My favorite season was season four because that was when I really started watching the show and truely enjoying it. I liked the previous seasons, but the Buffy/Angel relationship was just too much drama! Although I agree that the Initiative and Riely were crappy they helped set up for Characters like spike. And I think that Spike adds a much needed spice. I loved the art of the fourth season too. From the Fear, Itself epsiode to Something Blue, Hush, A New Man, Primeval, and Restless, they are such good episodes. The concepts of Hush and Restless were so interesting and I really enjoyed the whole season because fo them. Plus You have to think that all the things that you didn't liked just set up for things for the next seasons, which I think is ingeniouos of the shows writers...I guess thats just my two cents defending season four!