I haven't managed to make it through Angel yet. I tried right after binging Buffy for the first time and it never seemed to quite click with me, unfortunately. What's really interesting is watching the increasing acting talent and charisma that David Boreanz brings in his roles in Buffy, then Angel, and finally Bones. Usually actors don't get much better, but he really did evolve as an actor.
Season 4 of Buffy is my least favourite, followed by the final season. Really, it peaks at three and six.
David Boreanaz's career is honestly astounding to me based on his early Buffy episodes. He was straight up
bad when that show started, which kinda makes sense considering he basically got the part while walking his dog down the street. By the time they gave him his own show, they started allowing him to infuse Angel with more of his actual personality (i.e. mostly humor and charm) instead of trying to force him to be sad, crying, and brooding all the time. Once the writers figured out that his personality came across really well onscreen he was set for life. He's like a Harrison Ford: not a great actor, but he's got that one thing he does that just works so well.
Every time I rewatch Buffy I like Season 4 more and more, mostly for the humor. It's got some of the strongest single episodes in the entire series (Hush, Restless, Something Blue, This Year's Girl/Who Are You, hell, even Superstar). I like that Season 4 saw the writers and actors really swinging for the rafters and just trying everything. It was the most consistently funny season of Buffy and the exact opposite of the later seasons (i.e. taking themselves too seriously, trying nothing, having characters literally just sit around and talk about the plot). I find more appreciation for it every time I rewatch the show.
Seasons 2-3 are the golden age and always be. Season 5 has the strongest dramatic stand alone episodes, though I find the overall villain arc a tad lame and I think the shift towards a serialized format hurt the show.
