Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
"Give me something to siiiiing about!", 5 Mar 2007
In season six of Buffy The Vampire Slayer we learn that not even death can keep a good slayer down, as Buffy returns from the grave to kick more demons in the face but make notably fewer quips while doing so. This is a controversial year for fans - one where our characters are left to fend for themselves and they all screw up horribly - and it sees the slight sense of despair that crept in during season five taken to the next level: The Level of Extreme Misery and Depression. The end result is a year of episodes that, while still very good, lose their grip on the fun aspect of the show and may be a little on the gloomy side for some tastes.
So, while Buffy may be back in the land of the living, she's not at all happy about it. She's depressed, isolated, broke, involved in a self-destructive relationship with Spike, and, thanks to her new job at the Doublemeat Palace, she stinks of grease. It's an interesting and different approach to take with our heroine, the only problem with it being that the writers push things much too far at times, and there are moments when you find yourself wishing for a swift return of the perky and strong-willed young woman you came to know and love way back in season one.
Adding to the darkness this year is Willow, whose dalliances with magic finally send her spiraling out of control, leading her to wrest the coveted title of 'Big Bad' away from ostensible villains The Trio toward the end of the season. This is a story that feels like it's been building for a number of years, which I think is why I enjoy it so much. It's painfully heavy-handed at times (the magic=drugs metaphor, in particular, is hammered home with all the grace of an angry troll), but overall it still works and is probably the most emotional story the show has told since Angel went bad in season two. Of course, it doesn't hurt that it allows Alyson Hannigan to show what a talented actress she is, and she does a wonderful job of portraying the many different sides to Willow's character as she progresses from powerful witch to hopeless addict to grief-stricken madwoman. Nice one, Alyson Hannigan.
Episode-wise, there are only a couple of stinkers this year (the dreary Doublemeat Palace and Riley's unwanted return in As You Were), but there are plenty of top quality entries into the Buffy canon. The Bargaining is an excellent opener, Tabula Rasa provides a very funny respite from the gloom, Xander adds to the heartbreak in Hells Bells, and Amber Benson makes a long-awaited but bittersweet appearance in the opening titles of Seeing Red. Last but by no means least is Joss Whedon's one and only contribution this year, Once More With Feeling, the stunning musical episode that most would agree is the pinnacle of Buffy's installments.
So, despite one or two miss-steps (and a character, Dawn, who has very little to do now that Glory is out of the picture), I still think season six is an excellent year for Buffy. The plot points build on one another beautifully, many of the episodes are first rate, and The Trio provide a decent amount of comic relief from all the gloom. It is, therefore, only the despondent tone that stops me from recommending season six whole-heartedly. This is a year of grief, heartache and rage, with not quite enough humour to keep it from becoming depressing. It's still a very good watch for Buffy fans, but be warned - it's also kind of a downer.
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13 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Absolutely fantastic, 23 Dec 2006
People who write this season off have no idea what they're talking about. They complain about the season lacking an overall story arc, but the entire point of this season was to be different. Following from the gigantic concepts involved in season 5, I praise the writers for not trying to 'top' that. Instead, they think small, and choose three irrelevant teenage boys to be the 'big bad' of the season.
The reason they chose three irrelevant boys, is because the entire season isn't based around corporeal supernatural monsters that can be fought. It's about internal struggles within the characters, and I remain to be amazed at the depth of the emotion explored. In some ways, I'm not surprised that many fans didn't like this season because the characters take such a change in direction. Buffy battles with her feelings about being ripped from heaven, struggling to feel any real emotion towards anyone or anything. Her relationship with Spike is fuelled with such complicity and 'Dead Things' is undoubtedly the highlight of Buffy's emotional turmoil. Similarly, Willow is wrapped up in her own battle of morals.
'Seeing Red' is, without a doubt, my favourite episode of all time. While it isn't as grand as some from Season 5, I have never seen an episode that changed my perception of the characters so quickly. The season reminds me of something created by Hitchcock - the majority of the season is fairly quiet, with a few tensions lurking beneath the surface, then suddenly the final 7 episodes see everything explode.
Buffy and Willow more or less carry this season by themselves. There are underlying storylines for Xander, Anya, Giles and Dawn, but the writers really hit this one out of the park with Buffy and Willow.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Dark, beautifully shot, subtle...Depressing? Hardly..., 2 Sep 2008
Season six, for me is a very powerful, evocative and overall a lot more subtle than seasons before it. As said in a previous review, "People who write this season off have no idea what they're talking about." and quite rightly so. This season was completely about taking a step back after the cataclysmic climax of season five, and dealing with its results. As a result of season five's story, Buffy is resurrected by the gang, and the way in which she dealt with that was extremely true to life, her reaction to said resurrection, is one that many who have suffered with or are suffering with depression will completely relate to. The same can be said for Willow and her ongoing battle with her excessive uses of magic. People have tarred the season as being "depressing" but in truth, the only depressing thing is that they lack the, dare I say it...Intelligence, open mindedness and patience to appreciate the intricate web of subtlety that is the epitome of this season.
Season six, was I think great because of the way the tension is gradually and sometimes very subtly built upon until it is suddenly let loose in the final throws of this intelligently written and darkly beautiful season, which paved the way for the less "depressing" Buffy swan-song season seven.
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