Is it weird that season 6 didn't touch on Dawn's existence

[garfan]

The baggage I'm concerned about is the fact (again, not done with evil intentions) that the monks manipulated everyone's minds and memories.

But as @NotASlayer said earlier - Dawn's served her purpose with her story in s5. After that, she's just....there. Screaming "Get out, get out, get out!"

The writers failed there.

A lot of fan commentators on the show talk about by the time The Gift was written the writers knew the show was continuing. That might be true, but I've always felt like when Dawn was first foreshadowed in season 3 Joss was actually thinking the show ends on season 5. And that basically even though they knew season 5 wasn't going to end it, they still wrote the season like it was. Which means Dawn was a one season character even though she'd exist for at least two or three

 

[AlphaFoxtrot]

Dawn's decision to start stealing stuff began in Season 5. They kinda knew Season 6 was coming, even if Joss was going through an artistic integrity spasm.

The fifth network battle only really generated about ten shows that could really be called successful, fifteen tops. Buffy wasn't going away because Joss was done.

 

[hoponlilmama]

A lot of fan commentators on the show talk about by the time The Gift was written the writers knew the show was continuing. That might be true, but I've always felt like when Dawn was first foreshadowed in season 3 Joss was actually thinking the show ends on season 5.

I believe it was season 4, not 3.

And that basically even though they knew season 5 wasn't going to end it, they still wrote the season like it was. Which means Dawn was a one season character even though she'd exist for at least two or three

Even if they did have knowledge the show was proceeding beyond that point, it seems they wrote it (The Gift) 'just in case'. Also, Joss did have a 5-year plan in place.

But you are right, Dawn is basically a one-season character, and as others have stated, a plot device.

 

[NotASlayer]

I believe it was season 4, not 3.

There's a scene in S4 very like one in S3, where Buffy and Faith are making a bed. This time it's from Faith's point of view and she mentions little sister. It's easy to get that S4 revelation mixed up with the similar scene in S3.

And that basically even though they knew season 5 wasn't going to end it

I've seen comments that The Gift was written not knowing that the show was continuing, so I don't know which to believe. Someone around in the industry at the time might.

 

[hoponlilmama]

There's a scene in S4 very like one in S3, where Buffy and Faith are making a bed. This time it's from Faith's point of view and she mentions little sister. It's easy to get that S4 revelation mixed up with the similar scene in S3.

Ah, thank you for the correction, I stand corrected! Mixed that one up.

I've seen comments that The Gift was written not knowing that the show was continuing, so I don't know which to believe. Someone around in the industry at the time might.

It's probably a little from column A, and a little from column B.

 

[NotASlayer]

Ah, thank you for the correction, I stand corrected! Mixed that one up.

Actually. you got it right! It was the S4 scene, not the S3 one. But it's easy to get them mixed up. My phrasing may have been poor.

 

[hoponlilmama]

Actually. you got it right! It was the S4 scene, not the S3 one. But it's easy to get them mixed up. My phrasing may have been poor.

I had to do a search to refresh my memory. S3 dream with Faith does make mention: "Oh yeah. Miles to go. Little Ms. Muffet counting down from 7-3-0." (Also a reference to the s5 finale The Gift, but still a Dawn reference).

And s4 gives us more foreshadowing: Tara saying, "Be back before Dawn" and the exchange with Faith: "Little sis coming, I know".