!) and Jenny are yummy too. But Willow...... wow!!

Consistency in quality? 95% of the episodes were great, and BtVS NEVER jumped the shark.

The settings? I can't complain when one of the mausoleums is name "ALPERT," which is my last name. The library was great, so was the Magic Box.



The only shows that come close are The Simpsons, which from Season 2 through Season 12 was absolutely brilliant on soooooo many levels. Talk about character development.... Simpsons fans intimately know 25+ characters (probably more). It's a show that my son's 9 year old brain loves on one level, and my doctorate degree mind loves on another level.

Everybody Loves Raymond never jumped the shark either. Neither did Seinfeld. But neither of them had that little something extra that BtVS and The Simpsons have.

Greatest show ever? Certainly in my top two.

Oh, and Willow is hot.

 

[dan k]

Its definately up there for me. The way i can watch the show over and over again in such a short space of time tells me how great it is. In terms of coming out and saying its the greatest, i think it is hard to make that sort of a statement.

It probably is my favourite show but that doesn't mean i see it as the greatest. I watched Buffy as it aired so i don't know if i would have watched it as quickly on DVD like i did with perhaps more addictive shows like Prison Break and 24.

 

[Washburne]

As much as I love BtVS and do think it is a brilliant show, I can't say it's the greatest show ever. Personally, on a critical level, I don't like to rate something as "The Best Movie Ever," or "The Best TV Show Ever," because something new always comes along that could be just as great.

What if we add "... so far"? 😉
I definitely see your point and I'll write more below.

Buffy and Angel definitely make my top five list. Do I think it is the best show ever nope. I don't think any show can really be the best there is always going to be that one thing.

I don't disagree. But it can be your favourite or what you consider to be the best show you've ever seen. And as I continue with later, having something as a favourite doesn't have to be the same as to what you regard to be best.

What got me thinking about this was the fan(atic) thread. To exaggerate is a common way to show your appriciation and I often feel I hear people saying that Btvs is the best show ever. Not that I think it's wrong to think that. Just curious about if it's how people really feel or if it's just their way to show appriciation. I admit that negative comments about Twilight fans helped.

To me (I don't expect people to like it) there's differences between to what I enjoy or what I think is the best or just simply be good. Take the *insert one of hundreds titles* Movies for example. I can get if people find them funny, enjoyable or call them their favourite movie/movies. But when people use words like amazing and greatest while describing them I want to have a fit. Not their fault but that's why I want to know how people really feel about Buffy. Because honestly. I don't think many Buffyfans are much better than the Twilightfans they claim to hate. Just a different perspective, not even close in numbers and with that less vocal in the big picture.


No wonder people say I'm too literal and think too much huh? 😉

 

[Skanky Vamp]

To me (I don't expect people to like it) there's differences between to what I enjoy or what I think is the best or just simply be good.

I completely agree! There is some complete trash that I read and watch- I like it, but would never classify it as great or good. Entertaining, yes, and I think Buffy falls into this category. Not the trash part, the entertaining but not great part. As far as entertaining it would deffo be in my top ten, probably even five.

 

[Gotham]

It will always have a special place in my heart (Angel too) but I can't say with honesty that it's my favourite show. Lost and The Sopranos are the ones fighting it out for that Top Spot. 😉

Honestly? Had Buffy ended with Season 5 it would be a much closer battle. I find a lot of things about S6 and S7 so frustrating and that kind of lessens the show in my eyes.

 

[Kean]

Honestly? Had Buffy ended with Season 5 it would be a much closer battle. I find a lot of things about S6 and S7 so frustrating and that kind of lessens the show in my eyes.

Pretty much.

To answer TK's question: no, Buffy isn't the greatest show ever. Not to my estimation anyway.

A big reason for that is what Gotham said above. I still think it was fantastic, stunning even, at times. But I couldn't put my hand on my heart and say it was the best.

 

[Washburne]

There are times though where I am one of those exaggerated fans, just for fun! 😀

For fun or not, most fans are. I'm very well aware that I'm the boring (hey exaggerating is fun) guy in minority. What most often bug me though isn't that people exaggerate per say (even if I at times can find it very annoying) but when they often do and when go out and complain about people doing the same thing. Just about things they don't like.

 

[Icarium]

I think The Wire is far better than BtVS, although it's a much closer race if we ignore S5-7. But BtVS is much more fun to discuss. 🙂

 

[Goby]

As I said above, I absolutely love Buffy. But is it "GREAT" in the sense of one of mankind's greatest pieces of art? Will we be watching it in 50, 100, or 200 years? Probably not.

I don't think any television show can be classified as "GREAT" (as defined above). But maybe I'm wrong? If so, "The Body" and "Once More, With Feeling" may be viewed in a "History of Television" class at Harvard in 100 years, along with episodes of I Love Lucy, All in the Family, The Simpson's and Seinfeld. Luckily "Lost" will be long forgotten.

Star Wars, Lord of the Rings Trilogy, Titanic, and Avatar may have been great, but did they affect your soul? They didn't for me.

The GREAT movies I have seen, that have had a profound effect on my life, and helped shape my soul, life, and career, include (without thinking much):

Schindler's List
Platoon
For Whom the Bell Tolls
Map of the Human Heart
The Accused (has a very graphic rape scene that taught me the horrors of rape and caused me to fight for victims of sexual assault in my practice)
Philadelphia (Same thing, but with victims of AIDS)
Murderball

ok... now that I think about.... "The Body" was GREAT. 16 years ago I was Buffy when my grandfather died.

 

[PrincessBuffy16]

Yes. I do. It's my number one favourie tv show.

 

[Taake]

Once upon a time I would have said that it was my favorite show ever. Right around when I first started watching it and for a few years there after... so about 12 years ago that is give or take 🙂

And though Buffy will forever hold a very special place in my heart and remains one of my favorites (almost no other show has left an impact this big, I mean I'm still here talking about it, watching it aren't I? 🙂) I wouldn't say it's the best show ever anymore.

But Buffy has a heart. The show that is. There's something so genuine about it, that with the dialogue and the character chemistries there's no need for big flashy special effects. The show can stand on its own because it tells a good story (that I may or may not always agree with) and that is to me what makes it great. Still makes it great, years later, even though it certainly has its flaws.





(Btw to me the best show ever is Twin Peaks 🙂)