Last weigh in on a just-aired Angel episode, ever:

Loved it. Every time I wonder how Joss is going to pull a fitting end to a series out of his ass he never fails to surprise and impress. For that matter, I've never been let down by an M.E. pilot or season/series ender and a lot of the credit goes to JW for that.

A couple of points. First of all, I have no doubt that Angel knew that Lorne was going to murder Lindsay. When he told Eve that Lindsay wasn't returning, ever, it could only have meant that he was in on the plan. Otherwise, considering he just told Lindsay that he wanted him as the new head of W&H, the line makes no sense.

Secondly, Illyria did not hit on Gunn. She said he was "not unpleasant in her eyes" which in Illyria-speak means, I like him as a friend. It is an indication that she's beginning to accept that she's part of their merry group and she even likes being around them. But any non-platonic feelings she may have had at that moment were about Wesley, not Gunn.

Harmony's betrayal was really no surprise. We've seen her as a sympathetic character, but never one of the good guys. Company's going to hell, then there's no reason to refrain from blood, and heck, loyalty doesn't pay the bills. Or warm the sheets. I'm glad he chose not to spike her even though he would have been totally justified. Because she's a predictable and controllable evil, which makes her, in some twisted way, a sort of ally. Similar to chipped Spike.

The ending - I didn't love it, but I can accept it. Because it wasn't a cop-out. But I can tell you how it ends. The fight gets interrupted. Maybe the SPs realize they can't unleash umpteen thousand bad dudes on the world without killing the underlying project. Otherwise they'd have released their baddies before. So they suck them back into the hole (like the Gift). Maybe the PTB send their minions to protect them (because the SPs are no longer playing "fair"), or maybe Connor shows up again and asspulls them all to safety. The point is, there's no way they win that battle (without a super-dooper amulet), and there's no way they go down in a blaze of glory either. They'll survive.

Maybe the PTB send their minions to protect them

I like this. I like your survival version. What the heck did ever happen to the PTB, anyhoo?

Otherwise, considering he just told Lindsay that he wanted him as the new head of W&H, the line makes no sense.

I think he was telling Lindsay what he wanted to hear, to get him to do what was needed. Lindsay mentioned a few times about being 'part of the team' and it feeling good (did he?). I got the impression Angel used and tossed him like tissue paper.

eta. I think he told Lorne to do the sneezing too.

What the heck did ever happen to the PTB, anyhoo?

They're taking a nap. Since they're eternal, a nap lasts 5 years.

Which I should read sometime soon. Is it good?

I thoroughly enjoyed it, though I'm not comics girl by any stretch. Which is to say, take my opinion with a grain of salt if you're looking for the seasoned comics person's take. But I liked it muchly.

I was fine with the ending. And I also would like to have seen some actual battle, but I'm OK with not. Hey, he said he was gonna share the pain. I have a lot of love for the ep. Wesley broke my heart several times. Dear lord. I have absolutely been loving Gunn for the last several eps. Lov. Ing. Him. Illyria had some just beautiful lines. The Connor wrap-up in this ep and Origin? So happy with that. And Angel goes out (or goes on) fighting. It's all good by me.

Except for the gaping hole where I wanted S6 to be.

(Edited for word choice)

Quoted from somewhere else:

Since when can one alter prophesized events by signing the prophecy away, even in blood? The piece of paper isn't the prophecy itself; it's just the report of the prophecy. (Buffy, Season 1 finale: "Oh, so if I prick my finger and write "Buffy" in the book then I won't die! Cool! No, Giles, I don't care about how much the bloodstains will ruin the centuries-old tome.")

Yeah, I'm completely unconvinced that Angel has given up the chance of shanshu. When has messing with a prophecy been successful on this show? Ever?

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

Yes, yes, yes. I know I shouldn't be surprised because the whole season felt like a different show, but none of that episode felt like AtS to me. Last night it seemed like they were willfully ignoring a lot of what had come before. ("Epiphany" "Inside Out") I wish Tim could have written the finale.

I think he was telling Lindsay what he wanted to hear, to get him to do what was needed. Lindsay mentioned a few times about being 'part of the team' and it feeling good (did he?). I got the impression Angel used and tossed him like tissue paper.

Right. I meant the line to Eve about Lindsay never coming back would make no sense, if Angel wasn't lying to Lindsay and actually intended to see him at the head of W&H.

Secondly, Illyria did not hit on Gunn.

I know that I made a "Illyria-hit-on-Gunn" comment during watch N post. I. was. kidding.