S7 thoughts.

[whitewolf]

I wasn't sure what to expect going into this because I'd heard some negative things about it, some people saying it was even worse than S4, but I really liked it. I think it was a great way to end the series. "Chosen" despite the horrible tactical choices was a great final episode The small band of heroes facing an unstoppable evil, the heroic sacrifice of a champion to save the world. I also liked how the victory wasn't permanent. The First was beaten, but not destroyed. The Sunnydale Hellmouth was gone, but there's another in Cleveland.

Buffy- I love Buffy, but I'm sorry she is not a great leader. She constantly berates her troops, leads them into disaster and her tactics are reckless at best and suicidal at worst. That being said she's a great character. Her "I'm cookie dough" speech made me smile.

Willow- I really enjoyed watching her overcome her fear of magic in this season. One thing I don't understand about her though is the hate for Kennedy. Don't get me wrong, I don't like her and I won't defend her like I do Dawn, but I just don't get the hate. I simply don't care about Kennedy. Seven seasons and Willow is still my favorite. Now every time I watch How I Met Your Mother I want to call Lilly Willow, despite the fact that I saw How I Met Your Mother First.

Dawn- I'll admit Dawn started off whiny, but I don't see how anyone could dislike her in this season. She wasn't whiny at all, she seemed very mature and brave. I loved how she tazed Xander in order to go back and help her sister. Oh and Xander's speech to her in "Potential" was heartwarming. Dawn may actually be in my top 5.

Giles- He's still right behind Willow. Granted, he really pissed me off with the kill Spike plan, but I'll forgive him. Sadly, he still didn't do all that much here besides avoid getting killed with the rest of the Watchers.

Andrew- I know I'm alone here, but I thought he was really funny throughout this season. The scene with him, Giles, and Xander playing DND had me laughing. Also, I disagree with the view that he is mentally ill. He didn't come across as someone who could not tell reality from fantasy, he came across as someone who did not want to tell the difference. When Buffy forced him to face the truth about murdering Johnathan he was able to do so. An insane person would not have been able to do that.

Xander- I really liked him in this season. He gave a lot for the cause and he really deserves more respect than I feel like he gets from the group at times. His speech to Dawn was beautiful and you can tell he really cares about her.

Spike- Every time he shows up I laugh. I just love watching him interact with the other characters. His death at the end would have been tragic if I didn't know he comes back in Angel.

Anya- I actually like her *chokes and coughs* I hated her for like 2 seasons, but she grew on me her. I loved her relapse into vengeance and her repentance. I liked how she died a hero, but I do feel like Xander didn't really seem all that torn up over it.

Overall, I loved this season and I loved this show. Going in I had no clue I would like it as much as I did. I just thought I would try an episode and see what it was about. I had no clue I'd come to care about these characters as much as I did. I'm sad to see it end, but at least I have the comics to get me my fix.

 

[tec]

Aside from Kennedy who I think is totaly wrong for Willow but thats going well into fanfic areas so we will leave that alone...

The one thing that bugs me about the final season... spoilers alert kiddies
Is fact Buffy still could not save Sunnydale in the end it was for nothing... after it was all said and done Buffy could not even save the town she set out to protect..maybe the pepole but the town its self witch was a character on the show just as any cast member.

 

[Ethan Reigns]

The people had already left Sunnydale, so it was not a case that all the people died - just the town collapsed into a sinkhole that was already there and had been a constant threat. Buffy contained the damage to Sunnydale and prevented the Turok-Han army from getting out. As you recall, Buffy wanted Angel to be part of a second containment zone in case she was not successful.

Buffy was originally the one slayer in all the world, so it could be expected that she had larger priorities than just the town where she was living.

 

[tec]

tell that to the graves of Joyice and Tara

 

[Tuppence]

I never get when people say they have a problem with Chosen. I mean season 7 was not my favourite season- I liked some episodes, and I liked one or two potentials, but otherwise it just wasn't my favourite. But as for the finale I think it was great- it really gave the audience the feeling of being part of the fight as it triggered memories from previous seasons, and the scene where all the potentials in the world become empowered was really uplifting and well...empowering. And really great metaphoryness for women realising their own potential and actually accessing it and using it.
And the fact we see that this huge huge thing that was going on may be over but it was a battle, not a war, and that there will always be more battles (in Cleveland for example. Or wherever) gave you that feeling that you weren't saying bye to the characters, but that they were finished with their journey in Sunnydale (where we, the audience, lived) and off on a new one.

I realise I may have rambled there and lost sight of my original point, so erm, sorry.

 

[Robb Stark]

I never get when people say they have a problem with Chosen. I mean season 7 was not my favourite season- I liked some episodes, and I liked one or two potentials, but otherwise it just wasn't my favourite. But as for the finale I think it was great- it really gave the audience the feeling of being part of the fight as it triggered memories from previous seasons, and the scene where all the potentials in the world become empowered was really uplifting and well...empowering. And really great metaphoryness for women realising their own potential and actually accessing it and using it.
And the fact we see that this huge huge thing that was going on may be over but it was a battle, not a war, and that there will always be more battles (in Cleveland for example. Or wherever) gave you that feeling that you weren't saying bye to the characters, but that they were finished with their journey in Sunnydale (where we, the audience, lived) and off on a new one.

I realise I may have rambled there and lost sight of my original point, so erm, sorry.

Don't worry, you didn't ramble 🙂. A lot of what you really rings true.

I really like "Chosen", but aside from a few truly awesome and transcendent moments that make it one of my favorites, it has problems. I mean, it doesn't make a whole lot of sense, and isn't the best written episode (however, I watched the commentary and Joss almost apologizes for it. He talked about how pressed they were and how the network gave them zero time to write it).

Metaphorically, "Chosen" is probably the best episode of either series (although I love "Not Fade Away"). It has a great message and like you said, wraps up the series brilliantly. All the characters (or my favorites at least) had satisfying endings that I was happy with. The way they concluded Buffy's final moments with Angel and Spike are some of the best stuff of the series.

The trouble I have with it, and I can ignore it and enjoy the episode, is that while the metaphor is great, they did it in a pretty horrible way. I mean, they spent seven seasons talking about how dangerous being a Slayer is, how it's a life filled with death and loss and tragedy. I mean, they explore that at length in Angel S5. Then Buffy and Willow turn every girl who could be into a Slayer? Huh? Not only was it totally unneeded from the standpoint of making sense within the episode, but it's just a pretty terrible thing to do to so many people, who never asked for that power. I mean, look at Dana in S5 of Angel.

But still, as a finale, it's an amazing episode. And the music rocks!

 

[The Thirst Evil]

I don't dislike this Season at all. It is probably my least favourite, but there are some real gems of episodes in there. Having recently done a Buffy/Angel re-watch, I went in to this Season remembering that it wasn't my favourite, and I actually enjoyed it more this time round than ever before. I didn't find myself getting bored by the arc like I usually do, I actually got into it which I think is a first.

Chosen is definitely, and always has been, one of my favourites and I think it brings the series to a nice finish.