I was elated to discover a couple months ago that the entire series of Buffy the Vampire Slayer had been added to Netflix' "Watch Instantly" options. I own seasons 1-3 and had recently watched quite a bit of 4 thanks to the time my roommate's sister spent living on our couch. However, what I really wanted to do was go back and watch seasons 5-7 as I had only seen parts of those when they were originally on. I thought, when I started, that I had seen 90% of the episodes, but as it turns out, I knew 90% of what was going to happen, but had only seen maybe 50% of the episodes. Really, this blog should be titled, Watching Buffy again for the first time, but that seemed a little cheesy and I wanted to give Netflix Instant Watch the Love it deserved.
What I discovered was that while season 2 will forever and always be my favorite, season 7 is an incredibly close second. Season 5 is good, but very, very sad and at times a little strange. I think it would have been an okay end to the series, had it not been picked up my UPN, but I am so very glad that we got to see two more seasons. Season 6 is almost painful to watch, despite the comical villains (not to mention watching it now in a post-Dr. Horrible world I just about died when they brought out the freeze ray). In fact, while watching I told my sister that season 6 is like Order of the Phoenix in the Harry Potter series, dark and at times agonizing, but with lighter moments that are series highlights for me (whether we are talking about Fred & George's epic exodus from Hogwarts or the classic Buffy episode Once More With Feeling). It's necessary for our beloved main characters to make hard to deal with choices and go to a pretty dark place in order for the series as a whole to progress. After we go through that with them, we get to see them emerge as stronger, more complex, more grown up characters as they face their final battles. And in the case of Buffy, that final battle is everything that a final battle should be. It's bigger than ever, harder than ever, and it challenges all the characters to go someplace they never have before. The opening episode ends with a crazed Spike, who has returned to Sunnydale with his soul restored, talking to an evil being that keeps changing shape. I was mesmerized watching as we were taken back through all of Buffy's nemeses from each season in reverse order: Warren, Glory, Adam, the Mayor, Druscilla, and the Master. Right from the start it is clear that this is no ordinary villain and this will be no ordinary season. We suffered with her return from heaven back to a relatively hell-like existence and watched her rediscover a desire to live, all the while dealing with that pesky little sister that no one could stand (it wasn't just me, was it?). Now she would face the first evil, something without form that seeks to destroy the line of slayers. In this last season Joss Whedon changes all the rules and comes up with a superb ending to this brilliant series. When they look back on the hole in the ground that is (was?) Sunnydale in the final shot, it is so fittingly final. Our characters will keep on going, but the story is over.
If seasons of Buffy were Jane Austen novels, as far as my favorites go, then season 2 would be Pride and Prejudice and season 7 would be Persuasion. I have loved Pride and Prejudice longer and I cannot think of a better leading lady than Elizabeth Bennett, but if forced to really dig deep, I probably do believe that Persuasion, with Captain Wentworth and his brilliant letter, is the superior work. Likewise, as I am writing this, I cannot quite say that season 2 with Spike, Dru, & evil Angel where Buffy has to pull it together at the end to kill Angel once his soul has been restored is not still my favorite, but in analyzing what I love about season 7 it may really be the best. It is a fitting end to a great series that has fun and adventure, while incorporating just the right amount of drama and real life themes and issues. I kind of want to watch it all again, again.
No comments:
Post a Comment