Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #770 in VHS
• Released on: 2002-08-19
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Number of discs: 3
• Formats: Box set, PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of tapes: 3

Amazon.co.uk Review
The sixth season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer was the one a lot of people hated--the show's writers followed the logic of plot and character development into some gloomy places, especially in this, the season's second half. The way that Willow's interest in magic had grown into an excessive fascination with her own power was plausible enough, but to move the interest of this over to a crudely explicit analogy with addiction and rehab was a point where the show seemed to be underlining its usual deft, angst-ridden metaphors. The complicated relationship between Buffy and the bleached blond vampire Spike was far more successfully handled. Sarah Michelle Gellar offers sexual self-disgust as well as any other emotion she has had to perform and James Marsters is as elegantly ruthless and obsessive as ever.

This is a season in which chickens come home to roost: everything from the villainy of the three geeks to Xander's doubts about marriage come to a head, often--as in the case of the impressive wedding episode--through wildly dark humour. The estrangement of the characters from each other--a well-observed portrait of what happens to college pals in their early 20s--comes to a shocking head with the death of a major character and that death's apocalyptic consequences. The season ends on a consoling note which it has, by that point and in spite of imperfections, entirely earned. –Roz Kaveney

Synopsis
More adventures with Buffy The Vampire Slayer. Features the episodes 'Doublemeat Palace', 'Dead Things', 'Older And Far Away', 'As You Were', 'Hell's Bells', 'Normal Again', 'Entropy', 'Seeing Red', 'Villians', 'Two To Go' and 'Grave'.

From the Back Cover
Tape Four
Doublemeat Palace:When Buffy takes a job at a fast-food restaurant, she comes to believe that disappearing co-workers and the secret ingredient to the restaurant’s hamburger patties may be connected.

Dead Things: When Jonathan, Warren and Andrew accidentally kill a young woman. They concoct a plan to pin the death on Buffy.

Older and Far Away:Buffy suspects Dawn may be to blame when a spell of unknown origin traps partygoers inside Buffy’s house with a sword-wielding monster.

As You Were:Buffy’s old boyfriend, Riley Finn, shows up unexpectedly as he traces a demon about to hatch eggs that could wipe out Sunnydale.

Tape Five:
Hell’s Bells:Anya and Xander’s wedding is thrown into turmoil when a man claiming to be Xander’s future self turns up at the ceremony.

Normal Again:Warren, Jonathan and Andrew unleash a demon whose powers make Buffy believe that her friends are figments of her imagination.

Entropy:Anya returns to Sunnydale with vengeance on her mind… and ends up hurting Xander in a way she never expected.

Seeing Red:When magic crystals infuse Warren with superhuman strength, he and his friends embark on a spree – leading to a confrontation with Buffy that ends in tragedy. Tape Six:
Villains:When Willow embraces the black arts to avenge Tara’s death, she uses her enormous power to track down Warren – despite Buffy’s strong feelings about targeting humans.

Two To Go:Fuelled by powerful black magic, Willow targets Andrew and Jonathan for destruction – leading to a spectacular battle between Buffy and Willow; in Africa, Spike faces off against a seemingly unstoppable foe as he seeks to rid himself of the implant chip.

Grave: After sucking all the magical energy out of Giles, an incredibly powerful Willow sets off to destroy the world; meanwhile, Buffy and Dawn fight off deadly creatures after they’re trapped inside a pit.

Customer Reviews

Better then you might have heard
Well, this has come in for one hell of a slating. Season Six's dark tones and emotional catastrophes have set off raging debates among fans of the show. There are plenty of people who are claiming the Season is awful. They're wrong. While Season Six is nowhere near as strong as Five, it's nevertheless full of good ideas. It's the execution that is sometimes lacking. The box set starts badly with the cringeworthy 'Doublemeat Palace' but improves radically with 'Dead Things'. This is one of the few episodes of the Season where the dark tone actually works, as the nerd trio commit an atrocity and try to pin it on Buffy. 'Older and Far Away' is dull melodrama and the return of 'Captain Cardboard' Riley is as bland and uninteresting as the character. However, things vastly improve on the second tape. 'Hell's Bells' is a good dark comedy episode, although it heartily embraces the jilted bride cliche and leaves you wondering how you could ever like Xander again. Emma Caulfield saves the day with a strong performance as the heartbroken Anya. 'Normal Again' is one of the most interesting concepts for an episode of Buffy, and the first 25 minutes is a genuine spine-tingler. It takes a downturn with a dodgy 'I must kill all my friends' twist, but is sufficiently interesting to keep your attention and has an amazing ending. 'Entropy' features the return of Anya. This strikes a good balance. The first half is hilarious comedy (Anya trying get the Scoobies to wish Xander's bits would explode!) and the second half is an accurate portrayal of how betrayed people can make foolish, and damaging decisions. Things heat up in 'Seeing Red'. It's one of the best episodes, but falls victim to two big problems (spoiler ahead). The rape scene is obviously a last minute addition and is out of character for the lovestruck Spike. Yes, he's evil, but he wouldn't rape Buffy, and Buffy herself would have kicked his butt instead of resorting to the typical weak female cliche that the character has always stood against. Tara's death is callous and poorly done solely to bring about Dark Willow. It marks the departure of the show's only likeable character. I suppose you're probably wondering why this got 4 stars. Despite the contived story, the Dark Willow plotline in 'Villains' 'Two To Go' and 'Grave' is fascinating to watch and marks a return to classic Buffy. The final showdown in 'Grave' between Willow and Xander is one of the most heartbreaking Buffy moments ever. Overall, this box set has suffered due to the cliched direction the show has taken this year, but there are more than enough strong, enjoyable episodes to warrant your buying this. Roll on Season Seven!

The end of Willow? The beginning of a new Spike?
The second half of season 6 continues with the darker tone present since Buffy's return from the grave. The second half opens with Doublemeat Palace, and sees Buffy become an employee at a burger restaurant, to make money after being rejected from college; we get to witness Anya and Xander's almost-marriage, Buffy continues her ill-fated relationship with Spike, and theres an appearance by Buffy's old beau Riley.

However, this year also comes with tragedy, which all kicks off in 'Entrophy'. There is Spike's adempted rape on Buffy, several gun shots leaving characters severly wounded, and the BigScoobyDeath. These events lead to Willow losing it, as she finally gives into her magick temptation. In 'Seeing Red', 'Two To Go' and 'Grave' we get to see a side of Willow we have rarely seen. The side of Willow we really don't want to mess with.

Personally, my fave episodes are definitely 'Two To Go' and 'Grave' (season finale). One episode that stands out is 'Normal Again' which leaves Buffy thinking that she is a patient in a mental hospital and that her life as the slayer has been an illusion for the past 6 years. To be honest, all of the episodes on this set are genius, which is what we have come to expect from an established show like this, and from the brilliant workings of Whedon and Noxon.

Where can it go from here? We will know soon, as season 7 is confirmed and the cast are about to start filming, with rumours that a few scenes of the Season Seven opener will been filmed in England. And as for Spike? Will we be seeing a new side to him after the last shocking scene? And most importantly, will these rumours that Sarah Michelle Gellar leaving be confirmed?!

Not as strong as part 1, but still very much worth buying.
"DoubleMeat Palace" - 4/10. This is a very weak episode with plot holes galore and a truly awful ending.

"Dead Things" - 9/10. Excellent episode, excellent cinematography and acting, and the drama elements were very well done.

"Older and Far Away" - 3/10. A whine-fest. Anya and Dawn have tantrums like they're three year olds. The high-point is the sword-swinging demon.

"As You Were" - 9/10. Riley has never been my favourite character but I really liked this episode. There were some great lines ("Troublemeat palace") and some further development for Buffy.

"Hell's Bells" - 5/10. I really used to like this episode, but everytime I watch it it declines in quality. The jokes aren't funny, the motives are awful (I hate Xander now) and the whole Buffy feel wasn't there.

"Normal Again" - 9/10. Terrific and original episode, with some particularly disturbing scenes in the mental hospital. Lots of subtle touches make this one a must-see.

"Entropy" - 8/10. Very good drama episode. Emma Caulfield and James Marsters are great. The first half is weak, the second half is brilliant.

"Seeing Red" - 10/10. One of those amazing episodes that mixes outrageous comedy with tragic sadness. Tara's death was shocking and sudden, and Willow's red eyes are the single best Buffy shot in history.

"Villains" - 10/10. I must've watched this brilliant episode about 20 times. It's truly amazing, Alyson Hannigan is incredible. Everything here is great, making it only second to "Once More, With Feeling" in the season 6 best-of list.

"Two to Go" - 9/10. This episode is almost a 10/10 but there is some silly dialogue here that brings it down a notch. The Buffy-Willow fight is classic.

"Grave" - 9/10. Had to rewatch this to get to really like it. Now I love it. Alyson Hannigan continues her run of great performances, all the Magic Box scenes are great, and the scene with Willow and Xander is classic.

SEASON 6 AVERAGE: 7.7/10. Even with some bad episodes ("Older and Far Away", "DoubleMeat Palace"), this box set is worth buying just to see Black Magick Willow, probably my personal favourite villain ever.