I’m really just hanging out for the end of season at this stage, so excuse the brevity. I’ve got very low expectations for the last episode so hopefully I can’t be disappointed. Despite an ordinary season, there’s quite a few plots that should be wrapped up but I’m not very optimistic. At least some of the potentials will die. The only plotline that seems certain to be properly finished is the one about Buffy and Spike. Please, please please die Spike. That last shot with the First looks promising. There’s been far too much Buffy focus in this season at the expense of the other characters and the plot.

It seems that Faith is just as bad a leader as Buffy. Buffy works better by herself. I’ll accept that Buffy could defeat four ubervamps with that axe, but I’d like to know where they came from. Did the First manage to release them? If so, what stopped the First from releasing the whole army? To balance this new plot hole, another one was filled in. The food that the potentials have been guzzling down has been looted from empty stores, thus at least partly explaining how they can afford to house so many people. Anya and Andrew share a couple of good scenes, although I’d have thought the Summers household would be well stocked with medical equipment. Most (all?) of the residents of Sunnydale have left for a couple of weeks. Probably a good idea.

Buffy’s orders to Xander display troubled mind. She’s having a hard time coming to terms with the likelyhood of serious casualties amongst the good guys. She’s looks like she’s accepted that the potentials will die; having distanced herself from them, they’re practically strangers. It’s different for Xander and Dawn, the two most useless in the group. The scene makes sense, but it feels like a waste of screen time.

I like the difference in prescence between Angel and Buffy. You can see the weight of the world on Buffy’s shoulders but Angel strolls about the place as if he owns it. Buffy genuinely fears for the lives of her friends but Angel looks confident in the knowledge that he can defeat whatever he comes across. He knocked Caleb out and generally seems more capable in a fight. Buffy’s super strength and fighting skills have been waning over the last year.

Giles’ faith in books is justified this episode. The extra secret cult, makers of the magic axe, are unlikely to have a website. It seems possible that such cults are more likely to feature in an old book. This whole ending is screaming ‘Cop Out’.

• Buffy’s making long speeches: tick.
• Buffy has trouble fighting: tick — she keeps dropping her magical axe.
• Someone questions Buffy’s ability to make difficult decisions: tick — Xander’s not too keen on his mission.
• Flashbacks: no but exposition about the origin of the axe.
• Modern Weaponry: tick — Dawn has a Taser.
• Poke test to check for corporeality: no.
• Anya’s sole line: “Trying to talk will just kill you sooner.” Consoling a potential.
• Andrew provides comic relief: Comedic looting.
• The First does something: Merges with Caleb.
• Strange behaviour by the gang: Apparently forgot to stock up on bandaids.
• Getting it on: Caleb and the First.
• Best quote: “Okay. I’ll get Kennedy to watch the girls. She’s tough. Imminent death won’t bother her.” — Anya.
• Biggest gripe: Random ubervamps.

593

This entry was posted by the illustrious Andy Cocker on Saturday, August 16th, 2003. It concerns such pressing issues as . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.