And then something strange happened. During the last two seasons, there were signs of a less inventive or daring creativity. The fourth season was distinctly disappointing when compared to the brilliant third season, with too many gimmick crossovers with “Angel” and a dud of a romance between Buffy and Riley. The Initiative never gelled as a real threat, and Adam was laughable.
The fifth season did something that was even more questionable. It introduced Dawn, Buffy’s “little sister”, and there was a collective groan across the land. The plot developed to explain Dawn was inventive enough, but in the end it was little more than the elaborate excuse for making a silly addition to a solid cast. And frankly, making Glory a Valley Girl didn’t exactly bring the threat to the same status as Spike/Dru/Angelus from season 2 or The Mayor/Faith from season 3.
And then there was the unfortunate need to bring closure to the series for the move from WB to UPN, which resulted in the need to kill off Buffy for several months. Thus this season begins, predictably, with the attempt to bring Buffy back from the dead in a way that makes sense.
The reason I say that this is similar to the “X-Files”, other than the fact that both Buffy and Mulder were six feet under for three months? It’s the feeling of watching a show that fails to realize that its glory days are several years in the past, and unwilling to make the changes needed to bring back some measure of creative excellence. And looking at it from a slightly different perspective, it’s a show that doesn’t get the full measure of credit it deserves.
One might assume from the above comments that I don’t like the writing anymore, or find the show predictable. That’s not at all the case. As with the “X-Files”, I find a great deal to enjoy in what is offered. It’s just that there is a difference between a show that takes chances to prove itself, and a show that takes chances because it can.
“Bargaining” was a perfect example of this. Perhaps the best thing about this episode was the way it refused to do it the easy way. Buffy did not just wake up and act as though nothing happened. She was highly traumatized by being dead for three months and having to claw her way out of her own coffin. Her reactions, even to the end, suggest that her road to recovery will be ongoing. This is the kind of plotting that should have been done with Mulder on the “X-Files”, and was very good to see.
Also good were the nods to ongoing continuity. Willow continues to steadily stumble down the path of black magic, which began late last season with her vengeful attack on Glory. Spike continues to protect Dawn out of his sense of love for Buffy, and as annoying as that plotline has been, it has at least been consistent.
Unfortunately, there are several weaknesses that remain. Xander and Anya are somewhat neutered by their happy engagement, Tara continues to be an incredibly weak addition to the cast, and Dawn sticks out as the biggest sore thumb in all creation. Having Giles leave would have been an interesting twist, if it hadn’t meant that one of the strongest pieces of the Buffy ensemble was leaving in the process. The ongoing relationship between Willow and Tara continues to ring false, which makes it seem more and more like the gimmick that the writers swear they do not want it to be.
Perhaps it is unfair to judge the beginning of the new season based on the first offering. As usual with “Buffy”, the season opener is weakened by the need to deal with the aftermath of the finale of the previous season. “Angel” was forced into the same corner, and that served to weaken the beginning of that show’s third season as well.
Also, while I praise the idea of a long road of recovery and consequences surrounding Buffy’s resurrection, I hope that it does not become overly belabored. The best of both worlds might be to have her return serve as the source for this season’s “big bad guy”, so that her recovery evolves into the need to fix the problem that her return has spawned.
There are a few other things that I hope for as well. I would hope that Dawn would begin to show some purpose beyond being the younger version of Buffy. Her latent powers as the Key could easily tie into a threat related to Buffy’s return, given that Buffy died to close the dimensional portal that Dawn was meant to open.
I would also like to see what kind of new Slayer emerges as a result of Buffy’s death. In past seasons, even a temporary death resulted in the “activation” of a new Slayer somewhere in the world. However, such a character would have a hard time living up to the memory of Faith. (I mean, really, even three years later, just a mention of that character brings back memories of puddles of drool!)
I would like to see some purpose created for Tara to still be around, since she should have died at the end of last season. As soon as the question of her lineage was addressed, as well as her limited witchcraft ability, she failed to have a purpose. At the very least, her character should gain some kind of backbone so she can stand as the anchor used to bring Willow back from the darkness she seems destined to walk through.
Similarly, I would like to see Xander and Anya begin taking on more important roles. Xander, for one, has been steadily gaining a backbone and command skills, something I would like to see continue. Anya, on the other hand, seems to never have much use other than to serve as Xander’s quirky ex-demon lover. Now that she is in charge of the magic shop, I’d like to see her using that demon knowledge to good use.
I really want to see some kind of follow-up to the fact that Spike was unaffected by the rising sun at the end of last season’s finale. That draws a very interesting parallel between Angel’s growing humanity on his series (like the fact he no longer needs to be invited into places), which is a part of his active journey towards redemption, and Spike’s reluctant and forced path towards decency.
All in all, just as with the “X-Files”, there is still plenty of potential within the premise for big things. But there are a number of weak areas that need to be addressed, and quickly, if this series want to continue to prosper.
Some other thoughts:
- As cheesy as it was, I kinda liked Willow’s “Professor X” impression.
- There were some bizarre edits in this episode. Either that, or someone didn’t do a very good job checking the film speed while directing some of the first episode. There were scenes where the images seemed to dissolve in very weird ways, as if the camera was running just a hair too fast while filming.
- So all of the Slayerettes (formerly the Scooby Gang, but no longer for legal reasons) are shacked up at Buffy’s place? That brings back some very bad memories of “Beverly Hills, 90210”, when everyone moved into Brandon’s house.
- About that reference…my wife made me watch. Really. I swear!
- Sunnydale has an airport? Since when? When the show started, Sunnydale was about as big as the Hollywood backlot that continues to serve as the main drag! Since then, it’s got a river with docks, a university, a castle, an underground military installation, endless acres of graveyards, a huge forest, and now an airport! Well, that does explain why people keep living there, despite the high death rate…what an economy, to be supporting such rapid growth!
- It says a lot when Buffy’s return to the living is overshadowed by the extremely sad departure of Giles at the airport. Fitting that Willow was the last person he said goodbye to.
- I know it’s probably the red hair and all, but I really find Dark Willow to be rather attractive…almost as yummy as Vampire Willow…
- Speaking of all that graveyard space, why is Buffy buried in the middle of the woods?
- I get the whole leather/bondage look with the demon bikers, but I had a very hard time trying to figure out how they managed to get all those rings and piercings…
- So they managed to pretend that Buffy was alive for three months, using the BuffyBot? Sure says a lot about Californians, doesn’t it?
- Having them not think of the fact that Buffy would have to get out of the coffin on her own was a neat touch. Most shows wouldn’t think of that.
- It was kinda neat watching the BuffyBot being drawn and quartered!
- Was it just me, or did Tara look like she was trying for the Goth look during most of the episode? How pale can a person be, anyway?
- Who didn’t grin when Spike was watching the demons pillage the house, with that wistful expression on his face? Ah, the good ol’ days…
- So the tower built three months ago by Glory’s minions is only now starting to fall apart? What, none of the local students used the place over the summer to make out or get drunk? Between the huge high school and the university, I would think it would be rather popular.
- I was almost hoping that Buffy would recover by tossing Dawn off the tower.
- Could the ending have been any more abrupt?
Overall, it was a typically weak beginning to the latest season of Buffy, with the only saving grace being the amount of care taken in the way Buffy was resurrected.
I give it a 6/10.
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