Buffy Jumped the shark?

[Nico]

Does anyone think that buffy went downhill after season 5?, Personally I loved seasons 6 and 7 and cant understand why a few sites have pegged buffy as *past it* after season 5. I will elaborate on this further when I get home from college

[Allan]

No, I don't think it did.

It looked like it was jumping the shark in season 4, but it recovered nicely in season 5. A lot of people have a distaste for season 6, but I personally dug it. Yes, it got incredibly dark, and went to places the show had never been, but it worked. I'm glad it lightened up and made more of a move towards "Buffy classic" for season 7, but I still enjoyed 6.

[Glenn]

I love season 4

Not overly keen on season 6, and season 7 was just....i dont know. Some characters were poorly written.

[buffymanic]

meh Buffy was always fantastic to me! there may have been individual episodes that I didn't like but the season as a whole was always strong. I think season 6 had to be dark in so many ways considering the ramifications of season 5 and it also opened up the lighter side in season 7. Characters needed to hit rock bottom before they could be dutifully explored again and that what I like about Buffy, it represents real life and often people need to get really really deep down in the crap before they can pick it up again

[Allan]

Well said, Tash.

Bre, you're a fan of season 4? Do tell! That really is a rarity.

[buffymanic]

thats Glenn!

And not such a rarity because I like it too! I didn't at first but it definately grew on me, as did Riley. I think there's a thread on season 4

[Allan]

Okay, you know how I mentioned in the Chat section I'm here before bed? Evidence right here that I need sleep!

Sorry Glenn, I really didn't mean to dump any gender issues on you or anything.

I didn't mind Riley myself, either. But the whole Adam arc seemed to meander a bit for my tastes. That said, I did enjoy the Frankenstein take with him.

[buffymanic]

Glenn's gonna be scared for life!

The Adam arc was definatly a slow and bumpy ride, but I like the consipacy theory of the Initiative and it makes sense that within that world somebody would abuse their power and knowledge and end up with Adam.

[Glenn]

No worries Allan *slowly scars*

I wasnt a fan of Riley at first because of how much i liked Buffy/Angel but i have gotten over that as i have progressed in years. I like where alot of characters were in the season. Giles was feeling rather alone now he had no library and no Slayer, Willow was going through a major change, Xander was dealing with his friends being at college while he was in a string of poor jobs and Spike, well this was my favourite Spike season. Every scene was a joy to watch when he was in.

The scoobies were dealing with that common occurance of ties being cut once school ends. They really were struggling to connect, as the Yoko factor clearly points out as they were all slowly developing into adults (giles dealing with his own adult life in a very isolated position).

When it comes to Adam i always say the same thing. It took far too long for him to be introduced and then he had far too little screen time once he was. That said i loved his grand plan, i think as far as baddies goes it was one of the best and more interesting. Creating a whole army of people like him. What also interests me about Adam is that he is constantly questioning who he is and what his purpose is. Something funnily enough the scoobies can relate to as they are all wondering the same things themselves throughout the season.

[Allan]

I think Riley worked for Buffy for many of the reasons I think Kennedy worked for Willow.

I pretty much agree with your take on season four, and have some more thoughts regarding it, which I'll type out tomorrow when my brain should (theoretically) be working a little more coherently.

[buffymanic]

and you shall do it in the season 4 thread right

ok back on topic! do you think fans would have been more or less happy had the show ended in season 5 and with Buffy's death?

[Nico]

okay a little more info now, stupid webmarshall blocke dthe site in college :/. it wont let me direct link, and i'm sure you all dont need any instructions on getting to the page but anyway...

www.jumptheshark.com/ ---> A - Z --->click on B -----> BTVS .

Notice that 710 Votes says buffy never jumped the shark, but look at how many people thought it jumped when tara died 610.

Also I recommend you read some of the comments, including the one that said it jumped the shark when Buffy slept with Angel... the most moronic thing I have seen written in a while!. thats when it got good!

I loved Buffy's Death, but personally I loved season 6 and 7 I wouldve been gutted if they didnt show what magick could do if it was overused, dark willow was brilliant because magick shouldnt be tinkerd with or taken lightly, its like a drug, if you dont use it properly you will become addicted.

[buffymanic]

some people are clearly morons! 23 people said it jumped when Sarah had her hair cut

that is a suprising number of people for Tara though, I thought most people were glad to see her go

[Deleted]

I'm with Allan. I thought it got close to jumping in season 4, but it recovered nicely, so never actually made it all the way to really jumping. There are certainly parts of season 7 that aren't as good as they could have been and some there's some poor continuity from time to time, and I'm not fond of dark Willow, but I never thought that any of that really made that seasons that bad.

As for the show jumping after Buffy slept with Angel, or after Tara's death (or because SMG cut her hair )...I just don't see that. Both of those events caused huge character development that helped move the show along.

[Beck]

I don't think it jumped the shark. Season 6 is one of my favourite seasons. I do think things went downhill in season 7 because it seemed like everyone kinda gave up on it a little The writing while still good, was much sloppier than other seasons for the most part, the inconsistencies were much more apparent in season 7, and SMG's acting was awfully wooden at times, and it never had been before. Giles and scoobies were written badly at times (Giles was turned into a different Giles ) and the potentials were very bah. It had outstanding eps, it had great parts. But it wasn't on par with the other seasons

[Bre]

I loved all the seasons. Each had a great thing about them. Sure season four was kind of dull at times, but I still enjoyed it. Season one was great because we got to know the characters. Season two was phenomenal with the story line. Season three, the Faith story and the whole sharing Slayer powers was great. Five was awesome because I loved how out of nowhere Dawn was there and it had some great individual episodes. I don't think Buffy's death effected the last two seasons. Six and seven were both great, imo.

I very much enjoyed the last season. And I'm gonna have to disagree with you Beck, I thought SMG's acting in season 7 was great. I did think Giles changed. I didn't mind his character, but they should have done more with him ... made him more Giles. I dunno. But every season had it's ups and downs. I do think it stayed pretty consistant throughout the series though.

[Allan]

buffymanic said:

and you shall do it in the season 4 thread right

ok back on topic! do you think fans would have been more or less happy had the show ended in season 5 and with Buffy's death?

Um, yeah, that's right... I was actually going to go for the angle as to why it didn't jump the shark.

I'll speak for myself, rather than all fans, and say that I'm happy it lasted an extra two seasons, predominantly because the show got the ending it deserved.

[Luke]

Buffy did take kindda of a diffrent road during season 6 'Dark Years' And i tihnk it gave us a new insite into Buffy and the gang. I didnt like season 6 that much because i didnt think Buffy was being well Buffy. But i think season 7 was getting abck on the right road. I dont understand why people said it should have ended with season5 Buffy had much more to give.

[Allan]

I'm probably in the minority, but I thought Buffy was being Buffy. She's a character who's always been vulnerable, and she was screwed up. She was dealing with it in her own way; and it was quite similar to what we saw in When She Was Bad.

[Laura]

I never thought Buffy jumped the shark. Some episodes were a little eh or blah, but the show never decreased in quality (and no, that is not an opinion statement, that is a fact ). Maybe the characters changed into something we didn't like, but people change (LOL, this reminds me of my HP debate). Anyway, the sixth season especially was disliked, and I used to hate it myself until I realized: it was the season where life was the big bad (as told by Joss). That season was needed for the whole gang.

A lot of people thought it got worse after the high school years, but I disagree with that as well. It was interesting to see the gang struggle through high school, then college, and then just life.

One of the reasons the show was so brilliant was because of the fact that it dealt with life, and demons (ultimately a metaphor for life's "demons").