And, although this is contradictory to what I said upthread, I do get upset when people (including ME writers) try to blame some of S6's fan reaction on the fact that it was 'dark' and some people couldn't handle it. Yes, it was dark. But, jesus, what the hell was S2 if not dark? The difference is that the writing was better in S2 and the tragic events were cathartic, not merely depressing.

Yes, this. I can enjoy the dark, but I like my darkness cathartic, and a bit on the epic Shakespearean tragedy side. S6 just felt like endless dismal wallowing to me, and I couldn't relate to it at all. This despite the fact it came right after I'd dealt with major depression in someone close to me and mild depression of my own. But I've talked at length in the past about why I couldn't even figure out where they were going with S6 until well after the fact, and how that impacted my reaction to it, so I'll spare everyone the discussion of How I Spent My Early 20's and How Different My Issues Are From Buffy's.

(I'm in the midst of catching up on all the threads now that we have, for the moment, figured out Annabel's eating and sleeping needs. I'm glad I decided to read all 300 posts in this one instead of just hitting the "Last" button. This is a wonderful discussion, and with all the differences of opinion, still a reminder of why I love BtVS so much.)

I don't think of S6 as a How Do You Like My Darkness Now litmus test.

I like it because I really like Willow's arc, and the magic!Crack didn't bug me much. Just viewed it as Willow/Scoobies groping for some metaphor to explain something well beyond any of their experience.

Also it's the season where I like Buffy the most since S2.

In S2, Buffy tells Angel that when there's nothing left, "there's me". (rough paraphrase). I think by S6, she wouldn't say that anymore. I've been rewatching the 2nd half of S2 today and it hit me that at this point, she still believes in herself, but that's gone in S6.

I haven't quite put my finger on why I like S6 so much, but that's part of it.

S6 was the first time I really liked Buffy. None of the other dumb things she normally did rang any bells for me.

She was so hollow and broken and systematically down that I felt for her.

Hmm. What Nonian described is why I like S2 so much better than S6. I love that "Me."

(Aside that belongs as much in Great Write as here--for the first 2-3 chapters of my current project, one of my protagonists is stuck in a nigh-unbearable situation, which she thinks she'll be in for the rest of her life. I'm mining personal experience heavily, from back when I thought I'd ruined any chance of ever having a happy, fulfilling, and respectable career. But I find myself reading what I've written, and worrying that even 3 chapters of "I made one stupid choice and now my life is ruined forever, so I will quietly and stoically wallow in misery" will be too much for my readers to bear. Which the S6 discussion is reminding me of.)

Only vaguely apropos of the discussion, I'm seriously (or as seriously as I consider anything, mind you) considering writing a half-assed essay looking at S5/6 as a critique of the state of mental health care and knowledge in this country.

(Where we start by looking at the actual factual suicidal dive followed by the resurrection as a metaphor for suicide attempts/hospitalization/release. It works really well up through Normal Again, actually. I've got this whole thing about the scene where Spike doesn't stay to make sure she takes her meds worked out in my head.)

(I think I need a hobby.)

But, this is an acceptable hobby!

Isn't it?

I'd love to read that essay, Plei.

And it might even inspire me to actually to write the half-assed theological essay using Angel and Spike's ensoulments as metaphors for various theories of free will vs. divine election.

And it might even inspire me to actually to write the half-assed theological essay using Angel and Spike's ensoulments as metaphors for various theories of free will vs. divine election.

I vaguely recall at some point comparing Spike to a Lutheran POV of salvation, where Angel's head space was (natch) Catholic. Grace vs. Works.

But, this is an acceptable hobby!

That's all the validation I need...

Buffy: 5, 3, 4, 2, 6, 1, 7

Angel: 4, 2, 1, 3

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.