Buffy The Vampire Slayer: Every Season Ranked Worst To Best
Which season slays the competition?
Buffy the Vampire Slayer is one of TV's most iconic and beloved shows, and being finished and off air for sixteen years hasn't lessened its appeal or wounded its impact. Buffy Summers is one of the world's greatest and most recognisable fictional characters, and villains such as Angelus, Glory and the Gentlemen remain as scary and nightmare inducing as they were when they first hit our screens.
All the seasons have their weak spots, be it poor graphics, questionable character additions (sorry, not sorry, Kennedy) or appalling bad guys, but they are all monumental and incredibly good fun. Each season is full of wit and wisdom, and messages of friendships and strength.
Sure, Season One may look slightly old and tacky now, but that doesn't mean it's any less effective as it was in the 90s. And Season Six may be bleak and dark, but that doesn't mean it's all doom and gloom. From characters to great dialogue, from relationships to teen melodrama, all seven seasons have something important to give.
In the following list, enjoy as we rank the seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Some major spoilers follow.
7. Season Four
The weakest season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer is still pretty strong. "Hush" and "Restless" are two of the series' most daring and beautifully executed episodes, and the introduction of Spike as a main character turns out to be a great gamble. The return of Faith Lehane is also something special, and a return many fans were excited to see. Her two-part arc is one of the best of the season.
All of this aside, Season Four doesn't have enough Faith or Gentlemen to keep it afloat, as it finds itself weighed down by many things. Riley Finn and the Initiative, for example, start off strong but get tedious quick, and the loss of Cordelia Chase, Angel and eventually Oz as main cast members hits the show hard.
Episodes like "Superstar" and "Beer Bad" are hilarious but unnecessary, and Oz leaving Willow is devastating and cruel given the potential of his character. The less said about Adam the better, though we'll concede he sounds promising on paper.
Tara Maclay is a fantastic addition to the show, though, and Spike and Anya bring a level of sarcasm and pessimism to the show that left with Cordelia. This is still Buffy, after all, so there is a lot to love. It's just a shame there wasn't more of it.