The Set

The best thing about the fourth season of Buffy is the now comfortable familiarity with the characters, their ticks and back story. This is particularly true if you happen to be the same age and life experience as the characters in the series. Yes, that's what high school was like and indeed, I had some freshman roommate situations like Buffy (except my roommate wasn't a trans-dimensional nightmare demon).

The beginning of the season feels like a palette cleansing restart. No more brooding about Angel, no more worrying about the Master or the Apocalypse (at least for now). Of course, the Slayer still has things to worry about, namely asshole guys. You'd think she'd learn how to deal with issues like that by now, but I digress. Unfortunately, this is also the point in the series that everything got much moodier. Buffy starts moping and from what I understand, doesn't pull out of it for one or two seasons. With Whedon's attention turned to Angel, the series meanders a little and doesn't seem to have the strict game plan that the show stuck to in the previous seasons.

But there are some standout episodes nonetheless, including Hush, a dialogue-less masterpiece. And of course, there's some really huge laughs courtesy of the sharp comedic writing. The mini demon is especially humorous, "he's soooo cute!"

Whatever it is, they must be scared of it.

The most welcome addition is Emma Caufield's move from semi-regular to often-regular. As Anya, a former man-hating demon, she's wonderfully sexy and stubborn - a young woman trying to learn the right way to love and confused by her overwhelming love for Xander.

I've mostly avoided any news about the show because the seeing the series on DVD was my introduction to it. And you know what? I can't wait to see the rest of the series and I feel a little sad that the definite end is in sight. Unlike other shows and movies however, Buffy manages to maintain minty freshness over repeated viewings. Well worth a look.

TV Grade: A-

Video Grade: 4 out of 5
Thanks to budget increases, the series just looks better year by year. It's well lit and cinematic and unlike even some big budget films I've reviewed, the CGI looks great - so good that you usually don't notice it.
Full Screen 1.33:1

Audio: 4 out of 5
Monsters like to roar. You can hear them roar very clearly. TV audio optimized and made delicious.
English (Dolby 2.0)

Willow and her "special friend" Tara.

Extras: 3 out of 5
As usual, the extras on the Buffy discs are pretty sparse, but good for fans. The usual interviews and brief behind the scenes, wardrobe and makeup abound. Add in a handful of commentaries (including commentaries with Whedon and Seth Green) and you're set to go.

Overall: 5 out of 5
Here's my explanation. You can get a whole lot of good stuff for very little money. Buffy DVD sets have always been about value and this one is no exception. Highly recommended. I love this show.

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