I want Angel gone for a while. He needs to sort himself out this time, no Buffy holding his hand, no Cordy setting him on a path of good. He needs to do it alone, try and be a decent man, if he can't - then he can go sunbathing. 😀 And if he cries a lot and says it wasn't really him, boo hoo - Spike can stake him.
While he's off finding himself, it would be nice to see Connor take his place.
Buffy needs to be taken down a few notches actually. Enter Cordelia, tactless as ever and telling Buffy some home truths and basically telling her to get her sh*t together. No whinging over the fact her boyfriend went all killing spree again, she has a job to do, so do it.
The story should go back to the origins of the slayer, who put the scythe in the rock and who was that guardian woman who Caleb killed. Cordy being all higher being might know some stuff about this 😀. Screwing a new killer universe into existence wasn't Buffy at her best, I want a purpose for Buffy.
Xander's still cool. He can stay the same really 🙂. Faith needs to take Buffy's place for a bit, try and deal with the fall out and help out the best she can while Buffy is most likely catatonic or doing Angel or crying or doing Spike. 🙄
Dawn, I'm not so sure!? Just no centaur, giant, doll stuff. If they continue with Dander, maybe we need to see that Dawn is extraordinary without the big uber power stuff, like Xander said. A simple little story of her being watcher junior would make me happy.
Willow. I have no idea, I think she's going to be screwed over royally in season 9. I miss old Willow, I think we'll be seeing Dark Willow or gray Willow at least. 🙁