Kennedy should've been eaten by Gnarl, or at the very least get a few nibbles taken out of her before the group saves her, at which point Kennedy drops the arrogant self-centred attitude and isn't such an entitled bitch.
I don't mind the concept of Angel and Cordy - 2 lonely, slightly damaged people coming together to find comfort, but dont think it was written very well.
I generally agree, however Cordy's Sunnydale history kind of puts this into a no go zone for me. She was there for the whole Angelus saga, she knows that Buffy gave Angel a moment of perfect happiness. Either Cordy willingly runs the risk of Angelus coming out to play again or she has to accept that she will never make Angel as happy as his ex did. Sunnydale Cordy would never accept being second best to anyone. At best, Cordy's struggles in LA before joining Angel investigations dented her confidence to the point that she accepts that Angel will never love her as much as he loves/loved Buffy and she will never measure up.
I preferred Spike with Dru over Buffy
100% absolutely! Sprusilla is the far superior ship plus Spike was much happier with Dru over the course of their 100 year relationship than he ever was with Buffy. Dru accepted Spike as he was, Spike had to essentially self-harm by getting a soul in order to be seen as acceptable by Buffy.
I don't blame Giles for leaving Buffy in s6. He was an unmarried man with no kids living in a foreign country. He had already given up 5 years for Buffy, was coming upto 50 years old and had only recently gone back home. He also felt Buffy was becoming too dependent on him
Giles reasoning for leaving was rubbish and completely contradicts his actions in Season 5. In Season 5, Giles was thinking of leaving because it seemed like Buffy didn't need him anymore but he chose to stay anyway. In Season 6, Buffy actually needs him and he chooses to bugger off. It was a dick move from Giles. He completely ignored the fact Buffy had a traumatic experience being resurrected and was still dealing with that. Just because she needed extra support at that time doesn't mean she's become too dependent on him and will be for the rest of her life.
Whilst AH wanted to leave and so Giles had to leave, the writers could've at least come up with a better reason.
Much as I love Buffy I think she has to take some of the responsibility for what happened in Empty Places. The group didnt handle it well but they did have the right to confront her. She had made some bad decisions in S7 and even when they questioned it, she was still insisting on her original plan which would have just got more people killed. Admittedly Dawn had no need to say what she did, but I think Buffy might have chosen to walk out that night anyway if she had been replaced as leader (at least in the short run)
The problem with this scene is two things:
1. The mutiny is led by Kennedy and Wood. Wood is doing it for revenge because Buffy won't let him kill Spike, whilst Kennedy is doing it as a powerplay as she openly admits to Faith that she thought she'd get a bigger say with Faith in charge. Even in the immediate aftermath of Buffy's exit when everyone is trying to talk at once, you can hear Kennedy suggesting that those that have been there the longest (aka her) should get a bigger say. Also when it looks like Willow is going to defend Buffy, Kennedy jumps down her throat before she's even said anything.
2. Ultimately Buffy is proven right; and for no reason whatsoever, the first and Caleb helpfully dig out the scythe for her. It's surprising they didn't have it gift wrapped. It would've been a lot more legitimate if Buffy and co had to dig out the scythe themselves but because of the time it was taking, it made them sitting ducks. The potentials would want to leave the scythe whereas Buffy still wants it.
Where the Wild Things Are is nowhere near as bad as its reputation. The central idea of what happens to Buffy/Riley is terrible, but there are quite a few really nice scenes in it
Agreed. basically the episode's highpoints are the scenes that don't involve Buffy and Riley having sex. They outsexed a frat house.