What is the Best Buffy Teaser From Season Four?

The fourth season of Buffy, The Vampire Slayer marks a significant transition for the show from the high school years to the college years. College tests the friends' friendships and forms new identities. The Scoobies battle a paramilitary group called The Initiative--a group that performs wild experiments on demons. Dr. Walsh evidently loved Mary Shelley's Frankenstein maybe too much. Angel and Cordelia left Sunnydale for the happy streets of Los Angeles. Buffy finds herself in a relationship with a new man. Willow finds herself in love with a woman mid-way through the season after Oz' heartbreaking departure.

Season 4 is widely panned by Buffy fans because of the Initiative arc. While The Initiative arc itself isn't very memorable, season 4 is the last relatively "light" season before the gloominess of the final three seasons of the show. The tone and feel of the season isn't much different from the first three seasons of the show. The season features some of the best individual episodes in the series like "Hush," "Fear, Itself," "Restless," and "Who Are You?" Most importantly, the show hadn't lost its sense of fun yet (the show doesn't lose its sense of fun until the sixth season by the way). If the sixth season has its fervent supporters then the fourth season deserves its fervent supporters because season six is largely terrible

Of course, the central focus of today's post isn't the quality of the totality of season four but, rather, its teasers. Specifically, in this search for the best Buffy teaser of the series, which teaser stands-out from the fourth season? It's been a few weeks since the last Best Buffy Teaser post. A refresher: "Prophecy Girl," "When She Was Bad," and "The Wish" advanced into the finals of the tournament. So, this begs the question...

WHAT IS THE BEST BUFFY TEASER FROM SEASON FOUR?

LET IT BEGIN:

"The Freshman"--Written & Directed By Joss Whedon

Buffy's worried and unsettled about college. As she and Willow await a vampire to rise, Willow assists Buffy with her course selection because Buffy waited until the last minute to schedule her courses. Each course that Willow suggests causes Buffy to hesitate. Willow insists that it's prudent to have a plan, which Buffy agrees with; however, the summer's been hectic with the slaying and she lost track of time. As Willow and Buffy converse about the important of preparation, the vampire rises from the grave and silently prepares to attack the unsuspecting girls. Once he sees the arsenal of weapons, he flees. Buffy wonders if the vamp will ever rise.

The teaser's fairly quiet for a season opener. The teasers for the last two premieres show an out-of-sorts Buffy. "The Freshman" continues that, which Joss shows via Buffy's feelings about college, her worries about the adjustment period, her restlessness, and how her anxiety affects her slaying duties as evidenced by the vamp escaping without a stake in his heart. This theme continues throughout the episode--Buffy's self-doubt in the face of a whole new environment.

We also see a reversal. Willow's a the super-confident college girl. Buffy isn't. The Sunnydale High days are over for Willow Rosenberg. Additionally, we learn that Buffy and Willow have different rooms (thus roommates) and that Buffy needs protect her slayer secret again. Great stuff.

"Living Conditions"--Written By Marti Noxon; Directed By David Grossman

Oh, the college roommate. There are horror stories about college roommates so of course the show would address the roommate story. Kathy was introduced in the first episode but she had one scene in "The Freshman." The teaser for this episode establishes the Buffy-Kathy dynamic. The women have nothing in common. Kathy listens to Cher constantly. She insists that Buffy write her calls down so she knows how much of the phone bill to pay. Kathy questions Buffy about her milk-use. All the while, Buffy's trying to escape so she can patrol. She eventually does and rants about Kathy to Willow. Buffy tries to convince herself that Kathy's likable, that college is a time-of-change etc. Willow mentions that her roommate is challenging too. Soon, the girls part ways for the night as a demon cowers in the bushes.

The series never explains why Buffy and Willow didn't room together from the start. I assume the writers simply wanted to tell a roommate story, and Buffy/Willow apart made that story possible. There's nothing too terrible about Kathy. She's just an irritating personality with OCD elements. Buffy describes her as someone from the world of Mom-donia. Kathy's odd behavior is eventually explained. The demon in the bushes is involved in the A story. The teaser's rather lackluster though besides Willow and Buffy's brief comments about their place in the feminist movement. I love Willow's "Did we not put the Grrr in girl?" line.

"The Harsh Light of Day"--Written By Jane Espenson; Directed By James A. Contner

In The Bronze, Buffy and Willow converse about Parker--the guy Buffy's having lusty feelings for. Willow wonders why Buffy doesn't turn around to look at him. Buffy chose to watch Parker in the reflection. Buffy's not interested in crowding him at The Bronze, considering how much time the two spent with another during the week. Parker joins the table and offers to walk Buffy home. Later, outside, Oz and the band are packing their gear up for a trip to LA. Harmony approaches Willow. The two former classmates chat for a bit, update one another and then Harmony vamps out to show Willow how much she's really changed.

Buffy's feelings for Parker are important to establish in the teaser because of how badly burned she is by the guy at the end. The girl has lingering wounds from Angel's abrupt departure after graduation. Parker's more than just a simple guy to her. He represents her post-Angel life. He represents the possibility for Buffy to love someone who isn't the vampire-with-a-soul. Meanwhile, the teaser sets up Oz' involvement in ANGEL's "In The Dark." So, it's a busy teaser. Plus, Harmony's return sets up a certain other vampire's return to Sunnydale.

"Fear, Itself"--Written By David Fury; Directed By Tucker Gates

Buffy's in a post-Parker funk. The Scoobies are gathered in Xander's basement, preparing for their Halloween fun. Xander planned movies, unaware that the college folk planned on attending a Halloween frat party. The knowledge only adds to Xander's insecurity about his place amongst his college-going friends. Buffy leaves. On her walk home, she punches a human-in-demon costume. He wonders what's wrong with her. Buffy wonders the same.

The teaser establishes two fundamental issues for the episode--Buffy and Xander's loneliness though Xander hides his behind humor. The central setting for the episode is established (the Halloween frat party). It's enjoyable as well, especially the banter about the pumpkins and the video mix-ups (Fantasia instead of Phantasm). I love this show.

"Beer Bad"--Written By Tracey Forbes; Directed By David Solomon

Buffy remains consumed by thoughts of Parker even though he's a lousy dude. In the graveyard, Buffy saves Parker's life from ferocious vampires. Parker asks for Buffy's forgiveness as he owes her his life; however, it's a dream, and Dr. Walsh explains how the ego and the id battle when a person cannot have what they want all the time. The conflict between the ego and the id manifests itself in dreams, which is what Buffy's exactly doing. Her next dream involves a shirt-less Parker, ice cream and make-up sex.

This is the third consecutive Parker-dominated teaser. Luckily, the Parker arc ends in "Beer Bad". The teaser establishes that Buffy needs to find someway to get over the guy. While Walsh explains Buffy's dreams as a way for the psyche to give Buffy what she wants, I'll argue that her dreams reveal how badly Buffy needs to move past Parker. With that clear, the events of "Beer Bad" are natural from a Buffy-Parker perspective.

"Wild At Heart"--Written By Marti Noxon; Directed By David Grossman

The script reads: "A pastoral campus tableau. Students sitting on benches talking, looking at a kiosk, milling about." Soon, Buffy's flying through the campus, running from a vampire. Buffy and the vamp reach a secluded area where Buffy turns the tables on the predator. She dispatches the vamp quickly though she's perturbed that the vamp didn't acknowledge her painstakingly thought-out plan. In the distance, Spike watches and issues a threat through monologue but he's soon interrupted by a taser blow. He's whisked away by men in military fatigues.

It's a short teaser to show that Spike hasn't left town, that the military guys we've seen around the campus, most recently in "Fear, Itself", know and have interest in demons. I enjoy the meta-ness of Buffy's pun-filled dialogue as well. Unfortunately, this won't win Best Teaser of Season 4. "Wild At Heart" is all about Oz and Willow and the teaser features neither character.

"The Initiative"--Written By Douglas Petrie; Directed By James A. Contner

Riley, Forrest and, eventually, Graham sit at a table in the cafeteria. The characters look at all of those cute girls populating the cafeteria, in various stages of getting lunch. Forrest hopes that half-as-many cute girls in the cafeteria come to their party. Riley, meanwhile, is uninterested until Buffy pops up in the cafeteria though he argues he's not interested in her because she's always in another world during their conversations; however, Forrest has no issues with the girl looks-wise. Riley doesn't deny her physical appearance. Forrest argues that many guys would like to get their hands on her. The teaser cuts to Spike who, in his sedated state, mumbles words about killing the slayer. He's in laboratory--a place that is seemingly endless.

This is a wonderful teaser. It features some great physical comedy from Sarah Michelle Gellar as she tries to get her lunch together. Contner directed the episode so well. Mark J. Goldman edited it excellently and it's excellently written. This teaser marks the first time that characters outside of the Scoobies commented on Buffy so it's fun to hear the opinions on Buffy from characters who aren't aware of her life or job. The teaser nicely sets up Riley's attraction to the slayer even though his actual lines conflict with obvious attraction. Plus, there's more mystery with Spike's new home.

"Pangs"--Written By Jane Espenson; Directed By Michael Lange

Buffy saves a young woman from a vampire attack. The vampire bitches and moans about how great life was on campus before the slayer arrived as a college student. Buffy's satisfied that she's made life miserable for the vamps. She dusts him and leaves. In the shadows, Angel lurks. Buffy has a sensation that she's being watched. She walks off though, unresolved.

The purpose of the teaser: Angels' back! The two characters still share a connection even when the one is unaware of the other's presence.

"Something Blue"--Written By Tracey Forbes; Directed By Nick Marck

Willow walks around Oz' empty room, looking at his belongings he left behind when he left town suddenly. Willow still feels pain. The next day, Riley and Buffy plan a picnic together. Riley tells Buffy that he practices conversations with her because she's like an oral exam (it's a compliment though). Buffy melts when Riley describes her as beautiful. Later, on patrol, Buffy expresses momentary hesitation because Riley's not making her miserable--she feels like something's missing. Besides that, Riley's what she needs. While Buffy's excited about a new guy in her life, Willow walks beside her a wounded lady.

This is a comedy episode in which magic up-ends character and relationship dynamics. We need to see where Riley and Buffy are as a couple for a later scene involving her and Spike as an engaged couple. Willow's heartbreak drives the episode. Relationships are painful, especially when they end.

"Hush"--Written & Directed By Joss Whedon

Dr. Walsh opens the episode with a lecture about communication--the importance of actual communication, inspired by the moment and not the idea. She wants Buffy to take part in a demonstration about thoughts and experiences that we don't have words for. Soon, Buffy and Riley are making out and the sun goes down. Buffy hears a young girl singing ominous lyrics then she sees a hideous face with a hideous grin and she wakes up. After class, Buffy and Riley discuss their plans for the evening. Both have to cover for what they'll actually be doing. They nearly kiss until Buffy ruins the mood.

Of course, the scene dominated by the theme of communication would be followed by two characters lying to one another about their plans. This is "Hush" after all--the episode with 29 minutes of silence. Joss argues that people begin communicating when they stop talking. Buffy and Riley are prime examples as no communication exists between the two--it's just wasteful words (or noise).

"Doomed"--Written By Marti Noxon & David Fury & Jane Espenson; Directed By James A. Contner

"Hush" ends with Buffy and Riley in silence. They have their voices back and the ability to communicate but neither can. "Doomed" begins with their conversation. Riley's never heard of the slayer while Buffy figured out The Initiative already. Buffy suggests the two spend some time apart to assess the situation. Soon, an earthquake hits; however, Buffy's skeptical that it's an actual earthquake and, instead, another apocalypse.

"Doomed" obviously had to unpack the events of "Hush" before it could move onto its story. It's dominated by exposition. The earthquake portends some apocalyptic hijinx.

"A New Man"--Written By Jane Espenson; Directed By Michael Gershman

The teaser opens with Buffy and Riley kissing in her dorm room. "Like good cocoa, it's both and hot sweet". That's from Espenson's script. Anyway, Willow interrupted them to bring Buffy to her surprise birthday party. Nothing terrible happens on Buffy's birthday this season.

"The I In Team"--Written By David Fury; Directed By James A. Contner

Willow, Xander and Anya are gathered in Xander's basement, playing poker. The trio discuss Buffy, Riley and The Initiative. Xander doesn't trust them because no one knows what they're up to. Willow thinks they're good because they are anti-demon. Buffy isn't at the poker game due to her activities with Riley and The Initiative.

She's training with The Initiative. It took Forrest and Graham 47 minutes to track her and only 28 seconds to neutralize the two guys. Riley's proud; however, Dr. Walsh isn't as taken with Buffy as the rest. She looks "cold as ice" as she watches Buffy with Riley.

"The I in Team" kicks The Initiative arc into high gear. Xander's the voice of the audience, untrustworthy of the group as a whole. The teaser shows that Buffy is more separate from her friends. That's never good for Buffy. Something's not right with these demon-fighters.

"Goodbye Iowa"--Written By Marti Noxon; Directed By David Solomon

Buffy briefs Giles, Willow, Xander, Spike and Anya about the death trap that Dr. Walsh put her into. Spike casts suspicion on Riley as a co-conspirator in the "Make Buffy Dead" assignment but Buffy believes Riley's innocent because Maggie kept Riley far away from the assignment. The Scoobies aren't safe because of the info they have about The Initiative. Maggie made it clear she's hiding something as she attempted to murder Buffy for asking too many questions. Her secret, of course, is Adam.

A very plot-driven teaser for a Riley-centric episode. After all, there are so many questions about Mr. Riley Finn. We meet Adam-The Initiative's mad experiment free to roam the town of Sunnydale.

"This Year's Girl"--Written By Douglas Petrie; Directed By Michael Gershman

Buffy and Faith put clean sheets on Buffy's bed. The two discuss the pleasant smell of clean sheets--like summer. Buffy glances at a clock on the wall and insists she has to leave. Faith understands, "Little sis is coming. I know. So much to do before she gets here." The bed's finished but blood begins dripping onto the white sheet. Faith wonders whether Buffy will ever take the knife out of her gut. Instead, Buffy drives the knife further into Faith's gut. In the hospital, Faith reacts to that visceral dream as she heart rate jumps for a second before returning to normal. She lays there, comatose.

Besides foreshadowing Dawn in season five, the teaser lets the audience know that Faith is back and she hasn't forgotten about Buffy stabbing her even as she lies in a coma. It's a teaser full of symbolism and foreshadow. I bet Joss wrote it.

"Who Are You?"--Written & Directed By Joss Whedon

"Who Are You?" is the second part of "This Year's Girl." In past seasons, the second parter's teaser is short. The trend continues. Faith's unconscious body is removed from the Summers household; however, Faith switched bodies with Buffy so it's actually Buffy in Faith's body and vice-versa. A detective describes Faith as "definitely dangerous." Oh, if he only knew.

The teaser reminds the audience of the body switch. Buffy is Faith and Faith is Buffy. There's a sense of tension and dread, because Faith is capable of doing anything.

"Superstar"--Written By Jane Espenson; Directed By David Grossman

The Scoobies fight a snarling vampire. Buffy's flanked by another vamp. She dusts one. The other disappears. The Scoobies investigate a crypt where they find five vampires sloppily drinking from a human being. The gang realize task is too tough and they need someone else--and that someone Jonathan, who lives in a mansion.

Well, obviously, something's not right with reality if Jonathan's the key to fighting evil in Sunnydale. The teaser successfully sets up the "What the hell?!?" element. That's about it. Willow has a great line about vampires and napkins after watching five vampires sloppily drinking a victim's blood: "I don't care if it is an orgy of death. There's still such a thing as a napkin."

"Where The Wild Things Are"--Written By Tracey Forbes; Directed By David Solomon

The sex episode. Buffy and Riley meet a vampire/demon tag-team while on patrol. They choose to have sex instead of tell Giles about what they find. And they don't stop having sex for most of the episode.

We all know that slaying can make some slayers horny (to use Faith's words). Buffy and Riley are so consumed by physical attraction that everything else becomes secondary, which is unusual for Buffy.  So, what's going on? Is it connected to the odd tag team? Of course.

"New Moon Rising"--Written By Marti Noxon; Directed By James A. Contner

I like when Buffy's writers took a generalized type of exposition and swiftly turned it into something more personal like in this episode's teaser when the Scoobies speculate why evil activity is low (a Big Evil is looming). Something important is brewing, Giles asserts, and then Oz shows up, back in Sunnydale, at the worst time for Willow. She's in love with Tara. We see her affection in Willow's effort to make Tara feel part of the gang at Giles'. The writing cleverly disguises Oz's return. Leave it to Joss to bring Oz back at the exact wrong time for Willow.

"The Yoko Factor"--Written By Douglas Petrie; Directed By David Grossman

Colonel McNamara of The Initiative updates Ward about Buffy and The Initiative. Both want Riley on their side. Neither particularly fears Buffy because she's "just a girl." Cut to Spike, telling Adam that Buffy's far more than just a girl. He promises that Adam will be dead if he doesn't take Buffy seriously. Spike wants Adam to be ready for Buffy. Adam very much is.

The teaser's a table-setter for the two part resolution of the season-long Initiative arc. One evil side underestimates Buffy while the other expects violence from Buffy. Never underestimate Buffy Summers because she'll kick your ass. She's the greatest.

"Primeval"--Written By David Fury; Directed By James A. Contner

Again, the second part of a two-parter is rarely long. Riley's in Adam's lair because Dr. Walsh implanted a behavior modifier in him that strips him of power. Adam calls him his brother because Maggie had great plans for the both of them.

The teaser comments on the surprise ending of "The Yoko Factor" and explains the truth of the situation--that Riley's a slave to a chip in his body. One wonders what plans Adam has but that's for the rest of the episode.

"Restless"--Written & Directed By Joss Whedon

Oh, "Restless." What an episode. An all-timer. The teaser opens as Riley prepares to depart for a de-briefing. Joyce finally meets him. He leaves. Xander brings in popcorn. He, Buffy, Willow and Giles prepare to watch a movie as a reward for beating the government. No one thinks they can sleep; however, once the movie begins, all are asleep.

This is the first time we see what happens after a huge battle with the Big Bad. The Scoobies try to relax and sleep. Of course, this time, the gang has some side-effects from the mojo they used to help them in their fight. They awoke something primal and that primal entity will meet them in their dreams. Besides the sleeping part, Riley confirms that The Initiative, in its evil-form, is done.

AND THE WINNER OF THE BEST BUFFY TEASER FROM SEASON FOUR IS..."The Harsh Light of Day." Why? I don't know. This format is a way for me to write about each teaser.

Here's a list in descending order: 22. "Superstar" 21. "Beer Bad" 20. "A New Man" 19. "Where The Wild Things Are" 18. "Who Are You?" 17. "Wild At Heart" 16. "Primeval" 15. "Doomed" 14. "Pangs" 13. "Living Conditions" 12. "The Yoko Factor" 11. "The Freshman" 10. "The I in Team" 9. "Goodbye Iowa" 8. "Restless" 7. "Something Blue" 6. "This Year's Girl" 5. "Hush" 4. "Fear, Itself" 3. "New Moon Rising" 2. "The Initiative" 1. "Harsh Light of Day"