Buffy the Vampire Slayer was a mid-season replacement in season one, and it showed, since season one primarily set up the characters and the location, but did little else. Season two is when Buffy really took off, with the dark and tragic Angelus story arc, although there were still quite a few inconsequential monster-of-the-week episodes that occasionally weighed the show down. Season three was about as near perfection as television can get, with a great overarching plot line (the Mayor's ascension and Faith's introduction into the series and subsequent betrayal), and excellent character development. Season three would be a hard act to follow, as season four proves.
At the end of season three, Buffy and her friends graduated, and in the wonderfully metaphorical season finale, Sunnydale High was burned to the ground. Things in season four could not possibly be the same after that, and they aren't. The beginning of season four finds Buffy, Willow and Oz attending U.C. Sunnydale, while Xander and Giles struggle to find a new niche in the post-Sunndydale High world. Gone from the scooby gang are Angel and Cordelia, who have moved on to L.A. and the Angel series, and not too far into season four Oz moves on, as well. Season four is a transition season for Buffy the Vampire Slayer, which strips the characters down to the original four, before adding new regulars (Riley Finn, Anya, Tara and Spike in particular). The "big bad" of the season, a strange Frankenstinian amalgam of demon, monster and human parts named Adam, as well as the extra-military organization that created him, The Initiative, are not nearly as compelling as the villains of past seasons.
Yet, this is Joss Whedon, so that doesn't mean season four isn't good, or that it doesn't add something to the series as a whole. The character development in season four is as good as the previous seasons, if not better at times. I would even argue that the slightly less compelling villain/overarching storyline of season four is actually better for the characters, because it keeps the emphasis on them, instead of the usual "end of the world" scenario that has dominated the climaxes of past seasons. Even the finale of season four focuses more on the characters than the peril.
Just as in real life, things change when Buffy and Willow go to college. New friendships and relationships are formed, and sometimes it seems to Giles and Xander that they aren't needed anymore. Buffy and Willow often find themselves struggling with reconciling their past high school identities with who they are as college students and adults. Even though he doesn't attend college, Xander is also struggling to find himself and his place in the world, especially as a member of the group (being the one non-magical scooby). Even Giles is going through a mid-life crisis, which echoes the wanderings and confusion of the younger scoobies. Giles, we must remember, has lost his entire identity through the events of season three: first when he is fired from the Watcher's Council, and then when the school burns down and he loses his position as librarian. The real story of season four of Buffy the Vampire Slayer is the four original scoobies learning how how much they need each other, even (or especially) now that things in their lives are changing, and they're all growing up and moving on from that comfortable place around the table in the old Sunndydale High school library.
The characters added in season four are slightly less successful than the development given to the main characters. Although I love Anya as Xander's girlfriend and I personally feel the more Spike the merrier, Riley Finn is a sadly lacking follow-up to Angel in the romantic department. It isn't that there's anything wrong with Riley or Marc Blucas' characterization of him, it's just that almost nothing could compare with Angel. Although I suppose it's fairly true to life, in that Buffy is young and still capable of bouncing back quickly, it seems somewhat strange that she's able to love someone completely so soon after watching Angel leave her - Angel, her first love and the man she was willing to die for. Personally, I would have preferred watching her hang onto Angel a little while longer before moving on. On top of that, Riley lacks Angel's edge and darkness, which makes his character seem more shallow than it actually is.
My favorite thing about season four, aside from the character development, is Spike. Season three had Spike in only one measly episode, and I suffered from a severe lack of Spike because of it (a very painful malady). Season four introduces Spike as a series regular, and sows the seeds of his redemption and his unusual relationship with Buffy. The writers must be commended for the way Spike is written in season four, because even though he's on the road to becoming a white hat, he doesn't lose his edge or his "Spikeness." Although he's neutered as an evil force with the chip in his head, Spike is not neutered as a character.
In short: season four may not be the best, but it's still worth buying or renting on DVD and watching, if only for the character development.
At the end of season three, Buffy and her friends graduated, and in the wonderfully metaphorical season finale, Sunnydale High was burned to the ground. Things in season four could not possibly be the same after that, and they aren't. The beginning of season four finds Buffy, Willow and Oz attending U.C. Sunnydale, while Xander and Giles struggle to find a new niche in the post-Sunndydale High world. Gone from the scooby gang are Angel and Cordelia, who have moved on to L.A. and the Angel series, and not too far into season four Oz moves on, as well. Season four is a transition season for Buffy the Vampire Slayer, which strips the characters down to the original four, before adding new regulars (Riley Finn, Anya, Tara and Spike in particular). The "big bad" of the season, a strange Frankenstinian amalgam of demon, monster and human parts named Adam, as well as the extra-military organization that created him, The Initiative, are not nearly as compelling as the villains of past seasons.
Yet, this is Joss Whedon, so that doesn't mean season four isn't good, or that it doesn't add something to the series as a whole. The character development in season four is as good as the previous seasons, if not better at times. I would even argue that the slightly less compelling villain/overarching storyline of season four is actually better for the characters, because it keeps the emphasis on them, instead of the usual "end of the world" scenario that has dominated the climaxes of past seasons. Even the finale of season four focuses more on the characters than the peril.
Just as in real life, things change when Buffy and Willow go to college. New friendships and relationships are formed, and sometimes it seems to Giles and Xander that they aren't needed anymore. Buffy and Willow often find themselves struggling with reconciling their past high school identities with who they are as college students and adults. Even though he doesn't attend college, Xander is also struggling to find himself and his place in the world, especially as a member of the group (being the one non-magical scooby). Even Giles is going through a mid-life crisis, which echoes the wanderings and confusion of the younger scoobies. Giles, we must remember, has lost his entire identity through the events of season three: first when he is fired from the Watcher's Council, and then when the school burns down and he loses his position as librarian. The real story of season four of Buffy the Vampire Slayer is the four original scoobies learning how how much they need each other, even (or especially) now that things in their lives are changing, and they're all growing up and moving on from that comfortable place around the table in the old Sunndydale High school library.
The characters added in season four are slightly less successful than the development given to the main characters. Although I love Anya as Xander's girlfriend and I personally feel the more Spike the merrier, Riley Finn is a sadly lacking follow-up to Angel in the romantic department. It isn't that there's anything wrong with Riley or Marc Blucas' characterization of him, it's just that almost nothing could compare with Angel. Although I suppose it's fairly true to life, in that Buffy is young and still capable of bouncing back quickly, it seems somewhat strange that she's able to love someone completely so soon after watching Angel leave her - Angel, her first love and the man she was willing to die for. Personally, I would have preferred watching her hang onto Angel a little while longer before moving on. On top of that, Riley lacks Angel's edge and darkness, which makes his character seem more shallow than it actually is.
My favorite thing about season four, aside from the character development, is Spike. Season three had Spike in only one measly episode, and I suffered from a severe lack of Spike because of it (a very painful malady). Season four introduces Spike as a series regular, and sows the seeds of his redemption and his unusual relationship with Buffy. The writers must be commended for the way Spike is written in season four, because even though he's on the road to becoming a white hat, he doesn't lose his edge or his "Spikeness." Although he's neutered as an evil force with the chip in his head, Spike is not neutered as a character.
In short: season four may not be the best, but it's still worth buying or renting on DVD and watching, if only for the character development.