For the most part I liked the episode, but I really didn't like the end of it. It really annoyed the hell out of me, having the sudden cut just at the start of what could be a really great battle scene. And I do agree that there could have been an army of slayers coming to their aid. After Buffy found out about Angel having someone keeping an eye on her and Andrew actually seeing them in Italy, Buffy may have had someone keep an eye on Angel to make sure he didn't do it again and they would have been able to raise a red flag that help was needed. That would have been cool.

Watched the finale, of course. It's odd that this thing that has left such a profoundly deep bootprint in my life became something with which I felt no emotional connection at the end.

Somewhere around "Fred's dead! Everyone mourn! Oh. Wait. She's just smurfy," I realized how completely disconnected I felt. Momentary sourness took hold, because I wanted to be in its grip and feel the way you all do about the End of It All.

And i understand the importance of Angel signing away his biscuit, that he's not in it for his reward, and i understand the importance of Wesley's death (though maybe he'll just come back smurfy, too!), and appreciate the fabulousness of ending at the beginning of a fight.

But since the characters became meaningless to me, it was just clunky and uneven and oddly unjossian.

And then I really missed Tim. I don't think anyone understood Wesley, Angel, or Lindsey better.

And I do agree that there could have been an army of slayers coming to their aid.

That would have undercut the whole point of the show, IMO.

It really annoyed the hell out of me, having the sudden cut just at the start of what could be a really great battle scene.

But it's an excellent point that, ending where it did, we are each given the battle ourselves. I hope that it is still true that no movie or tv show can produce anything QUITE as spectacular as the possibilies of what our imaginations can produce.

If we had seen that fight and ANYONE had survived, we'd be screaming asspull today. We'd be commenting on how fake the CGI on the dragon looked. We'd be discussing whether or not Gunn could REALLY kill 1000 beasts while bleeding out.

This way, it stays an epic.

That would have undercut the whole point of the show, IMO.

Absolutely.

And I love that it ends mid-swing. Even spoiled and rewatching, I gasp every time Joss' name comes up. It's perfect.

Lilty, you are now my Elder Goddess.

Neat! I've never been an Elder Goddess before.

Thanks much to Kathy Astrom for the wonderful hosting of the Chicagoistas!!

I loved the way it ended. Underscored the theme of the show: keep fighting because the fight is what's important.

Angel totally told Lorne to kill Lindsey. As he was sending them all off on their respective missions, he HANDED Lorne the gun.

Also, when Angel said that he wanted Lindsey, the Chicagoistas all squealed in unison. Quite funny!

But it's an excellent point that, ending where it did, we are each given the battle ourselves. I hope that it is still true that no movie or tv show can produce anything QUITE as spectacular as the possibilies of what our imaginations can produce.

And this is why I half hope there's no commentary for this episode on the DVD.

I'm struck, suddenly, with the fact that not only will there be no new ME on TV for the foreseeable future, but, by this time next year, all ME will be out on DVD (except, possibly, Serenity).