Buffy - Season 6

[thalia_seawood]

Okay, I had planned on waiting a bit until starting with season 6, but then I wanted to take just a little peak - and ended up watching for 2 hours. So now I've seen Bargaining and Afterlife. What can I say? So far, I really like this season...


I like how the atmosphere has changed from bright and electric into something very different. All the shots are darker. Even bright scenes that play on the outside have such a stillness to them they mostly feel ominous and claustrophobic. This made me realise that we see the world through Buffy's eyes during the course of this series. Now that she feels displaced in the world, we are confronted with the darkness she perceives.

Another thing by which I'm fascinated is that the Scoobies don't want to see what's happening. They all sense something is off, but don't want to face the truth. They all started to deceive themselves; even Tara doesn't want to see any flaws in Willow.

I noticed that so far the only one who has no expectations for Buffy is Spike. Most importantly, he doesn't expect her to be happy.

Just so much: If season 6 continues along these lines, I'll be a happy fangirl. Well, maybe not happy, but gloomy due to all the darkness. But gloomy in the best of ways. *g*


And now I really should start catching up with my season 5 posts. *g*

Comments

Season Six...

[chelsearoad.livejournal.com]

is my favorite. But I love Season Seven, too. And Season Five...and Season Three...

LOL But really, those are my final favorites.

Season Two is really good, though.

I'd say Seasons One and Four were my least favorite, but I love them devotedly, too.

Re: Season Six...

[thalia-seawood.livejournal.com]

Yes, it's very hard to pick.

Even Season 1 who is certainly the weakest season isn't bad. It's entertaining and does a great job of introducing the characters and keeping continuity. Especially the final season 1 episodes started exploring interesting territory.

Well, it's like having seven children. You couldn't decide which one you love most either. :-)

Re: Season Six...

[spikeylover.livejournal.com]

bwa ha! I love your post...

[ruuger]

S6 is definetely the darkest of the seasons and downright nasty at times, but I liked it a lot (although some of my least favourite episodes are on this season). I had some problems with the execution of the season - at times it felt like the writers' motto this season was "who needs plot when you have naked James Marsters" - but I love many of the themes explored this season.

Speaking of which, if you're still doing the naked-Spike drinking game, I suggest a non-alcoholic drink unless you want to spend most of the season drunk :)

[thalia-seawood.livejournal.com]

Speaking of which, if you're still doing the naked-Spike drinking game, I suggest a non-alcoholic drink unless you want to spend most of the season drunk :)

Thanks for the advice!
Not really looking forward to naked-Spike. Seeing his abs always gives me the impression that the writers wanted to bribe fans into liking him. ("See how hot he is? Don't you think he's sexy and cool and the best character ever?!") However, I find him intriguing with his clothes *on*!! It's nice that he's good looking, but I don't pick my favorite characters because of their looks.

[spikeylover.livejournal.com]

After the Gift, it gets so intense, you have to see what happens. I find the whole season fascinating and deep. OH YAY, you get to watch ONCE MORE WITH FEELING and TABULA RASA. (two of the great episodes)

[ladyaeryn.livejournal.com]

I know I haven't commented lately, but I've been enjoying your reaction posts. :) I find myself agreeing with a lot of it, and in other cases your insights have caused me to look at some things I thought I didn't like in a manner that makes them seem a bit more sensible. I've been waiting to see your reactions to seasons 6 and 7, since they seem to be considered by many to be the weakest of the series. I think the season gets more of a bad rap than it warrants; some of my top favorite episodes ("Once More With Feeling," "Tabula Rasa") are from season 6 - but many of my leasts are as well.

I agree season 6 starts off well. (Buffy's "Is this Hell?" to Dawn on the tower makes me sniffly every time.) My favorite part is probably Buffy's "life after death" journey, much of which I find understandable - even relatable - and think it comes to a satisfying conclusion in the finale. It's when the writers start delving into a storyline I really don't think gels with what's been previously established in the series (and stumble some with another storyline) that I think the season takes a not especially good turn, but there's still some good stuff.

[thalia-seawood.livejournal.com]

I'm really curious to see season 6 & 7 and discover what I make of them. I haven't read many fannish opinions which gives me the freedom to make up my own mind. (As opposed to Star Wars where I usually reacted to the opinions of others. I don't know how often I have defended the prequels or tried to explain that I find Anakin fascinating without approving of what he does. That gets kind of tiring after a while.)
My advantage is that I don't have to wait weeks or months between episodes, so I will build up less expectations to then be disappointed. The more you wait for something, the more you may hope for something in particular. And if this doesn't happen, you might feel let down.

[selenak.livejournal.com]

As you know, I'm a firm season 6 fangirl.

This made me realise that we see the world through Buffy's eyes during the course of this series. Now that she feels displaced in the world, we are confronted with the darkness she perceives.

Yes, we do. And right now we're, as Spike termed it in an earlier season, Sunnyhell.

IMO, Buffy's resurrection is that really rare case where killing off a character and then reviving her/him doesn't devalue the original death emotionally and doesn't look cheap, precisely for what it does to Buffy and the overall season 6 darkness that follows.

[thalia-seawood.livejournal.com]

Yes, this seems to be a season about consequences. It's a theme they started in season 5, but now it's even more striking.

[spikeylover.livejournal.com]

I think if someone did a poll they would be surprised how many of us LOVE season six. Like I've said, TIME MAGAZINE named the latter seasons the best, and I strongly agree with that.

The early seasons are great (particularly three) but in two, (which is held up as one of the greatest), I think there are some major weaknesses, mostly the the stand alone episodes. For example, after the amazing I ONLY HAVE EYES FOR YOU, in the midst of the Angelus arc (and Spike stands up and bashes his wheelchair) we get an episode like GO FISH, and it takes momentum away. That's my one beef about the early seasons, otherwise I think all of them have their merits. Certainly I think JOss is the best writer of the bunch, butt he didn't really get his top notch best writing team formed until season five with Espenson, DeKnight, Fury, RRK and Marti.

[thalia-seawood.livejournal.com]

Season 2 has some very mediocre episodes like "Bad Eggs", "Inca Mummy Girl" or "Reptile Boy". Good thing is that even these episodes had some highlights.
But yes, the writers got better and better with creating big character arcs.

[likeadeuce.livejournal.com]

There is great stuff in the opening 2parter, but I particularly love "After Life" -- I would ship Spike/Buffy based on this ep alone.

[thalia-seawood.livejournal.com]

I *love* how their relationship has changed from snarky to quiet. The final scene in "After Life" with Buffy confiding in him. Wow! Just wonderful!
I didn't look for Spike/Buffy fiction before, but will now.

[likeadeuce.livejournal.com]

I don't read Spuffy, really, at all -- the canon satisfies me compltely -- but I'm sure some people could rec the good stuff --

[thalia-seawood.livejournal.com]

I can easily imagine that there's a huge amount of extremely sugary Spike/Buffy out there. Not something I would want to read.

Per chance, I discovered a good writer named Gwyneth Rhys and read "The Living" from her yesterday. Very interesting prose and some great insight into what could motivate the characters. No fluffy ending either. Here (http://www.drizzle.com/~gwyneth/index.html)'s a link just in case you want to take a look.

[spikeylover.livejournal.com]

When she walks down the stairs, the hand holding, Spike's tears when he finds out he wasn't considered part of the Scoobie gang after all, Every night I save you and then the heaven Confession. James, Sarah and Jane Espenson hit it on all cylinders with the Spuffy chemistry, and they had me hook, like and sinker.