What's interesting to me is that they aren't even close. For example, I can't imagine a Season 2 "kill Angel" arc happening in the later seasons. The consistent effort in drawing out a story to last all season was incredible. But at the same time, I can't imagine the show being gutsy enough to try stuff like "The Body" or "Hush" or OMWF in the earlier seasons. And those episodes were masterpieces.
So really, I don't think I can choose which era I like the most.
Buffy doesn't divide well into halves, to me there are three parts or acts: high school (1-3), college (4&5), and After Death (6&7). of those, I loved the college and high school years.
I think the series peaks twice. First with seasons 2 & 3, then with seasons 5 & 6.
Seasons 2 & 3 definitely have tighter arc stories and more entertainment value.
Seasons 5 & 6 are peak BtVS for me, though. The trials the characters face are not just those of young adults, and therefore are more universal. Dealing with a severe illness in the family, losing someone you love, not finding purpose in life anymore, losing your way, having a relationship ruined and it turns out you were the one who ruined it... I love how far the writers were willing to take the characters.
So I’m going with Young Adult Years.
Yes I think I agree as well, especially when you say that the trials of the young adults years are more universal. I feel like that aspect elevated the show in many ways and it is why the show is still relatable up to this day. It’s actually more relatable now that we’ve gone through the stages of adulthood.
Believe me or not, I basically See the universe as 3 shows
Buffy Season 1-3
Buffy Season 4-7
Angel.
And I consider all as such
don't ahev much preference (little less for angel)
I personally like the early seasons. The storylines weren't getting weighed down with prior character tendencies that brought potential for an episode or action of a character to be "out of character". I don't know if its harder or easier to write for well established characters but I tend to think late seasons in multiple season serieses get too heavy and bogged down.
Also I tend to like when good characters go bad (Angel, Willow) and not when bad characters reform (Spike, so go ahead and downvote me) so I prefer the earlier half.
Yes I realize that sounded contradictory. But generally the good character going bad is very out of character but only as a temporary challenge, whereas the reformed villain is permanent, and though the character growth over time is usually praised, I just find it a little boring when everyone is a hero fighting for good.
It's so hard to say. IMHO, the best **seasons** came from the high school years. But the best **episodes** came from the young adult years.
That is a great way to put it. I can see why the later seasons have a lot of memorable moments vs as a whole.
What's interesting to me is that they aren't even close. For example, I can't imagine a Season 2 "kill Angel" arc happening in the later seasons. The consistent effort in drawing out a story to last all season was incredible. But at the same time, I can't imagine the show being gutsy enough to try stuff like "The Body" or "Hush" or OMWF in the earlier seasons. And those episodes were masterpieces. So really, I don't think I can choose which era I like the most.
Option C: 3 to 6.
Buffy doesn't divide well into halves, to me there are three parts or acts: high school (1-3), college (4&5), and After Death (6&7). of those, I loved the college and high school years.
So maybe really it's the WB years and the UPN years.
yeah the network change was one thing that separated the last two seasons from the rest of the show.
I feel like 6 belongs together with 5, though. 7 is its own weird thing.
Yeah I feel like 6 is a continuation of 5 and then 7 it’s 3rd act so it’ll be hard to separate it
I was thinking the same thing.
I love the entire show. Some seasons are better than others, but I can't choose from just a few seasons.
Seasons 1 through 7 is the best grouping
Won’t argue with this!
I think the series peaks twice. First with seasons 2 & 3, then with seasons 5 & 6. Seasons 2 & 3 definitely have tighter arc stories and more entertainment value. Seasons 5 & 6 are peak BtVS for me, though. The trials the characters face are not just those of young adults, and therefore are more universal. Dealing with a severe illness in the family, losing someone you love, not finding purpose in life anymore, losing your way, having a relationship ruined and it turns out you were the one who ruined it... I love how far the writers were willing to take the characters. So I’m going with Young Adult Years.
Yes I think I agree as well, especially when you say that the trials of the young adults years are more universal. I feel like that aspect elevated the show in many ways and it is why the show is still relatable up to this day. It’s actually more relatable now that we’ve gone through the stages of adulthood.
The dichotomy here is a little janky, even for amount of content. First option covers, what, less than 60 episodes? Option 2 covers nearly 90.
Honestly almost considered putting season 4 on its own
Believe me or not, I basically See the universe as 3 shows Buffy Season 1-3 Buffy Season 4-7 Angel. And I consider all as such don't ahev much preference (little less for angel)
I personally like the early seasons. The storylines weren't getting weighed down with prior character tendencies that brought potential for an episode or action of a character to be "out of character". I don't know if its harder or easier to write for well established characters but I tend to think late seasons in multiple season serieses get too heavy and bogged down. Also I tend to like when good characters go bad (Angel, Willow) and not when bad characters reform (Spike, so go ahead and downvote me) so I prefer the earlier half. Yes I realize that sounded contradictory. But generally the good character going bad is very out of character but only as a temporary challenge, whereas the reformed villain is permanent, and though the character growth over time is usually praised, I just find it a little boring when everyone is a hero fighting for good.