Season 4 appreciation thread

MarieVampSlayer

MarieVampSlayer

Bloody hell, Sodding, blimey, shagging, knickers..
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Sineya
Hi all!

So we all have issues with S4 of Buffy but as time goes by I do find some redeeming qualities to this season. So here is is, what are the moments or storyline that you like about season 4 of Buffy?

Here are Five of mine:

As heartbreaking as Willow and Oz break-up was, I still feels it made sense that they part ways. Oh and also it lead to Tara so that's a plus!

I love that this is the positive Magic-Willow season. Magic is actually good for Willow this season and makes her grow as a character.

There is a lot of funny episodes: Pangs, something Blue, A new man, The Yoko Factor!

Buffy is not depressed yet and she is still her happy bubbly self!

The scoobies are still friends even thought they struggle, they come together at the end!

What are your moments?
 
Good villain of the week/use of returning villain: Sunday, Kathy, Spike, Ethan Rayne, The Gentlemen,

This Year's Girl/Who Are You? (one of SMG's favorite episodes)

Lots of quality comedy-focused episodes; like so many; Fear Itself (is actually really funny), A New Man, Pangs, Something Blue, Superstar

Demon-Giles, drunk Giles, singing Giles; so many different Giles are revealed beneath stuffy, tweedy-Giles

Happy Buffy: Buffy goes on normal dates with a I-can-walk-around-in-the-day guy and its kinda sweet.

The scoobies drifting apart is organically written and realistic, and they actually resolve their differences after arguing. #hugitout

Restless is weird in a compelling way; lots of great imagery.

Cave-Buffy

Willow's new hairstyle

Spike's speech in 'Doomed'.

demon-Forrest gets blowed up.
 
MarieVampSlayer
MarieVampSlayer
Oh I forgot Superstar, it is hilarious!
Love Buffy's transition from high school to college, especially with her finding her footing and gaining confidence as the season goes on. Particularly love the way this is explored in The Freshman and Buffy having to regain her sense of self (a popular theme in BtVS season openers).

As @thetopher mentioned, Season 4 has some of the funniest episodes, really great humour this season.

The introduction of Tara is a highlight, although I'm always sad to see the decimation of Willow/Oz.

The Buffy/Riley relationship is actually kind of sweet this season and it's nice to see Buffy so happy and content within a relationship.

SINGING GILES!!!
 
I only have 3 issues with S4. Initiative/Adam are laaaaammmmmeee. And Spike isn't staked at any point during or after Pangs which makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. And Xander dating Anya (hypocrite much?). I love the rest of S4, great standalone episodes and it's fun and less doom&gloom. I don't mind Riley. Tara is meh but it doesn't bother me.

It's my third fave Season after 2&3 for those reasons. But it has to share 3rd with S1.
 
I love a lot of things this season even though it's my least fave.

- I loved Tillow this season. The slow burn that they went through was beautiful and Tara was a great introduction.
- Unpopulat opinion but I loved Riley & Riley/Buffy was a great couple in this season.
- Oz's departure made Willow grow up and she used her magic well & probably her best season.
- The transition from high school to college was interesting.
- Some of my fave episodes were in this Hush , Something Blue etc
 
Superstar is a gem of an episode,and is a logical development of Jonathan from S3 Earshot.

I was surprised how much I enjoyed this season when watching it again.
 
I don't like the initiative at all, including Riley, but outside of that there is a lot of good for sure. I think I have posted thoughts in a thread before, so I am going to say stuff I don't remember saying.😀

It might be the best season for Giles; at least he has the most personality and is a lot of fun to watch.

I love Xander and Anya; I am surprised how many people don't. Just ignore whatever over thought out major issues you have with them and watch them be hilarious and adorable.

The same can be said about Spike actually. There may be absolutely no reason for him to be alive, but can we just laugh at him? When he gets toyed with by Faith/ Buffy I back it up to watch over and over about 13 times.

Restless is a brilliant work of art; understanding it completely is not the point so stop trying.

The Yoko Factor may tick me off, but at least it makes miles more sense than the betrayal in Empty Places.

Maggie Walsh is not great for me, but I like when she gets scared by Giles and when she thought she killed Buffy with two lousy demons.

Riley punches Parker.

Oz gets a second chance at an exit and breaks hearts twice.

There are 3 more Buffy Faith fights.
 
MarieVampSlayer
MarieVampSlayer
Anya and Xander are at their best in S4!
Even though this season is missing Dawn and only has Angel and Faith appearing for 2 episodes, it's still one of my favorites.

I feel like it's a breath of fresh air. It's funny and cute and very underrated.

I adore the way the transition from high school to college life is done. I think they did well with showing how different people will adjust to it (Buffy struggling until she meets someone, Willow being made for it, Xander feeling isolated because he's not experiencing it, etc.)

The scoobies dynamic is changing in a realistic way without throwing any character under the bus.

Buffy is so cute and relatable?

Willow's self discovery and her relationship with Tara is well done. We also see her find confidence in herself a lot.

It has a lot of good stand alone episodes.

It's my favorite season for a lot of characters (Willow, Giles and Spike) and there isn't a single character I don't enjoy.

The Freshman is my favorite season opener.
 
Buffy meeting Sunday was fun, basically because Sunday is one of the COOLEST characters ever. Except for her '90's cliche/stoner/angsty sidekicks. And, Buffy gets her ass kicked by another hot blond. It was fun.

Kathy vs Buffy. Hilarious! Evil toenails! Cher! Uh oh, the gang thinks Buffy is going crazy...haha. Yep, you should always make sure that rope is secure when you're tying up a Slayer. Ooops.

Cave Slayer!! Yay!! Buffy want beer. Spinning around in chair...boom! Falls out of chair. Bad chair!! Also, those guys who played the college dudes/cavemen definitely get a shout out because they were amazingly funny. *grunt* Where woman go?! lol

Now, Pangs I absolutely love. Angel's appearance was perfect. "Not very stealthy of him." "I think he's losing his touch." Scoobies to the rescue on bicycles! Anya getting turned on after seeing Angel snap someone's neck, "What's he like when he IS evil?" Spike being tied to a chair, shot with arrows. "You made a bear!" Haha. And of course, Xander's remark at the very end. Ooops!

Poor Willow. Her spell goes wrong and everybody's kind of screwed. High point: Spike and Buffy's wedding plans. And eventually..."Spike's lips! Lips of Spike!" Poor Riley, he probably thought Buffy was a couple lunatic.

New Man. Demon Giles chasing Maggie, was probably the BEST scene in the episode. Oh, and him trying to communicate with Xander. Hee hee.

Riley and Angel's fight in the Yoko Factor is an all-time favourite. Angel is so sexy. And jealous. And dark. And he really enjoys hurting Riley. I approve of this. Though, Riley had some great moments as well.

The episodes I didn't mention were just pleasant background noise for me. Except for the ones with Adam. WORST CHARACTER EVER. I also thought the Initiative story was stupid, and Maggie was like a woman going through menopause. But..what a great moment when she's telling Riley that Buffy was dead....and then guess who pops up on the screen?! Hahaha.
 
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I think because S4 is lacking a great big-bad (Adam is definitely the weakest villain arc), and because Riley comes in after Angel, the season gets remembered less fondly. BUT, there really is a lot to love!

I think this season has some of the strongest stand alone episodes of the series. I personally love The Freshman, The Harsh Light of Day, Pangs, Something Blue, Hush, Who Are You?, Restless, and several others. The Initiative really didn't even bother me until it became a major plot point with Adam, and even then they only did a few episodes where he was the main focus.

My favorite things about season 4 include the fresh feeling I get when I watch it sequentially, coming from high school into a new world. I love Willow's arc as well as the exploration of identity. Also, I think Buffy is happy this season. There's ups and downs with the Scoobies, sure, but when I think of season 4 I think of bubbly, stackable pancakes, yummy sushi pajamas Buffy.
 
B
Btvs fan
There are many non B/A fans who don't like Riley either
Season 4 is a technically sound season, with few bad episodes, with one notable exception. It's just not as good as season 3.
 
Buffy looks so pretty in this season. Refreshing to have this hair style instead of the short bangs last season.
 
- Spike's return as a regular ALONE, he is actually the love's bitch of no one in S4, he shines in his interactions with the scoobies & he's really funny.
- Willow & Tara 's beginning as a couple
- Great episodes (Hush...)
- It feels fresh after 3 seasons centered in high school
 
I do wonder if Ats hurt BtVs unintentionally simply because they did darker more adult themes on Angel while Buffy was presented as brighter and for a more younger audience 🤔

On Buffy you'd have episodes like When Wild Things Are and on Ats you have 5by5
 
I have an everlasting love for this season.

During my re-watches over the past few years, I have always found this to be an extremely gripping, intense season that merits full praise and attention (at least up until they slay the Beast in Angel's fantasy, then unfortunately, for me, I find that it nosedives)
 
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