I get what you mean, it kind of does have a turn off quality at the moment. I find myself not bothering to rush to the tv or anything. Its just really loose this season as you pointed out, then again thats how I suppose its supposed to be.

I'm not sure. It's got to a point where I won't rush to see Buffy anymore. Scrubs, I will though. Actually, it is the only programme I'll rush to see now.

To me, Buffy hasn't got the intensity as it did in say season 2 or 3. Although a few eps from season 5 may beg to differ.

In short, I'm not quite as enthrawled as I used to be. Although, don't get me wrong. The last few episodes have made for some very interesting (and sometimes hilarious) viewing.

I do enjoy it, but not nearly as much I as I used to do.
It saddens me because I *loved* Buffy.

I agree, there's just nothing there anymore. I'm not sure I agree with the 'I'll-beat-Spike-up-whenever-I'm-feeling-grumpy' thing she seems to have going on so far either. It reeks of abusive relationships, with no repercussions as yet. Spike was so much better evil than, bruised and helpless.

Perhaps Joss is killing time for a fantastic finale, but there's usually some kind of sub plot going on by now, isn't there?

I understand that the 'big bad' of the series is not yet known due to leaked information... perhaps we have a lot to come in the second half. I really hope so!

Well yeah it has lost a bit of its edge but on the whole im really enjoying the current season, certtainly more than since mid season 4.

I think this season cant be compared to others in that it doesnt follow the big arc structure, its kind of a 'breather' season, with a few character threads. Ive loved OMWF, tabular rasa and life serial. Smashed, Bargaining PT1 and flooded were enjoyable. its only really the Wrecked that was a turn off. i think its only when we see what they do next year they we will view s6 in conext as the begining of the end or a pause before the storm...

Well i guess the way things are going there is some good stuff here and there and some real [dross]. I guess we're seeing the ramifications of Buffy returning from the death and Giles has also left which i think has ripped a bit of the shows soul away. I guess there is still hope, i think things look to be on a bit of a up swing lately. With any luck things will pick up and we'll see some great stuff again.

edited just a touch for language; language should be clean enough for a parent to be comfortable with a 13-year old viewing the site ( see tangent21.com/about/mbg ). Cheers -- julz

(Edited by Julz 31/03/2002 03:15)

Buffy has become a soap opera and the characters aren't interesting enough to sustain that, nor do the writers appear to have the craft to do it well (example - the cack handed treatment of magic/drug addiction recently).

It has become background tv for me, something I stick on if it is there but don't lose any sleep over missing.

I reckon the show is going through the calm before the storm, it's just that it's also in danger of becoming "the calm before everyone stops watching"

If the show will definately show for and end with S7 I think the whole of S6 could simply be a time for the manouvering of the playing pieces in order to press home the checkmate of the game that will be the end of the whole show.

I've also got sneaking suspicions that there's something behind the scenes to do with whether Angel changes network or not and that the story writers/Joss himslef are waiting for this to be settled before they decide what to do with the 2 series.

I'm also intrigued to see if Firefly will have the brilliance of the early Buffy, or will be more akin to the more recent stuff. Maybe Joss has just burned out or abandoned the show?

I agree, Buffy is going downhill from the excellent show it used to be.

I still watch it, but I think it's kind of a duty than being desperate to find out whats happening as in previous seasons.

I'm hoping it will liven up a bit. I know the guys can still write some good eps, we've seen some good ones in S6, so I like to believe as Desire and Monster said that this is the calm before the storm.

On the whole, I prefer Angel in a big way and I think I have since Angel first started. It's darker and more adult than Buffy, but it's believable in that sense too. I see Cordelia to be much more adult than I can ever see Buffy and the scoobies ever being and they are the same age.

I think the writers are maybe trying to make BTVS more dark and adult. Dark works sometimes but the adult angle doesn't for me, it's just comical.

And I'm sick of seeing Buffy whining and crying, she gets a pig nose and her mouth goes all funny, it does my head in, and we get treated to it in more or less every episode these days.

(Edited by misskittyfantastic 31/03/2002 12:12)

i am sick of the way buffy is acting this season. The show used to be veyr funny, and all of charcters were witty. I agree that xander hasn't bee funny for a long time.

Sometimes i find myself wishing they'd stopped after graduation. it would have been a natural place to end it. But then we get episodes like Hush, Once more with feelins and Tabula Rasa and i wonder whether they could have worked as stand alones..the answer would have to be no. I'm glad they didn't stop, you can overlook the bad episodes for the good but buffy is no where near as good as it used to be.

WE now have shows like smallville that are doing buffy style stuff and sometimes it is better than Buffy itself. I miss the xander-willow-buffy triangle thing that used to go in in high school, but the relatioships kinda came second place to the characters but now it seems the other way round. I mean i'm all for buffy and spike..but it seems to be getting a little repetive.

Tis sad....and is it just me or does Joss very rarely write/direct an ep now?

The irony is that while buffy is supposed to be getting darker as a show, allt he real triumphs this eason have been the funny eps, Life Serial, OMWF and Tabula Rasa.

Equally Angel, which is supposed to getting lighter, has had its best eps when its the darkest. I think this is a sign that the writers while they still can dish out the quality no longer really know what they should be doing after so long.

Perhaps New writers are in order to reinvigorate the show. It would be interesting to get in a new set of perspectives and ideas.

I think it has been a bit slow lately but i'm just glad their waiting a while b4 introducing the big bad. They introduced Glory way too early in S5 (about 4 ep in) and it just draged on too long, even if the last few ep. made op for that. I just really hope jonathon and the others arn't the season bad guys this season, if they are then i'm def. switching off. Personally i think it reached it's peak in S3/4. But 2 will always be my fav.

I really agree, Buffy has annoyed me these past few weeks, i think since Tambula Rasa.

It hasnt been the same since Angel left in my opinion. Not because I wanted Buffy and Angel to get back together, or I fancy Angel, i just think he's a good character.

Then Giles has left, Willow has gone all funny, and Buffy and Spike are getting together. Spike isnt funny anymore, he's just boring, and a bit annoying since he has had a crush on Buffy.

Nothing happens, its just so bland at the moment, I dont even look forward to 8:00 like I used to.

I hope it makes a serious change soon, and i'll still watch it, i've been a fan for years and i've got sorta attached.

Angel are Scrubs rock though!

I do agree with what people are saying, but I'm such a diehard fan I still would never miss an episode EVER!! I felt that way in S4 though, what with Riley and the initiative (worst ever season.) I can honestly say I didn't really want to watch anymore, but then we had S5 and that saved the day. Give it a chance, I have a feeling the best is still to come.

Buffy is still by far and away the best programme on television and anyone who says otherwise is wrong. Ah ah ah...I said you were wrong.

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by Incandenza
Buffy has become a soap opera ..... It has become background tv for me,

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This pretty much sums it up for me too. I find that I sit down to watch buffy over dinner aimlessly wishing away the hour until Angel is on. Occassionally the wisecracks perk me up but they are becoming few and far between. Angel, Scrubs Alias and Dark Angel all have a lot of new life in them. Alias especially has the mix of characters and action storyline balanced - a hint here and there, nothing to wishy washy.

Buffy's relationship with Spike maybe what the writers thought the fans want to see but I for one think its gone too far. I understand as a character that Buffy is mixed up and wanted an excuse for enjoying her time alone with Spike but they are obviously trying to make her a sexual deviant which is totally out of her normal character and pushing the seriousness of the show beyond the barriers. If I wanted to see a soap opera I'd already be watching one, but I never expected Buffy to slip so quickly

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by killer
Buffy is still by far and away the best programme on television and anyone who says otherwise is wrong. Ah ah ah...I said you were wrong.

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Unfortunately I think a lot of long term fans are disheartened right now, but if the later half of season six can pick up then I'll be happier.

I'm still enjoying watching Buffy. Okay so maybe some of the episodes haven't been as great as previous seasons but IMO it doesn't pick up until halfway through the season.
The Musical episode has been a real highlight.
S6 is pretty dark which isn't entirely a bad thing.

The thing that strikes me is that the show has become quite maudlin. I get that Buffy is in the throes of a bout of depression - when you think of her last year or so, it's quite plausible - but every show seems to smack you round the head with that. The "issues" that the show has always addressed by metaphor have, in the past, been subtle enough to be ignored if you chose to, but this season seems far more heavy-handed in its approach. The magic-as-drugs metaphor wasn't done well enough to be powerful or with enough sublety to be engaging.

The constant on-screen references to *ahem* intimacy are far less necessary than their frequency would suggest, giving the impression that the writers are so devoid of ideas that they are trying to distract us with James Marsters' stomach muscles. Impressive though they are, I'd rather have a decent story, thanks. Besides which, it's becoming increasingly more uncomfortable to watch along with my eight-and-a-half year old daughter. Questions are beginning to be asked that I don't yet feel confortable answering.

Losing a major cast member has left a gap in the dynamic that so far, no-one has stepped in to fill. Despite the idea that Buffy and her friends are meant to be adults now, and no longer need a "father", I see no evidence of there being grown-ups in the picture at all. (ref: "Gone" - "It's magic weed"... oh please - a five-year-old would have had the brain not to say something quite so lame)

The season so far has had some high points - but far fewer and further between than ever before. I can only conclude that the show misses Joss. Now he's not there every day and seems to be spreading himself thinner and thinner, his baby is showing signs of neglect. I'll keep watching, but only in the hope that things will improve, not because I can't wait to see what happens next.

no but i love angel. i think its the characters, i don't really like any of them, i never liked xander much i loved willow but shes changed, anya is boring as are tara and dawn they're nothing liek the old characters who were cool. i now consider buffy my favourite even spikes not quite the same now hes pulled buffy. also i don't feel the storys are as good and its jsut really not the same.