This entry might be problematic for our foreign readers, but nevertheless, I’m going to say a few spoiler things about the season ender of Buffy. I’ll add a few lines to try and allow spoiler space.
First, Giles’ entrance was the best entrance on TV since President Bartlett first showed up in the last five minutes of the “West Wing” pilot declaring “You shall have no other God before me,” and it was certainly the best entrance in the history of this series. Never has one series suffered so greatly from the absence of one character as this one has from the loss of Giles. As much as I feel for Tony Head’s desire to be with his family, I selfishly find myself hoping he’ll be more of a fixture next year because boy, did they need him.
Second, I wouldn’t say that the finale salvaged the season, but it was as if they were openly acknowledging all the problems with it. They seem to be saying that it was dramatically necessary. Perhaps. Didn’t make it any less sucky viewing.
And third, I’ll tell you, on paper the manner in which Willow was “saved” was just so…uchhhh. But hats off to the actors, who threw themselves into it with such sincerity, such fearlessness, that it was *the* standout moment of the season, and possibly the last few years. I was actually tearing up.
And speaking of West Wing…why does someone have to be in threat of dying or actually dead at the end of each season? What is up with that?
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I agree completely! the show was definetly lacking with out Giles. He was the linchpin that kept the group together, weather it was taunting Spike, teaching Buffy, or playing mentor to Willow he was the glue that kept the Scobby gang together. Is there going to be that “Watcher” series I keep hearing about? Will it be availible in the states?
-Erick
I’m sure I’m not the only one who misses the days this show was actually funny. The first few seasons dealt with some serious stuff (notably Buffy/Angel/Angelus) but there were still lines like, “I’m glad you and Cordelia are getting along… almost really” and “She didn’t even care enough about me to cut off my head or set me on fire”. Even Angel had some funny moments. It seems to me the show lost something when everyone left high school and Buffy stopped worrying about passing English and defeating the monster and started worrying about supporting her younger sister and defeating the monster.
I’m not usually traumatised by TV–mainly because I watch so much of it–but the West Wing finale had me feeling like I’d taken a kick in the gut. Good question, though: what’s the deal with death at the end of every season?
The first meeting between Ritchie and Bartlet was very well done, though. Hmmmn… I wonder if Ritchie’s meant to represent any current US political figures?
-Kalev
Apparently the “Watcher” series (which I’ve also heard referred to as “Ripper”) is on hold while Joss gets “Firefly” going. My guess is that *if* next season turns out to be BUDFFY’s last, we’ll see the Giles show after that. There have been reports that Joss wants to shoot at least part of next season in the U.K.; if this is true, it may well mean a lead-in to Giles’s show, or at the very least, more of Anthony Stewart Head on BUFFY.
Here’s hoping…
Regarding the “Watcher” BBC show: The last time a news feature was posted on Cinescape.com or scifi.com, the word was that Joss wants to do a two-hour TV-movie while the BBC wants to do their more familiar six episode series (AKA what we Colonists call a “TV season”). Anthony Stewart Head was quoted as saying that Joss was trying to find someone he could trust to run the show in England. It would air on the BBC first and eventually be available on video in the States.
SPOILERS AHEAD FROM THIS POINT ON:
As to the Buffy finale, I actually do feel that it made enduring this season worth the effort. It’s true that it made the season no less difficult to watch as the episodes originally aired. However, I think the emotional payoff would not have been nearly as strong had all of this darkness only occurred over the last few episodes. My wife and I were both tearing up as the episode ended, as it HAD to end, with the confrontation between Willow and Xander.
For my part, I absolutely loved the symbolism of Buffy pulling herself and Dawn up out of the grave. It was a perfect coda for the end of this season.
As to the West Wing, it does seem as if acts of violence and death are becoming Sorkin’s go-to theme for the season finales.
SPOILERS ONCE AGAIN:
Does it seem a bit implausible that Mark Harmon’s Secret Service agent character would make such a mistake as the one that led to his demise? I do have to give credit to Mr. Harmon though. Just two weeks ago, TVGuide.com asked him if his character might become a recurring one next season. He responded that he would love to return to the show next season. Kudos to him for not leaking a hint of the news. (Though the teaser for last night’s episode all but screamed that it would likely be his character that would be killed.) Maybe he’ll come back in the same way that Mrs. Landingham came back in the last season finale.
Peter,
I agree 100% about West Wing, and excuse me don’t Secret Service men wear bullet proof vests?
The character I think the show misses most is Cordelia (and NOT just because she’s Charisma Carpenter.)
I thought it was genius to have this uber-popular girl who had everything be the voice of reason against the pathos-laden banter of the band of misfits. Whereas they waxed philosophical and rationalized their self-consciousness Cordelia was blunt and totally bereft of BS.
Especially now that the angst levels are at unheard of levels, Buffy, more than ever, needs Cordelia back to keep them in their place.
Hi,
this may be a little off-topic but…
well, I
I’m not so much concerned about the finale as I am about What’s Going To Happen To Willow Now?, which, I assume, was the point. Geez, you’d think this was the Willow the Witch show, we’ve gotten so involved with the character this season. Not that I’m complaining (except about the NEEDLESS death of Tara, which is a seven-page rant at least).
I think her greatest chance at redemption lies with either Xander or Giles, or both. With the loss of Tara, Willow is going to absolutely need Xander, her best friend for her entire life, the person who knows her best and ultimately, the only one who pulled her out from the brink of madness. Willow needs love, she needs to feel as though she is respected and cared for. The girl wears her insecurities on her sleeve. She needs Xander to be her friend and remind her that she is special to him and doesn’t need to OD on magic anymore.
Speaking of, you think her powers were fully drained there at the end, or just the uber-evil ones? It would make sense to physically render her powerless, as the Scoobies would always be on edge around her from now on otherwise, and that’s not what Willow needs to get healthy. Granted, it IS very Dark Phoenix, but it’s the only solution I can see.
Giles is going to have to be the one who can offer her not only sympathy, but empathy for her situation. He, too, has experienced and paid the price for misuse of dark magics. He, too, knows what it’s like to have lost someone you love to untimely and senseless violence – and Jenny’s death was deliberate murder to be used as mental torture against him. At least Tara’s death was accidental, not that I or Willow are any less pìššëd øff about it. Willow is going to have to turn to Giles to make her feel less alone in her situation – and kudos to Giles, incidentally, for actually asking Willow “What do you suppose Tara would say about this?” God, I was waiting for that for three episodes. You’d think that would have been the thing to get her to snap out of it a LITTLE as opposed to an overblown, sappy broken yellow crayon story. (Yes, it was lame, and I’m not apologizing for my opinion, and that’s what happens when Joss turns his back on season finales.)
As for Buffy and Dawn, frankly, I don’t care. Spike, however, is going to torment me all season because I’m dying to see how the writers prevent Spike from turning into Angel. Do we honestly miss brooding on this of all shows? If they don’t do something with Spike that differentiates him from Angel, I’m going to put a chip in Joss’ head that prevents him from hurting me while I kick his ášš for repeating himself. We expect more from the man than stale storylines, you know.
Or Sarah McLachlan crooning over a season finale. But maybe I just have issues. 🙂
West Wing lost a lot of it’s “spunk” this season. I think part of it is that the characters really haven’t changed since the first episode aired. It’s become very formula and predictable. I hope the summer break recharges Sorkin’s batteries.
I’ve been a major fan of buffy for years and all… but they totally jumped the shark when they introduced a sister that wasn’t there before. It’s like the great Ðìçk switch from Bewitched. There’s just some things that a show can do to mark it’s demise. Its gone all downhill since then. That plus all the brooding seriousness (suddenly a new character is part of the family, mother dies, giles leaves, buffy gets a job, and magic suddenly becomes a drug-like substance).
That being said, I still love the show and never miss an episode. 🙂
So it wasn’t just me that thought this season was amiss? Good, now I can quit trying to adjust my set. While I think a lot of things that happened to the characters was a natural progession, most of the storylines weren’t significant enough to carry a whole season. Sure Buffy seemed out of it, but ALL SEASON LONG? And the Spike/Buffy thing seemed to fizzle out right after it started…unfortunately the story just kept right on going. There was one scene at the Doublemeat Palace between Buffy and Spike where Buffy’s face even had the “can we just finish this thing?” look. Now that the scoobies have all gone through torment, I look forward to hopefully moving in just that direction next season: FORWARD…and quickly.
-Dan.
(I’ve got a theory…)
Many writers of fiction seem to have a certain amount of hatred for their characters, necessarry to satisfy the audience, that results in torture, trial and dark dark things happening. In fiction.
I admire the writers of Buffy, who tend to get these things out of the way early on, so that they can look forward to writing much more love-sprinkled stories. Angelus for example was such an obvious cliched move, and that it was done so early in the show was a surprising refresh, and out of the way. (Although that written the ‘Angel’ drugged episode sucked). It were also particularly well built up, when we learn just what a nasty f*ck*r he is, what he did to Drusilla amongst others. To my senses, the episodes after that arc, were some of the best Buffy. The introduction of Dawn was another cliche that was more than definitely made good. Anybody slagging that is concentrating too much on the destination rather than the journey. Anticipating the huge and impending Season 7 My Gosh! It’s all going to end! NOOO! rumour cloud, the dark dramatic is out of the way, and this next one should be more upbeat.
Spike’s soul? I’d be interested in seeing him become more positive, as hinted much earlier in his care for Drusilla. (I missed her last appearance, so I’m happily hoping.) I’m quite interested in whether the chip will still function. The rumour mill is reporting 6-7 episodes to be shot in Britain, which will no doubt feature the coven Giles hooked up with. Perhaps even the powerbase of the Watchers Council? From Season 4, Btvs has been getting high on location change. A brilliant challenge, but one that hasn’t paid off as much as we’d like. These UK episodes will probably be the trickiest. After all, the Hellmouth is what made ‘Buffy’ more believable.
Also, Britney Spears is set to star in these. I don’t suppose there’s any chance of a Giffen/DeMatteis tribute delivered by Xander?
“One punch! One Punch!”