What made season 3 a fan favorite of the series?

I think season 3 is really good. It might be my favorite (tied with season 6 so far actually) but:

I think the writing is good in season 3, but I don't see it as significantly better than some other seasons. I think the difference is more that the topics they choose to write about are more appealing to the fans. That, and it also is more consistent overall. But I also think that the very best written episodes are not in season 3, but in some later seasons.

Faith was a great addition. But I'm not a big Faith fan either. I appreciate what the character adds to the show, but she's not my favorite. I like what all of the characters are going through and how they develop in season 3. Faith isn't special to me in this sense.

The mayor? I liked his personality. He was interesting. I agree he was a great big bad. Not my favorite so far though.

So to answer the question, I think the mayor, Faith, and the consistently good writing (focused on things that the fans enjoy) are the major reasons why season 3 is a favorite.

That said, I have season 3 at the top (tied so far with season 6) by a small margin. The differences between seasons are not that great to me. seasons 5 & 6 are right up there with it, season 4 (vastly underrated IMO) and season 2 are just a little behind (but not by much) etc. They're more bunched up to me. But detailed reasons are for another thread.

---------- Post added at 01:14 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:02 PM ----------

Wesley Pryce said:
Ok,I'm not being an A-hole here lol,but i never got the big deal of season 3. I like it a lot,the mayor and Faith are awesome and Giles and Wesley are amazing together. 🙂 Still,i don't see what the great fuss is about. I have never understood all the big hype. I like season 3 more than seasons 1 or 7 but i rate the other seasons higher. I hope I'm not killed for this unpopular opinion 😛
Click to expand...

I kind of agree. I don't think season 3 is overrated so much as I think many of the other seasons are underrated. Especially season 4 (since it's hated on so much). This isn't the place to explain why I feel that way, but I just wanted to let you know that I do feel where you're coming from. To some people, season 3 is leagues beyond all other seasons, and I think some people who feel that way aren't being objective. I think it's fine to feel that way for personal reasons and tastes, but when I feel that way about other seasons from other television shows, I try to remind myself that personal taste and objectivity are two different things.
 
Wesley Pryce
Wesley Pryce
I agree not only with your opinion but the reasoning behind your opinion,well put :)
I think S3 is a fan favourite not just because of the excellent stand-alone episodes, or the Big Bad, or the fact the Scoobies really gell together at this point.
I think its more. I think this season put forward the most things that add to the mythos of the show, which is why its looked on so fondly.

I'm thinking of the Watchers council in particular- through Gwen Post, the Cirucalum (?), and Wesley we get a real solid picture of the council, which expands into other seasons.

We also get Anya introduced (a mixed blessing imo, but she's fun here) and Spike making the appearance that would secure his place on the show (again mixed).

Faith's fall is another example of a morally complex character that is futher explored over future seasons on both Buffy and Angel.

I can't think of another season that leaves so many plot threads that lead to great episodes later on.
 
I think Season 3 is just at a crossover of perfection.

The stories were still new but they'd gotten away from the heavy monster of the week episode that plagued season 1 and two. They even repeated a story of a good character turning bad, yet no one faults that as a bad thing, cuz it was done perfectly.

The cast was at it's strongest (Buffy, Angel, Giles, Willow, Xander, Cordy, Oz, Faith, An awesome bad guy).

The main character had a love storyline, but it didn't dominate the show and belittle other characters roles into smaller positions, the balance was much better then in later seasons.

The characters were all likeable, no murders, bad decisions or sex with vampires in the Bronze while watching your friends to make you think less of the characters.

I think the look of the show was also perfect, there are elements of cheapness in season 1 and 2, and elements of over-production from season 4 (maybe more 5) onwards, but season 3 has a look both in production and just the characters looks (which could be quite dated in season 1 and 2) that meshed well and still holds up today.
 
The Bronze
The Bronze
[No message]
The cast was at it's strongest (Buffy, Angel, Giles, Willow, Xander, Cordy, Oz, Faith, An awesome bad guy).
Click to expand...

I've got to agree with [MENTION=5973]Black Eye Guy[/MENTION]. The main reason Season 3 is so awesome is because just about everyone who matters is present at some stage. Not only is everyone there but for the most part they have stories and things going on in their lives. It's a Season leading up to big changes for everyone and we get to see all of our favourite characters dealing with this.

There's an excellent balance in this Season as well. The fun is still very much at the centre of the show. Some of the exchanges between Wes and Giles for example are just gold. But along with the fun there's also a lot of sadness and darkness to Season 3. Seeing Angel come back and be rehabilitated into the world only for him and Buffy to slowly realise they're not going to get a happy ending is very sad. Faith's whole arc is very dark.

There's also a fantastic balance of stand alone episodes and the overall arc of the season. The Mayor is always there quietly plotting and building up to his grand scheme. But in amongst that we get things like The Wish.

It probably is my favourite season, although I tend to think of the High School years together being my favourite chunk of the Buffyverse.
 
Another important thing about the cast in S3 is that, although there's a lot of characters I never feel like any of them are neglected or forgotten about. Sure, maybe Oz or Coedelia won't be prominent for an episode or two (of course part of that was setting up CC for her part on Angel), but overall the characters were well-balanced, hell even Wesley got sort-of developed and had a role to play.
 
Part of it is that it had the best assemble storyline of the entire series. Meaning that the storyline was about every single characters at any time point. When I think of s3, I rarely think of any specific episode that was outstanding, I view it as a whole. Bangel was really cheesy, but fans like that + nothing wrong with a bit of cheese once in a while. Xander, Willow, Oz and Cordy were all in the front seat too, with interconnecting storylines. Giles role as the father figure was very prominent this season. And Faith, well Faith is simply the best "bad guy" the series as produced (ok, the Mayor was the bad guy but I always counted Faith as being the decisive player this season).

Other seasons have much stronger episode, but this season was more cohesive as a whole. s3 is not my favorite, but I can see why it's so popular.
 
Agreed, the Mayor without Faith would be 'like Tollhouse cookies without the chocolate chips'...nice but still a little disappointing. 🙂

And, your're right, everybody gets something to do, a real ensemble cast in S3
 
I can't say anything that hasn't already been mentioned. All are points I agree upon.

However, I must be alone in my view that season 3 is not my favourite season (it's 2 btw). I think the issues I have with 3 are all in the first half - I feel the season takes too long to get going and the first half is too erratic. Once we hit Helpless onward every episode is quality - it's just that first half that lets it down in my view.

Plus Buffy vs Dracula aside I feel it's got the weakest opener. I'm not too fond of Anne.

Cue the outrage! 😛
 
thetopher
thetopher
*splutters in outrage* I like Buffy vs. Dracula!
Nah, 'Anne' is fairly weak, imo. It takes a while to get to 'I'm Buffy, the vampire slayer and you are?', the rest is brilliant after that and one of my favourite parts of the season.

It does have a slower start than some seasons: 'Dead Man's Party' and 'Beauty And The Beasts' are not the best. (though 'Faith, Hope And Tricks' is another season highlight for me)
I think when we hit 'Homecoming' it's great, we have some good comedy ('Band Candy'), Action/Plot stuff ('Revelations') pathetic, drunk Spike ('Lover's Walk') plus 'the Wish' and 'Amends'- to me that's a very strong first half.
There are a couple of eps that leave me a bit...meh. 'Gingerbread', 'Helpless' and 'Consequences', but that's about it.
To be honest for me, when it comes to Seasons, its all about how it ends and the episodes leading up to it, which is why I rate 3, 5 and 7 so highly, Graduation Day 1/2, The Gift, End Of Days/Chosen. I really find each ending to be really good, even if some of the rest of the season is less than stellar. 🙂
 
For me, what makes Season 3 stand out is that fact that this season, uniquely among all other seasons, does not contain a single bad episode. It had its weak points - mainly early on - but there isn't one episode I would give a thumbs down to. Have just resumed my Season 2 rewatch this week and, five episodes in, I've already encountered two episodes I didn't like at all - "Some Assembly Required" and "Inca Mummy Girl". That never happens with Season 3.

Furthermore, I think the season benefits from the fact that the core cast are sufficiently well-developed at this point that they're no longer caricatures and the composition of the Scoobies and attendant chemistry between them was never equalled in other seasons: Serious tensions between Buffy and a re-souled Angel; Willow and Oz wildly in love; Giles becoming more and more 'human' and relateable (ditto Cordelia); plus two new wonderful additions to the cast - the bumbling Wesley and, of course, the one-and-only Faith Lehane! Mayor Wilkins was also great fun. Even surpasses Angelus as a Big Bad - no mean feat!
 
I don't know about the writing being their best work, but, imo, I think it's the best season of BtVS because it doesn't have any weak episodes. All of them are entertaining, while every other season had a few stinkers.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom