Rating: 
Summary: Season Six Rules the Roost!
Review: I've read lots of these reviews and everyone is getting all deep and reflective and introspective about this, that and the other. Some people hated Season Six and compared it to other seasons that were better, worse or indifferent. Is there anyone out there, like me, who loved all seven seasons? I don't get too caught up in how far fetched the storylines seemed at times...it's called FANTASY folks. Buffy wasn't supposed to be Law & Order, or ER, and I'm grateful for that because I'd take Buffy over shows like that every time...even if it's an episode that I've seen over 20 times (which is most of them I'm afraid). But even though the show is rooted in fantasy, it addressed real life issues, and did so quite admirably! This is also true of Season Six where the characters have to deal with everything from being jilted at the alter, to rape, to losing a loved one in a senseless shooting.Season Six of Buffy is quite possibly my favorite of all. See, as I said above, I don't get too deep into the life lessons, or the darkness of it all. I just enjoy watching the characters I've come to love over the years develop and interact. But here's my favorite thing about the series. No matter how campy, silly or even bad (in the opinions of some) the storylines may be, there's almost always a classic moment, or line from someone--something memorable that I guarantee you'll go back to and want to see again. Season Six is rife with them! This is exploited best when the characters are placed in a situation that takes them outside their normal behavior, whether due to supernatural or self inflicted forces. For instance, Tabula Rusa is one of the cleverest, funniest episodes of all. Willow casts a spell to make Tara forget about an argument they had, but instead, everyone ends up with amnesia. While trying to remember who they are, Buffy (Joan) accidentally discovers that she's "...a superhero or something..." after saving Randy (Spike) from vampires. Another one of these magic moments is when Buffy goes out with Spike to "...beat someone up for information..." drinks too much and ends up in a hilarious, but short lived confrontation with the Trio, who, by the way, were comedic geniuses! Did anyone really get the creeps when they saw Warren, Andrew and Jonathan heading down the path of evil!? It was some of the funniest television I've ever seen! Finally, the acting in Season Six was absolutely phenomenal. From the many dramatic scenes (Buffy confiding in Tara about her relationship with Spike and having an emotional breakdown in the process--Spike and Buffy having a moment together at Xander and Anya's wedding) to the many humorous scenes (an intoxicated Buffy breaking up the game of "kitten poker" and accusing Spike of being "drunk"--the entire scene where Buffy, unknowingly under the Trio's power, has to make one sale at the Magic Shop or she keeps repeating the moment over and over...classic!) My point is, when placed with the rest of the series, Season Six has all the elements, and more, that make Buffy the Vampire Slayer the great show that it was: Drama, humor, fantasy, horror, in a nearly perfect blend and balance each and every time. As is true throughout the series, even episodes I didn't particularly like overall, still have something substantial that I go back to see again and again. It's quite amazing, really. Rant over--Season Six rules the roost!!!
Rating: 
Summary: the season premire made me sick...
Review: Well I really disliked this show when in the season opener the title character was raised from the dead, by using the most sickening storyline ever written for television. It was that moment that I realized that this show had a cast and a group of so-called writers who are like the same people you meet in internet chatrooms, they all forgot to take their medication.
Rating: 
Summary: A Season of Indifferent Performances
Review: The Sixth Season of Buffy was marked by both indifferent storylines and character development. After the desperate gloom that pervaded the final episodes of Season Five, Series Six took the characters and the audiences to some darker places than they had ever been before. The writers also increasingly flicked the switch to melodrama and away from the usual dynamics of BTVS. It might be cynical to suggest this, but I suspect that at some point the writers met with the studios marketing executives. The result was stories that targeted BTVS's largest demographic group: Girls and young women aged 14-21. When this series aired on TV in Australia, where I first watched it, it was notable that almost all the ads offered products that would appeal to that demographic. I suspect it was the same here in the US and elsewhere. Another weakness was the "arch-villains." Whilst the idea of Buffy go up against mere mortals, and struggling, is an appealing idea, it was never going to be enough to sustain a series. Part of the appeal of Buffy is that she is a modern day super-hero battling super villains. As a series Buffy the Traffic Cop would never have taken off. The trio could not live up to the legacy of past villains and as a result the elements of challenge and suspense was missing. I think the writers rectified this flaw by having Buffy go up against the First Evil in Series Seven. However it was interesting to see the characters venture into some darker areas. This meant tinkering with some of the irony that gave the show its buzz. Essentially they were all bright, funny characters battling evil and living in the appropriately named town of Sunnydale which just happened to be located on the Hellmouth. Losing that dynamic meant losing some of the appeal of the show. Sometimes it worked and sometimes it failed. I'm still not sure how I feel about Willow turning evil, Xander and Anya splitting up, Spike's attempted rape of Buffy, or even Buffy's general surliness. But the hallmark of a good series is that at least it makes you think about these things. Personally I found Seasons 4 and 5 good but not outstanding and I would have preferred it if Season 6 had replicated some of the consistent excellence and humour of Season 3. That said I recognize the need for a Series and its characters to develop as the writers and the actors see fit. At any rate I would prefer an indifferent series of Buffy over most other tv programs.
Rating: 
Summary: Call it a comeback....
Review: The sixth season of Buffy came on the heels of two of the most disappointing seasons in the show's history- season four, with Captain Cardboard and the ridiculous Initiative storyline, and season five, with its irritating villian and completely illogical Key storyline (there were so many better ways to introduce Dawn into the series, not that she's a favorite ANYWAY...). Angel was clearly the better show for its first two seasons, but just as it seemed all hope was lost, along came season six like a beam of light- or rather, a welcome shot of darkness. The characters grip with some serious emotional issues, the Trio remains the most underrated supervillian group of all time (maybe because I was one of them in high school), and Willow's gradual but necessary transformation as a response to the tragedy in her life is a joy to watch. And how can you go wrong with XANDER saving the world? You get all that, plus the best episode ever made (the musical)- well worth the price for any Whedon fan. I would rank it second only to season 7.
Rating:
Summary: Season Six isnt as bad as it seems
Review: Buffy season six got a lot of criticism when it moved to the UPN Network, but i dont understand why. It started out on a great note. After Buffy dies, her friends use the powers of the greatest Witch they know to bring her back. Buffy then has to deal with being brought back and the problems that causes. The season goes on to introduce Buffy to the love styles of Spike, Dawn's kleptomania, Xander and Anyas train wreck of a wedding, Singing and Dancing, Memory Spells, Willow's "I'm kinda gay" logic, not to mention Seeing Red when Willow's world is turned upside down and she becomes the big bad of the season. Personally, I loved this season. And although I really do enjoy the seventh, if it had ended with this season it would have been all right in my book.
Rating:
Summary: A season that fell short of the mark
Review: "Buffy" is undoubtable on of the finest televisions programs of the last decade. However, after a strong Fifth season, the writers aimed for an ambitious and different feel and for the most part, is mostly disappoiting in its execution.
The beginning of the season was one the strongest. A tightly written two-part premiere, with a disconnected Buffy ripped out of heaven, Wilow absuing power(and her lover), Xander's hestitation about his up-coming marriage, and interesting developments in the Buffy/Spike front.
However, from Smashed onwards the season descends into a slump that it never fully recovers from. Willow, from left field, is suddenly struggling with a migic addiction(all indicators proir and suggested that Willow's problem was mostly an abuse of her powers over others; I'd write looong essays on the troubles of Miss Rosenberg, and none of them would ever indicate a Magic addiction) Buffy and Spike grahpic sex is fascinating at first, but qucikly becomes repetitive.
The pooorest aspect was the writing. From episode to episode, characters are inconsistent(Buffy and Spike especially) the humour is considerably less funny(I didn't laugh once from any of the Trio's jokes) and the production(editing and score) is also weaker than in previous seasons. Not to mention, the mishandling of the Willow storyline(slightly redeemed by the DarkWillow plotline, although that too was badly written) and the absence of Giles, who left a HUGE gap in the show that ni the last two seasons don't ever replace.
In saying that, I didn't give this season three stars for nothing. The first half of the season is strong, with "Once More with Feeling" the obvious standout. Tara grows immesurably as a character, her development from Smashed onwards is a joy to behold. The second half is weaker, but there are still solid eps, like the well written "Dead Things" the interesting "Normal Again", the amusing "Entrophy" and the devastating "Seeing Red".
On the whole, season six left me feeling frustrated at and isolated from characters that I used to love . The season was me emotionally draining, but not in the good way(like season two). It had high ambitions, but couldn't quite pull it off. The absence of Whedon was keenly felt, as he runs a tight ship from the actors and writers to the post production and the like. However it is still worth adding to your Buffy Collection, even though its the ugly step-child of the series.
Rating:
Summary: One of the Most Intriguing Seasons...
Review: This was a fantastic season full of dramatically different episodes. The focus, of course, is the Trio and what happens when Willow goes "all vein-y". I actually had my students watch those episodes to understand the impact that one person's death can have... as well as one person's desire for vengeance. The repercussions of both resonated throughout the Buffyverse. Of course, one of the highlights is the musical episode (which I still maintain should've received an Emmy). This season was full of real emotion and a lot of the trials and tribulations 20-somethings go through as they try to figure out the courses of their lives. Of course most of us don't suck magical power from gods in attempts to bring back our dead loved ones... but we can understand and sympathize and yes, even wish that we could do so. Yes, this season was full of darkness, but then so is life. There *are* times when certain years are just worse than others. When bad things seem to happen constantly. Why should Buffy's life be any different? Of course, one could wish for happiness for some of the characters... but I think Joss Whedon was diametrically opposed to that. Anyway... it's a must see (or re-see) and definitely a must own. I can't wait to get mine!
Rating:
Summary: Life is the Big Bad
Review: Season six of buffy wasn't recieved at all well from the majority of the fans, but despite this, it is, in my opinion, one of the best seasons so far. The entire season is very dark and the characters are taken to some places we would never have expected. The most interesting thing about season six is the baddies. The Troika, or Nerds, or Trio, or hre arch nemesisisis, are just 3 geeks. From the very start Buffy has been battling huge Big bads- The master, Angelus, The mayor, Adam, Glory- and now we are given 3 ordinary people with no extra powers of any importance, and she can't deal. After the events of last series ie Buffy and her mum dying, Spike confession of love, and her new sister Dawn, buffy has a lot to deal with. Willow brings her back to life with good intentions, thinking she is in Hell, but unknown to her buffy was actually in Heaven. Buffy begins to feel Spike is the only one she can confide in- he is the one she tells about where she was- and last season she had taken to talking to him about her mum and any other thing she can't face telling the others. After a really bad day when she feels she no longer fits in with the others she feels he is the only one she can talk to or even be around. In OMWF, he is the only one that can save her, and she gets carried away and they end up kissing. Their relationship develops- unbeknown to te others- and she is soon having casual sex with him on the regular basis. Being brought back has seroiously messed her up, and the only time she feels anything is when she is with him. She hates herself fo doing this and her secret and feelings she has been hiding from her friends puts a wedge between them. Dawn feels unwanted, and everyone is too busy with their own prblems they don't notie, so she turns to shoplifting. Giles leaves for England, and Buffy is left without any adult help- her mother is dead and her father-figure Giles has abandoned her. Xander is also going through a bad patch. Having prposed to Anya at the end of season five, he makes her wait for almost a third of the season before telling the others, and niether of them mention their doubts about getting married untill its to late. Xander realises he is terrified of becoming his father, and ends up leaving Anya at the Alter in the amazing episode Hells bells. Anya becomes a vengence demon again and later in another very good episode Entropy, sleeps with Spike. His and buffys relationship comes out and The group are pushed further apart. Willows sucess in bringing Buffy back has given her a huge ego boost, and she begins to use magic for more and more everyday things. In the end her girlfriend tara leaves her and she is forced to quit when she almost kills dawn and realises her addiction. Buffy is as well feeling withdrawl symptoms after finishing with Spike she is brought to her senses though when in a shocking episode, Seeing Red, he attempts to rape her. He is so digusted by himself and wraked by guilt, he goes to Africa to get a soul to be worthy of her love, but Buffy is soon side-tracked by far more serious issues. Tara and Willow get back together but their happiness is shortlived when Tara is shot by Warren, the leader of the troika. Willow turns to black magic, and sets off to destroy the world. The final 3 episodes, Villains, Two to go and Grave are outstanding, and Grave, the only Finale not written by Joss is still very good; although Xanders amazing yellow crayon speech is his and obviously the best scene in the episode. There are some grat episodes in her- OMWF, Older and far away, Life serial, Dead things, Hells bells, gone and Ebtropy as well as the last 3 are the best. The only really bad episode is Double meat palace, but you shouldn't be put off by the gloomy theme, its actually very interseting and realsitc as the characters are tested to the limit. Each person goes through a lot of intense emtoions, and this is a beautifully written, brilliant season. Its well worth buying and i guarantee you will not be dissapointed. Go for it!
Rating:
Summary: Well worth you time and money.
Review: Season six had some of the most amazing episodes ever (OMWF, Normal Again, Tabula Rasa, Grave, Two to Go) and one of the worst (Doublemeat Palace). The season is well worth the investment.
Rating: 
Summary: What happened to Buffy?
Review: Season six was one of the worst ideas in the history of the show. While I applaud creator Joss Whedon for wanting to take the show into a darker place, all of the magic that made us fall in love with "Buffy" is gone by the time we reach the sixth year. In fact, as we see Spike become Angel part 2 and Buffy fights a cavalcade of anonymous and generic demons, it becomes quite clear that the writers are simply running out of ideas at this point. The only really original episode is "Normal Again," which is muted by the fact that Buffy's revelation that she was nearly institutionalized for telling her parents she was the slayer clearly contradicts Joyce's surprise at learning this same information in season two. The show changed so drastically from its original premise and tone that it almost fails even to be the same show. The only thing saving season six is the inexplicably wonderful musical episode, "Once More With Feeling." Willow's turn as a dark magic addict makes for some interesting viewing as well, but hardly carries the season. This may be the only "Buffy" DVD set that I don't buy.
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