I agree with all of this completely. Had it ended in S5, I wouldn't even be here right now. It was S6 that motivated me to get online and see what other people were saying, because I was just so blown away by the show. And I had watched from the night the Pilot premiered. And yet nothing affected me the way Buffy's resurrection and struggle did. It is rather depressing that this argument is popping up yet again. I had felt that as time went on, people were starting to see some of the great things in those final seasons, but maybe we need another 10 years or so.
To be fair there were quite a few pro 6/7 commentators on the thread. Liking season six seems to be almost repectable now so maybe seven's day will come. I think the original article was by some bitter old TWOP mod, never forgive, never forget.
I have serious misgivings about Buffy giving up her life for Dawn as a series ending. It’s a little too close to Darla’s self sacrifice in Lullaby in the way it seems to conflate motherhood and lethal self-abnegation, the idea that death is the best you can do for your children. I do like the line about the hardest thing in the world being to live in it but particularly because in season six we get to see that confirmed. Lots of times and in lots of different ways.
This is brilliant! The whole essay is excellent, especially as I totally agree with you. *g*
In Tara Ariano's case, though, I think it's something more than laziness. More like a grudge, actually. After Season 5 Whedon and Co. did something you're not supposed to do in a TV series: Changed their formula and took the story in a different direction. And rather than being instantly punished for it by plunging ratings and cancellation, they were rewarded with two more successful seasons and widespread (if not universal) praise from critics. This was not supposed to happen, and it made Tara and her pals at TWoP (in their minds) into fools. So this is their way of getting back at the people who showed them up: To endlessly repeat the "Seasons 6-7 of Buffy suuucked" meme. Petty, sure, but consider the source.
(I'd never post this at Whedonesque because the mods don't want it to turn into a TWoP-bashing site, and I have to respect their wishes.)
Interesting. I got the impression that the TWoP people weren't to keen on S5 either. Or anything after the High School years but I guess that would make things even more frustrating for them. Four more years instead of just two.
I agree with you completely. I started my Buffy watching with The Gift of all things. It gave me a very strange introduction to the show, I must say. I then watched the whole series from start to the end of season 5 before season 6 started. I think season 6 was a brilliant examination of depression, and the struggle many young people have to figure out where they fit in the adult world. I loved season 7 too, and Chosen is such a perfect conclusion to the story: an ending only in that one chapter is done, and life stretches out before them.
Yes that open road and the beginning of the beginning of a smile. And the contrast with the same setting at the end of Becoming, which i've been rewatching lately. I miss Buffy.
I miss Buffy Me too. Thank heavens for DVDs, and fanfic, and the interesting (and interested) folks who keep thinking and discussing my favourite show.
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This is brilliant! The whole essay is excellent, especially as I totally agree with you. *g*
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(I posted a mildly snarky reaction to the article, under the name "Kansas", at Whedonesque; hopefully the mods will not consider it too ad hominem.)
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(I'd never post this at Whedonesque because the mods don't want it to turn into a TWoP-bashing site, and I have to respect their wishes.)
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Me too. Thank heavens for DVDs, and fanfic, and the interesting (and interested) folks who keep thinking and discussing my favourite show.
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