"Buffy" was better in High School

[henzINNIT]

Don't ya think? It creates a problem for a TV show that went on for 7 years, but there it is.

[Skytteflickan88]

I used to agree with you, but now I'm glad I got to see how the characters grew, and their characters could only grew to a certain amount in high school, they simply had to move on. And while it made me nervous to see the scoobies get grown up lives, now most of my favorite episodes takes place after season 3, because more interesting things happened to the scoobies after high school (but the Angelus thing is hard to beat).

I see how you can like the high school years more than the rest of the seasons tough, since season 1-2 has a different feel to it than season 5-8, while season 3-4 is a sort of middleground.

[CourtneyDax]

I'd agree that the show was a lot cuter and funnier in high school, but better? I really enjoyed season 6 and 7 for a long time, and season 7 was my absolute favorite season for a really long time. But recently, I've been marathoning Buffy and I noticed how many amazing episodes were in season 5, and I had 3 favorite episodes from that season alone.
ANYWAY, that was a really long phrase just saying that grown up Buffy was consistently as good as the high school years, but personally, I liked the older years better.

[wenxina]

It depends on what you mean by "better". I think it was simpler, but not better. It was less uncomfortable to watch in general, not because the later seasons weren't good, but because the later seasons were a little more daring in placing the Scoobies in less flattering light.
For me, personally, the "high school years" are the ones I watch for purely nostalgic reasons. It helps me remember the era of Can't Hardly Wait, She's All That, etc, and it's refreshing to see a show that occasionally takes it upon itself to make fun of some of those tropes.
There's also a certain comfort in watching three best friends sticking together. But here's the thing. The high school environment is a highly artificial one, where a whole bunch of different people are forced to interact on a regular basis. Would the Scoobies necessarily have bonded if it weren't for that factor? Would the others have fallen in with them (e.g. Cordelia, Oz)?
High school kept them together not just because of their friendship, but because they were given a commonality.
Which is why I find S4 quite interesting, in that it substitutes that artifice with a larger one, and thus allows more complex interactions to occur.
The Scoobies find their own interests, and diverge. They find themselves, or at least begin to define themselves for themselves (it's actually why Adam makes a great villain in theory, since he's quest to define himself mirrors that of the Scoobies).
And yet, their love and friendship remains just as strong, and when a crisis demands it, they reunite, stronger than ever.
The theme of finding oneself, and finding a niche in society continues in S5, with the Scoobies basically learning new roles. And so forth.
So I'd disagree that the show was better in high school. It never lost its relatability, and that's what keeps the show strong for me.

[henzINNIT]

There's certainly a lot to love later on, even in 6 and 7 (which I think come with massive flaws).

I think the spirit of "Buffy" was in its youth, which obviously couldn't last forever, and gradually disappeared in the later seasons. I find the growth interesting and neccessary, but I don't think it was designed to hang around as long. The transition into adulthood was more effective for me in the move over into "Angel".

[lightandmagic]

Disagreed. Mostly because if I were to rank the seasons it would go something ala: 5>3>4>7>2>6>1. Minus season 6 I really enjoyed watching the Scoobs transition into young adult-hood. Whereas Season 1 is mostly forgettable and unimportant to me and I find Season 2 to be the most overrated season of television like ever. It's good, but there are a helluva lot of not-so-good episodes like Go Fish and When She Was Bad. That leaves only Season 3 to be a good example of the show while in high school, and while it is absolutely amazing I do on a whole enjoy the out of high school seasons more.

Plus Season 5 is my favourite season of any television show ever.

[drusillacakes]

Mar 18, 2010 17:53:01 GMT -5 wenxina said:

It was less uncomfortable to watch in general, not because the later seasons weren't good, but because the later seasons were a little more daring in placing the Scoobies in less flattering light.

I agree. When I go back to watch Buffy, I tend to re-watch the high school years because it's less uncomfortable to watch too. Buffy's first sexual experience with a human was harder to watch than when Angel lost his soul, because Parker doesn't have an excuse. Angel's situation was a metaphor, but Parker's just a representation of what happens all the time.

Not that the show was less funny or less poignant in the latter seasons, but it just hits harder to watch characters, and people you feel like you know make grown up mistakes, struggle to pay bills, get jobs, and try to make something of themselves. It's sorta like going through a quarter life crisis. At least when you're in school, you can assume the identity of a student, but once you're out, who are you then? This didn't just affect just the Scoobies, but adults like Giles too.

[Mathieu]

I'm enjoying this debate even though it's been discussed over and over and over.

I understand those who are super nostalgic when thinking about the high school years of BTVS. It's a time when everything was still new, fresh and exciting. It's the original spirit of the show.

I actually believe that the show didn't really lose its spirit along the way... and to a certain extent it even got better. I mean The Body, OMWF, Hush, Storyteller... Never jumped the shark. I will only admit that the Big Bad of Season 7 was not all that exciting.

[The Girl In Question]

I disagree. I won't elaborate, but I just wanted to say that I hate shows where the kids are in highschool for like 6 years. So annoying. I'm very happy that Buffy didn't do that, and sucessfully transitioned its teen characters into adults.

[Tea - Total]

I thought that Buffy in high school was great!.
But later on when the seasons progress they deal with real concept in life,the mythology of evil went deeper later on. Early season progressed high school , i know its hard and you can relate to your own experience of high school, but somebody said to me its gets harder after high school.Ands it kinda true we all have to grow up and be more independent and suffer great consequence of our choices. So later on for me progressed better with real concept and subject of the true nature of life....

[thisyearsgirl91]

The best seasons were definatly 2-5 (imo). I really wish that Buffy ended at S5.

[Billie Erin]

I think that the Buffy in season 7 and the one in season 1 are not emotionally comparable- dying for 147 days would do that to you- so it's not fair to say that either is "better" than the other. You could get different things out of the show when she was in high school admittedly, but I think the emotional complexity of Buffy's relationships with Spike and Dawn make for very interesting viewing from season 5 onwards.

However I would agree with your assertion slightly on the grounds that Buffy looked healthier when she was in High School, season 7 SMG needs to eat some cream buns pronto, the girl looks far too thin! Ergo she isn't a very good role model for the young girls who watch the show.

But overall Buffy as a character was always interesting in different ways and the show was constantly challenging its viewers. Things can't stay static forever, if they do keep repeating the same type of storyline people get bored

[Eric]

Hmm... I think prefer post high school, all in all. I do like season three, though.

[Tea - Total]

Mar 19, 2010 15:31:51 GMT -5 Billie Erin said:

I
However I would agree with your assertion slightly on the grounds that Buffy looked healthier when she was in High School, season 7 SMG needs to eat some cream buns pronto, the girl looks far too thin! Ergo she isn't a very good role model for the young girls who watch the show.

Totally agree, Buffy in season1, she looks chubby but she suits it very well.When season progress she lost weight,but it didn't bother me because she still looked damn gorgeous.

[Eric]

Mar 20, 2010 7:25:47 GMT -5 Tea - Total said:

Mar 19, 2010 15:31:51 GMT -5 Billie Erin said:

I
However I would agree with your assertion slightly on the grounds that Buffy looked healthier when she was in High School, season 7 SMG needs to eat some cream buns pronto, the girl looks far too thin! Ergo she isn't a very good role model for the young girls who watch the show.

Totally agree, Buffy in season1, she looks chubby but she suits it very well.When season progress she lost weight,but it didn't bother me because she still looked damn gorgeous.

I think it's funny how Buffy, Willow and Faith seemed to get somewhat thinner as the series progressed, but Xander and Angel got fatfatfat, lol.

[Billie Erin]

Mar 20, 2010 16:12:47 GMT -5 Eric said:

Mar 20, 2010 7:25:47 GMT -5 Tea - Total said:

Totally agree, Buffy in season1, she looks chubby but she suits it very well.When season progress she lost weight,but it didn't bother me because she still looked damn gorgeous.

I think it's funny how Buffy, Willow and Faith seemed to get somewhat thinner as the series progressed, but Xander and Angel got fatfatfat, lol.

So true!

[tkts]

Mar 20, 2010 16:12:47 GMT -5 Eric said:

Mar 20, 2010 7:25:47 GMT -5 Tea - Total said:

Totally agree, Buffy in season1, she looks chubby but she suits it very well.When season progress she lost weight,but it didn't bother me because she still looked damn gorgeous.

I think it's funny how Buffy, Willow and Faith seemed to get somewhat thinner as the series progressed, but Xander and Angel got fatfatfat, lol.

Really? In terms of body type, I'd say all of them stay pretty much the same through all seven seasons. It doesn't look like anybody really gains or loses weight.

That said, there are a few Season 1 episodes where Buffy seems, erm, bustier than she does in most of the later seasons. But I figured that was just a wardrobe thing.

[cheryl]

SMG was gorgeous in every season but I actually preferred her in season 1, as far as weight goes. She was adorable. She is still adorable.

I prefer the first three seasons to all the rest. Were they better? I thought so, but I think it might be a personal thing. I liked the characters better, the environment, the hangouts, the dialog, most certainly the "there all the time" love interests. For me it just clicked. I still watch reruns of season 1-3.

After that, I would choose season 4, then 6, then 5 and then 7.

[VampSlayer]

I really think the seasons out of the high school era are better. Season One was pretty bad not so amazing. Season Two had an overall good plot and characters, but a lot of the episodes were not as good as others; It had a group of wonderful episodes, and a group of pathetic episodes as well. Season Three was one of those rare, almost flawless seasons, IMO. Season Three was very, very brilliant; Every episode was interesting, and fit. Now: High School over. The ride was enjoyable, but overall a lot the episodes were silly and odd. Mostly in Seasons One and Two. Three almost makes up for those, but not close enough.

Season Four was a wonderful season. It had a lot of humor, and changes for the series. I like this season, but it has some flaws... For example, some of the plots involving a person named Riley. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against Riley, I just don't think he was super interesting.

Season Five has to be one of the best seasons of anything I've watched, along with Angel Season Five. Season Five was very emotional, and had great villains(Ben is Glory?). The Body and The Gift being two of my favorite episodes ever! The death of Joyce, and Buffy herself were heartbreaking. Great stuff.

Season Six... I loved it for a good, long while. And I still enjoy it. I find myself being pulled back for Once More, With Feeling, and The Dark Willow episodes. I am a big fan of both of those plots. I enjoyed The Trio, and Spuffy. I also love the first two episodes of this season, as I think it started it off wonderfully. One big problem with this season is Hells Bells. D:< That episode really messed with the plot. Overall, I loved the season, but it had a few issues.

Season Seven: The finale! I really like this season. Some of the episodes are boring, and a lot of them make one big movie; That's how I see it. Faith comes back, Felecia Day comes in as Vi, Andrew gets a larger role, Giles sticks around, ect. A bunch of goodies. And the First is a neat villain, as well. I loved the finale episodes, with mostly the Scoobies remaining in SunnyDale. A few wonderful episodes that I love are Chosen and Conversations With Dead People. Overall, I liked this season, and thought it was a good ending to an amazing show.

So, as you can see, I enjoyed season 4-7 much better than 1-3. Both had greatness, and not-so-much greatness in them, but the final seasons seem the stronger ones, IMO.

[jason321]

Agreed with the OP. My favorite seasons are the first 3 (well, mainly S2 and S3). High school is just a better setting for making metaphors for what life is like(entertaining to watch, painful to experience). College OTOH is more entertaining to experience but is just completely boring to watch. Buffy gets compared to Veronica Mars a lot, and that show had a similiar problem. VM was amazing during the high school years, but completely unwatchable during the final college one(totally deserved getting s***caned). Buffy didnt s*** the bed quite that bad, but it def lost something when they shifted educational settings.