The later seasons of Buffy have greater consistency?

[Mr Trick]

What I mean is in terms of the episodes. I'm on board that broadly speaking the early seasons are stronger arc and character wise. Although there is an argument to be made that five is stronger than four in that respect. But let's say that after S4 there are far fewer weak episodes, and still the fair share of great ones. Would that be fair to say?

 

[Anointed One]

Season 7 certainly does not.

 

[Mr Trick]

Season 7 certainly does not.

Season seven gets a really bad rap. When I first saw it I hated it, but second time around its much better. While still not one of my favs, I would probably actually put it ahead of the first and sixth seasons. Six has more standout episodes, but seven has less bad ones, and the writing's a bit tighter than in six I think.

 

[thetopher]

Season 7 has an arc, which gives it more direction and consistancy than the previous season. The villain is mysterious and present right from the very first episode, the first half is very MotW (and good ones at that) whilst the second half is more one long continuous story.
It does have less stand-out episodes but, like @Mr Trick says, it is more of a muchness in terms of quality.
I can only think of one stinker in terms of plot, the rest range from average to great, and it has a strong start and a strong finish.

 

[vellavu]

S7 has two major problems. One is probably objective, the other is from my personal feeling.

Objective one: Low information density. Excluding the season opener and the final episode, almost every other episode has an "OK, I already told you the story. Move on to the next!" vibe in it. If we say that S6 has many small pointless arcs, then we can say S7's main arc has many small pointless moments.

Personal feeling: The potentials. Their interactions with the Scoobies are embarrassing to watch. They are like a bunch of apes mimicking human. They are a poor parody of the Class of '99 in "The Graduation Day, Part 2". When Buffy's classmates are playing army, it feels empowering, because it has a background of three seasons and "The Prom" to help making sense and laying out the tone. When Buffy and her younglings are playing army, I just want to claw a hole in the ground and hide.

 

[Mr Trick]

S7 has two major problems. One is probably objective, the other is from my personal feeling.

Objective one: Low information density. Excluding the season opener and the final episode, almost every other episode has an "OK, I already told you the story. Move on to the next!" vibe in it. If we say that S6 has many small pointless arcs, then we can say S7's main arc has many small pointless moments.

Personal feeling: The potentials. Their interactions with the Scoobies are embarrassing to watch. They are like a bunch of apes mimicking human. They are a poor parody of the Class of '99 in "The Graduation Day, Part 2". When Buffy's classmates are playing army, it feels empowering, because it has a background of three seasons and "The Prom" to help making sense and laying out the tone. When Buffy and her younglings are playing army, I just want to claw a hole in the ground and hide.

Well no, Conversations with Dead People is another episode which recalls the past. I don't mind that too much though. Let's face it if you are watching the final season of a television show then you should at least have a solid knowledge of what has come before it.

Agree with you on the Potentials, and I think they were the weakest part of the season. I understand their purpose, but it was handled poorly.

 

[Lila]

I think so, in the sense that the early season episodes can be a little choppy. Episodes like Bad Eggs, Inca Mummy Girl, Reptile Boy, The Pack, Beauty and the Beast, The Puppet Show, I Robot You Jane - there is continuity, but they also tell really different, unconnected stories. That's not to say they are all bad episodes.

I can think of fewer episodes like that, starting season 4. I'm sure there are some. Maybe "Listening to fear" with the nightmare creatures. Riley's comeback in "As You Were" was a little disconnected, and Buffy working at the construction site in "Life Serial". I really have to brush up on my S6 and S7 though.

 

[AnthonyCordova]

I personally don't view any of the seasons as being consistent at all actually, other than 3 and 5...5 more so. I find Angel far more consistent...at any level, good or bad.

 

[Mr Trick]

I personally don't view any of the seasons as being consistent at all actually, other than 3 and 5...5 more so. I find Angel far more consistent...at any level, good or bad.

But don't you think its the nature of any long running TV show that you are going to have your fair share of bad episodes, espcially when you have 22 in a season. Also, oddly enough while its not my favourite season of Buffy I'd say the 7th season is very consistent. First date is maybe a bad episode, but can't think of many more off the top of my head.

With Angel, season 1 is very up and down. 2 is possible the most consistent, three I really like, but have started seeing more weakinesses on the re-watch. And four and five do have their fare share of weak episodes. Its possible that Buffy has more bad episodes than Angel, partly because it had slower start, but I'd also add that there is a higher number of great episodes and that week to week Buffy was the more consistent show IMO.