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shaggydan wins! shaggydan beat McNulty 13 to 12.
Buffy Season 2 is better than Buffy Season 3.
shaggydan said
My previous Throwdown comparing S2 and S4 was not accepted, so I'll open it up to the public...
Season 2 of Buffy is the best of all those seasons. Good became evil, evil teamed up with good, Buffy lost her innocence and, oh yeah, there's was that whole Mrs. Calendar thing.
McNulty said
While Season 2 kicked off classic Buffy as we know it, Season 3 is actually the best all around season of the show.
You've got the most well rounded cast of the show's run, with all the core characters being complimented by great additions like Faith, Wesley, Anya, Oz (full time) and more.
You've got the most entertaining Big Bad of all in The Mayor, followed closely by the best Medium Bad ever in Faith.
You've got the classic setting of Sunnydale High in its final year of existence.
And then there's classic episodes such as The Wish, Band Candy, Dopplegangland, The Zeppo, The Prom, Lovers Walk, Earshot and of course Graduation Day 1&2.
And finally you've got Spike in his welcomed guest appearance uttering one of the best lines ever written on the show - "I may be love's ****. But at least I'm man enough to admit it."
Case closed!
shaggydan said
I actually do have to concede that Lovers Walk is one of my favorite Buffy episodes, largely because of Spike's speech.
"Love isn't brains children, its blood."
Yeah, that's some good stuff. But..
There is so much depth to Season 2. The Buffy/Angelus storyline was just remarkable, an evil so smartly built out of such a deeply rooted fear for Buffy. The loss of innocence she endures, not to mention the width and depth of the ripple effect to her friends and family once her leap of faith proves to be miscalculated, is phenomenal.
Becoming, Parts One and Two, still gives me the shivers.
McNulty said
I really feel that Season 3 is when Buffy hit its stride. The tightest writing crew (Whedon, Fury, Espenson, Noxen, Petrie etc), the best overall cast, Chris Beck's first full season doing the music, the best SFX (the WB upped the show's budget in Season 3, hence why it just "looks" better overall) and the least number of weak episodes overall.
Faith's story arch was what they only hinted at in Season 2 with Kendra, Slayer vs. Slayer, the whole notion of power and responsibility. Buffy has it, Faith doesn't. But Faith is also lacking the support system Buffy has, therefore she strikes up the surprisingly tender relationship with the Mayor.
There's so many layers to all of Season 3's characters. The Big Bad is actually a nice guy, the Slayer isn't always a hero, the rich **** has a heart, the loyal Scoobies aren't always so loyal to their friends, the wise Watcher wasn't always so wise...
The finale doesn't waste a single second of screentime. laughs(Cordy and Wesley's "kiss"), kick **** action (Buffy v Faith, best fight scene ever), huge drama (Angel drinks Buffy!) it's pretty much the perfect episode. It's a graduation not only for the characters, but the show itself.
shaggydan said
Forfeited Turn
McNulty said
Forfeited Turn
Like this throwdown?
Episode Recaps
Poll: Cop shows (Part 2)
What was the best cop show on TV from 1998 to 2008?
From EW.com
Comments
RobGrizzly 03/04/08
I love this throwdown! I had the exact same argument with my brother. Which was the best Buffy season? 2 or 3? We both love Faith, and "Bad Girls" is a personal favorite, but I think we finally settled on the bulk of season 2, compared to the single eps of season 3.
The first discovery of another existing slayer (Kendra)! John Ritter (!) dating Buffy's mom.
Spike and Drucilla. Owned. Television.
Allimuffin 03/04/08
Season 2 beats Season 3 by a hair.
For as well crafted and put together as season 3 is, there's just an extra SOMETHING to Season 2's arc. I think Angel/Angelus was Buffy best 'Big Bad', and their tenderness earlier in the season made the whole thing all the more tragic and horrifying. For every weaker episode in Season 2 (i.e. "Killed By Death", "Bad Eggs") there was a powerhouse episode to make up for them. Becoming parts 1 & 2 are not only some of Buffy's best episodes, they are also considered some of the best TV episodes EVER by TVGuide.
Again, Season 2 by a hair.
Moononastring 03/04/08
Wow now this one is tough. Season 2 has, for me, more "standout" episodes that I count among my favorite ever - Suprise, Innocence, Passion, I Only Have Eyes For You, and of course, Becoming 1 & 2. There are so many "iconic" moments from this season - Angel turning bad, Buffy catching the sword in the finale, Buffy killing Angel, Xander in a speedo =)
Season 3 is a bit more consistent episode to episode, and I love the additions of Faith, Wesley, Anya. And there are just so many great episodes in Season 3 as well -- there are fewer "misses" in Season 3 and I think the characters all grow more in this season.
For me, I'd say Season 2 by a hair, it just has this air about it that pushes it over for me, but Season 3 is just so good too! By far the 2 best seasons of the series.
twenty_two14 03/04/08
I like season 3 better than season two, but my favorite is actually season 5. But, as far as season 2 vs 3 goes, they're both pretty awesome seasons. However, like I said, season 3 wins. A lot of the episodes were really amazing and entertaining (my favorites include "The Wish," "Dopplegangland," and "Graduation Day Part 2"), and I really enjoyed the Faith story-arc. However, I will concede that the big villians of season 2 (Angel, Spike, and Drusilla) were more entertaining for me than the Mayor was. As far as other characters go, I liked the dynamic of the group better is season 2, with Cordelia being fully integrated into the group, then in season 3 when she was on the sidelines.
bluetenille 03/04/08
Dude! I want my throwdown for s4. I work 10-12 shifts with fedex. I'm bummed I missed out. But can we do this tomorrow night?
JRTR 03/05/08
Season 3 does have some great episodes, but I love season 2 as a whole way better. The Buffy/Angel/Angelus relationship is just amazing television and blends the "real life" teenage issues with the supernatural world of Buffy perfectly. While I'd take Faith over Kendra as my other slayer, I'd take Spike plotting with Drucilla over the Mayor as a giant snake any day.
Oh no, now I have to go get my DVD's out and watch season 2 again.
boycrazyjenn 03/06/08
The were both SO much better than S6, imho, but I loved S2 just a little bit more. Although, when I watch it now, they all seem so young, it's still my favorite season by a hair.
Sunnydale 03/06/08
Season 3 was awesome BUT it was season 2 that put Buffy on the map and cemented its reputation as some of the best stuff ever seen on TV.
shaggydan 03/06/08
Blast! I missed my last turn. Well, let me conclude this throwdown by saying this. I don't think Season 3 could possibly be as cool, as believable or as intelligent if Season 2 hadn't played its part.
The beautiful thing about Season 2 was how the characters came into their own. Season 2 was the starting spot the changes that would mature each of the main characters.
-Zander sets the stage so that Angelus could not be saved, only killed.
- Spike attempts make peace with Buffy, setting him up to be dumped by Drucila
- Giles is tortured by Angelus.
- Mrs Calendar gets, well...
- Willow gets her first taste of magic.
What a great season!
randomlove36 03/07/08
This was a really hard decision because both are amazing seasons, but I voted for 2 because it really does have the best stand out episodes and it really cements the relationship between Buffy and Angel as well as the core group of scoobies. The only thing better about season 3 is Faith and the Mayor...hard choice
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