I Think the 6th Season Was Best

[Afterthebattle]

One element I do find odd is this sudden trust she has of Spike, I cannot understand why she feels able to confide in Spike, but not in Giles.

The way I see it, Buffy confides in Spike because he is the only one who understands what she's gone through ("done it myself" as he comments in After Life). Perhaps she relates to him more? He is not dead, nor truly alive, which could reflect how she feels inside.

 

[Yosso]

Season 6 has always been my go-to season, the season I most empathise and relate to on an emotional level simply because it is so hard hitting, life can be very hard and messy and complicated, not just in the demon-hunting kind of way, also in the sort of way the audience can relate to as well. To me, S6 expressed that poignantly.

Artistically I wouldn't say it is the best - I'd give that award to S5, followed by S2, but for me it works - it's a marmite season I'd say.

 

[Living Dead Boy]

Season 6 was the very first season I started watching. I caught the last moments of "The Gift", and I was crying like a baby when Buffy died. (Well, technically I was a baby when I first saw this episode, I was like, 10. 🙂) So I caught the last two seasons while they were originally on the air. So, a tiny part of my love for season 6 is due to nostalgia, but let me tell you, I have never felt more connected, and more understood, than I do while watching this season. It's messy, it's complicated, it's life.

Buffy's depression hit home from the moment I saw it. I was going through a tumultuous time when I was a kid, and even though my small little brain couldn't understand the depths of pain that Buffy went through, in my own little way, I got it. Fast forward to the present, and with me finally being a grown adult in my early twenties, the season hits even harder. People don't have to like it. People are entitled to feel however they want to about this season. But for me, it makes me feel like I'm not alone in this world. And that's all that matters.

 

[danajsparks]

I haven't watched S6 in a long time, so I can't say much, specifically, about it. But I remember it really resonating with me when I watched it for the first time. (The season was already available on DVD, so I could watch it all at once.)

I was feeling generally depressed and overwhelmed with life at the time. I had recently returned from a year abroad and I was dealing with reverse culture shock, kind of like Buffy. And I was in the process of ending a serious relationship with my ex-boyfriend because he didn't want to get married, kind of like Xander and Anya. And, though I thankfully wasn't dealing with a serious addiction, I still really identified with Willow's darkness and her sense of lack of control in her life.

 

[ladydorotea]

One element I do find odd is this sudden trust she has of Spike, I cannot understand why she feels able to confide in Spike, but not in Giles.

Because confiding in Spike is about as meaningful, and therefore as embarrassing and painful, as confiding in Holden. (The S7 vampire who is 'there to kill you, not to judge you.') Buffy does confide in Giles at the very end of season 6 when she is no longer feeling the need to punish herself with Spike as animated personification of everything that is wrong with her, and is able to laugh at the idea.

Btw, I never bought it that S6 was 'life' or that it could actually help anybody to overcome depression etc. If anything, it gives absolutely wrong, as in glorified and tempting, idea of self-flagellation and self-mutilation - that will suddenly bring you through triumphant - as a solution. I very much prefer Breaking Bad S2 take on the topic. ( Jane gets herself to be dead, not dark and glorious. Etc)

 

[Kean]

I find S6 almost unwatchable. Many people have suggested that those who don't like S6 feel this way because they cannot relate to the themes or the issues the characters go through, but for me it is exactly the opposite. I can't stand S6 because I have already lived a version of it in my own and life and doing so again with Buffy was unbearable. For me the season was relatable in a way that was isolating rather than comforting. Even all these years later, the season still feels that way to me when I catch random episodes on TV. S6 probably isn't the worst season but it is definitely the one I'd remove from the canon or redo if I had the choice.

 

[ladydorotea]

Every one of us , unless very unlucky has to deal with loss of our parents. Every one of us, unless very lucky has to deal with coping with fail and loss and just being not perfect and not always a winner. It does not nearly equate with being a victim of sexual assault. Seriously. Having to cope with being normal has nothing to do with not being nearly raped.

---------- Post added at 11:36 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:35 PM ----------

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[Blaze]

Btw, I never bought it that S6 was 'life' or that it could actually help anybody to overcome depression etc. If anything, it gives absolutely wrong, as in glorified and tempting, idea of self-flagellation and self-mutilation - that will suddenly bring you through triumphant - as a solution. I very much prefer Breaking Bad S2 take on the topic. ( Jane gets herself to be dead, not dark and glorious. Etc)

To each their own. S6 will have at least helped one person out there, which is better than none.

Although, I disagree that it glorifies self-mutilation (destructive behaviour, call it whatever you want). Everyone in s6 ends up miserable, and consequences are felt in s7 where the group is fractured and the dynamic fragile. This is not what I call a happy ending. Buffy doesn't come out triumphant in s6, actually I'd debate that this is the first season where she truly loses.

 

[SiegePerilous02]

I think one of the major problems I have with season 6 is that I really like the basic idea of Buffy struggling with depression. However, for the most part it isn't handled in a very realistic way.

Being ripped from heaven is certainly more than enough to trigger a depressive episode in Buffy. When you add on her mother's death and pretty much the general quality of her life up until that point, it's surprising she hasn't sunken into a depressive funk already. But dealing with depression isn't as simple as just having a moment of clarity and deciding you love life again, as Buffy did in the season finale. It's a lifelong struggle that often needs to be treated with medication; and not just a universal type of medication either, there are many different kinds and it takes serious trial and error to find the right type, and the proper dosage. And even then, it primarily functions to take the edge off so you can deal with the depression yourself. A more realistic take on the subject would have been to have Buffy actually get some professional therapy for once; she couldn't reveal the Slayer stuff but plenty of other factors are universal enough that she could have shared (Joyce dying, Riley leaving, suddenly being responsible for the well being of a teenager, etc.). It would have been far less insulting to the viewer's intelligence than that scene with Dawn in "Grave."

It also seems the writers wanted to tackle the subject of addiction, and so they dumped the asinine "Willow is on drugs" crap at out feet. If they wanted addiction to be covered, they could have used Buffy: depression and addiction often come hand in hand, particularly alcoholism. Making Buffy an alcoholic (or another kind of addiction that wasn't Spike's penis) would have added another layer to her arc, and freed up Willow's storyline to return to the far more interesting exploration of her becoming arrogant in the use of her power. Two birds, one stone.

Alas, it was not to be, and we got what we got.

 

[Joan the Vampire Slayer]

season 6 is also my favorite. 🙂

 

[bespangeled]

I have just been watching the early season 6 episodes again, first time in years, except for the bargaining two,which are just scene setters to me where nothing much happens except Buffy is brought back in a long protracted sequence.

The 3 episodes after that at least so far, having just rewatched them, Buffy/SMG does a great job setting up the depression arc, its not just depression, but existential despair. She is facing the complete meaninglessness of existence after having done what she felt completed her existence at the end of season 5. First they have to face the demons they raised by bringing her back. Next, she finds herself "flooded" with life's inane everyday responsibilities. Then she faces the monotony of various jobs trying to find a place for herself in Life Serial. You may not like that they decided to do this in season 6, but I think you can say they executed it very well, particularly during this phase of the series.

One element I do find odd is this sudden trust she has of Spike, I cannot understand why she feels able to confide in Spike, but not in Giles. Yes, I can understand why she mistrusts the scoobies a little bit for bringing her back, and she can't unload on Dawn. But, with Giles? Maybe it goes back to the argument they had end of season 5, where Giles wanted to consider the option that they may have to kill Dawn. Other than that it could simply be a matter of they had to find ways to distance Giles from the storyline due to him not being able to act as much on Buffy during this season.

I too am one who has liked this season compared to some others. I love the emotional roller coaster of it. I find myself watching getting angry at Willow at various points because of her childish naivety about her use and abuse of magic. I feel for Buffy and what she is going through. And I love the reconciliation at the end between Xander and Willow. Human vulnerability on full display. It gets me emotionally involved. It was something different from the usual imperturbable hero-types, it made a refreshing change. Yes, it meant Buffy had to take on almost a supporting role towards the end, due to the power of Willow. But this was all part of what season 6 was about. Power was not going to be the solution to the depth of problems they had got tangled in this time. It took rather Mercy and Forgiveness.

When she died, Giles had told her he would kill Dawn if he had to. She had Spike swear to protect Dawn no matter what happened- make a promise to a lady. So those issues predate Buffy rising - before she died she trusted Spike and was at odds with Giles.

When she was brought back, I think there were too many repercussions in letting any scoobs know about heaven. Also, Spike had a good handle on the situation. He didn't order pizza or keep asking her if she was happy, or bug her. Giles was helping her so she wanted to stay strong for him.

Spike just let her talk, and he listened. Until OMWF they had a good friendship - and I agree that it was a whisper in a dead man's ear and that didn't make it real. She could talk to Spike simply because she wasn't worried about how he would take it. While she relied on him she never seemed to worry that she had to protect him like she had to protect Giles and the others.

---------- Post added at 10:24 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:13 PM ----------

Every one of us , unless very unlucky has to deal with loss of our parents. Every one of us, unless very lucky has to deal with coping with fail and loss and just being not perfect and not always a winner. It does not nearly equate with being a victim of sexual assault. Seriously. Having to cope with being normal has nothing to do with not being nearly raped.

---------- Post added at 11:36 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:35 PM ----------

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Agreed. But every one of us is unlikely to have a friend murder, get shot, killed and brought back by a vengeful witch on a power trip. Attempted rape apparently was not the biggest trauma of the day for Buffy.

I've dealt with sexual assault in many ways and on many levels. I also had a friend senselessly murdered, and that hurt one helluva lot too. I didn't die or watch a friend torture someone to death but Buffy did. I really wish that those important events were also dealt with as far as Buffy's state of mind is concerned.

 

[RWTSB]

What I love about season 6 is the directions in realistic themes. It explored it realistically and vividly. Every character development grew with time, realistic themes to show understandings of the responsibilities of true life. The deep philosophy of the mind is really profound in the directions of the distinctive characteristic of the mind and mental activity in this season. One of the main reasons why this season is considerable dark, because it deals with depression and anxiety really profoundly and realistic. 🙂 BTW I love the darkness. 🙂

 

[Fuffy Baith]

The 6th season ranks somewhere in between with s4 for me. Both have flaws but I find both very funny overall. To comment on Buffy dealing with situations. I think that she should have been a little bit hesitant towards Xander. It may not have been him but like Angelus, he still wears the same face and she knows how he feels about her. Same thing with the frat boys. She was drugged and offered as a sacrifice to a snake. DRUGGED! Anything could have happened, she could have been actually raped then. She wasn't in control and that should have scared her a bit. The scene in Go Fish I guess is different because they were monsters and I think she thought she was in control of the situation. I agree that we should have focused on Buffy's reaction to the Spike AR scene. I think they just should it from his POV to set up the whole reason why he needed to get a soul.

We've seen Buffy deal with emotional situations before in 'When She Was Bad' and 'Anne'. I think the whole point of her returning in 'Anne' is to say that she has accepted that no matter how crappy her life is and what happens to her, she can't just run away or give into her emotions because people will get hurt. In her mind it doesn't do the world any good if she is struggling emotionally. She has to save the world and doesn't have time to properly deal with things. Is it unrealistic, yea, but after having to kill Angel she has just learned to deal with things by not really dealing with them. Because what's the point in moping around if the world is going to end tomorrow. I think that's how Buffy looks at things. With the AR scene she probably could have been more disturbed or upset (not sure what the word is) when Xander finds her. But then she has to deal with The Trio and then she gets shot and Tara dies and Dark Willow, so there wasn't really any time to deal. Like I said she has to put saving the world ahead of her problems. It just comes across wrong though. Perhaps if Buffy stated that it affected her but she doesn't have time to deal with it, we would have bought it more. And for all we know she did deal with it during the break between s6 and s7.

 

[MarlieTheSlayer]

Season 6 is not my favourite season, but definitely one of my favs. It had to grow on me, but now I really like it. Sure is has his flaws, but I really prefer this over season 7. I like how the show finally became a little bit darker and that the ''big bad'' was life itself.

The spuffy scenes still freak me out though 😱
I remember watching it for the first time when I was 10/11 years old and didn't understand why Buffy was sleeping with the bad vampire 😀

 

[YummySushiPJs]

I've always liked season 6, I find it exciting and watchable, even though it's depressing a lot of the time. I like the mix of characters in season 6, with Tara playing a slightly larger role although sadly Anya deteriorates in this season becoming little more than comic relief for most of it.