The Thing You Disliked Most About S6?

[Mischlings]

I'm not Warren's number 1 fan either, but what I liked about him was that he wasn't a vampire or demon. He was just an evil human being. Unfortunately, there are a lot of people in the real world who are like him.

Because of that, I actually find him to be one of the more memorable of the Big Bads from the show. He's just a normal, if psychopathic, guy (probably similar to Caleb before he met The First, if I'm reading between the lines correctly). Also, I find that him coming after Buffy with a gun to be legitimately scary, especially since so much of the show was based in the supernatural and demonic, and they managed to use something terrifying that is also real -- that contrast just made it work.

 

[itssmiletime]

Because of that, I actually find him to be one of the more memorable of the Big Bads from the show. He's just a normal, if psychopathic, guy (probably similar to Caleb before he met The First, if I'm reading between the lines correctly). Also, I find that him coming after Buffy with a gun to be legitimately scary, especially since so much of the show was based in the supernatural and demonic, and they managed to use something terrifying that is also real -- that contrast just made it work.

Yeah, Warren's such an effective big bad, one of the best written characters in season 6. At first, I thought he was just a slightly sexist nerd who is naive and wants a bit of fun, but as the season progressed he becomes so evil and completely aware of what he is doing. In ''Dead Things'' he is so terrifying, and then the reason why he wants to hurt the slayer is because she is female. I hate him so much.... and that's why he is such a great villain.

 

[The Ferg]

I actually loved all the directions the trio went this season. I mean I didn't like Xander's leaving Anya, Buffy's Spike sex, and Willow's magic addiction, but they made for interesting stories! 🙂

So if there was one thing I'd change it'd be Dawn's season-long arc. It was kinda tacked on in Grave but they could've done a whole lot more with her. Maybe she could fall into a bad group at school...? I don't have very good ideas, but I do know Dawn wasn't interesting in the slightest this season. 🙂

 

[Tome]

The Trio. What a terrible addition to the show.

 

[JReed1985]

Spuffy and Dawn

One I know the fans are going to have a go at me but I personally am not into the whole Spuffy idea. I missed the Spike that was always trying to bring down Buffy, I think he's the worst possible match for Buffy. On the other hand Buffy was taking a darker turn with her character and that's what the liaisons were all about.
Dawn is the other one, what use was she after season five? All she became was a whiny teenager, we didn't need more of that.

 

[EffieT1]

I hate how depressing it is plus how the group dynamic seems to have weakened even more. Howver I love the first 2 episodes,normal again, Dark Willow and even the Trio(dont judge) but despite all this I just dont love the overall feeling of the season.

 

[Blaze]

I'm surprise by the hate the addiction storyline is getting, considering it's my favorite storyline of possibly the entire verse! 😛

Anyhow, the one thing I disliked in s6 is Giles leaving. Ok I know by that time he wasn't doing much and all, but his presence was lacking and to me it showed. Even if he wasn't very prevalent by s6, I still wish he could have stayed.

 

[Cheese Slices]

I'm following the majority : Willow's arc. It was poorly handed, unsubtle, and took a lot of screen time away from potentially more interesting story/character arcs.

 

[Aluwyn]

I hated Tara's death. Not just the fact that she died, but HOW she died. The bullet hit at the wrong angle, it wouldn't have left a neat little hole on both sides, the blood splatter on Willow is all wrong, it just really annoyed me.

That and the long drawn out "I love you, I hate you, I can't live without you" arc with Spike and Buffy.

 

[white avenger]

I'm sure that it will be no surprise to anyone that I disliked the way that Buffy and Spike's relationship was handled. At the end of Season 5, they were friends. Buffy trusted Spike so much that she specifically asked him, in preference to all of her other friends, to protect Dawn, and with no idea that Buffy would ever return, he honored that promise, even going so far as to include the less than appreciative Scoobies in his protection. When Buffy did return, he was her closest confidante and supporter. They could have been lovers without any of the destructive element, no humiliation, no mutually destructive undertones. There was no need whatsoever for Season 6 Spuffy to degrade both characters the way that it did.

There could still have been the "I can't love you, and it's killing me," moment without the attempt to destroy anything. No Suvolte demon or demon eggs. No Captain Cardboard and his super soldier bride. Buffy simply could have been unable to handle having her friends know that she was sharing her bed with someone who they saw as nothing more than a "soulless monster." Other relationships have been threatened, even destroyed, by less. That alone could have been the incentive for Spike to seek to regain his soul. Not only would that have made more sense considering Spike and Buffy's growing friendship in Season 5 and early Season 6, it would have made Buffy's belief in and support of Spike in Season 7 much more understandable.

 

[EffyStonem]

So many things in Season 6 drive me up the wall, but the biggest one for me will always be the way the Spuffy relationship unfolded and the effects it had on Buffy. Wholly unnecessary and as [MENTION=6758]white avenger[/MENTION] pointed out, it could have gone in a much better direction and still have had the end result (Spike regaining his soul). In fact, if it had continued to unfold the way it was towards the end of Season 5, I probably would not have had all the issues with it that I do and I may have even liked it.

 

[white avenger]

So many things in Season 6 drive me up the wall, but the biggest one for me will always be the way the Spuffy relationship unfolded and the effects it had on Buffy. Wholly unnecessary and as [MENTION=6758]white avenger[/MENTION] pointed out, it could have gone in a much better direction and still have had the end result (Spike regaining his soul). In fact, if it had continued to unfold the way it was towards the end of Season 5, I probably would not have had all the issues with it that I do and I may have even liked it.

It's nice to have someone agree with me about this. Usually, I just get accused of seeing everything through my "Spuffy colored glasses" (usually by those who always wear their own "Bangel colored" ones)

 

[EffyStonem]

It's nice to have someone agree with me about this. Usually, I just get accused of seeing everything through my "Spuffy colored glasses" (usually by those who always wear their own "Bangel colored" ones)

Well, I am a Bangel 😛 But I do agree with what you said.

My problems with the Spuffy relationship come solely from the nature and course of the relationship. I hate abusive relationships (and I hate when TV shows romanticise and/or brush over abuse) and don't even get me started on the attempted rape. But I never had a problem with the idea of Spike and Buffy as a pairing.

The relationship could have been written so differently; they could have had Spike actually support Buffy in her depression and maybe struggle to understand what she was going through but try anyway. They still could have had it be sexual without it being so abusive and pushing the borders of consent so much. There are a million ways they could have gone and I loathe that they chose the most degrading, violent and disgusting path. And of course, once the abuse in Season 6 happens, that just screws any part of Season 7 for me.

Bottom line; the writers really effed up when it came to Spuffy post Season 5.

 

[white avenger]

Well, I am a Bangel 😛 But I do agree with what you said.

Hey, I never said that ALL Bangels wear those glasses, but quite a few do have a definite double standard when it comes to Buffy's two vampire boyfriends.

(One dear Irish lady in particular).

 

[Robb Stark]

Hey, I never said that ALL Bangels wear those glasses, but quite a few do have a definite double standard when it comes to Buffy's two vampire boyfriends.

(One dear Irish lady in particular).

Lol, please. The double standard some hardcore Spuffy shippers have about Spike in S6 is ridiculous 🙄

I mean heck, we've had whole threads about it...

 

[Yosso]

I loved Season 6. It's actually tied with Season 3 as my second favourite season. What most people view as degrading and depressing I view as real, uninhibited, storytelling.

I wouldn't change much about the Spuffy relationship, even the degrading sex. I felt it served a purpose in the show to reflect Buffy's depressed, self-hating psychologically distorted state and it certainly achieved that and then some! If the sex was pointless and just an excuse to show nakedness, then I wouldn't be on board with it.

I would have liked Spike to be a bit more loving towards Buffy though, a slight reflection of his S5 self, but this is really a minor change.

I'd make Dawn have more of a role this season, I like her loneliness arc but the way it was portrayed with her turning into a klepto just felt a bit weak. Similar to what [MENTION=7939]The Ferg[/MENTION] suggested, she could be lonely and do the klepto thing for half the season, then fall into the wrong crowd at school over the course of the second half of the season.

I'd like Xander and Anya to do more in the lead up to "Hell's Bells" because really, they just help Buffy out now and then with Scooby stuff and sit around planning the wedding. Maybe have Anya interact with her vengeance past a bit more. Take it further than just Halfrek. Also, maybe a few scenes with Xander's family pre "Hell's Bells" would be good. Xander could take Anya to meet the family, but then Xander's parents start having a row, getting drunk, being abusive etc. That would be a better lead up to "Hells Bells" because it would make the audience more aware of Xander's reasons for leaving Anya.

Willow's addiction was perfectly executed. Loved it 🙂 And despite loving Willow and Tara together, I think Tara's death and the aftermath to it was brilliant storytelling.

Regarding the Trio, I think they were good, but I think Warren should have branched off on his own sooner so we had more time to see Warren as a misogynistic psychopath than just a silly nerd. Like [MENTION=2271]SMG14Fan[/MENTION] and [MENTION=12230]Mischlings[/MENTION] said, the fact he's just a regular guy, without any innate supernaturalness, makes it all the more interesting.

[MENTION=8404]Blaze[/MENTION], I think if Giles were there then a lot of S6 wouldn't make as much sense. Not to say the Scoobies are children by this stage, but Willow may not have been tempted to go so off the rails, so quickly if Giles were there as somebody else, besides Tara to warn her. Buffy would be far less likely to feel so disconnected from the Scoobies and go boink Spike. Despite the Scoobies drifting apart after high school Buffy and Giles always seemed pretty solid in S5. Giles would have also been there to potentially call off the wedding before "Hell's Bells" happened. Giles did sort of warn/scare Xander about what he was getting into in "All the Way".

 

[Blaze]

To me most of the problems don't come from the storylines in s6 but more so from the lack of fallow up in s7.

Even Spuffy's abusive relationship was interesting (even though I agree with White Avenger ) had they actually had proper fallow up. And I also agree with EffyStonem that a show should never romanticize an abusive relationship. But again that was just bad writing. Very few shows decide to portray that storyline so I'm not against the idea if it's well done and actually shows reality (Degrassi comes to mind for those who have seen it, they did a great abuse/fallow up storyline).

I loved Season 6. It's actually tied with Season 3 as my second favourite season. What most people view as degrading and depressing I view as real, uninhibited, storytelling.

I wouldn't change much about the Spuffy relationship, even the degrading sex. I felt it served a purpose in the show to reflect Buffy's depressed, self-hating psychologically distorted state and it certainly achieved that and then some! If the sex was pointless and just an excuse to show nakedness, then I wouldn't be on board with it.

I would have liked Spike to be a bit more loving towards Buffy though, a slight reflection of his S5 self, but this is really a minor change.

I'd make Dawn have more of a role this season, I like her loneliness arc but the way it was portrayed with her turning into a klepto just felt a bit weak. Similar to what [MENTION=7939]The Ferg[/MENTION] suggested, she could be lonely and do the klepto thing for half the season, then fall into the wrong crowd at school over the course of the second half of the season.

I'd like Xander and Anya to do more in the lead up to "Hell's Bells" because really, they just help Buffy out now and then with Scooby stuff and sit around planning the wedding. Maybe have Anya interact with her vengeance past a bit more. Take it further than just Halfrek. Also, maybe a few scenes with Xander's family pre "Hell's Bells" would be good. Xander could take Anya to meet the family, but then Xander's parents start having a row, getting drunk, being abusive etc. That would be a better lead up to "Hells Bells" because it would make the audience more aware of Xander's reasons for leaving Anya.

Willow's addiction was perfectly executed. Loved it 🙂 And despite loving Willow and Tara together, I think Tara's death and the aftermath to it was brilliant storytelling.

Regarding the Trio, I think they were good, but I think Warren should have branched off on his own sooner so we had more time to see Warren as a misogynistic psychopath than just a silly nerd. Like [MENTION=2271]SMG14Fan[/MENTION] and [MENTION=12230]Mischlings[/MENTION] said, the fact he's just a regular guy, without any innate supernaturalness, makes it all the more interesting.

[MENTION=8404]Blaze[/MENTION], I think if Giles were there then a lot of S6 wouldn't make as much sense. Not to say the Scoobies are children by this stage, but Willow may not have been tempted to go so off the rails, so quickly if Giles were there as somebody else, besides Tara to warn her. Buffy would be far less likely to feel so disconnected from the Scoobies and go boink Spike. Despite the Scoobies drifting apart after high school Buffy and Giles always seemed pretty solid in S5. Giles would have also been there to potentially call off the wedding before "Hell's Bells" happened. Giles did sort of warn/scare Xander about what he was getting into in "All the Way".

First off, I just want to say great post! You summed up exactly my feelings about s6. That's exactly what I meant to say about the abusive relationship, it's brilliant in the way that very few shows go that way and to that extreme. Again my only complaint was the lack of fallowup but the whole soul thing also complicates things and did make fallow up hard.

And about Giles, you are also completely right. The way I see it, I liked where the storyline was going about him not being able to be the father figure before he left. I just wish we would have had a bit more of him simply because I love his character. Because I love s6 so much, I wouldn't want any of the major storyline to change, so if someone could find a way to have Giles and keep everything the same then I'd be on board! I guess I'm just bitter because after s6, Giles and Buffy are completely disconnected, and I attribute that somewhat to him leaving in s6. Hell, I would have been crazy happy even if he showed up to Xander's wedding. It makes no sense for him not to be there after knowing Xander for 5+ years and being more of a father to him that Xander's own dad. Ok, I'll stop the rant now 😛 Those are just really minor things, I love s6!!

 

[Yosso]

Accidentally pressed enter by mistake 😛 I agree with you, that a lot of the problems of S6 wouldn't seem so bad if S7 wasn't such a bad season and actually followed up the storylines as you said. I'd have preferred the Scoobies to be just like the were in high school in S7, which would bring the show full circle and reflect the fact the show were introducing Sunnydale High again. S7 was such a mess and I blame that for failing to compensate for the darkness of S6 with a lighter, happier season.

Glad to know somebody else loves S6 too! 😀 *high five* 🙂

To me most of the problems don't come from the storylines in s6 but more so from the lack of fallow up in s7.

Even Spuffy's abusive relationship was interesting (even though I agree with White Avenger ) had they actually had proper fallow up. And I also agree with EffyStonem that a show should never romanticize an abusive relationship. But again that was just bad writing. Very few shows decide to portray that storyline so I'm not against the idea if it's well done and actually shows reality (Degrassi comes to mind for those who have seen it, they did a great abuse/fallow up storyline).



First off, I just want to say great post! You summed up exactly my feelings about s6. That's exactly what I meant to say about the abusive relationship, it's brilliant in the way that very few shows go that way and to that extreme. Again my only complaint was the lack of fallowup but the whole soul thing also complicates things and did make fallow up hard.

And about Giles, you are also completely right. The way I see it, I liked where the storyline was going about him not being able to be the father figure before he left. I just wish we would have had a bit more of him simply because I love his character. Because I love s6 so much, I wouldn't want any of the major storyline to change, so if someone could find a way to have Giles and keep everything the same then I'd be on board! I guess I'm just bitter because after s6, Giles and Buffy are completely disconnected, and I attribute that somewhat to him leaving in s6. Hell, I would have been crazy happy even if he showed up to Xander's wedding. It makes no sense for him not to be there after knowing Xander for 5+ years and being more of a father to him that Xander's own dad. Ok, I'll stop the rant now 😛 Those are just really minor things, I love s6!!

 

[Aluwyn]

No Suvolte demon or demon eggs. No Captain Cardboard and his super soldier bride.

Oh, I forgot about the episode when Riley returns. I hated that. It annoyed me that he married a super soldier woman who could kick ass, when he left Buffy because she was strong and didn't need him to protect her. Neither did Sam. It didn't really make sense to me... Also, the way he left was somewhat poetic. I wish they'd left it at that.

 

[Blaze]

Oh, I forgot about the episode when Riley returns. I hated that. It annoyed me that he married a super soldier woman who could kick ass, when he left Buffy because she was strong and didn't need him to protect her. Neither did Sam. It didn't really make sense to me... Also, the way he left was somewhat poetic. I wish they'd left it at that.

Again, I can't rep you but I just wanted to agree with that.