Well, I don't think it's relevant (see my previous post). It's not a switch because his state of consciousness was altered. He couldn't make the switch. He couldn't think like a human being. Xander, on the other hand, might as well have had a tumor that made him commit those acts. No one is going to hold him criminally responsible, but the turn still occurred.

I couldn't even bother to weigh in on Riley. I saw the name and refused to think about that awful character.

That being said: He's not a foe. I can't get behind calling him one.

Where's that finger graphic again?

I expect those around to make for a spirited discussion! I'll chime in when I'm able to read.

I'm glad I'm not alone in my dislike of the Riley character, although all of the outward display of hatred for him worries me as it relates to question 20

I wouldn't worry about question 20, except maybe about how many slam dunks you used.

I used all of my slam dunks on question 3, and I will defend that choice to the death. There is only one answer. THERE IS ONLY ONE ANSWER.

You're right, there's only one answer for question 3, and I'm surprised at how many people are wrong about it.

Also, I was genuinely shocked at the most common answer for question 20. Most of you are heartless.

Uh oh, I guess I picked the wrong week to erase Riley from my memory.

Also: heroin and sniffing glue

FWIW, I never found Riley annoying, just boring as hell. Then again, I loathe season four with a passion. The only two episodes from it I'll ever rewatch are Hush and Restless.

Haha, I used all of mine on q3 as well! Without having ever played this before I'm glad that doesn't seem like a dumb decision now.

You may want to know I have never won a Sheep.

I have to say I was very proud of my slam dunk usage this game, and only one other player had the same thought I did.

I used all my slam dunks on 20.

I used to feel similar to you about s4. That was a long time ago. S4 has some very high quality episodes, and I'd urge anyone to revisit the season if they don't agree with that. While it's true that this season does not have the epic feel that seasons 2 and 3 had, it did consistently pump out very humorous episodes. The first half of the season is quality... I think every episode (with the exception of "The Freshman") up until "The I in Team" (episode 13 of the season) compare quite favorably to a large portion of season 2 (which many consider to be their favorite season of the series) like "When She Was Bad," "Some Assembly Required," "Inca Mummy Girl," "Reptile Boy," "The Dark Age," "Ted," "Bad Eggs," "Killed By Death," "I Only Have Eyes For You," and "Go Fish." Also s4 e17 "Superstar" has an opening credit sequence that would, by itself, make it better than about 30 of the episodes of the series.

I've watched the show through 5 times, and have also watched it through with Angel, switching back and forth between shows chronologically (not when the episodes were released, but rather when the events in the shows happened), another 2 times. I've probably seen 90% of the episodes about 12 times each (some many many more). I have also comprised a list from 1-144 (I did not include the unaired pilot, but it would have ranked in at 145) of what I consider to be the best to worst episodes of the series. I intended to write a page or so of analysis on each justifying their ranking, but have only gotten around to writing the first 2. To be fair to you, season 4 only includes 1 episode ("Hush" 4/144) that ranks in my top 25 episodes and includes "Where The Wild Things Are," which ranks in for me at 143/144, but the season that I think is the worst (it DEFINITELY is) includes the episode that ranks last.
While season 4 is not the best season, and is clearly not what draws most people to Buffy fanhood, I think season 4 as a whole gets a bum rap.

Season 4 had the worst villain in the entire series, and I hate how they made the whole world feel insufferably small by making every major character Buffy meets in college a part of the Initiative.

Also, part of what makes the show so fun is that it's this ragtag group of kids who barely have their lives together trying to save the world. It's much less interesting when there's a military group involved.

Because of all that, while season four may have a few good individual episodes (and the two great ones I previously mentioned), the very basis of the storytelling in that season is so deeply flawed that I can't accept it.

The season most people seem to hate is the darkest season, which I think is why I love it so much.

Is there a site that lists the episodes chronologically by event? I'd love to watch the two series together that way.

Fuck them. Fuck them in their stupid asses.

I'm sure you can find it easily enough, but if you can't I can post it (I'd have to find it first on my other computer). Watching the show this way might also increase your opinion (even if only a bit) of season 4 (since it did include the most crossovers of any of the seasons).

It's almost certain that the launch of Angel had a lot to do with how bad Buffy Season 4 is. It's pretty obvious that any time a showrunner launches a new show, his current one is very susceptible to a swoon in quality. It even happened when Shawn Ryan launched The Unit. In the case of Buffy, a larger than usual contingent of writers were doing double duty.

That said, Season 6 owns. I'd put it possibly as high as my 3rd favorite season.

http://simonhampel.com/buffy.html

That is the list I used when I did my marathon a few months ago.

I was aware of the general hate that DVDtalkites have for season 6, but I have to mostly agree with your sentiments over the masses. Season 6 did have quite a few weak episodes, but it features the best episode of the series as well. It also features the most epic moment of the entire series IMO.

You'll be mad at me when the answers are revealed, but just know that my response doesn't reflect my own opinion of season 6. I really like season 6. Ultimately, I had to be where I thought everyone else would, and that decided my answer. When people discuss the seasons, there's always a ton of hate for season 6 for some reason.