There are a lot of things about confusing high school setting to some of the storylines in later seasons. While this teen show was groundbreaking, it wasn't perfect, and fans have a lot to say about what did and didn't work, from character arcs to specific episodes.
Sarah Michelle Gellar will always be beloved for her portrayal of the teenage slayer, but that just might be the only thing that fans of Buffy agree on. Many viewers have taken to Reddit to share some thoughts on the series that go against conventional fandom thinking.
Angel And Buffy Aren't Right For Each Other
Many fans think that Angel and Spike are Buffy's most legitimate love interests, and to suggest that Angel might not be the one for her is a unique take.
As a fan shared on Reddit, "Angel and Buffy are the Ross and Rachel of the series: Romanticized and loved by a lot of people, but terrible as a couple." The fan added that the couple didn't seem to have a good reason for being together and that the chemistry between them seemed off.
Buffy And Riley Are A Great Couple
Fans have mixed feelings about Riley. The character appears in the fourth season when Buffy starts going to college, and the two start dating.
In the same Reddit thread, some fans talked about how much they enjoyed Riley and Buffy's relationship. One fan noted that they're a good couple, and another wrote, "in season 4 they were cute, they got along well, they respected and loved each other." Another fan replied and said it was a "stable" romance. This is another unpopular opinion as viewers are meant to ship Buffy and Angel.
Xander And Willow Aren't Compelling Characters
Another unpopular opinion about Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and Xander isn't always that nice, so this fan is not all that thrilled about their place in the series.
Willow's character didn't age nicely, so it makes sense to criticize her, but it's definitely rare to say something negative about both of Buffy's best friends.
Dawn Brings Something Unique To The Series
Sometimes fans have empathy for Dawn, but most of the time, viewers detested this character.
A fan shared on Reddit that Dawn wasn't that bad. While they itted that Dawn could yell a lot and act immaturely, they thought she added something interesting and unique to the show. This isn't something that many viewers agree with, as Dawn is considered someone who ruined the series, so it's fascinating to hear this perspective.
Season 7 Is The Best
Often the last season of a show is its worst. As the episodes dwindle down, the characters seem to make rash decisions and nothing makes as much sense as it did at the beginning.
Another unpopular opinion about Buffy the Vampire Slayer is that season 7 is a "favorite" instead of a terrible batch of episodes. Many fans have talked about how poorly they thought that the final season was written.
"The Body" Isn't Actually An Emotional Episode
Fans are divided on Buffy's mom Joyce but the general feeling is that the season 5 episode "The Body" is a total tearjerker.
As a fan pointed out, they're not convinced that the episode when Buffy's mother dies is very emotional; they wrote, "I didn't think The Body was very moving." In another thread, a few fans discussed how Joyce never seemed to be very invested in Buffy's life and that she should have cared more about her daughter.
"Beer Bad" Is Actually Well-Done
Of all the episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer that fans dislike, season 4's "Beer Bad" comes up often. Buffy gets drunk with some random college guys, and they all turn into Neanderthals.
A fan itted that while others hate this episode, they thought that it was hilarious. They wrote, "I know this is an unpopular opinion as it's often labelled one of the worst episodes of Buffy, but I love Beer Bad!" They liked seeing "Buffy in cavewoman form."
Anya Is Funny
A lot of Buffy fans aren't all that into Anya and there are a few reasons for that. Maybe they don't like her storylines or personality, or they felt that her death was rushed or strange. It makes sense that one unpopular opinion on Reddit is that she added "comic relief" to "quite a dark show."
Many viewers thought Anna worsened over time so this is a particularly notable take.
Giles And Faith Are Bad Characters
Buffy and Faith share some similarities and the latter is generally considered a popular and powerful character.
One fan posted in a Reddit thread that they don't like Faith and they also mentioned Giles as a bad character. Giles is an important and special person in Buffy's life and there are definitely many people who think he was a crucial part of the series.
The Fourth Season Is An Enjoyable Break
Many Buffy fans hate the fourth season, but a few shared on Reddit that they thought the season was a nice, enjoyable break from the rest of the show.
As a fan explained, "I love that you describe season 4 as a little holiday. I feel the same way but didn't know how to word it. Any time there's a drastic change of environment it provides such a great opportunity to let the characters grow, plus loads of new story ideas."