mandolin: (Default)
Mandolin ([personal profile] mandolin) wrote2003-05-20 09:29 pm

Adding to the innumerable Buffy reaction posts...

Well, that's it, folks. It's over. I'm not going over my thoughts because everyone else has, so I'll just say that "Chosen" started out slow (cookie dough? Angel with soul-envy? gah?) and then took the show out with a bang. (And I'm really mad that certain people died.)

So what else can I say? Well, there IS something I'd like to throw out...

A single thought. A really twisted creativity demon.


Remember back in "To Shanshu in L.A." when Angel and company dug up that prophecy?

Wesley read from the scroll that the vampire with a soul will "shanshu" - once he completes his destiny, he will become human. That is his reward. Wes added that Angel's becoming human isn't going to happen soon. He has to survive numerous challenges in the forms of plagues, the apocalyptic battles, and several evils that will be let loose upon the world.

Let's see here. Vampire with a soul. Champion. A battle that seems to me to be pretty damn apocalyptic. Coming after at least one apocalyptic battle before that (Glory). Said vampire plays a PIVOTAL role in winning the battle for good and evil.

You know... maybe there's a chance Spike will plausibly come back for "Angel."

And damn, I wouldn't want to be in the same room with Angel when he finds out why.


Honestly, the theory's sloppy, but it would explain a lot. Or serve as a red herring.


While the opening act and teaser left something to be desired, the ending did not. To quote Willow, "That was nifty."

And I liked the open-ended finale. They defeated the First, DEFINITELY shut down the Sunnydale Hellmouth (and probably had a ball destroying sets) ... but really. You think that Buffy would just sit down and do nothing?

Besides, it changed a pivotal theme that's been running through the series (and we've been pounded over the head with it the last few seasons).

For once, the Slayer is no longer alone

And now I say goodbye to first-run episodes of Buffy. It was a fun and nerve-wracking ride; even the worst episodes were better than a good chunk of network TV out there.

So long, Scooby Gang. See you in reruns.

[identity profile] opposingangels.livejournal.com 2003-05-21 03:32 pm (UTC)(link)
::hides:: I didn't like the episode. Aren't I horrible?
-Soku

[identity profile] weirdweb.livejournal.com 2003-05-21 04:12 pm (UTC)(link)
Nah, you're not horrible.

I had a lot of issues with it myself. I could have done without the teaser and first half (although Buffy's comment about Spike and Angel wrestling with oil had me laughing so hard). The second half of the episode was better, though not without its flaws.

It felt to me like the episode basically boiled down to: "Okay, Caleb's dead, the season's got to end, let's go for a last-minute half-assed plan to go down to the Hellmouth and use the Scythe to make more Slayers. Oh, and Spike's gonna suddenly redeem himself in the space of five minutes since we haven't really bothered to explore what having his soul means to him." Would have been better if they had bothered to build up to this rather than suddenly throwing it out. I mean, the Scythe? Neat weapon, but it practically popped up out of nowhere. Convenient plot device? You betcha.

They really did drop the ball with handling the First this season. "The Taunter" - yeah, no kidding. The show hasn't been the same since season 3, and I'll miss it somewhat, but it was time to end the series.

Gotta admit, in some ways it was fun to watch Sunnydale become a big, smoking crater, though. :)

[identity profile] opposingangels.livejournal.com 2003-05-22 06:26 pm (UTC)(link)
Amen! ::laughs at crater:: That was much amusement. Angel's not ending is it?
-Soku