BTVS - End of Days
May. 13th, 2003 11:45 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
selenakAnd soon the end of downloads. Well, until Angel, season 5, next year. Which I'm glad we get; though "Home" would have been a good, if frustrating final episode, I want to know how this new set-up is going to work out. No comments on the two casting spoilers, except I'm very much reminded of the Doyle vs Wesley wars way back when.
We get a very ensemble driven episode. Not without flaws - I mean, the second Anya & Andrew scene was just the biggest case of obvious imminent red shirt syndrom since Jonathan's final speech, only Jonathan's worked better. But all in all, I loved it and watched it again immediately.
One big point of contention I've seen is that proving Buffy's instinct right last week would support the single-minded leadership over democracy argument. "End of Days", however, makes it clear that this is not the case or the intended message. Buffy does not take back command, or feels entitled to do so, she defends Faith, and she shows the girls (and Scoobies) her concern for them this time around in a way they can understand. As I said in my "Empty Places" review, everyone had a point in the big showdown, and Buffy clearly HAS listened to what the others had to say. (See also her "The good guys are not known for their communication skills" line to Giles.)
In fact, I believe that the whole point of the scythe - other than it being a nifty weapon with which to defeat Caleb and decapitate Ubervamps - is going to be Buffy handing it over to Faith in the next and final episode as an outward symbol of being the Slayer. (Not a spoiler, just my speculation.) This was set up in Buffy's and Faith's conversation (and in a more subtle way than the Anya doomedness in the hospital scene, I might add), with the scythe passing back and forth between them and Buffy's "I honestly don't know" regarding the basic question as to whether she's A Slayer or The Slayer. Speaking of that conversation, loved it. I'm really happy about the way they handled the Buffy/Faith relationship during those final episodes; incidentally, when Faith talked about two Slayers not being meant to coexist together, I immediately thought of [Bad username or site: Caille's @ livejournal.com] analysis - it was almost a literal quote!
Another bit to appreciate: the fact that this conversation as well as other scenes, but especially this one, makes it clear that the isolation and loneliness of the Slayer problem hasn't sudddenly been solved by Buffy working on her communication skills. As Faith points out, it's inherent in the job. They have to balance it with being a member of a community as well, but they will always be that bit apart from humanity.
Lastly: Why am I not surprised Faith found a way to let Buffy know she had sex in Buffy's bed?
Buffy and Xander: asking him to take Dawn (and himself) away to safety makes sense, is in character and to me, was more touching than the big reconciliatory hug in "Primeval" in season 4 on a similar occason has been. Of course, it was just as in character for Dawn to go right back. On first viewing, I was confused where the tazer had come from, but the second time around I noticed it had been among the stuff in Xander's car Dawn was handling when she was supposedly looking for her crossbow earlier.
Willow and Giles: this goes back to their scenes at the opening of this season, but it is a bit undercut by the fact Willow used big magic at least twice - in "Get it Done" and in "Orpheus". However, Giles wasn't present in either case, which might account for her additional hesitance.
Yes, I know everyone hates the Potentials and Kennedy in particular, but I thought they handled themselves well given the circumstances in the tunnels.
Anya and Andrew, take 1: as opposed to the anvilly second scene, I really liked the first one. "Giles knows his single malt antiseptic" indeed. And Andrew coming up with the hospital idea and finding the courage to go there gave me another "hug Andrew now" moment. What can I say? I did fall in love with him this season.
Buffy and Spike: it was an excellent follow up to their scenes in "Touched", which I suppose means if you hated the former, you'll hate the later, and you loved the one, you'll love the other. I adored both. And thought the fact that Buffy could tell him he gave her strength, could say "I was with you" but not follow up the "but what did it mean" was characteristic for our girl, though no doubt she'll get bashed for it (and for the final scene, about which more in a moment). For the record, I always thought, and I still think this will be true, Buffy won't up end the show as the half of any couple but the way she began it, as a single girl with very good friends.
Caleb and the First: beat out all the competition as Sunnydale's most warped couple. "Are you trying to make me jealous?"
Buffy meets the Lady of the Lake: a friend of mine has pointed out several Arthurian themes on BTVS and AtS during the last two seasons (say, Angel as Arthur, Connor as Mordred, Darla AND Holtz as Morgause - covering the different aspects of the character, or Spike as Percival, the wisest fool of the land), and so I wasn't really surprised we got a name-check this time. A female organisation of Guardians set against the male organisation of Watchers works for me, but I regret we never heard of them before.
And the final scene: Angel is very cearly the symbol of simpler times here, a good luck charm, the past, not the future, and it echoes his first appearance in "Welcome to the Hellmouth" that he (save that one punch) basically comments, but does not co-act. Again, no spoilers, but imo it's pretty obvious that kiss won't end with Buffy saying "let's go off to Los Angeles together" but with "thank you and goodbye". Meanwhile, it's also a set-up for the final test for Spike, and it's not a coincidence that we see the FE talk to him (for the first time since the overlong torture sessions) after Caleb has (appparently) died - the First/Caleb as shadow doubles of Buffy/Spike again.
Final tidbits:
- is it me, or does Angel sound patronising?
- "I'm tired of defensiveness and mixed signals - I have Faith for that"; this time a![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
melymbrosia and caille shout-out about the parallels of B/F and B/S
- for the record: Buffy running to save her friends after the FE's "Faith go boom" crack when she could have, at that point, taken Caleb with the scythe probably sealed the ongoing "IS everyone really expendable for Buffy now and does the mission always come first?" argument now
- "And suddenly I'm less calm": I bet SMG and Nathan Fillion had a lot of fun with those First/Caleb marital spats; I know I have.
ETA: For an excellent review of this episode, look up http://www.livejournal.com/users/superplin/16879.html#cutid1!
We get a very ensemble driven episode. Not without flaws - I mean, the second Anya & Andrew scene was just the biggest case of obvious imminent red shirt syndrom since Jonathan's final speech, only Jonathan's worked better. But all in all, I loved it and watched it again immediately.
One big point of contention I've seen is that proving Buffy's instinct right last week would support the single-minded leadership over democracy argument. "End of Days", however, makes it clear that this is not the case or the intended message. Buffy does not take back command, or feels entitled to do so, she defends Faith, and she shows the girls (and Scoobies) her concern for them this time around in a way they can understand. As I said in my "Empty Places" review, everyone had a point in the big showdown, and Buffy clearly HAS listened to what the others had to say. (See also her "The good guys are not known for their communication skills" line to Giles.)
In fact, I believe that the whole point of the scythe - other than it being a nifty weapon with which to defeat Caleb and decapitate Ubervamps - is going to be Buffy handing it over to Faith in the next and final episode as an outward symbol of being the Slayer. (Not a spoiler, just my speculation.) This was set up in Buffy's and Faith's conversation (and in a more subtle way than the Anya doomedness in the hospital scene, I might add), with the scythe passing back and forth between them and Buffy's "I honestly don't know" regarding the basic question as to whether she's A Slayer or The Slayer. Speaking of that conversation, loved it. I'm really happy about the way they handled the Buffy/Faith relationship during those final episodes; incidentally, when Faith talked about two Slayers not being meant to coexist together, I immediately thought of [Bad username or site: Caille's @ livejournal.com] analysis - it was almost a literal quote!
Another bit to appreciate: the fact that this conversation as well as other scenes, but especially this one, makes it clear that the isolation and loneliness of the Slayer problem hasn't sudddenly been solved by Buffy working on her communication skills. As Faith points out, it's inherent in the job. They have to balance it with being a member of a community as well, but they will always be that bit apart from humanity.
Lastly: Why am I not surprised Faith found a way to let Buffy know she had sex in Buffy's bed?
Buffy and Xander: asking him to take Dawn (and himself) away to safety makes sense, is in character and to me, was more touching than the big reconciliatory hug in "Primeval" in season 4 on a similar occason has been. Of course, it was just as in character for Dawn to go right back. On first viewing, I was confused where the tazer had come from, but the second time around I noticed it had been among the stuff in Xander's car Dawn was handling when she was supposedly looking for her crossbow earlier.
Willow and Giles: this goes back to their scenes at the opening of this season, but it is a bit undercut by the fact Willow used big magic at least twice - in "Get it Done" and in "Orpheus". However, Giles wasn't present in either case, which might account for her additional hesitance.
Yes, I know everyone hates the Potentials and Kennedy in particular, but I thought they handled themselves well given the circumstances in the tunnels.
Anya and Andrew, take 1: as opposed to the anvilly second scene, I really liked the first one. "Giles knows his single malt antiseptic" indeed. And Andrew coming up with the hospital idea and finding the courage to go there gave me another "hug Andrew now" moment. What can I say? I did fall in love with him this season.
Buffy and Spike: it was an excellent follow up to their scenes in "Touched", which I suppose means if you hated the former, you'll hate the later, and you loved the one, you'll love the other. I adored both. And thought the fact that Buffy could tell him he gave her strength, could say "I was with you" but not follow up the "but what did it mean" was characteristic for our girl, though no doubt she'll get bashed for it (and for the final scene, about which more in a moment). For the record, I always thought, and I still think this will be true, Buffy won't up end the show as the half of any couple but the way she began it, as a single girl with very good friends.
Caleb and the First: beat out all the competition as Sunnydale's most warped couple. "Are you trying to make me jealous?"
Buffy meets the Lady of the Lake: a friend of mine has pointed out several Arthurian themes on BTVS and AtS during the last two seasons (say, Angel as Arthur, Connor as Mordred, Darla AND Holtz as Morgause - covering the different aspects of the character, or Spike as Percival, the wisest fool of the land), and so I wasn't really surprised we got a name-check this time. A female organisation of Guardians set against the male organisation of Watchers works for me, but I regret we never heard of them before.
And the final scene: Angel is very cearly the symbol of simpler times here, a good luck charm, the past, not the future, and it echoes his first appearance in "Welcome to the Hellmouth" that he (save that one punch) basically comments, but does not co-act. Again, no spoilers, but imo it's pretty obvious that kiss won't end with Buffy saying "let's go off to Los Angeles together" but with "thank you and goodbye". Meanwhile, it's also a set-up for the final test for Spike, and it's not a coincidence that we see the FE talk to him (for the first time since the overlong torture sessions) after Caleb has (appparently) died - the First/Caleb as shadow doubles of Buffy/Spike again.
Final tidbits:
- is it me, or does Angel sound patronising?
- "I'm tired of defensiveness and mixed signals - I have Faith for that"; this time a
melymbrosia and caille shout-out about the parallels of B/F and B/S - for the record: Buffy running to save her friends after the FE's "Faith go boom" crack when she could have, at that point, taken Caleb with the scythe probably sealed the ongoing "IS everyone really expendable for Buffy now and does the mission always come first?" argument now
- "And suddenly I'm less calm": I bet SMG and Nathan Fillion had a lot of fun with those First/Caleb marital spats; I know I have.
ETA: For an excellent review of this episode, look up http://www.livejournal.com/users/superplin/16879.html#cutid1!
