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Buffy the Vampire Slayer - The Complete Third Season

Buffy the Vampire Slayer - The Complete Third Season

List Price: $59.98
Your Price: $44.99
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: one of the best seasons !
Review: from first kick to last kiss this season of buffy rocks ! in this season the big bad would be the mayor and faith. faith being the the young girl who was chosen to step up for the fallen slayer Kendra. this season also chronicles the love story of soulmates buffy and angel , after angel returns from hundreds of years in hell . if you are a lover of buffy and angels relationship , than this is the dvd for you , this season shows a deeper side to thier love , their love is greater and stronger after surviving angels trip to hell .but in the end their love could survive angel "dying" but couldn't survive him living . moving on this dvd also keeps us up to date on cordelia and xanders relationship aswell as willow and ozs . it also chronicles xander and willows romantic feelings for each other . last but not least it shows faith and buffys friendship along with the end of it , aswell as the transition into the return of angel in which not everyone is so sure that he is fully back to his old self . and of chorse it shows the every day horrors of a student in highschool . bottom line is that this season has all the good elements of a hit show : love , action ,and drama which makes it in my opinion ,one of the better buffy seasons .

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Why Season Three of "BtVS" remains the series' best season
Review: Joss Whedon solved a major problem in Season Two of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" in terms of how he resolved the tortured love of Buffy and Angel. Many a good television series went down the tubes because one the sexual tension between the two lovers was consummated, there was nowhere to go but down (classic case in point: Dave and Maddie on "Moonlight"). However, Whedon's masterstroke was that after Angel gave Buffy her birthday present, their relationship went down like no other relationship we had ever seen (not even Sid and Nancy) as Angel turned into Angelus. The season finale, "Becoming: Part II," is still one of the 10 best television episodes I have ever seen. The new problem facing Joss Whedon was: How do you top this in Season Three?

In one sense he does not. "Becoming" remains the Mt. Everest of the series, a height that can never be scaled again, no matter how many times Buffy's gift of "death" plays to her advantage. However, what makes Season Three better than Season Two is not that the top is higher, but rather than this is also true of the bottom. Pick the worst episode from Season Three (my choice is the obvious pick, "Beauty and the Beasts") and it is still better than the worst of the first two seasons (e.g., "Teacher's Pet," "Go Fish"). Look at all 22 episodes and you should end up being convinced that this was clearly the show's best season.

By now there is clearly an extremely effective pattern to a season of "BtVS" as crafted by Whedon. The first episode, "Anne," reminds Buffy of why she is the slayer (i.e., function as a way of getting late comers to the party up to speed on the Slayer). Again the season is divided into two halves, the first focusing on Faith ("Faith, Hope & Trick") and the second on the Mayor's Ascension ("Graduation Day"). Like the previous season, the part of the first half (Spike & Dru) joins the party of the second half (Angelus), just like Faith joins forces with the Mayor. Consequently, a season of "BtVS" has a sense of overall narrative structure more developed than most television dramas. What also matters is that Whedon finds the actors to play the parts. Eliza Dushku makes Faith a ticking time bomb who represents the Dark Side of being a Slayer (not to mention being as far removed from Kendra as possible), while Harry Groener as Mayor Richard Wilkins III takes the traditional politeness of a villain to a new level of giddy charm.

The final element, which best defines the uniqueness of Season Three, is that arguably the very best episodes were actually those that did NOT have to do with the major plot threads. There are two fun return visits as Sunnydale is afflicted by another visit from Ethan Raine in "Band Candy" and comes back to kidnap Willow for some witchy help in winning back Dru's love. Fortunately we did not have to wait for Season Four for a visit to "Doppelgangland" after our first taste of the alternative Buffyverse in "The Wish." I was always surprised Whedon did not release those two on a videotape as an addendum to the Season Three Videotape set (double ditto for "Once More, With Feeling"). However, after the Senior gift given to Buffy at "The Prom," the no holds barred fight between Buffy and Faith in "Graduation Day, Part I" and Buffy letting Angel feed on her in "Graduation Day, Part II," the Mayor's actual Ascension seems rather anti-climatic.

Buffy supporting cast fares very well in Season Three. "Amends," the episode submitted for Emmy consideration, gives Buffy and Angel some of their best final scenes together as star crossed lovers while Xander finally has a moment of glory in "The Zeppo" (I find the background apocalypse scenes hysterical and love the fact the Zeppo reference is never explained in the episode at all). Cordy makes her own case for being a Slayer in "Homecoming," Giles touches on new meanings of his role as Buffy's father-figure in "Band Candy" and "Helpless," and the only thing more fun than watching Alyson Hannigan play Vamp Willow in "The Wish" was watching her play Willow playing Vamp Willow in "Dopplegangland."

"Buffy the Vampire Slayer" received a lot of unwanted publicity during the spring of 1999 when two episodes--"Earshot" and "Graduation Day, Part Two"--were pulled from being aired because of the shootings at Columbine High School. Ultimately, these proved to be overreactions, but certainly Whedon and the show were fortunate that Columbine happened the week before "Earshot" and not the week afterwards, because I really do not know if "BtVS" would have been able to survive that realignment of events. On balance and from the perspective of the middle of Season Seven, I think Season Three will ultimately be considered the best season of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer."

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: "Buffy" At Its Best
Review: Season 3 is definitely one of the best seasons of this awesome series, which is saying a lot. It introduces some terrific characters such as Faith, the slayer who has taken Kendra's place & is Buffy's opposite, Trick, a smooth-talking, creepy vampire who is the Mayor's partner in crime as well as the Mayor himself, a character who eats demonic spiders in order to become invincible, yet hates germs & likes to sanitize everything. A lot of important events take place this season as well as some classic episodes like "The Wish", "Amends", "Doppleganger", "Lover's Walk", "Earshot" & the terrific two-part conclusion "Graduation Day". This season also explores the complicated relationships that make this show what it is--the father/daughter-like relationship between Giles & Buffy, the attraction Xander & Willow have for one another despite being best friends & their involvement with other people (Cordelia & Oz), the complicated love between Buffy & Angel (especially after he turned evil & she had to send him to hell) & the relationship between Buffy & Faith. Faith brings out the dark side of Buffy & then turns completely to the dark side herself, leaving Buffy feeling guilty & chilled to the bone at the idea that it could've been her. It even explores the feelings of low self-esteem of high school students--whether popular or unpopular & the loving, but delicate relationship between Buffy & her mom...Overall, an excellent season & not to be missed by anyone who appreciates intelligent story-telling.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: B-U-F-F-Y ROCKS MY WORLD!!!!
Review: First of all, i have loved Buffy ever since it's first episode! I love shows like it (Charmed and Buffy are my RELIGIONS basically)! I loved Season 1, but it now seems really small in plot compared to the other seasons. I am next going to have a dramatic interpretation of what Joss thought while making the first 3 seasons of Buffy:
1: "Let's try this idea out and have some cool stuff!"
2: "Ok, now let's throw THIS at them and see what they do!"
3: "Last season worked this season I am going all out!"
In season 3 i think Joss really showed us some amazing talent in both the actors and the writing.
At first, we start off with Buffy slowly coming home (after kicking a hell demension king's a$$). Then we are settling in and then BAM! who is this second slayer? FAITH! Then we have a meaningless to the shows plot, but still amazing episode in which SLAYERFEST 99' happens ("Homecoming"). After that emotions basically say "Kick it up a notch!" everyone shows who they are, especially Faith, but Buffy and Angel realize their love won't work, Anya comes around settling in as a human... Also, just a side note, this season is home of my FAVORITE episode called "Earshot" it is an AMAZING episode that really shows what was and is still going on in the world! The season ends with an amazing two part ending truly showing a GRADUATION of the characters... PS: Who could miss a season when Cordelia pretends she's a badass and scares a vamp, Giles and Joyce have sex...twice, evil Willow in tight leather, good Willow in tight leather, Buffy has no super powers, Faith gives Xander his first "ya know", Buffy kicks a lunchlady's a$$, and a Slayer-vs-Slayer fight (who will win?)? I wouldn't miss it for the world (which by the way, Buffy saves ...again!)

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Buffy's Best Season
Review: This is by far the best Buffy season ever. Until season 7 (this year) every season since this has been sub-par, and before season 3, the show didn't really get into an amazingly smooth groove. With Buffy finally coming home to Sunnydale, when Angel comes back from the dead, when Faith shows up, Spike's episode, the evil mayor, and so much more, this is the season not to miss. I have taped every episode, and have watched this season's tapes so many times that some of them have difficulty playing. Season 3 shows why Buffy is the most innovative and by far the best show on television. In the words of Spike "It's not brains children, it's blood. Blood screaming inside of you to work it's will..." Anyone who doesn't feel their blood screaming for Buffy season 3 must be dead already. Buy it, it rules.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Two Slayers! For the Price of One!
Review: After a very powerful second season, Buffy and the Scooby Gang entered its third one facing their toughest challenge yet: senior year. As if that wasn't bad enough, they also had an evil mayor and a baaad second slayer, Faith, to deal with. While maybe not as good as season two, season three showed that Buffy was just getting stronger with age - and more mature. This was actually a very pivotal season for many reasons: it introduced future regular Anya ("The Wish") while saying good-bye to Angel and Cordelia (who had bigger fish to fry in L.A., with their very own spinoff, "Angel"). The introduction of Faith was important, too, and we learned that two slayers are NOT better than one. Xander and Willow had Cordelia/Oz problems, due to the best friends' developing sexual tension; Buffy still had Angel problems (is he good again? is he bad again?); and all of Sunnydale had mayor problems - in the form of a really big...snake? Luckily, season three wasn't as sappy as season two with the whole Buffy/Angel relationship. The whole tortured, star-crossed lovers thing was cute for a while but after a few episodes, it was a little hard to swallow (I don't care how good he is now - the fact that he has killed possibly hundreds and hundreds of people in his 200-some-odd years on earth is a REALLY big red flag). But anyway, this season was great. I can't wait until it comes out on DVD. I own the other two seasons, and am very pleased with them. It's true, as one viewer points out, that you can tape these episodes off the TV for a couple of bucks [price of the blank VCR tape], but if you are a die-hard Buffy fan, you may be in for multiple viewings, and DVDs never wear out. Thank God for technology, huh? And thank God for Joss Whedon - this man knows how to make a show.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: buffy kicks
Review: The third season is great. a new slayer comes to town (that uh, would be faith). it shows the friendship between buffy and faith and then the exciting conflit. during this season, you witness as buffy kills a man and puts faith in a coma. angel comes close to death and you really get to see the relationship of buffy and angel. the mayor acheives assention and buffy and the scooby gang stop it. all aroung, the second seaon is bangin'!!!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: It's about freaking time !!!!
Review: Who couldn't love Buffy? There are so few fans of the show.
Buffy FINALLY came out on DVD this year...BR>Well I guess this is the part where I list SOME of my favorite eps:

Homecoming - Buffy and Cordy up against eachother for
homecoming queen - very funny
Band Candy - Joyce and Giles are teenagers again
Lover's Walk - Spike kidnaps Willow and Xander
The Wish - Cordy wishes Buffy never came to Sunnydale
Amends - The First Evil - the big bad for season seven
Doppelgangland - Willow's vampire self comes back to haunt her
Earshot - Buffy can hear everyone's thoughts

Well every true Buffy fan absolutly needs this. Get it. You won't be disapointed.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Buffy's best season to date
Review: Season Three of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (BtVS), for me and many other fans, was the high point of the series to date (though the current-and-final seventh season may yet manage to outdo it). There are several reasons for this:

1.) It featured BtVS's most memorable villains, the rogue Slayer Faith and the enigmatic Mayor Wilkins, and wove them into an ongoing story arc that remains the most compelling in the history of the series.

2.) It featured some of the best character development in a series that has distinguished itself by strong character development. Buffy, Angel, Giles, Willow, Xander, Oz, Faith, and even Cordelia are explored in captivating detail. This is one season when everybody got their chance to shine.

3.) The intensity of emotion that runs through this season is remarkable and often gut-wrenching. Part of the reason everyone gets a chance to shine is that everyone is put through the wringer. Episodes like "Dead Man's Party", "Beauty and the Beasts", "Lover's Walk", "Amends", and "Enemies" grab hold of your heart and twist it mercilessly, as the characters live out their all-too-believable suffering on screen. Few shows have so many actors who are so good at conveying emotion as the BtVS cast, and their performances in this season were phenomenal.

4.) Oz rocks! The guitarist who won Willow's heart in Season 2 really comes into his own as one of the Scoobies in Season 3. Which is a good thing, because about half a dozen episodes into Season 4 he's gone for good. :( Enjoy the unique, delightful humor of the Scooby Gang's resident werewolf while he lasts.

5.) Faith rocks, too, but she's been reviewed in detail elsewhere, so I won't waste space here.

6.) The Big Finish. The two-part "Graduation" is one of the best, most satisfying season finales in Buffy history; only the season 6 finale "Two to Go"/"Grave" has come close to matching it. Watching the way our heroes deal with their private fears and personal issues while preparing for Armageddon is just flat-out great television, and the climactic battle is unmatched by any other fight in the history of the Buffy-verse.

Consistently strong from beginning to end, Season 3 currently stands at the pinnacle of achievement in the annals of Joss Whedon's cult-hit creation. A must-have for every Buffy fan!

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Buffys 3rd DVD-Hit or miss?
Review: Unlike others, I have found the previous two DVD's to be disappointing. Yes, the episodes are great, but spending nearly $50 bucks for just the episodes (which are tapeable off the TV) is wrong. There are almost no extras on the other DVD's and this one looks different. At least half the episodes should have full-length commentary, and those 30 second Whedon interviews can't take too long to film, but they don't do that. That makes me doubtful about the worth of the DVD. Still, it looks good enough, and hopefully I will be surprised about its worth.

Buy it.


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