Buffy The Vampire Slayer: All 7 seasons ranked from worst to best

5. Season 4

Ah, the infamous fourth season. You know, the one where the metaphorical rollercoaster ride swayed from extreme highs to disappointing lows. At its zenith, it presented episodes like “Hush” – an eerie masterpiece that could send shivers down the most hardened spine – and “Restless” – a splendid standalone finale that made us glad it left the remainder of the season in the rear-view mirror. However, when it stumbled, it fell flat, thanks to cringe-worthy missteps like the universally panned “Beer Bad”.

Like many teen-focused TV shows, Buffy‘s transition into its college era was not a smooth one. Not in the slightest. And it dropped the ball so significantly that it’s hard to view season 4 as anything but one big missed opportunity.

Speaking of missed opportunities, the character of Adam was the main antagonist for the season. A move which, let’s be honest, wasn’t the show’s brightest moment. Was it fun to see Buffy Summers take on a giant Terminator/Incredible Hulk wannabe? Sure. Did that Terminator/Incredible Hulk wannabe need to be the primary villain of the season? I think we’ll let you answer that one.

There was a lot of good in Buffy season 4, but those elements were sadly underutilized. Instead, the show went all-in on a poorly conceived villain that had little to offer a show as rich as this. One of its brightest moments was Willow’s journey of sexual self-discovery, as it was a game-changing storyline at the time (and some welcome representation).

Yet, despite these shining moments, the fourth season couldn’t consistently deliver, leaving us with an aftertaste of what could have been. The opportunities were there, but most of them were missed.