Buffy ep by ep; rewatch and reviews

[saturn5]

TOUCHED
　
The Good;
Wonderful scene between Faith and The Mayor/First, so great to see him back. Buffy finally bests Caleb and some Buffy and Spike scenes to set the Spuffer's hearts aflutter. Oh and everyone has loads of sex
The Bad;
I know Spike's trapped in the mission but what about Andrew, surely he can pop out, get a paper? What does Caleb want with the scythe, what good is it to him? Surely the Scoobs must realise that the Bringer will tip off The First allowing it to set the trap?
Best line;
Buffy (tearfully); "I don't want to be the one" does she mean the Slayer or just alone?
but I do like;
Wood; (of The First) "It was just trying to find your Achilles heel"
Faith; "No it just talked to me. It does a heel thing too?" (once this Twilight business is over I think it's night classes for you my dear)
Women good/men bad;
Interestingly Caleb refers to 'brute strength' just before Buffy wipes the floor with him. It's a very female concept, he has strength and speed but she's agile and intuitive, able to anticipate his every move. Once again Buffy shows her strength as a general, playing to her strengths and turning his power to her advantage.
Jeez!;
Giles slits the Bringer's throat
Kinky dinky;
Xander and Anya have ice cream sex on the kitchen floor, Faith plays 'ride'em cowgirl' with Wood, him succumbing to her charms by saying "You're the leader"
Captain Subtext;
Buffy says that she and Spike were never close and he only wanted her as she was unattainable. But actually the sexless scene between her and Spike falling asleep in one another's arms is the closest they've ever been. Note both Faith and Wood lost their mother at a young age, his mother was a Slayer and now he has sex with one whilst her attraction to him has the same 'Electral' (is that how you put it?) elements as Buffy's. Kennedy says she's going to give Willow 'Screaming joy' and 'Unrestrained moaning'. Obviously thinks a lot of herself in the sack, maybe it's the pierced tongue? She also says she'll 'tether Willow down'. She must be pretty impressive as Xander and Anya can hear Willow moaning all the way down in the kitchen. A nice little moment between Faith and Giles when he praises her leadership, just as with Wes in the Angel-'souless'-arc, Watcher and Slayer finally as it always was intended to be (Faith and her daddy?). Faith says it's 'been a while' when she seduces Wood, implying since she's had sex or been with a man? Faith admits to Wood that Wilkins was like a father to her. Then she beds Wood, another older man authority figure with a dark side and possibly demonic essence.
Guantanamo Bay;
Torturing the captured Bringer and then Giles slitting his throat in cold blood.
Scoobies to the ER;
Missing scenes;
Apocalypses; 7,
Whedon Cliches (with kind permission from Boo)

Scoobies in bondage:
Buffy: 9
Giles: 4
Cordy: 5
Will: 4
Jenny: 1
Angel: 4
Oz: 1
Faith: 3
Joyce: 1
Wes: 1
Xander; 3
Dawn; 4
Spike; 4

Scoobies knocked out:
Buffy: 23
Giles: 12
Cordy: 6
Xander: 16
Will: 10
Jenny: 2
Angel: 6
Oz: 3
Faith: 1
Joyce: 3
Wes: 1
Anya;7
Dawn; 6
Tara; 1
Spike; 3
Kennedy; 1
Kills: 2 Bringers for Kennedy who seems the best fighter of all the Potentials by some way. Another Bringer for Giles and one each for Vi, Kennedy and Faith
Buffy: 125 vamps, 62 demons, 6 monsters, 10 humans, 1 werewolf, 1 spirit warrior & a robot
Giles: 8 vamps, 2 demons, 3 humans/1 god.
Will: 6 vamps + 3 demons +1 fawn+1 human.
Oz: 3 vamps, 1 zombie
Faith: 19 vamps, 6 demons, 4 humans.
Xander: 6 vamps, 2 zombies, 1½ a demon, 2 humans
Anya: 1 vamp and 1½ a demon
Riley; 18 vamps + 7 demons
Spike; 11 vamps and 7 demons+1 human
Buffybot; 2 vamps
Tara; 1 demon
Dawn; 1 vamp + 1 demon
Kennedy; 3 humans+1 vampire
Amanda; 1 vampire
Woods; 5 vamps and 2 demons
Vi; 1 human

Scoobies go evil:
Giles: 1
Cordy: 1
Will: 4
Jenny: 1
Angel: 1
Oz: 1
Joyce: 1
Xander: 4
Anya; 1
Dawn; 1
Buffy; 1
Spike; 1
Wood; 1

Alternate scoobies: possessed Andrew
Buffy: 8
Giles: 4
Cordy: 1
Will: 6
Jenny: 2
Angel: 3
Oz: 2
Joyce: 2
Xander: 4
Tara; 1
Dawn;1
Spike; 1
Anya; 2
Andrew; 1

Recurring characters killed: 16,
Jesse, Flutie, Jenny, Kendra, Larry, Snyder, Professor Walsh, Forrest, McNamara, Joyce, Katrina, Tara, Quentin Travers, Chloe, Molly, Jonathon.

Sunnydale deaths;
107

Total number of scoobies: 35 or so. Again, despite the house teeming with Potentials no Chao-Anh but Vi is back.
Xander, Buffy, Dawn, Willow, Anya, Spike, Giles, Kennedy, Vi, Rhona, Amanda, Chao-Anh, Wood, Andrew, Faith plus an indeterminate number of potentials.

Xander demon magnet: 6(7?)
Preying Mantis Lady, Inca Mummy Girl, Drusilla, VampWillow, Anya, Lissa (arguably Buffy & Faith with their demon essences?), Dracula?

Scoobies shot:
Giles: 2
Angel: 3
Oz: 4
Riley; 1
Buffy; 1
Tara; 1

Notches on Scooby bedpost: Faith beds Wood and Willow and Kennedy finally get it on
Giles: 2; Joyce & Olivia, possibly Jenny and 3xDraccy babes?
Buffy: 4 confirmed; Angel, Parker, Riley, Spike. 3 possible, Dracula+RJ+Shadowmen's demon(?)
Joyce: 1;Giles, 2 possible, Ted and Dracula(?)
Oz: 3; Groupie, Willow & Verucca
Faith:4 ;Xander, Riley, Bullwhip guy and Wood.
Xander: 2; Faith, Anya
Willow: 3;Oz, Tara and Kennedy
Riley; 3; Buffy, Sandy and unnamed vampwhore
Spike; 2 Buffy and Anya
Anya; 2 Spike and Xander
Kennedy; 1 Willow
Wood; 1 Faith
Dawn in peril; 14
Dawn the bashful virgin; 9
What the fanficcers thought;
None I can think off so here's a gratuitous picture of SMG in a red slingshot bikini [FONT=Arial][FONT=Arial]http://img251.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=67220_buffy463_122_19lo.jpg
[/FONT][/FONT]Questions and observations;
Amanda during the opening argument very reminiscent of Willow during Buffy's 'intervention' over Angel's return in Revalations (in fact Amanda AND Vi are very reminiscent of season 1 Willow in many ways). Dawn very much in the junior Watcher role now and seemingly a confidant for Giles (the closest thing to Buffy for him?). Buffy feels bad about how she's treated the gang saying she cut herself off and always did. Does the First tell the truth when it takes a form? Everything it says comes true just not in the way people think. What is Caleb's agenda? He wants to rid the world of sin yet allys himself with the First Evil? Or does he just want to destory humanity as he's so disgusted in them?The fight scenes very Matrix like, Buffy even doing Neo's backward flailing move. The First yearns to be able to touch once more, is that it's eternal punishment, to never be able to feel the flesh? To walk amongst the living yet not know life? Check out Xander's little turn to the camera as the rest are talking, for a moment you almost think he's going to turn traitor (like Wes in WITW)
Marks out of 10; 8/10

 

[Vendikarr]

What the fanficcers thought;
None I can think off so here's a gratuitous picture of SMG in a red slingshot bikini

LINK

Fixed that for you.

 

[Forbin]

Oh, those ain't her tits!

 

[AJBryant]

MY favorite thing is all of that "Buffy exiled from her house" bit was Spike's speech to the potentials and the Scoobies, calling them, essentially, ungrateful beeyotches.

 

[saturn5]

Oh, those ain't her tits!

No, I don't think they are but we can all dream
Yeah Spike's speech is a good scene but I have sympathy with the scoobs, they don't do this lightly. It obviously kills them inside, especially Dawn. For most of this season Buffy has all the faith in Spike, now Spike is showing his faith in Buffy.

As DarkWillow would say, 2 to go!

END OF DAYS
　
The Good;
Even the most ardent Spuffer must cheer at the sight of Angel's return.
The Bad;
The First says once the Hellmouth has opened it will enter all humanity. But wasn't it already there? DB's name in the opening credits, will they ever learn?
Best line;
Faith; "Thank god we're hot chicks with superpowers!"
Buffy; "Takes the edge off"
although I also like;
Caleb; (indicating the scythe) "Unless you can prise that out of solid rock" (Buffy effortlessly does just that) "Darn!"
Women good/men bad;
The Guardians have been looking out for Slayer all this time, protecting them from the male domination of the Watcher's Council (who in fairness do have female members?). Whilst it's fine for Angel to help Buffy out in her final battle with Caleb it's important that she defeats him herself, Buffy isn't the damsel who needs to be rescued, she's the heroine and she beats him on her own terms.
Jeez!;
Anya has the possibly the worst bedside manner ever. Also the poor potential being ripped apart by the Turok-Han and the Guardian's neck being broken.
Kinky dinky;
Willow comments that 'Scythe matters'. Do we count Caleb and the First as sex? Faith comments that Wood doesn't lack for stamina. Spike says that he and Buffy have done things he 'Can't even spell'.(considering how kinky Dru is that's really saying something!).
Captain Subtext;
Buffy seems more than a little upset that Faith has bedded Wood. Buffy remarks to Spike that she doesn't need him to be defensive and send mixed signals because 'I have Faith for that'.
Guantanamo Bay;
Scoobies to the ER;
Missing scenes;
Apocalypses; 7,
Whedon Cliches (with kind permission from Boo)

Scoobies in bondage:
Buffy: 9
Giles: 4
Cordy: 5
Will: 4
Jenny: 1
Angel: 4
Oz: 1
Faith: 3
Joyce: 1
Wes: 1
Xander; 3
Dawn; 4
Spike; 4

Scoobies knocked out: Faith by the explosion, Dawn by Xander then Xander by Dawn
Buffy: 23
Giles: 12
Cordy: 6
Xander: 17
Will: 10
Jenny: 2
Angel: 6
Oz: 3
Faith: 1
Joyce: 4
Wes: 1
Anya;7
Dawn; 7
Tara; 1
Spike; 3
Kennedy; 1
Kills: 3 Turok-Han for Buffy
Buffy: 128 vamps, 62 demons, 6 monsters, 10 humans, 1 werewolf, 1 spirit warrior & a robot
Giles: 8 vamps, 2 demons, 3 humans/1 god.
Will: 6 vamps + 3 demons +1 fawn+1 human.
Oz: 3 vamps, 1 zombie
Faith: 19 vamps, 6 demons, 4 humans.
Xander: 6 vamps, 2 zombies, 1½ a demon, 2 humans
Anya: 1 vamp and 1½ a demon
Riley; 18 vamps + 7 demons
Spike; 11 vamps and 7 demons+1 human
Buffybot; 2 vamps
Tara; 1 demon
Dawn; 1 vamp + 1 demon
Kennedy; 3 humans+1 vampire
Amanda; 1 vampire
Woods; 5 vamps and 2 demons
Vi; 1 human

Scoobies go evil:
Giles: 1
Cordy: 1
Will: 4
Jenny: 1
Angel: 1
Oz: 1
Joyce: 1
Xander: 4
Anya; 1
Dawn; 1
Buffy; 1
Spike; 1
Wood; 1

Alternate scoobies:
Buffy: 8
Giles: 4
Cordy: 1
Will: 6
Jenny: 2
Angel: 3
Oz: 2
Joyce: 2
Xander: 4
Tara; 1
Dawn;1
Spike; 1
Anya; 2
Andrew; 1

Recurring characters killed: 17, alas Miss Kitty Fantastico, we knew her. No wonder Dawn warned Kennedy about messing about with crossbows!
Jesse, Flutie, Jenny, Kendra, Larry, Snyder, Professor Walsh, Forrest, McNamara, Joyce, Katrina, Tara, Quentin Travers, Chloe, Molly, Miss Kitty, Jonathon

Sunnydale deaths; 3 potentials gone although none are recurring characters
110

Total number of scoobies: 35 or so.
Xander, Buffy, Dawn, Willow, Anya, Spike, Giles, Kennedy, Vi, Rhona, Amanda, Chao-Anh, Wood, Andrew, Faith plus an indeterminate number of potentials.

Xander demon magnet: 6(7?)
Preying Mantis Lady, Inca Mummy Girl, Drusilla, VampWillow, Anya, Lissa (arguably Buffy & Faith with their demon essences?), Dracula?

Scoobies shot:
Giles: 2
Angel: 3
Oz: 4
Riley; 1
Buffy; 1
Tara; 1

Notches on Scooby bedpost:
Giles: 2; Joyce & Olivia, possibly Jenny and 3xDraccy babes?
Buffy: 4 confirmed; Angel, Parker, Riley, Spike. 3 possible, Dracula+RJ+Shadowmen's demon(?)
Joyce: 1;Giles, 2 possible, Ted and Dracula(?)
Oz: 3; Groupie, Willow & Verucca
Faith:4 ;Xander, Riley, Bullwhip guy and Wood.
Xander: 2; Faith, Anya
Willow: 3;Oz, Tara and Kennedy
Riley; 3; Buffy, Sandy and unnamed vampwhore
Spike; 2 Buffy and Anya
Anya; 2 Spike and Xander
Kennedy; 1 Willow
Wood; 1 Faith
Dawn in peril; 14
Dawn the bashful virgin; 9
What the fanficcers thought;
Common theme in fic is that no matter what befalls the Slayers the Guardians are there to save them.
Questions and observations;
Spike mentions The Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch which Monty Python's Arthurian Knights used to finish off the killer rabbit. Bet Anya's a fan! Kennedy is quite the leader with Faith down for the count. For a little while you wonder if Xander is actually going to go evil, little looks and things he says like 'Guess so' when the others suggest going to help Faith. I wonder if the whole kidnap Dawn sequence was filmed out of series, that we were supposed to think he had turned evil? Anya comments that she never makes reckless wishes, certainly not with D'Hoffryn out to get her. Buffy says that she loves her friends but ultimately has to stay alone. Faith ventures that she and Buffy always clash because there's only meant to be one Slayer at any one time.
Wouldn't Xander want to take Anya with him if he's splitting town? The First as Joyce told Dawn when the end came Buffy wouldn't choose her and in a sense that's what happens here.
Spike says he's never been close to anyone, presumably not even Dru but then he didn't have a soul, he could only love 'Quite well'.
In her letter to Dawn Buffy tells her that 'Everything I do is for you', Dawn is the reason for the entire Buffyverse. For a moment at the end you think Spike is going to turn into Iago as he watches Buffy with Angel whilst being goaded by The First as Buffy (just as you thought Wes might in WITW when he sees Gunn and Fred). Is this where Spike finally realises that there's no future for him and Buffy? Despite all they mean to each other?
Marks out of 10; 9/10 would get that for Angel showing up alone!
Oh my god, this is nearly it, after 143 eps I'm nearly there, one more ep to go. Bottle of Bollinger Champagne waiting in the fridge which I shall drink as I watch it. Tonight's the night.

 

[WillsBabe]

Dawn is the reason for the entire Buffyverse.

God, I really hope not!

 

[saturn5]

Dawn is The Key, we all know it, the Dawnster rules

And so it ends....

CHOSEN

The Good;
All of it, it's all wonderful. If I was to select 2 scenes I would have to say Vi slapping Rhona and Dawn saving Xander.

The Bad;
None, too wonderful for that. Buffy's cookie dough analogy is silly but it's probably meant to be.

Best line;
I'm sorry if I'm a sucker but I just love shy little mouse Vi coming into her own;
Vi (slapping and shouting at a badly wounded Rhona to keep her conscious) "LOOK AT ME! THIS IS NOTHING! STAY AWAKE! THIS IS NOTHING!"
also like;
Dawn; (kicking Buffy on the shin for trying to send her away) "Dumbass"
Buffy; "If you get killed I'm telling!"
and one for the Spuffers (or not?)
Buffy; (to Spike) "I love you"
Spike; "No you don't. But thanks for saying it" (just as Cassie predicted)

Women good/men bad;
Buffy shares her and Faith's power with thousands of girls all over the world. The Shadowmen created only one Slayer so that they could control her. They can't do that any more. Especially like the battered fat girl standing up to her abuser and the little girl on the baseball plate flooded with confidence replacing her nerves.

Jeez!;
Caleb has to split. And may God have mercy on his soul if he has the stomach! Love the spray of blood, very graphic. Speaking of blood the girls cut their palms again which seems a common thing on Joss' shows.

Kinky dinky;
Faith thinks all men think of her purely in a sexual way. Wood says he wasn't impressed by her sexual performance which outrages her but I suspect he's just teasing to get a rise out of her and try to reach her emotionally. Buffy suggests that Spike and Angel settle their differences with a wrestling match and that some form of oil could be involved, an idea that get's her visibly aroused. When Buffy is making her cookie dough analogy she says she's looking for someone to "Eat m...enjoy me". Joss in his commentary speaks of avoiding portraying Buffy as the 'slut queen of sluttonia' by not being able to choose between Angel and Spike. Is that why in the comics she fantasises about being dressed as a sexy nurse and chained between a naked Spike and Angel? Joss says we had no more Buffy/Spike sex in season 7 because he didn't want his heroine to willingly have sex with her rapist (but Tara arguably did?). Who are Luke and Laura?
Faith refers to sex as 'Getting bouncey'. She know's she's hot and thinks she has 'mad' sex skills. She offers herself to Wood who actually turns her down just as Wilkins did. And maybe it's at this point that she thinks he might be a keeper, a man who just doesn't think about her just sexually?

Captain Subtext;
Plenty of jealousy for Angel over Buffy and Spike even if Buffy states categorically that Spike is not her boyfriend (good thing she didn't go into detail about her and Spike getting to fifth base that time on the balcony at the Bronze). Faith's low opinion of men suggests she may be better off with female partners. Spike seems a little too quick to agree to Buffy's idea of Angel and him oil-wrestling. Wood thinks he's pretty which is a weird thing to say. Wounded Buffy handing the scythe to Faith finally settles everything between them. It actually gets passed around between the Slayers which is a nice metaphor. Spike compares himself to Liz Taylor.
Spike dreams of 'Drowning in shoes'. Buffy later says she craves shoes and Spike will later move to LA where as CC commented there are a huge number of shoes.

Guantanamo Bay;
Xander suggests Anya uses Andrew as a human shield

Scoobies to the ER;
Rhona and Wood badly hurt

Missing scenes;
Again to judge by Joss' commentary loads of extra footage left over. Would especially have liked to have seen Buffy's nostalgic walk through the school.

Apocalypses; 7,

Whedon Cliches (with kind permission from Boo)

Scoobies in bondage:
Buffy: 9
Giles: 4
Cordy: 5
Will: 4
Jenny: 1
Angel: 4
Oz: 1
Faith: 3
Joyce: 1
Wes: 1
Xander; 3
Dawn; 4
Spike; 4

Scoobies knocked out: Angel, must add that to his total in my Angel reviews
Buffy: 23
Giles: 12
Cordy: 6
Xander: 17
Will: 10
Jenny: 2
Angel: 7
Oz: 3
Faith: 1
Joyce: 4
Wes: 1
Anya;7
Dawn; 7
Tara; 1
Spike; 3
Kennedy; 1

Kills: Buffy kills Caleb, good for her! I'll give every Slayer 5 vamps and rest 3 kills
Buffy: 133 vamps, 62 demons, 6 monsters, 11 humans, , 1 spirit warrior & a robot- so this gives Buffy 215 kills in all
Giles: 10 vamps, 2 demons, 4 humans/1 god- so 16 kills for Giles
Will: 6 vamps + 3 demons +1 fawn+1 human-11 kills
Oz: 3 vamps, 1 werewolf, 1 zombie- 5 kills
Faith: 24 vamps, 6 demons, 4 humans- 34 kills
Xander: 8 vamps, 2 zombies, 1½ a demon, 3 humans-15 kills Anya: 2 vamp and 1½ a demon+1 human-5kills
Riley; 18 vamps + 7 demons-25 kills
Spike; 16 vamps and 7 demons+1 human-24 kills
Buffybot; 2 vamps
Tara; 1 demon
Dawn; 4 vamps + 1 demon- 5 kills
Kennedy; 3 humans+6 vampires-9 kills
Amanda; 6 vampires
Woods; 8 vamps and 2 demons-10 kills
Vi; 1 human+5 vamps- 6 kills

Scoobies go evil:
Giles: 1
Cordy: 1
Will: 4
Jenny: 1
Angel: 1
Oz: 1
Joyce: 1
Xander: 4
Anya; 1
Dawn; 1
Buffy; 1
Spike; 1
Wood; 1

Alternate scoobies:
Buffy: 8
Giles: 4
Cordy: 1
Will: 6
Jenny: 2
Angel: 3
Oz: 2
Joyce: 2
Xander: 4
Tara; 1
Dawn;1
Spike; 1
Anya; 2
Andrew; 1

Recurring characters killed: 19-goodbye Amanda, by far my favourite of the Potentials, loved her to bits. And goodbye Anya, a bit character in season 3 who became a huge part of the Buffyverse. I think Joss realised the fans would never forgive him if he killed any of the core four (Buffy, Will, Xander and Giles)or Faith and if Dawn died it would be no victory for Buffy. We expect Wood or Andrew to die but instead he defies our expectations and kills Amanda who we were starting to love and Anya whom we already did, we had to pay some price for victory. I always wondered if Rhona made it until she turns up in the comics. Chao Anh does make it, you can see her walking around beside the bus at the end, don't know about Criadad (the Potential from Xander's threesome fantasy who re-occurs in a couple of other eps).
Frankly I think everyone could have died and it would still have been a victory as long as Dawn made it, that would still mean the good guys won. But I'm so glad that Buffy and Dawn get to walk off into the sunset hand-in-hand with most of their Scooby friends/family following.
In total this means on Buffy we lose one regular or recurring character killed every 8 eps or so, I'm not sure if any other show was ever so ruthless in killing off it's main cast. To all those who played their part and gave their lives for the greater good and those they loved.
Jesse, Flutie, Jenny, Kendra, Larry, Snyder, Professor Walsh, Forrest, McNamara, Joyce, Katrina, Tara, Quentin Travers, Chloe, Molly, Jonathon, Miss Kitty, Amanda, Anya
And as for Spike...?


Sunnydale deaths; about 20 potentials plus Anya.
130

Total number of scoobies: The first refers to 30 potentials so I figure about Scoobs 20 left?
Xander, Buffy, Dawn, Willow, Giles, Kennedy, Vi, Rhona(?), Chao-Anh, Wood, Andrew, Faith plus an indeterminate number of potentials (not including the new Slayer legion).
Personally much as I love Tara and Dawn I think my favourite line up of scoobies was that which we see in Bad Girls/Consequences-Buffy, Giles, Xander, Willow, Oz, Cordy, Angel, Faith and Wes. Over the 7 seasons we have Jenny, Anya and Tara all die, Oz, Riley, Cordy, Wes and Angel leave of their own accord, Spike, Andrew, Wood, Dawn plus Kennedy, Chao Anh, Vi, Rhona etc join to replace them whilst Willow, Giles and Faith (and arguably Buffy herself between seasons 2-3) leave then rejoin later.

Xander demon magnet: 6(7?)
Preying Mantis Lady, Inca Mummy Girl, Drusilla, VampWillow, Anya, Lissa (arguably Buffy & Faith with their demon essences?), Dracula?

Scoobies shot:
Giles: 2
Angel: 3
Oz: 4
Riley; 1
Buffy; 1
Tara; 1

Notches on Scooby bedpost:
Giles: 2; Joyce & Olivia, possibly Jenny and 3xDraccy babes?
Buffy: 4 confirmed; Angel, Parker, Riley, Spike. 3 possible, Dracula+RJ+Shadowmen's demon(?)
Joyce: 1;Giles, 2 possible, Ted and Dracula(?)
Oz: 3; Groupie, Willow & Verucca
Faith:4 ;Xander, Riley, Bullwhip guy and Wood.
Xander: 2; Faith, Anya
Willow: 3;Oz, Tara and Kennedy
Riley; 3; Buffy, Sandy and unnamed vampwhore
Spike; 2 Buffy and Anya
Anya; 2 Spike and Xander
Kennedy; 1 Willow
Wood; 1 Faith

Dawn in peril; 14

Dawn the bashful virgin; 10 finally gets what Willow means about Kennedy's pierced tongue.

What the fanficcers thought;
Some great stuff here. Lovely one where after the final battle Dawn finds the letter Amanda left for her, telling her that she loved her, that Dawn is to have a long and happy life and that Amanda will wait for her in heaven. It ends with Dawn kissing the letter then setting it on fire, explaining to a baffled Faith that it's the only way she could think off to get her kiss to Amanda. http://www.fanfiction.net/s/3019594/1/The_Circle
If you like your fic a bit more adult there's a good one where Xander is lying in bed mourning the loss of Anya in the final battle but Buffy, Faith, Dawn, Willow and Kennedy all join him for some group sex to make him feel better. Then Willow slips him some magical viagra and the fun really begins! http://www.t-s-s-a.com/stories/show-story.php?story=Buffy-WhyDoWeWriteThis09.txt
All time favourite has to be The Last Scooby where an elderly Dawn is the last survivor of the Sunnydale gang, a contented grandmother surrounded by her numerous, loving family. She dies in her sleep and is reunited with Buffy, Joyce and everyone she ever loved in heaven, everyone young and beautiful again and in each other's embrace forever. But is she the last Scooby? Who is the white-haired, immortal witch crying tears of sorrow and joy over Dawn's peaceful body? http://www.fanfiction.net/s/3111892/1/The_Last_Scooby
Also a nice one speculating where the actors will be ten years after the show, James Marsters having joined a monastery, Emma Caulfield in prison, Michelle Tractenberg a presidential contender with Britney Spears as her running mate, Amber Benson on CSI;Nebraska etc http://www.fanfiction.net/s/3111782/1/Where_are_they_now
And if you ever need a happy ending to any darkfic you've ever read; http://www.fanfiction.net/s/4643199/1/The_Rape_of_Buffy (don't be fooled by the title)

Questions and observations;
There's another (presumably inactive) Hellmouth in Cleveland which is where Buffy was based in the alternate reality in The Wish. Did WR&H wish to not only defeat the First but trap Spike in case he's the vamp with the soul their prophecy speaks off? But Lindsey got there first.
Dawn refers to herself as Watcher Junior. Joss was going to bring Tara back? The new SDH is rather a bland building compared to the old. Despite all his self-doubt over the years Buffy entrusts Xander with Dawn, the most precious thing in the world to her.
The Turok-Han seem a lot easier to kill now but maybe the first ones were their killer elite and maybe the scythe has given the Slayers an extra power boost. That may also be why Buffy can laugh off her sword wound. The baseball girl is SOOOO young, I thought Slayers at least waited until they were in their teens. The First mentions Joyce when goading Buffy at the end giving her the strength to fight back. The music is very Last of the Mohicans.
So when the Turok-Han outnumber humanity the First will be made flesh? They'll be a long way to go with a few 10,000s of them and 6 billion of us. With nukes...
When Buffy and Spike hold hands and their fingers catch fire it's reminiscent of their discussion of love in season 6 when she dumps him, she tells him that their love would burn until there was nothing left. But Buffy finally breaks away here from their destructive love and goes off to see the world, the endless road ahead which Buffy looks down after the bus stops then looks back at the crater as the Sunnydale sign falls into the wreckage. For the past is history and the future promises great things for them all.
How lovely that the last words we ever hear spoken on Buffy are by our wonderful Dawn.
So Buffy defeats the First Evil, destroys the Hellmouth and shares her power with thousands of girls all over the world, forming a Slayer army to annihilate the forces of darkness. She and Faith can now share the evil fighting responsibilities and look forward to having grandchildren and dying in their beds as happy old ladies. She smiles her enigmatic, hopeful little smile...
OR
Buffy has destroyed Sunnydale and defeated her demons, sealing the Hellmouth forever, sharing her power with thousands of girls, overcoming herself in the form of the First. Faith tells her from now on she has to live like an ordinary person. "What are we going to do now Buffy?" asks Dawn. Buffy smiles her enigmatic little smile...
...and wakes up in the asylum we see her in during Normal Again, her sanity restored after 7 years. To Hank and Joyce's delight she embraces her normal existence once more, struck by how much her imaginary Sunnydale Scoobies closely resemble her friends from Hemery High, all of whom are still alive as the events of the Buffy movie were all part of her fantasy. She enjoys a long, happy, successful life, writing a series of bestselling fantasy books/TV shows/movies based on her delusion. And calls her children (and Hank and Joyce's beloved grandchildren), Dawn, Rupert, Faith, Willow and Alexander.
Either way she makes it, our girl makes it, good for her!

Marks out of 10; 10/10, the fantastic last ep of the best television series ever. We shall never see it's like again
So fond farewell to Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Went to see the original film all the way back in 1992. Came back to the series in 1997 at a very low ebb in my life. Since then things have got a lot better but this wonderful series has got me through a lot of tough times, whatever happens in life to be able to come home and stick a Buffy VHS/DVD on has made it all better. So goodbye to the Scoobys who all lived happily ever after and gave me great inspiration, it's been an indescribable pleasure.
At the end Joss thanks us for watching his show. No Joss, thank you for making it.[FONT=Arial][FONT=Arial] And thank you everyone here for discussing it with me, it's been a real pleasure
[/FONT][/FONT]

 

[WillsBabe]

How lovely that the last words we ever hear spoken on Buffy are by our wonderful Dawn.

Now I know you're kidding!

saturn, I've really enjoyed reading your reviews. It's fair to say that your view of Buffy hasn't really meshed with my own at all, but I've enjoyed seeing your take on the show. Thanks for all your hard work, entertainment and titbits of info.

 

[Forbin]

Who are Luke and Laura?

A couple on an American soap opera. Famous for a tempestuous relationship, and I remember a huge fuss in the media when they got married on the show. I can't even remember which show, though.

 

[Forbin]

One thing I truly hated about Chosen was Anya's death. Wham bam, blink and you miss it. And Xander's reaction? A sad smile and a "that's my girl."

!!!!!

She deserved a little more than that after all these years. More screen time for the death scene, and a better reaction from the man who loved her.

 

[C_Miller]

I didn't like Chosen. I always have felt that a good finale is a summation of the entire series. Next Generation, DS9, Lost, Serenity and shows like that ended with a deep sense of scope, looking back how far they had come and got to the heart of the core themes of the show. I think this covered her back and forth with being the chosen one, but that was never, for me, the main focus of the show. It was how lonely it can be being the chosen one if you let it. After a season of falling out with Giles, Xander, Willow and the rest of her friends, there was little to no resolve and what little we got was horribly weak after building that relationship for seven years.

This may have been a good ending for the season, but nothing will ever come as close to the last two episodes of Season five for a Buffy finale.

And I didn't really like the Buffy/Spike thing, so that probably sours me on the last two seasons.

 

[WillsBabe]

Who are Luke and Laura?

A couple on an American soap opera. Famous for a tempestuous relationship, and I remember a huge fuss in the media when they got married on the show. I can't even remember which show, though.

General Hospital. Laura is played by Jonathan Frakes' wife.

 

[Skellington]

END OF DAYS
　
[/U]The Good;
Even the most ardent Spuffer must cheer at the sight of Angel's return.

Nah, I think that the most ardent Spuffer said something about Angel being bloody stupid and his hair going straight up.

Screencaps.

 

[Skellington]

CHOSEN.

Lo-res and slightly higher res screenshots.

 

[saturn5]

How lovely that the last words we ever hear spoken on Buffy are by our wonderful Dawn.

Now I know you're kidding!

saturn, I've really enjoyed reading your reviews. It's fair to say that your view of Buffy hasn't really meshed with my own at all, but I've enjoyed seeing your take on the show. Thanks for all your hard work, entertainment and titbits of info.

Thanks you're too kind and it's been my pleasure. As for Anya, well they had to kill someone and Anya and Amanda were probably the most expendable. I don't think it's glossed over, the final scene where Andrew lies to console Xander for his loss is truly moving.
And no, Chosen is the perfect ending, would you really want the heartbreak of Buffy dying and poor Dawn losing her mother and sister within six weeks of one another. Or would you have the wonderful victory we have here?
Ok, everyone join me over on the Angel thread for season 5

 

[McCoy]

It would have been better to keep Anya alive and have Dawn die. Buffy's last sacrifice.

 

[C_Miller]

How lovely that the last words we ever hear spoken on Buffy are by our wonderful Dawn.

Now I know you're kidding!

saturn, I've really enjoyed reading your reviews. It's fair to say that your view of Buffy hasn't really meshed with my own at all, but I've enjoyed seeing your take on the show. Thanks for all your hard work, entertainment and titbits of info.

Thanks you're too kind and it's been my pleasure. As for Anya, well they had to kill someone and Anya and Amanda were probably the most expendable. I don't think it's glossed over, the final scene where Andrew lies to console Xander for his loss is truly moving.
And no, Chosen is the perfect ending, would you really want the heartbreak of Buffy dying and poor Dawn losing her mother and sister within six weeks of one another. Or would you have the wonderful victory we have here?
Ok, everyone join me over on the Angel thread for season 5

In the end, I'd rather have a story that ties up the actual show, not just the season. Would it have been sad if Buffy died? Of course (I didn't hate the character of Buffy yet), but they aren't real people. If Buffy had to die for the show to end, respecting everything that had been built up before, then so be it.

 

[saturn5]

It would have been better to keep Anya alive and have Dawn die. Buffy's last sacrifice.

Buffy's sacrificed more than enough, if Dawn had died it would have been no victory for Buffy. Buffy has already died twice, let's let her and Dawnie walk off hand in hand into the sunset in triumph and happiness

 

[C_Miller]

I also felt the amulet was a deus ex machina ending and was way too convient. And unlike the ending of Innocence, this wasn't poking fun at a cliche. A priorly unknown tool that pops up in the last episode and is the only thing that can beat the big bad, is just bad story telling. Surprising that Whedon wrote the episode himself. He's usually the master of combating cliches.

 

[Forbin]

^Agreed. That bugged the hell outta me too.