The Watcher Diaries - 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' Season Four Roundtable

Posted by Jason Chamberlain on 10.07.2009

411's Scooby Gang reunites to discuss the fourth season of Buffy! Who was the best hero? What was the best episode? Which episode will they never watch again? Read on for the details!



Welcome to the fourth season roundtable! Sorry we're late! Here we go!

BEST ACTOR/ACTRESS

Ronny Sarnecky: Sarah Michelle Gellar as "Buffy." Even though Willow's character has experienced the greatest character development this season, Buffy was not immune to a changing lifestyle. She had to deal with Angel leaving town, and leaving home herself for college. Living at college is a huge adjustment. You no longer have mommy to lean on, and you have to deal with something that nothing in life can prepare you for; the college roommate. Buffy had to deal with the issue of a one-night stand, and the effects of being rejected after "a guy gets what he wants." Perhaps the best part of Sarah Michelle Gellar's performances this year was that her character went from a secret demon killer to more of an action hero type figure.

Mike Gorman: I tried really hard not to pick her but based on actual performances this season it has to go to Sarah Michelle Gellar. This season she just did a great job with all the "variant" episodes tossed her way like "Hush", "Beer Bad" and especially "Who are you?". It was that last episode that tipped me in her favor because Sarah did such a great job playing the scenes where Faith possessed Buffy. She affected all of Eliza's mannerisms to a T which was in stark contrast to Eliza, who sadly I feel just couldn't pull off the impersonation.

Jeremy Thomas: It's impossible not to go with Sarah Michelle Gellar here. I actually kind of wanted to go with James Marsters, but in reality Spike sort of stayed the same and his writing didn't let him excel the way Gellar's did. She portrayed some very good performances in some pretty tough situations, quality-wise. I loved seeing her coo over Spike in "Something Blue" and her work in "Hush" and "Who Are You?" was just really good stuff. You have to give it up for Buffy this year.

Ron Martin: Alyson Hannigan. Alyson has come along way since Season One and has become a very strong acting presence only behind Anthony Stewart Head in pure ability at this point. Of course Willow takes major leaps and bounds in her story this season – which certainly helped Alyson show off her talent. If you don't choke up during the scene where Oz leaves Willow, then it is possible that you have no soul. Combine that with her gradually falling in love with Tara, and there is no other choice. This was a complex relationship, but Hannigan went into it with all the enthusiasm Willow could muster, making the transition easier for the audience and the loss of Seth Green hurt less.

Jason Chamberlain - I think this season belongs to Alyson Hannigan. As Willow, she really brought the pain all year. Her struggles to get over the departure of Oz were made all the more poignant by Hannigan's incredibly genuine, heartfelt performance. I recall the moment in "Wild At Heart" when she wanders across the street and almost gets run over; the shock and pain of catching Oz with another woman is played all over her face and it's fantastic acting from Alyson. Just as impressive was her work during Willow's growing relationship with Tara. It's not a storyline I loved, but Alyson really made me believe it anyway. This is definitely a transformative year for Willow.

BEST HERO

Ronny Sarnecky: Willow. She's come a long way from "seeing the softer side of Sears," as Cordelia smarked in the pilot episode of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." Willow has been slowly dabbling in the arts of witchcraft ever since Miss Calendar was killed by Angelus in Season Two. This season, Willow was put into situations where her skills in magic were used to help Buffy against the demons of Sunnyvale. Willow is no longer the computer geek who is only useful in surfing the web and books of information on different demons. Willow is becoming a powerful force in her own right. With this power, an air of confidence is starting to surround Buffy's female sidekick. Out of all of the characters on the show, Willow has experienced the most growth. I haven't even mentioned her alternate lifestyle either.

Mike Gorman: The Scooby Gang. They had to come together, literally, in order to defeat Adam and they showed that each member of the Gang does play an integral role in their adventures. This season was really about them finding that out.

Jeremy Thomas: Riley. Surprised much? Frankly, so am I. But in looking over the entire season, no one said "hero" better than Riley. He was consistently solid. Boring as hell, written poorly and given a rather weak acting job most of the time by Marc Blucas, but he did his best to push his way through while Spike managed to scatter the Scoobies fairly easily. Perhaps it's a statement about how poor this season is that Riley is the most heroic. God, I think I need to cleanse my brain for even thinking that.

Ron Martin: Anya. I award this to Anya not because she fought evil enthusiastically or showed great sacrifice for the good guys. I award this to her for being the common sense of the team. She stepped into the role of Cordelia making the observations that we all make, only she is blunt enough to tell everyone about it. She wins this almost by default as Buffy was up and down (and borderline annoying sometimes) all season; Willow was too busy with her social life to lend too much of a hand and Giles/Xander just basically wandered about most of the season. Anya stepped up when needed and filled in what could have been a huge void.

Jason Chamberlain - As heroes go, Xander is my man in season four. Buffy was distracted by Riley and the Initiative, Willow by Oz's departure and Tara, and even Giles struggled with his purpose and tried to distance himself from the gang at times, but only Xander, the heart of the Scoobies, stayed true throughout the year. No matter what was going on in his own life, from his relationship with Anya to his job struggles, he was ready and available to all his friends at a moments notice. Throughout the season, he's the only one of our heroes who truly kept the needs of the Scooby Gang at the forefront, even as the other characters were moving on to other things.

BEST VILLAIN

Ronny Sarnecky: Riley Finn. Sure Riley was supposed to be a hero. He was Buffy's new boyfriend, and one of the leading commandos of the demon fighting Initiative group. He was a corn bred, all-American good guy. However, unlike any other "good guy" in the history of the "Buffy" series, Riley is universally hated by the fans of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." Unfortunately for Mr. Finn, he never had a chance in the Buffyverse. After all, Riley was seen as Angel's replacement. Nobody could replace Angel, and it sure wasn't going to be this goody-too-shoes Opie wannabe. Sure, he wasn't a "big baddie," but when everybody hates you, it doesn't matter that you are working for the side of good; you become the season's number one villain. When you think of it like that, Riley Finn easily becomes Season Four's best villain.

Mike Gorman: Maggie Walsh. I am of course talking about pre-zombified Maggie. She was set up as such a great character and had the potential to play a much bigger role this season. If the actress portraying her did not have to leave I think that the "Big Bad" arc of the season could have gone a much different way. She was the best kind of villain because she was convinced that what she did was 100% for the greater good. It is hard to argue with that kind of megalomania.

Jeremy Thomas: The Gentlemen, without a doubt. They were the creepiest villains the show has ever seen, and it doesn't hurt that they were the Bads of one of the best episodes in the history of the show. The fact that they don't say anything just enhances how screwed up they are, as does those maniacal grins. There's just something that's not at all right about monsters in suits acting all polite as they cut people's hearts out, you know? Hands down, these guys take the cake for me.

Ron Martin: This should probably be unanimous, but I have to go with The Gentlemen. In a season where villains were weak at best, the Gentlemen stand out. Not only were they spooky and downright creepy with their plastered on skin, just the entire premise makes one's hair stand on end. Everything from their minions to their floating about stinks of nightmares. I haven't even gotten to their politeness. Perhaps this is the creepiest factor of all as they'll hold the door open for you long enough to stab you in the back. Easily, The Gentlemen are the finest "monsters of the week" Buffy will ever produce.

Jason Chamberlain: Well, it's definitely not Adam! I'm going all the way back to the season premiere and the collegiate vampire Sunday. To me this character oozes missed potential, and I think she could have been a great foil for Buffy throughout the year, not as a big bad, but perhaps as a Mr. Trick level ‘small bad'. She had charisma to spare, she was funny, she was hot, and she could even hold up something of a mirror to the vapid co-ed Buffy might have been had she never become the Slayer. Maybe Adam could have taken her out at some point later in the season and earned some more badass points?

BEST MOMENT

Ronny Sarnecky: The return of Faith in "This Year's Girl." No other character in the history of the "Buffy" franchise delivers more energy and excitement as Eliza Dushku's portrayal of "Faith." When Faith and Buffy are put into the same scenes together as bitter rivals, there is an intensity that is unmatched by anything ever seen on the show. My "Best Moment" is the two part "This Year's Girl" and "Who Are You?" Every scene had you on the edge of your seat. During the fight scenes between Buffy and Faith, you couldn't wait to see who would get the better of the other. When Faith was "Buffy" you started to cringe when she was about to have sex with Buffy's boyfriend Riley. No other character on the show captures my attention like Faith. Any moment that Faith is in would be a "best moment." None better then her return.

Mike Gorman: Willow chooses Tara at the end of "New Moon Rising." The moment was touching and marked the beginning of what would become the series' super couple. I was a big fan of the journey that Willow took this season and think that it was great of the Whedon crew to tackle the topic of sexuality in such a way. Young adults define their identities in college for the most part and seeing this development in Willow at first seemed a bit off from where her character had been headed but by this moment it all made sense.

Jeremy Thomas: Spike and Buffy the lovebirds in "Something Blue." Spike and Buffy had been at each other's throats for three years now; even when they were working together, they clearly hated each other. This was not only a hilarious reversal of fortunes, but a foreshadowing of things to come…things I very much enjoyed. Credit has to be given to James Marsters and Sarah Michelle Gellar for doing this with just enough camp to be funny, but not so much that they went over the edge. It doesn't hurt that the reactions from the rest of the cast are spot-on. "Can I be blind, too?" Classic. Honorable mention goes to the "Behind Blue Eyes" moment from "Where the Wild Things Are."

Ron Martin: Faith wakes up. I am probably the biggest defender of Season Four on this panel if only because when held up to Seasons Six and Seven, it's just not that bad. However, that doesn't mean it's that good either. The season was dragging a long with little spikes here and there to keep our attention. The Initiative fell flat and ADAM just wasn't that sinister. When Faith woke up, you could almost feel the intensity of the show pick up. It's no coincidence that Faith's two episodes were two of the best all season. The tension from Season Three boiled over and you have to love the result.

Jason Chamberlain - For this I'm going back to the silent episode and the haunting introduction of the Gentlemen. Is there anything scarier than seeing those dudes float above the ground, down the deathly quiet streets of Sunnydale? How about down the hallways of UC Sunnydale, looking for hearts to cut out? Add in their crazed, strait jacketed minions and you've got images you will never forget, which isn't a good thing if you're prone to nightmares!

BEST FIGHT

Ronny Sarnecky: Buffy vs. Faith Round Two in "This Year's Girl." What made the second fight better then the fight earlier in the show, or during their fight in "Who Are You?" The second fight was the better of the three, because of what it led to. During that fight, Faith used a device, left to her by the Mayor, on Buffy that made the two switch bodies. The body switch meant that the Buffy/Faith feud would continue for at least another episode. What could be better then that?

Mike Gorman: Buffy and Faith at the end of "This Year's Girl" is my favorite fight of the season. It is a great all out brawl between two evenly matched characters. It also leads right into a great cliff-hanger ending. The stuntwomen for Sarah and Eliza really went above and beyond in this one.

Jeremy Thomas: Buffy vs. Faith, "This Year's Girl." When Buffy fights Faith, awesome things happen. This fight was no different, but it was in such a huge way. The two delivered a fantastic knock-down, drag-out fight that finished in a rather unexpected way and led into the next episodes, replete with some great Face/Off style performances. What more can you ask for?

Ron Martin: In an extension of the best moment, I am reprising the best fight from Season Three and going with Buffy vs. Faith. The ADAM stuff was all one sided either for or against Buffy. The only other fight worth mentioning would by Buffy vs. The Initiative in the dark from early in the season. As always, Buffy and Faith bring the goods. No one can push Buffy to the limit like Faith does. As always, there is equal give and take that ends only when the two switch bodies. There is no clear cut winner. When these two girls go at it, all hell breaks loose.

Jason Chamberlain - Take me back to Hush once again for this one, because I'm picking Buffy and Riley vs. the Gentleman in their clock tower (I think?) headquarters. With no opportunity to lay down some puns, Buffy is all business in this fight and busts out some badass moves. We've also got super soldier Riley throwing some hurt, as well as the mutual reveal between the two of their crime fighting secrets. Great action, wonderfully shot, scary villains and it moves the story along.

BEST DEATH

Ronny Sarnecky: Not many memorable deaths from Season Four. I will go with the death of Adam. First, Adam was the main villain of Season Four. Secondly, each member of the Scooby Gang had a hand in defeating Adam by using a spell that gave Buffy all of their individual strengths in order to kill Adam.

Mike Gorman: Adam kills Maggie. The very first time I saw this episode I was blown away by this unexpected death. Maggie had been built up as such a big character for the season and in one instant the gears shifted and I felt like we entered uncharted waters. In my opinion that is what a death should do on a show like this; open up a whole new path for the plot.

Jeremy Thomas: Adam kills Maggie I'm with Ronny in that I didn't see many memorable deaths in Season Four, so this wins by default. I actually hate the death because I think that it was wasted potential, something we'll see again in this show with a villain's death right around…oh, Season Seven. But the surprise factor gives this the edge, along with the fact that I hated Adam's death and thought Forrest died almost as an afterthought.

Ron Martin: I really wanted to go with Sunday here just because of the pose she makes before getting dusted. In interest of the overall storyline, however, I'm going to stick with my initial reaction of Forrest getting speared by ADAM. I know that Forrest became a Megatron/Hellboy/Superman sort of hybrid, but it was the end for human Forrest as we knew him. Like other characters before him, Forrest was just playing his role walking down the path of logic to come up with his conclusions. Yes, he was a pain in the ass for Buffy, but that doesn't mean he wasn't fighting for what he believed to be right. I had him pegged as doing something just to turn the tide of the final battle before dying in one of the least episodes. Okay, so I was wrong. I was surprised that ADAM speared him so near the end of the season. Was it the most memorable? Probably not, but it caught me off guard so I give it kudos.

Jason Chamberlain: Adam sticks it to Professor Walsh. I'll give you one thing, Adam had a cool entrance, what with skewering his ‘mommy' and all. I'm not sure they ever explained why he did that, when later in the season he seemed to speak reverently of Walsh. Still, the moment was shocking, brutal, gory by the day's TV standards and it dispatched a recurring character, so it had some impact. Plus she was a bitch, so I was happy to see her go!

BEST EPISODE

Ronny Sarnecky: "Hush." This was one of the most creative episodes of not just the "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" series, but in television history. The background behind this episode was that Joss Whedon kept hearing that a crucial part of the "Buffy" franchise was its writing. Joss decided to create the episode "Hush" in order to show the critics that the series has more to offer then just dialogue. While the actors were outstanding in using their expressions to display their emotions, in an ironic twist, the episode with very little dialogue wound up being nominated for an Emmy award for Best Original Writing.

Mike Gorman: I am a sucker for alternate reality-esque episodes so "Superstar" is my favorite of the season. It doesn't hurt that it is Jonathan-centric also. I like episodes that I can describe using hyphenated words I suppose. It was a funny and a creative look at the world our Scooby Gang inhabits.

Ron Martin: This is the easiest pick in any of the seasons. By far, the best episode in Season Four is "Hush." The utter creepiness of The Gentlemen, mixed with the apocolyptic feel, the first hints at Willow and Tara, Buffy and Riley finding out about one another, not to mention the hilarious pantomime segment in the school lecture room. Ridiculously good.

Jason Chamberlain: Going back to Hush for this one. It is season four's masterpiece and one of the best episodes in the entire series. You know Joss Whedon has sack when he hears people say how great his dialogue is, and purposely makes an episode with no talking. But this is far from just a gimmick episode. It's got fantastic, inventive and genuinely creepy villains that could easily take their place alongside the classic monsters and fairy tale creatures we all know and love. Not only that, but it moves the storyline along with great revelations and character relationships forming. It's a part of the season, but it transcends the season.

WORST EPISODE

Ronny Sarnecky: "Where the Wild Things Are." Or as I like to call it, the "Fucking Episode." Its basically Buffy screwing Riley while spirits haunt the frat house. I could do without a half of an hour of Riley sex. BORING to say the least. An Honorable Mention would be "Superstar," where everybody worshipped Jonathan. However, if I had to avoid watching one of the two episodes, I would turn away from "Where the Wild Things Are."

Mike Gorman: Hmm, everyone hates "Beer Bad" but I actually enjoyed that one for the most part so for me I have to go with "Where the Wild Things Are." I am admittedly not the biggest fan of Captain Cardboard (Riley) and since this one was all about Buffy & Riley bumping uglies, I could do without it

Jeremy Thomas: Everyone's expecting someone to crap all over "Beer Bad," and I'll be happy to be that man. Don't get me wrong, I loathe "Where the Wild Things Are" and "Pangs" is so poorly written, but they don't hold a candle to how awful the beer episode of. I hate the "life lesson" episodes when they're badly shoved in our face, and this was a classic example of where they go wrong. They also have Buffy spending the entire episode mooning over Parker which is dull to the point of tears. There are few episodes I'll watch with less enthusiasm than this one.

Ron Martin: I hate to admit it, but there are plenty to chose from in this season. Though I despised "Where the Wild Things Are" as much as the next guy, I'm going to stay on the beaten path and stick with "Beer Bad." I know it's been beat into the ground so much that it's no longer cool to pick on it, but it's been beaten down for a reason. From Buffy's little hurt mindnumbing dependent girl act to the cavemen to the whole reason for the episode being explained by a disgruntled bar owner saying "Punk kids deserve it," there are no redeeming qualities for this episode. I can never imagine myself watching it ever again – not even if I randomly flip to its syndicated version at two in the morning when nothing else is on.

Jason Chamberlain -- Going with Beer Bad here. I'm reasonably sure this is the one Joss ‘apologized for' in the DVD notes. I don't think it's terrible, at least not until the cavemen start running around. But it's certainly ‘blah', and a waste of one of Seth Green's final episodes.

WORST MOMENT

Ronny Sarnecky: WOW! There are so many to choose from this season. There was the whole Initiative storyline, Spike becoming neutered by the Initiative, and the big baddie being a man made monster named Adam. However, for me, the worst moment of the season took place in the episode entitled "Doomed." That was the first episode where Marc Blucas went from recurring to regular character status. That means, "Riley" was here to stay! What could be worse then that?

Mike Gorman: Riley sleeps with Faith (in Buffy's body.) Not the worst produced scene of the season but the one that frustrated me the most as it seemed like there were a million and half red flags being raised to show everyone that Buffy was not herself and no one caught on. Then, her boyfriend actually sleeps with her during this mess. I was yelling at the screen the whole time. It should have been obvious to him that something was wrong… but that's Riley.

Jeremy Thomas: Buffy and Riley having sex, "Where the Wild Things Are." They have sex. Lots and lots of sex. In fact, that's all they do for pretty much the entire episode. Do I really need to say anymore, or can I try to forget about it again and move on?

Ron Martin: "Neutered" Spike is left in the care of Xander. It's the beginning of the emasculation of Xander. Spike, whom at any moment could find a way to get the chip out of his head and kill them all (as he tried to do in one episode), is a character that the creative team wanted to work in the show but needed to keep his edge while working for the good guys. It worked for awhile as they found creative ways to keep him around, but I think it fell apart here. If you put Angel under Xander's watch in Season Three, he would have staked him in a heartbeat (no pun intended) no matter the reaction of Buffy. This season nothing has changed other than the writers decided Xander shouldn't kill Spike because he's popular. This will happen time and again for no reason whatsoever.

Jason Chamberlain -- Willow and Tara at the end of New Moon Rising. Consider this my final bit of resistance to the departure of Oz and, more importantly, Willow's rejection of him in favour of Tara. Since this moment is essentially the nail in the coffin for my third favourite Buffyverse character, I am not a fan!

WORST VILLAIN

Ronny Sarnecky: "Adam." Like much of Season Four, Adam just bored me. He was a monotone, pseudo-robot demon. Adam lacked the personality of Spike, the parental nature of the Mayor, the evilness of Angelus, or the scariness of the Master. Adam was just- there. He was such a non-factor in the land of "big baddies," that he was disposed of in the episode BEFORE the season finale. He couldn't even survive until episode 22. For a "Big Baddie," he was far from a big villain.

Mike Gorman: Adam. Whedon and crew usually do a great job introducing variations on horror mythos into their shows but this updated Frankenstein amalgam just fell short in my opinion. He lacked development and true motivation. The most interesting villains usually have some kind of internal struggle that plays out in their story but Adam did not. Also I feel like he was talked up to be more of a challenge than he was actually shown to be as we headed towards the final battle. It seemed like there was so much interpersonal drama and development going on with the Scooby Gang that the idea of a demonstrated Big Bad got lost by the wayside.

Jeremy Thomas: Adam. Yes, Adam. He was an interesting spin on an unoriginal concept, turned terribly wrong by uneven pacing that resulted in too slow of a build to him, then rushing his arrival on the scene, then forgetting about him for a few episodes before he came back for the end. Also, he went down like a bitch and couldn't even kill Buffy with a chain-gun arm. For the record, it doesn't help that the whole heavy artillery on his arm looked like a cheap rip-off of Nemesis from the Resident Evil games. Worst Big Bad of the series, and worst villain of the Season.

Ron Martin: It's easy to pick on ADAM or the Intiative and blame them for the entirety of the season. Neither are bad in theory, they just weren't handled well. I'm going to stick with my guns and go with the combination of the evil bartender and cavemen from "Beer Bad." I'm nothing if not consistent. The storyline wasn't played out, the "evil" came from a bored bartender who only got told he was bad as punishment and the episode was more boring than anything else. I realize the bad guys were secondary to whole Buffy/Parker storyline, but this is the best they could come up with, really?

Jason Chamberlain -- Do I go with Adam? What the hell, I go with Adam. Just by the virtue of being a Big Bad that, somehow, doesn't deliver. Maybe it's not the big lug's fault. Could anyone have followed up Angelus and The Mayor? Was the big bad, nay, the whole season, simply doomed before it began? Perhaps. Still, I think Adam debuted too late in the season to make a real impact, and he was handcuffed by the weak Initiative storyline that preceded him.

BEST "ANGEL" CROSSOVER

Ronny Sarnecky: Angel returns in "The Yoko Factor." In this episode, you had the fight between Riley and Angel. Buffy's present vs. Buffy's past. Of course, the only way for Riley to even be competitive against Angel would be to have to use weapons against Angel. His appearance on this episode was vital in the Angel/Buffy relationship. After the two left on bad terms in the "Angel" episode "Sanctuary," Joss Whedon needed an episode where Buffy and Angel aired things out, and left as friends. "The Yoko Factor" accomplished this task.

Mike Gorman: Well if it's someone coming from Angel to Buffy, then it would have to be Angel's secret return in "Pangs." His not wanting to be seen by Buffy speaks volumes about what their separation means to him and how much he still cares for her. I mostly pick this moment because it sets Buffy up to visit Angel in the next episode of his series and that one is amazing.

Jeremy Thomas: None. Frankly, I hated all of the crossovers from Angel to Buffy in Season Four. They were only Angel, for obvious reasons…no one else on the show had reasons to come to Sunnydale. And every time Angel showed up, something happened that pissed me off. In "Pangs," he was there for no apparent reason than to bring about the much-better crossover that occurred on Angel, and in "The Yoko Factor" he completely went back on his finally standing up to Bitchy Buffy over on Angel, thus making me respect him less as a character. There will be good crossovers from Angel to Buffy down the line, but not a single one made me happy here.

Ron Martin: I'm going with Angel's return in secret during "Pangs." I chose this for no other reason than it was kept secret from Buffy and because of the reaction of all the people at the table when Buffy finds out at the end of the episode. This episode also doubles as a guilty pleasure of mine.

Jason Chamberlain: Angel's appearance in The Yoko Factor, simply because he lays the smackdown on Riley physically (in the alley) and verbally ("You actually sleep with this guy?").

Ronny Sarnecky	My first initial reaction to Season Four was "Man, does this season suck with Riley in it." However, looking back on the year, there was more to what made Season Four a season to forget then just the Riley Factor. More then anything else, the loss of major characters like Angel and Cordelia hurt this season. Without Angel and Cordelia, "Buffy" was a different show. Like any new show, they needed to find their way before they can establish their own identity. Unfortunately, this was their FOURTH season. At this point in the series, a show already has an identity, a successful one at that, and shouldn't be looking to find one. Another factor in the suckitude that was Season Four is the main storyline of the year with the Initiative. Fans of "Buffy" gladly suspend belief when watching the show. Vampires, demons, a slayer. We let ourselves go, and just enjoy the story, no matter how unrealistic the plot may be. However, the Initiative was different. For me, the whole deal seemed tpo far out there. The government had a secret facility in the underground of UC- Sunnydale. This agency would catch demons, and experiment on them. Not only is this unbelievable, but it's just plain stupid. Then there was Riley. What more needs to be said about Riley that hasn't been already said? The perfect analogy for Riley would be that of a rebound. When you are with someone for a while, and break up, the next relationship you are in usually isn't that serious. The rebound relationship that is used to get over your truer love that was lost. Riley was just being used for Buffy to get over Angel, before falling for a character that you would least expect in later seasons. This isn't to say all of Season Four was bad. Season Four brought us the return of Faith. We got the Emmy nominated episode "Hush." We said good-bye to Oz, and hello again to Angel in crossover episodes. There were even comedy episodes like "Something Blue" to keep us entertained. That being said, I'm glad this year is over. Bring on the "key."	6
Mike Gorman	Season four is where I would direct people if they wanted some great examples of how this series is about ordinary teenagers/young adults in extraordinary circumstances. How best could you follow up the amazing Season Three and the Scooby Gang's high school graduation? Knock the wind out of them and toss them into college. That is exactly what the Whedon crew did with their cast of characters this time around and in many ways they were very successful in presenting a Hellmouth-ed version of the typical college student's freshman year. Friends realize that they don't have their class schedules holding them together in groups anymore, social status levels are changed, relationships and sexuality of all kinds are explored, secret government installations are tracking and capturing demons on campus… Ok, well maybe that last one doesn't happen on most campuses but otherwise the development arcs for all of our favorite Scoobies were recognizable and familiar to me from my years of working with college students. Buffy continued her pattern of making bad choices when it comes to men. Willow stepped out on her own and was able to start defining her personal identity outside of the context of her friends. Xander had to see that his road was headed in a different direction than his friends' but that it didn't mean he was destined to end up a "townie" at the local bar. I think it was these true journeys that resonated so closely to the audience that was growing up with Buffy and her friends. Now aside from the touchy feel stuff, there were a lot of great episodes this season like the Jonathan centric "Superstar" and the welcome return of Faith. This was also a great season for Spike as he started out in full Villain mode but evolved (or was forced to evolve by the chip in his head) into a character with more gray areas inside of him that would come to light more next season. As for Riley and the Initiative, I think that they were great ideas in concept but lost something in translation. Bringing the government into the world of the Hellmouth raised all kinds of questions and implications that I feel were just glossed over. Their involvement was made all the more unbelievable by the resolution of the season where they basically wash their hands of their actions. Someone has to care that they had proof of the supernatural's existence. But then I do suppose if you followed that plot to its logical conclusion this would have become a very different show. And Riley… in retrospect now I wonder if my disdain from him was born from any of his actions or was more a response to someone else stepping into Buffy's life after they cruelly ripped away someone who was arguably her soul mate. He was stiff and wooden, but then he was the young hyper military recruit and they do often love their rigidity. At this point I could look at him for the moment he was in Buffy's growth and see that he might not have been that bad. Maybe. In all, Season Four was the show's most awkward but this makes perfect sense. There is no time more awkward in an adolescent's life than their transition to college. If this is what the creators were going for then I think that they succeeded. Are things I would have changed about this season? Sure. Do I think that in the end the characters were in better places than when the season began? Definitely and sometimes that is the best thing you can hope for. Now on to Season Five!	7
Jeremy Thomas	Allow me to sound like Comic Book Guy: Worst. Season. Ever. Don't get me wrong, there's a lot to like in Season Four. Tara debuts, we have some great episodes in "Hush," "Something Blue," ""Restless," the Faith crossover and "The Harsh Light of Day." But we also have Adam, the wasted potential of Maggie Walsh, the Riley/Buffy relationship, "Beer Bad," "Where the Wild Things Are," "Goodbye Iowa," "Superstar," "Pangs" and more. We got some of the most awkward writing of the whole show during this season, and the poorest pacing throughout a season we'd ever see. I'm frankly glad that Season Four is over with so we can move on to the awesomeness of Glorificus. Hell, I won't even complain about Dawn too much. …well, okay maybe I will. We'll see.	6
Ron Martin	When I first watched Season Four, I hated it, plain and simple. When I finished the entire series, I realized that Season Four really wasn't as bad as I remembered it. Sure, ADAM is the weakest villain and Riley is pretty vanilla, but the idea of Buffy vs. the government had to happen at some point. Ironically enough, in the Season Eight comics she now IS the Initiative, but that's beside the point. Season Four doesn't have the compelling storylines that other seasons might have, but it does amp up the funny. I grew to love the disenchanted Giles and underused Xander, even to the point that I relished scenes between the two of them. Though the Magic Box was a fine gang hangout for the last bit of the series, I did miss Giles apartment. Lost in the hatred for Riley is the development of Willow, the hopelessness of Buffy's college career and the evolution of the Scooby Gang. Season Four is universally hated by both groups of Buffy fans because it doesn't fit into the high school years, but it also doesn't fit into the soap opera years. Fittingly enough, it's a season of transition from the former to the latter and while it's not a great season, I think it is underappreciated for what it is.	7
Jason Chamberlain	I covered this a little up top, but really, this season was doomed from the start. With such a formulaic change in the show this season as a result of leaving the high school setting as well as the spinning off of Angel and Cordelia, BTVS was always going to suffer some consequences. This fourth season, no matter what, couldn't live up the golden years we had all just watched. It felt different. It was too disjointed. The focus wasn't always clear. The Big Bad was a let down. A fan favourite, Oz, left the show because the actor wanted out. Buffy's new boyfriend was lame when compared to Angel (which was probably the point). I think Whedon and company did the best they could with a bad situation this season, and they made it work at certain points, and not at others. The good news is, it was still BTVS. The bad news, in my opinion (and I know I'm in the minority here) is that things are about to get worse (Season Five) before they get better (Season Six).	6

GRR!!! ARGH!!!