Buffy Ending VS Angel Ending

[AmongFriends]

"Chosen" vs. "Not Fade Away"

Which series finale did you like better? Which one of the two did you think tied up the series better, completed story arcs and themes, and was the funnest to watch?


Personally, I liked "Not Fade Away" better as a series finale which is rather ironic since it had less time to be prepared as a series finale than "Chosen." NFA felt very epic and I liked how there were several casualties on Team Angel. Also, great moments like Wesley's death, Fred's return, Connor and Angel fighting side by side, Spike's poetry reading, etc. Also, the last shot of the series for Angel was great. "Let's go to work. *clang*" Awesome. I'm not saying I didn't like "Chosen." I just liked NFA more.

 

[November]

I liked Chosen better. I think it wrapped it up nicely but still left it open for a continuation of the series. Not Fade Away was too cliffhangerish for me. Plus I liked the music on Chosen better 😛

 

[Cohen]

Chosen had WAY more ties tied than NFA did. For the very reason that they HAD more time to prepare a series finale. Everything went full circle in Buffy. Which, okay, was the point of that season, unlike Angel.

 

[LittleMissLikesToFight]

Chosen. Wesley died like a punk in Not Fade Away, and that upset me.

Also, everyone talks of Not Fade Away as a cliffhanger, but in the commentary (was it greenwalt who did that commentary?) it was stated it was NOT a cliffhanger, but more that the gang went out doing what they always were doing, fighting, and that this was the moral of the whole show, to always fight no matter what.

 

[LorneyTunes]

Chosen partly because of the great scenes and sunnydale sinking . I hated it because Amanda and Anya died.

I loved it because of the build up, willows neat spell, Faith and Buffy working together it was great ! The school was trashed *hands up who liked seeing that *
It was just so emotional I loved it.

Not fade away made me angry, Lorne killing Lindsey was there any need for that ! Wesley dying! Fred not really being there! What happened to Eve I want to know ! There wasn't enough Spike lol
The ending wanted me to see more ! Made me ansy x

 

[white avenger]

I preferred the ending in "Chosen" better than that in "Not Fade Away" because, to me at least, it left more open and more promise for a sequel/follow up/story continuation. Everyone was standing around congratulating themselves on defeating the First Evil, closing the hellmouth, and making plans to start tracking down the newly activated Slayers. Faith is telling Buggy that, now at last, she, they ALL, could slow down a bit. Start living like real people. Then the camera pans in for a closeup of Buffy's face, and that slow, almost sly, grin begins to spread. It's almost like she's sharing the moment and the joke with the audience. The joke that all of the others haven't become aware of yet. Nothing's over, nothing's settled. It's really just starting all over again, but on a much grander scale. That grin has been interpreted probably a dozen ways or more, to mean everything from "Oh, yes, she's going to finally get to go and be with Angel..." to "OH, YES. I CAN FINALLY REST!" and, "Thank you Spike. You saved us all. Now, my love, you, WE, can finally, really, rest." To me, it was just Buffy telling the folks on the other side of the tv screen, "Hold on, folks. You ain't seen NOTHING yet!"

"Not Fade Away," however, put me more in mind of "The Alamo," or "The 300 Spartans." (Not "300," it hadn't been made yet) "Lets go to work." The defenders, battered, bruised, and bleeding, were facing the final charge. Fists and fangs, blood and guts, fighting to the last man (or hell god). It was an ending that was the stuff of legends, a tale to tell from generation to generation, but it was AN ENDING, or at least moments away from one. No hope, no escape. Close the curtains, bring down the lights. "T-T-T-That's All Folks!" "After The Fall" is a cop out. Joss put Angel and what was left of his crew in an unwinnable situation, then came back with the lamest of excuses for their survival: In those few last seconds, Angel established some sort of bond with a dragon who then turned on its former friends and incinerated them out of love and devotion to Angel. (Maybe they had a better explanation, but the dog ate it, so they had to make do with Plan B)

"Not Fade Away" was Angel's Last Stand, regardless of what Joss might have said later. "Chosen" ended with the promise that there was plenty of action left to come. That's why I preferred it.

 

[Crazy Flakes]

As an episode, I liked Not Fade Away better. As a finale, I liked Chosen better.

Not Fade Away was just a terrific episode. In fact, I'd even say it was one of the best of all time. I loved the build-up to the moment where they faced the Circle of the Black Thorn's army, I loved the moment where Angel signed away the Shanshu, I loved how they chose to spend their last days, and, as much as I hated the writers' decision to kill Wesley, I loved the way he died in "Fred's" arms. Really, the whole episode was just intense in the best way possible.

Still, the end didn't leave me feeling like the show was finished, and not just because of the cliffhanger at the end (in fact, I kind of liked the cliffhanger.) It's just that there were so many loose ends they still needed to tie up, possibly because they had clearly tried to build up as much suspense as they could in a very small time period and in their rush, failed to resolve a lot of things. Now that I think about it, even if Buffy had ended with The Gift, I would have felt like it was a better way to end the series than Not Fade Away.

As for Chosen, even though it certainly wasn't my favorite episode, it was a perfect way to close the series. The music gave me chills, the "are you ready to be strong?" speech fit perfectly (even though it was really upping the episode's cheese factor), the fight was nothing short of epic...everything just came together very nicely and, even though I felt like the series was wrapped up with a nice little bow, I knew they still had a lot more stories to tell. The only thing that really upset me was Anya's death, which was even more pointless than Wesley's and obviously wasn't as well-done.

 

[Frketson]

As an episode, I liked Not Fade Away better. As a finale, I liked Chosen better.

Not Fade Away was just a terrific episode. In fact, I'd even say it was one of the best of all time. I loved the build-up to the moment where they faced the Circle of the Black Thorn's army, I loved the moment where Angel signed away the Shanshu, I loved how they chose to spend their last days, and, as much as I hated the writers' decision to kill Wesley, I loved the way he died in "Fred's" arms. Really, the whole episode was just intense in the best way possible.

Still, the end didn't leave me feeling like the show was finished, and not just because of the cliffhanger at the end (in fact, I kind of liked the cliffhanger.) It's just that there were so many loose ends they still needed to tie up, possibly because they had clearly tried to build up as much suspense as they could in a very small time period and in their rush, failed to resolve a lot of things. Now that I think about it, even if Buffy had ended with The Gift, I would have felt like it was a better way to end the series than Not Fade Away.

As for Chosen, even though it certainly wasn't my favorite episode, it was a perfect way to close the series. The music gave me chills, the "are you ready to be strong?" speech fit perfectly (even though it was really upping the episode's cheese factor), the fight was nothing short of epic...everything just came together very nicely and, even though I felt like the series was wrapped up with a nice little bow, I knew they still had a lot more stories to tell. The only thing that really upset me was Anya's death, which was even more pointless than Wesley's and obviously wasn't as well-done.

it was alexis denisof's choice to kill off Wesley, not the writers.

Still i agree with you, NFA was a fantastic episode but Chosen definately tied everything together much better.

 

[Cohen]

The only thing that really upset me was Anya's death, which was even more pointless than Wesley's and obviously wasn't as well-done.

Anya was gonna die regardless. It was Emma's choice for season 7 to be her last. And it had a point. That war is war, and not everyone makes it out alive--no matter how much you love them. Joss took a beloved character and ended it during the war. It made perfect sense. Especially in the non-epic way she died.

 

[LadyLavinia]

Which series finale did you like better? Which one of the two did you think tied up the series better, completed story arcs and themes, and was the funnest to watch?


Personally, I liked "Not Fade Away" better as a series finale which is rather ironic since it had less time to be prepared as a series finale than "Chosen." NFA felt very epic and I liked how there were several casualties on Team Angel. Also, great moments like Wesley's death, Fred's return, Connor and Angel fighting side by side, Spike's poetry reading, etc. Also, the last shot of the series for Angel was great. "Let's go to work. *clang*" Awesome. I'm not saying I didn't like "Chosen." I just liked NFA more.

I liked "Chosen" better. Angel's choices in "Not Fade Away" and the episodes that led to it merely pissed me off.

 

[Buffyverse Fan]

Which series finale did you like better? Which one of the two did you think tied up the series better, completed story arcs and themes, and was the funnest to watch?


Personally, I liked "Not Fade Away" better as a series finale which is rather ironic since it had less time to be prepared as a series finale than "Chosen." NFA felt very epic and I liked how there were several casualties on Team Angel. Also, great moments like Wesley's death, Fred's return, Connor and Angel fighting side by side, Spike's poetry reading, etc. Also, the last shot of the series for Angel was great. "Let's go to work. *clang*" Awesome. I'm not saying I didn't like "Chosen." I just liked NFA more.

Neither were funny at all.

Which one tied up the series better?
"Chosen," hands down. Joss & David said that "Not Fade Away" wasn't meant to tie up anything and that whoever expected it to is a moron. They've said that the point of Angel is that his fight is never ending and that he'll always outlive his friends, "Not Fade Away" personified that.

That being said, personally, I like the tying up loose ends finales, so I liked Chosen better. First of all, Chosen showed the epic battle, where we first saw the true, canon epic battle two days ago from Angel.

Chosen also gave Buffy a pretty happy ending, where NFA saw the fourth out of his seven friends die.

 

[AmongFriends]

Neither were funny at all.

Which one tied up the series better?
"Chosen," hands down. Joss & David said that "Not Fade Away" wasn't meant to tie up anything and that whoever expected it to is a moron. They've said that the point of Angel is that his fight is never ending and that he'll always outlive his friends, "Not Fade Away" personified that.

That being said, personally, I like the tying up loose ends finales, so I liked Chosen better. First of all, Chosen showed the epic battle, where we first saw the true, canon epic battle two days ago from Angel.

Chosen also gave Buffy a pretty happy ending, where NFA saw the fourth out of his seven friends die.

I agree with the Chosen points. but there were so many great character moments in NFA. It felt like it was going to be the end for Team Angel. How everyone spent their last free day before the attack was very sad. Spike finally reading his poem and instead of laughs, he gets applause. Gunn spending time helping people. Angel seeing his son for the last time. It didn't wrap up the series as much as Chosen did but Chosen had a year to do so. NFA reiterated its theme about never stop fighting and that's why I liked it more.

 

[Urgent Power]

I hate ending! While I liked Chosen better (because I like Buffy better), I could let Angel rest in peace, while with Buffy it was sadder for me. It was really the end, it felt like it. Chosen affected me more.

 

[Shayla]

As an ending I liked Chosen more. Mostley because it felt like an ending.
Whereas after watching NFA I was mostly pissed, and something like 'wheres the rest?" was going through my mind.

 

[anyatara]

Chosen, hands down. I like a series finale to be emotional yet uplifting at the same time (If that's possible.) and Chosen did that for me. Whereas Not Fade Away was amazing, I just made me really sad. And didn't have enough closure for me. I mean, sure, they continued it in the comics, but I didn't like how it was ended BEFORE the fight. I loved both episodes, though. 🙂

 

[Uncle Rory]

I have to side with the "Chosen" faction on this one. Not only was Chosen a great conclusion to the arcs they had been working on all season, it also kind of wrapped up elements that had always been in play since the very beginning.

Not Fade Away and the previous ep were a two part arc that had a few details from earlier in the season thrown in to conclude things. It was awesome and only gets better with time. I didn't think of it as a cliff-hanger either, I just figured everybody died and after reading the After the Fall comics I really wish they had just left it alone. The Spike poetry reading is possibly the best Spike moment EVER - there are a bunch of great moments but Chosen just had a little more going on.

The thing about these two eps that I really like is that you know it's the last episode of both shows, you know they have to end big but there are some very long scenes that don't seem necessary and some long shots with little dialogue, as if they are trying to slow the pace which is builds a hell of a lot of tension.

Uncle Rory

 

[Buhbi]

I have just finished watching "Not fade away" for the first time ever, and have to say I'm both impressed but also disappointed in the episode. Compared to Buffy's "chosen", IMO Angel's final episode had a lot of things that annoyed me.
So I decided to kind of brainstorm a list of the pro's and con's of both Buffy and Angel endings and to see if anyone else shares my pain and happiness 😛

"Not fade away":
Pro's:
- Illyria was a highlight for me, the scene between her and Wesley was very beautiful and well done, plus the awesome head smashing afterwards 😛
- Connor! Possibly the one scene with Connor knowing Angel is his dad, and being nice to him lol
- I liked seeing Lindsey back for the last fight
- The cleverness of Angel (spiking the demons drink)
- The swarm of monsters at the end, looked pretty awesome and epic.
- The cute, "sacrid vessle thingy" baby lol

Con's:
- I didn't like the Harmony/Hamilton twist, I was starting to like Harmony and then I hated her again lol
- Wesley dying (Although it was very well done), but he could have survived, hes been stabbed before
- Lorne never coming back, and the last scene with him was killing Lindsey :-(
- Knowing Gunn was gunna die, that really made me sad, because at least in Buffy they still had the originals left and some closure. But with Angel, everyone was dead except him Spike and Illyria, and there was just no closure for me.

"Chosen":
Pro's:
- SPUFFY! =P
- Awesome massive fight scene
- Potentials all over the world becoming strong
- Beautiful Willow
- The possibility of Faith/Robin
- Andrew still managing to make us laugh in the middle of a fight scene
- Closure

Con's
- Spike dying :-(
- Anya dying and never being found :-(
- Spike, Anya and fellow potentials not getting enough gratitute for dying in battle

Sorry I cant think of more, but feel free to add some more 🙂 This is just my opinon of course =P

 

[white avenger]

I liked the ending of "Chosen" more than "Not Fade Away," because it was a conclusion. The battle was over, victory, of a sort at least, had been achieved, and there was the assurance of a new adventure about to begin, even if, at that time, we were never to see it.

On the other hand, I hate cliffhangers, and, despite what Joss always claimed, "Not Fade Away" most certainly DID end in a cliffhanger. To me, the only reason for a story to end that way is because the writers just couldn't figure out a proper ending. Sure, I had all kinds of fun speculating on just how I would have ended it if it had been me, but I still would have preferred to see just how Angel and his crew REALLY got out of that alley, even though, frankly, I prefer my ending to how the comic books managed, or more accurately, AVOIDED, any kind of logical ending.

 

[clemsgirlfriend]

I liked the ending of not fade away, but never thought of it as a cliffhanger. To me, it felt like a statement that we never stop fighting (kind of like Buffy's comment to Angel in Amends - 'fighting is hard, and it's painful, and it's every day'). So i kind of took away from that they these characters will keep fighting against the forces of evil for as long as they live (or unlive). That, to me, was the conclusion of what happens to them all. But i can understand the comment of not knowing when they will die, but i saw that as similar to the uncertainty in Buffy of not knowing what they will do immediately next.

I did enjoy both of the episodes, and thought that they were good series endings. (Haven't yet read the comics but plan to do so eventually.)

 

[Buffyverse Fan]

"Not Fade Away" was a finale not an ending. NFA didn't conclude anything at all because Joss, Fury & Bell said that Angel's fight is never ending.

"Chosen" was a finale & an ending since it concluded the entire Hellmouth situation which was the focal point of the series more or less.