Ok, Ok, there's a major problem here. First of all, they started dropping clues for the whole Mayor storyline in Season 2. Second of all, while 3 was not the most cohesive, if you think that the arc in 4 was better structured then you must need to stop taking your welbutrin prescription or something because completely contrary to your opinion, it felt so painfully obvious to me that they changed their minds about what was going to happen in that year about three or four times. Right up until the final episode, and if you go and look at the production notes, among other things you'll notice that when they wrote that big fight that the gang had at the end of the Yoko Factor, they (the writers) had completely forgotten that they hadn't decrypted the discs revealing the location of Adam's lab and had to go back and add all thisstuff about them realising Spike was playing them, completly taking the sting out of any realisation the group had drifted. So in fact, they had no idea where it was going.
Now that having been said, the complaint you have with S3 feeling fragmented because it was more episodic and Faith wouldn't be there every time? I actually kinda liked that. Well to begin with, it point about Faith not always being there was that she wasn't that close to Buffy or any of the others which is what ultimately makes her more easily alienated. But I like the fact that it wasn't just the same thing every week, that something new happened if you will. If we flash forward to S5/S6/S7, you know what? It just got dull beyond a certain point. Though of course, there were other reasons for that which I'll get to later. But it was partly due to the fact the plot, well, plodded and got dragged out and on and on.
I don't know why you think Mr Trick would be the big bad, but it was certainly a jolt that he got killed off earlier than one might expect; That was good. Of course, he could have been so much more, but it kept you on your toes.
Overlong character arcs? I have no idea what you're attempting to refer to other than possibly the thing with the Buffy/Angel stuff and Angel not doing much which I will concede to you on. I got a kick out of it, cause I've always loved watching doomed relationships attempt to develop (I'm sick that way) but I can sure see why it would annoy people. But re: Cordelia, she did get cheated on and impaled. I'd be pretty pissed, wouldn't you? It's not like she was that the whole time; When called on, she still contributed to the group. I don't understand your complaint about the sub plots distracting from the main plot. First of all, the main plot hadn't hit top gear yet, second is the simple fact that if nothing else is going in these peoples lives, well thats kinda dull, no? The characters were at their most likeable during this season and felt relatable, something missing from them just about every subsequent season.
Graduation Part 2 was great - Hey, I thought it was better than the season 1, 5, 6 or 7. Obviously, 2 was the best finale and well I wouldn't put it above or behind 4. They're of different ilk. And I loved the Prom. I loved its maturity, I loved it subtlety. I guess I just look at the whole thing from an entirely different perspective than you. When it comes down to it, I look at a season, I don't look at how it flows or whatever artistic concerns, I look at how much fun I had watching and how entertained I was. So we'll have to agree to disagree. I know I just rambled on without actually making any real point, I kind of got lost and distracted by football stuff halfway through typing it, so I think the only part that probably is relevant is that last bit...
Now that having been said, the complaint you have with S3 feeling fragmented because it was more episodic and Faith wouldn't be there every time? I actually kinda liked that. Well to begin with, it point about Faith not always being there was that she wasn't that close to Buffy or any of the others which is what ultimately makes her more easily alienated. But I like the fact that it wasn't just the same thing every week, that something new happened if you will. If we flash forward to S5/S6/S7, you know what? It just got dull beyond a certain point. Though of course, there were other reasons for that which I'll get to later. But it was partly due to the fact the plot, well, plodded and got dragged out and on and on.
I don't know why you think Mr Trick would be the big bad, but it was certainly a jolt that he got killed off earlier than one might expect; That was good. Of course, he could have been so much more, but it kept you on your toes.
Overlong character arcs? I have no idea what you're attempting to refer to other than possibly the thing with the Buffy/Angel stuff and Angel not doing much which I will concede to you on. I got a kick out of it, cause I've always loved watching doomed relationships attempt to develop (I'm sick that way) but I can sure see why it would annoy people. But re: Cordelia, she did get cheated on and impaled. I'd be pretty pissed, wouldn't you? It's not like she was that the whole time; When called on, she still contributed to the group. I don't understand your complaint about the sub plots distracting from the main plot. First of all, the main plot hadn't hit top gear yet, second is the simple fact that if nothing else is going in these peoples lives, well thats kinda dull, no? The characters were at their most likeable during this season and felt relatable, something missing from them just about every subsequent season.
Graduation Part 2 was great - Hey, I thought it was better than the season 1, 5, 6 or 7. Obviously, 2 was the best finale and well I wouldn't put it above or behind 4. They're of different ilk. And I loved the Prom. I loved its maturity, I loved it subtlety. I guess I just look at the whole thing from an entirely different perspective than you. When it comes down to it, I look at a season, I don't look at how it flows or whatever artistic concerns, I look at how much fun I had watching and how entertained I was. So we'll have to agree to disagree. I know I just rambled on without actually making any real point, I kind of got lost and distracted by football stuff halfway through typing it, so I think the only part that probably is relevant is that last bit...