So there comes a time in every person's life where they realize that their favorite TV show isn't perfect. Having that realization and explaining some of the reasons behind it in a public forum are two completely different things, and yet here I am, about to do just that ("forced to do that" might be a better phrase to use, as I've been told certain photographs will be released if I do not cooperate and, well, that just wouldn't be pleasant. For everyone). Luckily (?) for me, doing so in this case is not actually as mental-scar-inducing as it might be otherwise, as the show in question is Buffy, and the lack-o'-perfection in question is Season 6.

I have already extolled the virtues of Buffy in general around these parts, and in doing so made mention of my dislike of Season 6. Before going into details about the reasons why, though, a confession must be made (*gasp*)… I haven't actually watched Season 6 in years (with the exception of the musical episode, “Once More With Feeling”, of course). Why? Well, 'cause I didn't like it, obviously. But because of this, my forthcoming list of things that bugged me from the season is mostly coming from memory. I am not completely rigid in my opinions, though (really, I am like the Geek Speak version of Gumby, even down to the funky green color -- don't ask), and thus perhaps even I could be swayed by the eloquent and insightful comments by my opponent, at least enough to watch the Season again (what, being forced to watch more Buffy? Horrors!). But confessions/disclaimers/escape-routes aside, here are some of the things that really bugged me about Season 6.

Warren, Jonathan and Andrew, evil masterminds.

1. The Trio

Okay, time for confession #2. I am a geek. Yes, I realize that such a statement is incredibly earth-shattering to you, faithful readers, but it is true. As such, I can fully appreciate the humor the Trio provided. Quite the amusing (and somewhat endearing, perhaps) comic relief. What they weren't, though, were viable antagonists. Too much comic relief to really be taken as a serious threat. So the fact that they were around essentially the entire season as the only season-long-big-bad (besides the Scoobies themselves) just didn't work for me. I would have been fine with them creating/summoning/otherwise-being-the-cause-of an actual Big Bad halfway through the season, but lasting the entire season? Um, no. Plus, I never bought Jonathan (Danny Strong) being a bad guy. At all. Yes, I realize he attempted to redeem himself by the end of the season, but why was he being a bad guy to begin with? Just seemed out of character. So overall, geeky, Buffy-versions of the Three Stooges? Sure. A veritable Triumvirate of Terror? I think not.

Dark Willow.

2. Willow

Speaking of people acting out of character, one of the central plots for the entire season was Willow's addition to magic. I didn't buy it. It's not that the concept was bad, per se - it was the execution (errr... the execution of the concept... not the actual execution performed by Willow herself later in the season). The way it was built up felt out of character considering Willow had started exploring magic use at the end of the second season. At no time between then and the sixth season has there been a hint of the idea that a) Willow had an addiction-prone personality, and b) magic was addictive (at least in the way it was portrayed here). How Willow turned dark and evil due to Tara's death... that I could buy. Corruption due to magic use? That fit. But addiction? Not so much.

Tara's complicated magecraft.

3. Magic

As an aside (though not one explicitly in parentheses, which, I realize, is out of character for me), most magic in previous seasons of Buffy seemed to require some amount of effort -- a ritual, an incantation, something. So it also struck me as odd the extent in this season to which Willow (and Witch Amy) were throwing magic around randomly without much thought or effort. Seemed inconsistent.



 

Damn.

4. Spike/Buffy

Returning to the theme of characters acting out of character, I also had issues with the... err... "relationship" between Spike and Buffy. Maybe I'm scarred and biased against it due to the fact that after several years I was finally able to convince my grandmother to watch the show (she's one cool lady) and the first episode she watches is "Smashed" in which Spike and Buffy... err... connect, and thus fervently wish that it had never happened. But still... Spike was a vampire, without a soul. He found out he could hurt Buffy. I think he would have killed her. I was okay with his Buffy-obsession that had been present throughout the past several seasons, but just couldn't believe this payoff being in character him. And neither with Buffy. I understand what they were going for with Buffy's dealing with returning from the dead and all the issues thereof, but I thought it felt forced by the writers to have Buffy and Spike hook up.

Joss Whedon's sole Season 6 episode warranted its own soundtrack album.

5. Writing

Which brings me to the overall issue I think I had with the season: the writing wasn't up to Buffy-standards. Maybe it was because the team was too ambitious with their plot ideas, particularly due to this being the first season on a new network. Maybe Joss was too distracted with both Angel and preparing for Firefly to make sure this season was up to the quality of past seasons (really, this only had one Joss written/directed episode. One!). Whatever the reason, the season felt full of plot and character inconsistencies, without the quotable and clever writing (with exceptions, of course) to make up for it.

"Would you like human with that?"

6. “Doublemeat Palace”

As a final aside... "Doublemeat Palace"... really? Really. Terrible episode. No excuse for such an episode six seasons into a kickass show.

But overall, Season 6. Not a good season. Rather disappointing. Not without its merits or high points, to be sure, but certainly lacking the quality of Buffy of seasons past. When introducing the show to new watchers (which you are all doing even to this day, right?), don't start with this season. Particularly episode 9 "Smashed". <Shudder> 

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Further Reading

Geek Speak's Buffy the Vampire Slayer review, by K. Burtt

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