Season 4... not "classic" Buffy! :(

[BuffyAngelLove]

So far I've watched 6 episodes of season 4, and although I do like it, it's not "classic" Buffy! Seasons 1-3 were what I consider classic. The library, the gang all together all the time, Giles being the librarian... I'm starting to miss that!

I know they couldn't stay there forever but I feel like from season 3 to 4 there was a huge leap, and all the characters seem soooo much more mature and different. Buffy would have never slept with someone so fast like she did with Parker. Just because they went to college doesn't mean they'd mature and grow-up so much quicker!

Maybe it's just me, and maybe it's just because seasons 1-3 are what I remember watching the most when Buffy aired.

Does anyone else feel season 4 is completely different and has a different feel then seasons 1-3?

[littlewilly]

S4 isnt the same like they aint in high school the scoobies have changed etc, but i consider s4 one of the best. In the first 6 eps theres only a few good ones, but overall i think the seasons excellent. Alot of people hate the arc and big bad but i like them.

[Crazy Flakes]

Well, I think the whole show is classic Buffy. Sure, the switch from high school to college is a little weird at first and the Initiative setting seems out of place, but after you get used to it, you can see that it's just the same old brilliant show with a different setting.

[littlewilly]

And you've got Anya, Spike, Tara. And Faiths comeback. theres somuch good about this season

[Joyce Summers]

A lot of people seemed to think this about season 4, and often dislike it the most, but I've always loved this season. It might have something to do with the fact that when it aired, I was at my first year at University, and so watching the season reminds me of back back then with the fun and the newness and the first-time independence so I admit that probably has a lot to do with it, but I do think it's a great season. And the last "fun" season we get with Buffy. I mean after that we have the Death-Filled Season 5, The Depressing Everything Going to Crap Season 6, and then the Everything We've Loved for Seven Years Keeps Getting Destroyed Season 7. So yes, I do like season 4.

And okay, yes, it's not classic in the sense of They are in the library together, all in the same classes etc but neither are the other three season that come after season 4 and I don't think it makes any of them less classic, but rather 'The High School Seasons' always seem to be in a category and league of their own when it comes to the series as a whole.

But I think besides the change in setting Season 4 (and 5) both have the same Buffy feel that the high school season had. For me, it's season 6 and 7 that never felt like classic Buffy for me so-to-speak. It never felt quite right. I mean I enjoy the episodes lots- OMWF, Tabula Rasa, Normal Again, Him, Help, Selfless etc, but the seasons as a whole I never quite enjoy as much as the first five because I don't feel as though I'm watching the same show anymore, I can;t explain why.

[Urgent Power]

Season 7 is not the classic Buffy for me. But I know what you mean. Still I really like season 4. In fact, most of the times that I want to watch Buffy, I pull out season 4.

I think that after getting used to a particual period, it's hard to see such a big change. And it's not just the fans that feel this way, it's the characters too. Buffy felt that everything is different now. I think it was meant to feel like this.

[sk73]

Agree that season 4 isn't the "classic" Buffy. That is the highschools years for me to.
But Buffy is still very much Buffy, if anyone get what I means, in both season 4 and 5.

The change come in season 6.
Buffy didn't really feel like Buffy anymore. Which of course was intentional and not neccessarly a bad thing. As long as they kept it to just a season which I think they did.

In season 7 I think they got back in full swing. Especially in the begining.
Towards the end I might would like to see more scoobie gang action and perhaps a bit less potientals.
But I'm not really complaining. I really like the season 7 arc.

/SK

[The Kinslayer]

So far I've watched 6 episodes of season 4, and although I do like it, it's not "classic" Buffy! Seasons 1-3 were what I consider classic. The library, the gang all together all the time, Giles being the librarian... I'm starting to miss that!

The first time I watched season 4 I felt the same way. Now I´m a much bigger fan of the later seasons even though I still enjoy the high school years.

And people, we´re in the season 4 section. Not everyone has seen all seasons. Spoilers are a good invention. Not that I remember them all the time either...

[Tranquillity]

I really loved season four when it first aired on television because i was glad they were finally out of high-school! I'm a big fan of the later season. I never really understood the whole "the first three seasons were the glory days" view but, hey, each to his own. I still love season four, but its not my favourite. It seems, from my own observations, that people and media outside the fandom generally view the first three seasons as the 'real' buffy because this is the epitome of the 'high school is hell' metaphore and i've also noticed that a lot of people have said that they love season eight because it is back to being Buffy and the Scoob, the way it 'should' be. Not my view, but again, each to their own.

[Lily]

gotta say s1-3 are classic Buffy for me too, but that said, like many of the other people in here, it's all classic Buffy to me nowadays, but s4 took some adjusting to.
First off Buffy with the sexing took me by complete surprise, I was like WHAT? You must know that'll end badly - but off you go anyway and you're all surprised *sigh* and the lack of groupness, but then I realised wait, when I went off to college it was all different and new and weird to begin with but then I got in the swing of things (as did all my friends etc) and by the end of first year things went back to that comforting familiarity again - which is what happens for the scoobies by s6/7 IMO, it just takes adjusting for us/them/the writers :D

[Bluebird]

I like it but I think the overall theme of the season wasn't as strong as others, although I loved Xander's story in season 4. Oh and Adam was pretty boring. *yawn*

[Clem Rocks]

Yes it's different, it's a whole lot better than the other seasons. I see Buffy as seasons 1-3 warming up, 4-5 being great, 6-7 winding down

[The Ferg]

Yes, it does have a different feel than S1-3, but that's why I like it. I actually prefer S4-7 better than the "classic" seasons.

[Ripper 08]

i think season 4 was about the change showing that once we reach that point in life college/uni things begin to change. friends change we make new ones and loose contact with old ones, we begin to feel more mature and grown up particularly when you move out. i think they made season 4 with a different feel to break out of the comfort zone we are in untill a certain age eg moving on to college/uni.

i liked season 4, 3 is my fave by far but 4 is close by.

[Five]

Actually, I think in many TV shows (and also in many discographies...), the fourth season (or LP) marks a change.

Well we've got the obvious with Buffy. S.1-3 were in high school. S4 is first disturbing that way, but it's good, it's representative of what you feel when you're out of high school.

In 'Alias', though I'm just watching S4 for the first time, it's already kinda obvious there's a huge leap taken (with APO and Syd's sister...).
In 'Lost', S4 is the first with the flash-forwarding, etc. which constitutes a kind of big change.
In 'Grey's Anatomy', well, our interns are now residents, everything's changed. (+ a new sister there too - I think it's sorta trendy).
etc. etc.

Plus you can see big changes from opus 3 to opus 4 in discographies as I said : Radiohead, Coldplay, Zazie that you probably unfortunately don't know...

[Elithustra]

Sure it has a different feeling about it, but at the same time, it just shows how incredibly adaptive this series was. It kinda flowed, you know? Like it wasn't just 'Oh, we finished high school, k'bye!' It was 'This is what happens after school. It's called life. It happens, we all go through it.'

Hmmm *ponders more*

[wehappyfew]

i enjoy your banner. beautiful woman, beautiful song :)

[SpikeIsLove]

Season 4 is better than the "classic seasons" (as you say).

[littlewilly]

The Classic seasons are amazing, but to me the Classics are Btvs 4&5 + Ats 1&2. Those 4 are my Golden years.

[Amanda Hannigan]

Season 4 was actually my favourite season overall. Or it had the most likeable episodes, in my opinion. While the 'classic' familiarity of the high school era was gone, I think it gave the characters a lot of room to grow and develop on go on their own personal journeys. I think Adam was actually an interesting villian as well. Not quite as interesting as the Mayor (my personal favourite villian) but I still think he was a valuable player. Someone else mentioned earlier that the big change comes in season 6, and I definitely agree with that. Once Buffy is brought back from the dead she is obviously battling a lot of issues and it changes the whole tone of the show, makes it all a lot darker.
I think season 4 was an excellent season.

[EveryNiteISaveU]

So far I've watched 6 episodes of season 4, and although I do like it, it's not "classic" Buffy! Seasons 1-3 were what I consider classic. The library, the gang all together all the time, Giles being the librarian... I'm starting to miss that!

I know they couldn't stay there forever but I feel like from season 3 to 4 there was a huge leap, and all the characters seem soooo much more mature and different. Buffy would have never slept with someone so fast like she did with Parker. Just because they went to college doesn't mean they'd mature and grow-up so much quicker!

Maybe it's just me, and maybe it's just because seasons 1-3 are what I remember watching the most when Buffy aired.

Does anyone else feel season 4 is completely different and has a different feel then seasons 1-3?

College is a time for change. And expiramentation. I wouldnt call Buffy's quickly sleeping with Parker maturity, it'd be more of young impulsiveness which is indicative of an 18 year-olds freshman behavior. I personally really liked Season 4.

[BASBritt]

So far I've watched 6 episodes of season 4, and although I do like it, it's not "classic" Buffy! Seasons 1-3 were what I consider classic. The library, the gang all together all the time, Giles being the librarian... I'm starting to miss that!

I know they couldn't stay there forever but I feel like from season 3 to 4 there was a huge leap, and all the characters seem soooo much more mature and different. Buffy would have never slept with someone so fast like she did with Parker. Just because they went to college doesn't mean they'd mature and grow-up so much quicker!

Maybe it's just me, and maybe it's just because seasons 1-3 are what I remember watching the most when Buffy aired.

Does anyone else feel season 4 is completely different and has a different feel then seasons 1-3?


I understand what you mean, but I don't think it's a bad thing that it wasn't "classic" Buffy, because Season 4 was supposed to be way different than anything else. That was the whole point! I didn't really like Season 4 because of the whole Initiative thing, but I loved the college themes and stuff; reminded me of my glory days. LOL

[Fusions2]

When watching season 4 the first time round I found it very strange as it wasn't "classic" Buffy but after seeing it so many times now I think it could go in that catergory. Sure its not set in High School anymore and Cordy and Angel have gone to LA to partners of crime fighting with Wesley. But it for a while it did still have the "monster of the week" theme before it started going in to bigger arc stories.

Like most TV shows though something has to change in order to keep it fresh and fun for the audience to watch and Buffy did the best it could. If it kept having the theme of the first three seasons it would get boring after a while. So in a way it was good the way Buffy grew and became a more adult themed and less corny show.

[IdiotJed]

Not my favorite season. Mine is season 2 for some reason. However, in hindsight, it made sense to be where they were at during that time. The first three years will always be my favorite, but 4 was the big transition into adulthood and couple that with the responsibilities the scoobies face on a daily basis, I think it did a good job.