(no subject)

[oyceter]

Have just now finished my sojourn through season 4 (second time watching Restless). The first DVD of S5 is in the player, and I am quite excited. It's strange -- I feel as though I've finally "caught up." Well... I haven't seen S1 yet, but I will get to it!

S5 isn't when I started watching (Buffy was in the first half of S6 when I started), but I got in during one of the hiatuses, so in the meantime I downloaded S5 eps like crazy. This is because I was completely Spike obsessed... less so now, but after watching FFL, whoa.

minor spoilers for S5

It's funny because most people single out S2 or S3 as their favorite or as the "best," but that's how S5 feels for me -- Slayer mythology, sacrifice (despite gaping plot holes), Dawn, the fun! I really do like Dawn's arc.

Now I eagerly anticipate S6 DVDs and the musical!! With commentary, hopefully!! And behind the scenes glances!!

Whoo ^_^.

Comments

[angeyja.livejournal.com]

2, 3 & 5. It's very close for me between all of those, and I still see 5 as the natural end to the series (not the original concept which I think may have involved pulling everyone and all of Sunnydale into the Hellmouth with maximum angst...I like to think Xander would have walked away, again maximum angst.) Anyway, enjoy!

[oyceter]

*nods* While some part of me kind of likes the idea of The Gift as the final ep, a big part of me is also completely into the dark, bringing Buffy back from the dead arc, and I do so love the ending in Chosen (despite, well, lots of S7). I love ending the series with that smile on her face.

[buffyannotater.livejournal.com]

I started pretty much from the beginning (halfway through second season, but caught up a great deal in reruns summer before the third), and the fifth is my favorite. Out of all the seasons, it's the one that feels most structured like a novel, with each and every standalone episode adding something to the overall arc, and small clues dropped casually throughout the season assembling in the last episode. Also, the themes of death and love and sacrifice run throughout the season, even counting Buffy vs. Dracula. As much as I love it and adore The Gift, though, I don't agree with angela that it was the natural end to the series, because I think that the sacrifice/symbolic death was important turning point in her journey but that was not the ultimate realization of Buffy's potential. In the classic hero's journey, death is not the end, either. He has to come back, usually against his will and at the hands of well-intentioned people (hmm, that sounds familiar!), and after a period of darkness as he reacclamates himself into the world, he finally spreads his message of what he learned on the other side with the rest of the world, to make it a better place. Substitute that "he" for "she" and you've got Buffy's character in the last 2 seasons down to a "t". Sorrr, that was too much rhyming for one sentence. ;-)

[oyceter]

I'm so looking forward to watching it as an entire season! Before I just downloaded "Spike" episodes, silly me. Although, I did go back and watch Tough Love through The Gift last year sometime.

You know, I have this strange impression that Buffy vs. Dracula isn't very liked by most people, but I just watched it yesterday and I was quite impressed with the way it immediately picked up on themes from Primeval and Restless!