Jaded Wolf
03-21-2008, 11:30 AM
I just finished Season Four, which I have collectively titled "Growing Pains", last night and will begin Season Five today. I thought I would come on here and share what I thought overall of the season.
The biggest hurdle for this season was to bring the gang out of high school and into the beginning of adult-life. Xander took his own path deciding not to go to college, probably based on his low grades in HS, while the rest of the gang; Buffy, Willow, and Oz, went to college. This season had to overcome two important things here: 1) They were no longer teenage high school students, and 2) Angel was no longer there.
What this season also did was alienate Giles. When Giles was relieved as a Watcher, the blow was softened by his job as a librarian. There was still purpose in Giles' life. However, after he blew it up to stop the Mayor he felt no purpose in his life. Buffy separated herself from the council and then went off to college seeking her independence. It was shown in multiple episodes where Giles did feel alienated and left out.
With Oz's departure Willow had to move on. Her character definetely evolved more so than others and not just because she became a lesbian. In this season we see Willow move beyond the Scoobies as she interacts with Tara and grows in her magical prowess. She's no longer the nerd from the previous seasons but someone who can hold her own and not back down.
Then there is Buffy. After being praised at the end of Season Three for her heroic efforts, she is told by Giles to play the secret identity thing again which in essence once again isolates her. She feels this right off the bat as Willow and Oz become absorbed into college life and Buffy finds herself alone at first. Xander coming back and saying, "Assemble the gang" was great but a reflection that Xander will take awhile to move past his high school self. Buffy had to get over Angel as well but made the mistake of bedding with Parker, a man who would do just as Angel did but I think even worse. Parker didn't become evil after "the deed" but instead just proved he was a creep. Then she met Riley and I know Buffy/Angel fans dislike him. However, I thought he was a good guy to fill that role. Riley gave Buffy someone to move on and to show her that not every relationship will be bad after the next day.
All in all, I really like the psychology of this season. The growing angst of moving past the "good times" in high school, the moving on after long-term relationships ended, and the maturing of the characters made this season unique and definetely far different then the seasons that preceded it. I think this season had its challenges and struggled to find its footing but it did eventually. There are some hang ups like The Initiative and ADAM but I can overlook those to see the progression of the main characters.
So, another fantastic season wrapped up in my quest to watch all Joss Whedon DVDs this year. I start Season Five tonight and hope to be done with that in about two to three weeks time. Love to hear your comments.
The biggest hurdle for this season was to bring the gang out of high school and into the beginning of adult-life. Xander took his own path deciding not to go to college, probably based on his low grades in HS, while the rest of the gang; Buffy, Willow, and Oz, went to college. This season had to overcome two important things here: 1) They were no longer teenage high school students, and 2) Angel was no longer there.
What this season also did was alienate Giles. When Giles was relieved as a Watcher, the blow was softened by his job as a librarian. There was still purpose in Giles' life. However, after he blew it up to stop the Mayor he felt no purpose in his life. Buffy separated herself from the council and then went off to college seeking her independence. It was shown in multiple episodes where Giles did feel alienated and left out.
With Oz's departure Willow had to move on. Her character definetely evolved more so than others and not just because she became a lesbian. In this season we see Willow move beyond the Scoobies as she interacts with Tara and grows in her magical prowess. She's no longer the nerd from the previous seasons but someone who can hold her own and not back down.
Then there is Buffy. After being praised at the end of Season Three for her heroic efforts, she is told by Giles to play the secret identity thing again which in essence once again isolates her. She feels this right off the bat as Willow and Oz become absorbed into college life and Buffy finds herself alone at first. Xander coming back and saying, "Assemble the gang" was great but a reflection that Xander will take awhile to move past his high school self. Buffy had to get over Angel as well but made the mistake of bedding with Parker, a man who would do just as Angel did but I think even worse. Parker didn't become evil after "the deed" but instead just proved he was a creep. Then she met Riley and I know Buffy/Angel fans dislike him. However, I thought he was a good guy to fill that role. Riley gave Buffy someone to move on and to show her that not every relationship will be bad after the next day.
All in all, I really like the psychology of this season. The growing angst of moving past the "good times" in high school, the moving on after long-term relationships ended, and the maturing of the characters made this season unique and definetely far different then the seasons that preceded it. I think this season had its challenges and struggled to find its footing but it did eventually. There are some hang ups like The Initiative and ADAM but I can overlook those to see the progression of the main characters.
So, another fantastic season wrapped up in my quest to watch all Joss Whedon DVDs this year. I start Season Five tonight and hope to be done with that in about two to three weeks time. Love to hear your comments.