Question Season 4: Worst Season Ever?

On the whole it's the most disappointing season, I would say. The combination of Angel leaving and the scoobies moving to a new era of their lives, it was bound to be a little lack luster in comparison with all of the other seasons. But there were definite high points. Pangs, Superstar, Hush, Faith's return... Great episodes, great story that needed to be told. The season was transitory for all characters which is neccessary because they aren't in high school anymore, so they had to go to a new place that was totally different then what they had done before. There were bound to be some growing pains.

On the whole it wasn't the best season, but it's Buffy... so even Buffy's not-so-great is better than most other series' "good seasons" 😛
 
I love Season 4!!

I used to think it was "the worst" season too. (Of course, even "the worst" season of Buffy is better than most television lol) But now? Nooooo. There are so many great, hilarious episodes in it and I love seeing the Scoobies transition in college. I'm not a big fan of the Initiative or the Adam plot either, but seriously, once you get past that, the rest of the season is easily one of the most enjoyable! 😀
 
I think this season was ok. My personal worst is season 5. I didn't like anything about it, not the storylines or cast. I'm not a big fan of the character Riley.
 
I think Adam and the whole army thing ruined it. I liked Buffy when it was more Gothic and Vampirey. Not guns, shiny labs and camo.
 
I didn't mind it, it's not a favourite, but I don't hate it either. It's got some great standalone episodes. I don't really like the arcs - the Initiative or Spike's chip, but there are some great comedy moments
 
I like season 4. I like the whole college atmosphere and it's got some really good episodes like Living Conditions, Hush, and some other great ones. 🙂
 
I think for me personally season four is my least favourite because it disappointed me a lot. I started getting into Buffy at the beginning of season two having not been a religous watcher during season 1. I really enjoyed both seasons 2 & 3 and by the end of season 3 I was properly hooked. So inevitabley I was excited about watching season four. Although when it came on I missed the dynamics of the old scooby gang and didn't much like Riley or the use of the government as a story line. I think it strays to far from the originality of Buffy's before which have a more darker, things go bump in the night kinda thing. However, I do agree that there are some very good episodes, Hush being one of my fave. But on the opposite hand for me personally there are some that disappoint me. I am going to go back an re watch Season 4 for a third time and see how I feel. 🙂
 
Season 4 is my favorite season, but my second favorite is Season 6 so what do I know?

I don't really rate seasons on their plot or the overall season- I rate them thinking of each individual episode. And I think Season 4 had the most good episodes, and they were the best of the good. Hush, Something Blue, Pangs, Fear Itself... they were what made the season for me. Even if I didn't like Riley, Adam, The Initiative, or the plot (which I didn't) the episodes were engaging and funny and irresistable. Win.
 
I've always enjoyed season 4, while it does have its definite weak points I think it does have some of the best individual episodes of the entire series, Hush (this is in my top 5 eps) Something blue, doomed, harsh light of day, primeval and restless. The college years are where most shows that center around high school kids will falter and lose both their appeal and their core audiences. Yet the season was good enough to survive this problem and continue for three more great seasons. Was anyone else aware that the first idea for the season 4 big bad was actually Parker? Apparently his father was originally supposed to be the deputy mayor (the one that Faith killed) and he was supposed to get all vengeful when he found out that Buffy had been involved in his death.
 
ticonderouga said:
Was anyone else aware that the first idea for the season 4 big bad was actually Parker? Apparently his father was originally supposed to be the deputy mayor (the one that Faith killed) and he was supposed to get all vengeful when he found out that Buffy had been involved in his death.
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Never knew this, where did you hear it?
 
My friend bought the first 2 seasons of Buffy today at HMV, and she told me that the guy there was telling her how awesome Buffy is, but he also said season 4 is the worse one. 😛
 
Am I the only one who friggen loves Adam (and Riley)? I thought he was a clever use of the Frankenstein's to highlight the anxiety of a young adult fresh out of the world (except not quite). The Scoobies are learning about the wider world with aimlessness, Adam is learning about the wider world with complete precision and focus. The best antagonists reflect your protagonists, and Adam was a dangerous lethal creature who understood his exact purpose in life as the Scooby's were realizing they didn't know theirs.

Adam's probably the best example of "young adult problems by way of horror metaphor" in the series. He's pure Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

ticonderouga said:
Was anyone else aware that the first idea for the season 4 big bad was actually Parker? Apparently his father was originally supposed to be the deputy mayor (the one that Faith killed) and he was supposed to get all vengeful when he found out that Buffy had been involved in his death.
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Wh...really? I'd like to hear more about this/read a source.
 
I Would Agree About It Not Being The Worst Just My Least Favorite. I Didnt Really Like Riley All That Much. But We Were Introduced To Tara And That Became Tillow And It Was All Good Right There. I also Loved The Finale.
 
Harlan, Nightshade it was on the commentary track for season 4, both Whedon and Jane Espensen mention it in two different eps. I'm pretty sure its in the commentary for Harsh Light of Day and I want to say Hush but I could be wrong. Its been awhile since I watched the commentaries and special features but it may have been in the Season 4 recap as well. IIRC, There were two different camps, one that thought it would be a great idea a sort of sins of your past coming back to haunt you. Then there was the faction that thought it might look too much like season 2, and look like they were retreading arcs. The main draw back to Adam was the sheer cost, and after spending a large portion of their SFX budget on Hush they simply couldn't develop Adam enough for him to be as interesting as previous and later big bads.
 
ticonderouga said:
Harlan, Nightshade it was on the commentary track for season 4, both Whedon and Jane Espensen mention it in two different eps. I'm pretty sure its in the commentary for Harsh Light of Day and I want to say Hush but I could be wrong. Its been awhile since I watched the commentaries and special features but it may have been in the Season 4 recap as well. IIRC, There were two different camps, one that thought it would be a great idea a sort of sins of your past coming back to haunt you. Then there was the faction that thought it might look too much like season 2, and look like they were retreading arcs. The main draw back to Adam was the sheer cost, and after spending a large portion of their SFX budget on Hush they simply couldn't develop Adam enough for him to be as interesting as previous and later big bads.
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Thanks for the info!

(Even if I'd still put Adam in my top three)
 
Really? I loved s4. s7 is my absolute least favorite, but I won't get in to why here. I'd rank s4 in my top three. My favorite is s6, then s2, then s4, I think. It changes a lot. I love that we meet Tara, and Riley, and I actually like the Initiative. I don't like Spike in this season, but let's be real. When do I ever? I hate that Angel's gone, but I love the crossovers. I love that Buffy's out on her own, living with Willow, and I love the path Xander takes. They both kinda show my life... Part time college, part/full time employment. (I take what I can get lol)

Honestly, I think Adam wasn't explored enough. I wish they had introduced him earlier and used him better. I think he was a really cool Big Bad, but all he did was hide and wait for Buffy to come to him. Why not have a gang of vamps bring a bunch of people parts to him, and start manufacturing more than just himself and Forrest as those super beasts? Make it really hard for Buffy to fight them? In terms of potential, I think this show doesn't make the Big Bads scary enough. There's always a way that Buffy can defeat them, y'know? But I thought Adam was one of the scarier ones.
 
I think a big reason season 4 gets a bad reputation is because it's a big transitional season where things are constantly changing.

In the first half they followed the formula they established in the previous 3 seasons by integrating school (or in Xander's case making is way in the real world) in the characters' lives. Then just as they were starting to hit a good stride they transition into the Adam story arc and all but abandon college, setting up the atmosphere for future seasons where Sunnydale seems like it has more demons and mystical beings than it does normal people. Basically everyone can find something about it they don't like.

Personally I don't mind season 4, though I wish they kept college as an important part of the show. The Initiative was an interesting concept and it answered the question about how much the government knew of the supernatural world. It would have been better if they took some more time to build and develop them while still keeping them a secondary organization, perhaps continuing them into the 5th season and have them/Adam as the big bad instead of bringing in Dawn. Anyways, even though they did a poor job with them, I still liked them A LOT more than the potentials.
 
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Stakesteak said:
I think a big reason season 4 gets a bad reputation is because it's a big transitional season where things are constantly changing.
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EXACTLY! And that's how it should be because it's the first year after high school.. Which is a transitional year where things are constantly changing.
 
Season 4 is kind of my favorite lol.

I love the uneasiness I felt watching the first couple episodes and seeing Buffy out of her element, at first I was like uh I don't like this new stuff and change in atmosphere but it was done like that on purpose because that's how Buffy felt.

I love Riley, Spike and Harmony are freaking hilarious, Spike returning in general was great, Sunday kicking Buffys ass was well needed, Adam was iffy but not all that bad, it holds a couple of the all time greatest episodes like A New Man, Pangs, Something Blue, Hush, Superstar, TYG/Who Are You, Fear Itself.

And you can't forget Spikes speech in the end of Doomed......and the moment when he tried to stake himself while wearing Xanders Hawaiian shirt lmao.

Overall I'd say it's one of the best seasons.
 
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