Rating: 
Summary: Buffy : One Dark Year
Review: Oh boy. The Buffy community has always been fierce and can be picky at times. No other season in the show's run caused more controversy and a split down the middle among fans than season six of the show. Some say it was too dark. Some say there was too much this and too much that. That it was too soap opera-y. I was someone who was against season six when it originally aired on TV, but that has lessened a bit over time and repeated viewings. It is still off kilter and the least season of the series, but get into that in a minute. "Bargaining Part 1" and
"Bargaining Part 2" deal with the repercussions of Buffy's death at the end of the brilliant season 5 and her resurrection in these two episodes. A pretty high octane two parter, but the least of the show's season premieres. The running theme through this season was Buffy learning to be alive again, and to deal with being back on the hellish earth after being in the warm and problem free heaven. "After Life" is one of the better episodes of the season. It comes complete with scary moments, a great creature, and a teriffic final scene with Buffy and Spike. The
next two, "Flooded" and "Life Serial", are banal time wasters that showcase how Buffy was not hitting on all fronts. That would be the case with most of the episodes this season. "All The Way" was the Halloween episode, and it is the worst Halloween one of the three. It's not really bad at all, but nothing to live up to the previous two at all. The Buffy/Spike hook-up was a major player this season. Some loved it and some didn't. I liked it in season 5, but the story this seaosn left me cold. It was so much better in season 7 too. Sarah Michelle Gellar and James Marsters were really good this year, as always, but the material left them as characters that were hard to relate too or care as much for. That changes towards the end with Spike doing something that I will not say. Alysan Hannigan was brilliant this season. With Willow delving deeper into magic, Hannigan got the juicy stuff. "Tabula Rasa" is what sets things in motion. Her relationships with her friends and with Tara suffer horribly. It was a nice arc and Hannigan was truly astounding. The death of her lover at the end of "Seeing Red", is what Buffy does best. Shocks you and breaks your heart. Was this punishment for Tara being gay?. Of course not. It was a great shock device used with Jenny Calendar in season 2, and Joyce in season 5. With Willow ending up with Kennedy in season 7, the whole punishment for being gay bile should be put to rest. Xander and Anya's relationship goes on, but it's the weakest of the story arcs. "Hell's Bells", the wedding episode, was a terrible episode, although Anya was good. Many romantic entanglements went further in "Entropy", and came crashing to a head. However, it was a pretty abysmal episode as well. "Normal Again", which featured Buffy delusioning that the past 6 years has all been a dream is nicely done. Not great, but a season stand out. The last four episodes, "Seeing Red", and especially "Villains", "Two To Go", and "Grave", are the best parts of the season. Evil Willow was fascinating and scary and Hannigan really got to shine in these episodes. Scary, sad, and action packed. A real emotion rollercoaster. Perfect. Should Willow of died?. Of course not. What a slap in the face to the show. Her living and redeeming herself is a stronger concept and far more interesting. The frequent abscence of Anthony Stewart Head as Giles is the most disappointing. There many flaws about this season, but him not being there as much left a huge void, as well as a good portion of the show's heart. There was debate over the nerd troika as well. It was odd in the beginning, but still delightful because they were funny and had some really great moments of humor. But it did change. They got darker and more serious, especially Warren, and it showed that they could become dangerous and a real threat. Once again, Joss showed that he knows what he is doing and that we should put a little more trust into him at certain times. "Once More, With Feeling", the musical episode, was the crowning achievement of the season, the series, and of Joss Whedon as a writer/director. It is brilliant and breathless from start to finish. One of the best hours of television ever. The show was still incredibly written, directed, and acted this season, but it was just different. Some misguided reviews seem to think that equals that it is horribly done and trash. Not even close. The show changed and grew and matured as it always does every season, but this year not everyone got it. Yes, it wasn't great, but there are splendid moments of pure genius, acting and everything else. The writing lost it's way along the course of the season, but it was never bad. Just going for something different. Plus, is "Doublemeat Palace", where Buffy gets a job at the fast food joint and discovers horrible secrets behind the burner, really the worst episode ever?. No. I will give those honors to "Inca Mummy Girl" from season 2. Season 6 was a misguided and uneven adventure, but they did their best and tried to make the most of what it was and what it became. Sometimes it's hard to watch our beloved characters get into such dark times that make it hard to watch. But it's pain. It's maturing. It's life. I am still no great fan of season 6, but like I said earlier, it's better once you watch it over and see things again. Season 7 was a lot better and got things on more of a track. Some people here didn't like that one either, but it was good with some flaws but, I guess that will have to wait for the DVD. Season 6 should be included in your collection, if only to have the continuity.
Rating:
Summary: You Just Lie There When You Should Be Standing Tall
Review: This is really the weakest season in Buffy's seven-year run, and not really due to the cast or direction. It was due to the writing. After coming off season five with the insurmountable task of living up to the show's legacy on a new network, Whedon and crew tried something different. It was interesting, and the performances were all solid throughout, but it lacked focus, and just seemed to turn more and more into "The Bold and the Beautiful" with vampires.One of the biggest shortcommings of season six was the Big Bad, if it can even be called that. Previous seasons had always had iconic villains that were there to test Buffy and the Scooby gang and to provide a great deal of tension build-up leading to the finale. Also, each villain offered a lesson that could be applied to real life. The Master: We may be bound to fate, but we can rise to meet it. Angelus: People change, and sometimes those you thought you knew can hurt you the most. The Mayor/Faith: All politicians are inherently evil, and no matter how hard you try to save someone who has lost their way, they can't always come back. Glory: the importance of family, and the power of love. Now, after this great string of bad guys and gals, we get (drum roll please) three nerds who have read too many comic books and want to be arch-villains. On paper, it looks like crap. In excecution, it was exactly that. Sure, it's slightly more likely than some new demonic threat to Sunnydale, but Buffy eats realism for breakfast. Where's the conflict? Most of the time, Buffy's new arch-nemesises. . . ses. . . arch-nemeses (yeah, that's an actual quote) are just really annoying. Whedon and co. seamed to realize this about three quarters of the way through the season, and set up Willow with a magical addiciton (D.A.R.E. anyone?) that eventually leads to her wanting to destroy the world. It feels like a cop-out, but is handled with scary talent from Alyson Hannigan. But the season simply goes too much soap opera for its own good. Ex: Xander's wedding debacle, Terra's death, Spike's attempted rape of Buffy. That's not to say the season is all bad. Buffy's struggle to cope with being the slayer again after essentially being in heaven makes for an interesting relationship with Spike. However, this isn't really handled with the show's typical finesse, but there are certainly moments. The real gem of the season is the musical episode "Once More with Feeling" which brings back a good deal of the classic Buffy spirit which is sadly absent for much of the sixth season. All in all, season six should have started solid, in order to land on its feet after the great ending of season five. Unfortunately, though the ideas are well-executed, they just aren't all that good to begin with. The extras on this disk are solid as ever, with a few extra gems thrown in for good measure. The audio and video are solid for something that aired on TV, and the disks are easy to navigate. If you liked the season, it's a worthy purchase. If you want to have all of Buffy, this certainly deserves a place in your collection. If you want to forget this season, you're not alone.
Rating: 
Summary: Still Great Love the series
Review: This season was funny espically with those three guys i liked the relationship with buffy and spike but i wish it could have been different. But i like how he got a soul because what he was doing to buffy.And also i like how spike fell in love with buffy.
Rating: 
Summary: When the series really lost its way
Review: What really characterized this season was bad, lazy writing. Instead of themes of empowerment from previous seasons we have a really messed up Buffy/Spike relationship (with tacked on attempted rape), a really lame after school special (and total cop out) with Willow's "magic crack" storyline, and none of the characters acting in a sympathetic way (and completely out of character ways...example Gile's "good luck Buffy, you're on your own, exit."). This barely scratches the surface. There can be "dark" good and "dark" bad. With the exceptions of OMWF and TR this was mainly "dark" bad. This is the season that many of the actors (SMG,JM, etc.) stated they had real problems with the script/content. S6 - The show now is officially a soap opera. And the ratings reflected this..Buffy had the most preciptious drop in viewers during this season than ever before. And from which it never recovered.
Rating: 
Summary: My Absolute Favorite Season!!
Review: I love this season!! I have laughed and cried through it all. The best part of this season has to be the relationship between Buffy and Spike. And the best episode has to be Once More, With Feeling. It is done so well and every song is worth listening to!!
Rating: 
Summary: Pure Garbage
Review: If misogyny, rape, torture and murder is what gets you off, then by all means be one more mindless whedon-drone and spend your money on this. But for the rest of us that have matured beyond comic book level writing and snuff fantasies save your cash. Season 6 is widely considered to be one of the worst (the worst is Season 7) one of Buffy and the one where the show jumped the shark. I fail to see how this can be called a 'feminist' show when in the end all the shows women have been beaten, broken, raped or killed and the men get the big rewards (I guess if you try to rape someone you get your soul back.) Don't waste your money. Don't waste your time.
Rating:
Summary: A mostly negitive season with one saving grace.
Review: This season wasn't dark is was depressing and self destructive it was also a hell of alot better then season 7 that had almost nothing good to show for it. Season 6 did have Buffy and Spike which was by far the most interesting relationship I have ever seen on TV. It was also one of the hottest on screen sexual relationship I have ever seen. It pretty much is the only reason to buy this DVD. The writers tried forcing there own personal issues about addiction, drugs, sex, and bad relationships on the audience and it failed miserably.
Rating:
Summary: WILLOW IS ELEMENTAL
Review: Willow going bad is one of the most brilliant moves of the Buffy saga, and Whedon always intended it to happen. You can tell from the beginning that, like so many smart kids, Willow is destined to get down and dirty. And she does just that: if the association between "abusing" magic and drug addiction is a little after-school special, then the battle between Buffy and Willow is a wonderfully inventive way for the series to reflect on the politics of stardom and the amount of attention devoted to a title character over and against a sidekick. As for Willow's actions, especially against the ill-fated misogynist she skins and cooks to a crisp, let's not forget all the women-hating men who burned "witches" at the stake in the past. This is their revenge. Warren can't stand the power women possess, so maybe when he goes up in smoke, we are witnessing a power struggle over gender as much as a murder. (Indeed, misogyny makes an all too disturbing return with the preacher man who serves as an agent to the First in Season 7, not to mention the beautifully-rendered story of the first slayer's enslavement by male watchers.) The death of Warren--redeemable or not--adds a moral complexity to Willow's character, certainly more powerfully than the drug addiction metaphor does. I can't decide if Season 7 strips her of her powers too much at times, but Willow is the site of the most disruptive elements in this series, evidenced by the fact that she is the big bad in the season everyone thought lacked clear direction. When Willow takes over, even the series gets a little out of control. Kudos to Hannigan, Whedon, and the rest of the cast for taking such a chance.
Rating:
Summary: Don't waste your hard earned money
Review: Many people will try to convince you that season six wasn't bad...it was just "dark". Well the ratings go a long way to show that it wasn't dark, it was just bad, bad, bad. And depressing. And did I mention bad? The only saving grace of this entire season was the musical, Once More With Feeling. So hope that you can get that as a single DVD and don't waste your time with the rest. The dominant storyline of the season was the mysoginistic, abusive relationship of the soulless and unrepentant vampire Spike with the depressed heroine Buffy. Spike fits the classic pattern of abuser and he does everything in his power to make a bad situation for Buffy worse, all in the name of "love". Spare yourselves. This wasn't love, it was degradation at its worst, with scenes like bored dumpster sex, manipulative public balcony sex (during which you can see the heartache and shame on Buffy's face as Spike demands she watch her friends while he humiliates and subjugates her - after refusing to accept her "no") and all ends with Buffy finally reaching for that core strength inside and leaving Spike for the sunlight he's been keeping her from. But that's clearly not enough for the soulless demon who sold demon eggs, and tried to kill a woman immediately upon learning that he *could*. Oh no...then we get to see Spike attempt to rape an injured Buffy on her bathroom floor. Because he couldn't take her rejection of him. He decided to try and RAPE the heroine. Love? I think not. Everthing about the Buffy/Spike relationship was horrifying and an insult to women and feminists everywhere. The rest of the season dealt with magic-addict Willow - a poorly done arc that had much potential in the beginning when it was about the abuse of power...sadly that arc was ditched for crack-addict Willow. Xander has apparently learned nothing and ends the season by dumping his fiance at the altar. Giles is completely out of character when he leaves Buffy after discovering that she was ripped out of heaven and needs him then more than ever. Dawn is merely annoying all throughout the season. The core SG are ripped apart and completely unrecognizable. Nothing is learned, no clear message emerges and Spike takes up entirely too much screentime and storyline considering this is SUPPOSED to be a show about Buffy the vampire slayer and her friends. This is easily the worst season of Buffy ever. It might be topped by season 7, the only saving graces there being there is no B/S sexual or romantic relationship and Angel and Buffy are reunited for the finale. To make a long review short, skip the depression and if you want dark Buffy? Watch season 2 again. Now that was dark done well. This is just garbage with attempted rape.
Rating:
Summary: Walk Through the Fire
Review: Though the DVD has not been released yet, Season 6 stands out as daring, different, and dark with surprising growth and development of the characters. While not always easy to watch, Season 6 "pushed the envelope" in many ways; never boring or predictable, in my opinion. Though controversial to many, I personally enjoyed the Buffy and Spike relationship for the most part, though it was not a "healthy" one for either of the characters in many ways. Season 6 set up Season 7 in regard to their relationship and ultimate forgiveness; it explored the pain, anger, frustration and mixed emotions that can be part of love in real life. As many of the reviews have already stated, the musical episode "Once More With Feeling" was an absolute joy! It was absolutely wonderful in all aspects. This DVD set will be a must to own!
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