What do you think about season 6?

[JCoatsworth]

Season 6 is my favourite season of BtVS.

The beginning is a bit weird, because Buffy is back from the dead (and from heaven) and needs much time to find back to her old life.
Dawn is quite annoying in the whole season though... but Willow and Tara's story is really entertaining and so is Xander and Anya's.
'Life Serial' is one of my favourite episodes of the entire Buffy series.
OMWF has some really cool songs! I really enjoyed the more jazz-like tunes by Sweet (It's the name of the demon, right?)

The middle episodes are cool, too. 'Smashed', 'Wrecked', 'Gone' and 'Doublemeat Palace' are the kind of episodes I could watch hundrets of times. Maybe I will🙄

The final of the seaosn is just huge!
I always watch 'Villains', 'Two to Go' and 'Grave' as full-length movie. :thumbsup:
And the end of season 6 always makes me wanna continue with season 7😀

 

[zobothehobo]

Season 6 is my favorite season. It's about the forces of darkness within humanity. I mean... The Trio, Dark Willow, Buffy's depressed feeling, Dawn and her kleptomania, Xander leaving Anya at the alter... all of the big problems faced were human in origin.

Plus it gave us Once More With Feeling and Tabula Rasa. My two favorite episodes. They never get old.

 

[Chosen Enemy]

I'm very torn about this season. On one hand, it's very dark and depressing. On the other hand, it's a very very good season simply because it's so intense and real, it shows life as it is more than any other season. People usually don't like this season because it's dark, but don't always notice that it's that visual.

However, I think that the only thing that keeps me from not liking this season (because as much as it's a real life season, I prefer not to think so much about life and its hell, because it's depressing by itself sometimes), is the Spuffiness. I know it's dark too, their relationship in this season, but that's darkness I actually liked seeing, because, well, I'm a Spuffy.

 

[Marisa]

I'm very torn about this season. On one hand, it's very dark and depressing. On the other hand, it's a very very good season simply because it's so intense and real, it shows life as it is more than any other season. People usually don't like this season because it's dark, but don't always notice that it's that visual.

However, I think that the only thing that keeps me from not liking this season (because as much as it's a real life season, I prefer not to think so much about life and its hell, because it's depressing by itself sometimes), is the Spuffiness. I know it's dark too, their relationship in this season, but that's darkness I actually liked seeing, because, well, I'm a Spuffy.

I can appreciate this season because it is so real. It shows the depressing side to life which can be like it was for Buffy almost unbearable. This isn't my favorite season but I do enjoy the episodes, especially as I get older.

 

[Eleftheria]

I know that season 6 is supposed to represent life's difficulties but it seems weird to me that every Scooby suddenly has to deal with huge problems that change the deepest elements of their personality. Buffy is never gonna be the same. Even in season 7, I can see a different Buffy. Cold, distant and sometimes I dislike her. This has never happened to me before. I always liked her. I always admired the way she used to stand strong above difficulties. Yeah, she has to go through hell to find herself again, but she is still Buffy. Strong is who she is. Not just physically but mentally too. That's not my Buffy in s6.

And why OH WHY should Xander leave Anya in the church??? come on!

the worst thing were the geeks...seriously...a bunch of geeks, threatening the Slayer? The Slayer who has faced Glory, saved the world more than once...

Anyway, the whole series explore different things and different sides of someone's personality. I just believe season 6 could have been much, much better with a very different script. My favourite s6 episode is Normal Again. I have seen it many times and I absolutely love the possibillity of a parallel universe where Buffy suffers from schizofrenia and through that poison the two Buffys can communicate. It's obvious that Buffy still can't accept her world or herself. She prefers to be a psycho who suffers from hallucinations rather than being the Slayer! I think that's the best episode of that season and I also like Bargaining pt1 and 2.

 

[StarSlayer]

the worst thing were the geeks...seriously...a bunch of geeks, threatening the Slayer? The Slayer who has faced Glory, saved the world more than once...

I don't get why the geeks get a bad rap in s6. I actually really liked them as the "villains." I wrote this is another thread, since I explained my thoughts on that, so here it is, so I don't have to type it again 🙂

The geeks were suppose to be the lamest Big Bads Buffy ever faced because let's face it...they wasn't anything supernatural about them. They only learned how to do magic and summon demons, yet they weren't very good. They also simply made inventions. I mean even when Warren asked them if they wanted to "team up" and take over Sunnydale, Andrew and Jonathan were like, "Okay." Sure, why not? Sounds like fun. Before that, all the other villains had a real objective to their plot, which Buffy always took seriously because it usually meant the end of the world.

But, Buffy never took the Trio "plotting" seriously because she never saw them as a legitimate threat. And as a consequence of that, they were able to spy on her and her friends without her noticing, they played around with her "weaknesses," they almost convinced her that she committed murder, Tara got killed by Warren, etc. I felt the parallel was that if you keep ignoring your problems, even the ones that are right in front you, they are going to pile up and come back to hurt you and those around you. And the Trio was exactly that to Buffy.

 

[Connor Holtz]

I don't get why the geeks get a bad rap in s6. I actually really liked them as the "villains." I wrote this is another thread, since I explained my thoughts on that, so here it is, so I don't have to type it again 🙂

The geeks were suppose to be the lamest Big Bads Buffy ever faced because let's face it...they wasn't anything supernatural about them. They only learned how to do magic and summon demons, yet they weren't very good. They also simply made inventions. I mean even when Warren asked them if they wanted to "team up" and take over Sunnydale, Andrew and Jonathan were like, "Okay." Sure, why not? Sounds like fun. Before that, all the other villains had a real objective to their plot, which Buffy always took seriously because it usually meant the end of the world.

But, Buffy never took the Trio "plotting" seriously because she never saw them as a legitimate threat. And as a consequence of that, they were able to spy on her and her friends without her noticing, they played around with her "weaknesses," they almost convinced her that she committed murder, Tara got killed by Warren, etc. I felt the parallel was that if you keep ignoring your problems, even the ones that are right in front you, they are going to pile up and come back to hurt you and those around you. And the Trio was exactly that to Buffy.

I get that the intent was for them to be the lamest big bads but that doesn't make it any better as far as I'm concerned. I watch the show to see Buffy's challenges escalate not stagnate for a year. After Glory, she should have had a monstrously new Big Bad in town but no, we get lamoids with pimple cream. Yawn.

 

[StarSlayer]

I get that the intent was for them to be the lamest big bads but that doesn't make it any better as far as I'm concerned. I watch the show to see Buffy's challenges escalate not stagnate for a year. After Glory, she should have had a monstrously new Big Bad in town but no, we get lamoids with pimple cream. Yawn.

But, the Big Bad, besides evil Willow, was also life. "The hardest thing to do in this world is to live in it." Not to kill vampires, not to kill demons, not to kill Glory, but to live in this world because there are so many bad things that can come from anywhere, including from lame geeks.

 

[Connor Holtz]

But, the Big Bad, besides evil Willow, was also life. "The hardest thing to do in this world is to live in it." Not to kill vampires, not to kill demons, not to kill Glory, but to live in this world because there are so many bad things that can come from anywhere, including from lame geeks.

I got that too but it doesn't make me like it LMAO. I watch BtVS to watch her battle Gods and demons not life. I already know life sucks, I don't need Joss and Marti slapping me across the face with it. 😛

 

[StarSlayer]

I got that too but it doesn't make me like it LMAO. I watch BtVS to watch her battle Gods and demons not life. I already know life sucks, I don't need Joss and Marti slapping me across the face with it. 😛

Again, we'll agree to disagree 🙂 Of course we know life sucks, but seeing Buffy and the rest of the Scoobies struggle was an interesting change of pace. In addition to kicking butt, I actually like seeing heroes struggle because I appreciate the victory more 🙂

 

[zobothehobo]

But, the Big Bad, besides evil Willow, was also life. "The hardest thing to do in this world is to live in it." Not to kill vampires, not to kill demons, not to kill Glory, but to live in this world because there are so many bad things that can come from anywhere, including from lame geeks.

I can't give you rep... but totally! I agree! Although I don't think the geeks were lame. They were funny... except Warren. He was just screwed up in the head.

 

[Connor Holtz]

Again, we'll agree to disagree 🙂 Of course we know life sucks, but seeing Buffy and the rest of the Scoobies struggle was an interesting change of pace. In addition to kicking butt, I actually like seeing heroes struggle because I appreciate the victory more 🙂

When it comes to season 6, we'll have to agree to disagree. I wouldn't mind seeing heroes struggle with life as I actually enjoy watching a hero fight themselves, like some kind of internal struggle or fight for redemption but I'd like them to be battling a "real" Big Bad while they do it.

 

[Thursday]

Personally, I don't think the message for S6 is "Life is the Big Bad" because life, or some aspect of it, was the big bad in every season. I think the idea of S6 was the Scoobies being their own worst enemies: each person was unable to deal with their own personal shortcomings and spent the entire season sabotaging themselves.

But, Buffy never took the Trio "plotting" seriously because she never saw them as a legitimate threat. And as a consequence of that, they were able to spy on her and her friends without her noticing, they played around with her "weaknesses," they almost convinced her that she committed murder, Tara got killed by Warren, etc. I felt the parallel was that if you keep ignoring your problems, even the ones that are right in front you, they are going to pile up and come back to hurt you and those around you. And the Trio was exactly that to Buffy.

Agree.

S6 was all about how if you don't deal with your issues they'll just snowball and get worse and worse. Willow had been abusing magic for years and now she finally pays the consequences. Xander's constant lack of faith in himself leads to the failure of his marriage. Buffy was depressed before S6, but now she has to deal with it. The Trio was just the idea on a smaller scale.

 

[StarSlayer]

Personally, I don't think the message for S6 is "Life is the Big Bad" because life, or some aspect of it, was the big bad in every season. I think the idea of S6 was the Scoobies being their own worst enemies: each person was unable to deal with their own personal shortcomings and spent the entire season sabotaging themselves.

I mentioned life is the big bad in s6 because I remember reading Joss saying it was. But I also agree that the Scoobies were their own worst enemies in this season too 🙂

 

[msfantastico87]

I mentioned life is the big bad in s6 because I remember reading Joss saying it was. But I also agree that the Scoobies were their own worst enemies in this season too 🙂

Very true. Totally agree.

 

[TheVoid68]

I think that the "life is hard" theme they had going on would have been a lot more effective if the problems weren't so contrived and, let's face it, easy to overcome if anyone in S6 had a working brain in their head.

Buffy has money troubles? Ask the watcher's council for money - did you not force them to pay Giles last season? Xander leaving Anya at the altar and Giles leaving for England are both contrived events and pretty OOC. Willow's problems... well that's probably the most ridiculously awful and insulting piece of writing I've ever seen. Tara's death by magical swerving bullet is contrived. So, maybe I would've liked it a bit better if the problems were a little bit less contrived so I could actually take them seriously.

As for the Trio - well, that's another problem - how passive Buffy was in dealing with her problems. I love a bit of angst as much as the next guy, but if there's one thing I can't stand it's self-pity, much lesss wallowing in self-pity. What I saw in S6 was 22 episodes of Buffy sitting on her rear end and doing nothing. I like my heroes to have problems because I like to see them actually doing something about their problems, at least making some attempt to do anything. Buffy could've dealt with the Trio in one afternoon - the fact that she didn't makes her a terrible, terrible hero. I'm all for mistakes coming back to bite characters in the bum, but not when it's the result of the hero's own sheer laziness.

And she should have realised that they were a credible threat when Warren killed Katarina - or hey, when they altered the very fabric of time in "Life Serial". There's another thing - the Trio were just too powerful to be believable. They manged to be both pathetically unthreatening and stupidly powerful - you gotta give the writers' credit for that. 😉

 

[StarSlayer]

As for the Trio - well, that's another problem - how passive Buffy was in dealing with her problems. I love a bit of angst as much as the next guy, but if there's one thing I can't stand it's self-pity, much lesss wallowing in self-pity. What I saw in S6 was 22 episodes of Buffy sitting on her rear end and doing nothing. I like my heroes to have problems because I like to see them actually doing something about their problems, at least making some attempt to do anything. Buffy could've dealt with the Trio in one afternoon - the fact that she didn't makes her a terrible, terrible hero. I'm all for mistakes coming back to bite characters in the bum, but not when it's the result of the hero's own sheer laziness.

Buffy was in a state of depression though. When someone is depressed, they really don't want to do anything. They have no focus, no drive, no motivation. It's not laziness, but rather the feeling that nothing matters. And, in some cases, one wants to just give up. Buffy felt that way in OMWF. She wanted to dance to her death, but Spike told her (well, sang to her, lol) that the pain she feels can only be healed by living. It will be a tough process, but she had to keep living. She couldn't give up.

BTW, I love your Barney Stinson quote 😀

 

[TheVoid68]

Spike told her (well, sang to her, lol) that the pain she feels can only be healed by living. It will be a tough process, but she had to keep living. She couldn't give up.

Exactly. Buffy was depressed in that first third of the season, and it was still a decent storyline then. It came to a lovely head with that song, when Buffy shared her problems and Spike told her exactly what she needed to do. It was the perfect cue for Buffy to start recovering, to carry on living. Yet... she didn't. She completely failed to get on with her life. That's what bothers me - there's no change, Buffy doesn't start living even when the writing is set up for her to.

OMWF is pretty much everything S6 is, done right. The other 21 episodes are it done wrong.

BTW, I love your Barney Stinson quote 😀

Who doesn't? 😛

 

[StarSlayer]

Exactly. Buffy was depressed in that first third of the season, and it was still a decent storyline then. It came to a lovely head with that song, when Buffy shared her problems and Spike told her exactly what she needed to do. It was the perfect cue for Buffy to start recovering, to carry on living. Yet... she didn't. She completely failed to get on with her life. That's what bothers me - there's no change, Buffy doesn't start living even when the writing is set up for her to.

But after OMWF, Giles left. Just another reason for her to be depressed, especially when she said she needed him the most. Coming out of a depressive state doesn't happen over night or that quickly. She tried to get better. She got a job to earn money, she broke things off with Spike because she couldn't keep using him, she tried to be there for Dawn, etc. The change wasn't immediate, but it was happening, even though it was at a slow pace.

 

[zobothehobo]

But after OMWF, Giles left. Just another reason for her to be depressed, especially when she said she needed him the most. Coming out of a depressive state doesn't happen over night or that quickly. She tried to get better. She got a job to earn money, she broke things off with Spike because she couldn't keep using him, she tried to be there for Dawn, etc. The change wasn't immediate, but it was happening, even though it was at a slow pace.

Also... the season DID end with her getting better. Remember her "I want to show you the world" speech to Dawn? It took the world almost ending... but she did get back. It was a slow process... but she got there. Depression in real life is like that. A slow process of recovery... but eventually, you just feel better.