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I’ve known of the show for a long while to the point where I’ve had some of the bigger surprises and main plot points spoiled for me just by being around people that have seen it. That said, having recently completed Season 1, I think, for the most part, I enjoyed it. I’ve got some reservations about Whedon’s dialogue – saying nothing of him as an individual – and this specific brand of quippy banter; I’m a sour sort of soul at heart, and while I like jokes and cracking wise, I can only take so much of this uniquely American brand of humour before I’m fleeing to the comfort of Giles’ occasionally dry wit and reassuringly British outlook on things.
In the aftermath of Season 1, however, I find myself wanting to stop for a little while. That may sound heretical, but I have my reasons. Well, reason—singular. Episode 11, ‘Out of Mind, Out of Sight’, had a far greater effect on me than I’d anticipated, solely due to the emphasis placed on Cordelia and Buffy’s dynamic. I have a vague awareness of where Cordelia’s character ends up, and while I’m fully apprised of Buffy’s present and future romances with Angel and character/s yet to appear , I cannot shake the feeling that these two would make a far better couple! They’ve already got more chemistry than the rather boring, generically stoic bad-boy Angel, and there’s a far more compelling journey there waiting to happen, of a popular girl, who admitted in that episode to putting it on as a bit of an act and feeling lonely even when surrounded by others, coming around to the kind-hearted pariah she never saw for who she really was…
But there I go again, getting side-tracked with potential story ideas that I’ll never get around to writing! 
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Just saying, if those are the reasons you feel like taking a break… watch episode 1 of season 2 first, for the Buffy/Cordelia interactions you get there.
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Well, I’ve finally got round to starting season three of Buffy and woah. You guys weren’t kidding about things taking a step up after the second season. Still a few goofy lines and smidgen of questionable acting, but nonetheless, I’m very glad I listened to you all, even if it took me a while to get back to it. Just that slight bit darker and more mature, and yet made me laugh out loud twice. Colour me invested.
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Three is definitely my favourite season of the whole run.
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You mean it doesn’t steadily improve across its entire run until a season seven that is literally faultless in every single way?
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Not really no… 
Season 4 doesn’t know what to do with itself but it does pick up in 5 and 6. I’ve yet to rewatch 7 but I remember it being fine (even if I don’t remember particularly warming to the Potentials stuff).
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Season 4 is a lot of growing pains (and a season arc truncated by events outside the writers’ control), but it also has some of the best individual episodes and character work in the show; season 5 is my favourite series of television ever.
Season 6 and 7 are more controversial; personally I adore season 6!
Ive just started season 4 again with my friend who’s never seen Buffy and it’s reminding me how much I love this season (despite the Initiative and Riley…)!
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I think my issue with Season 4 is that they don’t really know what to do with Giles or Xander to keep them involved in what’s going on with the high school setting gone. Season 5 is good but it’s one I only really watched this rewatch time round. I think I missed a lot of it first time round for some reason as I don’t remember much of it. I’m also not a huge fan of Glory although I do like the idea of Dawn just appearing in their lives and everyone’s memories being meddled with to place her there.
What were the behind the scenes issues with 4?
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Initially, Seth Green leaving so early; this is one reason why Oz’s departure in Wild at Heart feels so abrupt, but I personally like the way it ended up—Oz and Willow’s breakup feels true to life and it led to Tara’s introduction (one of my favourite characters).
Secondly, and more importantly for the season arc, the actress who played Maggie Walsh also left and her character had to be killed off very abruptly. She and the Initiative were meant to be the Big Bad of the season. Instead the Frankenstein-like character of Adam (whom I haven’t heard anyone liking!) became the Big Bad and the Initiative kind of fell apart as a cohesive part of the series. That’s why the arc of the season feels so unsure in the second half. But it feels like the writers learned from the experience—season 5 is so confident and strong for the offset and builds so wonderfully IMO.
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Interesting. She’s my favorite Big Bad in some ways. I think Clare Kramer’s performance is brilliant, though I can understand why it wouldn’t appeal to everyone.
I agree about Dawn, though. I love how they just dump her in at the end of an episode with no explanation - I’ve even sought out compilations of reactors’ reactions to that moment to see the look on people’s faces.
I thought that was handled so very well - leaving that “where did she come from?” question open just long enough, giving an explanation that makes perfect in-universe sense, Buffy’s and Giles’ decision to keep it secret and protect her, etc.
I thought Sarah Michelle did some great acting around the idea of “I have these memories that I know aren’t real, but they feel real” too.
I’ve generally considered Season 5 my favorite, though it also contains the stuff about Joyce’s health, and I hate that part of it. I’m not suggesting it was a misstep or a bad choice on the writers’ part, I just hate it for the obvious reasons.
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Seasons 2 through 6 are very good, with 2 and 3 being the best of the bunch, imo. Seasons 1 and 7 are decent to good, with probably as many just okay episodes as unquestionably good episodes. I feel like 4, 5, and 6 are pretty equal quality-wise, just in very different ways, with some absolutely standout episodes sandwiched between some “okay, that’s a thing that happened” episodes. Personally, I couldn’t stand the hospital stuff in S5, not because I dislike hospitals, but because I found myself nearly as bored as I am in any medical drama show. The payoff in that episode (you know the one) is incredible, but for me, it was somewhat of a slog to get there.
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I feel like my favorite season big bad was the Mayor. Really interesting character played well.
And while the Master could have been given more interesting stuff to do, the actor playing him was great.
(Ethan Rayne was also a great reoccurring villain, and for a one off, The Gentlemen were amazing…)
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Bargaining, After Life and Flooded recently. I forget how hard the first part of season 6 hits. BTVS really said what if ordinary normal life was the bad guy. What if grief and depression and household bills and low-income work and plumbing and misogyny were worse than every vampire and every demon. And they are!!
I just love Buffy Summers so, so much. She’s everything to meeeee 
!
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