The last two seasons it seemed like they didn't know what to do with her.

she had a part to do!

i basically love dawn all the time but at first i couldnt satnd her for like the first 5 episodes but after that whoo hoo

I actually changed my answer as I thought about it. I believe Dawn had some major importance in season seven and some fantastic moments (Potential stands out for me) and I think they did a good job with her in six but they weren't sure where they were going. In simple shallowness I am picking five because I like the Glory plot that revolves around Dawn and I love her interaction with Spike

I liked her more so in season 6. She was becoming more of a take care of her self type of person.

EWWW

How about season 4, when she wasn't there...

lol, sorry, can't stand Dawn

I love her in all season. Especially season 6 & 7. Dawn in fact was the suspious one in Season 5, always want some anwers about why the gang acts so wierd around. But the one person who wasn't going wierd on her was Spike. Spike knew that Dawn was the key. Even though Dawn had a huge crush on Spike. I thought it was funny to watch thoses Spawn moments .

Season 6, wow Dawn was always alone the gang always out. Buffy with Spike most of the time. Dawn knew about Buffy & Spike. But in the epsiode "Entropy", love how Dawn was understanding her sister how Buffy felt about Spike was having sex with Anya. Dawn saw how Buffy reacted when she saw them two on camara.

Season 7, Dawn grew up and became like her sister. She was helping her sister to deal that Spike has a soul, and Dawn was a great character with other potentials. I love her in this epsiode "Potential", when Willow was making a locater spell to find another potential here in Sunnydale that aready lived here. The spell hit Dawn but it didn't she figured it out it was Amanda that goes to school with Dawn. Dawn helping Amanda to deal with it that Amanda has destiny to be another slayer. When Xander saw Dawn was helping her. Xander gave Dawn a load of confidence and he told Dawn that she is extraordinary.

Overal. Season 5 when Dawn was first introduced. She was still a kid that needs to grow up. From season 6 she was beginning to mature and to season 7 she was like Buffy ..

i liked how she was the littlest of the group and her bonded with Spike.

she wasn't so annoying with her complaining and whining in season 7
But i loved her in season 5 too, but she was better in season 7

Dawn: There's a translation of it?

she got into the researching thing, she learned how to fight, buffy didn't protect her AS much, she grew up in this season. she also had some good lines! this was the season where i grew to like her and she joined her fellow cast mates on my "Favorite Characters" list. :)

she's sort of immature in the other seasons!