Buffy the Vampire Slayer - Season 6 Box Set 2 [VHS] [1998]

From the point of view of my pro-Spike and pro-Buffy/Spike relationshippingness, Buffy's using of Spike turned out to be a disappointment. Joss should have never left the writers on their own for this season, and maybe even Marti shouldn't have co-produced the show along with him. At the end of S5, Spike was being treated like a man. This all goes down the drain in S6, especially in "Dead Things". Also, the near-rape scene in "Seeing Red". Not fun. Not IC for Spike. Might be a demon, still can love. If you love someone, you don't do that to them. Sure, opens the gate for the whole Soulful!Spike idea, but still, iffy.

Also, Buffy is not a character completely incapable of love. If the season had continued on the way I would have wanted it to be, she wouldn't have ended up using Spike and feeling nothing for him in the end. Still, I'm biased. Blatantly biased.

Dawn was also written a little too young in this season. If she had been written her age - which happens to be my current age - the transition from S6 Dawn to S7 Dawn wouldn't have seemed so sudden. She goes from pastels and sneakers to black and high heels.

I know that power corrupts the best of people, but with Willow... it was almost taken too far. Also, Tara's death was completely unnecessary. Yes, it made Willow become the Big Bad, but it was a shame. Amber Benson should have been in the opening credits for all of the season, not just the episode where her character was killed off.

Also, the Troika - the Three Geeks. A little mixed on that. Sometimes it was strong, sometimes weak. There was vague comic relief, and Warren's transition from robot-making guy to Big Bad was a little off-putting at first, but the idea of having a real, human villain was good. A little strange, though - demons can't be good, can be killed. Humans can be evil, can't be killed. Biased, much? And Jonathan. I love the little guy! Him going all Big Bad wannabe was a little iffy. Of course, he was redeemed. Andrew was just annoying.

Things of the likeage -

Xander and Anya. The drama in their relationship was enjoyable, probably the best thing during the entire season. Also, Halfrek. The appearance of William the Bloody's old love object as a vengeance demon was simply too sweet.

Xander and Willow's scene in "Grave". It's refreshing to see the normal guy save the world for once. By talking about yellow crayons, too.

Highlight episodes of this set -

"Hell's Bells", "Normal Again", "Entropy", "Two to Go", and "Grave". "Villains" wasn't bad. "Doublemeat Palace", "Dead Things", "Older and Far Away", "As You Were", and "Seeing Red" were simply unenjoyable.

A decent season, if not a slight disappointment. It's nice to see that S7 has picked itself up off the ground better than S6 did.

I'd buy this set. Strangely enough, I'd almost say it's better than the first.

"Dead Things" - 9/10. Excellent episode, excellent cinematography and acting, and the drama elements were very well done.

"Older and Far Away" - 3/10. A whine-fest. Anya and Dawn have tantrums like they're three year olds. The high-point is the sword-swinging demon.

"As You Were" - 9/10. Riley has never been my favourite character but I really liked this episode. There were some great lines ("Troublemeat palace") and some further development for Buffy.

"Hell's Bells" - 5/10. I really used to like this episode, but everytime I watch it it declines in quality. The jokes aren't funny, the motives are awful (I hate Xander now) and the whole Buffy feel wasn't there.

"Normal Again" - 9/10. Terrific and original episode, with some particularly disturbing scenes in the mental hospital. Lots of subtle touches make this one a must-see.

"Entropy" - 8/10. Very good drama episode. Emma Caulfield and James Marsters are great. The first half is weak, the second half is brilliant.

"Seeing Red" - 10/10. One of those amazing episodes that mixes outrageous comedy with tragic sadness. Tara's death was shocking and sudden, and Willow's red eyes are the single best Buffy shot in history.

"Villains" - 10/10. I must've watched this brilliant episode about 20 times. It's truly amazing, Alyson Hannigan is incredible. Everything here is great, making it only second to "Once More, With Feeling" in the season 6 best-of list.

"Two to Go" - 9/10. This episode is almost a 10/10 but there is some silly dialogue here that brings it down a notch. The Buffy-Willow fight is classic.

"Grave" - 9/10. Had to rewatch this to get to really like it. Now I love it. Alyson Hannigan continues her run of great performances, all the Magic Box scenes are great, and the scene with Willow and Xander is classic.

SEASON 6 AVERAGE: 7.7/10. Even with some bad episodes ("Older and Far Away", "DoubleMeat Palace"), this box set is worth buying just to see Black Magick Willow, probably my personal favourite villain ever.