Which Buffy is your favorite?

[spikenbuffy]

S2 & S5 are my favorites Buffy, she went through so much.

 

[katmobile]

Unpopular opinion but I like season seven Buffy best. I'm not keen on the Buffy who pines for a place in the sun I never had which is seasons one and two Buffy. So like the one trying to be a teacher who forgives, who has seen her dark side who has survived depression and fights for the rights of others. I like season three Buffy quite a lot too. I don't like the Buffy who pines for Riley that drags season five for me.

 

[burrunjor]

Series 1-5 Buffy.

She is one of the best heroes in anything in those series. She is likable, brave, hilarious, looks out for the underdog, (like Willow when she is being bullied by Cordelia.) She isn't perfect however. She makes quite a few big mistakes, gets scared of villains like The Master and even some monsters of the week like Sunday and Kralik, but she always manages to overcome her fear and gets back up again after being smacked about. (That's what makes her defeat of badguys like the Master, Glory, Adam and even Sunday all the more satisfying in the end.)

Her screw ups are both heartbreaking like Angelus, facing the Master alone, and hilarious like when she falls through the roof into Sunday's house. She is the perfect hero.

Series 6 Buffy's depression meanwhile is a bit too hard to watch, and I HATE her relationship with Spike. I also hate the retconning that Buffy was attracted to Angelus (IE monster in her man) rather than Angel IE the human side. I'm sorry the idea that Buffy was attracted to Vampires or that Vampires get her hot, is creepy.

She's seen them as monsters more than anyone else. Her being with Angel isn't the same thing, because he was basically a man in a Vampire body in terms of his morals. I get that she might like the danger, but still when it gets to an actual monster LOL then it's creepy. I somehow doubt Buffy gets hot every time she faces a Vampire.

Season 7 Buffy might be even worse. I know old ground but it's true. Mocking a suicide victim was her low point, but even that aside she is really unreasonable, sanctimonious and Sarah seems a bit tired and even ill during that series. I think they had worked her too hard. From what I've read the show had an extremely punishing schedule and Sarah as the lead it seems was burned out by the end of it due to the schedule and her dissatisfaction with the scripts. Who can blame her, but it does make her character feel a bit more jaded and hollow in the last season.

 

[katmobile]

Series 1-5 Buffy.

She is one of the best heroes in anything in those series. She is likable, brave, hilarious, looks out for the underdog, (like Willow when she is being bullied by Cordelia.) She isn't perfect however. She makes quite a few big mistakes, gets scared of villains like The Master and even some monsters of the week like Sunday and Kralik, but she always manages to overcome her fear and gets back up again after being smacked about. (That's what makes her defeat of badguys like the Master, Glory, Adam and even Sunday all the more satisfying in the end.)

Her screw ups are both heartbreaking like Angelus, facing the Master alone, and hilarious like when she falls through the roof into Sunday's house. She is the perfect hero.

Series 6 Buffy's depression meanwhile is a bit too hard to watch, and I HATE her relationship with Spike. I also hate the retconning that Buffy was attracted to Angelus (IE monster in her man) rather than Angel IE the human side. I'm sorry the idea that Buffy was attracted to Vampires or that Vampires get her hot, is creepy.

She's seen them as monsters more than anyone else. Her being with Angel isn't the same thing, because he was basically a man in a Vampire body in terms of his morals. I get that she might like the danger, but still when it gets to an actual monster LOL then it's creepy. I somehow doubt Buffy gets hot every time she faces a Vampire.

Season 7 Buffy might be even worse. I know old ground but it's true. Mocking a suicide victim was her low point, but even that aside she is really unreasonable, sanctimonious and Sarah seems a bit tired and even ill during that series. I think they had worked her too hard. From what I've read the show had an extremely punishing schedule and Sarah as the lead it seems was burned out by the end of it due to the schedule and her dissatisfaction with the scripts. Who can blame her, but it does make her character feel a bit more jaded and hollow in the last season.

I think it's more that there comes a point where having a bonkers schedule catches up with you and also she'd just got married and I think quite often your priorities change after that. She may not have liked some of the direction Buffy was going in but I don't think it's the whole story and I think sometimes Sarah looked tired but I don't think she was phoning it in at any stage I think that's projection from people who don't like season seven. I know Sarah didn't like season six she still gave it her all acting wise.
I never see her as mocking a suicide victim I think she just lost patience and got annoyed that everyone just expected her to do all of the work and make all the sacrifices. Giles responded to accusations he was over working Buffy in season two with I'm sorry but if I'm doing it it's because I know what you've got to face. I think if you're working your ass off to save people who don't seem to be grateful half of the time and one of them can't even save themself from themself that's got to be frustrating to the point you lose it. Buffy has a lot of compassion but she's never been a saint.

 

[darkspook]

Season 2 Buffy. She is engaging she heroic, she is strong when she needs to be and above all... funny. Season 2 Buffy was a master of sarcastic asides, I've realised watching some of the older episodes and was amazed how often she's wisecracking in an everyday basis. She's nearly as comical as Xander ior Cordelia a lot of the times, although her humor tends to be smarter and less goofy. That dried up towards the end of the series.

 

[NothingVentured]

I think it's more that there comes a point where having a bonkers schedule catches up with you and also she'd just got married and I think quite often your priorities change after that. She may not have liked some of the direction Buffy was going in but I don't think it's the whole story and I think sometimes Sarah looked tired but I don't think she was phoning it in at any stage I think that's projection from people who don't like season seven. I know Sarah didn't like season six she still gave it her all acting wise.
I never see her as mocking a suicide victim I think she just lost patience and got annoyed that everyone just expected her to do all of the work and make all the sacrifices. Giles responded to accusations he was over working Buffy in season two with I'm sorry but if I'm doing it it's because I know what you've got to face. I think if you're working your ass off to save people who don't seem to be grateful half of the time and one of them can't even save themself from themself that's got to be frustrating to the point you lose it. Buffy has a lot of compassion but she's never been a saint.

Bingo. Sarah looks tired out in S7 because Buffy is worn out in S7. It's quite literally the storyline.

People make far too much of that line.

 

[Joan the Vampire Slayer]

I'm also going to go with S5 Buffy. She's come into herself, knows who she is and how to use her power wisely. She's matured and developed a strong confidence. But she's not yet jaded and still has a lot of hope for the future.

 

[LemonBanana]

I quite enjoyed S3 as well, I do think they are all amazing though and I do find it quite tough to decide if I like mature intense Buffy, or cute innocent Buffy. I think her first few years were much more of a child's TV programme, where as the later ones are for more mature kids and teens.

 

[sunny]

I like season 7, tactician and army chief Buffy. She appears more distant in this season, but as an introvert who see her as a role model, I find it interesting to see this new facet of her personality : more and more untouchable, but full of confidence and inspiring a lot of respect. Her speeches are really meaningful throughout this season. I also liked the fact that she has overcomed her depression, and she he's now moving forward, following her convictions, stronger than ever, ready to use and share her power to make things right.

 

[Faded90]

I like season 7, tactician and army chief Buffy. She appears more distant in this season, but as an introvert who see her as a role model, I find it interesting to see this new facet of her personality : more and more untouchable, but full of confidence and inspiring a lot of respect. Her speeches are really meaningful throughout this season. I also liked the fact that she has overcomed her depression, and she he's now moving forward, following her convictions, stronger than ever, ready to use and share her power to make things right.

S7 Buffy is a strange one for me to weigh up. Like I think a lot of the criticism she gets is unfair as I completely understand her perspective and position all season. She’s kind of battered from all directions and I feel like I just want to give her a hug 😂. I do find the Spike fangirling too much though, I’m all for empowering ‘I believe in you Spike’ but I find it a bit nauseating at times this season and it doesn’t feel quite believable. I feel like this kind of reflects in Sarah’s performance, now I am a total SMG fan girl, I think she’s just perfect as Buffy but I felt like some of her lines with Spike I just didn’t quite buy. Like the ‘I’m tired of weird mixed signals...... does it have to mean anything?’ scene, I feel like she doesn’t quite know how to play it so it’s hard to see how Buffy is really feeling in this scene. The writing for this scene is very all over the place as well though

I do think End of Days/Chosen Buffy is Buffy at her absolute peak as a character though

 

[sweetiepie]

I like the Buffy of the first three seasons.

 

[RogueSlayer111]

Hmmm, I would have to go with either Season 4!Buffy ("And you're very, very old. And it's gross.") and Season 5!Buffy. I especially loved that moment between Willow and Buffy where Willow goes into a catatonic!Buffy's mind and talks to her younger self.

I really love season 7! Spike is awesome in this season ("You're one hell of a woman, Buffy. You're the one." 😍)

S7 Buffy is a strange one for me to weigh up. Like I think a lot of the criticism she gets is unfair as I completely understand her perspective and position all season. She’s kind of battered from all directions and I feel like I just want to give her a hug 😂. I do find the Spike fangirling too much though, I’m all for empowering ‘I believe in you Spike’ but I find it a bit nauseating at times this season and it doesn’t feel quite believable. I feel like this kind of reflects in Sarah’s performance, now I am a total SMG fangirl, I think she’s just perfect as Buffy but I felt like some of her lines with Spike I just didn’t quite buy. Like the ‘I’m tired of weird mixed signals...... does it have to mean anything?’ scene, I feel like she doesn’t quite know how to play it so it’s hard to see how Buffy is really feeling in this scene. The writing for this scene is very all over the place as well though

I do think End of Days/Chosen Buffy is Buffy at her absolute peak as a character though

Remember "I'm tired of weird mixed signals. I have Faith for that."? That cracked me up so hard, lol. I'm going down with the Fuffy ship if you didn't get that already.😂 Faith and Buffy's relationship took an interesting turn in this season.

 

[WillowsFaith]

Season 3 Buffy, cuz she is at a point where she is trained enough to take out multiple vampires relatively easily and the relationship dynamic of the scoobies are at its best. Also she isn’t as depressed as the later seasons or super serious about the mission at hand. Season 7 Buffy would say the mission is all that matters, but season 3 Buffy cares more for her friends and Giles. (I understand she was going through a lot of trauma from her resurrection and mother’s death.) but I think younger Buffy was ironically more relatable then s6 & s7. She wanted her friends to have a normal prom, She was genuinely happy for Willow to go to the same college as her, and even her intense love for Angel was realistic. Ok maybe a little over dramatic😂 but still, Buffy had more passion in earlier seasons. But overall Buffy still has a great arc and proves the small Blonde girls can kick butt 👏

 

[thrasherpix]

So far, my experiment of starting from season 5 is NOT going to make me like the later seasons better than the earlier ones (this doesn't mean I don't like them), and I don't know if I'm gonna give s7 a full rewatch as I'd planned when starting this experiment. So I like Buffy and the show more pre-Dawnverse (not that I hate Dawn).

Though that said, season 6 is the only season other than season 1 in which I keep liking the early episodes.

 

[BibliophileAnn]

Season 2 Buffy. Buffy is growing as a Slayer. She is getting better and more skilled especially after taking care of The Master. We get to see Buffy in a relationship with Angel and we find out how funny Buffy is. She is getting more training and we get to see her with something other than a stake. For instance: Stick and Rocket Launcher. She is lighter this season at least up until Angelous makes an appearance. Her outfits and hair are good. We also get to see one of the best defining moments in Buffy’s time as a Slayer.

 

[whatdBuffyDo]

Specifically, the Buffy in Becoming pt. 1&2 + Anne. To me, she has never been that powerful on another occasion.

 

[AlphaFoxtrot]

I would also like to give a shout-out to Movie Buffy.

 

[Bufy]

Oh this is a tough one… I think i’ll go with season 2 because she was matured enough to make the tough decision of killing angel, she also came out of the slayer closet and had to deal with lots of issues that helped her get there throughout.

 

[BuffyNvrForgets]

I'd say Earlier teenage Buffy from seasons 1-3 are my favorite.
My least favorite is last-half-of-season 7 Buffy. I call her Grumpy Buffy (Or Gruffy) Because once the Potentials come in, she's just super serious, and worried and...well...grumpy all the time. She just looses her joy and spunk. All of a sudden she is all "We have to prepare for war", and it's like they make for 40 years older as soon as the potentials darken the stoop!

 

[Skeletor Rigby]

I don't know if I can choose a favorite Buffy, but I'm definitely more prone to sticking up for her in the later seasons. Girl has been through A Lot and the Buffy we see in S7 once the Potentials start rolling in makes absolute sense to me and I tend to be especially protective of her compared to other seasons mostly bc of how she's talked about. She was never supposed to be a "General" and now suddenly she is thrust into this new role which is completely antithetical to what her role has always been or is supposed to have been. She's worked with her friends from the beginning which is what made her different and ultimately more successful as a Slayer, but she's never had to wrangle a bunch of strangers who have zero context (and in some cases respect) for who she is, what she's done, and what she's been through and she has to, on top of everything else, constantly prove herself to them - there's little to no margin for error so when she screws up she loses them and has to work even harder to get them back. She has a degree of pressure on her which is different from what she's ever experienced before (I'm not even going to get into her fractured relationship with Giles bc that deserves it's own thread) - it's not just about Saving The World, she is directly responsible for these individuals' (very young) lives which is why she distances herself. It's protective - she even says as much in Touched - "I knew I was going to lose some of them" and she has intimate and unbelievably painful knowledge of what it feels like to lose people she loves/cares about. She has to harden herself and it's something she said specifically in S5 that she was afraid of. I have a real soft spot for S7 even though I think it's a bit messier than other seasons overall, but I love Buffy's ultimate journey in it. It makes sense to me considering everything she has been through and I love that by the end of it, she Becomes. She is at her peak, and it's bc of the mistakes she's made that she gets there. I love that she gets a degree of closure from the trauma of S2 or is at least able to finally move past it, which to my mind has had the biggest impact on her as a character in terms of how she operates. That she comes out the other side of everything able to be open and not cut herself off from others anymore and that that is what ultimately saves the world... I love it. When she shares her power is when she is at her most powerful and I think that's pretty... powerful. Anyway, #JusticeForS7Buffy lol.

So far, my experiment of starting from season 5 is NOT going to make me like the later seasons better than the earlier ones (this doesn't mean I don't like them), and I don't know if I'm gonna give s7 a full rewatch as I'd planned when starting this experiment.

I'm a weirdo and usually when I do a rewatch I start with S5, finish off the series and then go to 1 and finish at either "Restless" or "The Gift" or if I'm feeling especially into it watch to the end again lol. I think it's bc I started watching in real time with S6 and S5 is very much connected to S6 for me, but also I find when I watch it in this order and I circle back around to the beginning all of this foreshadowing (intended or not) starts popping up. It's kind of why I am so firmly on the side of No One Is Actually Ever Out Of Character even when it seems they might be - I've found there is always a thread or even a moment to point to. I feel like I've only really watched it in the correct order twice actually 😂...

@thrasherpix Just out of curiosity, where do you think it's misaligned? Idk about 'realistic' as it's still a supernatural show at the end of the day, but I don't usually use that word when thinking or talking about S6 myself. I think of S6 more as the season where all of the trauma of the past 5 years finally catches up to everyone. The handling of Willow's storyline feels the most After School Special to me personally, but that's more to do with the execution than the actual idea. Willow going off the rails re: magic completely works for me in terms of where she's been heading.